Swing: Vintage Book Review

Swing: A Vintage Book Review

A Swing book review by Tam Francis

The Synopsis

Swing (Ever Ink Press, March 30, 2015) by Lindsey Renee Backen is an young adult coming-of-age romance set in post-World War II.

In Swing, we’re introduced to our romantic lead, Trey Cunningham, who is not your typical heart throb. For one, he’s shorter than all the girls, and two he’s got no game or experience, and three, he has nothing fancy like a hotrod or cool clothes, but he’s armed with the love of dance, a positive attitude, and a resilience that makes him attractive.

Orphaned at a tender age,  he and his crippled  brother struggle to eke out an existence. Trey works at the local malt shop after school. Though he’s the best dancer in town, the missing growth spurts and local bullies  heap ridicule and bully him constantly.

Enter the dame, the young Delilah who’s the perfect size to be his dance partner–if she was allowed to dance, and if she’ll trust him to teach her. But Lila, as her preacher grandfather insists on calling her (since the biblical Delilah was a seductress)  hides secrets far more dangerous than forbidden dance lessons. Caught between the growing tension between his brother, the minister, and the increasing suspicion of townsfolk, Trey must balance what he feels in his heart and outside forces that threaten to tear him and Delilah apart.

Swing Book Review: What I liked about it

• In my Swing book review, the characters really stand out. Trey is easy to love and you root for him right away.
• Plenty of dance scenes that put swing dance center stage.
• The coming-of-age romance aspect was delightful and just the right about of steam for young adult, (though this adult wanted more).
•  Lindsey Renee Backen makes use of era music citing bands
• A good amount of vintage fashion description with shoes, too!
• Although I guessed at most of the plot points, and I love having my suspicions confirmed, there were some nice twists
• I LOVED the Soda Shop setting and the barn, both have their own romance.
• I loved that the MC wasn’t the stereotypical hunk (short guys are the BEST to dance with–trust me)

Swing Book Review: What I Wanted More Of

• Use of  slang like, cooking with gas, on the beam, and more.
• Vintage vibe. I actually found the back cover more compelling than the front cover. How about you?
• Dance joy feels. More sensory description of how the characters felt while they were dancing.
• Era specific songs cited, so I could better imagine the beats and rhythms.

Favorite Quotes from Swing Book Review

“The smell and laughter reminded him of  everything he’d spent the last few years trying to forget, and his mood darkened as the evening passed. He watched the others gathered around the table, feeling lonely on the couch and aching for his parents.”

“They were in a clearing, surrounded by an audience of smooth birch trees. He smiled, resting a hand on the curve of her waist. They danced slowly. No high lifts. No quick steps. Just two kids swaying without music, except the bird song overhead.”

“You’ve adjusted to your limits now. You can work on finding what you can do despite them.”

“It’s not up to us to question why one person dies and another lives. You lived. Don’t waste your life wondering why.”

“Williams eyes sparkled as he towed his wife to the edge of the dance floor. The younger people roared with encouragement and laughter as the pair shuffled and swayed like a couple who had been dancing together for a very long time.”

“Come on. I’m not asking you on a date. Just a dance.”

Overall

I thought Swing was an original, sweet, and compelling read with characters I adored and cheered on. This is perfect novel for any coming-of-age postwar romance readers. Although Swing takes place after the war, there’s enough WWII influence and connection to wartime difficulties and flashbacks that anyone who enjoys WWII fiction will find plenty of meat in this novel. Although the novel is marketed as young adult historical fiction, there’s enough mature themes and story to satisfy any age, and enough vintage and fashion to inspire GitJD blog followers. I highly recommend this read, especially for swing dancers, and put it at the top of my list. Read it today.

 Vintage Enthusiast Rating

Fashion: ♥♥♥

Music: ♥♥

Dance: ♥♥♥♥♥

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Have you read Swing? Do you like a little romance mixed in your historical fiction? Do you read much Young Adult fiction? If so, why or why not? How far would you go to save a member of your family? Do you think family is always a blood relations? Do you have people in your life that you consider family, even if you’re not biologically related?  Have you read or written a book you’d like reviewed by the Vintage Reviewer. Please contact me!

Tam Francis is a writer, blogger, swing dance teacher, avid vintage collector, and seamstress. She  shares her love of this genre through her novels, blog, and short stories. She enjoys hearing from you, sharing ideas, forging friendships, and exchanging guest blogs. For all the Girl in the Jitterbug Dress news, give-aways, events, and excitement, make sure to join her list and like her FB page! Join my list ~ Facebook page