Cape May

A Novel

By: Chip Cheek

Narrated by: George Newbern

A mesmerizing debut by Chip Cheek, Cape May explores the social and sexual mores of 1950s America through the eyes of a newly married couple from the genteel South corrupted by sophisticated New England urbanites.

Late September 1957. Henry and Effie, very young newlyweds from Georgia, arrive in Cape May, New Jersey, for their honeymoon only to find the town is deserted. Feeling shy of each other and isolated, they decide to cut the trip short. But before they leave, they meet a glamorous set of people who sweep them up into their drama. Clara, a beautiful socialite who feels her youth slipping away; Max, a wealthy playboy and Clara’s lover; and Alma, Max’s aloof and mysterious half-sister, to whom Henry is irresistibly drawn.

The empty beach town becomes their playground, and as they sneak into abandoned summer homes, go sailing, walk naked under the stars, make love, and drink a great deal of gin, Henry and Effie slip from innocence into betrayal, with irrevocable consequences.

Erotic and moving, this is an audiobook about marriage, love, and sexuality, and the lifelong repercussions that meeting a group of debauched cosmopolitans has on a new marriage.

©2019 Chip Cheek (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"What a treat. Glamorous and nostalgic and very sexy, Cape May is a novel about marriage, lust, shabby seaside towns and lots of gin. Brilliantly unsettling - one of those books that stays with you." (Paula Hawkins, number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Girl on the Train)

“Deceptively relaxed and simple at first...[Cape May] soon reveals itself as a swirling vortex of psychological suspense with insights about marriage that recall writers like Margot Livesey and Alice Munro. The 1950s setting, the pellucid prose, and the propulsive plot make this very steamy debut novel about morality and desire feel like a classic.” (Kirkus, starred review)

Narrator killed the intimate scenes

I did stick out the whole book, but just barley. The narrator seemed bored by the main character of this book - the intimate scenes.

Wonderful book

A beautiful, sorrowful reverie of stupid, hopeful young love or lust or plain foolishness. A little of Thornton Wilder mixed in with John Updike

Enthralling

A well narrated, seductive and unflinching tale of temptation and abandon. The writing is excellent. I highly recommend it for a mature audience. It is one you’ll come back to again.

Story of a honeymoon

This book is full of surprises. Fast and interesting read. I recommend it as it is well written and flows for the reader.

Twists & turns, beautifully told

The story kept you engrossed the entire time. Cheek’s descriptions places you right in the center of the party. Newbern’s narration was spectacular; his various character voices made the book even lore interesting, bringing characters to life. Favorite part: the story isn’t told from one particular person’s POV, although Henry takes center stage a lot. Excellent summer beach read!

Steamy HOT HOT HOT

I love this book. It had me captured the whole story through. It unfolded beautifully causing great arousing expectations. Great summer read/listen in fact great anytime as an escape or just entertainment. Quite vivid the whole community was clear in my mind based on the descriptions. Great book.

Sophomoric Storyline

The characters in this story have no redeeming qualities. They all behave so badly. The sex descriptions are truly X rated. I can not understand how anyone gave this novel s 5 star review. Worst book ever!

Terrible terrible book

I have never been so disappointed in a book. The main character is irredeemable and the supporting characters aren’t any better. This story left me frustrated and annoyed.

The narrator, however, gave an excellent delivery of this (terrible) story. Only reason I actually finished this book.

Waste of time

Listening to this book was a total waste of time. The only good thing about it was the Narrator .

creepy and gross

This story is creepy, gross, and disturbing. I regret buying it and listening to it. I normally like this narrator, but he was the wrong choice for this particular perverted book.