I'm a big fan of historical fiction, so I was excited to read this book. It was both heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time. I read this book in two days, it was that good. Tugs at the heartstrings, but you can't put it down. I loved it.

This is a novel inspired by a real photograph or maybe a strategically staged photograph highlighting the poverty and privation that might result in the mother putting up her own children for sale. Inexplicably the cover of the novel doesn’t feature that or similar image, but it does try to present the horrible circumstances of the Depression Era that led to devastating, impossible choices. Plus set right in and outside of the City of Brotherly Something, before it turned into the sh*tshow it is presently. So the subject matter is good, the execution is another thing altogether. The writing is strictly women’s lit, which is to say a more serious version of chicklit. Perfectly readable, but consistently plain as plain can be, every sentence and nearly every action is the most obvious choice, almost all of the characters are too good to be properly dimensional, all intentions are overexplained and the main motivations are as noble and pure as fiction demands. In other words, easy reading (despite the subject matter) and wrapped up all so neatly and adorably in the end, it’s a surprise it doesn’t come with a bow. Emotional manipulation can be tolerated when the story is worth it, but this was just decidedly mediocre with nearly strategic lachrymose moments inserted throughout. A Lifetime movie of a book, the sort that never even considers challenging the reader. Read quickly enough, for what it’s worth, provided a mild diversion, but never really lived up to what it might have been given the gravity of the premise. Thanks Netgalley.

A story that transports us back in time that as years pass by is a reminder of what was. Newspapers were the way to get news and Reed , a reporter who is swept up in the circumstances, is up to the challenge of reporting a story that might not be so true.

An excellent offering from Kristina McMorris. I debated between 4 and 5 stars. Sadly, four stars won out in the end because the book's ending was somewhat predictable. Nevertheless this is a beautifully crafted period piece that deserves lots of attention. "Sold on a Monday" will soften the hardest of hearts. It combines love, intrigue, the 1930s, gangsters, and loss into a terrific story.

Buy this book!

I love historical fiction books that transport you to a different time and place and make you feel like you've been dropped right in the midst of that era. Sold on a Monday does exactly that, and it does it beautifully. This story takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression, when hunger, poverty, unemployment, and desperation was all too real and all too devastating.

This book is a fictional story based on a real photo taken of a mother/family selling their four children. As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Ellis Reed is a reporter/photographer always looking for the next big story. He takes the photo. Lily Palmer is the newspaper secretary who helps launch his career. She develops it and gives it to their chief editor. One thing leads to another, and all hell breaks loose. Entangled in a web of past secrets and regrets, together they embark on the mission to right their wrongdoing.

This story is heartbreaking, hopeful, and captivating. They characters are vividly developed and quite likable. The setting and backdrop feel unbelievably real. The plot moves at a steady pace with the intrigue and suspense building at just the right time. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

#SoldOnAMonday #NetGalley

This is a gripping book. It has an interesting storyline and captivating characters. It is set in Pennsylvania in the early 1930’s. It is a difficult time for Americans. Those that were lucky enough to have jobs tried their best to hold onto them at all costs. Lily is the main female character. She is single and working as a secretary for the head of the local newspaper. There are two male reporters that are interested in Lily. That is all I’m going to say about the story. Suffice it to say that I spent a lot more time reading these last few days than I normally do. But it was time well spent. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review. Yes I will recommend to family and friends.

This book did not resonate with me. I had such high hopes for it but I felt the story fell flat. Was the river/flooding supposed to have symbolism with the family story woven throughout? I thought the story itself ended very abruptly, and could have been fleshed out a little more.

This book was not for me.

A real page turner. Ms. McMorris was able to bring me back to a time , post depression in the United States, when the country was struggling to get back to a bit of normalcy. However, normal was something that was all but forgotten by many of the victims of the stock market crash.
The author begins by introducing us to her wonderful cast of characters:
- A ‘cub’ reporter who while on assignment, would take advantage of the newspapers state-of-the-art photographically equipment, and shoot a few extra pictures for his private collection. A collection that included one picture of a struggling family.
- The secretary to the newspaper editor, who is instrumental in making the reporter and one of his photos famous.
- A mother and her two children who were the center of many surprising twists and turns.
- A supporting cast of family, co- workers, the rich and famous and even a mobster or two.

I was infringed by the way the story took me on a journey that I had never expected. The frustration and hopelessness experienced bunso many during the Depression vs. the human spirit that would never give up hope. The inner ability we all have to rationalize the irrational so that we may make it to another day. And finally the knowledge that the ‘easy way out’ sometimes is really the most difficult.

A desperate and earnest young newspaperman in the early 1930’s in Philadelphia stages a photo (having lost the original) for a story that goes nationwide with unpredictable and unfortunate repercussions. The story revolves around this event in combination with a triangle love affair, family relations and the importance of a mother’s instincts, the strained father-son relationships, and the Philadelphia 1930’s crime scene. An interesting read.

What a fantastic story!!! You will not want to put this book down!! I would definitely recommend it as the book of the summer & for reading clubs.

I had hoped to enjoy this book more based on other reviews but I couldn't get engaged. It was an okay story, the writing was quite well done. But the plot dragged and the story line didn't move as quickly as I would have liked given the subject matter.

Children for Sale. A simple photograph of the sign and the children in question is the catalyst for Ellis Reed's career. In the midst of the Depression, he takes the photo and develops it in the newsroom where he works. When Lily, the newsroom secretary, finds the picture and shows it to the head of the paper, a story spirals out of Ellis' control and only he has the ability to make things right. With the help of his growing friendship with Lily, he sets out to remedy the problems he has caused by a simple photo.

This historical fiction novel is based on an actual photograph from the Depression era, showing several children sitting outside with their own "Children for Sale" sign and the author paid a great deal of attention to the historic details. Ellis' and Lily's roles in the newsroom, especially Lily's desire for something more than a secretary spoke deeply into the mindset of the time, and their stories flowed well, juxtaposed to the children's stories.

I would highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, as I think this time period is often missed between the typical WW1 and WW2 stories.

Lou Jacobs's Reviews > Sold on a Monday
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris (Goodreads Author)
M 50x66
Lou Jacobs's review Jun 04, 2018 · edit
it was amazing
Read from June 01 to 04, 2018

A beautifully written historical fiction masterpiece. Told in the backdrop of the Great American Depression along with Prohibition. Where people had to scrape together dollars to put food on the table. Both poignant and hard hitting .. it explores the multiple complexities of both the human condition and unexpected motivations. With heartfelt prose the dilemma of our main protagonists are explored. Ellis Reed, a young aspiring writer, determined to make his mark in the newspaper world ... with the unintentional gift to capture significant moments with candid photographs. And, Lily Parker, a young single mother, challenged with the pressure of society raising a child out of wedlock, and yet determined to break into the world of reporting. She finds herself accepting a job as a secretary for the Chief of the newspaper with the hope of eventually "getting a chance" . Ellis out on a normal and mundane story assignment .... comes across a scene that disturbs him which he must capture for himself on film. Two boys on a old farm porch with a wooden sign nearby ... declaring Children For Sale. He captures the image without any real intent to create a story. Lily on her own notices his photo drying in the developer room .... she is so moved that she places the photo on the Chief's desk .... and the subsequent events cascade in rapid order. The notoriety of the photo is instantaneous and pulls at the heart strings of America. Events spiral out of control resulting the "separation" of the children from their mother. Ellis and Lily need to team up in unexpected ways and overcome multiple obstacles in an attempt to right the situation. Beautifully written page turner that will remain in your mind and heart long after it is finished. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this magnificent Advance Proof in exchange for an honest review. This novel will be read by book groups all over the world ... the word will spread quickly!

This is an excellent book with a great backstory. The author was inspired to write the story about Ruby and Calvin after finding an old photograph showing children offered for sale. Their story unfolds against the backdrop of the Great Depression and gives historical context to the struggles of working women, the desperation of average men and women and inner workings of newspapers at that time.

Ellis is a young reporter looking for that one great story. He accidentally stumbles upon it when a photograph he took of two impoverished children with a For Sale sign hanging over them is selected by the newspaper’s editor for publication. Lily Palmer is the editor’s secretary who has barely hidden desires to be a reporter and is living a bit of a secret life. She and Ellis are thrown together when the publication of the picture and story has unexpected consequences. I didn’t expect the twists and turns as their adventure moves along very quickly.

I usually avoid books that I think will make me cry but I am so happy I read this one. The author has the ability to draw you into the world she is writing, and you become invested in the outcome for characters who all seem to be slightly damaged by their circumstances. I highly recommend this book and plan to read others by this author.

I was hoping this would be more focused on the great depression and hoping it would keep my attention, but it didn't hold my attention like I thought it would. Not a terrible story, just not for me though.

This book has all the feels...I cannot imagine what it would have been like to live during and after the Great Depression and not have any other choice than to sell my children. This book is heartbreaking, inspirational and gives you hope. Loved it! Great choice for a book group.

I really had no idea what this book was about when I requested it. I had just seen it all over Facebook and was curious. I started it yesterday and finished it today. And it was excellent. This book is so different from anything else that you will read. At times it's sad but it is also very uplifting to see the lengths people will go to to right a wrong. Despite what may happen to them in the process.

Interesting historical context for an easy-read.

Lily Palmer and Ellis Reed are two young, aspiring newspaper employees who want to be feature writers. Their lives become involved over the publication of a depression era picture that posts two children for sale. The foundation for the story is based in fact, and the supporting secondary themes are interesting to follow.

The problem is that some of those themes head down a road and disappear. For example, Ellis has occasions to meet with members of the Irish mob. The most important meeting, though, the one that should prove to be dramatic and help to resolve a major conflict of the story, simply doesn't happen.

Motherhood, though not stated specifically as a theme, is actually prevalent as five of the women present very prominent characteristics of nurturing, assertive, wise behaviors. The one exception is Sylvia, the female character who is emotionally erratic, a questionable character at best.

The crux of the book is the personal integrity issue that Ellis seeks to settle once his social interest article appears in papers across the country, awakening people to the plight of the nation's hardest hit citizens. The adventures in pursuit of his resolution is an easy, interesting read that includes several historical references centered during the depression, things like prohibition, the woman's role in the workplace, mobs and the mafia, etc.

All told, Sold on a Monday has a solid foundation and some stong story lines. I was a little disappointed in the Sylvia character and the depiction of life for the two children after they were sold.

I enjoyed reading the book and recommend it to others.

I was fortunate to have access to a pre-release version of this well-written historical novel. Set in the depression era, the author delves into some of the very real challenges families, especially single parents, faced during the depression. With grandparents who lived through that time as young parents, I have an appreciation for the struggles people faced even to find enough to eat, much less earn enough money to feed and house a family. The addition of a young, single mother embarrassed by the presence of a child born out of wedlock evokes a sense of the morality of that time, not to mention the difficulties women faced.

The early chapters seemed a bit slow, but I realize the author was necessarily setting the stage for the rest of the book. I particularly liked the inclusion of mob involvement as I heard about those elements from my family members who lived through that time. All in all, it was a great read that was hard to put down. This would be a good book club choice.

I read a lot of thrillers these days, so diving into a story set during the Great Depression held great appeal. I especially enjoy historical fiction that really drops you into its place in a history. 

Unfortunately, Sold on a Monday isn't one of those books. The setting was clear enough, but it wasn't very well fleshed out. I know very little about the time period, but I didn't learn anything new, either.

Don't get me wrong. There is a lot to love about this book. The subject matter is compelling, the characters are well developed, and the story is keeps you interested from start to finish. 

Ellis is the reporter who takes the picture that gets everything started. He sees two boys on a porch, standing below a sign that says, "Two children for sale."

With such a beginning, it is no surprise that this story pulls at the heartstrings, but it's not a one note plot that turns into a cliche. The story deals with losses of many kinds, each unique and tender. 

The romantic aspect of the book, however, feels flat. It's fairly clear from the outset what the outcome will be, but I found myself really pleased to have been right. 

If you're seeking serious historical fiction, this book isn't for you; but if you are seeking a really easy, emotionally charged story, Sold on Monday is a great choice.