The Girl From The Papers

Title: The Girl From the Papers

Author: Jennifer L. Wright

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction

Source: Library

My Review:

I love the cover of The Girl From the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright. I happened upon it in a bookstore and read about half of the back. The storyline drew me in, and I decided to get it from my library.

I did not know much about Bonnie and Clyde before reading this book. Of course, I had heard of them. The Girl From the Papers gives a lot of factual events about Bonnie and Clyde but also takes some creative liberties. 

While the story was well-written, I struggled with liking the characters and enjoying the plot. I made myself finish it, hoping for a great ending. But I guess Bonnie and Clyde didn't have the best ending so why should the story? (although the ending is not the same as the real-life examples)

Overall, this one was a complete miss for me. I am giving it three stars because it is well-written, and the issues I don't like are my issues. It wasn't a terrible story deserving an exceptionally low rating.

★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads): 

Inspired by one of America's most notorious couples, Bonnie and Clyde, Jennifer L. Wright delivers a riveting tale set during the public enemy era of the Great Depression.

Beatrice Carraway has dreams. Although she's aged out of the childhood pageant circuit, she's intent on carrying her talents all the way to the big screen--if only she can escape the poverty of West Dallas first. But as the Great Depression drags the working class further and further under, Beatrice struggles just to keep herself, her mother, and her younger sister afloat. After a string of failed auditions, she feels defeated.

And then in walks Jack Turner. Though Beatrice is determined to pull herself up by her bootstraps, Jack has decided on a different path out of the gutters. It isn't long before Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime beside the man she loves. Keeping one step ahead of the law, she sees her dreams of fame come true when her name and picture are plastered in newspapers across the country. Yet as their infamy grows, the distance between them widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts and publicity, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul. But when the danger of Jack's schemes ratchets up, Beatrice fears her dreams--and her future--will end up going down in a hail of bullets.