I really tried to get through this book, but I found I just was not interested enough in the main character. I also found that there was too much "inside Shakespeare" to be appealing to the general reader. The references to how individual plays have been conceived and produced by contemporary theater directors was too niche to people in the theater world. I wish those sections were reduced.

This book is so lovely and New York-y in the best way. It reminded me a bit of Lilian Boxfish Takes a Walk and made me crave going out into the city for a long walk. It folds in other themes as well, but I just loved the dramatics and general vibe of Mona.

A well-crafted novel that grabs you from the beginning but unfortunately drags on a bit too long. It would be a five star read if it was wrapped up a little tighter.

A delightful, insightful, and critical view into the world of theater, New York City, and one woman’s reflection on her life as she enters her later years. Mona, one of the star performers in a Shakespearean troupe, struggles to reconcile her life as she lived it and the modern criticism of the mores of that time. The story asks, how will Mona reconcile her truth and experience while acknowledging that times have changed and she may be left behind if she does not change with them? Humorous, reflective, and insightful; I enjoyed taking the journey with Mona.

A thank you to W.W. Morton for an advanced readers copy.

I did not finish this book and will not rate anywhere outside of NetGalley. I just could not get into it. I may try it again in the future.