"A haunting meditation on the bonds between mothers and daughters. Zeldis offers a fascinating look into historic New York City and New Orleans, and her skill as a storyteller is matched by her compassion for her characters. What a beautiful read." — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace
“With lush descriptions of the fashions and customs of the day, Zeldis places readers in 1924 Brooklyn . . . Readers of Fiona Davis and Beatriz Williams will delight in this story about the strong bonds of women and motherhood in a rich historical setting.” — Booklist
“An intriguing and occasionally heartbreaking novel that's perfect for historical fiction fans." — Kirkus Reviews
"THE DRESSMAKERS OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS by Kitty Zeldis is gripping historical fiction at its very best. Three women whose lives are bound by a secret history are forced to make irreversible choices in order to survive. Moving from nineteenth-century Russia to the brothels of New Orleans in 1910, and landing in New York City in the 1920s, Zeldis doesn’t miss a beat. She weaves an exquisite tale filled with love, loss, despair, and forgiveness, as her richly developed characters tackle the difficult decisions one must make and the repercussions of those that are made for you." — Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire
"The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights is a page-turner about dreams dashed and rediscovered, secrets kept and revealed, and the redemptive power of love. The three women at the core of this unforgettable journey—from early 20th century Russia and New Orleans to 1920s New York, and from loneliness to belonging—will work their way into your heart." — Meg Waite Clayton, bestselling author of The Postmistress of Paris and The Last Train to London
"By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kitty Zeldis's The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights, set against the backdrop of the not-always-so-roaring Twenties, is an only-in-America story of reinvention, rising above tragedy, and finding family." — Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of Band of Sisters
“Every single page of The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights is filled with life. And in this beating heart of a book are three unforgettable women who show grit when reckoning with their painful pasts, grace when navigating vibrant 1920s Brooklyn, and glee when discovering their second acts. It’s a timely reminder of how strong women are—and how much stronger we are together.” — Karin Tanabe, author of A Woman of Intelligence
"The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights is a novel of vivid heartbreak and vibrant hope. Kitty Zeldis deftly winds her way through early New York, capturing the city at a time of limitless possibility with female characters as intriguing as their setting. Full of captivating language and nimble storytelling, The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights compels us to examine what it truly means to be someone’s mother or someone’s child, and whether we can ever be forgiven for the mistakes of our past." — Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Matchmaker's Gift and The Wartime Sisters
“Zeldis’s characters are well crafted and the narrative propulsive. Historical fiction fans will be drawn to this snapshot of an era less often portrayed in the genre.” — Publishers Weekly
“With themes of betrayal and love, followed ultimately by hope and new beginnings, Zeldis has written the type of historical fiction that book groups love.” — Library Journal
“With lush descriptions of the fashions and customs of the day, Zeldis places readers in 1924 Brooklyn . . ..Readers of Fiona Davis and Beatriz Williams will delight in this story about the strong bonds of women and motherhood in a rich historical setting." — Booklist
Praise for NOT OUR KIND: “[An] enthralling portrait of a woman daring to defy convention in the face of rigid social confines. Lively period details of the bustling city breathe life into Not Our Kind , a story capturing issues of discrimination, the marginalization of women and class disparities. Often veering in unexpected directions, the novel is filled with thought-provoking turns that explore timely subjects in a gripping light. . . . the book’s greatest strength is exploring how the building of relationships can help dissolve ignorance. . . . its themes linger long after the final page is read.” — USA Today
“Masterfully transports readers to 1947 New York to depict the relationships that develop between a young Jewish woman and a Protestant family. . . . Lively descriptions of 1940s clothing and culture complement the realistic characters. This is a vivid, winning novel.” — Publishers Weekly
“Drenched in rich and colorful prose, Zeldis portrays interpersonal relationships in a time and place framed in prejudice. Not Our Kind speaks to everyone, no matter what ‘kind’ you are.” — The Jewish Voice (Philadelphia)
“A richly layered assimilation story set in post-WWII Manhattan. . . . chapters that alternate between Patricia’s and Eleanor’s point of view enable these co-protagonists to be defined by more than their stance on a Jewish question that’s both urgent and on the wane in the post-WWII era. . . . an historical novel that resonates in contemporary Trumpian America. . . . [a] very good novel.” — Washington Independent Review of Books
“A young Jewish teacher and a WASPy married woman find an unexpected connection in post-World War II New York. . . . A compelling tale of friendship, class, prejudice, and love.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Zeldis’s novel is plush and inviting. . . .This is a story about mothers, daughters, and sisters—those born to us and those we choose—of women actively creating families rather than waiting for them to appear. A heartfelt read.” — Historical Novel Society
A haunting meditation on the bonds between mothers and daughters…[and] offers a fascinating look into historic New York City and New Orleans,.”
New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis
Gripping historical fiction at its very best…Her richly developed characters tackle the difficult decisions one must make and the repercussions of those that are made for you.”
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Barr
Praise for NOT OUR KIND: “[An] enthralling portrait of a woman daring to defy convention in the face of rigid social confines. Lively period details of the bustling city breathe life into Not Our Kind , a story capturing issues of discrimination, the marginalization of women and class disparities. Often veering in unexpected directions, the novel is filled with thought-provoking turns that explore timely subjects in a gripping light. . . . the book’s greatest strength is exploring how the building of relationships can help dissolve ignorance. . . . its themes linger long after the final page is read.
A richly layered assimilation story set in post-WWII Manhattan. . . . chapters that alternate between Patricia’s and Eleanor’s point of view enable these co-protagonists to be defined by more than their stance on a Jewish question that’s both urgent and on the wane in the post-WWII era. . . . an historical novel that resonates in contemporary Trumpian America. . . . [a] very good novel.
Washington Independent Review of Books
Drenched in rich and colorful prose, Zeldis portrays interpersonal relationships in a time and place framed in prejudice. Not Our Kind speaks to everyone, no matter what ‘kind’ you are.
The Jewish Voice (Philadelphia)
Praise for NOT OUR KIND: “[An] enthralling portrait of a woman daring to defy convention in the face of rigid social confines. Lively period details of the bustling city breathe life into Not Our Kind , a story capturing issues of discrimination, the marginalization of women and class disparities. Often veering in unexpected directions, the novel is filled with thought-provoking turns that explore timely subjects in a gripping light. . . . the book’s greatest strength is exploring how the building of relationships can help dissolve ignorance. . . . its themes linger long after the final page is read.
Drenched in rich and colorful prose, Zeldis portrays interpersonal relationships in a time and place framed in prejudice. Not Our Kind speaks to everyone, no matter what ‘kind’ you are.
The Jewish Voice (Philadelphia)
Masterfully transports readers to 1947 New York to depict the relationships that develop between a young Jewish woman and a Protestant family. . . . Lively descriptions of 1940s clothing and culture complement the realistic characters. This is a vivid, winning novel.
Drenched in rich and colorful prose, Zeldis portrays interpersonal relationships in a time and place framed in prejudice. Not Our Kind speaks to everyone, no matter what ‘kind’ you are.
10/01/2022
Set a century ago, this latest novel from Zeldis (Not Our Kind ) tells the story of three strong women who overcome remarkable odds to find and help each other and thrive. The story begins with Catherine, newly married and joyfully anticipating starting a family. She is shattered by the loss of her baby and her fertility. A parallel narrative follows middle-aged Bea and her teenage ward, Alice. Bea has a mysterious past connection to Catherine. Over the course of the book, readers learn about Bea's tragic early life as a Jewish person in late 19th-century Russia and Alice's neglected background, and what both had to do to survive. The book explores the joys and potential horrors of pregnancy, and babies, both wanted or unwanted, as well as the bonds between mothers and daughters, both adopted and birth. Zeldis focuses on women's lives and portrays the harshness of being dependent on men; the male characters vary from unrepentantly abusive to wonderfully kind, as is the case with Catherine's husband. VERDICT With themes of betrayal and love, followed ultimately by hope and new beginnings, Zeldis has written the type of historical fiction that book groups love, about strong women overcoming horrible situations.—Jan Marry
Karen Gundersen keeps listeners engaged as this historical fiction shifts between 1910s New Orleans and 1920s New York City. Listeners come to know Bea, Alice, and Katherine as their secrets unravel to reveal unexpectedly entangled lives. Bea's slight accent is a remnant of her past as an orphaned immigrant, and her experiences are key to understanding her life choices. Alice, her young ward, is confident of her skills with a needle and thread but less sure of her place in Bea's world. When the privileged Katherine enters the dress shop, forces are put in motion that will expose secrets, upend preconceived judgments, and stretch family bonds. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Karen Gundersen keeps listeners engaged as this historical fiction shifts between 1910s New Orleans and 1920s New York City. Listeners come to know Bea, Alice, and Katherine as their secrets unravel to reveal unexpectedly entangled lives. Bea's slight accent is a remnant of her past as an orphaned immigrant, and her experiences are key to understanding her life choices. Alice, her young ward, is confident of her skills with a needle and thread but less sure of her place in Bea's world. When the privileged Katherine enters the dress shop, forces are put in motion that will expose secrets, upend preconceived judgments, and stretch family bonds. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2022-09-28
Catherine Berrill wants nothing more than a baby to call her own, but she and her husband can’t seem to conceive. One day, to cheer herself up, she wanders into a dress shop in her Brooklyn neighborhood. The shop is run by Beatrice Jones, a Jewish woman who'd recently arrived from New Orleans, bringing with her orphaned teenager Alice Wilkerson. What Catherine doesn’t know is that their meeting isn't pure chance—Bea came to New York specifically to find her. They have a history together that Bea is afraid to reveal for many reasons, not the least of which is that telling Catherine the truth might expose Bea’s past as a madam at a well-known brothel in New Orleans. But as Catherine and Bea get closer, Alice starts to feel jealous of their connection. With no family and no friends other than Bea, she's lonely in their new city and starts lashing out. When Bea’s past is finally revealed, the three women must decide how they fit into each other’s new lives—if they do at all. Zeldis paints a vivid portrait of 1920s Brooklyn, full of life and culture. The narrative loses some momentum when it takes long digressions into Bea’s past in Russia, even if those details are important to understanding Bea’s character and her decisions. The most striking and heartbreaking element of the story is how the women are connected not just by their past, but by the persistent thread of sexual harassment and abuse—Alice, especially, suffers at the hands of men. Ultimately, though, the real story is about the bonds among the three women and the ways they help and support one another through immense challenges.
An intriguing and occasionally heartbreaking novel that's perfect for historical fiction fans.
