A – Z Book Reviews

When a book lands on Reese’s Book Club list, there’s a pretty good chance that anything I have to say about it has already been said by thousands of readers, professional reviewers, and probably at least a dozen enthusiastic BookTok creators. So no, I’m probably not bringing any groundbreaking literary analysis to the table here—but I did thoroughly enjoy Pair of Aces.

One of the biggest draws for me was the setting. The 1930s has always been one of my favorite historical periods to read about. There’s something endlessly fascinating about the era’s mix of ambition, organized crime, political corruption, and rapid social change. Corruption exists in every generation, of course, but somehow the mobsters, backroom deals, and larger-than-life personalities of the 1930s make for particularly compelling fiction.

The standout character for me was Polly. She was confident, capable, determined, and impossible not to root for. Watching her navigate challenges and carve out success in a world stacked against her was easily my favorite part of the novel. Eugene was a solid counterpart, and I appreciated his role in the story, but if I’m being honest, I found myself eagerly anticipating Polly’s chapters and occasionally speed-reading my way through some of Eugene’s.

Part of that came from the legal aspects of Eugene’s storyline. While they were important to the plot, some sections felt a little wordy for my taste. There were moments when I caught myself thinking, “Yes, yes, legal strategy… but what’s Polly up to?” Readers who enjoy courtroom details may feel differently, but I was firmly on Team Polly from beginning to end.

That said, the writing itself was excellent. The story flowed beautifully, the historical atmosphere felt authentic, and I was engaged from the first page to the last. Even when I preferred one storyline over the other, I never lost interest in the book as a whole.

My only real complaint is that I wanted a bit more closure at the end. After Lucky’s conviction, I would have loved an epilogue that explored Polly’s recovery and what her life looked like moving forward. I became invested enough in her journey that I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye when the final page arrived.

Overall, Pair of Aces delivered exactly what I love in historical fiction: a richly drawn setting, memorable characters, high stakes, and plenty of intrigue. And while Reese may have already convinced half the reading world to pick it up, consider this one more vote in its favor.