Not Our Kind

More about the book

Set in postwar New York City, this compelling novel explores the unexpected consequences of a chance meeting between two women—one Jewish and one WASP. After a minor traffic accident in June, two years post-World War II, Eleanor Moskowitz, a recent Vassar graduate and teacher, finds herself needing a job. Patricia Bellamy, struggling with her difficult thirteen-year-old daughter Margaux's recovery from polio, requires a private tutor. Despite feeling out of place in the Bellamys’ affluent Park Avenue home, Eleanor quickly bonds with Margaux, introducing her to Shakespeare and Latin. Eleanor’s mother disapproves of her new position, and she must conceal her Jewish identity to enter the Bellamys’ building. During a visit to the family’s country home in Connecticut, Eleanor meets Patricia’s bohemian brother, Tom, igniting an intense romance. As Eleanor grows closer to Margaux and Patricia, her comfort in their world increases. However, as their friendship deepens, a pivotal moment arises one hot summer evening, forcing both women to confront choices that will significantly impact their lives. This gripping narrative delves into the lives of two women on the brink of transformation, questioning how much our pasts shape our futures.