Well, it’s official, the bonkbuster sub-genre is dead.
I shouldn’t be surprised since I’ve known this for quite some time. Still I
cringe every time I think about it. You see, I’m a sucker for those sex and
shopping novels and, despite their untimely demise, I guess I’ll always be a
fan. Historical novels are still the in thing, apparently. Hence, this one
penned by former bonkbuster writer Joanna Rees (as Jo Rees). THE RUNAWAY DAUGHTER (2019, Pan) it is
called. Though it may not be a
bonkbuster novel per se, the highly-charged plot and sexual and romantic situations
make it as close to it as it can be—in my book anyway.
Set in the swinging ‘20s (jazz, bobbed hair, shorten
skirts), the story revolves around Anna Carson who, after fleeing her home in
distress over a heinous crime involving her mean-spirited brother, ends up in downtown
London where she, as Vita Casey, befriends a bunch of colorful characters who’ll
help her bring to light the flapper in all of her. Of course, life—or in this
case the author—has a way of slapping you when least expected as the past finally
catches up with her. Will she be able to finally free herself from the blood ties
that bound her?
I’m just about to finish reading this baby but so far
I have nothing negative to say about it save perhaps for the way the author manages—at
least in this one—to often put her heroine in favorable situations just so to get
the plot going. It irked me a little at first then not so much as the dust
finally settled and I was able to concentrate on the strong narrative of the story
itself, that of friendship, acceptance, and love. Not any kind of love but a
love for oneself and for others, despite whatever gender does it for you. And
that’s a big deal for this queer reviewer, finally seeing some gay characters emerging
in women’s fiction, not only as secondary ones, but as fun loving decent (well,
some of them are) people who are a pivotal part to the plot.
There’s more to THE
RUNAWAY DAUGHTER than what is mentioned but as usual I choose not to reveal
too much so you guys can really savor the novel. And this is a keeper,
supposedly the first in a trilogy. I look forward to finish it then to embark
on the second book whenever that might be. Jo Rees may have escaped her
bonkbuster past but the Joanna Rees we came to know is one fine storyteller as
well.
You can catch this title whenever books or ebooks are
sold. My thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.
Until next post—Martin
UPDATE: It’s a few minutes later and I finally turned the
last page of this quite addictive novel. Color me surprised by that ending. That’s
all I’m going to say.
