Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club: a novel

by Diane Bergner

Julia Wild was thrilled to trade her legal briefcase for stiletto heels and a glam wardrobe when she accepted the position as a high society fundraiser at a prestigious performing arts center. The Addison Center is supported by mega-donations from the ultra-rich in Royal Coconut Beach, but the gala lifestyle is a minefield.

As if the punishing schedule isn't enough, Julia's boss is having an affair with an important donor (is this what it takes to get big donations?) and someone is trying to sabotage her job. Even as she begins to doubt her new career choice, she weakens to the seduction of elite social circles and the allure of becoming a fundraising rainmaker.

But what really matters are the fascinating and strong-willed women who become her confidantes. They meet regularly for lunch, gossip, subtle lessons, and cocktails - while they dissect the wealth-fueled dynamics of the rich and powerful.

The deeper Julia is drawn into this world, the more reality and fantasy blur, and fault lines in her marriage surface. When she meets a debonair Argentinian billionaire, moral ambiguities and temptations are stirred. Will this fascinating man push her to her limit? Will she listen to her new companions who offer their smarts and feminist sensibilities?

It is only when a suspicion caused by an untimely death blows up the carefully constructed glittering mask of the moneyed set that Julia realizes she must decide whose side to take-and how willing she is to risk everything?

Genres: Romance, Womens Fiction, Fiction

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Stacey B · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC December/January 22-23

Our author asked if I would read her book; no strings attached. Being transparent I wrote back saying that I am far from a reviewer which obviously didn't bother her in the least. My apologies for not posting this earlier.
Diane Bergner is a debut author with a clever and original storyline. It includes what it takes for this book to have made "The New York Post" on May 5th this week as one of the best new books to read. This was a fun read; purely for my entertainment. I certainly learned a few things about the MO of people.
Now I'm wondering what really goes on behind the curtain.
A thank you to the author for treating me to a weekend of sheer enjoyment by reading her book.
Maybe at some point she will invite a stranger to lunch. :)

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

At age 69, I am probably not the target audience for this book, but having not really read any "chick-lit" in my life and few summer beach reads, I felt I should give it a try. While a lot of people are offended by the term "chick-lit" this book sort of hits all the marks for that genre. By that I mean that this is a story about a performance venue called the Addison Center, and is located in the fictitious city of Royal Coconut Beach, Florida. It is a story about 4 ladies who are in charge of Donor relations for the center and what goes on behind the scenes in their lives, their work and their donors lives! Quite a lot to be honest and each chapter is short and specifically on point for the Chapter titles (yes, that is a bit plus for the book, because I love chapter titles!). We basically follow Julia Wild, formerly a New York attorney, who moved to Florida with her husband who was transferred there by his law firm. Julia applies for and gets the job at the Addison Center and quickly finds out that it is more glamorous and scandalous than she expected. Lots of loving, gossip, cattiness and backstabbing going on throughout this book, as we find out someone took a huge donation check from her desk, how someone appears to be setting her up for a fall, and finding out that clothes are so essential in this job! We also have a lot of speculation as to love lives, and affairs (including Julie's husband??), but the book ends with a satisfactory ending for one and all, most especially Julie who has had to navigate this minefield.
All in all it is not a bad effort by debut novelist Diane Bergner, however the plot gets bogged down with a huge over emphasis on describing the clothing everyone wears, almost every other chapter. We get it after about 4 chapters, and there was no need for this continued emphasis from my personal point of view. But a good job by Diane and hope she has another one planned for next beach season!

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

I really, really tried to like this book. The blurb made it sound like it would be a juicy beach read, but I just could not get into it. I guess I could not relate to any of the characters and their uber-wealthy lifestyle. Others seem to have enjoyed this book, so I guess this was just not a good fit for me.

[books_with_sass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julia Wild needed a change, so she turned in her lawyer briefcase for stilettos and fancy galas. She didn't realize that the change would have such an effect on her life, becoming one of the hob-nobbers of Royal Coconut Beach. When things in her life start spiraling, she gets some of her closest female friends together for the Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club to talk and get advice.

This was a very slow book for me, and I'm not sure I ever really knew what the plot was. There may or may not be someone sabotaging her at work. Her husband may or may not be having an affair with his younger co-worker, although Julia herself is spending time with another man. For the entire first third of the book nothing happened. There was description of her job every day and her husband pulling away from her, that's it. The entire book was boring, and I don't know what the point of the story was.

As for the characters, Julia is okay, but not the most loveable character. Her husband gets annoying, and her coworkers are fickle. I don't know that there was anything that made me root for Julia and her husband to work things out. The writing wasn't bad per se, I just didn't enjoy the story.

All in all, I don't think I'd recommend this book.

[Heather Coffee_Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut novel by Diane Bergner about Julia Wild, who changes careers from working in a law firm to the cut-throat world of non-profits when she accepts the position of Fundraising Coordinator for the Addison Performing Arts Center in Royal Coconut Beach, Florida. Julia enters a world very different from her own, now being expected to entertain, wine & dine the elites at exclusive clubs, to raise funds. The book follows Julia on her journey into this new world and all the trappings that come with it.

It was a good read, very well written and would class it as a beach read. It's not my usual genre of book, so at times I did struggle with the pacing of the book, looking for a little more to happen, but overall a good read. I'd give it 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Meryl Moss Media Group and Diane Bergner for this ARC.

[Mairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club is a pleasant novel around a couple who ends up moving to Royal Coconut Beach after Julia wants to change career. The legal path is not really her thing. Instead, she starts working for the Addison Center, a fundraising performing arts center. Author Diane Bergner touches different interesting and mature themes, which I don't want to divulge because they all ate kinda spoilery. It was interesting to read about the super wealthy, how and why they are spending insane amounts of money on causes, galas, charities, and such, how one get to rub elbows with the people you never would have talked to otherwise, it was a fun and easy book to read, it's just too bad that it was so superficial. We never had the chance to dig deeper. As a result, I didn't feel attached to the characters.

[Mel Villalba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club
by Diane Bergner
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women's fiction

This book was a bit of a ride. This is Bergner's debut novel and I'll say that I liked it enough. Personally, I feel like so many things happened at the same time but it did kept me entertained.

It is a really fast paced book and I started it and finished it in a day and a half. I'll also say it was a really easy read which I liked. The writing was okay, I didn't love it and I struggled a bit with it not gonna lie but the plot got me hooked enough and saved it for me. It was nice to read about Julia, a 40 year old attorney who changes her career completely, though I have to admit at times I got a bit tired of her. There was also some mistery also involved, which I think it should have been either more prominent in the story or not been there at all. However it was a fun read. I also liked the characters. A thing that surprised me was how many references there were about my beautiful country Argentina, since one of the Characters is Argentinian and not gonna lie that made me really happy.


Overall it was an okay one time readand i enjoyed it but I wou

I received a copy of this book from katieandbreypa, meryl moss, booktrib and net galley in exchange of my honest opinion.

[bexbooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun mix of women's lit and mystery. It definitely would make a great summer beach read. It's light-hearted and fun.

It definitely Went more towards mystery than women's lit for me. I was expecting the lunch club to be a larger part and to really delve into the relationship between the women.

The mystery itself was very cute and light. I wouldn't recommend it for people who are hardcore mystery fans, but for a starter mystery. This is definitely a fun one to pick up.

The characters were really fun to read about. It was great to delve into the lifestyle of the very rich. I've always been intrigued by it and find it fun to read.

I would say overall this is definitely just a fun book to pick up and you can breeze through. It's great to read when you want something fun and easy to take with you to a beach day or to the pool.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! I found myself identifying with the main character. The author did a lovely job creating characters that were wonderfully animated and detailed and I enjoyed how there were several small plots that were actually connected to one another. I think many of us could identify with the main theme. Excellent read. Props to a first book! I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Anna J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was all over the place and I just couldn’t get into it all.

[Prakarsha Pilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Name: Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club
Genre: Drama/Fiction
Author: @dianebergner
Pages: 382
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐


The book starts with Julia Wild, a lawyer who changed fields and joined Addison, a high-profile NGO to help them with their fundraising. There she meets new people and enters a whole new world. Her work involves meeting the rich, talking to them and of course, raising some donations. But as we all know, the lives of socialite elites aren't as beautiful as they show. Will Julia keep up with Chrissy, Maya and Poppy at the Addisons? Meanwhile, there is trouble brewing at her husband and another attorney, Mark's firm.

I would categorise this book as domestic fiction than crime or thriller. The story deals with people, relationships and competition. Reading this book felt like following the Page 3 parties and the stories of people in those. It is very entertaining to read about the high society and their ways.

The writing style is brilliant. Each character and incident is so beautifully written. The language is very simple so the book is suitable for beginners. Though the story wasn't any surprising or engaging, the writing made sure I finished the book.

I gave it 3 stars because though I love some drama and gossip and secrets, I can't take ~400 pages of it. I feel this book is suitable for those who are really into relationship drama but not for those looking for a great story. The length did get to me, at times.

I would say it is a one-time read.

I received a review copy from Netgalley.

[Marcie Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A engrossing story told very well. Some intrigue, some romance, some decisions to be made. Several very charismatic characters. This compelling story pushes you to discover what each character is going to do next. The stories are expertly intertwined. This storyline takes you behind closed doors into the world of the rich and philanthropic in the fascinating setting of what goes on in one of the largest performing arts centers in the country.

[Reggie Virus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok honestly, I did and didn’t like this. I feel like there were way too many people to keep track of and idk JJ kinda annoyed me. Like I get why we needed all of these people and why he was doing what he did, but I wish she didn’t get caught up in it. And then her husband getting kinda caught up with his assistant oh girl! I wanted her to throw hands when she saw them lol. But oddly enough this does happen in real life and it was an okay read. I was tired of hearing about her job description and then it felt kinda slow the first half of the book. I am glad I was able to get an ARC and i will read more from her.

I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

[DONNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect beach read

Need a light , fun book for vacation ? Check this out ! Plenty of drama, money and relationship angst against the backdrop of a very wealthy community and its residents .

[Oh Yeah, I Read That · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book because the name and cover are so appealing. Then I read the description… This was such a cute book with a well paced plot and strong characters. I really enjoyed it.

[Taryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Garage. No plot, no story, just gossip! What a bad and terribly written book!

[Wendys_Darling_Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.2

I picked this story up off of Net Galley as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) and I loved the premise of the story but at times really struggled with it too. This is totally my own feelings on stories (I'm not big into any story line that involves 'happiness' around cheating wife / husband - main character or otherwise etc.) but it was a good read and really dived into a world that I have ZERO connection to - high rollers and major donors into the arts world and all kinds of drama that comes with it.

After reaching a breaking point in her law profession, Julia Wild took on a new career path and has decided to blend her law background into fundraising for the Addison Center (the local Performing Arts Center) where she focuses on securing donations from the local rich and wealthy. Royal Coconut Beach is filled with plenty of wealthy socialites! But wining and dining the wealthy isn't all that Julia experiences in this new role including sabotage, insider trading, crimes, divorces, fundraising and sucking up, wealthy rich men who like to swoon partners, and a husband whose new work partner may be more than a colleague.

Thank goodness for the women she does meet that invest in her and take the time to be with her though - without her ladies in the lunch club, Julia could have fallen apart. They help work through the tricky and new situations that arise and the different insights these women supply truly show that they are good friends and are always there for each other.

This story had so much potential for me, but it felt really choppy at times. I enjoyed reading about fundraising and the world of the rich and wealthy, but it also was hard to connect to anyone in the story - although I did enjoy being able to pretend, I owned a pair of Christian Louboutin and would pay CRAZY amounts of money for an outfit! For some this story will transport you to a life of luxury while still being on the outskirts of the true rich and famous. For me, I struggled a little with understanding the timeline and the focus of the things, I almost wanted more lunch group content than we got!

Thanks to NetGalley and Diane Bergner who, in collaboration with Meryl Moss Media Group, released this copy early so that I could provide a review prior to publish date!

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Money is power."

With a mix of the Real Housewives series, the soap opera Dynasty and the old TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous debut author Diane Bergner takes us into the politics and "affairs" of fundraising with the ultra rich in the often hysterical, mysterious and even murderous Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club.

Julia never enjoyed being a lawyer and makes a major career change taking a position at the prestigious performing arts center The Addison Center in the fundraising department. She ditches her courtroom suits for high heels and gowns setting up galas for the rich to donate to the arts and pay for a position on their board of directors. What she didn't expect was the backstabbing, stealing, illicit affairs and a murder!

Fortunately to get through it all she has her ladies who meet for lunch, okay it's more drinks, Prosecco is practically a character, and get each other through the drama.

This book is the perfect beach read with enticing characters. There's Julia's boss having an affair with a married donor, Julia's husband spending nights at the office with the new beautiful younger lawyer and then there's the two office girls; at least one of them seems to be sabotaging Julia's work. Let's not forget the older married Argentinian billionaire who has his eyes, and other body parts, on Julia. She is definitely enjoying the attention as she says, "...I wanted to be wanted."

So make a cocktail, put your feet up and read how rich couples are,"...too rich to get divorced," how the more they donate the more they demand, and how fierce smart women who lunch together can outlast them all.

I received a free copy of this book from #katieandbreypa via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Charles Schaeffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife purchased this book for an upcoming vacation. On a whim, I decided to pick it up. To my surprise as this is not typical of one of my favored genres, I thoroughly enjoyed this gem.

There were a lot of ingredients that make Bergner’s first novel a 5-star winner for me. Julia, the main character is very relatable. She has lots of toxicity to deal with at work with her staff and her direct report, despite having what appears to be the dream new career. To make matters worse, her husband Mark is too wrapped up in the downward spiral of his law practice, and his pretty junior attorney that he spends an inordinate amount of time with. I rooted for Julia throughout the book. I had a lot of empathy for her even through her quasi affair with a billionaire donor.

The book flows well from one scene to the next with great character development. The scenery of the lavish events, homes, etc. of Royal Coconut Beach are masterfully described without going overboard nor detracting from the pacing and plot. Who better than Bergner (who is a Director of Development of a performing arts center in South Florida) to welcome the reader into a fictionalized view of her life and career?

This is quite an extraordinary first novel. Bergner’s passion and talent for writing shines through. It’s amazing that Bergner could create such a fabulous story her first time. I hope this isn’t a one and done. I would value the opportunity to read future novels from this very talented author.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun fiction novel kept me guessing all the way through! Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club tells the story of Julia, a former lawyer turned fundraiser for the Addison Centre, a performance arts venue use by the rich locals as a source of competition and boasting when it comes to who can donate the most to have their names on the playbill. Julia quickly learns that her job is more about maintaining appearances and schmoozing with donors than marketing and searching for new donors. She also soon realizes that rubbing shoulders with the rich inevitably leads to scandals.

With relatively short chapters, this book felt like a really quick read, but it covered a lot of content. There were a few moments where I was a bit confused about the timeline (near the end it said it was only a little under a year but it felt like two full event seasons so I thought 2 at least?) but it was all chronological and easy to follow! There were enough interesting characters to keep you interested, and the author did a great job with slowly revealing things. The characters are mainly in their 40s and up so it also is a nice read for someone who is looking for more mature storylines.

Thanks to @katieandbreypa @meryl_moss @booktrib @dianebergner for giving me the chance to read this fun book. I definitely look forward to seeing what else this author writes in the future!

[Patty Baumeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Book Review
Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club
A Novel Written By Diane Berger
Women’s Fiction
Published 2023
382 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The author’s debut novel is a mix of Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous and The Real Housewives. The author’s writing and fast moving plot make this book an enjoyable read. I found it difficult to put the book down.

The main character, Julia Wild, has decided to change careers in her 40’s. She has left her law office to be the Fundraising Coordinator at the Addison Performing Arts Center. Soon after starting her new job, she starts to wonder if she made a mistake changing careers. She’s discovered that her boss is having an affair with a board member. There is work drama. After a few missteps, she thinks one of her coworkers is out to sabotage her. Cracks have started to form in her once solid happy marriage to her lawyer husband, Mark. Throw in some illegal activity and a murder. This book has it all! Here is your summer read of 2023!

“We walk hand in hand in life. I’m grateful that I get to do it with you.”

“He was mine, and I was his. The cement that bound us was true love.”

[Alexa Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fun, light, fast paced novel that champions female friendships, has robust character development with a bit of mystery, romance and glamour to boot, then this novel is for you! Oh, and how could one forget, the philanthropy overlay that is creatively weaved throughout the storyline as the protagonist, Julia Wild, is the lead fundraiser at a local performing arts center, wow! The author does a great job transporting the reader to the playground for the mega-rich. The lavish backdrop of Royal Coconut Beach (think Palm Beach, people!) is the perfect setting for these privileged high society characters. I was so invested in every single one of them, I did not want to put this book down and neither will you!

Bergner's debut novel is A+. A must read!

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! This book reads like a soap opera set on luxurious and dramatic beach club full of drama and secrets. Although I caould not relate to the super-rch and their snobbery, I could relate to Julia. Julia is the MC in this book and goes through a lot when she decides to change careers. From lawyer to fundraiser manager, Julia deals with many obstacles. Some of these obstacles make her question her decision, especially when someone tries to sabatoge her job.

I t hought this was a great book read even if many of the characters are unrelatable and unlikable. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley, Diane Bergner and Meryl Moss Media Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! As a worker bee who has dipped her toe into Julia Wild's world for more than 30 years, I loved how Bergner pulled back the curtain on the art of fundraising, the dynamics of working with and among the world's elite, and especially the strength and perspective a group of strong women can provide to one another. I loved the characters and scenarios -- and the attention to detail that only comes with being an insider. Admittedly, I wanted to shake Julia on more than one occasion... but inevitably her dear friends did that for me with love and care. A standing ovation for this first novel -- I can’t wait to read the author's next one!

[AB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! I went into it half heartedly but went ahead on the recommendation of my sister in law who raved about it. She was right! I thought the book would be banal and stereotypical. Instead, the characters were exceedingly well developed and the story line moved at a very good pace and was interesting, creative and full of suspense. The world of raising money and wealth in Palm Beach was spot on and the struggles endured by the main character, Julia Wild, were so well written that you could really feel what was happening! I thought this was an excellent debut novel and I hope Ms. Bergner writes something else for us to read soon!! Really well done and worth the read!!!

[Roberta E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a time out from your mundane life, grab a glass or bottle of bubbly and sink into this book. You will finish it in rapid time - it is a great escape! Royal Coconut lures you into the world of the South Florida uber wealthy, the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies it, and how a group of women bond to keep each other grounded, supported and sane in today's fast-paced world. Diane Bergner's characters jump off the page and the plot keeps you guessing until you close the book. She has knocked this one off the yacht, hook line and sinker!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Diane Bergner and Meryl Moss Media Group for the copy of Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club. This is my personal review.
This book was a fun ride in the life of Julia Wild. She gave up the job with a law firm to begin working for a non-profit as their Fundraising Coordinator.
She now leads a life of entertaining many to raise funds and has her mixing with some mega rich people living in high society.
The characters and their stories were so well woven together that the story just flowed off the pages. This is a perfect beach read that you will enjoy from cover to cover.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed getting a first row seat into the drama and life of the upper class in this debut novel by Diane Bergner. Julia is a very likable character as are her closest girlfriends who make up the Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club! The intrigue into the lives of the VERY rich is always so fascinating to me and the way Diane ties in her first hand knowledge, mirroring her real life career in Julia’s character. The addition of greed, infidelity, and ego was a great way to add to the suspense when the mystery unfolded later in the story.

[Ida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Royal Coconut Palm Lunch Club is a captivating and heartwarming novel that combines vivid storytelling with memorable characters. It is fast paced easy reading book that transports readers to a tropical paradise, where they can escape the complexities of everyday life and immerse themselves in a tale of friendship, love, and self-discovery.

You don’t have to be familiar with the world of the social elite or fundraising to love this book. Any woman who has built a career in the corporate world over the last 30 years will find strong relations to the characters and events in this book.

[Xinyan Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

why was this so slow 😭 i really could not get into this book and it took me soooo long to pick it up sporadically and immense willpower to continue reading. everyone in this book is just unlikeable and there wasn't any humor i could relate to :/ too bad because i was looking forward to enjoying this book bc mysteries are my jam

thank you to meryl moss media group & the author for the arc, in exchange for an honest review