Books That Capture the Speakeasy Vibe

If you're a reader and you love the hidden charm of speakeasies, then the following list of speakeasy books may appeal to you.

Speakeasies have a certain vibe. The secret doors, the dim light, the craft cocktails and more. Some books capture the spirit. These prohibition era books set the mood of the secret, underground scene.

These are some books that bring the speakeasy vibe and spirit to life:

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This book is a classic for a reason. The story revolves around Jay Gatsby and includes wealth, love, and glamour in the roaring twenties. Jay throws wild parties filled with jazz, flowing champagne, and people chasing the American dream. While the book isn't necessarily about speakeasies, the lavish parties, double lives and underlying secrets make it feel like it belongs in one.

It’s all about what’s beneath the surface, just like a real speakeasy.

2. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent

If you want to understand the real history behind speakeasies, this book is for you. It dives into the prohibition era, showing how the ban on alcohol led to underground bars, organized crime, and secret social circles. In this book, you’ll learn why hidden bars and this culture became so popular and the risks people took to keep them up and running.

3. Speakeasy by Alisa Smith

The title of this book gives it away. This book is perfect if you love crime stories. It’s set during Prohibition and follows a bootlegger named Lena Stillman who's caught in a web of secrets. Think crime, mystery, espionage and danger wrapped up in hidden smoky bars and you see where this is going. It’s a story of loyalty and survival in a dangerous world and captures the gritty side of the speakeasy world.

4. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

This series is like Gossip Girl in the Roaring Twenties. The story follows three young women in New York City, chasing fame, fortune, and freedom. They sneak into speakeasies, get swept up in jazz-filled nights, and deal with secrets that could ruin them. It’s a mix of glamor, intrigue, and full of speakeasy drama

5. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

While not about speakeasies directly, this novel takes you back in time with a blend of historical fiction and suspense. It's set in Paris during World War II, and tells the story of people secretly fighting back through hidden gatherings, books, and quiet acts of rebellion which makes you feel it has a similar underground vibe of speakeasies, although in a different context.

6. The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

This psychological thriller is set in 1920s New York. It follows a police typist named Rose who gets drawn into the glamorous and dangerous world of speakeasies through her mysterious friend Odalie. The book is filled with all the classic speakeasy stereotypes like smoky rooms, forbidden drinks, and characters who aren’t what they seem. If you like speakeasy style suspense, this book could be for you.

7. Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos

This novel paints a vivid picture of New York City in the early 20th century. It's a story of the city as a character and captures the hustle of the city from the mean streets to the glitzy parties. It's not about speakeasies, but happens around the prohibition era and the book’s fast-paced energy and back and forth between people's lives feels like you're hopping from one hidden bar to the next.

These recommended books capture the essence of the speakeasy vibe and experience. They're part mystery, crime and thriller with hidden rooms, gatherings and more. Did I mention a touch of glamour? Whether you’re reading historical accounts or diving into fiction, these suggested books will make you feel like you’re part of that secret, underground world.