I had no idea what to expect going into Rules of Civility as my edition has zero plot summary and just plenty of critical acclaim all over it. However, Amanda of Dead White Guys said that the novel had hints of Gatsby and Breakfast at Tiffany's, which only sounded like a good thing.

The novel follows Katey Kontent (as in the state of mind) in late 1930s New York. Spending New Year with her friend Eve Ross leads to a chance meeting with the wealthy Tinker Grey and sets their lives on a whole new course.

Towles's writing is brilliant; he really inhabits Katey's voice (again, an example of a man who can actually write women well). Katey herself is a character in the Nick Carraway mould, she serves to really observe the lives of others-although we also do get rare insights into her life as the child of immigrants, my personal favourite being the discovery of her 'quiet places'. The other characters were also interesting; although I didn't really warm to Eve; I felt that Tinker was well drawn and Towles's exploration of class through this character was really interesting. Whilst I did guess one key plot point, this is no way ruined my experience of reading the novel.

I think this is an occasion when I so like the novel I struggle to really say things about it! I really recommend this, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Amor Towles does next.