Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dunlay impresses with her multilayered character-driven debut about a Texas woman who lands in hot water after she marries a State Department employee at the height of the Cold War. The narrative begins in 1969 Rome, where Teddy Huntley Carlyle Shepard is about to be questioned by investigators for reasons unknown to the reader. From there, Teddy's story unfurls in flashbacks, starting with her first date with future husband David Shepard earlier in the year, whose unspecified job involves "encouraging economic cooperation" between the U.S. and Europe. David is now in Milan, and the night before the interrogation, Teddy attended a Fourth of July party at the American ambassador's residence. The dress she wore is stained with blood, and she worries that news of what happened there--the details of which come out much later--will cause an international scandal ("My name will be in everyone's mouths, crunched and swallowed between the crushed ice and maraschino cherries of their juleps and Manhattans"). Teddy hints at secrets she's kept from David, including her romance with a Russian named Yevgeny Larin, whom she last saw in 1963, and considers herself a "wolf in sheep's clothing." Early on, Teddy is portrayed as a superficial person, but her hidden depths come to light in the novel's satisfying climax. This is a winner. Agent: Katie Greenstreet, Paper Literary. (July)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Set in Rome during 1969, Dunlay's first novel follows aging Texas debutante Theodora "Teddy" Huntley Carlyle. At 35, she's determined to land a husband and does so in short order, marrying American diplomat David Shepard. Teddy dreams that her new marriage will facilitate lavish parties, shopping, and rubbing shoulders with the elite. She believes that with impeccable manners and fashionable styling, her fantasy happily-ever-after has arrived. But the reality is lackluster until the fateful party where she meets the American ambassador Warren "the Wolf" Carey. Teddy charms the partygoers and believes the social standing she's craved is within her grasp. However, her world comes crashing down during a Fourth of July soiree when a moment of passion, literal fireworks, and a photographer leave her scrabbling to contain a scandal that could ruin her marriage and multiple political careers. VERDICT The novel is charming and entertaining as a whole, and Teddy as a character is lovable despite all her faults. Readers who enjoy narratives that unfold with many twists and turns, as in the work of Liane Moriarty, will enjoy.--Linsey Milillo
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
It's not all la dolce vita and Pucci dresses in Dunlay's 1969 Rome. From the outset it's apparent that something has gone off the rails in the life of Teddy, the eponymous narrator of Dunlay's debut novel. Teddy Huntley Carlyle, recently married to the stolid David Shepard--ostensibly a business development liaison at the U.S. Embassy in Rome--is a beautiful debutante, Texas born and raised. Before a whirlwind courtship with David, who was visiting Dallas on government business, Teddy worked for her wealthy and politically influential family's art foundation, but her remaining single at age 34 had caused consternation within the clan. Teddy sees her move to Rome with David as an opportunity to create a new life and to become the wife she believes David wants while cleaning up a few loose ends and secrets she has been carrying with her. Finding herself alone for stretches as David travels, Teddy's resolve to stay on the straight and narrow is tested as it slowly becomes clear to her that she is not the only player in her personal drama with secrets to hide. Teddy's account of how she winds up being "interviewed" by security agents from the embassy is, by turns, a fast-paced overview of the glittering high life of late 1960s Rome and a slow-burn reveal of the family and personal secrets weighing so heavily upon her. Her direct approach in relating her complicated life story creates sympathy for a character who is otherwise messy, not always scrupulously honest, and prone to self-indulgence. Descriptions of couture dresses, jewelry, and extravagant accessories provide enjoyable eye candy, and it is easy to visualize Teddy's well-clad life in Rome on a big screen in this satisfying meetup of suspense, rom-com, family drama, and historical fiction. Make an Aperol spritz, get out the lounge chair, and enjoy this Roman holiday. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
