Young Peggy Battenberg is trapped by her status. Reluctant heiress Peggy prefers to work in Moonrise bookshop than adhere to the restrictive etiquette of her position. The reader is quickly drawn to Peggy and is thrilled along with Peggy to discover that the mandated holiday she is all but abducted to go on, is in fact, an opportunity for Liberty. Coney Island Dreamland beckons.
The author describes the sights, sounds and smells of the two contrasting worlds of the Oriental Hotel and Coney Island. Peggy is torn between these worlds and this comes to a head when a murder or two has been discovered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for lovers of a gatbyesque era.

Okay, so what a great way to end the year, with Nancy Bilyeau's Dreamland. To be perfectly honest, I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did-- I guess because of the cover, I was expecting it to be like Water For Elephants, which I thought was soooooo slowwwww, or the Night Circus, which I also thought was boring, but Dreamland actually had nothing to do with the circus, nor does it contain any element of fantasy. As I dove into the book, I felt some vibes like Liz Gilbert's City of Girls, which I did like, but found to be a bit drawn out, lacking in plot, and gratuitous in its painting of the historical details. Here, none of those are the case. Bilyeau gives us a similar heroine, who is unlike her contemporaries in her feminine independence, and creates an authentic, period setting without spending an excessive amount of time describing it-- she's confident that the details she gives are enough, and they are indeed. We never get lost in the minutia.
Dreamland follows a rebellious young woman from a wealthy family in NYC as they take up residence in a hotel on Coney Island. Murder, intrigue, forbidden romance, this book has it all, serving it up with elevated language that makes it one of those rare gems that can straddle the literary/contemporary line. It's fast-paced and plot driven enough to be a vacation read, but also intelligent, atmospheric, and historical enough to appeal to those who appreciate literary fiction. I think any reader of the previously named books would enjoy this book, as well as fans of mystery fiction and historical fiction.

Subtly charming, well paced, by turns slightly creepy and endearing. I'm not always wild about historical fiction, but think that may be because it so often isn't done as well as this

Set in 1911, this novel follows Peggy Batternberg, a mining heiress, as she deals with family secrets in Brooklyn, near Coney Island. Peggy has no interest in her life as an heiress, preferring books and art to jewels and propriety. Peggy’s summer starts off roughly, with a murdered young woman being pulled out of the water. After a visit to Dreamland, a park in Coney Island, she begins a whirlwind romance with Stefan, a Serbian artist, their happiness is quickly marred by her station. When another young woman is found murdered, Peggy and Stefan try to help the police, but Stefan is taken away as a suspect, but is released. He is arrested when another young woman is found murdered at Dreamland. Peggy then works to uncover the real murderer, who turns out to be someone very close to home.
This book was a whirlwind. I had expected a sedate coming-of-age love story, but, as always with Nancy Bilyeau, I got a crazy mystery that kept me guessing. The historical detail brought Coney Island to life. Peggy is a sympathetic protagonist who only wants to be happy. I just loved this book. It was beautifully written, the characters were well-fleshed out, and backstory was artfully inserted where it helped to move the story, versus bogging it down with unnecessary information.

Thank you NetGalley and Endeavour Media for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description
The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.

But the invitation to Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer working at the Moonrise Bookstore than keeping up appearances with New York City socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.

But soon it transpires that the hedonism of Coney Island affords Peggy the freedom she has been yearning for, and it’s not long before she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of.

Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything… even murder.

I enjoyed the first part of the book, but found myself lacking the spirit to continue onward.

**Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

I really, really enjoyed the first half of "Dreamland" by Nancy Bilyeau, but past 60% the story plateaus.

PROS
+ I judged the book by its cover - in that I really liked how beautiful the cover is!
+ Most of the characters are well-developed and interesting - Ben and Peggy's relationship is problematic, but I liked learning about that more than I cared about who murdered the women near Coney Island.
+ Bilyeau is great at writing descriptions - the way the hotel is set up; the sweltering heat during the heat wave; the decadent food and desserts; and the fancy clothing.

CONS
- Insta-love - WHY??? It's literally like Stefan says "hi" to Peggy and she's completely enamored.
- The ending - you almost don't care once you get to the end, so it seems somewhat pointless.

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book! I expected a rich people family-drama to read for escapism, but I got so much more than that. The family drama was sure there, but there also were plotlines of murder mystery, romance and social issues being put forward. All of them take up about the equal amount of page time and I think the division of different aspects the reader could focus on was done well and the showcasing of social problems was handled nicely.
My favourite part was the main character and her personality. She was self-confident, independent and strong, which is refreshing for a female character depiction. I loved seeing her and her sister's bond growing and their relationship becoming stronger, I was also extremely happy about the MC's sister's character growth.
What it more, I actually really enjoyed the romance. I liked the characters together, they were adorable and I totally shipped them, which is unusual because I usually am not a fan of romance for the reason that it tends to be written problematic and overtakes the story, but this wasn't the case in this book.
Even though the mystery reveal at the end was quite expected, that didn't bother me at all, I found it fitting and the ending I thought was overall beautiful. So I don't really have any complaints for this book other than that it's being published mid-January. Why? It's such a perfect summer read. But obviously this does not make me enjoy the book any less.

“Everything is real on Coney Island- and nothing is real”

summary
Peggy Battenberg is the black sheep daughter of one of the wealthiest and most affluent families in the early 20th century America. However, she is not your typical heiress. She is a ’New Woman’, working in a bookshop and trying her best to distance herself from her family. However, when she is told she must accompany them to New York, she cannot refuse to her chagrin. They stay in an opulent hotel next to the famous theme park ‘Dreamland’

Peggy is told not to mix herself with the common folk of Coney Island, but never one to conform to her family’s expectations, she sneaks into the darkness to Dreamland.
While on her adventures around the theme park, she meets a Serbian artist named Stefan. Their secret romance ignites under the veil of night on a beach, however everything gets entangled when bodies of young girl’s bodies start to appear, ensnaring Peggy into a web of murder, corruption and mystery.

likes
Set with the backdrop of the glamorous yet corrupt 1911 New York, the atmosphere is where Nancy Bileyeau excels. The descriptions of the hotel, the beach, the sweltering heat allowed a clear image of a this place that I have never been to. The descriptions of the aristocratic, extravagant yet reputation obsessed Battenberg family was sone so well I felt as if I were one of the wealthy, both the most free and the most trapped as Peggy discovers. When in Dreamland, I could taste the hot dogs, see the fireworks, smell the popcorn and hear the raucous crowds.
This is at its core, a mystery book and the unsettling nature of it added suspense and a tinge of darkness to the story.

Peggy’s world she once thought gilded was corrupting from the inside out.

This book explores privilege, and how it can be difficult to recognise when it is not yourself affected. Peggy had thought herself a ’new woman’, working and living a largely ordinary life, however her family name gets her many advantages she was unaware of, being sheltered from the ‘less desirable folk’ her whole life. Meeting Stefan and others around Dreamland allows her prejudices and assumptions to be slowly fracture. She learns of the disparity between classes, and realises that while she is still disadvantaged from being a woman in that time- she is one of the lucky ones.

Bigotry and racism toward immigrants is a particular focus of this novel. Peggy is disgusted at how they are instantly blamed, used as scapegoats. Generalised as ‘Anarchists’, the residents of Coney Island turn their noses up at anyone not born in their country. Unfortunately, while set more than a hundred years ago, the issue is still at the forefront political discourse, not only in the US, but the entire world.

The characters were for the most part very well developed. At the beginning, I struggled to grasp how their large family was connected, however I soon got the gist of it.
Lydia was my favourite! I think I would have preferred to read from her perspective as she was such an interesting and complex character, with the most growth.
Closely followed by Ben. I’m not sure what drew me to him, because he is immoral and mean and manipulative, but that just made his character more intriguing to me.

dislikes

Why does every good story just need to be ruined with Insta-love? Whyyyyy?
That may be a bit dramatic, but so was this romance. Saying I love you after meeting for like the second time? No thanks.

That being said, my thoughts on the romance may be tinged by me thinking the love interest was like 60 for about 50 pages. I’m not sure how that happened, but it was a REAL shock when they kissed. Even once I figured out he was NOT an elderly man, my brain still pictured him as a grandpa every time he was on the page. That sort of killed the romance for me.

I shipped Peggy with someone else, even though I absolutely HATE myself for it. If you’ve read this you probably know and if not… just know I hate my brain and I need to stop reading messed up new adult romances.

The Ending
I’m not going to give anything away, but I didn’t like the ending. I had a bunch of theories and all of them would been more shocking and intense than the one we were given (that isn’t even a brag, my theories are always super convoluted- but that just shows how bad this ending was)
It was not only VERY rushed, but didn’t really make that much sense. When they told us the murderer I thought it must have been a red herring, because it was so obvious that it was surprising. I don’t understand this character’s motivations for what they did. It was almost suggested they had some form of mental illness, which I did not appreciate.

overview
Well written and atmospheric, Dreamland was an interesting look at life in turn of the century New York, without glamourising it completely. Don’t go into this for the romance or murder mystery because you will probably be disappointed. This novel’s true strength lies in its descriptions and characters. I would recommend this loosely for fans of the Night Circus (take that with a whole jar of salt because I have never read it, but for some reason it gives me those vibes. I could be very off though) While slow paced at times, this book felt very realistic and as if I was in the midst of this world.

Genre: Historical Fiction Murder Thriller
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Pub. Date: January 16, 2020

Mini-Review

I had some disappointment with this novel. I thought it would be a shoo-in for me since I was reading about my childhood backyard. The novel is set in 1911 in Coney Island, Brooklyn NY. Back then, the amusement park truly earned its nickname of “America’s Playground.” For more than 100 years Coney Island has been synonymous with summer. I am a summer person. I couldn’t wait to dive into the story. The author does a good job of capturing the park’s energy and the feel of the times. There is also a decent murder mystery. My issue is with how the protagonistic—a 20-year-old who is from one of the wealthiest families in America—is not a believable character. She flip-flops from wanting to be a suffragette to acting like a prim and proper young woman from old money. Even though I was disappointed, overall I enjoyed the tale.




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Superb! An immensely compelling period drama, set in the early 20th Century. The story of a wiser than her years and thoroughly modern socialite balancing family & wanting to live for herself, not them. Peggy is an excellent protagonist - it's a real joy to follow her on her journey. Part drama, part criminal investigation and part social-historical critique - Dreamland makes for a really pleasurable and page-turner of a read.

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 really enjoyed the world that this book created but I felt that "ruling class" plot overshadowed the beauty that could have transported the reader directly to Coney Island in 1911.

I liked that this historical fiction book was unlike the majority of the genre. It chose an unrepresented era and location and creates a world you can sink into. I felt like a bit more editing was needed as it became long winded and there were a few storylines that could've been minimized or eliminated completely. I think with an extra dose of editing, this book really could have been a strong 4 star book but I felt its focus shift a bit too much throughout.

This is also a book that would have benefited from a strong epilogue. I became intrigued by the entire family and feel it left me hanging on the outcome of all the members that were introduced. Also, at the beginning it was established that there were major money issues which the marriage addressed could have resolved but at the end, it feels as though that storyline was completely deserted. Again, a stronger editing hand would be beneficial in this regard to point out some of the inconsistencies.

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.