This is a wonderful about New York in the 1930s and 40s, about gangsters, the war, the sea. It’s full of interesting characters and is told in a page turning way. The star of the novel is Anna. We get to watch her grow from a street smart young girl into a fearless, complex woman. Her relationship with her Dad and Dexter are fascinating but I loved best her relationship with her sister, Lydia.

One of the best authors of our time. Compelling, engrossing, it transports you back to the 40s with incredible characters and an amazing story.

So well written and so beautiful

I had high hopes for this novel, having read multiple positive reviews. I didn’t care about the characters, or the underwater work which was such a major element of this book. Sorely disappointed.

Manhattan Beach leaves you wanting more and makes you not want to put it down. But I was somewhat irritated at how often it switched POV and at the most intense times. I understand that this technique makes the reader want to continue reading but I wish it had disclosed exactly what happened to Dexter Styles at the time of his death. Not knowing exactly what happened to him, as we know with the other characters, left me annoyed. Other than that, overall it is a fantastic read with many surprises and revelations. Bravo.

Interesting characters and prose.

So-So ———if I’m felling generous, barely that if I’m not. I couldn’t get into it because I thought it was tedious.

I loved the main character’s tenacity and willingness to take massive risks

I got through the book though never gripped by the story after the initial few chapters. It seemed like a long walk through the woods to get to the end and even there, nothing to be excited about. It did not hold my interest like A Visit from the Goon Squad, I hope Egan’s next book packs more punch into the story than this one.

From start to finish fabulous. Even if I did not get back to reading it for 2 or 3 days. I always remembered what had happened previously. Characters stayed with me.. so happy Anna saved her child. All babies are a gift from God. Joan francis

I enjoyed the book but it was not a “page turner”. I felt like the author either has a huge vocabulary or decided to pepper the book with obscure words every so often. Not my favorite.

Jennifer Egan never disappoints. Great characters embraced by a wonderful story.

Interesting topic A lot of characters .....sometimes the author switches right into another story line without a pause or even a page break. Ran rather LONG in the middle

I’m not a history buff, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

When I finished this book I felt: I have just read a great book. I was feeling it will be hard to find another that is this good. Potential readers can find the plot summary and many reviews of Manhattan Beach. Reading this book by a gifted writer is pure pleasure.