Patricia Brent, Spinster | 
Perhaps the original fake engagement romance? In WWI London, Patricia is mortified to overhear fellow boardinghouse “guests“ gossip about her lonely state, and invents a date with a fiance. When she's followed to the “date,“ she spies a likely man in uniform and begs him to help her out.
The romance that follows is chock full of gender essentialism and not that interesting, but there are some fascinating and funny portraits of the time. cont.
willaful My favorite scene is a bombing, which brings out the best--and worst--in the boardinghouse residents. One man hilariously tries to display cool by lighting cigarettes, which he completely loses track of. I also liked the resolution, in which Patricia is shown that the studied indifference and unsentimentality practiced by the bright young things of the age is cutting them off from the chance of happiness. A soft pick, worth a read. (edited) 3d
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