When Peggy Batternberg's family bids her drop her plebeian job at a bookshop and join them for a summer holiday at the Oriental Hotel, she fumes at the idea. But wealthy Jewish financiers are not used to being denied, and out of consideration for her younger sister's feelings, Peggy bows to the decree. The aristocratic beaches of 1911 New York and the unbridled license of the Coney Island carnivals form the backdrop for the suspenseful drama that unfolds. 

Stifled by her family's expectations and by the heat of the New York summer, Peggy supports her sister Lydia's tenuous engagement to playboy Henry Taul with ill grace. Dismayed by the debauchery of her cousins and uncle, she attempts to keep her younger brother Lawrence away from their influence. When she abandons restrictive chaperones to explore the seedy carnival Dreamland on her own, a chance encounter with a Futurist artist named Stefan upends her world. What would it be like to escape her gilded prison and find happiness with a man unafraid to work hard, dream dauntlessly, and love unstintingly?

Daydreams turn into nightmares when three young women are found murdered in the vicinity of the hotel. As the police begin a manhunt, clever Peggy realizes that the women all share some connection to her family, to her world, and to her relationship with Stefan--if only she can discover what before it is too late....

I've clearly been reading too much "fluff" lately because my first thought when cracking open this novel was "Ahhh! Now here at last is some good writing." As usual, Bilyeau's turn of phrase is exquisite. The milieu of the story is far-reaching and immersive (covering everything from unrest in the Balkans to Sigmund Freud's interpretation of dreams). The pacing of the story is slow but suspenseful, unhurried but captivating (except for the ending, which felt rushed and a little unsatisfactory).

The character that I most enjoyed in this book was the protagonist, Peggy. I noticed that some other reviewers felt her personality to be contradictory (how she wanted to be a modern, independent woman but agreed to abandon her job and principles to go on a lavish holiday), but I enjoyed the way that she tempered her desire for independence with her consideration for her sister's happiness. The relationship between Peggy and Lydia was one of my favorite parts of the book, their fierce loyalty to each other as they navigate the strictures of society and family. 

As far as secondary characters go, Henry Taul was also well-portrayed, with his manic personality and perplexing desires, but I wish the story had been more finely honed to sharpen the images of the other characters. Ben, Peggy's enigmatic elder cousin, especially needed more time to reveal himself. Supposedly he was a dangerous man, but how? Why? Stefan, the Serbian hot-dog-seller/artist, also felt underdeveloped, and in many ways, completely overshadowed by Peggy. Perhaps the book needed to be longer, or perhaps it needed less time spent on the 1911 atmosphere (a remarkable "character" in and of itself) and more time spent on fleshing out the people.

Dreamland is sure to enchant those who love the glamour and lights of a Great Gatsby-esque world, those who love the clash of classes in a rigidly-tiered society, and those who simply love a good dose of suspense in their historical novels.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Don’t mind me, I’m just sitting here brooding about how eternally bitter I am that I’ll never get to experience Dreamland’s Hell Gate ride.

This is a gorgeously rendered, atmospheric historical mystery that is rooted in exceptional setting and descriptives.

From the sometimes dreamy, sometimes menacing depictions of the amusement parks and Coney Island as a whole to the somber portrayals of the oppressive, suffocating world of the rich in the early 1900s, Bilyeau gives the reader a sensory experience that isn’t often achieved with the written word.

And while I expected to be dazzled by atmosphere in Dreamland, I was also pleasantly surprised by the depth of character building and propulsive plot that accompanied it.

I have only a single note, and that is regarding the title. As apropos as it is to simply call this book Dreamland, there is another book on the same topic with the same title, written by Kevin Baker. I wonder if a slight tweak to the title might help avoid confusion between the two books.

An utter delight to read. I only wish there were more.

Peggy Batternberg is trying to break free from the stifling atmosphere of her rich and powerful family, and is happily working in a bookshop; however, she's summoned back to join the Batternbergs as they holiday on Coney Island.

At first resentful at her family for again pushing her to conform, Peggy soon finds herself fascinated by the Dreamland theme park, and finds her first love... but also finds violent crime touching those around her.

This was a pleasant enough read, and I loved the vivid descriptions of the setting. However, the narrative was sometimes clunky, and the storyline often predictable - still a fun read though.

I thought this was a great book. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I loved Peggy as a character and it was hard to read about how she and other women were treated in this book, but I know that is the time for you. 1911 was before the women had the right to vote and all Peggy wanted to do is work in the bookstore, but since she comes from a rich family they think they know what she needs to do and how to act. When she is forced to go on a family holiday in hopes that her sister can finally set a wedding date with her horrible ex she finds mystery, murder, and love along the way. This book was full of twist and turns. I would get a finished copy of it when it comes out in January of 2020. Thanks again to Net Galley for an ARC copy.

What a wonderful trip back in time to Coney Island, as the rich and entitled experienced it. Peggy Batternberg and her wealthy family are spending the summer at the exclusive Oriental Hotel, just near the amusement parks of Coney Island. Despite the setting and wealth, their summer is rife with mystery, scandal, intrigue, danger, and summer love. I really enjoyed spending time in this world of rarefied luxury. Peggy rejects much of what her privileged life entails and when she crosses to the other side of the tracks, the story is just as interesting. This was an extremely entertaining book that I couldn't wait to return to each day. The mystery was just enough to keep me guessing and I found myself trying to work out who was the bad element when I wasn't reading. Highly recommend this one. LOVE the cover too!

Thanks sooo much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 1/16/2020
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Peggy Batternberg belongs to the Batternberg family, one of the richest families in New York in 1911. Despite her family’s best wishes, Peggy is happy working at a bookstore, living in an apartment, and feeling some semblance of a normal life. She is NOT happy, however, when her uncle forces her to quit her job and spend the summer at The Oriental Hotel near Coney Island. The pressure is on for Peggy’s sister Lydia to secure an engagement to her boyfriend, whose family just so happens to also be spending the summer at The Oriental. Immediately upon arrival, Peggy is drawn to the seedy adventure of Coney Island. She falls for Stefan, a Serbian artist, and is drawn to his lifestyle. When young women start showing up dead, questions are raised and accusations are thrown. Peggy soon realizes that many people she knows and loves hold deep, dark secrets that will impact her family’s life forever.
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Historical fiction and thriller mysteries are my two favorite genres, and both come together beautifully in Dreamland. I really loving reading about New York in the early 1900’s, and Bilyeau paints an excellent portrait of the time period. While it may not be a non-stop thriller, I really enjoyed the mystery and the action towards the end of the novel. Peggy is independent and I afraid of defying her family’s lofty expectations... and I LOVED that about her. Dreamland is a slow burn that pays off in the end. Thank you Endeavour and Net Galley for my advanced readers copy! Dreamland will be released in the US on 1/16/20

I really enjoyed this novel. The character development was great. I really enjoyed getting to know each character. I love how feminism was explored. The female characters were very strong. The twists and turns were great too.

I knew this was a historical fiction novel that took place in 1911 New York but I wasn't expecting the full mystery that came along. I had anticipated more of a character driven family novel. Which the novel partly was, just not to the extent I had expected. This isn't a complaint just an unexpected turn for me.

The book follows 20 something heiress Peggy as she's forced to quit her current job and sliver of independence and follow her family to Coney Island for a summer vacation. She is what they refer to as a "new woman" and fights against the stifling family expectations on how a woman should be and behave. During the family vacation family drama ensues and a local mystery pops up.

I found the writing beautifully descriptive and engaging in the beginning. It had a bit of a victorian feel to me. Sort of a Agatha Christie meets The Museum of Extraordinary Things vibe going. I was engaged in the beginning and couldn't put the book down. I'm not sure exactly why it fell slightly flat to me. Maybe due to the ending feeling a bit rushed and the main character (while daring and fiercely independent ahead of the times) naivety came across as slightly exasperating at times. Fans of City of Girls may enjoy this one.

***Thank you to Hannah Groves form Endeavor Media who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.***

"If Paris is France, then Coney Island, between June and September, is the world." (George C. Tilyou, 1886)

Nancy Bilyeau presents a rip roarin' stroll on the boardwalk on Coney Island in 1911. She adds lustre tinged with darkness as Brooklyn becomes a showcase for in-your-face class distinction, jutting prime real estate, upscale grand hotels overlooking the high-jinks of people at play, the paralyzing fear of European anarchists, and America perched on the brink of war.

Peggy Batternberg views life from an almost aerial perspective. Born into one of the richest families in America, Peggy can't seem to get away fast enough from the clutches of the rich and famous. She's taken a job at the Moonrise Bookstore in New York City posing as a plain, run of the mill shop girl. Peggy just wants an every day life without a personal maid drawing her bath each evening. But those simple days come to an abrupt halt as she is whisked away from the store by her Uncle David, the judge and jury of the Batternberg family.

It seems that Peggy must meet the demands of her family now that her sister, Lydia, is marrying one of the richest men in New York. Her presence is required at the Oriental Hotel in Brooklyn overlooking Coney Island for the summer months. Peggy feels obligated after she receives the parental look from her widowed mother. But our gal Peggy has a bit of a past connection with Lydia's fiance in which she's trying to keep under wraps..

Not to be shackled to her hotel bed, Peggy sneaks away one evening to enjoy the raucous crowds of a Coney Island night. It's here that she meets a talented Serbian artist. Peggy purchases two of his paintings and they develop a relationship. The handsome artist, Stefan, is irresistable and charming. But like a dark shadow in the moonlight, young women are turning up dead near Dreamland. Peggy and Stefan may have witnessed something at one of their rendezvous meetings. And the police may just suspect Peggy and Stefan in return.

Nancy Bilyeau does a fine job surrounding this storyline with all things Coney Island. The setting provides just the right amount of who done it and why. She's done her research and her atmospheric descriptors are spot-on. Her character of Peggy reflects women of the time period who ached for something more in life while being plagued with social mores and limits. This one is a winner with no prized Kewpie Doll necessary.......just a very satisfying read.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Endeavor Media and to Nancy Bilyeau for the opportunity.

Dreamland

Glued to my screen!!! I was lured in with a girl working at a bookstore: Moonrise Bookstore (who could resist that name?). I followed the breadcrumbs willingly. . . .and even when the plot seemed to turn a corner, and I spoke the murderer’s name out loud so I would have the smug satisfaction of saying I’d called it before halfway through, there was no loosening my grip on that kindle. I stayed to the very, very end. Breathless and all.

This was a roller coaster read. The characters fit their parts and the setting in Coney Island’s Dreamland with all the actual events of 1911 woven in as they were could have felt very contrived. They didn’t – it felt exactly right, deftly woven in with the action and decorated with exquisite side characters. And was I right about whodunit? Nope. Not even close. It’s even better when the author bests me – I don’t mind, a bit!

I’m looking for more from Nancy Bilyeau. . .her book “The Blue” was an earlier read from this year – look for it, too.

A 4.5 stars recommendation from me for Dreamland!

A sincere thanks to Nancy Bilyeu, Endeavour Quill/Endeavor Media Ltd and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bilyeau has done a fantastic job at portraying a family that has let its wealth make some naive and others corrupt. It was very easy to sympathise with Stefan (who was my favourite character) and the ordeal he went through in this book. However, I found Peggy's character development lacking, showing consistent naivety and grasping ideas very slowly. At times, following her became rather frustrating, as if the reader is always five steps ahead of her.

The setting of Dreamland crossed a strange line between mythical and fabricated, with a dark undertone (and also general tone) that ran through those scenes. I really liked that you couldn't quite be sure what to expect when the characters entered the theme park.

The villains of the story were very unredeemable; it was difficult to see any kind of humanity in them or reason behind their actions. It would have been good to explore their characters a bit more.

A beautiful story. Having read other offerings by Ms. Bilyeau, I knew this would be a special treat. I was surprised at the setting however because previous books by her were set in England many centuries ago. This was a refreshing change since it was set at the turn of the 20th century in New York City and surrounded the idea of class society and immigration at the time. Wonderful character development and beautiful ideas. I was especially excited about the fact that it was about a young woman who was trying to go against the grain of what was assumed was the norm for women of the time. I would highly recommend this to any budding feminists in our midst.

DREAMLAND is a wonderful look at a young woman who doesn't conform to society. She is part of the privileged class of monied families that populated New York City sitting side by side with the Rockerfellers, Astors, and Vanderbilts but even when her branch of the family falls on hard times, fights tradition of marrying for wealth. Her ways of escaping are working in interesting places until the family finds her and even she is not prepared for a summer near the seductive Coney Island. A perfect pick for historical fiction lovers especially those who look for a spunky heroine. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I really enjoyed ‘Dreamland’ by Nancy Bilyeau. Whilst it was an easy read it was also well written. The story, whilst set in the early part of the twentieth century had themes running through it that were bang up to date : racism, anti-semitism etc.

Dreamland is a historical novel set in Coney Island, 1911. Peggy Batternberg is from a prominent NYC Jewish family who decide to spend the summer months at the Oriental Hotel on Coney Island. Peggy visits Dreamland amusement park with her cousins and meets a handsome artist, Stefan. Stefan is a hard working immigrant and someone her family would not approve of. Peggy and Stefan begin seeing each other secretly just as a series of shocking murders occur on Coney Island. Stefan is accused and Peggy works to clear his name.

I wanted to read this novel because I love fiction about long ago amusement parks (i.e. Palisades Park by Alan Brennert and Joyland by Stephen King). I LOVED the glimpses of Dreamland in this book. They were absolutely fascinating!

The first half of the novel was fast moving and compelling. At some point, though, there seemed to be a problem of balance between the romance and the mystery story, and both lost some steam in the process.

As someone who loves historical fiction (favorite genre) and historical mysteries, I am glad I read this book, despite some reservations about the conclusion.

I have just finished reading Dreamland By Nancy Bilyeau.

The story is a historical fiction/mystery that takes place in 1911 in Coney Island, with the main character being an American Heiress, Peggy Battenberg

This to me was both very interesting and enjoyable. the era and place make for a great read. The clothing, decor, and intrigue set up for a book that kept me interested from start to finish!

Thank you to NeGalley, Nancy Bilyeau, and Endeavour Media

I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. It spoke of danger and thrills. I can say with certainty that this book delivered.

Peggy Batternberg is part of a wealthy, snobbish family. They throw their money around and thinks it exempts them from the same treatment as the working class. Unfortunately, in many cases they are correct. Peggy herself hates the way her family acts. When the book opens, she’s working in a bookstore. Not for the money, which she doesn’t need, but for a sense of freedom. She’s pulled away to spend the summer on Coney Island with her family, and her sister’s fiance, who is an absolute jerk.

While in Coney Island, Peggy falls for an artist, but when women are found murdered, he’s the main suspect. Peggy has to prove he’s innocent- provided he actually is. Her efforts show the disparity between how the wealthy and working class are treated. The more Peggy pries, the more dangerous things become.

Peggy herself annoyed the living snot out of me at first. She looked down on her family’s privilege, but was perfectly okay with enjoying them herself. Her hypocrisy really bugged me. However, as the story went on, she began to change and mature. I liked her much more by the end of the book.

The story itself was really good. I liked the wealth of detail the author provided, and the pictures she painted with her words. I was able to picture every part of Coney Island, and it made the book incredibly enjoyable.

While I could see the ending from a mile away, it didn’t dull my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. This is one of the better mysteries I’ve read this year, and I’ll happily read more of Nancy Bilyeau’s books.

I was given a copy of Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the setting of this novel. 1910s New York was a really cool place to explore. I haven’t read many novels set in the 1910’s and find it to be an underappreciated era. I also love novels centered around amusement parks, circuses or carnivals etc. I was intrigued by the Coney Island setting. I really wanted more of it but the glimpses the reader got were great. I can tell the author did really good research on the era as well. Little conversations about things like women’s suffrage and incubators in carnival side shows really pinpoint that. There were multiple times where I learned things and also smiled when the novel talked about historical elements I knew about. There was also great discussion on how stymied women felt at this time. How many longed to venture out of their “sphere”. Feminism in the book was very present but in a historically appropriate amount. There were also great discussions of racism and hatred for immigrants in the novel. Really showed in a lot of ways our society hasn’t changed.

I really liked Peggy. She seemed like the modern girl that many people are more familiar with coming out of the 1920s. I immediately was invested in her story line. She never felt like a poor little rich girl.

The mystery was ok. I liked the premise of the mystery but found it a little obvious. I figured out quite early on who the murderer was. And found the villain to be a bit one dimensional.

I thought the romance was sweet. Young and innocent in a lot of ways. I was actually surprised with how it ended and loved that ending.

Overall I really found this book interesting and enjoyed it. I’d recommend it to people who enjoy historical fiction.

Bilyeau’s new novel takes us to 1911 Coney Island and into the world of the Peggy, a twenty-year old heiress who is not your typical socialite. She is strong willed, independent and intelligent against the wishes of her family who is concerned with appearances. When she meets an immigrant artist in the Dreamland amusement park and falls for him, she realises just how different life is for the working class. As girls start to turn up murdered, Peggy finds she needs to defy her family even more to help solve the murders and free an innocent man. Wonderfully developed characters and rich descriptions of the settings add to this suspenseful historical thriller and make for a great read.

Thanks so much for the ARC for Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau. I was sucked right into to 1911 New York -- Coney Island in the summer. The characters grabbed me right away and the mystery was strong. I thought I knew who "done it" but I was never sure and had to keep reading to be sure.