Wowza! What an interesting, intriguing, informative story takes place at the 80’s fabulously waning times of Wisconsin’s Playboy House!

Yes,I know those few words already got your attention! Welcome to the bunnies world! Nope, we’re not reading “Watership Down”, I’m not talking about those lovely, big eared, fluffy, jumping little animals! I’m talking about girls in bunny costumes. A sensational, scandalous era of the history. Do you want to know more about the story? Let’s focus on:

Sherri Taylor raised in small town neighboring East Troy, always having trouble to adjust in her social circle, playing organ at church,living under the criticizing looks of town’s people and now at 19, she’s an orphan: she lost both of her parents, all alone in the world. She has no idea what she’s going to do with her life.

Her best friend Roberta gives her idea to apply for being a “ Playboy bunny” at the resort located at the neighborhood, small town of Lake Geneva. And she cannot believe in her luck because she gets approval.

But she’s a great candidate to be one of the girls who also come from small towns, poverty, dysfunctional family lives, looking for a fresh start. They both learn to walk in their high heeled stilettos, two size tighter costumes show more curves and cleavages. Their innocence and naivety slowly disappear as they’re welcome to the world of men, sex, drugs without rock n roll!

After losing her blood family, Sherri feels like she just created her new one! But her life gets more out of control as she is dragged too deep in this notorious life style.

The author’s way honest and realistic way to tell the story picks your interest and you want to learn more about that part of history has not been much told. It’s well researched, detailed, well-balanced with realistic character analysis.

Sherri’s choices, flaws, mistakes were depicted genuinely even though she is not my favorite literature character, I still understand her motives, her suffering from the consequences of her faults.

It was a fast pacing, captivating novel keeps in your attention intact and hooking you from the first chapters.

Normally I’m not a big fan of historical fiction but trust me! This is easy to read,riveting kind of enjoyable book with great character portraits and honest depictions about the era.

I’m giving my 4 energizer bunny stars with recommendation to genre lovers!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital copy of this unique book in exchange my honest review.

Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy is a look at one girl's life as a Playboy Bunny and what happened after she left the hutch.

Sherri is at loose ends when her friend Roberta mentions she has an interview to be a bunny at the Playboy resort, so Sherri tags along and is hired. She navigates life as a bunny with all its ups and downs, the men, the drinks and the drugs until she no longer is wanted there. From there life is not what she expected and the novel follows her decisions, good and bad to her late life.

I had a hard time feeling empathy for Sherri, I felt she created a lot of her own issues. The author was very descriptive in her narrative and you could see the scenery clearly, putting you right in place with the characters. However, many times I didn't want to be with them. I struggled through much of this.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I read an advanced copy of, Shoulder Season, by Christina Clancy. Sherri is the all american girl next door. I just could not get in to this book. It was interesting about the playboy bunnies and such but I never really warmed up to Sherri.

An interesting take on the choices a young adult makes. Sherri is suddenly on her own when her mom dies and making her own choices for the first time. She sure makes some poor choices. The bulk of the book looks at her time as a playboy bunny. The book takes place when the playboy industry was at it's prime. There is plenty of detail that keeps the book interesting. A wide range of characters added to the tale. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it.

It's palm springs 2019 Sherri is standing outside the art museum. She has a boyfriend Bayard. I loved the characters,dialogue,descriptions. It goes back in time to 1981 and talks about Roberta and Sherri. Sherri's mother suggests she opens a store

Intriguing story of the time in the life of a nineteen year old novice Playboy bunny. There is friendship and comradery, scandal and back stabbing, and revelry and drugs portrayed realistically and with grit.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sherri becomes a Playboy bunny to escape her small town life, but remains a small town girl inside. She gets caught up in the bunny life and parties like crazy. She meets and loves men. This is her story...

This was such an amazing story! Sherri is on her own, from a small town in Wisconsin. Her friend Roberta tells her she has an interview at the Playboy Club resort to be a Playboy Bunny. She wants Sherri to come and apply too. Reluctantly, Sherri goes along and is hired, but Roberta is not. Sherri has found a new family among her co-workers. She is looking for glamor, fun, non-stop parties and magical romance. Along the way she makes mistakes, learns from some, but not from others. At the end of the cycle it all comes together for her. I could not do justice in giving more details. It is simply a delightful story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy is a great historic fiction novel that was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I enjoyed traveling along with Sherri, her friend Roberta, and the full cast of characters as Sherri navigates small town Wisconsin, the 1980s, and figuring out life in general. I enjoyed Sherri. She was realistic, entertaining, complex, imperfect, yet like able and relatable. Her life certainly was not dull. It was great to follow along while she ventured out, grew into her own, made mistakes, found love, and found herself.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I enjoyed the plot, the smooth dialogue, and the pacing. This is the second book I have read from Ms. Clancy, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

This book was one of the easiest to read that I’ve read in a while. From the very first the story flowed very well. It’s an interesting storyline with believable characters. Sherri is the heroine of the story. She lives in a small backwoods town in Wisconsin. Her best friend is Roberta. Sherri’s life is going nowhere. And then Roberta decides to apply to be a Playboy bunny at a that is fairly close to their “one horse” town. I think I knew Sherri when I was in high school ~ that’s how realistic the characters were. That and the fast paced story made this a five-star book. I would definitely read another book from this author and I will recommend it to anyone. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

A story about being a Playboy Bunny and life after the Bunny is no more. I enjoyed the story and the characters who seemed quite real. The Bunnies had a hard job they also played hard when off the clock. There were some surprises. The characters were real with flaws like the rest of us.

This was a hard book to read, yet I couldn't put it down. The protagonist reminded me of so many people I have known through the years with her short-sided hedonistic outlook. and poor decisions. I spent 90% of the book frustrated and wanting to just stop reading but like a train wreck I just couldn't stop looking,. Plus, I cared about the character, and was really pulling for her to make it through and learn and grow.
I'm not really sure how to rate this book, since it left me with so many conflicting emotions. I think this is exactly the intent of the author, and in the end, I have to give it 4 stars. Very well written, though not normally the type of story I would read.

Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy, published by St. Martin's Press, is a full length, stand alone, contemporary romance. I loved her A Second Home and thought lets give this book a try. Yay me .
The story is told in the rare 3rd pov.
Sherri has lived her life to the fullest. She grew up in a small town, an only child who was early without any family. She simply goes and find a new family, not by blood, but by choice. Sound easy peasy? No there's nothing easy peasy in this story. It's a complex story, well written who tells Sherri's ups and downs, her successes, her mistakes and her lovestory. She lived a life fullfilled; with people and love- and at the end she comes full circle.
I started reading and was immediatedly sucked into the story, an intriguing read that had me in suspense til the last page.
I loved Sherri's character and at some point my heart was bleeding for her. She goes from a young girl who knows not much about life to a mature adult, like I said, a life well lived. I loved the storyline and the outstanding writing just like the characters. A great read, 5 stars.

Christina Clancy has captured my admiration. This is the second novel I have read and she is a master at creating the towns and the people that inhabit them. Her first book centered on the New England cape towns and one family who vacationed there for years and captured the rhythms and the traditions a family embraces when they create memories and attachments. This new novel moves to Wisconsin and succeeds in bringing the small town of East Troy to life. It is clear from the beginning of the book that she knows this place intimately because her family has experienced it. No one could succeed in writing this marvelous story without first hand knowledge of East Troy. It is an expansive novel that spans forty years and follows a young girl’s journey from deprivation and sorrow to success and self awareness. Along the way, we meet a myriad of friends and fellow employees at the famous Playboy Club in her community. This is a terrific look inside of that era and it’s disintegration as women’s rights emerged in the 20th century. So glad you offered me a preview of this book I know will be well received.