Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.
Paperback, 348 pages
Published February 12, 2013
by Philomel Books
4/5 stars
Out of the Easy is my 2nd book by Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray was my first, which I loved. Departing from WW2 this one is set in 1950s New Orleans, a city teaming with secrets.
This story follows Josie Moraine, a seventeen-year-old determined to carve out a life beyond what’s expected of her as the daughter of a courtesan. She is driven and ambition, while also loyal and caring, a character I rooted for. Though a suspicious death, she finds herself pulled deeper into a world she’s trying to escape.
Having been to New Orleans myself, I already had a strong sense and visual of the area, which made the setting feel even more vivid.
Out of the Easy is a story of secrets, ambition and the pull between where you come from and where you want to go. It highlights how the choices we make can shape our future, even when the odds feel stacked against us. An enjoyable read by an author I really need to read more of.
This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #9
