Out of the Easy

By: Ruta Sepetys

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

Easy to Love

Josie Moraine, the 17 year old daughter of a harlett, cleans a brothel while living above her employer's bookshop. She dares to dream of a better life, attending Smith College and leaving behind New Orleans' seedy underworld. Caught in the middle of a mysterious murder investigation, Jo's allegiance to her trollep mother, friends, and Willie (the madam who has been more of a mother-figure) is called into question. She must make difficult decisions, putting her in precarious situations in hopes of escaping with her innocence and livliehood.

This YA novel is a wonderful ride through resourceful and bright, Josie, Jo, Josephine's tale. Interesting, entertaining, and just dangerous enough to appeal to adults and no curse words or explicit sex to recommend to my daughter. Wonderful, straight forward writing style. Will definitely check out her first book, Between Shades of Gray.

Ruta Sepetys is always an insta-buy...

... and always unputdownable. Out of the Easy is beautifully written, weaving the charm and beauty of 1950s New Orleans with its seedy underbelly. Sepetys' rich, dynamic characters come to life in Fortgang's narration.

For young adults.

A good story and very well performed, but very simplistic. Adults will likely be disappointed.

An interesting view of 50's New Orleans

Lighter than Sepetys' other historical fiction, a fairly simple story.

overall a good, casual listen.

Disappointed

Any additional comments?

I love stories that take place in New Orleans but this felt more like a dot-to-dot novel that methodically fulfilled plot requirements and never came to life. There was no real heart in the story that made the story gather you in and move naturally. It was more like a narrow, clinical description of certain aspects of prostitutes' lives and a "reporting" of plot facts.