We read about everything without distinction: Effie sweeping the floor, Henry’s bowel movements (or lack thereof), what they order at the diner, what sexual position they utilise next – and then it starts all over again in the same dry, mechanical manner. Particularly as the writing style was very mechanical. In the beginning, sex between Henry and Effie, and even though they are on their honeymoon, it became repetitive. It’s entirely about sex and people behaving badly. The content of this novel became a little too much after a while. This story would have greatly benefited from the addition of Effie’s perspective along with ditching that final chapter that told the reader every miserable thing that happened to them for the rest of their married lives, post honeymoon. And very much a stereotypical 1950s young man. Everything we learn about Effie is through the haze of Henry’s gaze, and I’ll be frank here, Henry was boring. There was definitely an atmospheric 1950s feel to this novel, for sure, but I think the dead weight of it came from being narrated entirely from Henry’s perspective. They barely know how to be adults themselves, much less adults together.
Effie and Henry are on their honeymoon, and they are so young, fresh out of high school and already married. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but it seems you should extend this to the praise by others printed upon said cover as well. The empty beach town becomes their playground, and as they sneak into abandoned summer homes, go sailing, walk naked under the stars, make love, and drink a great deal of gin, Henry and Effie slip from innocence into betrayal, with irrevocable consequences that reverberate through the rest of their lives… Just as they get ready to cut the trip short, a decadent and glamorous set suddenly sweep them up into their drama – Clara, a beautiful socialite who feels her youth slipping away Max, a wealthy playboy and Clara’s lover and Alma, Max’s aloof and mysterious half-sister. As they tentatively discover each other, they begin to realize that everyday married life might be disappointingly different from their happily-ever-after fantasy. It’s the end of the season and the town is deserted. Henry and Effie, young newlyweds from Georgia, arrive in Cape May, New Jersey, for their honeymoon.
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