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Whitefox Publishing Naked in Mayfair.
Once upon a time, there was a lonely woman who was beautiful on the outside but sad on the inside...
Meet Ava, a blonde bombshell and newly divorced banker who leads a glamorous life in Mayfair and is looking for love again. She is passionate and strong, a woman who has it all and wants more, but her professional success and fearlessness are a foil to her vulnerability and inner demons. Outwardly Ava is confident and successful, yet she feels alone in the world. Naked in Mayfair follows Ava's uninhibited sexual odyssey as she is courted by many fascinating men. She loves sex, and her intense sexuality is her expression of a desire to find true love and connection. But whilst Ava has an amusing and pleasurable life, she is damaged inside, and the deep love she yearns for eludes her until finally, she finds purpose and peace in the most unexpected way. Sometimes shocking, often hilarious, always thought-provoking, Naked in Mayfair gives us an illuminating glimpse behind closed doors, in the back of a Bentley and at 30,000 feet. This is a glittering world of privilege and wealth, with extravagant holidays, fine dining and mega yachts. It gives us a unique insight into the secret life of a 21st-century woman's unwavering search for love, meaning, inner peace – and ultimately, self-acceptance.
352 pages, Paperback
Published June 15, 2023
28 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
The Secret Socialite
2 books2 followersThe Secret Socialite is the nom de plume of a financier educated at Oxford University and Harvard Business School who lives, loves and works in Mayfair. Naked in Mayfair explores the joys of love and relationships, and the complexities of the female psyche. It draws on her experiences as a mother and as a successful woman in business, navigating the brave new world of singledom.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 12, 2023
"If you don’t love yourself first, you’re going to spend all your time running after men who don’t love you either. "
I didn't really know what I was going into before starting this but I was so intrigued by the glitz and glamour of the Mayfair setting and the secrecy surrounding the author.
The story follows divorced mum-of-two Ava who works in the finance sector and her quest to find the love of her life. At the beginning, I was worried because I didn't really gel with Ava. Yes, she was beautiful, loved her kids and I did feel for her regarding her relationship with her ex-husband but when it came to a few things that she did, especially within her relationships, I didn't agree with her morals.
As we continue to read, learning more about Ava's psyche and what happened to her whilst on holiday as a teen, everything started to make sense. There was a huge character development and I was really rooting for her the more I read.
I will say that there are a lot of sex scenes which I don't mind as long as there is a plot and this book definitely has that.
I laughed at parts, I enjoyed the overall story and it is just a fun read but with a deeper story underneath.
I didn't really know what I was going into before starting this but I was so intrigued by the glitz and glamour of the Mayfair setting and the secrecy surrounding the author.
The story follows divorced mum-of-two Ava who works in the finance sector and her quest to find the love of her life. At the beginning, I was worried because I didn't really gel with Ava. Yes, she was beautiful, loved her kids and I did feel for her regarding her relationship with her ex-husband but when it came to a few things that she did, especially within her relationships, I didn't agree with her morals.
As we continue to read, learning more about Ava's psyche and what happened to her whilst on holiday as a teen, everything started to make sense. There was a huge character development and I was really rooting for her the more I read.
I will say that there are a lot of sex scenes which I don't mind as long as there is a plot and this book definitely has that.
I laughed at parts, I enjoyed the overall story and it is just a fun read but with a deeper story underneath.
June 28, 2023
3.5* - AD/PR - This is definitely one of the steamiest books I’ve read! On a surface level, it’s a super spicy and hugely fun adventure with a post divorce woman making morally questionable decisions (which make her borderline unlikeable) and celebrating sexual freedom as she looks for love. On a deeper level, I was torn between wanting to celebrate Ava’s sexual freedom and wanting to scream as she made the same mistakes with the same types of men over and over again! When you realise she’s defined by a traumatic sexual assault as a teen, her actions make a lot of sense. Seeing the truth behind the facade, I’d have loved to spend more time on her counselling as the self acceptance she finds towards the end of the book feels fragile and destined not to last unless she works through her trauma! On a side note, I must say I did have an issue with every single man having an “enormous” package 🤣. However, I loved the themes of female empowerment, agency and body autonomy and I really enjoyed the spicy content and the look at the reality behind the glamour!
August 1, 2023
Naked in Mayfair explored the joys of love and relationships, and the complexities of the female psyche. It draws on her experiences as a mother and as a successful woman in buisness, navigating the brave new world of singledom.
💄
Ava is a single mother of two with a high flying career in finance, living in one of London's most exclusive postcodes. On the outside, it seems like she has it all. Although, all Ava truly wants is to love deeply and be loved just as deeply. This book follows Ava through the trials and tribulations of dating in the current age whilst trying to find her true love.
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I have to admit it took me a while to get into this book, as I wanted to shake Ava a number of times due to some questionable decisions she kept making and the mistakes it seemed she wasn't learning from. However, when she started to question and realise why things were constantly ending the same way over and over again, I definitely had a 'yes girl!' Moment.
💄
I was so happy to read the growth of Ava accepting herself and realising she was good enough with or without a man and just living for the moment. After her upbringing and incidents while growing up, I was made up when she finally realised her worth
💄
Ava is a single mother of two with a high flying career in finance, living in one of London's most exclusive postcodes. On the outside, it seems like she has it all. Although, all Ava truly wants is to love deeply and be loved just as deeply. This book follows Ava through the trials and tribulations of dating in the current age whilst trying to find her true love.
💄
I have to admit it took me a while to get into this book, as I wanted to shake Ava a number of times due to some questionable decisions she kept making and the mistakes it seemed she wasn't learning from. However, when she started to question and realise why things were constantly ending the same way over and over again, I definitely had a 'yes girl!' Moment.
💄
I was so happy to read the growth of Ava accepting herself and realising she was good enough with or without a man and just living for the moment. After her upbringing and incidents while growing up, I was made up when she finally realised her worth
March 7, 2024
Absolutely no plot. No character development, or even personality from the main character Ava, aside from being blonde, sexy, and into finance. Even the sex was boring and repetitive. Don’t waste your time.
August 4, 2023
Lacked a storyline, the rest was impressive.
March 20, 2024
How high society hobnobs between the sheets. Mainly in MAYFAIR
Meet Ava, blonde bombshell and intellectual highflier (who reads about quantum mechanics in her leisure time). At heart she sees herself as an “unreconstructed schoolgirl swot” and an unwilling singleton. She is newly divorced with two children, living in Mayfair and is on the look-out for “the” longterm new man in her life. She is described as having “...carnal, masculine energy and …inviting female sexuality“, which probably tells you everything you need to know.
She has been to see a psychic, who assures her she will indeed meet a man who will nourish her soul and stimulate her senses (you know what I am saying here ) and that his name will start with the letter ‘H”. She encounters both Harry and Hugo – could either of them be her knight in shining armour, to wit, THE one to rescue her from her grinding life in the single lane?
Ava grew up with her sister, who was the cherished sibling, and in fact her mother saw fit to divulge that Ava had never been wanted by her father. Her drive, therefore in adult life, is to find the love that was denied her in childhood but until now she has confused sex and love. She has a voracious appetite for the former and we accompany her in her intimate moments when she appraises and engages with tumescent trousers and pulsating pants, in all their throbbing glory. Insatiable, I would say (or let me suggest that sexual addiction is probably at play here). The author further underlines Ava’s Jewish heritage and how the horrors of the mid 20th Century have rattled down the generations and form an unconscious element in her psyche. However, neither this, nor a brief mention to see a psychotherapist gain traction within the unfolding story. She has a sassy outer shell but a very vulnerable and fragile inner persona.
She is all for women’s empowerment and as a family unit, she and her two daughters sponsor a couple of young women through university, they are after all philanthropists. She has encouraged her teenage daughters – Sasha and Khassya (that’s a mouthful!) – to stand on their own two feet, both in their academic lives and in relationships with handsome young men (which only serves to highlight the lack of a partner in Ava’s own life, a theme on repeat throughout the novel).
However, whenever she dives down the rabbit hole of sadness at her situation, she quickly finds the wherewithal to pull herself up by the bootstraps (or any other straps) and gets back in the saddle, and soon there is another old Etonian-type in the frame.
Before you know it, yet another handsome man has accosted her on a Mayfair street (the Mayfair streets are clearly paved with eligible and randy men), they have exchanged phone numbers, and soon Ava is engaged in a threesome, with yet another glass of Ruinart to lubricate the proceedings. On to Eren from Turkey and an evening at The Araki (a Japanese restaurant that seats only 12 (or 9 if you look on their website – and should you want to visit, you need to be quick as the chef is returning to Japan quite soon). Upon returning to her house, they discover she has been burgled (but between calling the police and the officers arriving, there is still time for a quickie – would you, really, if you were stressed post burglary, honestly? ). But, as Eren’s name does not begin with “H”, the reader can be tempted to rattle through his manoeuvres, knowing he will imminently be hung out to dry.
Mayfair hotspots get a good look-in: 5H is Ava’s favourite drinking place, Cristal and Ruinart are on tap and Annabel’s is a hot favourite. There are plenty of descriptions of designer gaffs, clothes, and yachts, paintings, and upmarket hotels (around the world)…
As one of her daughter’s says of Ava’s dating patterns “It’s like Groundhog Day, the same thing over, and over again“, which actually sums up the book. Towards the end, the story gets a little chaotic as Ava tries to shift into a different gear.
If you have enjoyed EL James (50 Shades) and The Bride Stripped Bare (which made its debut in the early 2000s, penned by “Anonymous”, and exposed as Nikki Gemmell), then you will probably enjoy this. Similarly, the erotic novels, full of couture clothes, fine art and luxury travel by L S Hilton may appeal. This novel is a reasonably well written manifestation of the same iteration.
It says in the book blurb “It gives us a unique insight into the secret life of a 21st-century woman’s unwavering search for love, meaning, inner peace – and ultimately, self-acceptance” – does it, though, really? That is a stretch too far.
Meet Ava, blonde bombshell and intellectual highflier (who reads about quantum mechanics in her leisure time). At heart she sees herself as an “unreconstructed schoolgirl swot” and an unwilling singleton. She is newly divorced with two children, living in Mayfair and is on the look-out for “the” longterm new man in her life. She is described as having “...carnal, masculine energy and …inviting female sexuality“, which probably tells you everything you need to know.
She has been to see a psychic, who assures her she will indeed meet a man who will nourish her soul and stimulate her senses (you know what I am saying here ) and that his name will start with the letter ‘H”. She encounters both Harry and Hugo – could either of them be her knight in shining armour, to wit, THE one to rescue her from her grinding life in the single lane?
Ava grew up with her sister, who was the cherished sibling, and in fact her mother saw fit to divulge that Ava had never been wanted by her father. Her drive, therefore in adult life, is to find the love that was denied her in childhood but until now she has confused sex and love. She has a voracious appetite for the former and we accompany her in her intimate moments when she appraises and engages with tumescent trousers and pulsating pants, in all their throbbing glory. Insatiable, I would say (or let me suggest that sexual addiction is probably at play here). The author further underlines Ava’s Jewish heritage and how the horrors of the mid 20th Century have rattled down the generations and form an unconscious element in her psyche. However, neither this, nor a brief mention to see a psychotherapist gain traction within the unfolding story. She has a sassy outer shell but a very vulnerable and fragile inner persona.
She is all for women’s empowerment and as a family unit, she and her two daughters sponsor a couple of young women through university, they are after all philanthropists. She has encouraged her teenage daughters – Sasha and Khassya (that’s a mouthful!) – to stand on their own two feet, both in their academic lives and in relationships with handsome young men (which only serves to highlight the lack of a partner in Ava’s own life, a theme on repeat throughout the novel).
However, whenever she dives down the rabbit hole of sadness at her situation, she quickly finds the wherewithal to pull herself up by the bootstraps (or any other straps) and gets back in the saddle, and soon there is another old Etonian-type in the frame.
Before you know it, yet another handsome man has accosted her on a Mayfair street (the Mayfair streets are clearly paved with eligible and randy men), they have exchanged phone numbers, and soon Ava is engaged in a threesome, with yet another glass of Ruinart to lubricate the proceedings. On to Eren from Turkey and an evening at The Araki (a Japanese restaurant that seats only 12 (or 9 if you look on their website – and should you want to visit, you need to be quick as the chef is returning to Japan quite soon). Upon returning to her house, they discover she has been burgled (but between calling the police and the officers arriving, there is still time for a quickie – would you, really, if you were stressed post burglary, honestly? ). But, as Eren’s name does not begin with “H”, the reader can be tempted to rattle through his manoeuvres, knowing he will imminently be hung out to dry.
Mayfair hotspots get a good look-in: 5H is Ava’s favourite drinking place, Cristal and Ruinart are on tap and Annabel’s is a hot favourite. There are plenty of descriptions of designer gaffs, clothes, and yachts, paintings, and upmarket hotels (around the world)…
As one of her daughter’s says of Ava’s dating patterns “It’s like Groundhog Day, the same thing over, and over again“, which actually sums up the book. Towards the end, the story gets a little chaotic as Ava tries to shift into a different gear.
If you have enjoyed EL James (50 Shades) and The Bride Stripped Bare (which made its debut in the early 2000s, penned by “Anonymous”, and exposed as Nikki Gemmell), then you will probably enjoy this. Similarly, the erotic novels, full of couture clothes, fine art and luxury travel by L S Hilton may appeal. This novel is a reasonably well written manifestation of the same iteration.
It says in the book blurb “It gives us a unique insight into the secret life of a 21st-century woman’s unwavering search for love, meaning, inner peace – and ultimately, self-acceptance” – does it, though, really? That is a stretch too far.
June 23, 2023
I was lucky to be gifted an ARC of Naked in Mayfair.
The Secret Socialite is the nom de plume of a financier who lives, loves and works in London’s Mayfair.
Naked In Mayfair tells the story of high-flying hedge fund trader and divorced mum-of-two, Ava on her quest to find true love.
The story takes us through the many racy encounters of Ava, as she searches for her true love, aka, ‘H’. There were plenty of times throughout this book that left me wanting to scream at Ava. I felt like she gave herself over to men far too easily and repeatedly fell into the same traps. It felt like one look and she was head over heels in love.
However, all became much clearer when reading of Ava’s childhood experiences - her relationship with her father and traumatic experiences in her teens that ultimately explain her need to love and to feel loved. Ava’s backstory was a little uncomfortable to read at times and the psychologist in me would have loved more of her time with her counsellor.
There’s some wonderful character development and I was soooo glad to see things finally click with Ava towards the end.
And speaking of endings…. What?! I need to know more.
This is a story of soul-searching, sexual liberation, empowerment and of course, finding your one true love. Probably not my usual go to but I thoroughly enjoyed this, I laughed out loud a lot and couldn’t put it down.
Plus there’s plenty of spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Kudos, The Secret Socialite.
The book is absolutely gorgeous with a matt black front cover, a glossy lipstick and a gorgeous gold spine. The gold spine sadly didn’t hold up too well but I read this in 30 degree heat and it got covered in sunscreen.
If you’re a fan of Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, Made in Chelsea and the like then this one is for you.
The Secret Socialite is the nom de plume of a financier who lives, loves and works in London’s Mayfair.
Naked In Mayfair tells the story of high-flying hedge fund trader and divorced mum-of-two, Ava on her quest to find true love.
The story takes us through the many racy encounters of Ava, as she searches for her true love, aka, ‘H’. There were plenty of times throughout this book that left me wanting to scream at Ava. I felt like she gave herself over to men far too easily and repeatedly fell into the same traps. It felt like one look and she was head over heels in love.
However, all became much clearer when reading of Ava’s childhood experiences - her relationship with her father and traumatic experiences in her teens that ultimately explain her need to love and to feel loved. Ava’s backstory was a little uncomfortable to read at times and the psychologist in me would have loved more of her time with her counsellor.
There’s some wonderful character development and I was soooo glad to see things finally click with Ava towards the end.
And speaking of endings…. What?! I need to know more.
This is a story of soul-searching, sexual liberation, empowerment and of course, finding your one true love. Probably not my usual go to but I thoroughly enjoyed this, I laughed out loud a lot and couldn’t put it down.
Plus there’s plenty of spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Kudos, The Secret Socialite.
The book is absolutely gorgeous with a matt black front cover, a glossy lipstick and a gorgeous gold spine. The gold spine sadly didn’t hold up too well but I read this in 30 degree heat and it got covered in sunscreen.
If you’re a fan of Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, Made in Chelsea and the like then this one is for you.
June 12, 2023
Its so refreshing to have a read where a main character is frank about sex, sex drive and honesty about what she wants. Yay for female empowerment!
Very saucy, lots of fun and seemed to move at quite a pace as well.
A good mix of love/sex but also focuses on the business of women's lives- careers, relationships, families- this has it all!
A tad surprising, very humorous and some great wit. An all round good read.
Very saucy, lots of fun and seemed to move at quite a pace as well.
A good mix of love/sex but also focuses on the business of women's lives- careers, relationships, families- this has it all!
A tad surprising, very humorous and some great wit. An all round good read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews