I was curious about this novel because it recounts the early days of the Algonquin Round Table and the life of a young Dorothy Parker and her best pals, especially Jane Grant. Though the novel was billed as Jazz Age Sex and the City, I didn't quite catch that vibe. 

Four young women in post- World War Manhattan become friends, helping help each other through troubled times and celebrating each other's victories. Much of the book focuses on the women's love / marriage relationships. The other main theme deals with the roadblocks professional women faced in the 1920s, such as the infamous casting couch.

These women, especially Parker, were surrounded by lots of drama and daunting setbacks. The novel offers interesting background on the lives of Dorothy Parker, Jane Grant (co-founder of The New Yorker),  Peggy Leech (historian and novelist), and Winifred Lenihan (actor and director). We also gain insight into several other members of the Round Table, such as Neysa McMein, Harold Ross, and Alex Woollcott.

In the end, the novel was only okay for me. Parker's behavior became tedious and much of the book described fairly flat characters: terrible men and victimized women. The book is (of course) fiction, and I have no opinion on Paul's research and accuracy. Still, I can't help but think that these eventually successful women had more strengths than were presented and that the men must have had some elements of decency. 

The unabridged audiobook was performed by Lisa Flanagan, who did a good job distinguishing among the characters. Her expressive delivery kept me engaged, and I wonder if I would have finished the book without Flanagan to hold my attention.

Thanks to the publisher for providing review copies in various formats.