They would soon throw me back onto the streets once they realized that under the expensive coat lurked a girl with no trust fund, no guaranteed income, and no decent jewels. I pulled out the powder compact I had stolen from Mama’s dressing table and blinked at msyelf. My hair needed a comb (I hadn’t one) and there was an ink smudge on my chin, but my eyes flashed back at me, defiant. Make the most of this, I thought. I was aware, for the first time in a long while, that I was alive.” (page 9)

Penelope Wallace is 17, and lives a sheltered life outside of London with her recently widowed mother and her musician brother Inigo in a family mansion, Milton Magna, that is literally falling to pieces. Inigo and Penelope are obsessed with saving their home – Penelope hopes to marry well, while Inigo hopes to make a fortune as a rock and roll musician.

Penelope’s life is turned upside down when, on a rainy day at a bus stop, the confident and unconventional Charlotte Ferris asks her to share a cab. Penelope spontaneously goes to tea with Charlotte’s Aunt Clare and there she meets Harry, Charlotte’s ecentric magician cousin. Penelope is quickly drawn into their orbit and Harry uses her as a decoy to win back his true love, a socialite named Marina.

The story unfolds, with parties, Hollywood producers, Elvis and guinea pigs in a vibrant post-war London. The plot is not complicated, but it’s bright and lively and fun.

The author’s lush descriptions, along with engaging and carefully developed characters make it a pleasurable read. I found myself savouring this book, slowing down so I could capture the incredible detail and examine the relationships. Aunt Clare and Penelope’s mother, Talitha, hold most of the secrets, but in the end, Penelope carries a secret of her own.

This is a fun and thoroughly absorbing book – recommended!