The Windsor Affair: A Novel

by Melanie Benjamin

A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American commoner. In this electrifying novel, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue tells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all.

Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Men: Edward David Windsor, heir to the British throne, and Albert, known as Bertie, his younger brother, “the spare.” The Women: Edward’s wife Wallis, an American divorcée, and Bertie's  wife Elizabeth, descended from Scottish nobility. The Feud: a rivalry that will last all their lives, make headlines, and still fuel gossip pages nearly a century later.

The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the queen-to-be, and Wallis Simpson, aka “That Woman," who fell into a calculated love affair with Prince Edward. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors.

The first novel dedicated to the infamous rivalry between these two world-famous women, The Windsor Affair brings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals. As Queen, Elizabeth would become the symbol of British pluck and courage during World War II and remain a British institution for the rest of her long life. Wallis would be forever forced to enact the World’s Greatest Love Story even after it sours, as she goes from being admired to vilified and, ultimately, pitied.

Against the backdrop of the Abdication Crisis, World War II, coronations, funerals, births, and deaths, these two women maintain a bitter, biting, sharp-tongued feud—until age and the long arm of history bring about a kind of understanding. For the last communication between these bitter rivals was a simple, surprising “In friendship, Elizabeth.”

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Historical, Adult Fiction, Audiobook

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 2, 2026

About the author

Melanie Benjamin is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, as well as the national bestseller ALICE I HAVE BEEN, and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB, THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE, MISTRESS OF THE RITZ , THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD and CALIFORNIA GOLDEN, Her next novel is THE WINDSOR AFFAIR, a juicy retelling of the legendary feud between Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, the Queen Mother, coming in June 2026. Preorder now - https://sites.prh.com/the-windsor-aff...

Reviews

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much juicy drama in this book and it is all based on real facts! I have read books about Elizabeth II but I had no idea the extent of the scandal that her uncle and her parents were involved in.

This novel is primarily told from the perspectives of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married to second son Bertie, and Wallis, an American divorcée, who is involved with Edward David Windsor, heir to the British throne. Mary the mother of both men also shares insight into the story in a couple of chapters. Both Elizabeth and Wallis share their stories about how their rivalry began and how it had a huge effect on not only their lives but on England. This story fascinated me as I really did not know much of it. I honestly felt like I could have been watching a soap opera as it was filled with so many jaw dropping details of what happened between them. Although I was rooting for Elizabeth because I could relate more to her, I appreciated the backstory on Wallis. I completely understood why she was the way she was based on what happened to her in the past.

This was a fascinating read that I devoured in one day. If you have ever been interested in the royal family, I highly recommend this novel and all the drama that happened in the past!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A juicy histfic imagining of the fierce feud between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson, whose affair led to the abdication of King Edward VIII, which forced Elizabeth's husband Bertie to ascend to a throne he never wanted to occupy. I promise you won't be able to put this fiery emotional tale down!

[Sophia]

England’s golden boy had the world swooning over his abdicating a throne for love of a woman, but what of that woman from her perspective? And, what of the woman married to the younger brother who never wished to be king and was forced to hold the line during a dark, gritty war? Melanie Benjamin’s historical fiction works have long been on my radar and I was happy to finally slip in her latest dramatic and controversial situation, The Windsor Affair.

My full review will post at The Quill Ink TBA.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin is a fabulous historical fiction that highlights one of England’s modern infamous rivalries between the Queen Mother and Wallis Simpson.

This is a great historical fiction that really delved into the complicated lives and interactions between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson.

I know a lot about the English Monarchy, and have read an in-depth biography of the Queen Mother, and definitely am on her side for sure, but it was still interesting to read a narrative that brings more of a personal, flawed, real, and human feel to both women. Being placed in their respective POVs gave me a completely new understanding to both women. I did not mind the alternating chapters, as the blueprint gave contrasting perspectives to the same situations. I totally devoured this gem.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Ballantine | Delacorte Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/2/26.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a rarity among historical fiction authors that they portray their subjects in character, even when that character isn't very pleasant, instead of simply telling a girl power feminism story. Clare McHugh does this well, as does C.W. Gortner, and with this, my second Melanie Benjamin book, I can add another to that list.

I should have known when I read The Girls in the Picture years ago and loved it, despite the silent film days being a subject I have less than zero interest in, that she would do well with a subject I have a ton of interest in: the Abdication Crisis of 1937.

I don't really consider myself a royal watcher, unlike some people who keep up with all the gossip about the Princess of Wales and can recognize tiaras on sight, but this specific event has it ALL, because to this day nobody does drama like the House of Windsor. There is high stakes, gossip, petty drama, symbolism, political maneuvering, all against the backdrop of the looming war with Nazi Germany.

These days, since The Crown and books and documentaries detailing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's ties to Nazi Germany, it is less and less likely that people are sympathetic to them, but it is still somewhat unusual to see it so obviously portrayed that this great love story of all time was almost completely one-sided. Fiction about Wallis Simpson needs to walk a very, very thin line of showing her as exactly who she was, a conniving, selfish, manipulative, power-hungry woman who used people for her own wealth, power and social standing regardless of any other factors (such as being Adolf Hitler), who ended up tied for life to an emotionally stunted man who was obsessively, cloyingly in love with her, and would almost certainly have stalked her to the ends of the earth had she tried to leave him. The portrayal succeeds here, better than any I've seen, even in The Crown, which was more interested in its portrayal of the Duke than the Duchess. His obsessive love is contrasted nicely with her eventual disdain as she finds out more and more about who she is expected to live her life with.

(I must, despite the issues with the show, shout out Alex Jennings' performance as the Duke of Windsor, which is extremely underrated next to the other star turns in that show. He managed to fully sell the melancholy, childishness and patheticness of the erstwhile Edward VIII not only well, but make it into a fascinating character study despite only appearing in a few episodes).

Wallis here is shown as hard scrabbling, desperate to do anything to escape the sort of genteel poverty she grew up in, using people and discarding them and vapidly interested almost exclusively in jewels, clothes, entertaining and who she can glom on to next. Her history with both ex-husbands is beautifully told, giving some background to why she acts the way she does. Her eventual disgust with the childish and damaged Duke of Windsor, the frivolous and meaningless existence they lived for the decades after the war, her anger at both the Family and her husband for the way it all played out, is spot on.

The portrayal of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who I don't suppose we can still call the Queen Mother but I admit I have an impossible time seeing her any other way, is equally well done. The steel and strength behind two rulers during the hardest times of the country's history, for better or for worse, comes through here, hidden behind the cozy layer of domesticity and charming (later, jolly) smile everyone knew from her public image, balanced perfectly. She grows here from a charming debutante to a domestically happy wife and mother to a reigning queen so naturally the reader only realizes it when she does, and then on to a savvy political operator behind the scenes once her daughter is queen. The relationship between her and her husband, portrayed here as growing into love after their marriage, is one interpretation. Famous for the strength of their marriage, this may not be entirely accurate, but also may not be too far off. Interpretation varies - after all, Elizabeth did refuse Bertie three times. I suspect some readers who remember the Queen Mum might be surprised at the ruthlessness shown in her character here, but that is what it takes to navigate a monarchy that operates entirely in soft power, and whether you agree with her or not, she was good at it. But her grudge and anger at the Windsors is the throughline of this book, also true to life as she blamed the abdication for her husband's early death, and rightly so. Though, of course, the alternative would have been far worse.* The Crown does usually find its way to the right head, or at the very least, off the wrong one.

The few quibbles I have are mostly related to pacing. Obviously the lion's share of this book is taken up by the abdication itself, leaving the war and aftermath a little rushed. Not overly so, and I will say that the summary chapters of the King and Queen's actions during the war are remarkably effective, getting the atmosphere and mood of the war years across well in only a few pages. I have seen some people surprised that Charles III has, as far as we can tell, somewhat left of center if slightly idiosyncratic personal politics. One must remember that he comes, in his direct line, from some of the most committed anti-fascists of WWII. Whatever else you can say about Britain's royal family, and there is quite a lot you can, that reputation was wholly, entirely hard-earned.

The pacing of those years when it comes to the Windsors was slightly less well done, which is a shame, because they are where the interest is and questions still lie. I was worried, initially, that their ties to Nazi Germany would be glossed over, and they weren't, but they were a little more hurried than I would like. Wallis's daily flowers from Hitler's ambassador to Britain are mentioned, though the affair she was having with him was not, which I thought it should have been. As should the third affair she was having. I suspect the Duke's later ties to Hitler were mentioned less deeply than I would like because there is still a lot that is not known about that time. The Windsors certainly did visit Germany and toured early concentration camps, they certainly knew of Hitler's plan to re-install them as King and Queen once he defeated Britain, the Duke did publicly state that Hitler should bomb Britain into submission, but like many Nazi-era things, it is difficult to know how far any of these plans actually got. Were they something that was discussed and discarded as Hitler got distracted? Was it one inner circle member's pet project that got superceded when someone else rose in prominence? Was it a full plan that the Duke was a more active part of? Any one of these is plausible, but until more evidence comes to light, the most that can be said with certainty is that the Windsors were active Nazi sympathizers. I did particularly enjoy Wallis's reaction to the full knowledge of what Nazi Germany was doing in its camps, because it was essentially to wish they could all think about something more pleasant, which felt extremely true to life for me.

Probably the real reason for this is that the book would have had to be twice as long if it all was included, and while I happily would have read this book if it was 600 pages, probably most people would not have, and what was here is more than enough for readers looking for their fix of Windsor drama.

My final thought is that I thoroughly enjoyed the occasional interjection by Queen Mary, and only wished there had been more, because THERE is someone who was the steel behind the throne for decades. I've said before that Queen Mary, born in a German province, betrothed to second-in-line Prince Eddy during Victoria's reign, handed over to his younger brother when he died unexpectedly, ruled during WWI, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression as one-half of the power couple that made the dynasty what it is today, lived through the abdication, WWII and its aftermath, outlived three of her children, and still lived to see her granddaughter become queen, is the most fascinating royal of the century. Why no one has written a book about her is a question for the ages.

*Given that Edward's Nazi sympathies were well-known before his abdication, I fully believe that the Royal Family, the government and anyone else behind the scenes in Britain seized the opportunity to maneuver him off the throne when it presented itself, while making sure not to look like that was what they were doing.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never actually finished a Melanie Benjamin book. I've picked up a couple - the topics are always fascinating women throughout history in interesting time periods, about whom I've already got some interest and have already read nonfiction, so the thought of a novel intrigues me. Oh, and the covers are always really cool. I start reading with great interest, only to find that these read more like nonfiction - which wouldn't be a problem but for the fact that there is not new information included so much as a rehashing of the established historical information.

If I didn't know anything about these women that probably wouldn't bother me. But since I usually do, I'm looking for more from historical fiction than a gap-filled recitation of the history - in other words, I'm looking for more fiction. I'm probably in the minority in this regard, and I understand and appreciate the research and effort put into keeping these historically accurate - but for me as a reader that means they often fall flat because I am already familiar with the material and without a new slant, I find my interest flagging about a third of the way in every time. Such was the case here.

These are two fascinating women. They hated each other. There were understandable reasons for that given both of their backgrounds and family lives, but after 150 pages of snarking back and forth, I was losing interest in the mean girl social hierarchy sniping - and I hadn't even hit the Abdication yet... If theirs are not stories you're familiar with, this is a great way to dig into them. Benjamin's writing is very accessible and she presents the history with a clear and colorful tone. But as someone who was already more than passingly familiar with the two women's lives, I found myself wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: My true gauge in historical fiction is how much I have to look up while I read. I did a lot of research during this one. The bent of the novel is towards Elizabeth while vilifying Wallis. Overall, not a bad take and I laughed at time over Elizabeth’s pettiness and behind the scenes machinations. Wallis is portrayed as a woman looking for fame and riches. When she falls into an affair with David (soon to be King Edward VIII) she thinks she is set for the life of a mistress. Her presence horrifies Elizabeth and Bertie (later, King George VI). While shy Bertie is a little more kind toward his older brother, Elizabeth makes it her goal to get Wallis banished. The abdication starts the ball rolling toward a lifetime of estrangement.
The war years were interesting to read about. While it solidified the King and Queen’s place in British history, David and Wallis spent a lot of time courting Hitler and other Germans. This was one of the things I looked up….because it was more than a little shocking. Wallis’s eventual descent into anger and spite due to being exiled from England and cut off from the riches and jewel she coveted was apparent and not what the “signed up for”.
Overall a great fictionalized account of this time period and the people involved. It kept me interested and made me think about historical events in a new way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very easy to devour. This book is entertaining, wicked, sad, tragic, informative and a very satisfying ending. I positively loved it! You will get to know the main characters in a very intimate way and you may even find yourself feeling some empathy for some - it certainly caught me off guard. Although this is historical fiction the author has done an amazing job of weaving facts along with with some imagined conversation that can best be envisioned beyond royal doors. Definitely must be on the top of your TBR list. Thanks to NetGalley,

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book about Wallis Simpson I have always wished for! I felt like I knew her by the end of the book. I have read a handful of novels featuring Wallis. Unlike the other novels, The Windsor Affair portrays Wallis as a multi-layered human with complex emotions and history, rather than just as a villain. And I was pleased to be "introduced" to Elizabeth, known to me prior to this book simply as as the Queen Mum. I really enjoyed learning about the lives of these women and their juicy feud. At times I rooted for Wallis. Other times I rooted for Elizabeth. And other times I thought they both were right or wrong. I had quite an emotional investment in this book because the characters all were so real and relatable. I'm certainly not royal or fancy, but they were people with the same hopes and fears as the rest of us, though maybe magnified by royal roles.
Melanie Benjamin's trademark polished prose is on brilliant display in this book. Many times my breath was taken away by her expertly crafted sentences. Few authors can convey emotion through words as powerfully as Benjamin, in my opinion.
I think this book would be perfect for book clubs because of the complex characters and how they change throughout the novel.
I really enjoyed the satisfying ending of this very well-done story.
I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Sherwood Smith]

The author has done due diligence for a fictional representation of an interesting time and some interesting real life figures. Wallis Simpson in particular is a lightning rod for either partisanship or hatred. I myself thought she was a heroine when I first read about her. Fellow American, loved by a crown prince, at a time when the fashions were the coolest and high society glittering with personalities! But after I found out she was willing to deal with Hitler in order to get established on the English throne, my sympathy pretty much vanished.

My opinion of actual history aside, I think this novel needed a few more drafts, with more of those long scenes of characters sitting and thinking their history turned into actual scenes. This kind of narrative (characters sitting in a void thinking their backstory at the reader) is the easiest to write, but the toughest for catching and holding attention.

Added to that, many of the famous figures of the time either get scarce mention or are entirely left out. Diana Cooper is a one-dimiensional figure in brief scenes, as is young Elizabeth, who would come to be Queen for the second half of the twentieth century. Some of the conclusions the author came to (such as who had committed the theft of Wallis's jewels) made little sense. Fianlly, a lot of the dialogue read like modern Americans speaking. There was none of the distinctive style of the time. Walls, I could understand. But not the rest. Finally, there was a lot of melodramatic assumption about Wallis, especially late in life. But others may find that entertaining, which is the purpose of a novel about the bitchy rich!

[Barbara Monaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie Benjamin writes great historical fiction and I love how she delves into different eras, locations, and characters in each book. She's best at writing about rivals, especially snarky, devious women. Her latest, The Windsor Affair, covers the delicious rivalry between Queen Elizabeth (the queen mum and mother of Queen Elizabeth II) and Wallis Simpson (notorious American for whom the king of England gave up the throne.) The story and dialogue are wonderful and Ms Benjamin certainly spills the tea. This is fun read and would be a perfect book for book groups.

[Krista Beutel · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the time I lived in Canada in the fourth and fifth grades, I have been mildly obsessed with the British royal family. This has informed my love of historical fiction based on the monarchy in my adult years. When the opportunity to review this work landed in my inbox, I jumped on it! I was aware of the broad brushstrokes leading to the abdication of King Edward VIII, but to have the juicy details of infighting between Wallis and Elizabeth woven in was so very salacious! It is reminiscent of the more modern dust-ups between Diana and Fergie in the 80’s and Kate and Meghan in current times. There’s so many historical details woven in that one can’t help but wonder how much of the story is true. I felt for the desperation of Wallis and David as well as the frustration of Elizabeth and Albert. This is a must read for Angliophiles! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this title.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Windsor Affair was such great fun. As an Anglophile, I found it especially easy to sink into this story, since many of the key figures already felt familiar. Melanie Benjamin leans into the inherent drama of the British monarchy, and the result is a novel that feels delightfully juicy without losing its sense of historical grounding.

One of the standout elements for me was the attention to detail, particularly when it came to Wallis Simpson’s fashion. Those touches added a real sense of luxury and texture to the story, elevating the reading experience. Benjamin also does a strong job navigating the intricate social rules, quiet betrayals, and constant undercurrents of tension within royal life. At the same time, she manages to cover a wide span of years while still keeping the relationships between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Wallis Simpson, and the rest of the royal circle clear and engaging.

I also appreciated the glimpses into figures like Queen Mary, which added another layer of depth to the narrative. Overall, this is an entertaining and immersive take on a well-known chapter of royal history. Readers who enjoy historical fiction centered on the British monarchy, especially those who already have an interest in these figures, will absolutely eat this one up.

Thank you to Melanie Benjamin, Ballantine, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[skketch · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚👑🙇‍♀️🤴NOVEL THOUGHTS🤴🙇‍♂️👑📚

4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐

Melanie Benjamin is an author I have read before and always enjoy her books. Her concepts are compelling and her novels additive and readable. This book features the long standing rift between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson as England moves past WWI and then later through WWII,, the deaths of two kings of England and into their sunset years. Benjamin does such a great job weaving these two women's stories with some actual historical facts and the tantalizing gossip and intrigue of what they might have been thinking and saying also based on reported evidence which the author shares in the Afterword.
The story is told in two major voices, Elizabeth and Wallis, and one smaller minor one Queen Mary later in the story and starts when Elizabeth is single and enjoying life as a debutante going to parties, dances and other soirees. She is fun, has a memorable smile (which she becomes known for) and is using this time in her life to meet and greet all the eligible men, one of whom is heir to the British empire, Edward David Windsor. Benjamin is amazing in developing the carefree life of David, as he is known. While he is destined to ascend the throne, he is in no hurry to settle down and has one affair after another with married women. His charismatic personality is like a magnet to all the ladies of stature and commoners alike. And while Elizabeth is swooning over the attention he sometimes pays her, in the background is his younger brother Albert aka Bertie aka "the spare" developing strong feelings for Elizabeth. Bertie has always been in shadows of his brother and has several tics like stuttering so even though he is a royal, his allure isn't as grand to the eligible ladies.
Eventually Bertie can wait no longer and proposes to Elizabeth who shoots him down. Meantime,......
Wallis Simpson is over in America living the complete opposite life as Elizabeth is enjoying in England. After her father dies in the war, her mother has no choice but to move in with his family members who aren't the most welcoming or charitable and Wallis is not going to have this life! When she is of age, she also begins putting herself out there to find the best man she can and swept off her feet by her first husband Earl Spencer, a naval officer with a quick and violent temper after a few drinks. This marriage ends after she finally has had enough but vows to never have to beg for a good life again. She will find a man with money and stature and do whatever it takes to get it, even if that means stealing a man from someone else, which she does and marries Ernest Simpson, a well to do businessman who has British ties. He brings her England and it is there overtime, that she meets and is determined to have David Windsor and the life he can give her! He will become King after his father dies but what to do about Wallis who is twice married, with one divorce and now another one in order to marry David. The royal family will have none of it and as history knows, David abdicates the throne to marry the "love of his life." Now brother Bertie, who never wanted this position is crowned the King of England just as WWII is on the European doorstep. Elizabeth's life of grand leisure is now redefined as Queen and she must be the supporter of his majesty the King, a role she never expected after marrying Bertie on his third time proposing.
Wallis leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of the royals and they want nothing to do with her and her antics. She is tagged by Elizabeth as "That Woman" and for years never speaks her name. The author depicts David as a love besotted man who drools over Wallis, covers her in jewels and finery, which is precisely what Wallis wanted for this life, only she also wanted to be Queen. The royal family refuse her title of HRH which is a sticking point throughout her marriage to David. David becomes a persona non grata and he is banished from the family. They travel to Germany and become celebrities with Hitler and the Nazis which Wallis excels at culturing. Meantime, the Nazis are beginning to take over countries in Europe and the author speculates that whenever the Nazis take over England, David will take over the throne there backed by Hitler. But as we know.... not so fast. England is not going to lay down. With Churchill and royal family, England is fighting back and it is Elizabeth's job to keep the morale up for Bertie and the people of England.
Dialog goes back and forth between the two women as they think about where their lives are now and where they are going. The hatred they have for each other fills the pages as well as the history post war. David and Wallis are sent to the Bahamas to act as governor of this British territory which David takes seriously but Wallis is a whiney baby about the whole thing. Wallis is now questioning her decision to marry David and isn't sure she ever really loved him. She also is angry that he abdicated and took the life she wanted that he could give her, away. Once they return to Europe, they set up Villa Windsor in France and Wallis tries to recapture the life of luxury all the while, David is begging for money from his brother in order to keep her in this lifestyle.
Peacetime in England for Bertie and Elizabeth but the war and anxiety of rule takes its toll on Bertie and he falls ill. Elizabeth has also been thinking about her marriage to Bertie and though she didn't marry him right away for love, she has grown into it with him and feels eternally grateful for this life. It is a sad day when Bertie succumbs to his illness and it is now when their daughter, Elizabeth II is crowned Queen of England and her mother can now take a backseat and try to live without her husband.
This is when the story becomes very reflective for both women and the choices they have made and we also learn that there were some underhanded things going on by the then queen Mary who may have influenced some of the events that ultimately became the reality and what we know now of the royal family. Wallis never will forgive them for what they made David do and Elizabeth thinks about the long term feud with Wallis and was it worth it. But when David dies and his body is brought back to England for burial, Elizabeth discovers that Wallis isn't 100% well herself and appears to be suffering from dementia as she repeats "do not abdicate" to whoever will listen. Elizabeth will try to be compassionate but she can never go back to her younger self to fix what might have been fixable and now it's entirely too late.
This was a super story and written extremely well. It was page turning and interest keeping. The way the author builds the tension and character development is perfect. While the reader will probably dislike Wallis as portrayed, she is also a character to feel sorry for because of what she came from, lack of support or quality of love from her family and a first marriage which stained her for life. She had to build something from nothing.
Elizabeth was a kind character, good mother and wife and in this story even though she is quite a likeable character, didn't really show any flaws not counting the disgust of That Woman. She was kind of vanilla compared to Wallis.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author and publisher for granting me this ARC and all these views and opinions are my own.

[Holly LaPat · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Windsor Affair” delivers just what it promises – a juicy, entertaining novel about the clashes in England’s royal family. It focuses on the time when King Edward abdicated the throne to marry an American divorcee in the 1930s, then moves into the years beyond. At the center of the clash are the two women involved: scandalous divorcee Wallis Simpson, and soon-to-be-Queen Elizabeth, who's married to Bertie, the younger brother who’s forced to step in and become King George.

Both women have their share of unsympathetic traits, but both are fascinating. And the more we learn about the characters, the more we learn what makes them the way they are. At first, I found Elizabeth easier to relate to. But Elizabeth comes from a background of privilege, while Wallis grew up without a father and without money, needing to play up to an unsympathetic uncle for financial support. That makes Wallis’ obsession with wealth, and getting it at all costs, easier to understand. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is spoiled and concerned with appearances, and she has no patience with a crass American woman from the moment they meet.

The characters grow as the story plays out. I was especially moved by the scenes during World War II, when Elizabeth accompanies her husband to visit villages bombed in the London Blitz. We see their relationship grow from a “suitable” royal marriage into a devoted relationship, and we watch Bertie grow from an uncertain, stammering man to a strong leader. Meanwhile, once their royalty has been stripped away, Wallis and her husband David struggle to find meaning in their marriage beyond the luxuries they enjoy.

In the Author’s Note at the end, Benjamin jokes that her strength as a writer appears to be “gossipy high-society feuds.” (She’s not wrong; she also wrote “The Swans of Fifth Avenue,” about Truman Capote and the wealthy women he eventually betrays.) But I found this book, like “Swans,” to be gossipy AND emotional. And highly satisfying.

“The Windsor Affair” delivers just what it promises – a juicy, entertaining novel about the clashes in England’s royal family. It focuses on the time when King Edward abdicated the throne to marry an American divorcee in the 1930s, then moves into the years beyond. At the center of the clash are the two women involved: scandalous divorcee Wallis Simpson, and soon-to-be-Queen Elizabeth, who's married to Bertie, the younger brother who’s forced to step in and become King George.

Both women have their share of unsympathetic traits, but both are fascinating. And the more we learn about the characters, the more we learn what makes them the way they are. At first, I found Elizabeth easier to relate to. But Elizabeth comes from a background of privilege, while Wallis grew up without a father and without money, needing to play up to an unsympathetic uncle for financial support. That makes Wallis’ obsession with wealth, and getting it at all costs, easier to understand. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is spoiled and concerned with appearances, and she has no patience with a crass American woman from the moment they meet.

The characters grow as the story plays out. I was especially moved by the scenes during World War II, when Elizabeth accompanies her husband to visit villages bombed in the London Blitz. We see their relationship grow from a “suitable” royal marriage into a devoted relationship, and we watch Bertie grow from an uncertain, stammering man to a strong leader. Meanwhile, once their royalty has been stripped away, Wallis and her husband David struggle to find meaning in their marriage beyond the luxuries they enjoy.

In the Author’s Note at the end, Benjamin jokes that her strength as a writer appears to be “gossipy high-society feuds.” (She’s not wrong; she also wrote “The Swans of Fifth Avenue,” about Truman Capote and the wealthy women he eventually betrays.) But I found this book, like “Swans,” to be gossipy AND emotional. And highly satisfying.

NOTE: Thanks to Ballantine/Delacorte Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine - Delacorte Press for an advance copy of this new historical novel that looks at one of the may scandals that have plagued the British royal family, a story that many thought was a modern love story, but was something much darker, much meaner and much, much nastier.

As a man I never gave much thought to the royals and their ways. As a man I don't think that much of Rome either so maybe I am an outlier. I knew of the modern problems, growing up in the eighties and nineties it was hard to read a magazine or a newspaper without seeing royal problems, not just the British, but Monaco, and even the Scandinavian countries. I know that many want to be a princess, and I can understand the lure. The access, the fame, the money, and the power. However it really does seem awful. Not just one families members, but those who try to get access to the family. By helping, abetting or marrying in. The whole thing seems draining just to have people bowing to one. Though the castles help. Today we have ex-princes being perp-walked, royals giving up claims for love, and Kings who well seem less than Kingly. Outside of a prince, even an ex-prince being arrested this is not a new thing. Royals have always acted liked well like royal pains. Falling in love, getting caught, and using the regal reason to get out of things. Few have paid the cost. Except for a few. A king who gave up his crown, much to his future wife's annoyment. The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin is a tale of sweeping romance, sweeping lies, mean queens, and much more, in a fictional telling of a time when the royal line was in danger, as a shadow was starting to fall over Europe.

England by the 1930's was having financial problems, problems in colonies, political problems, and most importantly problems in the royal family. While the populous was dealing with a global depression the future King of england, Edward, was dealing with something far worse. Love, passionate all consuming love, that matched with his ego and well lack of sense, was going to be a problem. Edward's amour fou was an American, bad, soon to be twice divorced, even worse, woman with a reputation Wallis Simpson. The royals at the time might not agree with many things, but the fact that Wallis was unsuitable, was something that could be agreed on. One of Simpson's worst critics was the Duchess of York Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married to Edward's younger brother. Both women liked the attention, both put on airs, and both put on false fronts for the public. And both hated each other. Things only got worse on Edward's ascension, his annoyance with the royal rules, and his want to marry Wallis leading to a constitutional crisis in England.

I knew a bit about the time, mostly that Edward was not great thinker, had sympathetic feelings for the growing Nazi party, but knew little about the problems that arose. I knew it was not a love story in the common sense, but again was surprised how mean, and well sad everything was. Benjamin has done a wonderful job of capturing the setting, the time, the place and the characters. The royals act like royals, the comments seem real, along with the dialogue. Benjamin does a good job of capturing the meanness that can be hidden in public statements, and even better when said in the royal court. The characters though are not nice people. None of them come across well, and again is something that Benjamin does a good job of showing. We can be royals, but royals should not be something we strive for.

Another excellent story from Benjamin who can capture historical characters and make them seem alive and real and more importantly relevant. This book is topical in many ways, showing a bit of the rot that was starting to become apparant in the royal family. An author I have come to look forward to reading for both a keen eye and an appreciation of those that Benjamin writes about.

[HalKid2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Author's Note at the end of THE WINDSOR AFFAIR, Melanie Benjamin characterizes the feud between Wallis Simpson (aka Duchess of Windsor, 1896-1986) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (aka Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, 1900-2002) as "historically epic, gossipy, and juicy." That certainly comes across in this novel.

Let me begin with a short refresher. Anglophiles are likely familiar with England's King Edward VIII (1894-1972), who famously abdicated his throne in 1936 for "the woman I love", after a mere 11-month reign. Wallis was that woman and the two of them became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - a couple living the remainder of their lives in exile.

After Edward VIII, the throne passed to his younger brother, George VI (1895-1952) who was married to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. (They were parents of the woman we know as the late Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). George VI, an introvert with a stammer, had not been raised to be a king and some in his family, including his wife, blamed Edward and Wallis for George's early death.

The novel covers fifty years, including World War II and the questionable allegiance the Duke and Duchess had to Nazi Germany, along with the strong bond the war helped cement between George VI and his wife with the British people. Though Wallis and Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) remain sisters-in-law, they were understandably at odds throughout their lives. But author Melanie Benjamin's take in THE WINDSOR AFFAIR feels extreme in that it's decidedly unflattering to every main character in this book:

• Edward, Duke of Windsor: pathetically weak, prone to tears of desperation, but with a huge sense of his own self-importance. Wallis provides him with the kind of cloying love and dogged devotion he wanted from his mother.

• Wallis, Duchess of Windsor: insincere, manipulative, mean-spirited and superficial - she will do anything for access to the elite world of power, money, and celebrity.

• Elizabeth, the Queen Mother: determined that Edward and Wallis get as little as possible, she maintains life-long anger about her personal plight, even though she loves being Queen.

• George VI: always trying to please his wife, he looks to her for the confidence he needs to fulfill his responsibilities.

I knew enough about this royal story that I didn't learn anything new. The main issue I had with THE WINDSOR AFFAIR is there was too much cattiness for me. There is no one to root for. Maybe for George VI, a bit. But even the great love story turns out to be not what it seems. All four main characters are so one-dimensional and unlikeable, it actually felt unrealistic. After all, everybody has SOME redeeming qualities, right? I think the novel would have been stronger if the characters were more balanced and nuanced.

Bottom Line: If you're unfamiliar with this story or love historical fiction that is "epic, gossipy, and juicy", you'll certainly enjoy this one. If you are already familiar with this royal story and decide to read THE WINDSOR AFFAIR, just keep your expectations modest.

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Melanie Benjamin takes one of the most mythologized scandals in modern royal history and strips it of its romance. The Abdication Crisis has long been packaged as the greatest love story of the twentieth century: a king who gave up everything for the woman he loved. Benjamin is not interested in that story. She is interested in what it cost, and more specifically, in the two women whose lives were irrevocably shaped by it.

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson make for extraordinary dual protagonists. On the surface they could not be more different: one the composed daughter of Scottish nobility, the other a sharp-tongued American divorcee who knew how to work a room and a man in equal measure. But Benjamin draws them with enough complexity that the differences begin to blur. Both women are performing. Both are calculating. Both want something the world is not entirely willing to give them. The rivalry between them crackles from the first page, and Benjamin sustains that tension across decades of abdications, coronations, wars, and the long, slow settling of old scores.

What elevates this above the usual royal drama is Benjamin's prose. She writes society with precision and a certain cool relish, capturing the way a cutting remark lands in a drawing room, the way power shifts in a single exchanged glance. The 1930s atmosphere is immaculately rendered, all surface glamour and private anxiety, and the wartime sections carry genuine weight. Elizabeth ascending to queenhood while Wallis is exiled to the role of the woman who almost ruined everything is not played for easy triumph. Benjamin is too sharp for that.

The novel's most quietly devastating move is what it does with Wallis over time. The woman who was vilified and caricatured by history is allowed here to be exhausted, complicated, and occasionally sympathetic without ever being entirely redeemed. She is not the villain, but she is not the victim either. She is someone who made a bargain with a love story she did not entirely believe in and was then required to perform it for the rest of her life.

The final image of these two women, so long locked in bitter opposition, closing with Elizabeth's improbable note signed "In friendship" is the kind of ending that earns its emotion because Benjamin has made you wait for it across an entire lifetime of animosity.

*The Windsor Affair* is compulsively readable, richly atmospheric, and far more interested in truth than in myth. It is Melanie Benjamin at the height of her powers. Perfect summer book club reading.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An authentic read – I felt that as I finished the last page.

Its strongest sections include the detail & examination that was created for The Duke & Duchess of Windsor’s (TDDoW) spiteful aligning along Germany & specifically, Hitler. I am not only recalling their self-named 1937 state visit that was not authorized. Historical facts agree with this author & do not paint a pretty picture of TDDoW in the years prior & during World War 2.

It is only my opinion that this previously mentioned section plus the arduous years spent as Governor of The Bahamas set this book apart from all the others who have tried. Here is when a 4 Star Read became a 5 Star.

Despite being a historical fiction book, the nipping at one another’s heels remains spot-on because don’t nearly all self-centered individuals tend to reflect in The Final Act? These two wouldn’t admit to regrets, but finding fault elsewhere? They had a steady & distorted sense of responsibility leading up to The Duke’s passing in 1972 . I don’t doubt these written exchanges. They just ring true.

Perhaps because I had recently finished the book, The Lotus Year, I didn’t fully agree with how The Duchess was portrayed in 1924-25. Still, it is 100+ years ago & who truly knows? I just find that too many both then & now didn’t understand the chemistry between the TDDoW.

My take is too many historians had to write sordid debaucherous acts into being able to swallow The Duke’s obsession & pursuit of Wallis. Spicy legends sell & fueled the hatred for TDDoW on both sides of the pond. Boudoir tips by geishas in China & opium dens in an exotic destination that few will ever see still captures attention. I tend to lean towards these being early smear campaigns created by greedy and/or jealous men & women.

As mentioned, I enjoy & am drawn to a books about TDDoW. I will add in the publisher’s notes a small connection I have. In addition to this recent connection, I was an exchange student for a semester in college in 1979 in England & France while Wallis was still hanging on. There was no shortage of distain for her even then in periodicals & in tv shows.

I have read most of the author’s other books & I would add this to the top of her works. The amount of research is impressive plus the credible sources. It is overall an open-minded portrayal of two reluctant & ill-prepared players in world history.

I thank NetGalley, Ballantine Publishing & the author, Melanie Benjamin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair & honest review.

[Leann L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt thanks goes to NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin and to the Publisher, Delacorte Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House Publishing. This is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by this author and it won’t be the last! I thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue, pace, character development, and dual storylines of Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. This novel captured my imagination and kept me firmly rooted to the stories of both women, loving and despising aspects of their shared history in equal measure. I’d only ever heard bits and pieces of the scandal caused by Wallis Simpson, and had never fully understood or appreciated the role that Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon played in the future of the monarchy.

If you love the Royals, this novel is for you! I found myself a little sad when I finished the book, wanting the story to continue.

The historical impact of David, the heir apparent, to have abdicated the throne is astounding. I can’t imagine what the world would look like if David had remained on the throne. There would be no Queen Elizabeth, the longest reigning Monarch in the history of Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth reigned for 70 years and 214 days.

Upon the death of her grandfather, King George V, Elizabeth was ten and the crown passed to her Uncle David, the oldest of two brothers born to King George V and Queen Mary. David abdicated the throne and the crown passed to Elizabeth’s father, Bertie. He and his wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were well loved and raised their daughter Elizabeth in preparation as the future heir.

What came as such a shock to me in the novel was David’s association with Hitler. The whole trajectory of WWII could have ended with Hitler conquering Great Britain, or more likely, Hitler having an open invitation from David (possibly) to march right in and take over. Wow! I can’t imagine!

Melanie Benjamin did a brilliant job of bringing these historical figures to life on the page. She draws you in with gusto, and doesn’t let go long after you’ve turned the last page of her wonderful novel. The Windsor Affair releases on June 2, 2026. Mark your calendars and add The Windsor Affair to your wishlist.

I’m looking forward to reading more of Melanie’s novels. You can find her at melaniebenjamin.com, Instagram: @melaniebenjamin_author and melaniebenjamin.substack.com.

Thanks again, to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing novel.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Windsor Affair recreates the events of the Abdication of Edward VIII that nearly toppled the monarchy, while giving the center stage to two women and their rivalry.

Edward David Windsor is the heir to the throne but the complication comes when he falls in love with a commoner, American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. Edward’s younger brother Albert, known as Bertie, falls for Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who descends from Scottish nobility.

Elizabeth doesn’t have the same feelings for Bertie, but his feelings never waver. It takes him three attempts when she finally has a change of heart. Elizabeth’s life was centered on coming out party and what followed. On the other side, Wallis represents stark contrast. With her divorced mother, they lived with their family and were depended on Wallis’ uncle. Her mother groomed her how to behave toward her uncle, especially when Wallis was sent on a mission to ask for money from him. From early age, it taught her how to behave with men. As a woman (during her time), she couldn’t go out and get a job. She felt she had to find a man with money. She becomes good at observing men and reading them. This is the part that was the most absorbing for me, understanding what drove another human being to her actions.

The story begins with David and Thelma, another American love interest of his. Thelma and Wallis are close friends, and when Thelma departs to spend three months in America with her twin sister, she leaves David in Wallis’ hands. And gives Wallis another chance to study a man and win him over. The lessons Wallis receives as a young girl led her to be pretty calculated with men.

This infamous rivalry between those two women is the driving force of this story. It’s the dynamics between them and the gossip. There are backstories woven into this enmity to better understand both women but I wished there was even more of it, to give even better understanding of how human behaviors are shaped. Both women were of strong character, and having a strong influence over the men. Thus, the feud is very prominent between them, and I believe this was the focus of this story, not so much the character-development.

Overall, it is well-written, engaging, and I believe it’s a good choice for those who like sensational events of the royal family.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Delacorte Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Good Golly, Melanie Benjamin has written an historical fiction novel about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor that leans into the theory that Wallis Simpson was a conniving woman who dreamt of becoming Queen of England once she got her claws into David, the Prince of Wales. And I am here for it! The Windsor Affair features several perspectives on the abdication: Wallis, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Queen Mary, the mother to two kings.

The bitchiness of the women at the center of the controversy is probably the most realistic thing I’ve read about the scandal. I can’t imagine that anyone involved was so even keeled and stoic as others have suggested. There’s always talk of Prince Bertie’s “gnashing,” but I bet there was a lot from the Queen Mum, too, as this book depicts. As for Wallis, she comes across as a very American opportunist, which she probably was. How little ole Bessie Wallis went from impoverished Baltimore native to a duchess needs to be explored more.

Melanie Benjamin’s writing kept me involved in a story that I know so well with these refreshing perspectives. It’s well known that the Queen Mother was fiercely protective of her husband, King George. It’s also well known that she almost never said Wallis’ name, only referring to her as THAT WOMAN. And the feeling was mutual. Wallis called the Queen Mother COOKIE, not as an endearment, but as a way that implied that the woman ate too many sweets that resulted in her plump figure.

What I really liked about the book is that post-abdication, the now named Duke and Duchess of Windsor are shown to be albatross to each other. Wallis wasn’t happy with David’s constant fawning over her. Sure, she had influential friends, haute couture clothes, and lavish dinner parties all the time. But the former king was bored and continually thought his brother, Bertie, would give him another post like he had as governor of the Bahamas. When that failed to materialize, Edward and Wallis lived a life of celebrity, showing up on best dressed lists, but a huge hole of emptiness as well.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Windsor Affair
By Melanie Benjamin

This book recounts the story of one of the most notorious episodes in the history of the British monarchy – the abdication of King Edward VIII for the love of American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

David (as he was known to his family and close friends) was the golden boy, the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne. As portrayed in this story, he was a feckless sort of guy, a Peter Pan who was never told "no" and who never put anything before his own pleasures. He had a penchant for married women, though he could have had his pick of the eligible, suitable women in his life. When Wallis came into his sphere, she enchanted him and he fell deeply under her influence.

While David was gadding about, his younger brother Bertie married the love of his life, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The couple had produced two daughters, Lillibet (Elizabeth II) and Margaret. While David was beloved, Bertie was insecure. He had tics, he stuttered. But over time he proved to be much the better man.

When their father died and David became King Edward VIII, the whole country was shocked by his decision to marry Wallis and make her his queen. This was against all royal protocol. David finally had come up against a wall of "no". He unwisely abdicated the throne to marry the woman he loved. But he never realized what the fallout of this decision would be.

Bertie became king and Elizabeth became his queen. She and Wallis had a bitter rivalry. Over the years, Wallis went out of her way to denigrate Elizabeth, but in the end it was Elizabeth who became the beloved Queen Mother, with Wallis dying alone, unloved and forgotten.

This is an interesting take on the "abdication for love" that thrilled romantics over time. The truth of what David's and Wallis's motivations were and what their "love story" became as their fortunes plummeted is well laid out here.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Anne Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment you begin page one you are pulled into a most entertaining historical novel. This story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, David, the heir to the throne of England and a Baltimore divorcee, Wallis Simpson begins with a rush and quickly becomes a pithy, bitchy insider look at history. Wallis Simpson, often referred to as "That Woman" was responsible for the King of England in the 30's, abdicating and leaving the throne to his younger brother who becomes King George. We all know that David, as he was called, had dealings with Hitler and other Nazis. What is fascinating is Benjamin's blend of known facts, quotations and her own inventions of the characters' thoughts and feelings, has come up with a novel you can't put down.

She digs into the characters and delves into the backstories, personalities and thoughts of both Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, and Elizabeth, daughter of a Scottish Lord (who marries Bertie, who becomes King George on the abdication of his older brother.) She is mother of Lilibet (childhood name of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret) and a flawlessly drawn personality

The two women's relationships with the men in their lives bring both Elizabeth and Wallis to sparkling life. Oh, the inside tidbits, the bitchiness, the names of designers, jewelers, the parties, the drinks, the locations, the wealth will put the reader in the center of the picture. And descriptions of wartime London is chilling.

The surprise, for me, came when both Wallis and Elizabeth face the loss of their husbands. The feelings were written so deeply and achingly that I found myself in tears more than once. This is a must read for so many reasons, but first among them is for pure enjoyment.

Thank you, Net Galley and Random house, for an ARC copy to read. These are my own and honest opinions.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perceptive fictionalised account of the rivalry and antipathy between Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Duchess of York (later Queen Consort and then Queen Mother), written from the point of view of both ladies with the occasional contribution by their mother-in-law Queen Mary. The timeline skips around a bit, as we get flashbacks into Wallis's earlier life from her childhood to her disastrous first marriage to her first few years in England with her second husband, Ernest Simpson, as well as Elizabeth's younger years and her reluctant engagement to Prince Bertie (later George VI) when she was really in love with someone else.

The clashes between these two strong-willed, ambitious women are unsparingly and often amusingly depicted, while the men in their lives come across as weak and needy by comparison. As Queen Mary remarked, the Windsor women are stronger than the men! This dynamic makes the second half of the book (which covers their lives after the abdication, when Wallis was in exile in France and hardly ever set foot in Britain) somewhat less interesting than the earlier part, where the two of them were interacting directly with each other. Wallis's meaningless life with her pathetically devoted husband was a study in frustration and boredom, while Elizabeth's demotion to Queen Mother in early middle age left her rudderless and rather envious of her daughter, the Queen Regnant. But each of them derived satisfaction from the downfall of the other. Years later, close to the end of Wallis's life, Elizabeth sent her a bouquet with the message "In friendship, Elizabeth." The author suggests that this message was sincere. I have to admit to some doubts, although it would be nice to believe that their burning hatred had finally run its course.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love historical fiction. It is one of my favorite genres. So, when I had a chance to read an ARC of this book, I was so excited. A story about Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mum) and her tension-filled relationship with Wallis Simpson, the woman who caused King Edward VIII to abdicate the throne. Yes please!!!!

This book ended up being just meh for me. I truly did not like Wallis Simpson. She was a conniving person and not likable at all. I didn't like David, King Edward VIII, either. He seemed to be a simpering fool. Probably best for England that he ended up abdicating the throne. I can't imagine him as King. I didn't much care for his younger brother, Bertie, either. He seemed just as weak as his brother. But, you know who I really liked? Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Known to most of us as Queen Elizabeth and then later, when her daughter became Queen, the Queen Mum. This woman had some backbone and, in all honesty, was probably running the country. She could see right through Wallis.

Not really liking the characters was one reason I didn't love this book. The other reason was how drawn out it was. It does cover a large period of time. I was fine with that. It just became a little bogged down with details that could have been left out. It almost seems there was filler due to trying to meet a word count. The pacing of this book is slow, which didn't help matters either.

All in all, this book was ok. I didn't hate it, but also didn't enjoy it as much as I anticipated.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Chris Worthington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a DRC from Net Galley. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read it.

The feud between the Queen Mother and the Duchess of Windsor has been well-documented over the years. Benjamin's choice to alternate the points of view between the two sisters-in-law, with an occasional break in by their mother-in-law, Queen Mary, was a good and unique choice. Other novels have shown just one point of view, and I think Benjamin has shown it was indeed a feud with equal venom on both sides. I also thought the choice to focus on key events over the decades was a wise choice.

Benjamin portrays the Queen and the Duchess as women stronger and more determined than their husbands. Many biographies of the Windsors and the King and Queen have reached the same conclusion. The personality strengths and failures of the four main characters were well written.

I very much enjoyed Benjamin's descriptions of Royal fashion and furnishings. I actually looked up the lobster dress (I have to admit I was not impressed!)

I think the book's weaknesses can be traced to some of the source material in the author's notes. The influence of Lady Colin Campbell, in particular, was clear to me, and I do not mean this as a compliment. I was further surprised by the inclusion of the China Dossier, which has been discredited by many reputable historians. However, I was most puzzled by the idea that the Duke of Windsor waa hedging his bets when he was cozying up to Hitler and the Nazis. If I could ask Ms. Benjamin one question, I would ask about that sentence.

Overall, it's a juicy read that is mostly based on known facts.

[Joyce Cacioppo stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin is a historical fiction based on real facts about the British Royal family. There has not been a lot written about the rivalry between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson. The book goes into detail, giving us plenty of juicy facts about what went on within the royal family at that time, particularly between Elizabeth and Wallis.

Elizabeth was proposed to twice, and twice rejected the proposal from Bertie, the King and Queen’s second son. On the third try, she accepts and marries Bertie. David, the heir to the throne is quite the playboy, showing no signs of settling down. He meets and is enamored with Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee who is on her second husband. Thus begins his great love affair. She does not appear to be desperately in love with David but is in love with idea of becoming Queen and the status and power associated with it, The King dies and the throne is then passed down to David. No one is willing to accept a divorcee as Queen particularly the Church of England, but David insists he will marry her and have her as his Queen. David does not get what he wants and abdicates the throne to his younger brother Bertie. Thus begins the rivalry between the two wives which will last their entire lifetime.

The writing was good, the pace was fast moving. There were times that I would laugh at their controversy, and times when it would make me angry. It was definitely and interesting read and I would recommend it, particularly to those that enjoy historical fiction.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really fun and engaging novel about Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon- sisters in law who gossiped about and simply hated each other. Everything I’ve read about these women takes the side of one of them starkly- in each historical retelling one wears a black hat and the other a white, so to speak. This is different as it shows each woman and her POV, neither sees herself as a victim nor a victor- they are independent yet part of their high society. They are each arrogant in their own way. They happened to be with brother who were, on balance, much weaker men. This book is really unique in that I found myself really enjoying the internal
Dialogue and the way each woman saw the world’s events as they unfolded.

Spanning cross nearly 100 years, most of the action does take place pre world war 1- and the world is shocked by prince Edward abdicating the throne because of his love for a twice divorced woman. Since then the royal family has multitudes of scandals and difficulties in royal to public life. History does seem to repeat itself!

I also really enjoyed the interstitial chapters from the POV of Mary, Queen of Scots.

My only criticism is that for me i did lose a bit of he narrative because of such large time jumps alongside POV changes. Plus royals take a different first name so that also makes it more confusing. But if you know the story well or of you don’t struggle across timelines then you’ll appreciate the clarity and variety.

Many thanks to Ballantine Books for sending me this gifted copy and some English tea. My opinions are my own. Book to be published June 2, 2026

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

384 pages

5 stars

This book is a reimagining of the relationships between the members of the British royalty (and one outsider), beginning in the early 1930’s. Their relationships are traced for decades.

This book is a delightful read. I am somewhat abashed to admit that it sparked my prurient interest in verbal cat fights.

The men are Edward David Windsor (David) and his younger brother Albert, commonly known as “Bertie.” Their wives are two spitfires, at least where one another is concerned. Wallis is married to David, while Elizabeth is married to Bertie.

In short, Wallis and Elizabeth did not get along. In fact, they seem to hate one-another. Throughout several decades, they exchange some delicious one-liners. It is “snark" at its best. I raised my eyebrows. I pursed my lips. Oh, it was wonderful.

Ms. Benjamin traces the relationships as closely as she was able based on the facts available. Thus, some parts are interpreted. I was also interested in the more factual pasts of the novel. I’ve seen the series “The Crown,” and found it an astounding portrait of the participants. This book, however, gives more life to the exchanges between the two women.

I kept discovering how alike the two women were, although I’m sure that perhaps they didn’t see it.

Great book. A must read for anyone interested in British royalty, especially the exploits of David and Wallis Windsor and King George and Queen Elizabeth.

I want to thank NetGalley and Ballantine / Delacorte Press for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book.