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Mrs. Benedict Arnold
"Come for the banter, stay for the intrigue, and enjoy this fascinating tale of the American Revolution.”—Christian Science Monitor
A riveting reimagining of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution.
Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.
When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s General Benedict Arnold.
As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.
When uncertainty and bloodshed are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go for safety?
A riveting reimagining of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution.
Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.
When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s General Benedict Arnold.
As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.
When uncertainty and bloodshed are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go for safety?
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
May 19, 2026
Continuing my desire for American history reading this year this book looked interesting, although it is fictionalized history. What I came away with was – I should have stuck with non-fiction.
In this book Peggy Shippen is a teenager wanting new dresses and looking forward to parties and gawking at the men. She is also smart and intelligent but that seems to take a back seat for a good portion of the book. I almost quit the book several times.
I soldiered on and when Peggy meets Benedict Arnold she is taken by him quickly and very soon they are married. The book becomes less fluffy at this point. Yet the modern language and actions started to really annoy me.
According to this book Peggy Arnold had to convince Benedict to become the traitor he become. Throughout the book Peggy laments the war, wanting it to end, and when their son is born her desire for it to end skyrockets. Thus she believed in these actions to end the war sooner than later, although for the British. Peggy didn’t seem to be much of a patriot anyway.
Book rating: 2.75 stars
Thanks to Zando and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.
In this book Peggy Shippen is a teenager wanting new dresses and looking forward to parties and gawking at the men. She is also smart and intelligent but that seems to take a back seat for a good portion of the book. I almost quit the book several times.
I soldiered on and when Peggy meets Benedict Arnold she is taken by him quickly and very soon they are married. The book becomes less fluffy at this point. Yet the modern language and actions started to really annoy me.
According to this book Peggy Arnold had to convince Benedict to become the traitor he become. Throughout the book Peggy laments the war, wanting it to end, and when their son is born her desire for it to end skyrockets. Thus she believed in these actions to end the war sooner than later, although for the British. Peggy didn’t seem to be much of a patriot anyway.
Book rating: 2.75 stars
Thanks to Zando and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.
September 4, 2026
This book was a 3.5 star read for me. It was an enjoyable read. If this author writes another novel,I will pick it up! I will be over on my social channels discussing this book and all the others!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emma Parry’s debut historical fiction takes a fresh look at Peggy Shippen, drawing on newly uncovered material to reframe her involvement in Benedict Arnold’s infamous treason. The research really shine. Parry clearly did her homework, and I appreciated seeing Peggy portrayed with more nuance than she usually gets.
That said, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The beginning dragged, and the ending leaned heavily on narrative summary, which softened the emotional impact of the story. I was also pulled out of the historical setting more than once by very modern language choices (“upcycle” outfits, a dress that would “slay,” “riffed" on ideas, shrank from it like an "allergy," a promotion being “wish‑list stuff,” a band playing “stapes on repeat,” etc.). Those moments felt jarring in an otherwise carefully constructed 18th‑century world.
Still, there’s a lot of promise in Parry’s writing, and I enjoyed her perspective on Peggy. I’m giving this one 3 stars and will definitely keep an eye out for whatever she writes next.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
That said, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The beginning dragged, and the ending leaned heavily on narrative summary, which softened the emotional impact of the story. I was also pulled out of the historical setting more than once by very modern language choices (“upcycle” outfits, a dress that would “slay,” “riffed" on ideas, shrank from it like an "allergy," a promotion being “wish‑list stuff,” a band playing “stapes on repeat,” etc.). Those moments felt jarring in an otherwise carefully constructed 18th‑century world.
Still, there’s a lot of promise in Parry’s writing, and I enjoyed her perspective on Peggy. I’m giving this one 3 stars and will definitely keep an eye out for whatever she writes next.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
April 18, 2026
This book was not for me. I can't get use to the writing to enjoy this book. The author uses very modern language which won't allow me to imagine the time period in which this book is supposed to be written.
September 22, 2026
I’ve read a few books on Diva Peggy and this one was so boring. I feel like the author saw Hamilton and wanted to name drop as many of the characters into the story as possible in hopes of riding the Hamilton success wave. It didn’t work for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an account of an act of treason from Peggy Arnold's view during the American Revolutionary War. Peggy is a teenager coming of age during the war and is tired of the bloodshed and the limits put on her family and friends. Her actions remind me of a spoilt teenager only concerned about herself. She believes herself in love with Andre but soon turns her attention to General Arnold when Andre goes to New York. She is flattered by his attention and gifts. Once married Peggy begins to see how Benedict is haunted by past war actions and his request for financial compensation. Her scheme to rectify Benedict's problems and agreed to by Benedict begs many questions. Were they thinking clearly or were they acting on emotions? Selfishness? Anger? "Mrs. Benedict Arnold," by Emma Parry, is an historical fiction that readers will find a thought provoking account of treason.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and this review is my opinion.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and this review is my opinion.
August 10, 2026
There is something almost irresistible about writing a novel around Peggy Shippen. She is one of those historical figures who seems to exist in the margins of a much larger story, forever attached to the name of the man she married. Say “Peggy Shippen” and, inevitably, the response is “Benedict Arnold’s wife.” But Peggy was a fascinating person in her own right, and the fact that we still cannot completely agree on what she knew, what she intended, and how deeply she was involved in her husband’s treason makes her an especially compelling figure for historical fiction. Emma Parry’s Mrs. Benedict Arnold takes all of that uncertainty and turns it into a story of romance, politics, loyalty, survival, and betrayal.
The novel follows Peggy from her youth in Philadelphia through the American Revolution and eventually into her marriage to Benedict Arnold and his conspiracy with the British. Peggy begins as a privileged young woman caught between the Loyalist sympathies of her family and the increasingly dangerous political divisions surrounding her. She is anxious, restless, curious, and, at times, intensely boy crazy. Her early attachment to the charming British officer John André becomes an important part of her emotional development, and when the war separates them, Peggy eventually finds herself drawn toward Benedict Arnold.
Arnold is an interesting choice for a romantic hero because we know exactly where this story is going. Historically, he was an enormously accomplished military commander before becoming synonymous with treason. He had legitimate grievances, financial problems, an enormous ego, and a sense that he had been repeatedly wronged by the very country he had fought for. Peggy marries him in 1779, when she is eighteen and he is thirty-eight. Shortly afterward, Arnold begins communicating with André about betraying the American cause.
Parry makes Peggy central to that story. Rather than portraying her simply as the innocent young wife swept along by her husband, she imagines a woman whose personal loyalties, political beliefs, fear for her family, and desire for peace gradually become entangled with the conspiracy. The novel's Peggy is not necessarily trying to destroy America because she hates it. Instead, she is trying to navigate an impossible world in which everyone seems to demand allegiance, while the consequences of choosing the wrong side could be catastrophic.
And this is where I found myself conflicted.
I really do find Peggy Shippen fascinating, and Parry's decision to put her at the center of this story is absolutely the right one. The historical Peggy was born into a wealthy Philadelphia family with Loyalist connections, and she moved comfortably through the social circles where political and military figures mingled. She was also the person who already knew André, which makes her connection to the eventual conspiracy particularly interesting. Modern historians have generally moved away from the idea that Peggy was simply an oblivious wife who had no idea what her husband was doing. There is substantial evidence that she participated in the correspondence and conspiracy, although the precise extent of her involvement and motivations remain subjects of debate.
The Peggy in this novel, however, sometimes feels much younger and more emotionally helpless than the historical circumstances suggest. She is anxious, romantic, impulsive, and frequently preoccupied with men. I actually enjoyed this version of her more than I expected to, because it makes her human and occasionally frustrating. But I also kept thinking: where is the woman who was capable of moving between Loyalist and Patriot social worlds, communicating with André, and becoming involved in one of the most consequential acts of betrayal in American history?
That is ultimately my biggest frustration with Mrs. Benedict Arnold. I wanted Peggy without the title.
I wanted to know who Peggy Shippen was when she wasn't Mrs. Benedict Arnold. What did she believe when nobody was asking her to choose a side? What did she want for herself? Was her involvement driven by ideology, fear, love, family loyalty, money, survival, or some combination of all of them? Parry offers possibilities, but because Peggy is such an elusive historical figure, I wanted even more ambiguity.
That doesn't mean I disliked the book. Quite the opposite. I found the premise fascinating, the historical setting absorbing, and the questions surrounding Peggy and Arnold endlessly compelling. The supporting cast, particularly John André, adds another layer of romance and political intrigue, while the appearances of figures such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton help place Peggy inside the larger machinery of the Revolution.
Ultimately, Mrs. Benedict Arnold made me want to know more about Peggy Shippen, which is probably its greatest success. I finished the novel less interested in Benedict Arnold than I was in his wife and in the woman hiding behind that infamous name. History has given us fragments of Peggy, and Parry has built a compelling story around those fragments. I only wish the novel had pushed further into the mystery instead of sometimes filling it with the familiar anxieties of a young woman in love.
Peggy Shippen deserves to be remembered as more than the woman who married Benedict Arnold. Whether she was a willing conspirator, an enthusiastic Loyalist, a frightened young wife, a political opportunist, or some complicated combination of all four, she remains one of the more intriguing women of the American Revolution. I just wish I had come away feeling that I had met Peggy herself rather than simply a very compelling interpretation of Mrs. Benedict Arnold.
The novel follows Peggy from her youth in Philadelphia through the American Revolution and eventually into her marriage to Benedict Arnold and his conspiracy with the British. Peggy begins as a privileged young woman caught between the Loyalist sympathies of her family and the increasingly dangerous political divisions surrounding her. She is anxious, restless, curious, and, at times, intensely boy crazy. Her early attachment to the charming British officer John André becomes an important part of her emotional development, and when the war separates them, Peggy eventually finds herself drawn toward Benedict Arnold.
Arnold is an interesting choice for a romantic hero because we know exactly where this story is going. Historically, he was an enormously accomplished military commander before becoming synonymous with treason. He had legitimate grievances, financial problems, an enormous ego, and a sense that he had been repeatedly wronged by the very country he had fought for. Peggy marries him in 1779, when she is eighteen and he is thirty-eight. Shortly afterward, Arnold begins communicating with André about betraying the American cause.
Parry makes Peggy central to that story. Rather than portraying her simply as the innocent young wife swept along by her husband, she imagines a woman whose personal loyalties, political beliefs, fear for her family, and desire for peace gradually become entangled with the conspiracy. The novel's Peggy is not necessarily trying to destroy America because she hates it. Instead, she is trying to navigate an impossible world in which everyone seems to demand allegiance, while the consequences of choosing the wrong side could be catastrophic.
And this is where I found myself conflicted.
I really do find Peggy Shippen fascinating, and Parry's decision to put her at the center of this story is absolutely the right one. The historical Peggy was born into a wealthy Philadelphia family with Loyalist connections, and she moved comfortably through the social circles where political and military figures mingled. She was also the person who already knew André, which makes her connection to the eventual conspiracy particularly interesting. Modern historians have generally moved away from the idea that Peggy was simply an oblivious wife who had no idea what her husband was doing. There is substantial evidence that she participated in the correspondence and conspiracy, although the precise extent of her involvement and motivations remain subjects of debate.
The Peggy in this novel, however, sometimes feels much younger and more emotionally helpless than the historical circumstances suggest. She is anxious, romantic, impulsive, and frequently preoccupied with men. I actually enjoyed this version of her more than I expected to, because it makes her human and occasionally frustrating. But I also kept thinking: where is the woman who was capable of moving between Loyalist and Patriot social worlds, communicating with André, and becoming involved in one of the most consequential acts of betrayal in American history?
That is ultimately my biggest frustration with Mrs. Benedict Arnold. I wanted Peggy without the title.
I wanted to know who Peggy Shippen was when she wasn't Mrs. Benedict Arnold. What did she believe when nobody was asking her to choose a side? What did she want for herself? Was her involvement driven by ideology, fear, love, family loyalty, money, survival, or some combination of all of them? Parry offers possibilities, but because Peggy is such an elusive historical figure, I wanted even more ambiguity.
That doesn't mean I disliked the book. Quite the opposite. I found the premise fascinating, the historical setting absorbing, and the questions surrounding Peggy and Arnold endlessly compelling. The supporting cast, particularly John André, adds another layer of romance and political intrigue, while the appearances of figures such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton help place Peggy inside the larger machinery of the Revolution.
Ultimately, Mrs. Benedict Arnold made me want to know more about Peggy Shippen, which is probably its greatest success. I finished the novel less interested in Benedict Arnold than I was in his wife and in the woman hiding behind that infamous name. History has given us fragments of Peggy, and Parry has built a compelling story around those fragments. I only wish the novel had pushed further into the mystery instead of sometimes filling it with the familiar anxieties of a young woman in love.
Peggy Shippen deserves to be remembered as more than the woman who married Benedict Arnold. Whether she was a willing conspirator, an enthusiastic Loyalist, a frightened young wife, a political opportunist, or some complicated combination of all four, she remains one of the more intriguing women of the American Revolution. I just wish I had come away feeling that I had met Peggy herself rather than simply a very compelling interpretation of Mrs. Benedict Arnold.
June 20, 2026
My first DNF of the year. When I read the sentence, “Where it was at was where I wanted to be.” I was DONE. By page 20, I’d collected four glaring issues with modern vocabulary use that immediately sent me to researching the etymology of: wonky, herd immunity, pi sign, and “where it was at”. (The pi sign was invented by this time, however it was not called that for hundreds of years.)
I’m sorry, I don’t care how much you base your writing on quality primary source materials, if you can’t write a Revolutionary War era book without modern vocabulary, your characters are never going to come alive. They’re inherently flawed from the beginning—because in order to write a great piece of historical fiction that person has to ring true.
In my opinion, the whole point of writing historical fiction is that you get the opportunity to create and do the kind of world-building that fictional authors get to do, with the added help of primary source materials. To waste that opportunity by using words, ways of speaking, and attitudes that did not exist in that world at that time is foolish.
Sometimes I feel like I’m being ridiculously picky, but when words literally jump off the page because they are not character or era-appropriate, you’ve destroyed the world you’re trying to create. I feel this might not be an issue for first time or intermittent historical fiction readers—but an experienced historical fiction reader, especially ones who specialize in certain eras, can sense when the words are wrong, the attitudes are too modern, when the sentences have a certain lack of formality. It just feels fake and wrong, and that’s a weird feeling when you’re reading a story about someone who actually existed.
Of course, as soon as I slammed my Kindle down in frustration, I came to Goodreads to read the reviews of those who have read (completed) this book and noted that the modern vocabulary use continues throughout.
This book is basically a waste of a good idea. It might have been saved by some rigorous editing, but it clearly wasn’t. The idea was so intriguing, the cover looked so considered, but the text gave self-published and underwhelming.
I’m sorry, I don’t care how much you base your writing on quality primary source materials, if you can’t write a Revolutionary War era book without modern vocabulary, your characters are never going to come alive. They’re inherently flawed from the beginning—because in order to write a great piece of historical fiction that person has to ring true.
In my opinion, the whole point of writing historical fiction is that you get the opportunity to create and do the kind of world-building that fictional authors get to do, with the added help of primary source materials. To waste that opportunity by using words, ways of speaking, and attitudes that did not exist in that world at that time is foolish.
Sometimes I feel like I’m being ridiculously picky, but when words literally jump off the page because they are not character or era-appropriate, you’ve destroyed the world you’re trying to create. I feel this might not be an issue for first time or intermittent historical fiction readers—but an experienced historical fiction reader, especially ones who specialize in certain eras, can sense when the words are wrong, the attitudes are too modern, when the sentences have a certain lack of formality. It just feels fake and wrong, and that’s a weird feeling when you’re reading a story about someone who actually existed.
Of course, as soon as I slammed my Kindle down in frustration, I came to Goodreads to read the reviews of those who have read (completed) this book and noted that the modern vocabulary use continues throughout.
This book is basically a waste of a good idea. It might have been saved by some rigorous editing, but it clearly wasn’t. The idea was so intriguing, the cover looked so considered, but the text gave self-published and underwhelming.
May 23, 2026
It’s the late 18th century in Philadelphia. Peggy meets and seems to fall instantly in love with a soldier(?), Andre. I’m not exactly sure what happens, but then suddenly she has fallen in love with Benedict Arnold. They marry and have a son. There is a lot more going on here, but I missed it.
I am not American. I do not know the history. All I know of Benedict Arnold is that he was apparently some kind of traitor. I know none of the details. I thought this fictional book might help fill me in. But I had zero interest – that is, the book didn’t make it interesting enough for me to pay attention to those parts, so I still don’t know anything about Benedict Arnold except that he married and had a son.
I am not American. I do not know the history. All I know of Benedict Arnold is that he was apparently some kind of traitor. I know none of the details. I thought this fictional book might help fill me in. But I had zero interest – that is, the book didn’t make it interesting enough for me to pay attention to those parts, so I still don’t know anything about Benedict Arnold except that he married and had a son.
April 12, 2026
Parry has done a wonderful job of bringing Peggy Shippen Arnold to life but the writing is very choppy and the pacing is uneven, especially near the end where it feels like the author just lost interest in the project and wanted to wrap things up quickly. The author’s note (a critical element to any historical fiction imho) was unenlightening, giving no specifics with regard to sources or which parts were derived from historical documents. Overall, not terrible but another month of rewrites would have rendered it far more readable.
Many thanks to Zando for sending me an ARC for review.
Many thanks to Zando for sending me an ARC for review.
June 5, 2026
Peggy Shippen Arnold is known for being one of the most famous femme fatales of the American Revolution. She has been known for being involved in her husband, General Benedict Arnold’s plot to betray the Patriots with the British. This novel retells her act of treason from her perspective. In this novel, Peggy persuades her husband to betray the Patriots. It also tells us of the reasons why she betrayed her country.
Peggy Shippen Arnold has often been seen in a negative light because she was a spy for Great Britain. I was curious to read this novel because she seemed like a fascinating figure and her story seemed like a soap opera. After reading this book, I came away from having greatly disliked her character. Peggy is a socialite who loves parties. She becomes easily smitten with various men throughout the novel. She is a loyalist because she is smitten with a British spy. Peggy also lacks common sense. She is selfish and flighty. Therefore, I could not relate to her, and did not care about her story.
Overall, this book is about betrayal, love, and war. Except for Peggy, I found the other characters to have more development. I also liked the cameos of other famous figures in the book like Eliza Hamilton and Theodosia Burr. I did think that the book moved slowly in the beginning. However, the plot picked up halfway through the novel. I thought that this book is very well-written, and Mrs. Parry did an excellent job in making colonial America come alive. There was enough political intrigue and drama to keep the reader invested! I recommend this book for fans of My Dear Hamilton, Becoming Lady Washington, and The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Peggy Shippen Arnold has often been seen in a negative light because she was a spy for Great Britain. I was curious to read this novel because she seemed like a fascinating figure and her story seemed like a soap opera. After reading this book, I came away from having greatly disliked her character. Peggy is a socialite who loves parties. She becomes easily smitten with various men throughout the novel. She is a loyalist because she is smitten with a British spy. Peggy also lacks common sense. She is selfish and flighty. Therefore, I could not relate to her, and did not care about her story.
Overall, this book is about betrayal, love, and war. Except for Peggy, I found the other characters to have more development. I also liked the cameos of other famous figures in the book like Eliza Hamilton and Theodosia Burr. I did think that the book moved slowly in the beginning. However, the plot picked up halfway through the novel. I thought that this book is very well-written, and Mrs. Parry did an excellent job in making colonial America come alive. There was enough political intrigue and drama to keep the reader invested! I recommend this book for fans of My Dear Hamilton, Becoming Lady Washington, and The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
May 5, 2026
If you’re not familiar with the fascinating Peggy Shippen, this is a great place to start.
Aside from invented dialogue and a bit of informed conjecture, this feels like an accurate portrait of one of the American Revolution’s most intriguing and oft misunderstood figures.
If you’re pretty familiar with Shippen’s biographical details, there isn’t a lot to learn here, but it’s still an enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re less familiar with Peggy and her role in the war.
I appreciate that this one is pretty restrained for women’s historical fiction and really does try to focus on Peggy herself rather than just on her relationship to famous men. To that end I’m always frustrated that we don’t get more about her interactions with John Andre, not least because he’s a far more interesting character than Benedict Arnold.
The rub, of course, is that we don’t really know much about Shippen and Andre, and though some fictionalized accounts (ahem, Turn) have taken some significant liberties as far as any romantic relationship that may have occurred between the two, most of their interactions remain a mystery.
If nothing else I hope this book sheds some light on the unfair treatment Shippen often gets in traditional history. Peggy was undoubtedly acting as a spy, but to call her a traitor is both technically inaccurate and incorrect in spirit, and I hope books like this help modern history enthusiasts towards a more nuanced perspective on a woman who is both significant to American history and also badly misunderstood as to why.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Aside from invented dialogue and a bit of informed conjecture, this feels like an accurate portrait of one of the American Revolution’s most intriguing and oft misunderstood figures.
If you’re pretty familiar with Shippen’s biographical details, there isn’t a lot to learn here, but it’s still an enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re less familiar with Peggy and her role in the war.
I appreciate that this one is pretty restrained for women’s historical fiction and really does try to focus on Peggy herself rather than just on her relationship to famous men. To that end I’m always frustrated that we don’t get more about her interactions with John Andre, not least because he’s a far more interesting character than Benedict Arnold.
The rub, of course, is that we don’t really know much about Shippen and Andre, and though some fictionalized accounts (ahem, Turn) have taken some significant liberties as far as any romantic relationship that may have occurred between the two, most of their interactions remain a mystery.
If nothing else I hope this book sheds some light on the unfair treatment Shippen often gets in traditional history. Peggy was undoubtedly acting as a spy, but to call her a traitor is both technically inaccurate and incorrect in spirit, and I hope books like this help modern history enthusiasts towards a more nuanced perspective on a woman who is both significant to American history and also badly misunderstood as to why.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 15, 2026
What a fascinating read!
I am not very familiar with American history so I jumped at the opportunity to read more about it, and what a tale this was!
Between reading this and my own research, it is clear how well the author did her research! Her description of the events were a much more palatable account than the stark hard truth of the reality. It is still a very accurate retelling of the history.
Perhaps it was my lack of knowledge of American history that made this book seem a bit overwhelming at times. There are a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them straight in my head at times. I can't help but wonder if it might have been easier to follow in an Audiobook. As for Peggy she comes across as childish and selfish and I didn't get that impression of her when I read up her a bit after.
This was a great historical fiction and fans of this genre will not be disappointed!
I am not very familiar with American history so I jumped at the opportunity to read more about it, and what a tale this was!
Between reading this and my own research, it is clear how well the author did her research! Her description of the events were a much more palatable account than the stark hard truth of the reality. It is still a very accurate retelling of the history.
Perhaps it was my lack of knowledge of American history that made this book seem a bit overwhelming at times. There are a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them straight in my head at times. I can't help but wonder if it might have been easier to follow in an Audiobook. As for Peggy she comes across as childish and selfish and I didn't get that impression of her when I read up her a bit after.
This was a great historical fiction and fans of this genre will not be disappointed!
May 14, 2026
I absolutely love historical fiction, it's one of my favourite genres, but my usual reads are from the male perspective. Archers, soldiers, cowboys etc. So this was a little out of my comfort zone. But i think it's important for authors to have the perspective of readers who are not necessarily their target audience, so I try to read outside of my comfort zone as often as possible and I must say, I throughly enjoyed this.
It was a brilliant read and a real step back in time to 18th century America.
Quite obvious meticulously and consciously researched, it's packed with interesting and intriguing characters, all of which are believable and feel real.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It was a brilliant read and a real step back in time to 18th century America.
Quite obvious meticulously and consciously researched, it's packed with interesting and intriguing characters, all of which are believable and feel real.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
June 30, 2026
This was far outside the normal genres I read but I thought it sounded interesting and was gifted a copy by the publisher, Zando.
I did end up really enjoying the story and found it interesting. I know it’s historical fiction and the writer took liberties with the story but I’m not familiar with all the accurate details of the history of Benedict Arnold and his wife to really compare. In this story she seems very naive about what she was actually doing and causing. But I enjoyed reading about the time period and everything going through her head throughout the war and their betrayal.
I did end up really enjoying the story and found it interesting. I know it’s historical fiction and the writer took liberties with the story but I’m not familiar with all the accurate details of the history of Benedict Arnold and his wife to really compare. In this story she seems very naive about what she was actually doing and causing. But I enjoyed reading about the time period and everything going through her head throughout the war and their betrayal.
September 8, 2026
This debut novel, which focuses on Peggy Shippen, otherwise known as Mrs. Benedict Arnold, will pull in any fan of the American Revolution. I knew a little about the Arnolds and mostly had a negative impression of them, like most people. However, Parry did a great job bringing Peggy Shippen's story to life and humanizing her. Peggy grew up in a wealthy family in Philadelphia and was mostly concerned about balls and clothing. She brushed shoulders with the British soldiers in the city; however, her family was well-known for not getting involved in politics, but had Loyalist tendencies. She forms a relationship with British Major John Andre, but once he leaves the city, their romance dwindles, much to her dismay, but they keep up a correspondence. Then Benedict Arnold comes into her circle and her world is forever changed. Despite her father's Loyalist tendencies, she starts a relationship with Arnold, the Continental military commander of Philadelphia. What ensues is a story of intrigue, espionage, conspiracies, romance, and more. Emma Parry's debut, Mrs. Benedict Arnold, is perfect for fans of Hamilton as well as AMC's Turn.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
November 9, 2026
Most of us know Benedict Arnold as one of the most infamous traitors in American history, but how much do we really know about what led him to betray the very cause he once fought so hard to defend? I went into this novel familiar with his place in history, but I hadn’t given nearly as much thought to the political turmoil, divided loyalties, and personal grievances surrounding his decision. What I found was a story that made me look beyond the betrayal itself and think more deeply about just how uncertain life was during the American Revolution.
Mrs. Benedict Arnold follows Peggy Shippen, a young woman from a prominent Philadelphia family whose marriage to one of the Continental Army’s most celebrated generals places her at the center of an extraordinary act of treason. Growing up in a family with differing political loyalties, Peggy must navigate a society increasingly divided by war, where political differences could complicate even the closest relationships. Through her story, Parry explores Arnold’s growing resentment toward the Patriot leadership and the circumstances that eventually lead the couple toward a decision that will change their lives forever.
What I appreciated most about this novel was how it encouraged me to look more closely at the complexities of the American Revolution. I’ve always understood that independence came at an enormous cost, but I hadn’t given as much thought to the political tensions and competing interests among those fighting for the same cause. The disagreements within the Continental Congress, rivalries among political and military leaders, and constant struggle for resources gave me a greater appreciation for how difficult it must have been to keep the Revolution moving forward. I was particularly struck by the delicate balance Washington had to maintain, navigating political pressures and competing personalities while trying to hold an army together. It’s easy to look back knowing how the war ended, but those living through it had no assurance of victory or what the future might hold. And those uncertainties extended far beyond the government and military. Even within Peggy’s own family, loyalties were divided, with her father leaning toward the Crown while her uncle supported the Patriot cause. It made me think about how difficult it must have been to maintain relationships, reconcile conflicting beliefs, and remain committed to one’s convictions when so much was at stake. Surely countless others faced similar struggles, even if their stories were never recorded.
I came away understanding Benedict and Peggy better, but that doesn’t mean I liked or respected either of them any more than I did before. Benedict’s military sacrifices, his frustrations with Congress, and his feelings of being undervalued helped me understand how his resentment grew. But understanding those grievances doesn’t excuse the choices he ultimately made. I also questioned the suggestion that their betrayal was largely motivated by a desire to end the war and prevent further suffering, particularly given the financial rewards involved. Their motivations were undoubtedly complicated, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by some of the more sympathetic interpretations presented in the story.
For all the historical insight the novel offered, I struggled with Parry’s writing. Although I eventually grew accustomed to her style, I often found the prose unnecessarily elaborate and, at times, overly wordy. Whether describing everyday situations, ordinary conversations, or more involved political and philosophical discussions, she sometimes seemed to complicate what could have been expressed more simply. I frequently wished for a more natural flow to the story, and even as I adjusted to her style, it remained a demanding read. The occasional use of distinctly modern expressions was also jarring. Against the otherwise formal and elaborate language, those moments felt particularly out of place and pulled me right out of the historical setting.
I also questioned some of the creative liberties Parry took with real historical figures. I know historical fiction requires imagination, and I certainly don’t expect every conversation or relationship to be documented. But I was particularly puzzled by her portrayal of Reverend Jonathan Odell and Joseph Stansbury as romantic partners, something I could find no historical evidence to support. Their roles as Peggy’s dressmakers raised additional questions, especially the scenes in which she spent time alone with them and allowed a man to take her measurements. Given the social expectations for young women of her standing in eighteenth-century Philadelphia, I found those interactions difficult to reconcile with the period. The seemingly unquestioning acceptance of the men’s romantic relationship also felt historically questionable. Individually, these details might seem minor, but together they made parts of the story feel less believable to me. I don’t expect every detail in historical fiction to be factual, but when an author takes significant liberties with real people’s lives, I appreciate an author’s note explaining what is historically documented and what has been imagined. Without that clarification, I was left wondering where the history ended and the fiction began.
Another disappointment was the lack of a more substantial epilogue. After spending so much time exploring the circumstances leading up to the betrayal, I wanted to know more about what happened afterward. What became of Benedict and Peggy’s marriage? How did their decisions affect their children and the families they left behind? What was life like for them after becoming such notorious figures? The brief account of their later years left me wanting more, especially considering how much attention the novel devoted to everything leading up to their departure from America.
Despite my frustrations, I’m glad I read this book. It gave me a greater appreciation for the political and personal struggles that shaped the Revolution, particularly the uncertainty and divided loyalties experienced by those living through it. Benedict and Peggy Arnold became infamous because of their choices, but the questions surrounding loyalty, conviction, and personal sacrifice were hardly theirs alone. I didn’t finish the novel with a more favorable opinion of either of them, but I did come away thinking more deeply about the complicated world in which they lived. And while I struggled with the storytelling, it gave me a lot to think about long after I finished reading.
Mrs. Benedict Arnold follows Peggy Shippen, a young woman from a prominent Philadelphia family whose marriage to one of the Continental Army’s most celebrated generals places her at the center of an extraordinary act of treason. Growing up in a family with differing political loyalties, Peggy must navigate a society increasingly divided by war, where political differences could complicate even the closest relationships. Through her story, Parry explores Arnold’s growing resentment toward the Patriot leadership and the circumstances that eventually lead the couple toward a decision that will change their lives forever.
What I appreciated most about this novel was how it encouraged me to look more closely at the complexities of the American Revolution. I’ve always understood that independence came at an enormous cost, but I hadn’t given as much thought to the political tensions and competing interests among those fighting for the same cause. The disagreements within the Continental Congress, rivalries among political and military leaders, and constant struggle for resources gave me a greater appreciation for how difficult it must have been to keep the Revolution moving forward. I was particularly struck by the delicate balance Washington had to maintain, navigating political pressures and competing personalities while trying to hold an army together. It’s easy to look back knowing how the war ended, but those living through it had no assurance of victory or what the future might hold. And those uncertainties extended far beyond the government and military. Even within Peggy’s own family, loyalties were divided, with her father leaning toward the Crown while her uncle supported the Patriot cause. It made me think about how difficult it must have been to maintain relationships, reconcile conflicting beliefs, and remain committed to one’s convictions when so much was at stake. Surely countless others faced similar struggles, even if their stories were never recorded.
I came away understanding Benedict and Peggy better, but that doesn’t mean I liked or respected either of them any more than I did before. Benedict’s military sacrifices, his frustrations with Congress, and his feelings of being undervalued helped me understand how his resentment grew. But understanding those grievances doesn’t excuse the choices he ultimately made. I also questioned the suggestion that their betrayal was largely motivated by a desire to end the war and prevent further suffering, particularly given the financial rewards involved. Their motivations were undoubtedly complicated, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by some of the more sympathetic interpretations presented in the story.
For all the historical insight the novel offered, I struggled with Parry’s writing. Although I eventually grew accustomed to her style, I often found the prose unnecessarily elaborate and, at times, overly wordy. Whether describing everyday situations, ordinary conversations, or more involved political and philosophical discussions, she sometimes seemed to complicate what could have been expressed more simply. I frequently wished for a more natural flow to the story, and even as I adjusted to her style, it remained a demanding read. The occasional use of distinctly modern expressions was also jarring. Against the otherwise formal and elaborate language, those moments felt particularly out of place and pulled me right out of the historical setting.
I also questioned some of the creative liberties Parry took with real historical figures. I know historical fiction requires imagination, and I certainly don’t expect every conversation or relationship to be documented. But I was particularly puzzled by her portrayal of Reverend Jonathan Odell and Joseph Stansbury as romantic partners, something I could find no historical evidence to support. Their roles as Peggy’s dressmakers raised additional questions, especially the scenes in which she spent time alone with them and allowed a man to take her measurements. Given the social expectations for young women of her standing in eighteenth-century Philadelphia, I found those interactions difficult to reconcile with the period. The seemingly unquestioning acceptance of the men’s romantic relationship also felt historically questionable. Individually, these details might seem minor, but together they made parts of the story feel less believable to me. I don’t expect every detail in historical fiction to be factual, but when an author takes significant liberties with real people’s lives, I appreciate an author’s note explaining what is historically documented and what has been imagined. Without that clarification, I was left wondering where the history ended and the fiction began.
Another disappointment was the lack of a more substantial epilogue. After spending so much time exploring the circumstances leading up to the betrayal, I wanted to know more about what happened afterward. What became of Benedict and Peggy’s marriage? How did their decisions affect their children and the families they left behind? What was life like for them after becoming such notorious figures? The brief account of their later years left me wanting more, especially considering how much attention the novel devoted to everything leading up to their departure from America.
Despite my frustrations, I’m glad I read this book. It gave me a greater appreciation for the political and personal struggles that shaped the Revolution, particularly the uncertainty and divided loyalties experienced by those living through it. Benedict and Peggy Arnold became infamous because of their choices, but the questions surrounding loyalty, conviction, and personal sacrifice were hardly theirs alone. I didn’t finish the novel with a more favorable opinion of either of them, but I did come away thinking more deeply about the complicated world in which they lived. And while I struggled with the storytelling, it gave me a lot to think about long after I finished reading.
September 18, 2026
For the subject matter, this book came off pretty dry.
July 9, 2026
DNF @ 17%.
The second I read that “this dress will slay” I was completely done.
This book has so much modern day language when it’s supposed to be based in the 18th century. The writing is choppy and it doesn’t flow and I kept having to go back and forth to even figure out who was speaking. It relies heavily on telling which makes it extremely hard to connect to the characters.
The second I read that “this dress will slay” I was completely done.
This book has so much modern day language when it’s supposed to be based in the 18th century. The writing is choppy and it doesn’t flow and I kept having to go back and forth to even figure out who was speaking. It relies heavily on telling which makes it extremely hard to connect to the characters.
May 5, 2026
“Was I a female Iago, whispering lies to a warrior with wounded pride? Was I warping his will to mine? A wife wants what her husband needs. Does a monster worry it's a monster, though? This one did… A cleverer wife would have made him feel the idea was his.”
Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry follows Peggy Shippen from her teenage years into her marriage with Benedict Arnold, tracing the path toward one of the most infamous betrayals of the American Revolution. One of my favorite angles in historical fiction is watching how women find ways to wield power (limited or innocuous as it may seem) to get what they want. Peggy’s position as a well-connected socialite sets up a lot of narrative potential, so the premise for this novel immediately drew me in!
And to be fair, the book does follow through on that potential in a few key ways. The writing is lovely, especially in the descriptions of landscape and setting, which have a bucolic, almost painterly quality that grounds the story in a strong sense of place. The research is clearly there too, and I liked seeing how Peggy moves through different social circles with ease. Even early on, you can see the outline of the influence she’ll eventually have, particularly in how she reads people and adapts to them.
Where the book didn’t fully work for me is in how long it takes to arrive at that sharper version of Peggy. We spend a significant amount of time in the more frivolous corners of her social world, where she’s largely planning parties and agonizing over her marriage prospects. Peggy is described as inquisitive and well read, but we don’t really see that reflected in how she engages with the war or the political realities around her. She does have several conversations about current events early on, but they feel repetitive and don’t really evolve, with her desire for “peace” remaining firmly tied to her immediate world rather than a broader understanding of what’s at stake.
Your reading experience will also be greatly improved if you already have a basic familiarity with key figures from the Revolutionary era. If you don’t, some scenes will feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a conversation without enough context, so you’ll just nod along like you’re attending as someone else’s +1.
That said, once Peggy becomes “Mrs. Arnold” is when the novel really starts to come into focus and where the book most fully delivers on the idea that drew me in. You begin to see how Peggy’s social fluency translates into influence, and how she’s able to navigate Benedict’s more volatile relationships with a very deliberate kind of awareness.
I also enjoyed the late introduction of Shakespeare as a framing device. Peggy’s fleeting comparison of herself to Iago immediately reframes her role in a way that’s easy to grasp. Interestingly, Benedict himself reads a bit like Macbeth at times (all that hemming and hawing!), which could easily position Peggy as his Lady Macbeth, given how she influences him. But if anything, I think she’s much more like Portia from Merchant of Venice: someone who understands the limits of her position and uses intelligence, perception, and social fluency to guide outcomes. Like Portia, her actions are also defined by a clear moral framework. Peggy wants peace and an end to the violence and instability around her, so her influence on Benedict reads as an extension of that as she steers him toward what she believes is a moral or just path. I only wish this thread had been introduced earlier because it’s the clearest and most compelling lens the novel offers for understanding Peggy.
Overall, this is a novel with a strong conceptual core and flashes of brilliant insight into a moment from history many people think they already understand. It just takes a while to get there, and in doing so, sometimes loses sight of the sharper, more defined version of Peggy that ultimately makes this story most compelling.
Thank you to Zando, the publisher, for a gifted advance copy of this book!
Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry follows Peggy Shippen from her teenage years into her marriage with Benedict Arnold, tracing the path toward one of the most infamous betrayals of the American Revolution. One of my favorite angles in historical fiction is watching how women find ways to wield power (limited or innocuous as it may seem) to get what they want. Peggy’s position as a well-connected socialite sets up a lot of narrative potential, so the premise for this novel immediately drew me in!
And to be fair, the book does follow through on that potential in a few key ways. The writing is lovely, especially in the descriptions of landscape and setting, which have a bucolic, almost painterly quality that grounds the story in a strong sense of place. The research is clearly there too, and I liked seeing how Peggy moves through different social circles with ease. Even early on, you can see the outline of the influence she’ll eventually have, particularly in how she reads people and adapts to them.
Where the book didn’t fully work for me is in how long it takes to arrive at that sharper version of Peggy. We spend a significant amount of time in the more frivolous corners of her social world, where she’s largely planning parties and agonizing over her marriage prospects. Peggy is described as inquisitive and well read, but we don’t really see that reflected in how she engages with the war or the political realities around her. She does have several conversations about current events early on, but they feel repetitive and don’t really evolve, with her desire for “peace” remaining firmly tied to her immediate world rather than a broader understanding of what’s at stake.
Your reading experience will also be greatly improved if you already have a basic familiarity with key figures from the Revolutionary era. If you don’t, some scenes will feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a conversation without enough context, so you’ll just nod along like you’re attending as someone else’s +1.
That said, once Peggy becomes “Mrs. Arnold” is when the novel really starts to come into focus and where the book most fully delivers on the idea that drew me in. You begin to see how Peggy’s social fluency translates into influence, and how she’s able to navigate Benedict’s more volatile relationships with a very deliberate kind of awareness.
I also enjoyed the late introduction of Shakespeare as a framing device. Peggy’s fleeting comparison of herself to Iago immediately reframes her role in a way that’s easy to grasp. Interestingly, Benedict himself reads a bit like Macbeth at times (all that hemming and hawing!), which could easily position Peggy as his Lady Macbeth, given how she influences him. But if anything, I think she’s much more like Portia from Merchant of Venice: someone who understands the limits of her position and uses intelligence, perception, and social fluency to guide outcomes. Like Portia, her actions are also defined by a clear moral framework. Peggy wants peace and an end to the violence and instability around her, so her influence on Benedict reads as an extension of that as she steers him toward what she believes is a moral or just path. I only wish this thread had been introduced earlier because it’s the clearest and most compelling lens the novel offers for understanding Peggy.
Overall, this is a novel with a strong conceptual core and flashes of brilliant insight into a moment from history many people think they already understand. It just takes a while to get there, and in doing so, sometimes loses sight of the sharper, more defined version of Peggy that ultimately makes this story most compelling.
Thank you to Zando, the publisher, for a gifted advance copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Zando for a gifted finished copy of this book!
This was an interesting fictional imagining of the life of Peggy Shippen, wife to the notorious traitor General Benedict Arnold. The novel opens in Philadelphia in the 1770s and we meet teenaged Peggy who longs for the war to end. Restless and stifled at home, Peggy finds herself swept up in an infatuation with rising British star, Captain John Andre. When the war pulls the two apart, Peggy finds solace in General Benedict Arnold. Switching sides to Patriot salons, she nurses a scheme that she believes will help lead to peace - but which requires treason of herself and her new husband.
I think there is great value in telling Peggy's story because she is a fascinating figure from the historical record and her husband still experiences significant notoriety all these generations later. I liked the scenes of Peggy swept up in teenage crush on John Andre, refusing to believe the reality that there was no future there. And I liked seeing how she responds and pivots after this disappointment. I also liked the way Peggy's marriage is portrayed, as this whirlwind romance but with reality of her husband's shortcomings becoming increasingly obvious with time.
This book had a slow start. It was slow to hook me, and I couldn't even really figure out where it was going at first. The author doesn't provide much historical or even character context for Peggy, her family, where we are in time within the country's history at the beginning and it felt a bit disorienting and like I had been thrown in.
My issue with this book is that Parry took significant liberties with historical fact. Having read a couple biographies of Peggy Shippen, there is no doubt her marriage with Benedict was complicated and new evidence indicates she may have been more involved in the traitorous schemes than was originally assumed. However, it is also important to note that she was a teenager, a woman, and significantly younger than her much more influential and connected husband. Building out the relationship and lingering feelings between Peggy and John Andre did help make the plot make more sense but the way Peggy is always harping on about how she wants peace and refuses to raise children without peace didn't really ring true or realistic to me as this great conviction that she would have fought for. She comes across as self-involved and immature in this novel, not some great martyr desperate to arrange for peace.
Along those same lines, I just didn't like Peggy as portrayed in this book. Partly I think this is because we don't get her complete story. I wish the book had continued on further in her life. In real life, Peggy was eventually a plucky widow had to fight to support her family. I would have loved to see the evolution of her character from this naive, impetuous, foolish youth to this older and scrappier version of her.
This was an interesting fictional imagining of the life of Peggy Shippen, wife to the notorious traitor General Benedict Arnold. The novel opens in Philadelphia in the 1770s and we meet teenaged Peggy who longs for the war to end. Restless and stifled at home, Peggy finds herself swept up in an infatuation with rising British star, Captain John Andre. When the war pulls the two apart, Peggy finds solace in General Benedict Arnold. Switching sides to Patriot salons, she nurses a scheme that she believes will help lead to peace - but which requires treason of herself and her new husband.
I think there is great value in telling Peggy's story because she is a fascinating figure from the historical record and her husband still experiences significant notoriety all these generations later. I liked the scenes of Peggy swept up in teenage crush on John Andre, refusing to believe the reality that there was no future there. And I liked seeing how she responds and pivots after this disappointment. I also liked the way Peggy's marriage is portrayed, as this whirlwind romance but with reality of her husband's shortcomings becoming increasingly obvious with time.
This book had a slow start. It was slow to hook me, and I couldn't even really figure out where it was going at first. The author doesn't provide much historical or even character context for Peggy, her family, where we are in time within the country's history at the beginning and it felt a bit disorienting and like I had been thrown in.
My issue with this book is that Parry took significant liberties with historical fact. Having read a couple biographies of Peggy Shippen, there is no doubt her marriage with Benedict was complicated and new evidence indicates she may have been more involved in the traitorous schemes than was originally assumed. However, it is also important to note that she was a teenager, a woman, and significantly younger than her much more influential and connected husband. Building out the relationship and lingering feelings between Peggy and John Andre did help make the plot make more sense but the way Peggy is always harping on about how she wants peace and refuses to raise children without peace didn't really ring true or realistic to me as this great conviction that she would have fought for. She comes across as self-involved and immature in this novel, not some great martyr desperate to arrange for peace.
Along those same lines, I just didn't like Peggy as portrayed in this book. Partly I think this is because we don't get her complete story. I wish the book had continued on further in her life. In real life, Peggy was eventually a plucky widow had to fight to support her family. I would have loved to see the evolution of her character from this naive, impetuous, foolish youth to this older and scrappier version of her.
July 17, 2026
Book Review of A Founding Mother
This was a compelling portrait of a strong, intelligent woman who quietly helped guide her husband toward greatness. Through historical records especially the correspondence between Abigail and John we see that she not only managed their household, but also played a key role in preserving their finances and shaping his perspective while he was away building his career. Restricted by the societal expectations placed on women of her time, her influence was often overlooked until now, as her story continues to re-emerge by authors like these.
I was #gifted a physical copy by @williammorrowbooks as an #epictastemaker, and also received the audiobook from Harper Audio via @netgalley It made for an immersive experience overall which helpes because the pacing was slow at times, and it added depth to the story.
Book Review of Mrs. Benedict Arnold
This book offered an interesting look into the life of Peggy Shippen, who later became Peggy Arnold. The writing felt a bit choppy and slow at times, I still appreciated the deeper backstory it provided.
Her family grows weary of the American Revolutionary War, and Peggy finds herself drawn to a British soldier, John André, believing she’s in love. After he leaves, she shifts her allegiance to the colonists and marries Benedict Arnold. The story presents her as a driving force behind Arnold’s eventual betrayal, offering a perspective that suggests many people of the time were caught in the middle, simply wanting stability rather than upheaval.
That said, the pacing felt uneven. The first 100 pages dragged, while the ending felt rushed and somewhat incomplete I would have preferred less buildup and more development in the final chapters.
Overall, though, it’s an intriguing story. Ty to @zandoprojects for the #gifted physical arc.
Both women portrayed come across as strong and willing to risk everything for what they believed was right. In different ways, they influenced the paths of their husbands toward both honorable and dishonorable legacies which adds an extra layer of complexity to their roles in history. It's great to see the important roles women played in shaping our history.
3.5 stars for both
This was a compelling portrait of a strong, intelligent woman who quietly helped guide her husband toward greatness. Through historical records especially the correspondence between Abigail and John we see that she not only managed their household, but also played a key role in preserving their finances and shaping his perspective while he was away building his career. Restricted by the societal expectations placed on women of her time, her influence was often overlooked until now, as her story continues to re-emerge by authors like these.
I was #gifted a physical copy by @williammorrowbooks as an #epictastemaker, and also received the audiobook from Harper Audio via @netgalley It made for an immersive experience overall which helpes because the pacing was slow at times, and it added depth to the story.
Book Review of Mrs. Benedict Arnold
This book offered an interesting look into the life of Peggy Shippen, who later became Peggy Arnold. The writing felt a bit choppy and slow at times, I still appreciated the deeper backstory it provided.
Her family grows weary of the American Revolutionary War, and Peggy finds herself drawn to a British soldier, John André, believing she’s in love. After he leaves, she shifts her allegiance to the colonists and marries Benedict Arnold. The story presents her as a driving force behind Arnold’s eventual betrayal, offering a perspective that suggests many people of the time were caught in the middle, simply wanting stability rather than upheaval.
That said, the pacing felt uneven. The first 100 pages dragged, while the ending felt rushed and somewhat incomplete I would have preferred less buildup and more development in the final chapters.
Overall, though, it’s an intriguing story. Ty to @zandoprojects for the #gifted physical arc.
Both women portrayed come across as strong and willing to risk everything for what they believed was right. In different ways, they influenced the paths of their husbands toward both honorable and dishonorable legacies which adds an extra layer of complexity to their roles in history. It's great to see the important roles women played in shaping our history.
3.5 stars for both
May 25, 2026
Actual Rating 1.5
I was really excited about this one, because Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi was one of my favorite books growing up (I wore out my paperback copy). Rinaldi followed most people's lead, painting Peggy Shippen as a traitor during the American Revolution as well as a spoiled social climber. So this book promised a more nuance look at Peggy Shippen, which I was all about.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this work is the writing style. The author relied heavily on telling, which keeps the characters from coming to life, inhibits emotional connections, and honestly just creates a bland tone overall. This kept everything feeling detached emotionally as well. The dialogue also frequently ended with a dash for no good reason that I could tell, unless the characters were just constantly interrupting each other. I really disliked this. NOTE: This is NOT me accusing the author of using AI. Dashes have been used long before AI, and hopefully will be used long after AI. But stylistically, constantly ending dialogue in a dash just didn't work for me and didn't make much sense.
The strongest aspect of this work were some of the historical details that were woven throughout. Details about troop movements and engagements, but also every day life in times of war were included, and helped to make the setting feel a little more dynamic. On the opposite end of that though, modern slang was included throughout that was massively jarring. The pacing of this work is quite uneven, often due to the author getting lost in presenting her research. The ending was also extremely bland as it was essentially just a summary of events.
Unfortunately, there was just too much of a disconnect from the characters to make this character-driven work worth the read. My thanks to NetGalley and Zando Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was really excited about this one, because Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi was one of my favorite books growing up (I wore out my paperback copy). Rinaldi followed most people's lead, painting Peggy Shippen as a traitor during the American Revolution as well as a spoiled social climber. So this book promised a more nuance look at Peggy Shippen, which I was all about.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this work is the writing style. The author relied heavily on telling, which keeps the characters from coming to life, inhibits emotional connections, and honestly just creates a bland tone overall. This kept everything feeling detached emotionally as well. The dialogue also frequently ended with a dash for no good reason that I could tell, unless the characters were just constantly interrupting each other. I really disliked this. NOTE: This is NOT me accusing the author of using AI. Dashes have been used long before AI, and hopefully will be used long after AI. But stylistically, constantly ending dialogue in a dash just didn't work for me and didn't make much sense.
The strongest aspect of this work were some of the historical details that were woven throughout. Details about troop movements and engagements, but also every day life in times of war were included, and helped to make the setting feel a little more dynamic. On the opposite end of that though, modern slang was included throughout that was massively jarring. The pacing of this work is quite uneven, often due to the author getting lost in presenting her research. The ending was also extremely bland as it was essentially just a summary of events.
Unfortunately, there was just too much of a disconnect from the characters to make this character-driven work worth the read. My thanks to NetGalley and Zando Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 28, 2026
I really don’t like giving bad reviews, especially to debut authors, but this book was a real disappointment for me. I was really looking forward to this one because I’d read The Traitor's Wife and liked it a lot. So when I saw there was a new book about Peggy Shippen Arnold, I was really excited. Unfortunately, I just didn’t like this book. For one thing, it got off to a very slow start — so much so that I almost DNFed the book about halfway through. But because I knew I was going to give this a low rating, I wanted to be fair to the author and read the whole book, just in case it got better. While it did pick up in tempo, and I did increase my rating — from 1 star to 2 — the book is still not one I can recommend. There are a few reasons for that. One is the slow tempo. In addition, the characters were a little flat and I didn’t feel any real emotion from any of them. Also, the author chose to give Peggy a more sympathetic treatment than other books have, giving Peggy altruistic motives that didn’t resonate with me. But the biggest annoyance was the author’s use of modern language and idioms, not just once, but throughout the book. At one point I found 3 on a single page! Things like ‘not a hill worth dying on’, ‘you do you’, ‘we are in this together’ and so many more! It pulled me right out of the story. I’m really not saying don’t read this. For readers that aren’t familiar with Peggy’s story, this is an interesting book. Just don’t expect it to be the whole story. But for those who’ve read The Traitor's Wife or watched the TURN series, you might want to give this on a pass.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What motivates a young woman to become MRS. BENEDICT ARNOLD?
Author, Emma Parry, proffers an unbalanced combination of historical research and fictional musings in this, her debut novel. We are introduced to Peggy Shippen, the 16 year old young woman who will become the titled character. Her family life and social experiences are filled with high profile, political and military figures. I wanted so much more from them in the developing story.
Much to the consternation of her mother, Peggy is not the demure, proper woman as expected by those of her social circle. She’d rather conversation and participation with the men, particularly when politics is involved. It’s fun to follow strong characters but this one is jarring due to the author employing contemporary language with anachronistic phrases
and feminist leanings. Hopefully, the manuscript will visit a good editor prior to publication.
Pacing is rough. If there were less discourse about clothing, jewelry and decor, things Peggy wasn’t much interested in, the story would be much tighter and pages shorter. Too much attention was directed to her relationship with Andre’ when the focus should have been on Benedict and the plot to deliver West Point to the British.
As has become too familiar in new titles, the ending is not long enough to satisfy. In fact, it reads like an info dump. Parry’s note in the back of the book fills in a few gaps but it too is insufficient. Actually, it brings attention to the shortcomings of the story line; sigh.
Readers of romance novels that take place during the American Revolution would enjoy this book. Historical Fiction aficionados will be disappointed for the reasons noted above📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC with thanks to the publisher and author.
Author, Emma Parry, proffers an unbalanced combination of historical research and fictional musings in this, her debut novel. We are introduced to Peggy Shippen, the 16 year old young woman who will become the titled character. Her family life and social experiences are filled with high profile, political and military figures. I wanted so much more from them in the developing story.
Much to the consternation of her mother, Peggy is not the demure, proper woman as expected by those of her social circle. She’d rather conversation and participation with the men, particularly when politics is involved. It’s fun to follow strong characters but this one is jarring due to the author employing contemporary language with anachronistic phrases
and feminist leanings. Hopefully, the manuscript will visit a good editor prior to publication.
Pacing is rough. If there were less discourse about clothing, jewelry and decor, things Peggy wasn’t much interested in, the story would be much tighter and pages shorter. Too much attention was directed to her relationship with Andre’ when the focus should have been on Benedict and the plot to deliver West Point to the British.
As has become too familiar in new titles, the ending is not long enough to satisfy. In fact, it reads like an info dump. Parry’s note in the back of the book fills in a few gaps but it too is insufficient. Actually, it brings attention to the shortcomings of the story line; sigh.
Readers of romance novels that take place during the American Revolution would enjoy this book. Historical Fiction aficionados will be disappointed for the reasons noted above📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC with thanks to the publisher and author.
May 13, 2026
As someone who history was a major turn off from school (worst teachers – sorry!) I can safely say my knowledge of general history really will not win at any quiz. I’m getting a little bit better thanks so some wonderful books and adaptations that have drawn me in and I’m pleased so say history isn’t as bleh as it was taught at school. That said my knowledge of American Revolution is even lower on the list of things I know about. So I was really looking forward to being drawn into this point of time. I was also really looking forward to another book retelling a woman’s history. This is an exciting time for women in history to have a new voice.
Mrs Benedict Arnold has obviously been deeply and carefully researched and brought together. She was written with such care and almost intimacy that I really was taken with Peggy and her story. The artwork and whole feel of this hardback book was also so carefully brought together.
I really liked the overall story for Peggy and I would be keen to know more, but there were a few niggles that made reading this book just not quite as immersive as I was hoping. The pace was a bit broken in places and I really struggled to keep up with the many names that popped up (probably my brain fog rather than anything else.) I was really hoping for a bit more world building and felt it was perhaps a bit too narrative driven for my personal taste.
The relationship between Peggy and Benedict was interesting, but I loved her relationships with the tailors and found the espionage and cipher she used really interesting as well. Part of me was almost rooting for Andre to whisk her away at the end, but I think Peggy would always stand by Benedict no matter what. She was strong in many ways and another reminder that though women of that era were mainly there for children and running households – they too had lives and secrets to keep.
Mrs Benedict Arnold has obviously been deeply and carefully researched and brought together. She was written with such care and almost intimacy that I really was taken with Peggy and her story. The artwork and whole feel of this hardback book was also so carefully brought together.
I really liked the overall story for Peggy and I would be keen to know more, but there were a few niggles that made reading this book just not quite as immersive as I was hoping. The pace was a bit broken in places and I really struggled to keep up with the many names that popped up (probably my brain fog rather than anything else.) I was really hoping for a bit more world building and felt it was perhaps a bit too narrative driven for my personal taste.
The relationship between Peggy and Benedict was interesting, but I loved her relationships with the tailors and found the espionage and cipher she used really interesting as well. Part of me was almost rooting for Andre to whisk her away at the end, but I think Peggy would always stand by Benedict no matter what. She was strong in many ways and another reminder that though women of that era were mainly there for children and running households – they too had lives and secrets to keep.
May 15, 2026
This is a historical fiction novel that follows Peggy Shippen and if you didn’t guess from the title it is set during the American Revolution. Peggy and her family live in Philadelphia and we meet them in 1777 when the Committees of Safety are policing the streets, forcing many families like the Shippens to leave the city.
When the British Army capture the city, Peggy and her family return, and there she meets her first love, Captain John Andre, but their happiness doesn’t last as the army pull out before the Continental Army march on the city. Peggy is heartbroken, unsure if she will ever see him again. Surprisingly she finds solace in the company of General Arnold.
It’s been a while since I’ve read what I class as a proper historical novel, i.e. one with no fantasy or magical elements in it… And I am so glad I took a leap. It is clear to see that a significant amount of time has ben taken in researching this book. It is incredibly detailed and rich in terms of the historical journey Emma takes us on. It is beautifully written and I for one am glad I took the chance on this book. It is easy to see the passion with which Emma writes every single word of this story. This is no retelling, changing the story into something more palatable, this is quite literally history in the making, by someone brave enough to tell Peggy’s full story, finally bringing it into the light, the truth of it, rather than the femme fatel accused of being a seducer and temptress, or perhaps even worse, a ditsy wife who is seen and not heard without any input or insight into her husband’s decision to change sides. This was a great 4 star read for me and if you love historical fiction I would definitely recommend.
When the British Army capture the city, Peggy and her family return, and there she meets her first love, Captain John Andre, but their happiness doesn’t last as the army pull out before the Continental Army march on the city. Peggy is heartbroken, unsure if she will ever see him again. Surprisingly she finds solace in the company of General Arnold.
It’s been a while since I’ve read what I class as a proper historical novel, i.e. one with no fantasy or magical elements in it… And I am so glad I took a leap. It is clear to see that a significant amount of time has ben taken in researching this book. It is incredibly detailed and rich in terms of the historical journey Emma takes us on. It is beautifully written and I for one am glad I took the chance on this book. It is easy to see the passion with which Emma writes every single word of this story. This is no retelling, changing the story into something more palatable, this is quite literally history in the making, by someone brave enough to tell Peggy’s full story, finally bringing it into the light, the truth of it, rather than the femme fatel accused of being a seducer and temptress, or perhaps even worse, a ditsy wife who is seen and not heard without any input or insight into her husband’s decision to change sides. This was a great 4 star read for me and if you love historical fiction I would definitely recommend.
May 19, 2026
Peggy Shippen is a teenager living in Philadelphia in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783). Her family have Loyalist sympathies but more than anything wish to be seen as respectable. Peggy longs to educate herself and be able to join in with the debates and discussions around her but her family, and especially her mother, think it’s unladylike. Her horizons are widened as she begins to socialise with an influential group including John Andre, a soldier in the British Army. Later, after the British have left Philadelphia, she falls in love with and marries Patriot General Benedict Arnold and becomes involved in an infamous act of treason.
This book does assume prior knowledge of the political situation at the time and the events described, so I think you’d be a bit lost if you were unfamiliar with the context. I knew the basics but had to look up a few things for context. The American Revolutionary War is a part of history I always feel I should know more about so I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about some of the figures involved and especially to see it from a female perspective. I found the descriptions of fashion interesting and that women’s choice of clothes allowed them to display their allegiances even if they weren’t allowed to overtly engage in political discussions.
This book is about a woman finding her place in a man’s world and navigating conflicting loyalties to try and ensure peace/the best outcome.
Read if you love:
Historical and/or political fiction
Stories about female historical figures
Eighteenth century
True stories
Hamilton
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Zando for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed Peggy’s story and it reminded me to check out more books on the topic.
This book does assume prior knowledge of the political situation at the time and the events described, so I think you’d be a bit lost if you were unfamiliar with the context. I knew the basics but had to look up a few things for context. The American Revolutionary War is a part of history I always feel I should know more about so I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about some of the figures involved and especially to see it from a female perspective. I found the descriptions of fashion interesting and that women’s choice of clothes allowed them to display their allegiances even if they weren’t allowed to overtly engage in political discussions.
This book is about a woman finding her place in a man’s world and navigating conflicting loyalties to try and ensure peace/the best outcome.
Read if you love:
Historical and/or political fiction
Stories about female historical figures
Eighteenth century
True stories
Hamilton
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Zando for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed Peggy’s story and it reminded me to check out more books on the topic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
As we near our 250th celebrations, here is the other side of the story! We often hear about the revolutionaries, the founding fathers, the patriots and the minutemen - but not much about the loyalists who were not interested in their lives being disrupted or the colonies being separated from the King.
The Shippen family, especially the young Peggy, were interested in parties and preserving their way of life waiting for the patriots to give up and go home. But they had to live in this world, so did their best to put on a show or be rooted out.
I loved the history of the book. The imagery of the place and time was strong. I didn't like her at all which is probably part storytelling and part patriotism. Her shallowness and boy-crazy attitude early on was trying.
The book was really quite slow to get going and it took about halfway in for it to start moving along and get exciting - probably lending to too many details early on that weren't necessary. My big issue with this book, and why it won't work for my book club, is that the author does a fantastic job of using colonial language but then whiplashes to modern terms and expressions. Once you spotted one, you couldn't help seeing them everywhere. Was this an artistic choice? I kept stopping and trying to look up the origins of some of the expressions used, taking me out of the story.
I liked it for the history and for the last quarter's excitement. I needed more authenticity and maybe even more authors notes for a historical fiction.
3*
As we near our 250th celebrations, here is the other side of the story! We often hear about the revolutionaries, the founding fathers, the patriots and the minutemen - but not much about the loyalists who were not interested in their lives being disrupted or the colonies being separated from the King.
The Shippen family, especially the young Peggy, were interested in parties and preserving their way of life waiting for the patriots to give up and go home. But they had to live in this world, so did their best to put on a show or be rooted out.
I loved the history of the book. The imagery of the place and time was strong. I didn't like her at all which is probably part storytelling and part patriotism. Her shallowness and boy-crazy attitude early on was trying.
The book was really quite slow to get going and it took about halfway in for it to start moving along and get exciting - probably lending to too many details early on that weren't necessary. My big issue with this book, and why it won't work for my book club, is that the author does a fantastic job of using colonial language but then whiplashes to modern terms and expressions. Once you spotted one, you couldn't help seeing them everywhere. Was this an artistic choice? I kept stopping and trying to look up the origins of some of the expressions used, taking me out of the story.
I liked it for the history and for the last quarter's excitement. I needed more authenticity and maybe even more authors notes for a historical fiction.
3*
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