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Palm Beach Novels #1
A Palm Beach Wife
For readers of Elin Hilderbrand, Susannah Marren's A Palm Beach Wife is a delicious and irresistible commercial novel set among the high society galas and gossip of Palm Beach.
Amid the glamour and galas and parties of Palm Beach, Faith knows that image often counts as much if not more than reality. She glides effortlessly among the highest of the high society so perfectly that you would never suspect she wasn’t born to this. But it wasn’t always so; though she hides it well, Faith has fought hard for the wonderful life she has, for her loving, successful husband, for her daughter’s future.
In this town of secrets and gossip and rumors, Faith has kept a desperate grip on everything she holds so dear, built from so little. And yet even she—the only one who knows just how far she has to fall—never suspects from which direction, or how many directions all at once, betrayal will come.
Amid the glamour and galas and parties of Palm Beach, Faith knows that image often counts as much if not more than reality. She glides effortlessly among the highest of the high society so perfectly that you would never suspect she wasn’t born to this. But it wasn’t always so; though she hides it well, Faith has fought hard for the wonderful life she has, for her loving, successful husband, for her daughter’s future.
In this town of secrets and gossip and rumors, Faith has kept a desperate grip on everything she holds so dear, built from so little. And yet even she—the only one who knows just how far she has to fall—never suspects from which direction, or how many directions all at once, betrayal will come.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2019
262 people are currently reading
2436 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
February 11, 2019
A Palm Beach Wife had SO much potential!!!
Let me start off by saying how much I love this cover! I think this is what grabbed my initial attention and to hit that request button on netgalley.
Welcome to the world of Palm Beach... with the high price tags, glorious high rise dinners, and a life for the kings and queens at it's finest.
Well.... I was initially intrigued by this storyline... but there was a lot of name dropping bombs overload here. I wasn't familiar with the designers and this just was too much for me. I get where the author was trying to go here but it took away from the story and the characters.
As for Faith and her jerk of a husband Edward? Nope... I cringed with everything that Faith allowed her husband to get by with. Yes... Edward lost ALL of their money... and now Faith along with their daughter and her husband are trying to get by and get their money back. WOW.... no thank you!
I can't deal with the stories where the men treat the women like a doormat. And.. couldn't relate to the characters at all.
And... that ending? That as pretty disappointing as well.
Ugh.. I REALLY wanted to enjoy this but just fell way to flat for me :(.
2.5 stars for A Palm Beach Wife
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 4/9/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/11/19
Let me start off by saying how much I love this cover! I think this is what grabbed my initial attention and to hit that request button on netgalley.
Welcome to the world of Palm Beach... with the high price tags, glorious high rise dinners, and a life for the kings and queens at it's finest.
Well.... I was initially intrigued by this storyline... but there was a lot of name dropping bombs overload here. I wasn't familiar with the designers and this just was too much for me. I get where the author was trying to go here but it took away from the story and the characters.
As for Faith and her jerk of a husband Edward? Nope... I cringed with everything that Faith allowed her husband to get by with. Yes... Edward lost ALL of their money... and now Faith along with their daughter and her husband are trying to get by and get their money back. WOW.... no thank you!
I can't deal with the stories where the men treat the women like a doormat. And.. couldn't relate to the characters at all.
And... that ending? That as pretty disappointing as well.
Ugh.. I REALLY wanted to enjoy this but just fell way to flat for me :(.
2.5 stars for A Palm Beach Wife
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 4/9/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/11/19
May 6, 2019
A Palm Beach Wife should be a great summer read but it lands with a thud.
One problem is that it's very aware of all the designer clothes, accessories, home furnishings and even the ingredients of things like kale salad. This is fine if you're interested in reading nonstop label names and their retail value. The problem is that there's just nothing beyond non-stop label names and pricing.
The other, bigger problem is this: the main character, Faith is about as substantial as a wet kleenex. She moves through the prescribed plot points but that's it. It's as if she there primarily as descriptor for objects.
As such, it's impossible have any interest in this designer name marathon that's attempting to pass as a story.
One problem is that it's very aware of all the designer clothes, accessories, home furnishings and even the ingredients of things like kale salad. This is fine if you're interested in reading nonstop label names and their retail value. The problem is that there's just nothing beyond non-stop label names and pricing.
The other, bigger problem is this: the main character, Faith is about as substantial as a wet kleenex. She moves through the prescribed plot points but that's it. It's as if she there primarily as descriptor for objects.
As such, it's impossible have any interest in this designer name marathon that's attempting to pass as a story.
April 10, 2020
2.5 stars rounded down
I've had this book on my virtual TBR shelf forever... When I came across a copy and looked it up on GR and saw the terrible rating (2.7) I was about to just drop it... but as I read the reviews, it seemed like everyone's main complaint was the constant description of the designer items. This doesn't bother me, so I decided to go for it... if for no other reason than the gorgeous cover!
Well, what all these reviews failed to mention was the terrible writing! The story didn't flow, the dialogue was awful, and it felt like we were missing important aspects of the story. Plus, it just ended so abruptly, I'm pretty sure I said "WTF?" out loud.
I wish I hadn't wasted my time.
I've had this book on my virtual TBR shelf forever... When I came across a copy and looked it up on GR and saw the terrible rating (2.7) I was about to just drop it... but as I read the reviews, it seemed like everyone's main complaint was the constant description of the designer items. This doesn't bother me, so I decided to go for it... if for no other reason than the gorgeous cover!
Well, what all these reviews failed to mention was the terrible writing! The story didn't flow, the dialogue was awful, and it felt like we were missing important aspects of the story. Plus, it just ended so abruptly, I'm pretty sure I said "WTF?" out loud.
I wish I hadn't wasted my time.
April 6, 2019
I’m so mad I wasted my time finishing this
April 8, 2019
A Palm Beach Wife is about the Harrison family. Edward a successful businessman, Faith his loyal wife with a little business on the side to keep her busy and Katherine their beloved daughter who is getting ready to go to graduate school. But it is also about what happens when you lose everything you have but in the process find everything you have ever needed.
Living the Palm Beach lifestyle seems like it would be heaven, but in reality the anxiety of always being on and never making a mistake can be brutal. You are only worthy of the lifestyle for a long as your worth holds out. Faith and Edward are worth a lot, until they are not.
With their lives falling apart it is up to Faith to keep her head high and to try to fight her way out of a terrible disaster. She soon finds out who her true friends are in a town where superficiality is the word of the day. She must also stay true to her husband and family although temptation is all around her.
In a town where gossip is vicious and chairperson titles can be taken away at the drop of another fifty thousand dollars, Faith must try and hold herself together in order to keep her family together so they can all come out of this with their dignity intact.
Thank you #NetGalley #St. Martin's Press #A Palm Beach Wife #Sussannah Marren for the advanced copy of the terrific book. The book comes out on April 9.
Living the Palm Beach lifestyle seems like it would be heaven, but in reality the anxiety of always being on and never making a mistake can be brutal. You are only worthy of the lifestyle for a long as your worth holds out. Faith and Edward are worth a lot, until they are not.
With their lives falling apart it is up to Faith to keep her head high and to try to fight her way out of a terrible disaster. She soon finds out who her true friends are in a town where superficiality is the word of the day. She must also stay true to her husband and family although temptation is all around her.
In a town where gossip is vicious and chairperson titles can be taken away at the drop of another fifty thousand dollars, Faith must try and hold herself together in order to keep her family together so they can all come out of this with their dignity intact.
Thank you #NetGalley #St. Martin's Press #A Palm Beach Wife #Sussannah Marren for the advanced copy of the terrific book. The book comes out on April 9.
November 11, 2018
Faith is living the good life in Palm Beach where she lives, works, and parties among the wealthy. At a gala event that is being chaired solely by Faith, her husband informs her that he has made some bad investments and their personal wealth has been depleted-they are broke. As her husband begins to break down, Faith is left with the task of trying to find enough money to help pay off their debts while trying to keep her store and hopefully her home. A good, dramatic read. I thank Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this great book.
June 1, 2019
Rich woman from poor upbringing gets to the pinnacle of society just to lose everything and find out she's in a loveless marriage. That's the basis of this book. I feel like it's gonna fall into the "tell me something I don't know" category for me. Like, one could only imagine that this might happen at some point sometimes. The main character is so out of touch with everywhere and everyone but what's happening in Palm Beach that it's almost unbearable as a read. It's got a very seen it before, done it before vibe. I'm struggling to finish it and I don't know if it's the slow pace of the book or the subject matter that's boring me but it may be a combination of both. Probably gonna DNF. Final verdict: one star.
March 28, 2019
This book wasn't for me.
I really like the writing, it flows well and it's easy to read. But I didn't connect to the characters and the setting. I found the whole name dropping to be a bit annoying, and I absolutely could not stand the way Edward treated his wife, for me, it took away from the story.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Rating: 2/5 stars
I really like the writing, it flows well and it's easy to read. But I didn't connect to the characters and the setting. I found the whole name dropping to be a bit annoying, and I absolutely could not stand the way Edward treated his wife, for me, it took away from the story.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Rating: 2/5 stars
December 20, 2021
If this is what it means to have extreme wealth, I can leave it. Brand dropping, fake facades, appearances, no depth, shallow, money, did I say brands? The first seventy-five pages of this book were hard to get through, I felt like the only thing I was reading were the brand of this dress, what type of sheets were melting against their skin, the appearances that must be kept. But it turns around, suddenly that does not matter quit so much. Your family and loyal friends are what matter. Not shallow relationships with people you do not even like. Finally, there was substance!
Faith Harrison's life is crumbling around her. Her husband Edward has lost all their money and he has fallen back to his old ways. Faith is left to transverse this hardship alone, discovering there is more to herself then she was giving herself credit for. She leaves behind the fake friendships she thought were so important and sticks with the people who matter. Along the way secrets are revealed and acceptance is found.
I want to thank Susannah Marren for sending me her eye opening read into Palm Beach society. I have decided I only want to be marginally wealthy. You will hate the characters in the beginning, they appear shallow and weak. Give it time and you will grow to like them. The book will also grow on you.
Faith Harrison's life is crumbling around her. Her husband Edward has lost all their money and he has fallen back to his old ways. Faith is left to transverse this hardship alone, discovering there is more to herself then she was giving herself credit for. She leaves behind the fake friendships she thought were so important and sticks with the people who matter. Along the way secrets are revealed and acceptance is found.
I want to thank Susannah Marren for sending me her eye opening read into Palm Beach society. I have decided I only want to be marginally wealthy. You will hate the characters in the beginning, they appear shallow and weak. Give it time and you will grow to like them. The book will also grow on you.
May 4, 2019
Thanks to Chick Lit Central (Melissa A.) and St. Martin's Press for this book.
A definite name-dropper in designers in this book on every page but what else do you expect when a rich woman lives in Palm Beach? Faith is one of these rare women who lives in Palm Beach, has her own Vintage consignment shop, selling high end jewelry, bags to the rich and consigned from the rich women of Palm Beach.
This is is a book of the lives of her and her husband and daughter living in a rich world, going to parties, balls, big fund givers, and then the bottom falls out. She keeps secrets from her husband and her daughter and then the truth is told. Her husband Edward goes back to rehab after being sober for years and she has to live her life selling their belongings and houses to pay back millions of dollars to creditors and Edward's business partner.
The ending was sort of out there but I think I figured it out -- not sure if I'm correct or not.
A definite name-dropper in designers in this book on every page but what else do you expect when a rich woman lives in Palm Beach? Faith is one of these rare women who lives in Palm Beach, has her own Vintage consignment shop, selling high end jewelry, bags to the rich and consigned from the rich women of Palm Beach.
This is is a book of the lives of her and her husband and daughter living in a rich world, going to parties, balls, big fund givers, and then the bottom falls out. She keeps secrets from her husband and her daughter and then the truth is told. Her husband Edward goes back to rehab after being sober for years and she has to live her life selling their belongings and houses to pay back millions of dollars to creditors and Edward's business partner.
The ending was sort of out there but I think I figured it out -- not sure if I'm correct or not.
March 10, 2019
In Palm Beach, image is everything and no one knows this more than Faith. Having moved to Palm Beach at a young age, Faith has built a life around becoming a perfect member of high society and the perfect wife and mother. But what happens when the life she built is suddenly flipped upside down? Will she do what is best for her family or what is best for her image?
Here's what I liked about this story: When you take away all the glitz and glamour, Faith is a strong woman. She survived plenty of heartbreak when she was quite young. She is owner of a successful business. And even though she has an addict husband who makes the life she built a living hell throughout the plot, she walks with grace and with her head held high. She takes the punches as they come and instead of pointing blame or running away, Faith attempts to fix her issues. I also love how she is the protector of her family.
With all that said, the story itself was too much. There was too much glitz and glamour. There was too much name dropping. Most of the characters are quite shallow and/or hard to find personable. But most of that could probably be overlooked except for the fact that the ending falls so flat....so so flat. For Faith to go through and do everything to make life for her and her family great again, for Faith to get that kind of ending, it feels as if she and the reader were robbed. There needs to be some type of epilogue or maybe just more to the ending than what was given.
Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Here's what I liked about this story: When you take away all the glitz and glamour, Faith is a strong woman. She survived plenty of heartbreak when she was quite young. She is owner of a successful business. And even though she has an addict husband who makes the life she built a living hell throughout the plot, she walks with grace and with her head held high. She takes the punches as they come and instead of pointing blame or running away, Faith attempts to fix her issues. I also love how she is the protector of her family.
With all that said, the story itself was too much. There was too much glitz and glamour. There was too much name dropping. Most of the characters are quite shallow and/or hard to find personable. But most of that could probably be overlooked except for the fact that the ending falls so flat....so so flat. For Faith to go through and do everything to make life for her and her family great again, for Faith to get that kind of ending, it feels as if she and the reader were robbed. There needs to be some type of epilogue or maybe just more to the ending than what was given.
Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2019
Palm Beach, FL, is that tiny town nestled by the ocean north of Miami, seasonal home to the rich and richer. In A Palm Beach Wife (St. Martin’s Griffin), Susan Shapiro Barash, writing under the pen name Susannah Marren, delves into the status and tentative nature of the idealized lifestyle while focusing on a heroine who must find the balance between rejecting and embracing it all to succeed.
Amid the glamour and galas and parties of Palm Beach, Faith knows that image often counts as much if not more than reality. She glides effortlessly among the highest of the high society so perfectly that you would never suspect she wasn’t born to this. And yet even she―the only one who knows just how far she has to fall―never suspects from which direction, or how many directions all at once, betrayal will come.
I recently had the chance to chat with the author about her latest work, and should you be curious, she was not wearing a pink-and-green Lily Pulitzer mini-dress.
Our interview with the author: https://booktrib.com/2019/04/take-a-t...
Amid the glamour and galas and parties of Palm Beach, Faith knows that image often counts as much if not more than reality. She glides effortlessly among the highest of the high society so perfectly that you would never suspect she wasn’t born to this. And yet even she―the only one who knows just how far she has to fall―never suspects from which direction, or how many directions all at once, betrayal will come.
I recently had the chance to chat with the author about her latest work, and should you be curious, she was not wearing a pink-and-green Lily Pulitzer mini-dress.
Our interview with the author: https://booktrib.com/2019/04/take-a-t...
January 6, 2019
I tried to find something redeeming about this book, but I'm still struggling. If this hadn't have been a giveaway to give a review on, I probably wouldn't have finished it all. These people are self absorbed. They are all style and no substance. They're more concerned about appearances and status than they are about being good human beings. When Faith's husband, Edward, tells her that they are out of money, she's more concerned about keeping her status in Palm Beach than about the deeper repercussions for her family. Edward doesn't seem all that motivated to find the funds to repay the debt he owes and wants his wife to sell things in her name to cover his losses. He drugs himself into oblivion and then avoids hearing about real life issues. And of course neither one of them wants to tell their daughter what's going on, because they've raised to expect money grows on trees. Maybe this book would appeal to the 1% that live this kind of life and fear it being upended, but for everyone else it just comes across as stupid and petty when there's so many people dealing with major life issues - not whether they'll still get to solo chair a high society fundraising event.
April 8, 2019
In A Palm Beach Wife by Susannah Marren, secrets and lies are revealed. There was so much gossip and friendship based on looks and money. Faith owns a Vintage consignment clothing store where her so called friends drop off items such as $20,000 handbags, $500 scarves and shoes that can cost way more than a monthly mortgage payment. Faith discovers one evening that her husband Edward has lost all of their money and Faith must now struggle to keep up the facade of carefree wealth. What follows is a tale of how resourceful Faith is and how weak her husband really is but I could not help but feel sorry for him. Can Faith leave Palm Beach and its air kisses behind for good and start fresh? A major secret is revealed halfway into this book that Faith thought she left behind years ago.
Faith is a strong and independent character who holds everything together for the sake of her daughter. The last sentence of this book did literally left me with my mouth open! This review was originally posted on Fictional Blonde
Faith is a strong and independent character who holds everything together for the sake of her daughter. The last sentence of this book did literally left me with my mouth open! This review was originally posted on Fictional Blonde
August 1, 2021
I gave this one a solid chance, but wow. The general storyline had potential (even though it’s nothing new… I think I’ve read similarly plotted tales set in Nantucket instead of Palm Beach), and the main character was mostly believable, even likeable in her ‘make ish happen’ mentality, but the writing itself is just not good. It’s discombobulating, jumping from scene to scene without much sense. It actually read like the author was working off a checklist of dramatic plot points and just threw them into the story… losing the family fortune, cutting coke lines w Amex Black card, a secret love child, the bitchy reporter, rehab. And sprinkled in amongst the drama are the ridiculous laundry lists of designer labels and ladies who lunch and charity balls and name-dropping. There is just no finesse at all. That said, I was ready to give A Palm Beach Wife a (overly generous) 2 stars, but that ending. Oy. What a cluster.
April 9, 2019
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was so intrigued by this book at first mainly due to the cover. It's absolutely gorgeous and after reading the synopsis of this book I thought it sounded really good, it had potential. But then it really fell flat for me.
Faith and Edward are very wealthy and living a great life with their rich friends in Palm Beach. They have multiple vacation homes all over the globe and Faith runs a very successful vintage designer shop. Then her husband Edward drops a huge bomb on her, they've lost all their money and he needs help getting it back. Desperate to keep it from their friends and the community, they start trying to build back up their wealth even with betrayals hitting them left and right.
This book was absolutely ridiculous to me. Instead of being worried about how they were going to pay for anything or how to get their money back Faith is more worried about how this will look to her friends and the fact that she can't get into certain areas anymore. Really?! And everything that she let Edward get away with was insane.
Another thing I couldn't stand is all the designer name dropping throughout the book. I understand this is about very wealthy people and their numerous designers they love but I honestly found myself confused and thinking some of the names dropped were actually characters in the book.
To me it felt like this whole book was just about a palm beach wife whining because she had no money and turning a blind eye to everything her husband was doing. I really wasn't a fan of this one.
I was so intrigued by this book at first mainly due to the cover. It's absolutely gorgeous and after reading the synopsis of this book I thought it sounded really good, it had potential. But then it really fell flat for me.
Faith and Edward are very wealthy and living a great life with their rich friends in Palm Beach. They have multiple vacation homes all over the globe and Faith runs a very successful vintage designer shop. Then her husband Edward drops a huge bomb on her, they've lost all their money and he needs help getting it back. Desperate to keep it from their friends and the community, they start trying to build back up their wealth even with betrayals hitting them left and right.
This book was absolutely ridiculous to me. Instead of being worried about how they were going to pay for anything or how to get their money back Faith is more worried about how this will look to her friends and the fact that she can't get into certain areas anymore. Really?! And everything that she let Edward get away with was insane.
Another thing I couldn't stand is all the designer name dropping throughout the book. I understand this is about very wealthy people and their numerous designers they love but I honestly found myself confused and thinking some of the names dropped were actually characters in the book.
To me it felt like this whole book was just about a palm beach wife whining because she had no money and turning a blind eye to everything her husband was doing. I really wasn't a fan of this one.
June 3, 2019
What can one say about Palm Beach? It is gossipy, wealthy, beautiful, and it is a high society haven. A Palm Beach Wife is a wonderful and intriguing novel that examines the inner circles of Palm Beach, Florida. Susannah Marren eloquently writes about a family who goes through the ultimate conflict a family could experience in such a town. Through financial ruin, drug abuse, and deep running secrets see where this family ends up. This is an engrossing novel that is written with grace. Take it to the beach or read it on the train/plane... you will be attached to it immediately. The details are so stunningly written that they almost become visuals. Read this to take your mind away and visit a wonderful place called, Palm Beach.
February 22, 2019
Palm Beach socialite Faith is at a high society gala when her husband whispers in her ear “The money is gone”. They are flat broke after some bad investments and Faith is desperate to keep it under wraps and keep her social standing. Faith has fought hard to get this life and she will fight hard to keep it. This novel is rich in fashion names and behind-the-curtain peeks into high society. Truthfully, I’m not sure I was the intended audience for this book as I’m not a fashion maven. I found the writing dry and stilted, very surface and lacking any depth. For me, A Palm Beach Wife was ⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you to the publisher for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
April 10, 2019
Goodreads Blurb: "For readers of Elin Hilderbrand, Susannah Marren's A Palm Beach Wife is a delicious and irresistible commercial novel set among the high society galas and gossip of Palm Beach."
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(#partner) What I liked about this book: The storyline was intriguing enough- a wealthy family who has it all suddenly find themselves flat broke. There was a certain luxury to the story, and it was full of fashion, labels, and extravagance. It was a peak into how the rich and famous live. Faith, the main character, is a strong female protagonist; she never makes excuses and she gets things done. She stood by her husband and family, and I admired that about her character. APBW would be a great beach vacation read, and I often found myself wishing I were sipping a pina colada as I was reading this. APBW was full of drama, with enough shocking twists and turns that kept the story enteraining. This book made me feel like I was watching an episode of The Real Housewives. Major bombshells are interspersed throughout the story that will make this an addictive read. It's a quick, easy read. The story ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, which is a little frustrating to me, because I like my endings like I like my packages- neatly wrapped, tied up with string. Thank you to for this giveaway win. 🌟🌟🌟/5.🌸
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(#partner) What I liked about this book: The storyline was intriguing enough- a wealthy family who has it all suddenly find themselves flat broke. There was a certain luxury to the story, and it was full of fashion, labels, and extravagance. It was a peak into how the rich and famous live. Faith, the main character, is a strong female protagonist; she never makes excuses and she gets things done. She stood by her husband and family, and I admired that about her character. APBW would be a great beach vacation read, and I often found myself wishing I were sipping a pina colada as I was reading this. APBW was full of drama, with enough shocking twists and turns that kept the story enteraining. This book made me feel like I was watching an episode of The Real Housewives. Major bombshells are interspersed throughout the story that will make this an addictive read. It's a quick, easy read. The story ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, which is a little frustrating to me, because I like my endings like I like my packages- neatly wrapped, tied up with string. Thank you to for this giveaway win. 🌟🌟🌟/5.🌸
April 9, 2019
Set amoung the high society of Palm Beach we find Faith. Who fits in perfectly with all the glitz. Until her Husband Edward makes bad investments and she finds out their money is gone. With so much to lose Faith fights to hold on to her social standing. I enjoyed this story but with all the designers and name dropping it kind of falls flat some for me.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Blog
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Blog
Hudson Valley NY
October 31, 2018
I really enjoyed this story about a very strong character named Faith. She came from nothing, she got more than she ever wanted and then she lost it all and had to dig herself out.
Faith is used to a life filled with fancy parties and designer clothes. She has several vacation homes and a very wealthy husband. But she doesn’t take it for granted and she doesn’t need it either.
One day her husband says he’s lost everything. Everything to the tune of 30 million dollars.
Does Faith leave him? Does she have an emotional break done. No, she does not.
When her husband then proceeds to completely drop the ball and leave Faith with the reins, she jumps in and takes over.
I like a book with a strong female character. I also appreciate a book with likable characters. I liked Faith a lot. She’s incredibly strong. Even when confronted with the repercussions of her own scandal, she holds it together. And frankly, after everything her husband has done, I don’t think Faith’s scandal even compares.
Then we can add in a few fun details that appeal to me personally. Faith owns a an upscale resale boutique. Each item sold comes with its own story, written by her daughter and inspired by a classic literary tale. Could I afford to buy anything in this store if it was real? Of course not. But I’d want to browse anyway.
My only complaint was actually the last couple pages of the book. The end felt too sudden and somewhat unclear. Is this to have a sequel?
I think this would make a fantastic book to put in your beach bag or even to tear through on a long weekend.
I received an early edition ebook of this through NetGalley. Thank you!
Faith is used to a life filled with fancy parties and designer clothes. She has several vacation homes and a very wealthy husband. But she doesn’t take it for granted and she doesn’t need it either.
One day her husband says he’s lost everything. Everything to the tune of 30 million dollars.
Does Faith leave him? Does she have an emotional break done. No, she does not.
When her husband then proceeds to completely drop the ball and leave Faith with the reins, she jumps in and takes over.
I like a book with a strong female character. I also appreciate a book with likable characters. I liked Faith a lot. She’s incredibly strong. Even when confronted with the repercussions of her own scandal, she holds it together. And frankly, after everything her husband has done, I don’t think Faith’s scandal even compares.
Then we can add in a few fun details that appeal to me personally. Faith owns a an upscale resale boutique. Each item sold comes with its own story, written by her daughter and inspired by a classic literary tale. Could I afford to buy anything in this store if it was real? Of course not. But I’d want to browse anyway.
My only complaint was actually the last couple pages of the book. The end felt too sudden and somewhat unclear. Is this to have a sequel?
I think this would make a fantastic book to put in your beach bag or even to tear through on a long weekend.
I received an early edition ebook of this through NetGalley. Thank you!
October 22, 2018
A Palm Beach aside by author Susannah Marren is a fun read. Big little lies slash suspense. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a light hearted read.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Palm Beach Wife in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Palm Beach Wife in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
January 8, 2019I found A Palm Beach Wife to be basically typical of this genre. I had hoped for more development of plot and characters, but I didn't connect with the story in the end. It's an okay predictable read.
February 17, 2019
This book was a perfect beach read. Very cotton candy fluffy with characters that I was never really sure if I liked or loves to hate. There are enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
June 16, 2019
I was expecting a fun summer read. Turned into a bummer with the wife as a doormat. Boo.
October 31, 2023
Not really my style of a book. The writing felt a bit all over the place at times. Also, way too much name dropping throughout the book.
May 4, 2019
review to follow soon.
Everything is so..pink! I LOVE the cover art. Usually once I am done with a book I give it to a friend but in this case I do not know if I can bare to part with the book only because the cover is so pretty and PINK. I love it!
So I am a huge Florida fan. I have spent time in all the areas featured in the book. Palm Beach is indeed beautiful. In fact one of the first times I was there I remember thinking: "do these people ever SWEAT"? Everyone just looks so picture perfect..like the book cover!
And then there is Delray Beach. I love Delray. In fact I was just there recently. I prefer it to Palm Beach because people look and act real. Although honestly I do love Palm Beach as well. I pretty much love Florida in all its splendor and craziness. LOL.
So the book was decent and for me had pluses and minuses.
What I liked..the descriptions of all things Florida. I know some did not like all the gossip but this was SUCH a summer beach read! And I kind of did like Faith. She grew on me.
The Cover Art. As stated before.
What I did NOT LIKE:
A bit to long and so man y side stories. To many characters.
The ENDING was just WEIRD. I do not even know if I understand it fully. Not in keeping with the tone of the book that is for sure. I cannot say I liked it at all. I did not even know the book had ended, thought I missed a page.
So for me, it is 3.5 stars. It is not going to be for everyone but that's OK, no book is. I sure hope there is a sequel as the ending seems to call for it.
Everything is so..pink! I LOVE the cover art. Usually once I am done with a book I give it to a friend but in this case I do not know if I can bare to part with the book only because the cover is so pretty and PINK. I love it!
So I am a huge Florida fan. I have spent time in all the areas featured in the book. Palm Beach is indeed beautiful. In fact one of the first times I was there I remember thinking: "do these people ever SWEAT"? Everyone just looks so picture perfect..like the book cover!
And then there is Delray Beach. I love Delray. In fact I was just there recently. I prefer it to Palm Beach because people look and act real. Although honestly I do love Palm Beach as well. I pretty much love Florida in all its splendor and craziness. LOL.
So the book was decent and for me had pluses and minuses.
What I liked..the descriptions of all things Florida. I know some did not like all the gossip but this was SUCH a summer beach read! And I kind of did like Faith. She grew on me.
The Cover Art. As stated before.
What I did NOT LIKE:
A bit to long and so man y side stories. To many characters.
The ENDING was just WEIRD. I do not even know if I understand it fully. Not in keeping with the tone of the book that is for sure. I cannot say I liked it at all. I did not even know the book had ended, thought I missed a page.
So for me, it is 3.5 stars. It is not going to be for everyone but that's OK, no book is. I sure hope there is a sequel as the ending seems to call for it.
July 29, 2019
Couldn't get through the first half.
January 6, 2023
I received a reviewer copy of A Palm Beach Wife by Susannah Marren from the publisher St. Martin’s from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What It’s About: Faith and her husband Edward are the ‘it couple’ of Palm Beach, but her husband has lost all their money and that of their friends. Edward insists on keeping it a secret from their daughter, but as he falls deeper and deeper into addiction and her past comes back into focus, Faith is thrown into drama.
Look, I really didn’t like this book. I try my best to find something good about a book. So let’s just say, the premise was promising enough to get me to read, so there we go. This book is just unbelievable. It is unbelievable how self-centered these people are. Faith is set on staying in Palm Beach lifestyle that is seems like she will sacrifice whatever she can. She doesn’t want her daughter to graduate school because she wants her to be a Palm Beach wife. So when this is who I am cheering for it’s just not gonna work for me.
The writing isn’t fantastic and the drama is non-stop. Whether it be ex-lovers, an addiction crisis, Faith’s past coming up, Faith’s store, Faith’s friends…it was a lot to keep up with.
I just couldn’t support Faith and found her frustrating. This book reads like the worst of rich people. And it just doesn’t work. If you like reading about rich people problems, by all means.
What It’s About: Faith and her husband Edward are the ‘it couple’ of Palm Beach, but her husband has lost all their money and that of their friends. Edward insists on keeping it a secret from their daughter, but as he falls deeper and deeper into addiction and her past comes back into focus, Faith is thrown into drama.
Look, I really didn’t like this book. I try my best to find something good about a book. So let’s just say, the premise was promising enough to get me to read, so there we go. This book is just unbelievable. It is unbelievable how self-centered these people are. Faith is set on staying in Palm Beach lifestyle that is seems like she will sacrifice whatever she can. She doesn’t want her daughter to graduate school because she wants her to be a Palm Beach wife. So when this is who I am cheering for it’s just not gonna work for me.
The writing isn’t fantastic and the drama is non-stop. Whether it be ex-lovers, an addiction crisis, Faith’s past coming up, Faith’s store, Faith’s friends…it was a lot to keep up with.
I just couldn’t support Faith and found her frustrating. This book reads like the worst of rich people. And it just doesn’t work. If you like reading about rich people problems, by all means.
May 20, 2019
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I was hoping it would be a fun, campy beach read for me to recommend to friends. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
The writing style was not my favorite. The writing was choppy and disjointed. I had a hard time following the storyline partly due to the writing style. Next, there was so much name dropping (which I get...it is Palm Beach and all) that, again, it was hard to follow the story.
There was quite a bit of topic jumping. New characters were introduced seemingly without warning and became a part of the plot yet they didn't really have a place within the plot. Marren attempts to wrap the story up with a bow, but it falls apart in the end.
I give it two stars only because I stuck it out until the end of the book. I wanted to just stop reading, but I continued to plug away until the dismal end.
The writing style was not my favorite. The writing was choppy and disjointed. I had a hard time following the storyline partly due to the writing style. Next, there was so much name dropping (which I get...it is Palm Beach and all) that, again, it was hard to follow the story.
There was quite a bit of topic jumping. New characters were introduced seemingly without warning and became a part of the plot yet they didn't really have a place within the plot. Marren attempts to wrap the story up with a bow, but it falls apart in the end.
I give it two stars only because I stuck it out until the end of the book. I wanted to just stop reading, but I continued to plug away until the dismal end.
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