Boychik

By: Laurie Boris

Narrated by: Randi Bachman

He's a deli-man's son. She's a mobster's daughter. One chance encounter changes both their lives.

Brooklyn, 1932

Eli Abramowitz works in his parents’ deli in Williamsburg. Not a bad job during the Depression. His family is his whole world—almost. He spends every Sunday at the movies and hopes to hit it big as a Hollywood screenwriter. But how can he tell his parents that one day he’ll be leaving?

Across town, Evelyn Rosenstein’s father works for the mob—undoubtedly the reason they’re doing so well. Definitely the reason she’s not allowed any farther than their mailbox unescorted. Even though her parents have chosen a husband for her, a family tradition, she fantasizes about a life in service to the unfortunate. But for the moment, she dreams of escape, if only for a few hours. Opportunity strikes, and she ends up at the deli. Evelyn and Eli meet only briefly, but their instant connection tempts an unlikely, forbidden romance. When a charity dinner has them again crossing paths, danger follows. But will it shadow them into their futures?

©2021 Laurie Boris (P)2024 Laurie Boris

Captivating, Intriguing

Chance meetings, forbidden romance, mobsters, lox and corned beef, and the allure of Hollywood during the Depression—what more could you ask for? Fighting against an arranged marriage, Evelyn relocates to Hollywood, starting a new life while constantly fearing her mobster fiancé will track her down. But when she uncovers devastating news about her true love, Evelyn must decide if learning his fate is worth risking her own.

The author, Laurie Boris, weaves a compelling narrative centered on fate, destiny, self-sacrifice, and resilience. Her characters are richly developed and intriguing from their first appearance. The authentic dialogue keeps the story moving forward. While the pace starts off slow, this establishes a solid foundation for the unfolding plot and character arcs. Her immersive writing style strengthens the listener’s connection with the characters, and I found myself rooting for Eli and Evelyn’s success!

The narrator, Randi Bachman, delivers a strong performance, capturing each character's essence with distinct voices. Her deliberate pacing, combined with well-placed pauses and intonations, brings out the emotions and actions vividly. She transitions smoothly between characters, enriching the narrative with depth. Though I hadn’t heard her perform before, I found her performance both entertaining and intriguing.

This entertaining audiobook blends historical and fictional places and people into a rich and poignant narrative. It reminds me of the “old-fashioned” movies featuring Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, James Cagney, and more. Very well written! I highly recommend.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

I haven’t heard so much Yiddish since I was a child!

I loved everything about this story. NY in the 30’s,businesses, gangsters, people trying to make a living in a serious recession. Most everyone was Jewish & struggling in one way or another.