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Jenni L. Walsh

Becoming Bonnie: A Novel Hardcover – May 9, 2017

by Jenni L. Walsh (Author)

4.1 194 ratings

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Perfect for readers of Paula McClain, Lisa Wingate, and Hazel Gaynor, and fans of Bonnie and Clyde, Breaking Bad and Netflix's The Highwaymen, Jenni L. Walsh's sparkling debut tells the story of Bonnie Parker as it's never been told before―in her own words.

It's the summer of 1927, and Bonnelyn Parker is more likely to belt out a church hymn than sling drinks at an illicit juice joint. She’s a sharp girl with plans to overcome her family's poverty, provide for herself, and maybe someday marry her boyfriend, Roy Thornton. But in Cement City, Texas, there aren't many jobs a girl can do.

When Bonnelyn finds work at Doc's, Dallas's newest speakeasy, she finds herself falling hard―for the music, for the freedom, and for a young man with a hint of danger in his smile.

Bonnie is about to meet Clyde Barrow. And her life―like her country―is headed for a crash.

"How do you get from good girl to gangster's moll? Jenni Walsh takes you along for the ride with Bonnelyn Parker in an account so vivid you would think you were there with her.”―New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig

"In Becoming Bonnie, Jenni Walsh delivers an intriguing insight into the life of one half of the infamous duo, Bonnie and Clyde. I look forward to reading more from this new author." ―New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Forge Books
Publication date

May 9, 2017
Dimensions

6.52 x 1.03 x 9.57 inches
ISBN-10

0765390183
ISBN-13

978-0765390189
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Jenni L. Walsh
73
Paperback
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Editorial Reviews

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"Walsh’s debut historical novel brings the Prohibition era, the Great Depression, and American gangsters to life through the personality and circumstances of a notorious moll who starts out as a good girl. Although the story focuses on Bonnie, supporting characters provide further perspectives on the magnetic pull of jazz, illegal booze, and a (short) life on the lam . . . Look forward to the sequel for later exploits of these notorious bandits." --Booklist

"As her new life . . . barrels toward her old one on a collision course, Bonnelyn must decide what name she wants to make for herself. Walsh's rollicking narrative will have readers rooting for Bonnelyn-turned-Bonnie every (dance) step of the way." --Shelf Awareness

“A compelling account of a nation and a life in disarray―readers will feel for Bonnelyn as she finds herself scrabbling for survival in a world turned upside down. How do you go from good girl to gangster's moll? Jenni L. Walsh takes you along for the ride in an account so vivid you would think you were there with her.”―New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig

"In Becoming Bonnie Jenni Walsh delivers an intriguing insight into the life of one half of the infamous duo, Bonnie and Clyde. I look forward to reading more from this new author."--New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor

"Debut author Jenni Walsh deftly pulls the reader into Bonnie’s world, and then deeper into her mind, so we see exactly how and when she made her choices―and her bed. I have to admit, I rooted for Bonnie to connect with Clyde all along, because who can resist a handsome, dangerous man who also happens to be your soul mate? Even if it means you’ll never be that good girl again. Booze-soaked, southern-fried, and fully immersive, BECOMING BONNIE is a rocking good read." -- Heather Webb, author of Rodin's Lover

“A dazzling and compulsively-readable adventure of self-discovery, with a voice both singular and irresistible. I dare you not to fall in love with Bonnie, and her intoxicating, wholly immersive world.”―Lee Kelly, author of A Criminal Magic

About the Author

Jenni L. Walsh worked for a decade enticing readers as an award-winning advertising copywriter before becoming an author. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets.

Jenni is the author of historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, and The Call of the Wrens. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and historical novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, and Over and Out. To learn more about Jenni and her books, please visit jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forge Books; First Edition (May 9, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0765390183
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0765390189
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.52 x 1.03 x 9.57 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,762,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,552 in Heist Thrillers
- #4,442 in Biographical Historical Fiction
- #7,801 in Biographical Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 194 ratings

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Jenni L. Walsh

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Jenni L. Walsh spends her days knee deep in words in Philadelphia’s suburbia. Beyond words, Jenni is a mama (of a soulful eight-year-old, a dinosaur-loving six-year-old, and three needy furbabies), a wife, a Philly and 'Nova sports fan.

But where did it all begin? Jenni spent her early years dabbling in various forms of writing and with her nose in a book. Her writing chops first began to develop through one-page stories. Never fail, the storyline followed the same progression: girl meets boy, girl marries boy, girl and boy have baby. That's it.

Now Jenni has moved on to stories with a bit more depth and, for the mamas, Side by Side is a historical women's fiction story of America’s most infamous crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde told in the raw and honest voice of the woman who lived it, Bonnie Parker. In Becoming Bonnie, a prequel set in the Roaring Twenties, a picture of Bonnie's earlier life, before and while she meets Clyde, is brought to life. Jenni's third historical women's fiction book A Betting Woman takes us to the California gold rush, featuring a little known woman from history, Eleanor Dumont, but who is largely remembered by the moniker Madame Moustache. In The Call of the Wrens, Jenni introduces readers to the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens), who carried wartime secrets on their shoulders as motorcycle dispatch riders during both world wars. Jenni's next historical novel will release in November 2023.

For the kiddos, Jenni's debut middle grade books, She Dared, features true stories from women who, at a young age, accomplished daring feats of perseverance and bravery. She is also the author of I Am Defiance, inspired by a real-life resistance group, known as the White Rose. Jenni has contributed Hettie and the London Blitz: A World War II Survival Story to the Girl's Survive series. Revolutionary War hero Sybil Ludington, who is often known as the "female Paul Revere," is brought to life in By the Light of Fireflies, Jenni's first historical novel with a touch of magical realism. Jenni's newest historical novel for young readers, Over and Out, is a thrilling and fast-paced espionage and escape story that is inspired by real stories of life in East Berlin during the Cold War.

Learn more about Jenni and her books at jennilwalsh.com and @jennilwalsh on social media.

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4.1 out of 5

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Ohka

Loved it! It was the bees knees!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 7, 2023

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After listening to a history podcast about Bonnie and Clyde and being a fanatic for historical fiction books, I questioned if anyone had written a historical fiction about Bonnie and Clyde. Author, Jenni Walsh, saved the day and I was super excited to read Becoming Bonnie. I loved Bonnie’s backstory, her falling in love with Clyde, and the coming together of the Barrow Gang. Anyone who likes the 1920’s will enjoy this book! You can tell that Walsh thoroughly researched the time period and people! Highly recommend!

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Texasbooklover

Uneven but promising historical fiction imagining Bonnie before Clyde

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 28, 2017

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HISTORICAL FICTION
Jenni L. Walsh
Becoming Bonnie: A Novel
Forge Books
Hardcover, 978-0-7653-9018-9 (also available as an e-book, on Audible, and on audio CD), 304 pgs., $25.99
May 9, 2017

“But I, being poor, have only my dreams.”

“Saint” Bonnelyn Parker grew up poor and ambitious in Cement City, a company town in West Dallas created for the employees of the area’s cement plants, in the early twentieth century. In 1927, Bonnelyn is seventeen years old, attending high school, singing in the church choir, escaping into books at the local library, and dreaming of becoming a teacher. When her widowed mother becomes ill, her brother is hurt on the job, and Bonnelyn is laid off from her waitressing job, she follows her best friend, Blanche, to a bartending job in an illegal speakeasy (its walls papered with pro-Prohibition posters) in the basement of a physician’s office in what is now the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, so she can keep the electricity on.

Becoming Bonnie is the debut novel by Jenni L. Walsh. Historical fiction set in Dallas during the latter years of Prohibition, Becoming Bonnie is the story of how prim and proper Bonnelyn Parker became half of the infamous, bootlegging and bank-robbing couple Bonnie and Clyde.

The pace is steady if slow at times. The plot is simple but packs a healthy number of twists. Walsh’s characters are engaging, especially Bonnelyn’s best friend, the irrepressible Blanche. Bonnelyn seems to break character regularly, but these instances always follow a threat to the financial survival of her family, providing plausible motivation. “I mixed right and wrong together ’til I found a comfy spot in the middle,” Bonnelyn says. Walsh’s historical details are authentic, often charming, and well deployed. Her research of the era and setting is obvious, while she grants having taken liberal license with her historical characters, beginning with Bonnie Parker’s name.

Bonnelyn’s first-person narrative is written colloquially (“Mama had more pride than a lion”): droppin’ its G’s; using “ya” for “you”; “’cross” for “across”. This technique is effective but used inconsistently: an equal number of G’s remain, and some word choices appear too sophisticated for the established down-home, country style—the same Bonnelyn who says “not no one” refers to customers at a café as “patrons”. Overuse of various conjugations of “growl”, and the like, indicate a need for closer editing. These elements taken together can be distracting.

Becoming Bonnie is most refreshing in that it’s not about Clyde Barrow; he doesn’t appear until a third of the way through, and doesn’t become a factor in Bonnelyn’s life until two-thirds of the way through. It’s not about him. Becoming Bonnie is a coming-of-age story centering on Bonnelyn’s transformation from reserved, conventional, small-town girl to risk-taking, dangerous, gangster moll. One of the best things about Becoming Bonnie is the power of female friendship between Bonnelyn and Blanche.

While uneven, Becoming Bonnie is creative and has moments of inspiration; Walsh has promise. Y’all look for the sequel, Being Bonnie, coming soon.

Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.

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peachnmario

Rollicking fun

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 26, 2019

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A HIGHLY fictionalized, but vivid and very entertaining, telling of the teenaged years of Bonnie (“Bonnelyn” in the novel) Elizabeth Parker, who eventually became the notorious Bonnie Parker, 1/2 of Bonnie and Clyde, the public faces of the infamous Barrow Gang.

Blanche Caldwell Barrow Frasure is surely rolling in her grave to be depicted as the best friend who lured Bonnie into a wild life of speakeasys and booze runs where, in this novel at least, she eventually met Clyde Barrow. She was none to pleased with the way she was depicted in Arthur Penn's film ("they made me look like a screaming ass"), but as she never even met Bonnie until well after she and Buck were married, the two women never even liked each other, and Blanche (according to numerous biographies) was forever trying to get Buck to leave the gang and go "straight," this novel would make her pull her hair out.

Still, the hip-swinging, cig-smoking, fast-girl, fictional Blanche Caldwell of Becoming Bonnie is a compelling and oddly sympathetic foil for religious, upright, goodie-two-shoes Bonnelyn, who gradually finds herself drawn ever-deeper into the dangerous but exciting world of prohibition-era nightlife while trying by day to maintain her good grades, her relationship with her childhood sweetheart-cum-fiance-cum-husband, Roy, and to keep her very poor family from completely sinking financially. Each choice she makes is a terrible one that will ultimately lead to her ruin and early death, yet we understand why, with a very ill mother and no one else but Bad Girl Blanche to confide in or to guide her, she makes them.

The reader feels inexhorably drawn to the dangerously sexy Clyde Barrow as Bonnie is, fighting the attraction with the knowledge that THIS BOY IS BIG TROUBLE, yet she is powerless to stop it.

My only real criticism is the jarring anachronisms that occasionally creep into the narrative. The novel is written in Bonnelynn's voice, very effectively using the regional accent and colloquialisms of the era, but then, for example, she describes some unappealing man at the bar as "gross." These, fortunately, are relatively infrequent and did not ruin the reading experience for me, but might for others.

One person found this helpful

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MW

Enjoyed the story, distracted by some of the dialogue

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 25, 2021

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I really enjoyed this book and it's sequel. There are obviously parts of the story changed it embellished from what happened historically but this book actually sticks to the meat of the Bonnie & Clyde story pretty well. The only issue I had was the use of Scottish terms in the dialogue. Lots of lad and lassie and aye. Even bairn at one point. Why? Seems very odd and out of place for characters who grew up in America - and not with Scottish immigrant parents. Once I got past that though, this was a very enjoyable read.

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AJ Skelly

This one will linger...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 6, 2020

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What a stunning portrayal of half the infamous duo, Bonnie and Clyde. This book is taken from Bonnie's perspective and follows her from sweet, innocent, church-going girl into the beginning of her descent to gangster. The emotions in this book were visceral and had my anxiety up as I feverishly devoured pages to find out what Bonnie did next. While some of this is based in imagination, there are lots of facts sprinkled in that reflect Bonnie's life and also America in the late 1920's.
There is a smattering of curse words, two strong ones, but otherwise, this is a very clean, captivating read. I'd recommend for any fan of historical fiction, Bonnie and Clyde, or a poignant read.

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Shari Decter Hirst

I loved the slow sultry pace of this book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 4, 2017

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I loved the slow sultry pace of this book. You could feel the Texas heat shimmering above the pavement. The ending of Bonnie and Clyde gets a lot of attention, but this book is about the beginning. A lot of water has to flow under the bridge to get Saint BonnieLynn from the chuch choir to waiting in the darkness for Clyde to break out of jail, but it’s all worth it. A wonderful book, and I can hardly wait to start the sequel and find out what happens next.

One person found this helpful

Tinalouise1969

When Bonnie meets Clyde

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 11, 2018

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Apart from the Tudors and Victorian London another strong interest I have is with Bonnie and Clyde. There are non fiction books out there but not fiction. So when I saw this one I had to have my own copy.

This is the first book about Bonnie and Clyde but focuses more so on Bonnie, and she doesn't meet Clyde until later in the book. The author has drawn from facts but has taken liberties in the earlier life of Bonnie. She does cover Bonnie's marriage to Roy, her tattoo and once meeting Clyde snuggling a gun into the prison.

I loved this book. It gives Bonnie a life before Clyde and in this account she wasn't always bad. Bonnie goes to church and works hard for her family. The story can be a little slow at times but it's building slowly towards the second book.

This book is a must for anybody who has an interest in the story of Bonnie and Clyde. I will certainly look forward to Side by Side.

One person found this helpful

sunny

Bonnie would love this book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 14, 2017

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This book is essential for the understanding of Bonnie Parker.At last a book written from a woman's point of view.This is first of two books and describes in fiction although it is so cleverly written it could be fact.With a remarkable insight into the early life of Bonnie Parker Jenni L Walsh teases us about where and when will Clyde appear.Bonnie only meets Clyde in the closing pages of this book and we have to wait to see Bonnie in full flight in Book two Being Bonnie.I am sure Clyde like myself just can't wait!

One person found this helpful

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