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Book Review of Sugar Pop Moon: A Jersey Leo Novel

Sugar Pop Moon: A Jersey Leo Novel
emeraldmagick avatar reviewed on + 31 more book reviews


A well crafted story... loved the whole cast of characters, even the bad guys (though I was constantly cursing them out and mentally kicking them in the gonads.. marks of a good villain). It felt like a trip back through time, you really feel like your back in the early 1900s and the 1930s. Mr. Florio has done his research, everything felt authentic and fleshed out.

Jersey is just a regular guy eeking out a living, pouring moon at the Pour House. (He's an albino, which makes some people uncomfortable around him unfortunately) He makes a decision to buy some 'Sugar Pop Moon' off Gazzara and finds out he's been taking for a whole lot of his mobster boss's money (all this on the back cover). He goes to male things right and things spiral into chaos.

The twists in this story kept me on my toes, hoping Jersey and his dad would get things sorted out. Only a certain someone isn't who he says he is and crazy sh*t unfolds. Even then, there's more layers to the truth to unravel.

The real reason for Hector and the cleaver made me want to throw up... Florio doesn't go TOO deep with the gory details, but he leaves you enough to be unnerved by it all.


The second part of the narrative slides easily back and forth with the first... it deals with: Ernie Leo, the Albrights, and a promising reporter named Walter Wilkins (admired him for bravery and stubbornness to deliver the truth). I won't say more but it's revealed slowly how this part, ties in with the bigger picture and there's a few surprises in store.

Romance: Light on it, mentioned briefly but not dwelled on long (narrative in 1906 does have romance). There's a possibility of some hinted at the end.

The ending was perfect as one character got what he deserved haha, glad to see that bastard got what he deserved.

I have a feeling we may see another character again down the road though (see if I'm right)

This book is a perfect mix of ingredients, I very much enjoyed taking up a stool in Jersey's world and can't wait to see what's next for him :).

Would recommend!