The empty seaside town is their playground and they barely notice time slipping past.Īs with all stories about excess and lust, the gin eventually runs dry, the thrill fizzles out, and Henry and Effie’s new existence of sun, sex and alcohol spills over into a betrayal that changes everything. Their days are spent on a boat or by the pool, their nights lounging by the fire or drinking gin with reckless abandon. Though Effie is initially reticent to join their flamboyant soirees, Henry is drawn into their world, and Effie soon follows.

Also with them is Max’s aloof stepsister Alma, who ignores everyone but instantly captures Henry’s attention. Effie remains restless though, and just as the couple are about to cut their trip short, they fall in with a glamorous set holidaying in one of the houses on their street.Īt the centre of this group is beautiful and confident Clara, who’s married to a much older man but has her wealthy playboy lover, Max, in tow. For a short while, everything is perfect. On arriving in Cape May, they tentatively begin to explore each other, experiencing the benefits of marital bliss and growing closer in the process. Effie and Henry are young, naïve and intimately awkward. Set against a picturesque beachside backdrop in September, 1957, Cape May follows newly-weds Effie and Henry as they become entangled in the lives of their decadent neighbours whilst on their honeymoon in New Jersey.

Not that Cheek lets that lack of opulence affect his debut. Yet whilst Fitzgerald’s novel takes place amidst the decadence of the roaring twenties, Cheek’s story is firmly rooted in the late 50’s, an era that’s infinitely less glamorous. Both are tales of excess, wealth, love and betrayal. Both feature a cast of idealistic characters. Both stories are set in prosperous East Coast America locations. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby feels like a fair comparison.

Chip cheek