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Laurie Boris
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Boychik Kindle Edition

by Laurie Boris (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 53 ratings
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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?

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  1. Print length
    335 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    October 9, 2021
  5. File size
    1191 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Wondering about the title?

boychik definition, what does boychik mean, Yiddish words, what does boychik title mean, boychick

When I started writing this book, I began seeing a father and son working in the basement of a deli in Depression-era Brooklyn. The father kept calling the son "Boychik," and then I remembered the use of this word among my ancestors. I knew at that moment what the title had to be. I hope you'll check it out.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An emotional tale of mafia violence and young forbidden love in 1930s Brooklyn, Laurie Boris' Boychik is a compulsively readable blend of magical cinematic triumph and great personal tragedy." —The Booklife Prize

"Even though it is written as a work of fiction, Boychik can also be seen as a non-fiction work of art. The reader can take a step back in time and truly feel the fear, tension, and panic people must have felt during this gangster time of history. ...Boris has captured life in New York in the 1930s perfectly, where mobs, gangs, and corrupt police run their own rackets and control everything. I found it difficult to put the book down. I needed to know what happened next. Read this amazing novel to find out." — Teresa Syms for Readers' Favorite

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09J43786C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 9, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 9, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1191 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 335 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

About the author

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Laurie Boris

Laurie Boris

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Laurie Boris has been writing fiction for thirty years and is the award-winning author of nine novels. When not playing with the universe of imaginary people in her head, she enjoys baseball, reading, and avoiding housework. She lives in New York's lovely Hudson Valley.

* Find Laurie on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/laurie.boris.author

* Keep up with Laurie's blog at http://laurieboris.com/blog/

* Follow Laurie on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/LaurieBoris

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
53 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

A. E. Drury
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction, beautifully woven into a timeless tale
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Boychik is a period piece about coming of age, falling in love, and having big dreams during a difficult time in American and world history. There are carefully chosen bits of context to draw attention to the era, the sights and sounds of New York, and the age of organized crime. Beautiful ways of keeping the reader firmly grounded in the world the characters are living in.
As for the characters, they are richly drawn and speak to you in their own words. The likable ones become lovable, and the not so likable ones grow even more villainous. The book is worthy of a re-read solely to appreciate this cast of characters for who they are. But the overall story? It screams for a sequel, and I hope one comes soon. I didn't want my time with these people and their rapidly changing world to end.
In The Boychik, the 1930s Brooklyn breathed back to life to reveal stories as old as time. Forbidden love, family traditions, and violent tribalism. That said, many true things then are still true today. Both the good and bad of that are evident in this book. I highly recommend reading it.
2 people found this helpful
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lindib
4.0 out of 5 stars Boychic
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book was very well written. It held my attention and the storyline stayed on the
point. It ended just as things were looking up. I would like to know the rest of the story.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Rich characterizations, absorbing plot. This should be a movie!
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
Boychik is a terrific novel. Really. You should check it out if you love top-notch historical fiction, New York City/ Brooklyn in the Thirties, Jewish life, detective movies, screenwriters, deli lore and lox and brisket, gangster home life, brave youngsters, coming-of-age sweetness, egg creams, Yiddish, and great storytelling.
One person found this helpful
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ACFlory
5.0 out of 5 stars A story with /heart/
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
It's hard to define what makes Boychik so wonderful because the story has it all - great characters, a great narrative and a sense of time and place like no other. For a couple of delightful days, It transported me to Prohibition New York and beguiled me with the sights and sounds and /smells/ of that era.

I don't actually know what 'lox' is, but I love pickles so I could almost taste the food being made, and eaten, in the Deli. Most of all though, I experienced all of these almost alien sensations through the eyes of two young people on the cusp of growing up. And falling in love.

Yes, there is a thread of romance running through the story, but mostly it's about love and tradition and old expectations clashing with the culture of a new country. In a strange sort of way, Boychik made me nostalgic for a time and place I've never known. It made me /care/.

In my not so humble opinion, Boychik really does have it all, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Read it. You're welcome. :)
2 people found this helpful
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ReaderGalore
5.0 out of 5 stars A gratifying read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
Even if you think historical fiction is not for you, I suggest you step outside your comfort zone and read "Boychik" by Laurie Boris. This story is enhanced by the real-life memories shared by her parents living in Brooklyn in the 1930s and 1940s. Laurie grew up listening to them. The story told in this compelling novel, however, grew from her own imagination. Being able to color that world in such detail with the ethnic nuances of the Jewish American experiences has resulted in a novel well worth your time.

If you are one of those readers who loves to experience the emotional ups and downs of the characters
- crying with them, laughing with them, and cheering them on, you will find "Boychik" a truly satisfying read. I don’t believe in spoilers, but I will tell you that when you reach the last page, you will know that sometimes life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect. Sometimes it’s better.
One person found this helpful
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Sally Heath
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Written
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent story line, with well defined characters. I never lost interest, and I even loved the ending. That's a rarity for me.
One person found this helpful
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R-B C Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Charming Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
What’s not to like about a pastrami sandwich on rye combined with young love and Murder Incorporated??
I must admit that the cover of this book and the title intrigued me. The boy on the cover was perfect (it was that picture that first drew me to the story!) and the Yiddishisms were deli-perfect.
Read “Boychik”; you’ll like it!
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Lorraine Devon Wilke
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful storytelling in a rich, dramatic time and place
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2021
I have been a fan of Laurie Boris's books for a long time. I love writers who move seamlessly from contemporary narratives, dystopian fiction, and now, historical fiction, with such ease that the varying themes and settings become of a piece simply because of the writer's storytelling expertise. That's certainly true in this case.

Boychik is quite a departure from Boris's last book, The Kitchen Brigade. That novel took us on a twisty journey into a dark, dangerous future played out mostly in the unusual and deeply creative setting of a group of chefs catering to madmen destroying society. Prior to that, The Call dove into the culture of baseball with vigor and clear expertise. Boychik is historical fiction, Brooklyn, 1932; a warm, detailed, rich story of an earnest young Jewish writer bound by his family, his heritage, and the expectation that he'll take over his father's beloved deli when the time comes...ah, but for his own dreams. Not only does he long for a career as a Hollywood screenwriter, which would take him far across the country, but his heart wreaks havoc on the plan when he falls in love with a mobster's daughter, a troubled relationship that leads to any number of dangerous and life-altering events.

Boris is a master storyteller who takes even this somewhat familiar theme (it reminded me a bit of a darker Crossing Delancy) into unexpected places, building suspense and keeping us turning the pages even while we find ourselves longing for a pastrami on rye. I never drift or grow tired of the narratives she weaves, always fascinated to see where she's taking us and how she gets us there.

A wonderful read, a great mix of characters and history, another Boris book I heartily recommend!
2 people found this helpful
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