Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

On the eve of my trip to the Texas Library Association Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX, I decided to do something I used to do a lot: make a book trailer.

My 8th grade daughter was out of town during Spring Break and I really needed a book to take to the beach. I borrowed her copy of Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys. My daughter had been gifted this signed copy by her school librarian who had gotten it at TLA last year.

I could not put down this book! I was hooked on the story and wanted to know what happened to the characters. I also really loved that it was set in New Orleans. Hubby and I went to NOLA last summer on vacation and are taking the kids back this summer for the first time. I am excited to take my daughter to the places mentioned in this book.

Out of the Easy tells the story of Josie, the daughter of a high end prostitute who works for Willie Woodley at her brothel. Josie and her mom have quite the dysfunctional relationship. Willie and her employees fill the void in Josie's life that her mother has left. Josie works at a bookstore and lives upstairs in the office. She wants to leave the big easy and find a better life for herself where she isn't the daughter of a harlot. A few chance meetings and a murder put Josie in danger and drop her right in the middle of a police investigation and organized crime activity. It's a great book and has the best first line ever.