Book Review: ‘The Winthrop Agreement: A Novel’ By Alice Sherman Simpson

The year is 1893, and 15-year-old Rivkah, who is married and pregnant, leaves Europe for America, to meet up with her husband, who never shows up. Lucky for her she knows Lottie, and finds her, moves in with her, gets a job, and has her baby, named Mimi, determined to get her a good life. Years later Rivkah, and Mimi are doing okay, until 15-year-old Mimi meets Fredrick Winthrop, the black sheep of a very rich family, who woos her, and beds her and gets her pregnant, and then vanishes. When the Winthrop family gets wind of this, they set up Mimi, who is now alone with her baby, with a new life, a home, and a place for her to open her own business, and she soon becomes a very famous designer. The one thing she must never do is tell anyone about Fredrick, and her child Matthew, whose father is a monster. She must do what she can to protect him, and the life she has made. A great historical fiction novel set over many years, in New York City. Fans of character driven stories, will really like this one. It’s one of those books you don’t want to put down.

You can pick up The Winthrop Agreement in stores on Tuesday, November 21st from Harper.