Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George

After hearing McKelle George read from the book at her signing, I was sure the book would be fully of snappy dialogue and touching moments, and the story did not disappoint. Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, so I was very excited to read this historical version. For fans of Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, and Anna Godbersen.įirst Thought After Finishing: I love Shakespeare retellings and the excitement of the Roaring Twenties, and this book captured the best of both worlds! Hilariously clever and utterly charming, McKelle George’s debut novel is full of intrigue and 1920s charm. Despite all their worries, the summer is beautiful, love is in the air, and Beatrice and Benedick are caught up in a romantic battle of wits that their friends might be quietly orchestrating in the background. Along with Prince, a poor young man determined to prove his worth his brother John, a dark and dangerous agent of the local mob Benedick, a handsome trust-fund kid trying to become a writer and Maggie, a beautiful and talented singer Beatrice and Hero throw all their efforts into planning a massive party to save the speakeasy. Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, runs a struggling speakeasy out of the basement-one that might not survive the summer. But Hey Nonny Nonny is more than just a rundown old mansion. This decision will put her on a collision course with Ben that will have epic repercussions.Goodreads Summary: Six teenagers’ lives intertwine during one thrilling summer full of romantic misunderstandings and dangerous deals in this sparkling retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.Īfter she gets kicked out of boarding school, seventeen-year-old Beatrice goes to her uncle’s estate on Long Island. After money trouble sends her home from school before she can finish, she finds herself seeking assistance from her Uncle Leo and her cousin, Hero. She knows a great deal about the human body, car engines, and marksmanship - far more than a young lady should know. Beatrice has been reimagined as a wickedly smart young woman who craves the chance to study medicine. A quarrel with his father leads Ben to abandon his spot at prestigious school in New York City before sitting for his exit exams in order to fly to the countryside with his friends and try his hand at being a writer.

Instead, Ben, as he is often called would much rather earn his keep by writing stories on his precious typewriter. He is from a new money family, but he has no desire to work to keep the family accounts flooded with income. In this reimagining, Benedick is good friends with Prince and Hero. Like the play, the story largely centers around the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice.

Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George