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Polite Calamities
In a hazy 1960s Rhode Island summer, three disparate lives converge and combust in this riveting story of the empowerment women find in friendship, solidarity, and rage, from the author of Halfway to You.
Winifred is blunt, opinionated, and outrageously colorful. In a community that demands domesticity, she simply doesn’t fit. When her wealthy husband suddenly dies, Winifred’s fellow society housewives no longer have a reason to play nice. Cast out entirely, Winifred throws roaring parties for the clerks and waiters that serve the town, finding the connections she’s been craving—and upsetting the gentle balance of her elite neighborhood in the process.
Flailing artist Marie wants to paint over her past before the painful memories consume her. On the brink of making a longtime dream come true, her newfound friendship with Winifred might be the key to finally moving forward—or her undoing.
High-society housewife June weathers a chronic pain that would make other women faint. With her veneer crumbling, she has no patience for the free spirit shaking up her community. Filled with a mixture of obsessive hatred and fascination for the outcast, June’s determined to destroy Winifred and return her life to the way it used to be.
When slow-simmering summer secrets and resentments finally reach the boiling point, everyone is at risk of being burned. Polite Calamities explores what “community” really means when societal survival is at stake, and what happens when women decide it’s time to stop behaving and start living.
Winifred is blunt, opinionated, and outrageously colorful. In a community that demands domesticity, she simply doesn’t fit. When her wealthy husband suddenly dies, Winifred’s fellow society housewives no longer have a reason to play nice. Cast out entirely, Winifred throws roaring parties for the clerks and waiters that serve the town, finding the connections she’s been craving—and upsetting the gentle balance of her elite neighborhood in the process.
Flailing artist Marie wants to paint over her past before the painful memories consume her. On the brink of making a longtime dream come true, her newfound friendship with Winifred might be the key to finally moving forward—or her undoing.
High-society housewife June weathers a chronic pain that would make other women faint. With her veneer crumbling, she has no patience for the free spirit shaking up her community. Filled with a mixture of obsessive hatred and fascination for the outcast, June’s determined to destroy Winifred and return her life to the way it used to be.
When slow-simmering summer secrets and resentments finally reach the boiling point, everyone is at risk of being burned. Polite Calamities explores what “community” really means when societal survival is at stake, and what happens when women decide it’s time to stop behaving and start living.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2024
287 people are currently reading
4021 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Gold
4 books377 followersJennifer Gold writes discussable book club fiction about love, second chances, and self-discovery. She’s the multi-award-winning author of The Ingredients of Us, Keep Me Afloat, and Halfway to You.
When she’s not writing, Jenni can be found traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or curled up with a book. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two cats.
To hear first about Jenni’s upcoming novels, receive bonus content and sneak peeks, and chat with Jenni directly, join her monthly newsletter. You can also connect with Jenni on Instagram @jennifergoldauthor.
Newsletter: https://www.jennifergoldauthor.com/ne...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifergol...
When she’s not writing, Jenni can be found traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or curled up with a book. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two cats.
To hear first about Jenni’s upcoming novels, receive bonus content and sneak peeks, and chat with Jenni directly, join her monthly newsletter. You can also connect with Jenni on Instagram @jennifergoldauthor.
Newsletter: https://www.jennifergoldauthor.com/ne...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifergol...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 5, 2024
Jennifer Gold transports us to Rhode Island in 1965 in her latest fabulous novel. Winifred Hurst is different from the other society women, she’s academic, independent and modern and the other women dislike her for it. It doesn’t bother her much, well, not too much, but it worries her wealthy husband Bruce, with whom she has an excellent relationship, a real meeting of minds, and more! However, THEY think she’s a golddigger. Why do they feel so threatened by Winifred? Do they sense a change in the air? Whatever the reasons, it’s clear she’ll never be one of them.
June Duxbury strives to be a good homemaker and to her social standing is all. She sees Winifred as an affront to her efforts, and all the wealthy women disapprove, mocking Winifred’s colourful parties. As a way to subsume her own pain, both physical and mental, June sets out to destroy Winifred.
Artist Marie is failing after an exceptionally promising start, but she’s carrying a heavy burden from the past which continues to haunt her. What will she grow to mean to Winifred? How will the wealthy socialites regard her?
Fantastic. I absolutely love this character driven, multi layered novel becoming engrossed in their lives. The characterisation is superb, they all feel real as they are so well perceived by the author so they’re fleshed out. I would’ve loved to have known Winifred, she’s so nice and kind, so perceptive, and whilst she doesn’t always get things right, she absolutely doesn’t deserve June’s derision. I love her inclusivity which she expresses through her lively parties, yet another reason why she alienates the rich witches. Marie is also very likeable, you feel her pain and anguish and love the friendship and companionship with Winifred. As for June, she is truly awful and has a few redeeming features, although you do sympathise with her physical pain. However, her character does make for some ‘lively’ storytelling, although there’s no excuse for her bitter caustic tongue.
The 60s time period is an excellent choice for this novel and is conveyed extremely well. It’s a different world in some ways and in others not. To the wealthy, social expectation and appearance is everything and the cruelty to Winifred takes your breath away. There are some moments of humour often at the witches expense, take that! I love the art element via Marie and this is vividly described.
There is so much that is excellent in this book. It’s joyous in places, emotional, sad, tragic and moving at others. At times it shocks and makes you angry at the unfairness or humiliation. It shines the spotlight on inner turmoil via characters like Marie or on female health issues via June. It’s extremely well written and is a novel I can highly recommend. I love the cover too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June Duxbury strives to be a good homemaker and to her social standing is all. She sees Winifred as an affront to her efforts, and all the wealthy women disapprove, mocking Winifred’s colourful parties. As a way to subsume her own pain, both physical and mental, June sets out to destroy Winifred.
Artist Marie is failing after an exceptionally promising start, but she’s carrying a heavy burden from the past which continues to haunt her. What will she grow to mean to Winifred? How will the wealthy socialites regard her?
Fantastic. I absolutely love this character driven, multi layered novel becoming engrossed in their lives. The characterisation is superb, they all feel real as they are so well perceived by the author so they’re fleshed out. I would’ve loved to have known Winifred, she’s so nice and kind, so perceptive, and whilst she doesn’t always get things right, she absolutely doesn’t deserve June’s derision. I love her inclusivity which she expresses through her lively parties, yet another reason why she alienates the rich witches. Marie is also very likeable, you feel her pain and anguish and love the friendship and companionship with Winifred. As for June, she is truly awful and has a few redeeming features, although you do sympathise with her physical pain. However, her character does make for some ‘lively’ storytelling, although there’s no excuse for her bitter caustic tongue.
The 60s time period is an excellent choice for this novel and is conveyed extremely well. It’s a different world in some ways and in others not. To the wealthy, social expectation and appearance is everything and the cruelty to Winifred takes your breath away. There are some moments of humour often at the witches expense, take that! I love the art element via Marie and this is vividly described.
There is so much that is excellent in this book. It’s joyous in places, emotional, sad, tragic and moving at others. At times it shocks and makes you angry at the unfairness or humiliation. It shines the spotlight on inner turmoil via characters like Marie or on female health issues via June. It’s extremely well written and is a novel I can highly recommend. I love the cover too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
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July 16, 2024Dear Reader,
About 10 months ago, I told my husband, “I don’t know if I can pull this off.” I had just signed the contract for Polite Calamities and was poised on a metaphorical high dive, about to jump into edits on a project that scared the s*** out of me.
Polite Calamities was scary for a few reasons. Firstly, because one of the viewpoint characters (June) is perhaps the cruelest main character I’ve ever written—but I didn’t want to portray her as “just a villain.” I wanted to make her deeply sympathetic, relatable, and real. No pressure!
I was also intimidated by the setting; I knew very little about the location and time period when I started this project. Don’t worry, though, I did my homework: over the past year, I traveled the Rhode Island coast, conducted numerous interviews, and spent countless hours researching to ensure that I represented the (fictionalized) seaside village of Wave Watch as realistically as I could.
Mostly, though, I was intimidated by this book’s themes. I wanted to tell an ultimately uplifting story about the many colors of female friendship: the love, the solidarity, the betrayal, the societal pressure, and more. While I’d never dream of capturing all shades of such a topic in a single novel, I hope you find the portrayal in Polite Calamities thought-provoking, heartfelt, and inspiring.
All this is to say: this is the most ambitious book I’ve ever endeavored to write. And, therefore, 10 months ago, I wasn’t quite sure I could pull it off.
After hearing my concerns, my husband gave me a hug, kissed my head, and said—with gentle, encouraging certainty—“You can, and you will.”
So I did.
And you know what? I think it’s my best book yet.
– Jenni, July 2024
About 10 months ago, I told my husband, “I don’t know if I can pull this off.” I had just signed the contract for Polite Calamities and was poised on a metaphorical high dive, about to jump into edits on a project that scared the s*** out of me.
Polite Calamities was scary for a few reasons. Firstly, because one of the viewpoint characters (June) is perhaps the cruelest main character I’ve ever written—but I didn’t want to portray her as “just a villain.” I wanted to make her deeply sympathetic, relatable, and real. No pressure!
I was also intimidated by the setting; I knew very little about the location and time period when I started this project. Don’t worry, though, I did my homework: over the past year, I traveled the Rhode Island coast, conducted numerous interviews, and spent countless hours researching to ensure that I represented the (fictionalized) seaside village of Wave Watch as realistically as I could.
Mostly, though, I was intimidated by this book’s themes. I wanted to tell an ultimately uplifting story about the many colors of female friendship: the love, the solidarity, the betrayal, the societal pressure, and more. While I’d never dream of capturing all shades of such a topic in a single novel, I hope you find the portrayal in Polite Calamities thought-provoking, heartfelt, and inspiring.
All this is to say: this is the most ambitious book I’ve ever endeavored to write. And, therefore, 10 months ago, I wasn’t quite sure I could pull it off.
After hearing my concerns, my husband gave me a hug, kissed my head, and said—with gentle, encouraging certainty—“You can, and you will.”
So I did.
And you know what? I think it’s my best book yet.
– Jenni, July 2024
July 8, 2024
When I first read the synopsis of this one I immediately thought of The Last Great American Dynasty and the author said that was part of how she pitched it, so if you wanna read a book that embodies that song SO well this is it! This follows three women over the course of one summer and each woman had a unique and distinct voice. They were all incredibly well crafted and authentic, I adored Winifred so much! She was progressive and very modern for the time period, inclusive in a way that wasn’t common and in turn her acceptance and bucking of traditional rules and societal norms caused the women of the town to shun and isolate her. June was the leader of the pack so she was hard to like but as the book progressed I came to understand her more. Even though I never truly liked her I did come to a place where I realized she was a product of her environment and truly just didn’t know any better. Marie was definitely more likable, her pain and suffering was evident through the authors writing and portrayal, you could feel her sorrow yourself. This would be a perfect book club choice, there is a lot to unpack here. It’s emotional, deep, tragic and sad but it’s also at times hopeful and uplifting. I was totally captivated by this one and highly recommend it!
August 10, 2024
I've read two other books by this author and hope to read the third also.
This book is very good. Very telling in ways too. Telling in that the setting is in the sixties and the pressure on women to be perfect. Or to develop their own skin and be tough. Be themselves. Be the person they are meant to be. Truly meant to be. Perfection is so overrated.
Two women would could not possibly be more different from each other. One born into riches. Taught her whole life to be perfect. To marry a rich man. Have children. Never complain. Yes, be or pretend to be, PERFECT. That is the life June has always known. Always had. Until she didn't. Then there is Winifred. Winifred married a man for love. He was very rich and possibly could not have children. Winifred didn't marry him for his money or social standing. She truly loved him and he truly loved her.
June and Winifred had two very different lifestyles. Two different lives. June's husband was a cheat. He was one that thought she was to do what he said and never question him. But he also wanted a divorce. He wanted their child. He was a jerk. But to be fair she was a horrible person. Not kind to others. She saw kindness as a weakness. I think they made the perfect pair for the most part. I felt for their little girl though.
Winifred lost her husband. He had a fatal heart attack at their end of summer party. She was devastated. This happened and the high society women who were already being cruel took it as a weakness. Was she really not suppose to grieve the loss of her beloved husband. Oh that's right they said she only married him for money. That she somehow tricked him. Winifred was a free thinking and very good woman. She befriended Marie who was an artist and living in her car. She took her in and gave her a place to paint. Of course the nosy women all had something to say about that too. June especially. She was rather cruel with her words.
Now this sounds like a mean story but it's not. It just has some mean women in it. Back in that day it seems that women were not true friends. If one was to get divorced then they shunned her. Made her feel beneath them. Like it was all her fault. Men could do no wrong. Just look the other way. At any and all costs keep your marriage.
This story deals with some other things too. Like horrible painful cramping that the drs seem to think it all in the woman's head. Things have changed in that respect. At least for now. Being a wife and mother. Being perfect. Looking good always. Knowing your place and staying there.
This was a good book with a good story. Friendships. True friendships. While June didn't really have any true friends she wasn't a true friend either. She hated Winifred for having a friend. For being able to be herself. For knowing about what June's husband was doing. She didn't think about being her friend. Winifred was not good enough for the rich women even after she was left so much money from her husband. She just wasn't one of them. Thank goodness...
Five big stars. It's great.
This book is very good. Very telling in ways too. Telling in that the setting is in the sixties and the pressure on women to be perfect. Or to develop their own skin and be tough. Be themselves. Be the person they are meant to be. Truly meant to be. Perfection is so overrated.
Two women would could not possibly be more different from each other. One born into riches. Taught her whole life to be perfect. To marry a rich man. Have children. Never complain. Yes, be or pretend to be, PERFECT. That is the life June has always known. Always had. Until she didn't. Then there is Winifred. Winifred married a man for love. He was very rich and possibly could not have children. Winifred didn't marry him for his money or social standing. She truly loved him and he truly loved her.
June and Winifred had two very different lifestyles. Two different lives. June's husband was a cheat. He was one that thought she was to do what he said and never question him. But he also wanted a divorce. He wanted their child. He was a jerk. But to be fair she was a horrible person. Not kind to others. She saw kindness as a weakness. I think they made the perfect pair for the most part. I felt for their little girl though.
Winifred lost her husband. He had a fatal heart attack at their end of summer party. She was devastated. This happened and the high society women who were already being cruel took it as a weakness. Was she really not suppose to grieve the loss of her beloved husband. Oh that's right they said she only married him for money. That she somehow tricked him. Winifred was a free thinking and very good woman. She befriended Marie who was an artist and living in her car. She took her in and gave her a place to paint. Of course the nosy women all had something to say about that too. June especially. She was rather cruel with her words.
Now this sounds like a mean story but it's not. It just has some mean women in it. Back in that day it seems that women were not true friends. If one was to get divorced then they shunned her. Made her feel beneath them. Like it was all her fault. Men could do no wrong. Just look the other way. At any and all costs keep your marriage.
This story deals with some other things too. Like horrible painful cramping that the drs seem to think it all in the woman's head. Things have changed in that respect. At least for now. Being a wife and mother. Being perfect. Looking good always. Knowing your place and staying there.
This was a good book with a good story. Friendships. True friendships. While June didn't really have any true friends she wasn't a true friend either. She hated Winifred for having a friend. For being able to be herself. For knowing about what June's husband was doing. She didn't think about being her friend. Winifred was not good enough for the rich women even after she was left so much money from her husband. She just wasn't one of them. Thank goodness...
Five big stars. It's great.
January 17, 2025
Tell me why I kept waiting for Marie and Winifred to realize they were in love with each other like COME ON HOW COULD THEY NOT BE like why did the book literally feel like it was hinting at that the entire time and then it’s like…. Okay!! Sure!!
July 25, 2024
Don’t worry, everybody, I found the book you’ve been looking for! The one that takes you on vacation to an idyllic beach town, brings you along to the kinds of parties you dream of throwing, celebrates the romance of friendship, and also lights your house on fire🔥
**CW at the end. Please also review the content warning at the front of the book**
Polite Calamities follows Winifred, Marie, and June through a turbulent, ‘60s summer of loud parties, grief, loneliness, painting, and choices that sure are choices on the Rhode Island coast.
Through these three extraordinarily different women, the story thoroughly examines the many faces of grief, pain, friendship and kindness.
For my swifties, there are a lot of references you’ll appreciate! If you liked Last Great American, you’ll be into this. Folklore girlies in general, this one’s for you. (LGA is the most relevant to the plot, but the themes/vibes also made me think of Seven)
I could ramble on about this book all day, but here’s the nutshell version:
In my opinion, Polite Calamities is Jennifer Gold’s best work yet and I think you’ll love it.
Content warning: chronic pain, infertility, and related negative body talk
**CW at the end. Please also review the content warning at the front of the book**
Polite Calamities follows Winifred, Marie, and June through a turbulent, ‘60s summer of loud parties, grief, loneliness, painting, and choices that sure are choices on the Rhode Island coast.
Through these three extraordinarily different women, the story thoroughly examines the many faces of grief, pain, friendship and kindness.
For my swifties, there are a lot of references you’ll appreciate! If you liked Last Great American, you’ll be into this. Folklore girlies in general, this one’s for you. (LGA is the most relevant to the plot, but the themes/vibes also made me think of Seven)
I could ramble on about this book all day, but here’s the nutshell version:
In my opinion, Polite Calamities is Jennifer Gold’s best work yet and I think you’ll love it.
Content warning: chronic pain, infertility, and related negative body talk
July 18, 2024
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 & 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝑷𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧—𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲-𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲; 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬.
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒥𝑒𝓃𝓃𝒾𝒻𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝓁𝒹, 𝐵𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝐿𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒰𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒��� 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝑷𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧—𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲-𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲; 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬.
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒥𝑒𝓃𝓃𝒾𝒻𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝓁𝒹, 𝐵𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝐿𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒰𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒��� 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.
March 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
A great book featuring 3 women in 1960's Rhode Island. Two of the women, Winifred and Marie, don't fit the mold of female subservience and the third, June, despises them for it.. She and her group of friends (all from prominent families) are openly vicious and nasty.
June is a hateful character, but one can't help feeling sorry for her.
It's a story of female friendships, good and bad, of freeing oneself from the expectations of society and living life your way. It ends with hope, love and
the vision of a bright future. It's a lovely read, highly recommended!
A great book featuring 3 women in 1960's Rhode Island. Two of the women, Winifred and Marie, don't fit the mold of female subservience and the third, June, despises them for it.. She and her group of friends (all from prominent families) are openly vicious and nasty.
June is a hateful character, but one can't help feeling sorry for her.
It's a story of female friendships, good and bad, of freeing oneself from the expectations of society and living life your way. It ends with hope, love and
the vision of a bright future. It's a lovely read, highly recommended!
January 4, 2025
I really don't know how to categorize this book, but middle of the road seems accurate. It's fine, just maybe not for me. The Big Dark Secret about the stable seems incredibly overblown by the time the whole story is revealed. She spends years scrimping and saving in some elaborate plot to cleanse herself of it, and then basically gets over it after one conversation. And they say MEN will do anything except going to therapy.
August 5, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I saw Jennifer Gold had a new book, I jumped at the chance to read it. Storyline is different direction then the norm for Gold, and I loved it. This book takes you back to the 60s. Three women, three distinct voices. Winifred, married to the love of her life, just trying to fit in and finding it so much harder than she thought especially after her life takes a dramatic change. June, married to a highly successful man, one daughter and hiding so much pain while clawing her way to the top of Rhode Island society. Marie, artist in the midst of a slump, hiding guilt left over from childhood.
I enjoyed this book and these women. These women are all different and each relatable in their own ways. Book centers on female friendships, finding your voice and moving on. This could be described as Real Housewives of RI, 60s Style. For me, it was a little wordy and slow in parts, but it was easy enough to get thru. Loved the drama. Perfect if you looking for a different type summer read…not as light, but still fun and drama filled.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this book. This is my honest opinion.
When I saw Jennifer Gold had a new book, I jumped at the chance to read it. Storyline is different direction then the norm for Gold, and I loved it. This book takes you back to the 60s. Three women, three distinct voices. Winifred, married to the love of her life, just trying to fit in and finding it so much harder than she thought especially after her life takes a dramatic change. June, married to a highly successful man, one daughter and hiding so much pain while clawing her way to the top of Rhode Island society. Marie, artist in the midst of a slump, hiding guilt left over from childhood.
I enjoyed this book and these women. These women are all different and each relatable in their own ways. Book centers on female friendships, finding your voice and moving on. This could be described as Real Housewives of RI, 60s Style. For me, it was a little wordy and slow in parts, but it was easy enough to get thru. Loved the drama. Perfect if you looking for a different type summer read…not as light, but still fun and drama filled.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this book. This is my honest opinion.
July 9, 2024
This is like real housewives drama of the 1960s in Rhode Island!! It’s a time when we just entered the Vietnam War and life is trying to continue at home. The younger generations have a different outlook on life compared to the older generations. It is a story about friendships, freeing yourself from society expectations and living your life how you want. I was living for the drama in this book and truly felt for the characters. The story follows three women- Winifred, Marie and June. Winifred and Marie do not seem to fit into what society expects them to do. June seems to be a bit of jealous of Winifred to be able to live a care free life while she feels she has many expectations to live up to. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and see how similar they really are.
July 9, 2025
a story of pain, tragedy, grief, overcoming and love. i was simply overwhelmed by emotion with this read, and i can confidently say it has one of the most beautiful endings i’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
i usually find multi-perspective difficult to grasp and keep up with, but this one surprised me with how engaged and invested i was!
jennifer gold’s use of literary devices is incredible. her emphasis on the juxtaposition between characters really solidifies the significance of the multi-perspective.
even with such opportunity for resentment; winifred, marie, june and rosie all choose to seek comfort in authenticity. this is by far the most important take-away from this book.
an easy, moving read.
i usually find multi-perspective difficult to grasp and keep up with, but this one surprised me with how engaged and invested i was!
jennifer gold’s use of literary devices is incredible. her emphasis on the juxtaposition between characters really solidifies the significance of the multi-perspective.
even with such opportunity for resentment; winifred, marie, june and rosie all choose to seek comfort in authenticity. this is by far the most important take-away from this book.
an easy, moving read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
This was an interesting take on the mid/late 60s - though I was young at that time, I didn’t see the polite well-to-do society side of it.
Three women who are part of each other’s lives in some way, deal with their personal challenges and losses, and navigate a summer through the upper class in a Rhode Island beach town, Normally this would be something I took to immediately. My problem? I didn’t feel a connection to any of the women, As much as I wanted to care for Winifred, who felt like the main character and general catalyst to me, I simply did not.
I did appreciate the descriptions of the setting, the homes, the beach. I feel like this book was so close to being just right for me, but didn’t quite make it. (I even barely skimmed the one fairly detailed intimate scene)
Round up to four from a 3.5
Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishers for the digital ARC for review. Opinions are my own,
Three women who are part of each other’s lives in some way, deal with their personal challenges and losses, and navigate a summer through the upper class in a Rhode Island beach town, Normally this would be something I took to immediately. My problem? I didn’t feel a connection to any of the women, As much as I wanted to care for Winifred, who felt like the main character and general catalyst to me, I simply did not.
I did appreciate the descriptions of the setting, the homes, the beach. I feel like this book was so close to being just right for me, but didn’t quite make it. (I even barely skimmed the one fairly detailed intimate scene)
Round up to four from a 3.5
Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishers for the digital ARC for review. Opinions are my own,
October 15, 2025
LOVED the characters, they were so vivid and I felt for them so hard. I appreciated that the story was primarily focused on the power of female friendship and it wasn’t about romantic love. What it means to be a true friend and to empathize with others even when they aren’t at their best. June’s character especially was very interesting because you hate her and feel bad for her and that’s the point. I liked the New England beach town vibe to the book of course.
April 2, 2024
If I think a book is poorly written I won’t give it 3 stars but in this case, my 3 star rating reflects that I believe many readers will enjoy this book. It just didn’t work that well for me. At first, I was intrigued with the characters but I a third of the way in I found it a bit tedious. The story line includes hints at something that happened in one of the characters past. As a reader I found that I wasn’t all that interested in hearing the details. It felt too predictable. At about 60% I stopped reading this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for fair and honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for fair and honest review.
July 4, 2024
1960’s Rhode Island where the ladies were prim and proper and held afternoon teas. Winifred didn’t fit the mold. She had her own opinion and challenged others not caring what they thought of her. She loved to entertain and had the perfect house for it.
She met a artist Marie and took her under her wing. She showed Marie that women can do as they want and have fun not just what their husbands and friends expected.
June fit the mold of the 60’s housewife with one little girl. She was in all the society clubs and had a husband that worked all the time. You would think she had the perfect life but it was a facade.
This was a great story about three women that came from different stages of life and on the surface looked so different but were really vey alike.
She met a artist Marie and took her under her wing. She showed Marie that women can do as they want and have fun not just what their husbands and friends expected.
June fit the mold of the 60’s housewife with one little girl. She was in all the society clubs and had a husband that worked all the time. You would think she had the perfect life but it was a facade.
This was a great story about three women that came from different stages of life and on the surface looked so different but were really vey alike.
August 6, 2024
This is the first book of Jennifer Gold’s that I have read, and now I intend to read as many books by her that she has written or will write in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and wonder why I’ve never heard of this author before.
Polite Calamities is beautifully written, transporting the reader to “polite society” in the 1960s, where manners, propriety, and decorum rule. One’s image is EVERYTHING! Women in this society are raised to be good mothers, good housewives, and good homemakers. They exist to support the husbands they are destined to marry, and they are bred to “marry well.”
The three main characters in this drama, however, do not fit the mold, although June strives mightily to do so. June has had excruciating, debilitating pain that began at puberty and resulted in difficulties becoming pregnant. Thus, her daughter is far younger than her peers’ children, and she’s been unable to have a second child. Her pain is dismissed and disregarded by everyone in her life, including her doctors and husband, and has led her to a life of secret drinking and pain relievers to get by, eventually causing her faithless husband to leave her for his mistress and to take her daughter from her. Nevertheless, she goes to great lengths to keep up appearances, condemning anyone who doesn’t meet her high standards, including Winifred, a newcomer to June’s world by virtue of marrying into it.
Winifred was raised in a middle class home, mostly by her erudite, professor father after her mother is gone. She always has had difficulty making friends and strived to “fit in.” When she meets and falls in love with her husband, Bruce, she suddenly is thrust into his life of privilege and high society. She does her best to fit in with his friends, but she has no idea how to do it. The women in his circle shun and ridicule her but put on a good show to placate Bruce. When Bruce dies suddenly, the women no longer have incentive to hide their disdain and dislike for Winifred.
During her loving, supportive, close marriage, Winifred became an art patron, supporting up and coming female artists. After Bruce dies, she meets Marie, who obviously is living in her car and barely eating enough to sustain herself. Out of sympathy for Marie, and not wanting to be alone anymore, Winifred invites Marie to live with her, no strings attached. Marie also has had a difficult time throughout her life making friends or fitting in, ever since a tragic happening involving her best friend when they were 10 years old. She’s lived with enormous grief and guilt since that fateful time.
Marie and Winifred have an instant connection, but they both struggle with believing in a true friendship between them. Ultimately, after false starts and through time, they mostly give in to their shared feelings, until a devastating secret is revealed. When the three women are thrust together during an especially devastating event, their true natures finally shine through.
Although the ultimate betrayal of Marie by Winifred easily is foreseen early in the story, there are so many twists and turns to the story that my interest was held throughout the book. And although it is obvious that the women all have more in common than they are willing to admit to themselves, the ending comes as quite a surprise.
I’m thankful to Ms. Gold, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced reader’s copy of this book. I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Gold’s works. I’m leaving this review VOLUNTARILY.
Polite Calamities is beautifully written, transporting the reader to “polite society” in the 1960s, where manners, propriety, and decorum rule. One’s image is EVERYTHING! Women in this society are raised to be good mothers, good housewives, and good homemakers. They exist to support the husbands they are destined to marry, and they are bred to “marry well.”
The three main characters in this drama, however, do not fit the mold, although June strives mightily to do so. June has had excruciating, debilitating pain that began at puberty and resulted in difficulties becoming pregnant. Thus, her daughter is far younger than her peers’ children, and she’s been unable to have a second child. Her pain is dismissed and disregarded by everyone in her life, including her doctors and husband, and has led her to a life of secret drinking and pain relievers to get by, eventually causing her faithless husband to leave her for his mistress and to take her daughter from her. Nevertheless, she goes to great lengths to keep up appearances, condemning anyone who doesn’t meet her high standards, including Winifred, a newcomer to June’s world by virtue of marrying into it.
Winifred was raised in a middle class home, mostly by her erudite, professor father after her mother is gone. She always has had difficulty making friends and strived to “fit in.” When she meets and falls in love with her husband, Bruce, she suddenly is thrust into his life of privilege and high society. She does her best to fit in with his friends, but she has no idea how to do it. The women in his circle shun and ridicule her but put on a good show to placate Bruce. When Bruce dies suddenly, the women no longer have incentive to hide their disdain and dislike for Winifred.
During her loving, supportive, close marriage, Winifred became an art patron, supporting up and coming female artists. After Bruce dies, she meets Marie, who obviously is living in her car and barely eating enough to sustain herself. Out of sympathy for Marie, and not wanting to be alone anymore, Winifred invites Marie to live with her, no strings attached. Marie also has had a difficult time throughout her life making friends or fitting in, ever since a tragic happening involving her best friend when they were 10 years old. She’s lived with enormous grief and guilt since that fateful time.
Marie and Winifred have an instant connection, but they both struggle with believing in a true friendship between them. Ultimately, after false starts and through time, they mostly give in to their shared feelings, until a devastating secret is revealed. When the three women are thrust together during an especially devastating event, their true natures finally shine through.
Although the ultimate betrayal of Marie by Winifred easily is foreseen early in the story, there are so many twists and turns to the story that my interest was held throughout the book. And although it is obvious that the women all have more in common than they are willing to admit to themselves, the ending comes as quite a surprise.
I’m thankful to Ms. Gold, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced reader’s copy of this book. I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Gold’s works. I’m leaving this review VOLUNTARILY.
July 14, 2024
Polite Calamities by Jennifer Gold hits that nostalgia/historical women's fiction that I love. Similar to All the Summers In Between by Brooke Lea Foster, the setting is a beach town, however this time in Rhode Island in 1965-1966.
After her husband's sudden death, Winifred is even more of an outsider in the rich beach town. The other housewives have never liked her and now that she's a widow, they shun her even more. Winifred is younger and more beautiful than all of them. She listens to modern music, she throws fabulous parties that welcome any and everyone. She lives her life in color.
Marie is an artist who had moderate success with her "Girl" series and has only one goal: to purchase the horsetrack grounds that she grew up in and bulldozer it down. Winifred takes a special interest in Marie, and quickly invites Marie to live in her lonely giant house with her.
And then there's June. A society housewife. She's rigid and lives by the stiff upper lip idea, never letting anyone know that her marriage is essentially over and that her body is fighting against her at every turn.
The lives of these women, over a few months in 1966, all layer and intersect until one explosive evening when all the stakes they hold so high come burning down.
----
I LOVED this book. It had a little hint of The Help - with Jane being Bryce Dallas Howard and Winifred being Jessica Chastain (if we are going by the movie). Winifred was a well-developed character, one that I wanted to know more about, even though she made some questionable decisions. Marie was a little too "I'm an artist and must suffer", but nothing will compare to the miserable bitch that is Jane. Holy Cow, she was the WORST. Not once did she deserve any kindness from anyone.
I feel that many book clubs will love this, the setting and time period are all easy to picture. The women are fun to read about, even when they make weird choices.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
After her husband's sudden death, Winifred is even more of an outsider in the rich beach town. The other housewives have never liked her and now that she's a widow, they shun her even more. Winifred is younger and more beautiful than all of them. She listens to modern music, she throws fabulous parties that welcome any and everyone. She lives her life in color.
Marie is an artist who had moderate success with her "Girl" series and has only one goal: to purchase the horsetrack grounds that she grew up in and bulldozer it down. Winifred takes a special interest in Marie, and quickly invites Marie to live in her lonely giant house with her.
And then there's June. A society housewife. She's rigid and lives by the stiff upper lip idea, never letting anyone know that her marriage is essentially over and that her body is fighting against her at every turn.
The lives of these women, over a few months in 1966, all layer and intersect until one explosive evening when all the stakes they hold so high come burning down.
----
I LOVED this book. It had a little hint of The Help - with Jane being Bryce Dallas Howard and Winifred being Jessica Chastain (if we are going by the movie). Winifred was a well-developed character, one that I wanted to know more about, even though she made some questionable decisions. Marie was a little too "I'm an artist and must suffer", but nothing will compare to the miserable bitch that is Jane. Holy Cow, she was the WORST. Not once did she deserve any kindness from anyone.
I feel that many book clubs will love this, the setting and time period are all easy to picture. The women are fun to read about, even when they make weird choices.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 18, 2024
I am in love with this story.
Let me first say that the narration was flawless - I was entranced within the first few minutes and Erin Bennett was a huge factor in creating the atmosphere for this story. That being said though, I knew I wanted a physical copy as well because Gold’s words needed highlighting and memorizing because they will stick with me forever.
This book tells the story of women, women who struggle with their bodies, their selves, their marriages, their role as mothers and so much more. Through the three main women, Winifred, Marie and June, Gold paints a landscape of womanhood through the ages and how hard it is to be yourself, fit in with others and live up to societies standards while you’re struggles and pain get pushed to the background.
Winifred is blunt, opinionated, and outrageously colorful. In a community that demands domesticity, she simply doesn’t fit. When her wealthy husband suddenly dies,
Marie is a flailing artist who wants to paint over her past before the painful memories consume her.
June is a high-society housewife who weathers a chronic pain that would make other women faint. With her veneer crumbling, she has no patience for the free spirit shaking up her community.
From mundane daily troubles to high drama this book covers it all but what it boils down to is women - we’re forced to want to compete with each other and ourselves, when what we should really be doing is building each other and ourselves up because women are strong, powerful and worthy.
“Their husbands and fathers might have run industries, but these women ran these men’s lives, without them they would have nothing.”
What this story did for me was shed light on the life I live as a woman as well as solidified my newfound love for historical/women's fiction. I am in awe of this book and Gold’s ability to shed light on the truth of being a woman, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and ultimately show the power of forgiveness, understanding and second chances.
Wow. Just wow.
Let me first say that the narration was flawless - I was entranced within the first few minutes and Erin Bennett was a huge factor in creating the atmosphere for this story. That being said though, I knew I wanted a physical copy as well because Gold’s words needed highlighting and memorizing because they will stick with me forever.
This book tells the story of women, women who struggle with their bodies, their selves, their marriages, their role as mothers and so much more. Through the three main women, Winifred, Marie and June, Gold paints a landscape of womanhood through the ages and how hard it is to be yourself, fit in with others and live up to societies standards while you’re struggles and pain get pushed to the background.
Winifred is blunt, opinionated, and outrageously colorful. In a community that demands domesticity, she simply doesn’t fit. When her wealthy husband suddenly dies,
Marie is a flailing artist who wants to paint over her past before the painful memories consume her.
June is a high-society housewife who weathers a chronic pain that would make other women faint. With her veneer crumbling, she has no patience for the free spirit shaking up her community.
From mundane daily troubles to high drama this book covers it all but what it boils down to is women - we’re forced to want to compete with each other and ourselves, when what we should really be doing is building each other and ourselves up because women are strong, powerful and worthy.
“Their husbands and fathers might have run industries, but these women ran these men’s lives, without them they would have nothing.”
What this story did for me was shed light on the life I live as a woman as well as solidified my newfound love for historical/women's fiction. I am in awe of this book and Gold’s ability to shed light on the truth of being a woman, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and ultimately show the power of forgiveness, understanding and second chances.
Wow. Just wow.
July 25, 2024
I was blessed to read a fabulous book titled Polite Calamities by Jennifer Gold. She is a new author to me and I am so glad I took a chance on her new book. I will be watching for more from Ms. Gold.
This book takes place in the 60’s during my childhood. My family didn’t live like the families in this book. We were not as wealthy. In fact, what made it so interesting is that the main character was from a middle class family and was trying to fit in. The snobs weren’t having it. They were awful.
The antics and the struggles were real. This book was a little bit on the longer side but, I had so much fun reading it, I flew right through it. Jennifer Gold knows how to build suspense and how to keep you interested in the day to day goings on between two friends who are exploring being best friends. Neither of them have had a best friend or were able to connect since early childhood. There were hitches along the way and I expected that.
I loved the settings in the book. We get to live in a very affluent neighborhood in the 60’s and a horse farm one of the ladies grew up on. The other character had a father who was an educator. These ladies both had life changing things happen early in life that molded who they were.
This book was so different in plot and structure than I’ve read before. The writing style was unique. I didn’t get bored at all. I hate to tell you this is a perfect summer read but, I will tell you that it is a great read anytime!
If you love a book that gives you all the feels, makes you shake your head, keeps your interest as it builds suspense that you aren’t even sure is there but you feel it. Then this book is for you. Until next time…Happy Reading!
Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #JenniferGold, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This book takes place in the 60’s during my childhood. My family didn’t live like the families in this book. We were not as wealthy. In fact, what made it so interesting is that the main character was from a middle class family and was trying to fit in. The snobs weren’t having it. They were awful.
The antics and the struggles were real. This book was a little bit on the longer side but, I had so much fun reading it, I flew right through it. Jennifer Gold knows how to build suspense and how to keep you interested in the day to day goings on between two friends who are exploring being best friends. Neither of them have had a best friend or were able to connect since early childhood. There were hitches along the way and I expected that.
I loved the settings in the book. We get to live in a very affluent neighborhood in the 60’s and a horse farm one of the ladies grew up on. The other character had a father who was an educator. These ladies both had life changing things happen early in life that molded who they were.
This book was so different in plot and structure than I’ve read before. The writing style was unique. I didn’t get bored at all. I hate to tell you this is a perfect summer read but, I will tell you that it is a great read anytime!
If you love a book that gives you all the feels, makes you shake your head, keeps your interest as it builds suspense that you aren’t even sure is there but you feel it. Then this book is for you. Until next time…Happy Reading!
Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #JenniferGold, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 1, 2024
Atmospheric But Long. This book almost feels like a Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but an East Coast variant. It has the same 60s era setting, the same type of fire-based setup and ending, but then tells a more "East Coast" feeling tale of the era, in some ways dealing with some of the same kinds of relational topics... but from that "Old Money" / "High Society" kind of East Coast / New England vibe.
That noted, this is far from a clone of the other, and it does what it does in showing the various relationship dynamics of its ladies - each in different societal strata - remarkably well. Gold clearly put in a lot of effort to make each of these women as real and relatable as possible, and she truly did a good job there - we begin to sympathize to a degree even with our ostensible villain of the tale... even as she continues to show *why* she is the villain. Along the way, we encounter so much of that admittedly lily white social scene and period the tale is set in, in interesting ways that show both the warts and the beauty of each of our characters.
The one real criticism I have here is that the book *does* go perhaps 30-50 pages long. Not a "Return Of The King After The Coronation" slog, but certainly a "this could've been trimmed a bit" feeling, at least after completing it. Now, where, exactly, could the cuts have been made... becomes perhaps less clear. Which would perhaps indicate that the book is exactly as long as it needed to be. I'll leave it to the reader of this review to read the book for yourself and make your own calls there. (Also, please leave a review when you do. They don't have to be anywhere near as wordy as mine tend to be - 24 words will be accepted on any review site I know of, including the big corporate ones.)
Ultimately this was a solid book of its kind, one that *should* be seen as an equal or perhaps even superior of Malibu Rising... but which clearly hasn't had Reid's marketing people behind it. ;)
Very much recommended.
That noted, this is far from a clone of the other, and it does what it does in showing the various relationship dynamics of its ladies - each in different societal strata - remarkably well. Gold clearly put in a lot of effort to make each of these women as real and relatable as possible, and she truly did a good job there - we begin to sympathize to a degree even with our ostensible villain of the tale... even as she continues to show *why* she is the villain. Along the way, we encounter so much of that admittedly lily white social scene and period the tale is set in, in interesting ways that show both the warts and the beauty of each of our characters.
The one real criticism I have here is that the book *does* go perhaps 30-50 pages long. Not a "Return Of The King After The Coronation" slog, but certainly a "this could've been trimmed a bit" feeling, at least after completing it. Now, where, exactly, could the cuts have been made... becomes perhaps less clear. Which would perhaps indicate that the book is exactly as long as it needed to be. I'll leave it to the reader of this review to read the book for yourself and make your own calls there. (Also, please leave a review when you do. They don't have to be anywhere near as wordy as mine tend to be - 24 words will be accepted on any review site I know of, including the big corporate ones.)
Ultimately this was a solid book of its kind, one that *should* be seen as an equal or perhaps even superior of Malibu Rising... but which clearly hasn't had Reid's marketing people behind it. ;)
Very much recommended.
July 27, 2024
I opened POLITE CALAMITIES by Jennifer Gold and lost myself in this engrossing tale of three very different women navigating expectations of women in the 1960s. The difference between how they perceive themselves and how they are perceived is heartbreakingly realistic.
Winifred doesn’t fit the mold of the women in her husband’s community, and, to make him happy, she tries. When he dies, she slowly realizes she can try something different. She doesn’t need to conform to the strict rules June follows, which makes June angry. Marie has not had a good friend since she was a child, she has also never fit in, but when Winnie comes into her life, she finds a friend who accepts her. I enjoyed witnessing how their friendship unfolded and how they learned from each other. At times it was hard to like June, but as the book went on, the layers were pulled back and you started to understand how she became the person she did and why she was so inflexible in her beliefs. Grief, friendship, and bucking society’s expectations were central to all the characters even though they all had different experiences that brough them to these circumstances during this summer. For all three, it’s “time to stop behaving and start living.”
Gold wrote a story that I couldn’t put down. Be warned that when you start reading, hours will pass in a blink.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
Winifred doesn’t fit the mold of the women in her husband’s community, and, to make him happy, she tries. When he dies, she slowly realizes she can try something different. She doesn’t need to conform to the strict rules June follows, which makes June angry. Marie has not had a good friend since she was a child, she has also never fit in, but when Winnie comes into her life, she finds a friend who accepts her. I enjoyed witnessing how their friendship unfolded and how they learned from each other. At times it was hard to like June, but as the book went on, the layers were pulled back and you started to understand how she became the person she did and why she was so inflexible in her beliefs. Grief, friendship, and bucking society’s expectations were central to all the characters even though they all had different experiences that brough them to these circumstances during this summer. For all three, it’s “time to stop behaving and start living.”
Gold wrote a story that I couldn’t put down. Be warned that when you start reading, hours will pass in a blink.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
July 5, 2024
This historical read was an interesting read about three women during a year and a half time span. The US has just entered the Vietnam War, free love and peace is a forefront in the young generation and the older generation is still trying to hold onto traditions and proprieties. Winifred has never fit in with her husbands circle but she loved him dearly, so when he dies unexpectedly she is lost while still trying to hold onto pieces of him and his life. Marie is a failing artist who is still living in her past. A close friend died when she was a child and it has forever traumatized her with guilt and a need to hold onto the place of her childhood. It has created a fear of loss and so Marie struggles to get close to anyone. June and her husband are high-society. She has done everything to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, and to follow in her mother's footsteps in society circles. Appearances are not everything and everything is falling apart behind closed doors, yet she must do all she can to retain the front she has put on for years. All three women are brought together in this story and although they are different, they are also very much the same, with the same fear that is holding them back in their own lives. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
May 25, 2024
Once the characters in this book were introduced I held on for the ride and didn't want to let them go. From their real, relatable personalities and experiences, down to their names, I loved them from page one. I enjoyed every page of this book and couldn't put it down. The short chapters were a nice touch, moving the story along in the best way without skipping a beat. It added to the books charm because I could read chapters in-between tasks or sit down for an hour and settle into the story each time. This is the summer read you have been waiting for. Perfect to enjoy with friends, family and book clubs. I'll be buying many copies to gift this season. Thank you Jennifer Gold for trusting me with an advanced reader copy. Your genuiness and kindness doesn't go unnoticed. You can't write fast enough for your biggest fans. I was so delighted and impressed when I found out you were releasing this book in 2024. Just barely a year after the release of your last book Half Way to You! Half Way to You was my top favorite read of 2023. I can't wait to see what 2025 brings, your a true talent.
October 4, 2024
{thank you to the author and publisher for my copy of this book!}
I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this one based on the cover alone. And I was right!! It’s a great slightly lighter read that has similar vibes to Elin Hilderbrand… it’s perfect for the beach, but definitely deeper than your typical beach read.
It begins with Winifred’s husband suddenly dying during a big party they were throwing in their wealthy Rhode Island beach town. Winifred and her husband were deeply in love, but she has never been accepted by the other wives of his wealthy friends. The story is centered in her, but we also meet June, one of the wives who is especially mean to Winifred, but who has some secrets of her own and Marie, a a struggling painter with a traumatic past who Winifred befriends.
Polite Calamities definitely sheds a light on what it means to be a woman. The book takes place in the 1960s, but sadly there’s a lot we can still relate to even today. Though the book did get a little slower for me in the middle, I still found myself wanting to read on to see how everything would resolve.
This was my first book by Jennifer Gold, but I’ll certainly be checking out her backlist!!
I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this one based on the cover alone. And I was right!! It’s a great slightly lighter read that has similar vibes to Elin Hilderbrand… it’s perfect for the beach, but definitely deeper than your typical beach read.
It begins with Winifred’s husband suddenly dying during a big party they were throwing in their wealthy Rhode Island beach town. Winifred and her husband were deeply in love, but she has never been accepted by the other wives of his wealthy friends. The story is centered in her, but we also meet June, one of the wives who is especially mean to Winifred, but who has some secrets of her own and Marie, a a struggling painter with a traumatic past who Winifred befriends.
Polite Calamities definitely sheds a light on what it means to be a woman. The book takes place in the 1960s, but sadly there’s a lot we can still relate to even today. Though the book did get a little slower for me in the middle, I still found myself wanting to read on to see how everything would resolve.
This was my first book by Jennifer Gold, but I’ll certainly be checking out her backlist!!
August 8, 2024
I figured this book would be fluffier than it was. And I have a low cattiness/mean girl threshhold. I might not have walked away from the book early because of it, except this was a Goodreads Giveaway for me. But continuing on, I found I enjoyed the book. I found the writing a bit uneven, with some great sections, some a little more phoned-in. I did come to like the characters of Wilhelmina and Marie, and even sympathized a little bit with wound-tight June, being a fellow endometriosis sufferer (Nope, it's not rare!).
In the midst of reading this, all those Gen Z memes were flying around about Kamala Harris When Charli XCX declared her "brat". I'll admit, not having access to Gen Zers, I had to look up what the new meaning of "brat" was about.
I tend to keep my news reading and novel reading separate, but a lightbulb went off over my head. Hey, Wilhelmina is brat! A little messy, likes to party, says dumb things sometimes, but she is her authentic self, maybe headed for a breakdown, but parties through it. Yeah.
The book is definitely fluffy around the edges, captures a lot of rich girl/woman snobbery and rigidity, has a few things I didn't quite buy about the characters & their motivations, but definitely an enjoyable read. Some interesting observations about social lock-step, tired traditions, authenticity, and friendship. Definitely an adult book, but could also appeal to a teen/young adult audience as well.
Having worked as a non-profit fundraiser, the rich snobbery seems rather authentic, and the descriptions of the pain of endometriosis was pretty spot-on. I was diagnosed in the late '70s and there was still lot of medical cluelessness about the disease. The author knew what she was talking about--pregnancy isn't the "cure" hyped when I was a young woman.
I would love to see these characters living on into the future when the second wave of feminism takes hold.
In the midst of reading this, all those Gen Z memes were flying around about Kamala Harris When Charli XCX declared her "brat". I'll admit, not having access to Gen Zers, I had to look up what the new meaning of "brat" was about.
I tend to keep my news reading and novel reading separate, but a lightbulb went off over my head. Hey, Wilhelmina is brat! A little messy, likes to party, says dumb things sometimes, but she is her authentic self, maybe headed for a breakdown, but parties through it. Yeah.
The book is definitely fluffy around the edges, captures a lot of rich girl/woman snobbery and rigidity, has a few things I didn't quite buy about the characters & their motivations, but definitely an enjoyable read. Some interesting observations about social lock-step, tired traditions, authenticity, and friendship. Definitely an adult book, but could also appeal to a teen/young adult audience as well.
Having worked as a non-profit fundraiser, the rich snobbery seems rather authentic, and the descriptions of the pain of endometriosis was pretty spot-on. I was diagnosed in the late '70s and there was still lot of medical cluelessness about the disease. The author knew what she was talking about--pregnancy isn't the "cure" hyped when I was a young woman.
I would love to see these characters living on into the future when the second wave of feminism takes hold.
September 13, 2024
I enjoyed the intersecting stories of the three women, but they were all over-written. The villain said things that in reality would have lost her all her friends. The artist was like a caricature of a 60s bohemian artist, and the main protagonist was living in her own eternal pity party. The story moved seamlessly among the characters and I liked how the same events were told from their different perspectives.
I read this on kindle and the copy editing was AWFUL! There were continuity errors, wrong names, and in one instance the word “exasperated” was used where it should have been “exacerbated.” Surprising that the author and/or the editor doesn’t know the difference between these two words.
Finally, a pet peeve of mine that was used a lot in this book: using “quirk” as a verb to describe the way someone moves their lips or eyebrows. There are way more descriptive words and using “quirk” over and over feels like lazy writing.
All in all, this book was meh. Like many similar books in this genre, the story kept me engaged but it felt more like a screenplay than literature.
I read this on kindle and the copy editing was AWFUL! There were continuity errors, wrong names, and in one instance the word “exasperated” was used where it should have been “exacerbated.” Surprising that the author and/or the editor doesn’t know the difference between these two words.
Finally, a pet peeve of mine that was used a lot in this book: using “quirk” as a verb to describe the way someone moves their lips or eyebrows. There are way more descriptive words and using “quirk” over and over feels like lazy writing.
All in all, this book was meh. Like many similar books in this genre, the story kept me engaged but it felt more like a screenplay than literature.
August 3, 2024
you don’t want to miss this one!!!!
This is a charming story that follows two women in the 60’s. Winifred is a fish out of water in her husband’s posh circle. She has a college degree and isn’t from the “right” family as far as her new circle of peers thinks. When her husband unexpectedly dies she is left in a world that rejects her very existence. Loneliness cripples her and all she craves is companionship. When she runs into Marie, an aspiring artist living in her car, inspiration moves Winifred into action. Her ultimate goal is to ease her loneliness and to help Marie find her artistic voice again.
I highly recommend this one!!! I immediately fell in love with the characters in this book! The story is funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time! Thank you so much @jennifergoldauthor for gifting us this copy of your book! 🌺🧜🏻♀️
This is a charming story that follows two women in the 60’s. Winifred is a fish out of water in her husband’s posh circle. She has a college degree and isn’t from the “right” family as far as her new circle of peers thinks. When her husband unexpectedly dies she is left in a world that rejects her very existence. Loneliness cripples her and all she craves is companionship. When she runs into Marie, an aspiring artist living in her car, inspiration moves Winifred into action. Her ultimate goal is to ease her loneliness and to help Marie find her artistic voice again.
I highly recommend this one!!! I immediately fell in love with the characters in this book! The story is funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time! Thank you so much @jennifergoldauthor for gifting us this copy of your book! 🌺🧜🏻♀️
November 4, 2024
This book gave me some beautiful snippets of text that I highlighted to keep forever. Being in my twenties and having already found the love of my life in a partner and husband, I have become obsessed with the female love of friendship. So this story was right up my alley in life right now. I adored the reality of these women and their struggles. June was a mess but we got into the psychology of what got her there. Marie fell flat for me at times, one dimensional in her grief. But Winifred - I adore her and relate to her. There’s something about reading a story about women written by a woman. And it’s beautiful.
My only dislike in this book is the use of the miscommunication trope. Maybe it’s just that in real life, we truly don’t communicate well enough to make these storylines seem futile. But I can forgive the large use of this, because I truly adored reading this book. Recommend!
My only dislike in this book is the use of the miscommunication trope. Maybe it’s just that in real life, we truly don’t communicate well enough to make these storylines seem futile. But I can forgive the large use of this, because I truly adored reading this book. Recommend!
May 20, 2024
A captivating story of three women in the 60s. Winifred is very opinionated and feels as though she doesn’t fit in to any situation. Very suddenly, her husband dies, and she is left feeling more isolated than other times. Marie is an artist who has had only one successful collection. She still paints, but is suffering from a deep grief, having lost her best friend when they were very young children. June is a high society housewife who suffers a horrendous chronic pain. Also seems to be jealous of Winifred, who can do whatever she wants to do. The three women come together and in the end, provide some healing for each other.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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