A Fine Imitation by Amber Brock

I received and read my first book sent to me from Blogging for Books! They sent the book, “A Fine Imitation” by Amber Brock, to me for free in exchange for an honest review. 

I have to admit that when I first selected this book I did not have high expectations. The plot seemed rather basic to me. From the very first chapter  I knew I was 100% wrong! This book was well informed, well written, and completely riveting.

First, I need to comment on the writing style of this book. I usually have a hard time with books that switch back and forth between the past and the present but the book is so well written it was an easy transition every time. I also found that both the story unfolding in the present, and the story unfolding from the past were equally engrossing. Amber Brock managed to move seamlessly between a 31 year old woman in 1923 and her life in 1913 during her senior year of college. 

A Fine Imitation really touches on some difficult topics regarding social classes and social responsibilities surrounding America’s elite society of that time. It was a time when women were seen more as property or arm candy than an actual partner in life and marriages were still made for alliances rather than love. We also see how the air of exclusivity was, and still is in some cases, cultivated from an early age. 

This book provides an in depth look at the emotional turmoil of Vera Bellingham as she tries to navigate her life of endless meaningless parties with friends whose company is tedious at best, a sham of a marriage, and an overbearing and morally lacking mother. When an artist is employed by her husband, Vera is reminded of how her life should have been. Vera slowly begins to see that she has never truly lived but has simply existed in a fine imitation of a life.  The question now is, will she stay with Arthur in her gilded cage, or will she break free of that existence and finally truly find the love and happiness that she deserves in life?