This book is one of those novels that makes you want to keep a notebook near you, so you can write down all the terribly witty and wonderful things people say (maybe in hopes of using them yourself someday and coming off as spontaneously brilliant as the heroine). Set in 1938 New York City, this book follows a group of men and women through the most important year of their lives. A sparkling picture of the city as well as 1930s society, this book covers jazz, tragedy, love, friendship, ambition, morality, and somehow manages to give all of these topics their due. Katey, the heroine, is as charmingly open as she is well-read and witty. She reads Walden, Agatha Christie’s mysteries, and others throughout this story, and her love of literature is endearing and will appeal to other bookworms. I highly recommend Rules of Civility to anyone who loves character driven stories.