The Godmothers

A Novel

By: Camille Aubray

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan, Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

Big Little Lies set in World War II-era Greenwich Village! An irresistible, suspenseful novel about four women who marry into an elegant, prosperous Italian family and then must take charge of the family’s business when their husbands are forced to leave them during the war.

Meet the Godmothers: Filomena is a clever and resourceful war refugee with a childhood secret who comes to America to wed Mario, the family's favored son. Amie, a beautiful and dreamy French girl from upstate New York, escapes an abusive husband after falling in love with Johnny, the oldest of the brothers. Lucy, a tough-as-nails Irish nurse, ran away from a strict girls' home and marries Frankie, the sensuous middle son. And the glamorous Petrina, the family’s only daughter, graduates with honors from Barnard College despite a past trauma that nearly caused a family scandal.

All four women become godmothers to one another’s children, finding hope and shelter in this prosperous family and their sumptuous Greenwich Village home and enjoying New York life with its fine dining, opulent department stores, and sophisticated nightclubs.

But the women’s secret pasts lead to unforeseen consequences and betrayals that threaten to unravel all their carefully laid plans. And when their husbands are forced to leave them during the second World War, the Godmothers must unexpectedly contend with notorious gangsters like Frank Costello and Lucky Luciano who run the streets of New York City.

Refusing to merely imitate the world of men, the four Godmothers learn to put aside their differences and grudges so that they can work together to protect their loved ones and to find their own unique paths to success, love, forgiveness, and the futures they’ve always dreamed of. 

©2021 Camille Aubray (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Easy Enjoyable Read

3.75 overall. Good narration. Enjoyable and easy to listen to, a beach read. Not great literary fiction, but I think many will like this Audible. I have nothing negative to say about the story or narration. In the most simple terms: it was good. Not marvelous or fantastic, but good. Sometimes that is just what hits the spot. An easy good listen.

Great.

I really enjoyed this book. Good story and narration. I recommend.
I have trouble finding a combination of a good book and a good narration. I would like to hear more from this author.

Different view of the Mafia

I enjoyed the different stories interwoven into the book. I like that it was told from a woman's point of view

Nice surprise

I did not expect a lot from this book but I was pleasantly surprised/pleased at how much I enjoyed it.
(turns out I had a borrowed copy of this from the librarty waiting to be read - so did not need to purchase it! - oh well)
It grabbed my attention right from the beginning and I never was bored with it. I kept finding excuses of things to do so I could continue to listen, whether it was a 2nd walk of the day or - gasp - a little more housecleaning!
Interesting POV about the mobs of NYC thru the years - seen from the women who had to run things while the men were away fighting wars and such.
It was a very easy read/listen (even with the bits of violence) which I give credit not only to the author and the story but to the narrators. My only complaint is that Saskia Maarleveld (my favorite narrator) did not narrate more of it. But I am now a fan of Lisa Flanagan!
I will definitely look for more from author Camille Aubray.

Way too juvenile.

This really seems to be Young Adult in story and in writing style. Returning if I can.

Great name for these women

I liked this more than I thought I would. Very well written and easy to keep track of who everyone is.

Loved it!

Great read. Just when you think ok, that has to be… it isn’t. I loved the characters and watching them develop. Loved the historical accuracy, the bond of family and the underworld of NYC in the 1940s! Easy and fun listen. I couldn’t stop once I started!!!

Loved the Narration.

The title of this book grabbed me. The accents and the speaking Italian brought back many memories. I am 100% Italian and I loved the intuition, (a very strong characterisitc of my mother's) strength and intelligence of all the women in this book. It gave the reader an insight to the life of immigrants during a specific time period. I could almost see "Little Italy" and the "Bosses".
This book was not a keep you on the edge of your seat book, but a very belivable story. The narrators did a wonderful job, I will look for books done by them again.

Excellent

I really enjoyed how they touched on each god mother character and the other characters. It was an addicting read/ listen.

It was fine

Good to listen to while doing chores but not much else. I never connected with any of the characters so it made it hard for me to care.

I enjoyed this

Women looking after their family, in parts I was reminded of other gangster books and films but the reading is beautiful I saw the world of The godmothers in great detail. An excellent read

Great Story

Wow Its been a while since l stumbled upon something so original and gripping It kept me awake a few nights Brilliant engaging characters and what a story Thoroughly recommend I would award more stars if l could Looking forward to authors next book

Easy listening

It flowed better with more than one person. It felt more animated, not one dimensional.