Lucy never wanted the life that’s been thrust upon her-the wedding band or the baby in the crib. A woman (opens in new tab) of ambition, she longs to pursue her dreams on stage, but her husband insists on locking her in a gilded cage under his control. And in 1922, alternatives are almost nonexistent and certainly not acceptable, forcing Lucy to make an impossible choice. Bound by convention but driven by a fierce desire for independence, she flees a life she can no longer endure. With heartbreak, she leaves a pair of cherished earrings along with a note for her daughter to read when she’s older.
Nearly thirty years later, in 1951, Lucy’s daughter, Anna Dodge, is given her deceased grandmother’s journal that’s been hidden away for years. Within its pages lies a long-buried secret, casting doubt on everything Anna believes about her family and herself. Among the clues is the story of the earrings, hinting at truths that defy what Anna has always known.
Devastated and determined to understand her past, Anna embarks on a journey to unmask the truth. As she does, she discovers the past isn’t just something to uncover-it’s something that could determine her future.
Abandoning the Script is a beautifully written story about choices, secrets, and how the past shapes the future. The title is absolutely perfect for a heroine, Lucy Perkins Brandt, who braves to exit from one life in order to be true to herself. She leaves behind not just heartbreak but also a legacy, symbolized by a pair of custom earrings.
Author Linda Rosen has a wonderful way of connecting generations of women, and I loved how she used the earrings as the thread tying it all together. It’s emotional, layered, and full of heart as Rosen depicts the real struggles women faced over the time span of the book, the 1920s to the early 1950s. And even though the setting is nearly a century ago, the parallels to today feel painfully familiar. One line especially hit home: “Women utter their frustration with the strangling laws prohibiting their personal freedoms.”
Further Praise for ABANDONING THE SCRIPT
“Rich with heart and history, Abandoning the Script is a moving, multi-generational story of secrets, and sacrifice. Rosen’s remarkable characters convey the resilience of women who are determined to find their own way in a world that wants to confine and define them. From Greenwich Village’s trailblazing Heterodoxy Club to the secrets whispered within a family’s walls, Abandoning the Script is an unforgettable journey into the secrets that can define us, and the courage that might set us free.” —Patti Callahan Henry, NY Times bestselling author of The Story She Left Behind
This extraordinary page-turner, filled with unexpected twists and turns, will lead you to an unforeseen conclusion and questioning whether times have truly changed. — Jane Loeb Rubin, award winning, bestselling author of the Gilded City series: Threadbare, In the Hands of Women, Over There
“Linda Rosen’s historical novel Abandoning the Script tackles the 1920s modern woman…her dreams, her choices, and the fight to see them through. Rosen expertly weaves the line between what women need, and what is best, culminating in a compelling novel rife with secrets, self-discovery, and the power of friendship and family. Engaging and immersive, Rosen delivers a deeply moving plot with a heartfelt conclusion.” — Rochelle Weinstein, bestselling author of We Are Made of Stars |
