3 Compelling Reasons to add "North End Girl" to Your Reading List
- Karen Herbert
- Feb 22
- 3 min read
Second of a series of reviews of books written by a Karen!
Some books don’t just tell you a story—they invite you into a lived experience. Karen Romanko’s North End Girl is one of those books that feels like a rediscovered photo album left open on the kitchen table, each page stirring something familiar, something nostalgic, and something unexpectedly mysterious.
(Disclaimer: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it based solely on my personal reading experience. No free copies, no paid endorsements, just one Karen, well, two Karens in this case, one book, and a very honest opinion.)
The story weaves a police procedural, a budding romance, supernatural abilities, and cultural snapshots into an intriguing book. Romanko transports the reader into the city neighborhoods of Boston, including the iconic North End, known as Little Italy in 1949. This distinctive location is where the North End Girl, Nicole Rossi, lives with her First Generation Italian parents while she works at the Hotel Manger.
I was delighted to discover that the character of Nicole Rossi, and her beau Philip Kozak were inspired by Romanko's own parents and her mother's job as an elevator operator at the Hotel Manger, which was a real destination then. That is a bonus to the three reasons I recommend adding The North End Girl to your reading list:
A Special Power
From the first lines of the book, Romanko draws you in.
Philip had asked her for the favor. Not just any favor, but the one her mother had told her never to do for anyone outside the family. Nicole's first mistake had been telling Philip she possessed the ability, but now he wanted her to use it.
Nicole can sense thoughts, which isn't much of a spoiler as her power is revealed in the first pages of the book. However, her fledgling skill isn't perfect and her first "read" sets off a chain of events that puts her and a hotel guest in danger. Soon the police are involved, complicating Nicole's need to keep her power a secret.
A Strong Sense of Place
One of Romanko’s greatest gifts is her ability to make a setting pulse with life. Boston's North End is not merely a backdrop—it’s a character, with all the contradictions that entails. We see a city marked by the realities of the hard-working immigrant families in post-war America. These families often held tight to their heritage, and Nicole worries that her Italian parents won't accept her Ukrainian boyfriend, Philip.
Romanko describes with historical accuracy the rumble of nearby factories and the charm of local businesses. When the action moves to a "triple-decker" house, I had to look that up. According to the Boston Preservation Alliance, triple-deckers were free-standing buildings containing three narrow apartments stacked on top of each other. They were built to supply the needs of the growing numbers of immigrant families from around 1880-1930. Being able to visualize a street lined with these triple-deckers added to that strong sense of place.
A Clever Opponent
Lila LaRoche, the mastermind of the caper, is revealed by the third chapter. An expert in disguise, she also knows about the existence of long-forgotten tunnels. Throughout the book, quick-thinking Lila slips away again and again.
If the cops commenced an immediate search for her, they might find her on the street. But she had a third choice, a daring one. She could double back...and use another one of her secret weapons. To do this, she would have to step briefly onto the same street where the police presence was. She decided it was worth the risk.
Romanko adds twists and turns as Lila LaRoche stays a few steps ahead of Nicole and the police. Will Nicole's gift be enough to apprehend the villain?
Final Thoughts
In North End Girl, Romanko has created something that intrigues and delights, much like the city she writes about. This a well-written tale that mixes the right amount of a young woman's coming-of-age with a police procedural. It’s also perfect for readers who love a memoir, or place-centered storytelling.
And for readers like me, that combination is irresistible. Good news, a second book, She's Not There (North End Girl Book 2) is in the works!
For more information about Romanko's North End Girl and other books, check out her website.
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