Book description
It was the summer of 1986, when the girl was found dead in Central Park behind the Metropolitan Museum--half-naked, legs splayed, arms flung over her head. Larynx crushed. There are two things Nina Jacobs is determined to do over the summer of 1986: avoid her mother's depression-fueled rages, and lose her virginity before she starts college in the fall. Both are seemingly impossible--when her mother isn't lying in bed for days, she's lashing out at Nina over any perceived slight. And after a blowjob gone spectacularly wrong, Nina is the talk of Flanagan's, the Upper East Side bar where young Manhattan society congregates. It doesn't help that she's Jewish, an outsider among the blue-eyed blondes who populate this rarified world. She can fit in, kind of, with enough alcohol and prescription drugs stolen from her parents' medicine cabinet. Flanagan's is where she pines for the handsome, preppy, and charismatic Gardner Reed, whom every girl wants to sleep with and every guy wants to be. After she's introduced to cocaine, Nina plunges headlong into her pursuit of Gardner, oblivious to the warning signs. When a new medication seemingly frees her mother from darkness, and Nina and Gardner grow closer, it seems like Nina might finally get what she wants. But at what cost? Sigmund Freud called a cocaine high "a gorgeous excitement" and, as Nina Jacobs is about to learn, New York City is a deadly place to be gorgeous.SynopsisA dazzling novel about one young woman's summer of infinite possibility . . . It was the summer of 1986, when the girl was found dead in Central Park behind the Metropolitan Museum--half-naked, legs splayed, arms flung over her head. Larynx crushed. There are two things Nina Jacobs is determined to do over the summer of 1986: avoid her mother's depression-fueled rages, and lose her virginity before she starts college in the fall. Both are seemingly impossible--when her mother isn't lying in bed for days, she's lashing out at Nina over any perceived slight. And after a blowjob gone spectacularly wrong, Nina is the talk of Flanagan's, the Upper East Side bar where young Manhattan society congregates. It doesn't help that she's Jewish, an outsider among the blue-eyed blondes who populate this rarified world. She can fit in, kind of, with enough alcohol and prescription drugs stolen from her parents' medicine cabinet. Flanagan's is where she pines for the handsome, preppy, and charismatic Gardner Reed, whom every girl wants to sleep with and every guy wants to be. After she's introduced to cocaine, Nina plunges headlong into her pursuit of Gardner, oblivious to the warning signs. When a new medication seemingly frees her mother from darkness, and Nina and Gardner grow closer, it seems like Nina might finally get what she wants. But at what cost? Freud called cocaine "a gorgeous excitement," but a gorgeous excitement for the wrong guy can be lethal.SynopsisA dazzling novel about one young woman's summer of infinite possibility . . . There are two things Nina Jacobs is determined to do over the summer of 1986: avoid her mother's depression-fueled rages, and lose her virginity before she starts college in the fall. Both are seemingly impossible--when her mother isn't lying in bed for days, she's lashing out at Nina over any perceived slight. And after a blowjob gone spectacularly wrong, Nina is the talk of Flanagan's, the Upper East Side bar where young Manhattan society congregates. It doesn't help that she's Jewish, an outsider among the blue-eyed blondes who populate this rarified world. She can fit in, kind of, with enough alcohol and prescription drugs stolen from her parents' medicine cabinet. Flanagan's is where she pines for the handsome, preppy, and charismatic Gardner Reed, whom every girl wants to sleep with and every guy wants to be. After she's introduced to cocaine, Nina plunges headlong into her pursuit of Gardner, oblivious to the warning signs. When a new medication seemingly frees her mother from darkness, and Nina and Gardner grow closer, it seems like Nina might finally get what she wants. But at what cost? Freud called cocaine "a gorgeous excitement," but a gorgeous excitement for the wrong guy can be lethal.SynopsisIn this "absorbing, astute novel" (Town & Country, Must Read Books of Winter 2025) one young woman's summer of infinite possibility takes a turn she never saw coming. "I haven't felt this kind of excitement reading a story set in the '80s since I first discovered Jay McInerney, Tama Janowitz, and Bret Easton Ellis."--Margarita Montimore, bestselling author of Oona Out of Order There are two things Nina Jacobs is determined to do over the summer of 1986: avoid her mother's depression-fueled rages, and lose her virginity before she starts college in the fall. Both are seemingly impossible--when her mother isn't lying in bed for days, she's lashing out at Nina over any perceived slight. And after a blowjob gone spectacularly wrong, Nina is the talk of Flanagan's, the Upper East Side bar where young Manhattan society congregates. It doesn't help that she's Jewish, an outsider among the blue-eyed blondes who populate this rarified world. She can fit in, kind of, with enough alcohol and prescription drugs stolen from her parents' medicine cabinet. Flanagan's is where she pines for the handsome, preppy, and charismatic Gardner Reed. Every girl wants to sleep with him and every guy wants to be him. After she's introduced to cocaine, Nina plunges headlong into her pursuit of Gardner, oblivious to the warning signs. When a new medication seemingly frees her mother from darkness, and Nina and Gardner grow closer, it seems like Nina might finally get what she wants. But at what cost? Freud called cocaine "a gorgeous excitement," but a gorgeous excitement for the wrong guy can be lethal.SynopsisIn this "absorbing, astute novel" (Town & Country, Must Read Books of Winter 2025) one young woman's summer of infinite possibility takes a turn she never saw coming. A CRIMEREADS MOST ANTICIPATED CRIME BOOK OF 2025 "I haven't felt this kind of excitement reading a story set in the '80s since I first discovered Jay McInerney, Tama Janowitz, and Bret Easton Ellis."--Margarita Montimore, bestselling author of Oona Out of Order There are two things Nina Jacobs is determined to do over the summer of 1986: avoid her mother's depression-fueled rages, and lose her virginity before she starts college in the fall. Both are seemingly impossible--when her mother isn't lying in bed for days, she's lashing out at Nina over any perceived slight. And after a blowjob gone spectacularly wrong, Nina is the talk of Flanagan's, the Upper East Side bar where young Manhattan society congregates. It doesn't help that she's Jewish, an outsider among the blue-eyed blondes who populate this rarified world. She can fit in, kind of, with enough alcohol and prescription drugs stolen from her parents' medicine cabinet. Flanagan's is where she pines for the handsome, preppy, and charismatic Gardner Reed. Every girl wants to sleep with him and every guy wants to be him. After she's introduced to cocaine, Nina plunges headlong into her pursuit of Gardner, oblivious to the warning signs. When a new medication seemingly frees her mother from darkness, and Nina and Gardner grow closer, it seems like Nina might finally get what she wants. But at what cost? Freud called cocaine "a gorgeous excitement," but a gorgeous excitement for the wrong guy can be lethal.SynopsisOne young woman's summer of infinite possibility takes a turn she never saw coming in "this 1980s coming-of-age tale that's] chillingly compelling. Get ready to be transported."--People (Best Books of the Month) A TOWN & COUNTRY AND CRIMEREADS MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK "I haven't felt this kind of excitement reading a story set in the '80s since I first discovered Jay McInerney, Tama Janowitz, and Bret Easton Ellis."--Margarita Montimore, bestselling author of Oona Out of Order There are two things Nina Jacobs is determined to do over the summer of 1986: avoid her mother's depression-fueled rages, and lose her virginity before she starts college in the fall. Both are seemingly impossible--when her mother isn't lying in bed for days, she's lashing out at Nina over any perceived slight. And after a blowjob gone spectacularly wrong, Nina is the talk of Flanagan's, the Upper East Side bar where young Manhattan society congregates. It doesn't help that she's Jewish, an outsider among the blue-eyed blondes who populate this rarified world. She can fit in, kind of, with enough alcohol and prescription drugs stolen from her parents' medicine cabinet. Flanagan's is where she pines for the handsome, preppy, and charismatic Gardner Reed. Every girl wants to sleep with him and every guy wants to be him. After she's introduced to cocaine, Nina plunges headlong into her pursuit of Gardner, oblivious to the warning signs. When a new medication seemingly frees her mother from darkness, and Nina and Gardner grow closer, it seems like Nina might finally get what she wants. But at what cost? Freud called cocaine "a gorgeous excitement," but a gorgeous excitement for the wrong guy can be lethal.
Ella of Light
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook is a fantastic way to spread the joy of listening. Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playbackβit's all up to me! The app's performance is top-notch. It's stable, responsive, and optimized for a seamless audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers! Iβve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
White Dragon
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ThreadTraveler
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. ποΈ This app's user-friendly interface has transformed my daily walks into immersive storytelling sessions. Kudos to the developers! πΆββοΈπ Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts. The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy.
Pink C
The app's intuitive design makes it easy to find and listen to my favorite authors. π Simplifying my reading routine β this app's user-friendly design ensures I'm always in sync with my favorite stories. πβ¨ ListenBook's user-friendly interface and powerful features have rekindled my love for audiobooks. The audio filters and precise controls are fantastic! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to spread the joy. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide.
White Snare
ListenBook's user-friendly audio filters and controls have made my audiobook sessions more interactive and engaging. ListenBook's auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that ensures I never miss a single word. ListenBook's audio filters have given me the power to tailor my listening experience to my preferences. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient.
Slow Trot
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Steel Solstice
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Miss Nova
I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features β from chapters to playback controls. π§ An audiobook treasure trove in the palm of my hand β this app is pure convenience! ππ The auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that enhances my listening journey. I appreciate it! Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options.
Polar Bee
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that I can access my content without any limitations. π My audiobook haven β this app is like a door to endless adventures and knowledge! ππ Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly.
Red Hot Kevorkian
This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life β it's incredible. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fascinating way to add a personal touch to my audiobook journey. Download options are versatile, making it easy to get audiobooks from various sources.
Mr. Fabulous
ListenBook's statistics feature is both enlightening and motivating. It's incredible to see the time I've invested in learning through audiobooks. An audiobook Iβll listen to again! The story was engaging, and the narratorβs performance made it even better. Some parts were so well-delivered that I replayed them just to hear the emotion again.
Contrary Mary
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Athena Star
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! This app has turned my daily routine into a source of excitement and joy. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection β this app's functionality is a winner. Auto-rewind is a very handy feature. Excellent app. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Mr. Peppermint
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Stealth
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. π₯ Adding a spark of excitement to my daily routine β this app is my secret weapon! β¨π
Daisy Stick
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Tangerine
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs.
Saber-RED
πͺ Juggling tasks while enjoying stories has never been easier β this app's functionality is a multitasking marvel. πΌπ ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length feature is fantastic. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narratorβs voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldnβt necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
GiddeeUP
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Demolition Queen
The sheer variety of genres available ensures there's something for everyone. Audiobook pleasure simplified β this app's design is a standout.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience