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Ungodly Rich: A Novel
Old gods, new rules. New York Times bestselling author Katharine McGee puts a modern-day twist on ancient mythology in this bold reimagining of the Greek gods as a family of billionaires—with all the messy drama that entails.
When Julia Dodds meets Harry Adams, love hits her like a lightning bolt. He’s adventurous, charismatic, and impossibly handsome. Little does Julia know that her boyfriend has left out a few key details. His name isn’t it’s Ares, as in the ancient god of war. His mother is Hera, and his father is Zeus.
Soon, Julia is caught up in a world of wealth and privilege as she joins Harry at a lavish family reunion. Except these billionaires don’t just have wealth—they have divine powers. And the moment she steps onto their private island, Julia becomes their latest target.
It’s no secret that the Gods love to meddle, and when it comes to Julia, Harry’s immortal relatives each have their own agenda. Harry’s mother, Hera, will do anything to protect her own. Harry’s sister-in-law Aphrodite has a deeply personal reason for hating Julia, and tasks Hermes, keeper of family secrets, with digging up dirt. Meanwhile, Hades has spent years trying to upend Zeus’s power—and now he finally sees an opportunity to strike.
Set against a globe-trotting backdrop that sweeps from New York’s exclusive private clubs to the wilds of New Zealand to the gated estates of the British aristocracy, Ungodly Rich is a story of love, revenge, secrets, sex, and the most ancient motivator of family.
When Julia Dodds meets Harry Adams, love hits her like a lightning bolt. He’s adventurous, charismatic, and impossibly handsome. Little does Julia know that her boyfriend has left out a few key details. His name isn’t it’s Ares, as in the ancient god of war. His mother is Hera, and his father is Zeus.
Soon, Julia is caught up in a world of wealth and privilege as she joins Harry at a lavish family reunion. Except these billionaires don’t just have wealth—they have divine powers. And the moment she steps onto their private island, Julia becomes their latest target.
It’s no secret that the Gods love to meddle, and when it comes to Julia, Harry’s immortal relatives each have their own agenda. Harry’s mother, Hera, will do anything to protect her own. Harry’s sister-in-law Aphrodite has a deeply personal reason for hating Julia, and tasks Hermes, keeper of family secrets, with digging up dirt. Meanwhile, Hades has spent years trying to upend Zeus’s power—and now he finally sees an opportunity to strike.
Set against a globe-trotting backdrop that sweeps from New York’s exclusive private clubs to the wilds of New Zealand to the gated estates of the British aristocracy, Ungodly Rich is a story of love, revenge, secrets, sex, and the most ancient motivator of family.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Katharine McGee
24 books6,546 followersKatharine McGee is the New York Times bestselling author of American Royals and The Thousandth Floor trilogy. She studied English and French literature at Princeton University and has an MBA from Stanford. She lives in her hometown of Houston, TX with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
July 7, 2026
When Julia meets her boyfriend Harry's family, it's something of a shock to the system—they aren't an ordinary family but a business empire in and of themselves, and they're jaw-droppingly powerful and rich...some might say ungodly rich. And there's just one tiny thing that Harry hasn't told her...his name isn't Harry. It's Ares. And there's a reason his family is so powerful.
The squeal I squelt when I saw that McGee had a new series in the works—I'm still not over the fact that the American Royals series is complete, and the Queen's Match duet sent me down so many Wikipedia rabbit holes that I'm surprised my laptop didn't overheat and die. Like many kids, I had D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, and you'd better believe it stuck with me...so this was a total delight.
This is the Greek gods if they'd managed to make it into the modern age with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of savvy. They've adapted—maybe people are no longer leaving offerings or building temples, but they've found other ways to stay relevant and powerful, and they've found ways to maintain privacy even in a world where everyone has a camera and the Internet in their pocket. What they haven't found is a way to make peace with each other...or a way to welcome newcomers into the fold.
This is full of drama, and it's delicious. McGee doesn't write her characters squeaky-clean—rather, some of her most interesting characters are grasping and determined and focused. They want to maintain their positions or gain better positions; they have power without necessarily accountability. They make bad choices, and choices that hurt other people, and at the same time you're able to root for them, because it's possible to see where they're coming from just how much they have on the line.
Not sure how long this series will be, but I'll be along for the ride.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
The squeal I squelt when I saw that McGee had a new series in the works—I'm still not over the fact that the American Royals series is complete, and the Queen's Match duet sent me down so many Wikipedia rabbit holes that I'm surprised my laptop didn't overheat and die. Like many kids, I had D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, and you'd better believe it stuck with me...so this was a total delight.
This is the Greek gods if they'd managed to make it into the modern age with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of savvy. They've adapted—maybe people are no longer leaving offerings or building temples, but they've found other ways to stay relevant and powerful, and they've found ways to maintain privacy even in a world where everyone has a camera and the Internet in their pocket. What they haven't found is a way to make peace with each other...or a way to welcome newcomers into the fold.
This is full of drama, and it's delicious. McGee doesn't write her characters squeaky-clean—rather, some of her most interesting characters are grasping and determined and focused. They want to maintain their positions or gain better positions; they have power without necessarily accountability. They make bad choices, and choices that hurt other people, and at the same time you're able to root for them, because it's possible to see where they're coming from just how much they have on the line.
Not sure how long this series will be, but I'll be along for the ride.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
May 23, 2026
Absolutely everything I hoped it would be! 😍😍😍
Want to Read
March 6, 2026if there is a katharine mcgee book, i am THERE to read it
January 9, 2026
This was SUCH a unique take on the Greek gods and their myths, but in a contemporary setting.
Basically, while the gods are no longer “worshipped” as such and ordinary people are not aware that they are gods (they think they are just a wealthy and influential family), people’s interests in what they represent give them power (Ares appeals to adrenaline junkies, Aphrodite to those obsessed with beauty and vanity, etc).
Right off the bat, I thought the naming system of the gods was so clever (Athena = Alina, Zeus = Bruce, Hera = Tara, etc). It was so fun to follow along and learn the new name for each god.
I really liked the story as well. Julia was an interesting character to follow as the only “normal” person so to speak. She managed to hold her own really well and was really quick witted as well. I loved her relationship with Harry and they were so cute together! Normally I don’t tend to enjoy book where the couple have fallen in love prior to the events of the story, but it worked really well here since they had great chemistry and there were some flashbacks.
There are multiple perspectives and I liked seeing the gods interacting with each other as well as how the overarching plot came together. I also liked the various nods to mythology scattered in the story.
Also, that ending! What?!? There had better be a sequel coming!
Definitely pick this book up if you’re at all interested in Greek gods and mythology because it was very well done. I really enjoyed it!
Basically, while the gods are no longer “worshipped” as such and ordinary people are not aware that they are gods (they think they are just a wealthy and influential family), people’s interests in what they represent give them power (Ares appeals to adrenaline junkies, Aphrodite to those obsessed with beauty and vanity, etc).
Right off the bat, I thought the naming system of the gods was so clever (Athena = Alina, Zeus = Bruce, Hera = Tara, etc). It was so fun to follow along and learn the new name for each god.
I really liked the story as well. Julia was an interesting character to follow as the only “normal” person so to speak. She managed to hold her own really well and was really quick witted as well. I loved her relationship with Harry and they were so cute together! Normally I don’t tend to enjoy book where the couple have fallen in love prior to the events of the story, but it worked really well here since they had great chemistry and there were some flashbacks.
There are multiple perspectives and I liked seeing the gods interacting with each other as well as how the overarching plot came together. I also liked the various nods to mythology scattered in the story.
Also, that ending! What?!? There had better be a sequel coming!
Definitely pick this book up if you’re at all interested in Greek gods and mythology because it was very well done. I really enjoyed it!
June 26, 2026
I need a sequel NOWWW
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to netgalley and Katharine McGee for this ARC, which I received in exchange for my opinion.
3.5 stars.
This was an interesting and unique take on Greek mythology where your Greek God's have gotten with the times and go by other names. But God's will be God's, there are still some hijinks and other things going on behind the scenes. The romance between Julia (!!) and Harry was sweet although there were some parts that I didn't love so much (that proposal!) and of course you have in-fighting as people who have known and been together for eternity will do. this book should definitely have a sequel. would recommend!
3.5 stars.
This was an interesting and unique take on Greek mythology where your Greek God's have gotten with the times and go by other names. But God's will be God's, there are still some hijinks and other things going on behind the scenes. The romance between Julia (!!) and Harry was sweet although there were some parts that I didn't love so much (that proposal!) and of course you have in-fighting as people who have known and been together for eternity will do. this book should definitely have a sequel. would recommend!
July 16, 2026
Not sure what exactly Katharine McGee puts in her books that make them so addicting for me, but I absolutely gobbled this up in a single weekend. So original, so unique, and completely bingeable. It's like Gossip Girl meets The Iliad -- it's certainly the mash up and retelling I didn't know that I needed, but grateful that Katharine gave it to us! And while this novel doesn't exactly end of a huge cliff hanger, there are some definite loose threads and some plot lines to tie up in future books. I could read another book or 2 about this bold, messy, complicated, enthralling family!
Actual rating, 4.5 stars, but bumped up due to pure enjoyment!
Actual rating, 4.5 stars, but bumped up due to pure enjoyment!
July 13, 2026
(Un)GOD(ly rich) I loved this!!!
It was so fun and fantasy and drama and messy and I ate this it uppppppp
It was so fun and fantasy and drama and messy and I ate this it uppppppp
Review of advance copy
This was such a delightful summer read! Big Crazy Rich Asian vibes with the additional added craziness of the Olympians.
The drama of the characters and their relationships had me glued to the page. Even at moments I felt myself getting bored with the main characters the supporting cast came out swinging. There was several moments I felt myself getting emotional at their backgrounds and McGee did a great job at adapting the gods personalities to the modern backdrop.
I got an arc at bookcon and am upset at the amount of time I have to wait for the sequel. The ending was a great setup promising some storylines I can’t wait to see play out.
The drama of the characters and their relationships had me glued to the page. Even at moments I felt myself getting bored with the main characters the supporting cast came out swinging. There was several moments I felt myself getting emotional at their backgrounds and McGee did a great job at adapting the gods personalities to the modern backdrop.
I got an arc at bookcon and am upset at the amount of time I have to wait for the sequel. The ending was a great setup promising some storylines I can’t wait to see play out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing a read.
I enjoyed this book, but I felt like it was more of a set up for the next book than an actual book?
We meet our cast of characters, we see them interact, we see that there is suspicion (or was it fate) on how she met her fiance.
It'd make a fun film or a TV series (I guess something like this aired on Netflix with Jeff Goldblum), but I want some more depth. Watching a back and forth upper-handed fight between a goddess and a mortal(?) was just too simple of a plot for me.
Based on the ending of the book, we're getting book two, which will seem to get the ball rolling on the dramatics and the family spatting.
It's a fun book, but it's not 5 stars original and new.
I enjoyed this book, but I felt like it was more of a set up for the next book than an actual book?
We meet our cast of characters, we see them interact, we see that there is suspicion (or was it fate) on how she met her fiance.
It'd make a fun film or a TV series (I guess something like this aired on Netflix with Jeff Goldblum), but I want some more depth. Watching a back and forth upper-handed fight between a goddess and a mortal(?) was just too simple of a plot for me.
Based on the ending of the book, we're getting book two, which will seem to get the ball rolling on the dramatics and the family spatting.
It's a fun book, but it's not 5 stars original and new.
July 9, 2026
Rounding up 3.75 ⭐
Not to give anything away, this story about the Greek Gods of mythology which is set in today's time and are entitled, rich and immensely powerful really stoked my interest. For me though, the first half of the book was a bit of a slog. It did pick up in the latter half of the book once two of the main characters - Julia (a mortal woman with a big secret that she doesn't even know about) and Harry (actually Ares the God of War) let Harry's family know that they were a couple. This sets off a chain of unfortunate events, pitting Greek God against Greek God. I mean we're talking everyone from Zeus to Aphrodite to Hermes and Hades. Surprisingly, the latter two were actually pretty good guys. In fact, Hermes turns out to be one of my favorite characters in this whole darn book.
Anywho, I decided that I could not give this book higher than the score I gave it because one thing happens in the book and it happens early on and it builds up through the entire book with dire and horrible consequences only to be resolved in one page. I won't tell you when that page happens in case somebody wants to read this. But it was disappointing to me and I just thought "get the hell out of here"! I don't know if there's going to be a follow-up from the author because there were quite a few threads that were left. Not neatly tied, kind of hanging in there swinging in the wind. Also, I thought that a novel about powerful and beautiful Greek gods would definitely mean that this novel would have a lot of spice and some hot going on. But to me there was very little of that and I thought that this book really needed it. There was a little bit of something something a couple of times but really not enough to make you think 🔥🔥🔥.
Not to give anything away, this story about the Greek Gods of mythology which is set in today's time and are entitled, rich and immensely powerful really stoked my interest. For me though, the first half of the book was a bit of a slog. It did pick up in the latter half of the book once two of the main characters - Julia (a mortal woman with a big secret that she doesn't even know about) and Harry (actually Ares the God of War) let Harry's family know that they were a couple. This sets off a chain of unfortunate events, pitting Greek God against Greek God. I mean we're talking everyone from Zeus to Aphrodite to Hermes and Hades. Surprisingly, the latter two were actually pretty good guys. In fact, Hermes turns out to be one of my favorite characters in this whole darn book.
Anywho, I decided that I could not give this book higher than the score I gave it because one thing happens in the book and it happens early on and it builds up through the entire book with dire and horrible consequences only to be resolved in one page. I won't tell you when that page happens in case somebody wants to read this. But it was disappointing to me and I just thought "get the hell out of here"! I don't know if there's going to be a follow-up from the author because there were quite a few threads that were left. Not neatly tied, kind of hanging in there swinging in the wind. Also, I thought that a novel about powerful and beautiful Greek gods would definitely mean that this novel would have a lot of spice and some hot going on. But to me there was very little of that and I thought that this book really needed it. There was a little bit of something something a couple of times but really not enough to make you think 🔥🔥🔥.
July 11, 2026
Imagining the Olympian gods as a Succession-ish family of billionaires living amongst mortals in the modern world is, at least, something I’ve not seen done before.
But did it actually work as a novel? Eh, kinda.
The book is certainly recognizable as the work of Katharine McGee, who brought us series like American Royals and The Thousandth Floor. This is billed as an adult book, though aside from the fact that the characters are in fact adults, this reads exactly like McGee’s YA novels and seems more appropriately labeled as such.
There are some clever details and nods to how a Greek god might interpret modern life included, and those are the best parts of the book. The plot itself feels a bit tired and predictable, though it’s paced well enough and (mostly) held my attention.
The characters feel a bit thin (perhaps if this were a series, there would be more opportunities to flesh them out?) and while it’s certainly a limitation of involving gods as characters that they don’t feel or behave like humans, here they were perhaps more well developed than the actual human at the center of the story.
Indeed, the weak point of this story is Julia, who checks all the generic fantasy heroine boxes, but mostly comes off as a bit mewlish and pollyannaish. She spends a lot of time shouting about principles and meaning and such and yet seems to have no real depth of her own.
I’m not sure the attempts to portray some of the more malevolently inclined gods as sympathetic worked. Did I feel bad for Aphrodite? I certainly got the impression that I was supposed to, at least to an extent, but I didn’t.
In the end, the whole thing just feels a bit thin and hard to care about, though I always appreciate any retelling that is, like me, forever Team Hephaestus.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
But did it actually work as a novel? Eh, kinda.
The book is certainly recognizable as the work of Katharine McGee, who brought us series like American Royals and The Thousandth Floor. This is billed as an adult book, though aside from the fact that the characters are in fact adults, this reads exactly like McGee’s YA novels and seems more appropriately labeled as such.
There are some clever details and nods to how a Greek god might interpret modern life included, and those are the best parts of the book. The plot itself feels a bit tired and predictable, though it’s paced well enough and (mostly) held my attention.
The characters feel a bit thin (perhaps if this were a series, there would be more opportunities to flesh them out?) and while it’s certainly a limitation of involving gods as characters that they don’t feel or behave like humans, here they were perhaps more well developed than the actual human at the center of the story.
Indeed, the weak point of this story is Julia, who checks all the generic fantasy heroine boxes, but mostly comes off as a bit mewlish and pollyannaish. She spends a lot of time shouting about principles and meaning and such and yet seems to have no real depth of her own.
I’m not sure the attempts to portray some of the more malevolently inclined gods as sympathetic worked. Did I feel bad for Aphrodite? I certainly got the impression that I was supposed to, at least to an extent, but I didn’t.
In the end, the whole thing just feels a bit thin and hard to care about, though I always appreciate any retelling that is, like me, forever Team Hephaestus.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 6, 2026
This is peak rich people behaving badly energy, but elevated into something even more chaotic and entertaining. It takes a bit to settle into—there are a lot of characters and the double names can feel overwhelming at first—but once it clicks, it really clicks.
And you don’t need Greek mythology knowledge at all. I definitely didn’t remember most of it, and it didn’t matter. The story gives you everything you need in a way that feels accessible and fun rather than heavy.
What makes this so addictive is the constant shifting power dynamics. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has leverage. Everyone is playing a longer game than they admit. And Julia’s POV works perfectly as the outsider perspective slowly realizing she’s stepped into something way bigger, messier, and more dangerous than expected.
It’s dramatic, addictive, and fully committed to its own chaotic world. I really hope we get more from this universe because the setup has huge potential, it’s really built to be a new series.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Modern mythology with a fresh, contemporary twist
* Toxic rich family drama with constant betrayal
* Multi POV ensemble storytelling
* High gloss, soap opera style fiction
* Beach reads with romance, chaos, and power plays
And you don’t need Greek mythology knowledge at all. I definitely didn’t remember most of it, and it didn’t matter. The story gives you everything you need in a way that feels accessible and fun rather than heavy.
What makes this so addictive is the constant shifting power dynamics. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has leverage. Everyone is playing a longer game than they admit. And Julia’s POV works perfectly as the outsider perspective slowly realizing she’s stepped into something way bigger, messier, and more dangerous than expected.
It’s dramatic, addictive, and fully committed to its own chaotic world. I really hope we get more from this universe because the setup has huge potential, it’s really built to be a new series.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Modern mythology with a fresh, contemporary twist
* Toxic rich family drama with constant betrayal
* Multi POV ensemble storytelling
* High gloss, soap opera style fiction
* Beach reads with romance, chaos, and power plays
July 9, 2026
So I did enjoy this, but I think it was just a bit too much for my brain to handle. I am not *that* well versed in Greek mythology and I kept trying to remember which character was each of the gods, what their relationships were like with other gods, their grievances, their powers/strengths. And I feel like this constantly being in the back of my mind took away from the story. I almost wished it was just a retelling of Greek mythology through rich people, so I didn’t really need to worry about connecting the dots on all of this information at every conflict or interaction.
I kind of just wanted to read a story about Julia and Harry, where he introduces her to his crazy rich family and chaos ensues. Honestly, this feels like more of a me problem than a problem with the book itself. I think if you love family drama and Greek mythology you’ll love this one!
I kind of just wanted to read a story about Julia and Harry, where he introduces her to his crazy rich family and chaos ensues. Honestly, this feels like more of a me problem than a problem with the book itself. I think if you love family drama and Greek mythology you’ll love this one!
July 11, 2026
OMG this book has everything I love in it!! Scandal, rich people behaving badly, love, and magical stuff!!!!! This is my first book by this author and i hope to the literature God's that there is a sequel to this one. Maybe this is a new series, if so I'm all over it!!¡
July 7, 2026
Oooh this was FUN. This reference probably dates me, but it gives major OG Gossip Girl vibes (but make them gods and goddesses). Unbelievable wealth and privilege, intrigue, affairs, prophecies, and sexual tension - this one’s got it all. I really enjoyed the different relationships between the immortal characters and comparing the story to the actual Greek mythology. While this did feel like a step up in maturity from the American Royals series, it did slip into more YA-feeling territory at times but certainly not a dealbreaker. I can’t wait to see where this one goes and need the sequel announced stat!
Pub Date: 7/7/26
Review Published: 6/11/26
eARC provided at no cost by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 7/7/26
Review Published: 6/11/26
eARC provided at no cost by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2026
••• ARC REVIEW •••
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Do I recommend: LOOK it was fun and silly (complimentary) so probably!!
***Available July 7***
I loved the American Royals series and was immediately drawn in the premise of this one (no they have not SAID it was a series but we’re all brilliant here and can smell a setup when we see it, yes?!).
Julia and Harry are a sweet lil couple, happily living on love when a chance encounter with one of Harry’s cousins reveals something he’s been hiding - he is part of a famous family of billionaires. Julia wades into this world of privilege, not realizing one other key detail - Harry’s family is made up of gods. He is actually Ares, and his parents are Zeus and Hera.
INTRIGUE! BETRAYAL! POWER! LUST! RICH PEOPLE BEHAVING BADLY! We *were* missing an amazing makeover montage, which disappointed me to NO END I tell ya. We were ALSO missing a helpful glossary of gods and goddesses with their powers and their book name - Zeus as Bruce and Hera as Tara works for me but what do you mean Valentine made sense as a “modern” name for Aphrodite? Also I don’t think the characters were supposed to be unlikeable but I disliked all of them sooo 🤷🏻♀️
I liked the story well enough and despite its predictability (and CLEAR set up for a sequel) found myself enjoying it overall! I do wish it hadn’t felt like such a setup, and while I understand the need for the full cast of characters I wish we hadn’t had to spend quite so much time getting to know them/their power/their mortal name every time we encountered them.
At the end of the day - fun! Quick! A little repetitive, but me and my goldfish memory probably deserved that tbh. Not YA but has moments where it feels young (put it on my LinkedIn, honestly). Clearly banking on a sequel, WHICH I WILL HAPPILY READ!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publiahing for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Do I recommend: LOOK it was fun and silly (complimentary) so probably!!
***Available July 7***
I loved the American Royals series and was immediately drawn in the premise of this one (no they have not SAID it was a series but we’re all brilliant here and can smell a setup when we see it, yes?!).
Julia and Harry are a sweet lil couple, happily living on love when a chance encounter with one of Harry’s cousins reveals something he’s been hiding - he is part of a famous family of billionaires. Julia wades into this world of privilege, not realizing one other key detail - Harry’s family is made up of gods. He is actually Ares, and his parents are Zeus and Hera.
INTRIGUE! BETRAYAL! POWER! LUST! RICH PEOPLE BEHAVING BADLY! We *were* missing an amazing makeover montage, which disappointed me to NO END I tell ya. We were ALSO missing a helpful glossary of gods and goddesses with their powers and their book name - Zeus as Bruce and Hera as Tara works for me but what do you mean Valentine made sense as a “modern” name for Aphrodite? Also I don’t think the characters were supposed to be unlikeable but I disliked all of them sooo 🤷🏻♀️
I liked the story well enough and despite its predictability (and CLEAR set up for a sequel) found myself enjoying it overall! I do wish it hadn’t felt like such a setup, and while I understand the need for the full cast of characters I wish we hadn’t had to spend quite so much time getting to know them/their power/their mortal name every time we encountered them.
At the end of the day - fun! Quick! A little repetitive, but me and my goldfish memory probably deserved that tbh. Not YA but has moments where it feels young (put it on my LinkedIn, honestly). Clearly banking on a sequel, WHICH I WILL HAPPILY READ!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publiahing for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 16, 2026
I had two main problems with this book: the plot and the characters.
The plot: Warning that this is clearly meant to be the first book in a series. It does NOT tell whole story in itself and the whole things read like set up. I just kept waiting and waiting for something to happen and barely anything does.
The characters: The author was really disserved by sticking to the personalities of Greek gods and not explaining throughly enough why they don’t act like normal people. They are selfish and vain and awful which makes sense in context of being immortal beings, but not in context of enjoying reading about them. The only non-God charcter is our main one, but she is essentially just a Mary Sue. She is so boring and there is no chemistry between her and Henry. The author kept telling me they were in love but I never saw it or felt it.
January 26, 2026
I loved the premise, but the execution is clunky and a bit trite. Julia and Harry live a happy, simple life when his past and family suddenly threaten that. Julia finds herself not only in the midst of extreme wealth and status, but also unknowingly caught in a war for power among the infamous Greek deities. Imagine Crazy Rich Asians, except they’re gods and goddesses.
The story is bogged down by introductions and constant reminders of who each entity is, their domain, their magic, their grievances, their lovers, etc. Each chapter ends similarly, with the same threat of ruination, only for each mini-conflict to be solved in the very next chapter, and some of the conflicts are the same, just repeated in a new way. Around the middle, the plot picks up and is fairly interesting, but then, we fall back into the same rote, predictable story. And once you get the end, you realize all of it is just exposition for the next book.
Thank you to Net Galley and Crown for a free e-book in exchange for this honest review.
The story is bogged down by introductions and constant reminders of who each entity is, their domain, their magic, their grievances, their lovers, etc. Each chapter ends similarly, with the same threat of ruination, only for each mini-conflict to be solved in the very next chapter, and some of the conflicts are the same, just repeated in a new way. Around the middle, the plot picks up and is fairly interesting, but then, we fall back into the same rote, predictable story. And once you get the end, you realize all of it is just exposition for the next book.
Thank you to Net Galley and Crown for a free e-book in exchange for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating 4.5
What if the Greek gods secretly controlled the modern world? That’s what we find out in Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee. Julia has spent the last two years with the love of her life, Harry. They have been living together and having a good time until they run into one of Harry’s cousins. The cousin reveals that Harry is an Ellenes, a billionaire family that lives in New York. Harry wants to steer clear of his family, but Julia is eager to get to know them. However, Harry is holding onto a big secret. His real name is Ares, and his family is the Greek gods of myth. He knows the petty games they play, especially when messing with the lives of mortals. Will Ares be able to prevent Julia from becoming a pawn in his family’s hands?
The treatment of humans is intriguing in Ungodly Rich. Gods like Hera, Hermes, and Aphrodite have no problem with using their powers on humans to gain what they most desire. The top 12 gods even have a conference every year to discuss the human affairs they want to intervene in for better or worse. What humans want is none of their concern. They only care about their own self-interests and think humans are beneath them.
Considering their thoughts on humanity, it is pretty ironic that they have family dramas as humans do. Hera is peeved that Zeus not only cheats on her constantly, but is even more mad that she can’t leave him. Aphrodite is concerned that her husband married her only for her appearance. Aphrodite is also on thin ice with all the goddesses, not only because of her beauty, but also because of the affair that she had with her husband’s brother. Hermes is family, but none of the gods treat him as such. He is treated as a messenger boy instead of a member among the gods, and has to stop what he is trying to do to answer the whims of all the gods. Despite all the money and power they have, their insecurities prevent them from moving forward.
Power is considered more important than anything in this world, and the gods exploit each other’s insecurities to gain it. They scheme and change alliances to get what they want. Hermes does this all the time by providing info to people in return for favors. He believes that his knowledge over other gods will help him gain more power. Aphrodite is worried about losing her power. All the goddesses hate her, including her mother-in-law, and she constantly schemes to make sure she is in the top inner circle among the gods. She remembers what it felt like to be a human without choices and strength, and she never wants to experience that lack of power again.
One of the things we learn from Aphrodite is that there is an inequality between men and women even amongst the gods. Ares and Aphrodite have an affair. Ares runs away to escape the fallout, but Aphrodite stays behind and suffers the ire of everyone involved on her own. When Ares comes back, he is accepted back with open arms, but Aphrodite is still considered the black sheep. She and Ares were both involved in the affair, but she is the only one who gets the blame. Women are always held to a higher standard even when they are a goddess.
Overall, I thought the story was great. It put a new spin on the Greek myths and made it entertaining by having several different points of view. The gods have their own drama, insecurities, and gender inequality as humans do. It makes you wonder if, in future books, the gods will realize that humans are not as inferior as they like to think. It is a good book to binge on a weekend.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
What if the Greek gods secretly controlled the modern world? That’s what we find out in Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee. Julia has spent the last two years with the love of her life, Harry. They have been living together and having a good time until they run into one of Harry’s cousins. The cousin reveals that Harry is an Ellenes, a billionaire family that lives in New York. Harry wants to steer clear of his family, but Julia is eager to get to know them. However, Harry is holding onto a big secret. His real name is Ares, and his family is the Greek gods of myth. He knows the petty games they play, especially when messing with the lives of mortals. Will Ares be able to prevent Julia from becoming a pawn in his family’s hands?
The treatment of humans is intriguing in Ungodly Rich. Gods like Hera, Hermes, and Aphrodite have no problem with using their powers on humans to gain what they most desire. The top 12 gods even have a conference every year to discuss the human affairs they want to intervene in for better or worse. What humans want is none of their concern. They only care about their own self-interests and think humans are beneath them.
Considering their thoughts on humanity, it is pretty ironic that they have family dramas as humans do. Hera is peeved that Zeus not only cheats on her constantly, but is even more mad that she can’t leave him. Aphrodite is concerned that her husband married her only for her appearance. Aphrodite is also on thin ice with all the goddesses, not only because of her beauty, but also because of the affair that she had with her husband’s brother. Hermes is family, but none of the gods treat him as such. He is treated as a messenger boy instead of a member among the gods, and has to stop what he is trying to do to answer the whims of all the gods. Despite all the money and power they have, their insecurities prevent them from moving forward.
Power is considered more important than anything in this world, and the gods exploit each other’s insecurities to gain it. They scheme and change alliances to get what they want. Hermes does this all the time by providing info to people in return for favors. He believes that his knowledge over other gods will help him gain more power. Aphrodite is worried about losing her power. All the goddesses hate her, including her mother-in-law, and she constantly schemes to make sure she is in the top inner circle among the gods. She remembers what it felt like to be a human without choices and strength, and she never wants to experience that lack of power again.
One of the things we learn from Aphrodite is that there is an inequality between men and women even amongst the gods. Ares and Aphrodite have an affair. Ares runs away to escape the fallout, but Aphrodite stays behind and suffers the ire of everyone involved on her own. When Ares comes back, he is accepted back with open arms, but Aphrodite is still considered the black sheep. She and Ares were both involved in the affair, but she is the only one who gets the blame. Women are always held to a higher standard even when they are a goddess.
Overall, I thought the story was great. It put a new spin on the Greek myths and made it entertaining by having several different points of view. The gods have their own drama, insecurities, and gender inequality as humans do. It makes you wonder if, in future books, the gods will realize that humans are not as inferior as they like to think. It is a good book to binge on a weekend.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Katharine McGee, and when I heard what this book was going to be about, I was totally riveted. I will say that this definitely feels like the first book in a series. Much of this book is dedicated to setting up the story and the world because we're meeting the characters, understanding the way magic works, and being introduced to the dynamics between the gods. The plot is pretty slow-going because we are bouncing between the different characters' points of view and getting insight into their lives and relationships, but there is definitely a certain event that is driving most of the story that kept me engaged. I will say that I did not feel as immersed in this book as I have with some of Katharine McGee's previous novels and series. It took me a little while to get used to the characters, and even then, I felt like it was difficult to connect with them at times. At the beginning, we have six POVs, but then the majority of the rest of the book switches between the same few. I was hoping for a really frothy, fun, intense plot, but it mostly focused on one particular thing, and the book is really dedicated to internal monologue as opposed to forward plot progression. The book was still juicy and easy to read, which is why I'm giving it 3.5 stars, but I suspect the next books in the series will be more what I am looking for. I think the things that this installment revolves around were interesting, but not gripping enough to be a whole book, which is why it felt like we were constantly wading through the characters' inner thoughts. I also was a bit confused about the magic system and the history, and which parts of Greek mythology were canon in this world/iteration. I never really got the sense that the characters' voices were those of gods, so I am hoping that will change in future books. I know it sounds like I'm bashing the book, but I actually had a good time reading it. When I look at the book as a whole, I think it was quite solid, but on a page-to-page basis, I did have some critiques, which is what I'm mentioning in this review. I think the concept is really cool, and the execution was good as well, but did leave some stuff to be desired. I will definitely continue on with the series because I think the future books have a much more engaging scope, especially now that much of the plot will not have to rely on dramatic irony. I predict that the sequel will really dive into the power struggle and the soap opera vibes that I was craving in Book 1. Overall, a sound foundational book and one that sets up for what should be an enticing series.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Katharine McGee, and when I heard what this book was going to be about, I was totally riveted. I will say that this definitely feels like the first book in a series. Much of this book is dedicated to setting up the story and the world because we're meeting the characters, understanding the way magic works, and being introduced to the dynamics between the gods. The plot is pretty slow-going because we are bouncing between the different characters' points of view and getting insight into their lives and relationships, but there is definitely a certain event that is driving most of the story that kept me engaged. I will say that I did not feel as immersed in this book as I have with some of Katharine McGee's previous novels and series. It took me a little while to get used to the characters, and even then, I felt like it was difficult to connect with them at times. At the beginning, we have six POVs, but then the majority of the rest of the book switches between the same few. I was hoping for a really frothy, fun, intense plot, but it mostly focused on one particular thing, and the book is really dedicated to internal monologue as opposed to forward plot progression. The book was still juicy and easy to read, which is why I'm giving it 3.5 stars, but I suspect the next books in the series will be more what I am looking for. I think the things that this installment revolves around were interesting, but not gripping enough to be a whole book, which is why it felt like we were constantly wading through the characters' inner thoughts. I also was a bit confused about the magic system and the history, and which parts of Greek mythology were canon in this world/iteration. I never really got the sense that the characters' voices were those of gods, so I am hoping that will change in future books. I know it sounds like I'm bashing the book, but I actually had a good time reading it. When I look at the book as a whole, I think it was quite solid, but on a page-to-page basis, I did have some critiques, which is what I'm mentioning in this review. I think the concept is really cool, and the execution was good as well, but did leave some stuff to be desired. I will definitely continue on with the series because I think the future books have a much more engaging scope, especially now that much of the plot will not have to rely on dramatic irony. I predict that the sequel will really dive into the power struggle and the soap opera vibes that I was craving in Book 1. Overall, a sound foundational book and one that sets up for what should be an enticing series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Crown Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Ungodly Rich is a modern take on the Greek Gods where they've gotten with the times and this family of billionaires still wants to bend the world to their will. When Julia meets Harry, love hits her like a lightning bolt. Little does Julia know that her boyfriend has been keeping a secret: his name isn't Harry, it's Ares, as in the ancient god of war, his mother is Hera, his father is Zeus. Soon, Julia is caught up in a world of wealth and privilege and she becomes the target of the gods' latest schemes. Ungodly Rich comes out on July 7th and is available for preorder now.
I loved the premise of rich people problems but make it the Greek Gods. I also really like the idea of dropping a normal person into a rich family and seeing what unfolds. However, this fell flat for me. I think it could make a really great TV show or movie because it feels like those adaptations could really capture the scope of their wealth in a way that I don't think the book does. I agree with others who felt this was lacking in depth. It felt like such a stupid thing for a couple of goddesses to be fighting with a mortal. I know that this is the kind of drama that happened in a lot of the Ancient Greek Myths but it just doesn't land well here. I know we're supposed to root for Harry and Julia but I wish we had gotten more of their romance since most of the focus of the novel is the in fighting in the family. I wanted to feel like they had an unshakeable bond even through all the drama but it felt like they weren't as solid as they should have been. This book was an absolute set up for another one which is fine but I wish it hadn't been clear so early on in the book.
I also found a review that said the book was bogged down by constant reminders of who was who and what their domain and magic and backstory is. I think we could accomplish this better with something at the front of the novel listing out the gods/goddesses and giving the readers all the required details. I think that would help speed up the novel a bit and keep it from getting too clunky.
Overall, the premise is fun and the jet setting, billionaire family with intense power dynamics keeps the reader interested.
I loved the premise of rich people problems but make it the Greek Gods. I also really like the idea of dropping a normal person into a rich family and seeing what unfolds. However, this fell flat for me. I think it could make a really great TV show or movie because it feels like those adaptations could really capture the scope of their wealth in a way that I don't think the book does. I agree with others who felt this was lacking in depth. It felt like such a stupid thing for a couple of goddesses to be fighting with a mortal. I know that this is the kind of drama that happened in a lot of the Ancient Greek Myths but it just doesn't land well here. I know we're supposed to root for Harry and Julia but I wish we had gotten more of their romance since most of the focus of the novel is the in fighting in the family. I wanted to feel like they had an unshakeable bond even through all the drama but it felt like they weren't as solid as they should have been. This book was an absolute set up for another one which is fine but I wish it hadn't been clear so early on in the book.
I also found a review that said the book was bogged down by constant reminders of who was who and what their domain and magic and backstory is. I think we could accomplish this better with something at the front of the novel listing out the gods/goddesses and giving the readers all the required details. I think that would help speed up the novel a bit and keep it from getting too clunky.
Overall, the premise is fun and the jet setting, billionaire family with intense power dynamics keeps the reader interested.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A clever retelling of Greek mythology through a novel about wealthy Greeks billionaires who quarrel, play tricks and generally are obnoxious creates a fun read.
Julia Dodd, a simple New Zealander, meets Harry Adams and it’s like a thunderbolt - hmm may it actually was one! She’s everything she’s dreamed of - is he too good to be true? Little does she know that Harry is part of the wealthy Ellene family. Persuading Harry to reconnect with his estranged family, the two venture to the family home where Julia becomes their plaything as only the rich and wealthy can conspire - or are the Ellene’s something more?
Just keeping everyone in suspense as we know this is Greek mythology retelling. McGee has exquisitely fashioned this retelling, faithfully following the mythology story - like Ares’s affair with Aphrodite - but in a modern vein. The family schemes are sometimes typical “I’m better than you kind of thing”and of course making Harry look bad but then they can be pretty brutal as at book’s beginning with Bruce’s - aka Zeus’s - secretary demise which is hilarious for its writing but awfully frightening for what happened. But Hera and Aphrodite suspect Julia of being more than the simple person she projects. Then these Hades dappling in ways to unseat his brother Zeus. So much mischief.
The book is told from alternating POVs with Hera and Aphrodite being the biggest contributors. But Julia is central to the story - maybe a little too sweet and simple but ever steely in her love for Harry - so her POV is part of the book. When it comes to planning her wedding, Julia grows a spine but of course those interfering gods are having none of that and infer. When the denouement is revealed - I’d love to tell you but you simply have to read the book - the Ellene’s are stymied as is often the case in Greek mythology but Julia prevails. Loved it!
I enjoy Greek mythology and recently it’s come back in vogue through novels that reimagine the gods and goddesses as well as events like the Trojan war, for example. So hurrah for another Greek mythology story! This book is good fun and a fanciful story that’s easy to read whether you know the myths or not. It’s perfect for book lovers who enjoy a good story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC.
Julia Dodd, a simple New Zealander, meets Harry Adams and it’s like a thunderbolt - hmm may it actually was one! She’s everything she’s dreamed of - is he too good to be true? Little does she know that Harry is part of the wealthy Ellene family. Persuading Harry to reconnect with his estranged family, the two venture to the family home where Julia becomes their plaything as only the rich and wealthy can conspire - or are the Ellene’s something more?
Just keeping everyone in suspense as we know this is Greek mythology retelling. McGee has exquisitely fashioned this retelling, faithfully following the mythology story - like Ares’s affair with Aphrodite - but in a modern vein. The family schemes are sometimes typical “I’m better than you kind of thing”and of course making Harry look bad but then they can be pretty brutal as at book’s beginning with Bruce’s - aka Zeus’s - secretary demise which is hilarious for its writing but awfully frightening for what happened. But Hera and Aphrodite suspect Julia of being more than the simple person she projects. Then these Hades dappling in ways to unseat his brother Zeus. So much mischief.
The book is told from alternating POVs with Hera and Aphrodite being the biggest contributors. But Julia is central to the story - maybe a little too sweet and simple but ever steely in her love for Harry - so her POV is part of the book. When it comes to planning her wedding, Julia grows a spine but of course those interfering gods are having none of that and infer. When the denouement is revealed - I’d love to tell you but you simply have to read the book - the Ellene’s are stymied as is often the case in Greek mythology but Julia prevails. Loved it!
I enjoy Greek mythology and recently it’s come back in vogue through novels that reimagine the gods and goddesses as well as events like the Trojan war, for example. So hurrah for another Greek mythology story! This book is good fun and a fanciful story that’s easy to read whether you know the myths or not. It’s perfect for book lovers who enjoy a good story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC.
July 12, 2026
When I was just getting back into reading, one of the first books that really sucked me in was "American Royals" by Katharine McGee. While I had aged out of the YA tone of those books a bit by the time I got around to reading other installments in that series, I was sooo stoked to read an adult novel by Katharine. And an adult novel with modern billionaire Greek gods? Delicious.
Overall, I thought this was fun. If you liked the almost reality television-esque political maneuvering of McGee's other books, I think you will enjoy this book. It's fast paced, easy to get absorbed into the story, and has fun takes on what the Greek gods would be like if they lived today. It also has all of the fun, glitz, and glamour of any other book about uber rich people. However, I thought some of the characters left a little to be desired. Mainly the protagonist.
Julia is a character who has "not like other girls" syndrome. This is a multi-POV book and every other character constantly remarks on how unique, clever, and observant she is. Dear reader, I fear that she is really not all that unique, clever, or observant. If anything, she's quickly willing to write off anything odd or unusual that happens around her and is kind of a pushover. There are several points throughout the book where she almost shows some self-agency and then immediately rolls it back.
Ares also is kind of the equivalent of a cardboard cutout of a character. However, I'm hoping that this is actually the point and Julia ends up with someone else (hi Hades). Though I'm not optimistic (hi Persephone).
Gonna be honest, the plot of this book is nearly identical to "Crazy Rich Asians". But I really like "Crazy Rich Asians" so that's fine.
3 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Overall, I thought this was fun. If you liked the almost reality television-esque political maneuvering of McGee's other books, I think you will enjoy this book. It's fast paced, easy to get absorbed into the story, and has fun takes on what the Greek gods would be like if they lived today. It also has all of the fun, glitz, and glamour of any other book about uber rich people. However, I thought some of the characters left a little to be desired. Mainly the protagonist.
Julia is a character who has "not like other girls" syndrome. This is a multi-POV book and every other character constantly remarks on how unique, clever, and observant she is. Dear reader, I fear that she is really not all that unique, clever, or observant. If anything, she's quickly willing to write off anything odd or unusual that happens around her and is kind of a pushover. There are several points throughout the book where she almost shows some self-agency and then immediately rolls it back.
Ares also is kind of the equivalent of a cardboard cutout of a character. However, I'm hoping that this is actually the point and Julia ends up with someone else (hi Hades). Though I'm not optimistic (hi Persephone).
Gonna be honest, the plot of this book is nearly identical to "Crazy Rich Asians". But I really like "Crazy Rich Asians" so that's fine.
3 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Advanced Copy Received from NetGalley
I've read one of the author's other series in the past, so when I saw this new book pop up, it definitely intrigued me. I'm also on a Greek mythology kick recently so to hear about a modern twist to the usual Greek myths sounded so interesting!
Katharine invites us into the world of the Greek Gods and Goddesses, where the "Ellenes" are secretly the gods and goddesses we know, but to the world, they are famous billionaires. Their individual powers help fund their lives and motivations, and also fuel the usual drama between all of them. Julia is a new original mortal character to all of this, who falls in a love with a man named Harry. However, little does she know, Harry is actually Ares. Hera and Aphrodite are very unhappy that Ares is in a serious relationship with Julia, for their own separate personal reasons, and do their best to break them up, while also managing their own marriages. However...Julia has a secret, one that threatens to upend everything that these Gods and Goddesses know.
So I originally enjoyed this book when I had started reading it. It reminded me of a grown up version of the Percy Jackson series, with somehow even more drama between the Gods and Goddesses. It was interesting trying to suss out the motivations of each character that was introduced, while comparing them to the myths I already knew. However, at some point in the middle, it felt like the plot was going in a bit of a circle and it wasn't really moving anywhere substantial. It did pick up towards the end, especially when Julia's secret gets revealed and everyone finds out. I wish Katharine had continued the plot in this book for a little longer, especially regarding the consequences it has for Ares' and Julia's relationship. I'm not sure if this book is meant to be a stand-alone or if it is the first book in a new series, but I am hopeful and eager to see more.
I've read one of the author's other series in the past, so when I saw this new book pop up, it definitely intrigued me. I'm also on a Greek mythology kick recently so to hear about a modern twist to the usual Greek myths sounded so interesting!
Katharine invites us into the world of the Greek Gods and Goddesses, where the "Ellenes" are secretly the gods and goddesses we know, but to the world, they are famous billionaires. Their individual powers help fund their lives and motivations, and also fuel the usual drama between all of them. Julia is a new original mortal character to all of this, who falls in a love with a man named Harry. However, little does she know, Harry is actually Ares. Hera and Aphrodite are very unhappy that Ares is in a serious relationship with Julia, for their own separate personal reasons, and do their best to break them up, while also managing their own marriages. However...Julia has a secret, one that threatens to upend everything that these Gods and Goddesses know.
So I originally enjoyed this book when I had started reading it. It reminded me of a grown up version of the Percy Jackson series, with somehow even more drama between the Gods and Goddesses. It was interesting trying to suss out the motivations of each character that was introduced, while comparing them to the myths I already knew. However, at some point in the middle, it felt like the plot was going in a bit of a circle and it wasn't really moving anywhere substantial. It did pick up towards the end, especially when Julia's secret gets revealed and everyone finds out. I wish Katharine had continued the plot in this book for a little longer, especially regarding the consequences it has for Ares' and Julia's relationship. I'm not sure if this book is meant to be a stand-alone or if it is the first book in a new series, but I am hopeful and eager to see more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⚡️🏺💃🔱 Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Pub Date: July 7, 2026
My Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Summary:
Julia Dodds is head-over-heels in love with Harry Adams. They met by chance at a bar in New Zealand and have been inseparable for two years. When Harry finally pops the question, Julia is overjoyed... but now she will finally meet Harry's family.
There's only one problem... Harry is actually ARES, the Greek god. And his parents are Bruce and Tara Ellene (ZEUS & HERA)... This book is about the greek gods but living in modern times among us, as the wealthiest and most influential people of today's society. Harry is desperately trying to keep this from Julia, and for his family to accept a mere mortal as his future wife. But some of his family does not think Julia is worthy and will stop at nothing to keep this wedding from happening...
Review:
It's no secret that I LOVE greek mythology retellings. I loved how this book set it in modern society, yet kept the personalities and typical flaws of the greek gods quite in character. Julia was such a strong character and I loved how she grew in confidence and as a person as she mentally and physically battled the Olympians (without even realizing exactly who they were). The love between Harry and Julia was definitely real and believable, and I rooted for them all the way through. Do not expect this one to end all wrapped up in a bow, as there is clearly going to be a second book (no spoilers!). I personally loved this one and always enjoy how Katharine McGee seems to do lots of research on her historical (or fantasy) characters to make them seem very real in her stories. I loved her YA series of American Royals and then her YA duology of A Queen's Game, and it was fun to see her write her first adult novel. This was a fantastic summer read and I look forward to the next book!
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Pub Date: July 7, 2026
My Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Summary:
Julia Dodds is head-over-heels in love with Harry Adams. They met by chance at a bar in New Zealand and have been inseparable for two years. When Harry finally pops the question, Julia is overjoyed... but now she will finally meet Harry's family.
There's only one problem... Harry is actually ARES, the Greek god. And his parents are Bruce and Tara Ellene (ZEUS & HERA)... This book is about the greek gods but living in modern times among us, as the wealthiest and most influential people of today's society. Harry is desperately trying to keep this from Julia, and for his family to accept a mere mortal as his future wife. But some of his family does not think Julia is worthy and will stop at nothing to keep this wedding from happening...
Review:
It's no secret that I LOVE greek mythology retellings. I loved how this book set it in modern society, yet kept the personalities and typical flaws of the greek gods quite in character. Julia was such a strong character and I loved how she grew in confidence and as a person as she mentally and physically battled the Olympians (without even realizing exactly who they were). The love between Harry and Julia was definitely real and believable, and I rooted for them all the way through. Do not expect this one to end all wrapped up in a bow, as there is clearly going to be a second book (no spoilers!). I personally loved this one and always enjoy how Katharine McGee seems to do lots of research on her historical (or fantasy) characters to make them seem very real in her stories. I loved her YA series of American Royals and then her YA duology of A Queen's Game, and it was fun to see her write her first adult novel. This was a fantastic summer read and I look forward to the next book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve loved Greek mythology ever since middle school English class, and Greek mythology retellings are near and dear to my heart. I’ve read all types, from literary retellings like Madeline Martin’s “Circe” to Katee Robert’s dark romance series “Dark Olympus.” So I couldn’t wait to get my hot little hands on Katharine McGee’s first adult novel!
What McGee is doing in Ungodly Rich is a totally clever and original spin on things, giving us a brilliant modern-day reimagining where the gods are a family of wealthy elites. If Crazy Rich Asians and the Percy Jackson series had a baby, it would be this book, and it was absolutely everything I hoped it would be and then some! It’s such a romp and there’s drama galore – secrets, betrayals, affairs, lust, revenge, power plays, and more – and I loved every minute!
It’s obvious the author knows her stuff when it comes to Greek mythology, because the characterization of the gods and goddesses is sheer perfection: their personalities, their motivations, even their names. When I learned that Zeus and Hera were billionaires named Bruce and Tara, I may even have squealed a little at the rhyming pseudonyms. The rest of the gods have modern aliases that are similarly clever or easy to associate with their Greek god origins (but I won’t tell you what they are, because it was so fun to discover each one), so even if you don’t have much knowledge of Greek mythology, it’s easy to keep track of everyone even with their double identities and a large cast of characters.
Saskia Maarleveld does a phenomenal job of narrating the audiobook. She differentiates the characters with different voices and inflections, which really enhances their personalities. Her portrayal of Hera/Tara is particularly masterful, infused with all of the icy haughtiness befitting the imperious queen of the gods.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and PRH Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.
What McGee is doing in Ungodly Rich is a totally clever and original spin on things, giving us a brilliant modern-day reimagining where the gods are a family of wealthy elites. If Crazy Rich Asians and the Percy Jackson series had a baby, it would be this book, and it was absolutely everything I hoped it would be and then some! It’s such a romp and there’s drama galore – secrets, betrayals, affairs, lust, revenge, power plays, and more – and I loved every minute!
It’s obvious the author knows her stuff when it comes to Greek mythology, because the characterization of the gods and goddesses is sheer perfection: their personalities, their motivations, even their names. When I learned that Zeus and Hera were billionaires named Bruce and Tara, I may even have squealed a little at the rhyming pseudonyms. The rest of the gods have modern aliases that are similarly clever or easy to associate with their Greek god origins (but I won’t tell you what they are, because it was so fun to discover each one), so even if you don’t have much knowledge of Greek mythology, it’s easy to keep track of everyone even with their double identities and a large cast of characters.
Saskia Maarleveld does a phenomenal job of narrating the audiobook. She differentiates the characters with different voices and inflections, which really enhances their personalities. Her portrayal of Hera/Tara is particularly masterful, infused with all of the icy haughtiness befitting the imperious queen of the gods.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and PRH Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.
July 8, 2026
I picked this up expecting a fun mythology retelling. What I got was Greek gods with generational wealth, unlimited pettiness, and absolutely zero conflict resolution skills.
Imagine if the Olympians hired a PR team, bought a private island, and collectively decided therapy was beneath them. That’s the energy.
Julia falls for a guy who forgets to mention one tiny detail: he’s actually Ares, the god of war. Honestly, forgetting to mention you’re immortal feels like the kind of red flag that should’ve come up before defining the relationship, but here we are.
The family reunion is exactly what you’d expect if your relatives had infinite money, supernatural powers, and absolutely no interest in healthy communication. Every conversation feels one awkward comment away from divine lightning strikes.
Every member of this billionaire god family has an agenda. Hera is plotting. Aphrodite is stirring the pot. Hermes is collecting receipts. Hades is patiently waiting for his villain era. Zeus continues proving that unlimited power does not, in fact, come with unlimited wisdom.
The modern billionaire twist on Greek mythology is ridiculously entertaining. The globe-trotting settings were glamorous, the family drama was delightfully unhinged, and the plotting kept me flipping pages because every chapter somehow found a new way for these immortal rich people to make catastrophically bad decisions.
If you’re looking for perfectly accurate mythology… this isn’t that book. It’s a bold reimagining that borrows a few recognizable nods to The Odyssey and Hamilton’s Mythology, then happily runs off to do its own wildly entertaining thing. It’s deliciously over-the-top in the best possible way.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown for this review copy.
Imagine if the Olympians hired a PR team, bought a private island, and collectively decided therapy was beneath them. That’s the energy.
Julia falls for a guy who forgets to mention one tiny detail: he’s actually Ares, the god of war. Honestly, forgetting to mention you’re immortal feels like the kind of red flag that should’ve come up before defining the relationship, but here we are.
The family reunion is exactly what you’d expect if your relatives had infinite money, supernatural powers, and absolutely no interest in healthy communication. Every conversation feels one awkward comment away from divine lightning strikes.
Every member of this billionaire god family has an agenda. Hera is plotting. Aphrodite is stirring the pot. Hermes is collecting receipts. Hades is patiently waiting for his villain era. Zeus continues proving that unlimited power does not, in fact, come with unlimited wisdom.
The modern billionaire twist on Greek mythology is ridiculously entertaining. The globe-trotting settings were glamorous, the family drama was delightfully unhinged, and the plotting kept me flipping pages because every chapter somehow found a new way for these immortal rich people to make catastrophically bad decisions.
If you’re looking for perfectly accurate mythology… this isn’t that book. It’s a bold reimagining that borrows a few recognizable nods to The Odyssey and Hamilton’s Mythology, then happily runs off to do its own wildly entertaining thing. It’s deliciously over-the-top in the best possible way.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown for this review copy.
July 9, 2026
Title: Ungodly Rich
Author: Katharine McGee-new to me author
Publication date:7/7/26 | Read: 7/8/26
Format: e-Book 384 pgs.
Genre:
*Adult Fic/Women's Fic
*Romantasy
Tropes:
*secret identity
*Greek mythology retelling
* family drama
*family business/ politics
*magic/gods/goddesses
*hidden secrets/betrayals
*marriage
POV:3rd person multiple
TW: plagiarism, S/A, cheating, murder
Setting: New York/New Zealand/Olympus/London
Summary: Harry and Julia are invited to his family reunion by his cousin Hermes on a private island. Harry hasn't seen his family in years, but he agrees as he plans to propose to Julia after two years together. Many in the Ellene clan are cutthroat and plot to ruin Julia and Harry's relationship, each with their own agenda.
Heroine: Julia Dodds-27, was an art major at Harvard, gets hired at an art studio
Hero: Harry Adams/Ares-god of war, works for his father at the family business TWL
Other Characters
*Tara Ellene/Hera-Harry's mother
*Bruce Ellene/Zeus-Harry's father
*Alina/Athena-Ares's sister
*Valentine/Aphrodite-Harry's sister-in-law, has son Eros
*Hector/Hephaestus-Harry's brother, married to Aphrodite
*Percy/Hermes-Harry's cousin
*Hades-Zeus's brother
*Abby-Julia's BFF
*Claire-Julia's mother, deceased when Julia was nine, and adopted by Aunt Jess and Uncle Daniel
*Preston Hayes-Julia's ex-boyfriend at Harvard
My Thoughts/Likes:
-Julia's new confidence w/ Harry's family
-The affair scandal and exile
-use of magic-shapeshifting, taking memories, forced humans to tell the truth
-Julia and Hermes friendship
-Ends in cliffhanger
Rating:4/5
Spice level:2/5
Thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing| Crown, and Katherine McGee for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Author: Katharine McGee-new to me author
Publication date:7/7/26 | Read: 7/8/26
Format: e-Book 384 pgs.
Genre:
*Adult Fic/Women's Fic
*Romantasy
Tropes:
*secret identity
*Greek mythology retelling
* family drama
*family business/ politics
*magic/gods/goddesses
*hidden secrets/betrayals
*marriage
POV:3rd person multiple
TW: plagiarism, S/A, cheating, murder
Setting: New York/New Zealand/Olympus/London
Summary: Harry and Julia are invited to his family reunion by his cousin Hermes on a private island. Harry hasn't seen his family in years, but he agrees as he plans to propose to Julia after two years together. Many in the Ellene clan are cutthroat and plot to ruin Julia and Harry's relationship, each with their own agenda.
Heroine: Julia Dodds-27, was an art major at Harvard, gets hired at an art studio
Hero: Harry Adams/Ares-god of war, works for his father at the family business TWL
Other Characters
*Tara Ellene/Hera-Harry's mother
*Bruce Ellene/Zeus-Harry's father
*Alina/Athena-Ares's sister
*Valentine/Aphrodite-Harry's sister-in-law, has son Eros
*Hector/Hephaestus-Harry's brother, married to Aphrodite
*Percy/Hermes-Harry's cousin
*Hades-Zeus's brother
*Abby-Julia's BFF
*Claire-Julia's mother, deceased when Julia was nine, and adopted by Aunt Jess and Uncle Daniel
*Preston Hayes-Julia's ex-boyfriend at Harvard
My Thoughts/Likes:
-Julia's new confidence w/ Harry's family
-The affair scandal and exile
-use of magic-shapeshifting, taking memories, forced humans to tell the truth
-Julia and Hermes friendship
-Ends in cliffhanger
Rating:4/5
Spice level:2/5
Thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing| Crown, and Katherine McGee for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
July 7, 2026
Gossip Girl + Crazy Rich Asians + Lore Olympus and OH MY GODDDDDD (pun intended).
This was fantastic and addicting, and I absolutely need more.
Somehow, despite modernizing the gods and goddesses, so many aspects of their mythological personalities (particularly Hera and Aphrodite who really get the most focus in this book) was really stuck to. And, oh my gosh, I despised both of those two. I also found it really interesting to have Ares effectively as the main god in a Greek mythology book that isn't centered around violence and war. It was a cool take on him, and I really enjoyed it.
Ares, going by the name "Harry Adams" meets Julia Dodds in New Zealand when he runs away from his family after sleeping with his sister-in-law Aphrodite at a annual family reunion. They date for two years and, that whole time, Ares tells her nothing about his life but the two fall in love. While celebrating their two year anniversary, they run into Dionysus (aka Dylan, currently) who lets it slip to Julia that Harry is actually a son of the Ellenes family, a known family of billionaires whose cruise line Julia had previously worked for. Julia encourages Harry to reconcile with his family, and they attend the annual family reunion where Julia meets everyone.
They end up getting engaged, and the wedding planning commences. Julia is thrust into life with the Elleneses, and uproots her life in anticipation of starting her life with Harry. But not everyone is welcoming of Julia in the family, particularly her future mother-in-law "Tara" and future sister-in-law "Valentine."
Julia is not aware of the full impact of the Ellenes family on her life, nor are any but one of the Elleneses aware of the impact she is about to have on theirs.
Thank you to NetGally, Crown Publishing, and Katharine McGee for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!
This was fantastic and addicting, and I absolutely need more.
Somehow, despite modernizing the gods and goddesses, so many aspects of their mythological personalities (particularly Hera and Aphrodite who really get the most focus in this book) was really stuck to. And, oh my gosh, I despised both of those two. I also found it really interesting to have Ares effectively as the main god in a Greek mythology book that isn't centered around violence and war. It was a cool take on him, and I really enjoyed it.
Ares, going by the name "Harry Adams" meets Julia Dodds in New Zealand when he runs away from his family after sleeping with his sister-in-law Aphrodite at a annual family reunion. They date for two years and, that whole time, Ares tells her nothing about his life but the two fall in love. While celebrating their two year anniversary, they run into Dionysus (aka Dylan, currently) who lets it slip to Julia that Harry is actually a son of the Ellenes family, a known family of billionaires whose cruise line Julia had previously worked for. Julia encourages Harry to reconcile with his family, and they attend the annual family reunion where Julia meets everyone.
They end up getting engaged, and the wedding planning commences. Julia is thrust into life with the Elleneses, and uproots her life in anticipation of starting her life with Harry. But not everyone is welcoming of Julia in the family, particularly her future mother-in-law "Tara" and future sister-in-law "Valentine."
Julia is not aware of the full impact of the Ellenes family on her life, nor are any but one of the Elleneses aware of the impact she is about to have on theirs.
Thank you to NetGally, Crown Publishing, and Katharine McGee for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!
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