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Millionaire Wives Club #1
Millionaire Wives Club
In Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker’s steamiest novel yet, we meet the four deliciously dramatic, designer-clad divas from prime time’s new hit reality show, The Millionaire Wives Club.
Married to a pro-football star who isn’t in love with her anymore, Evan is digging her freshly manicured nails in ever deeper as she fights to keep the husband who loves someone else.
Half Dominican, half black, and beautifully exotic-looking, Milan is watching her has-been husband’s fortune fade fast–while her romantic attachment to Evan’s husband is heating up.
Divorced from a former boxing star who’s now married to a white woman, Jaise is trying to raise her sixteen-year-old son on her own. Will her huge alimony checks keep her from falling in love?
Editor of the hottest black women’s magazine, Chaunci is now engaged to the high-powered man who helped finance her magazine when she was just a struggling single mom. But when a onetime passionate flame reignites, Chaunci may not be able to resist its charms.
When these starlets’ private lives run as wild as their emotions, their relationships with one another inevitably turn into high-profile catfights. Through it all, the cameras never stop rolling on TV’s guiltiest pleasure, where power–and diamonds–are always a girl’s best friend.
Married to a pro-football star who isn’t in love with her anymore, Evan is digging her freshly manicured nails in ever deeper as she fights to keep the husband who loves someone else.
Half Dominican, half black, and beautifully exotic-looking, Milan is watching her has-been husband’s fortune fade fast–while her romantic attachment to Evan’s husband is heating up.
Divorced from a former boxing star who’s now married to a white woman, Jaise is trying to raise her sixteen-year-old son on her own. Will her huge alimony checks keep her from falling in love?
Editor of the hottest black women’s magazine, Chaunci is now engaged to the high-powered man who helped finance her magazine when she was just a struggling single mom. But when a onetime passionate flame reignites, Chaunci may not be able to resist its charms.
When these starlets’ private lives run as wild as their emotions, their relationships with one another inevitably turn into high-profile catfights. Through it all, the cameras never stop rolling on TV’s guiltiest pleasure, where power–and diamonds–are always a girl’s best friend.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
27 people are currently reading
1216 people want to read
About the author
Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker
11 books118 followersTu-Shonda L. Whitaker is the award winning, Essence bestselling author of Flip Side of the Game and Game Over.
She is also a contributing writer to the anthologies: Cream and Kiss The Year Goodbye.
Whitaker was awarded the Ella Baker and W.E.B. Du Bois International Award for fiction writing. Her most recent title, The Ex Factor has been featured in several magazines such as Vibe Vixen and Romantic Times Book Review as one of the hottest, sensual, and humorous tales released this year.
Whitaker lives in New Jersey with her husband and their children.
She is also a contributing writer to the anthologies: Cream and Kiss The Year Goodbye.
Whitaker was awarded the Ella Baker and W.E.B. Du Bois International Award for fiction writing. Her most recent title, The Ex Factor has been featured in several magazines such as Vibe Vixen and Romantic Times Book Review as one of the hottest, sensual, and humorous tales released this year.
Whitaker lives in New Jersey with her husband and their children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 31, 2017
I loved this book. It was funny, sad, full of karma and very devious.
4 women who have nothing in common except rich husbands, sign up to do a reality tv show,"Millionaire Wives Club" and this show with the crazy producer is off the charts. Evan, Milan, Chaunci & Jaise appear to have it all together but the inside is full of turmoil.
Evan is married to Malik and she's barely holding on to him by a thin thread. She's manipulative, controlling and certifiably crazy. You will hate her sometimes, wish someone just give her a good beat down or just kill her. She's doing some things that a lot of us would want to give her what she needs.
Milan is married to Yusef 'Da Truef' but he's thrown away his basketball career for drugs. Eventually he will destroy their so called marriage. Milan is in love with another woman's husband; Malik. They've been friends since childhood and through college and they truly love each other but there are extenuating circumstances and the outcome of their love will be disastrous for all.
Jaise was married to Lawrence but had to escape his abuse. In the end she receives $40,000 a month alimony payment but Lawrence has cut ties with Jaise and his son Jabril, he married a white woman and they have a baby together. Jaise is now in a relationship with Trenton and he that won't commit to her and does not want to label their situation as a relationship. He treats her like dirt and she makes excuses for it until Chaunci, one of the ladies on the show, opens her eyes to her own self-degrading standards. Jaise's son, Jabril, is out of control and lashing out because of the way he sees Trenton treating his mom. Trying to be a phenomenal woman is a myth that Jaise can't live up to.
Chaunci is engaged to Edmond but only in name only. She doesn't believe that love is sufficient for a marriage. She sees them as some power couple but Edmond puts down her skills managing her own magazine and views it as trivial. Chaunci still has feelings for her daughter's father, Edris and he returns into her life by accident and when he learns that he has a child, even though he wanted her to have an abortion, he wants to see his daughter and takes her to court for his rights.
This book is a page turner and I have a better understanding regarding these reality shows.
4 women who have nothing in common except rich husbands, sign up to do a reality tv show,"Millionaire Wives Club" and this show with the crazy producer is off the charts. Evan, Milan, Chaunci & Jaise appear to have it all together but the inside is full of turmoil.
Evan is married to Malik and she's barely holding on to him by a thin thread. She's manipulative, controlling and certifiably crazy. You will hate her sometimes, wish someone just give her a good beat down or just kill her. She's doing some things that a lot of us would want to give her what she needs.
Milan is married to Yusef 'Da Truef' but he's thrown away his basketball career for drugs. Eventually he will destroy their so called marriage. Milan is in love with another woman's husband; Malik. They've been friends since childhood and through college and they truly love each other but there are extenuating circumstances and the outcome of their love will be disastrous for all.
Jaise was married to Lawrence but had to escape his abuse. In the end she receives $40,000 a month alimony payment but Lawrence has cut ties with Jaise and his son Jabril, he married a white woman and they have a baby together. Jaise is now in a relationship with Trenton and he that won't commit to her and does not want to label their situation as a relationship. He treats her like dirt and she makes excuses for it until Chaunci, one of the ladies on the show, opens her eyes to her own self-degrading standards. Jaise's son, Jabril, is out of control and lashing out because of the way he sees Trenton treating his mom. Trying to be a phenomenal woman is a myth that Jaise can't live up to.
Chaunci is engaged to Edmond but only in name only. She doesn't believe that love is sufficient for a marriage. She sees them as some power couple but Edmond puts down her skills managing her own magazine and views it as trivial. Chaunci still has feelings for her daughter's father, Edris and he returns into her life by accident and when he learns that he has a child, even though he wanted her to have an abortion, he wants to see his daughter and takes her to court for his rights.
This book is a page turner and I have a better understanding regarding these reality shows.
November 24, 2011
This book was like a train-wreck that you want to move out of the way from, but just have to keep reading to see what further antics these crazy woman are going to get into. This was one of the most ghetto books that I have ever read. You would never expect woman who are "millionaires" to behave the way these woman did, threatening to punch someone in the face every five minutes, and every other word out of their mouths being the F word. Now we know most reality shows are a farse, and this book just perpetuates that thought even more because most of these woman were living a lie. I will say this book had a lot of funny parts, that literally had my crying I could not stop laughing so hard. Milan's husband Da Truef was friggin hilarious, any time he is in a scene prepare to pee your pants. Chaunci was probably the most put together, and the and the most honest with herself, but the mouth on her whoa! Every time she cursed out Idris I actually felt bad for the guy even though he deserved it in the beginning. Evan was just a totally wack job, you would see so from the very beginning of the book. Jaise was really the only one that I felt a bit of sympathy for dealing with her son in the beginning, but she cursed like a sailor also, especially too her son and I really didn't like that. Her finding Bilal was a needed positive change for her live. With all this being said I still want to read the sequel because these woman are just crazy! So I'd like to see how it all turns out.
This is not a must read, but if you are looking for some comic relief, and unbelievable situations check this one out. I could not put it down.
This is not a must read, but if you are looking for some comic relief, and unbelievable situations check this one out. I could not put it down.
February 4, 2020
This book was hilarious!
I listened to this one on audio via audible and my goodness was I cracking up. Very good read/listen indeed. I do recommend
I listened to this one on audio via audible and my goodness was I cracking up. Very good read/listen indeed. I do recommend
March 6, 2010
This book ended up upsetting me because there was really the potential for a five star book and instead it ended up being a three star for me. Whitacker is a talented author but she tried for things she shouldn't have just yet IMO. I think an author with more under her could have pulled this off as a five star - someone like Jodi Picoult or Anita Shreve, maybe Sister Souljah.
I'm soooo tired of the cliches "crazy chick" who smashes mirrors, puts make-up on wrong, pretends to be someone else, etc. Even a highly talented author has to be very careful with that kind of character and anything less just comes out ridiculous. Evan's character could have brought much more to the table had she been portrayed differently. That took the book down an entire star for me.
The ending could have been better. Nothing happened with Aiyanna and her mother and what was happening with them. Why was there no better conclusion with that? I wanted a concrete ending - not what I got.
The premise and execution was good. I had fun reading this, which is what I was looking for. I liked a lot of the realistic aspects because I wasn't expecting them in this book. Jabril - very realistic. Bilal (for the most part) realistic.
I can't remember if I've read anything else of Whitacker's or if I only own the book(s) and haven't read any yet but I can tell she is talented. I just wish she'd have stuck with what she could do instead of trying for the unattainable.
I'm soooo tired of the cliches "crazy chick" who smashes mirrors, puts make-up on wrong, pretends to be someone else, etc. Even a highly talented author has to be very careful with that kind of character and anything less just comes out ridiculous. Evan's character could have brought much more to the table had she been portrayed differently. That took the book down an entire star for me.
The ending could have been better. Nothing happened with Aiyanna and her mother and what was happening with them. Why was there no better conclusion with that? I wanted a concrete ending - not what I got.
The premise and execution was good. I had fun reading this, which is what I was looking for. I liked a lot of the realistic aspects because I wasn't expecting them in this book. Jabril - very realistic. Bilal (for the most part) realistic.
I can't remember if I've read anything else of Whitacker's or if I only own the book(s) and haven't read any yet but I can tell she is talented. I just wish she'd have stuck with what she could do instead of trying for the unattainable.
August 28, 2012
THIS BOOK WAS SO GHETTO AND I LOVED EVERY PAGE OF IT...
November 24, 2011
The people in this book was a MESS......Can you say DRAMA with a capital D but non-the-less I can't wait to read the next one to see what they're up to now......
July 5, 2012
Big Brother is Watching
Evan, Milan, Jaise and Chaunci have invited the world into their lives through the newest reality show Millionaire Wives Club.
In one corner...
Evan is in a loveless marriage with an athlete in love with someone else. She's willing to do whatever to keep him and keep up the charade that she calls her life. Her good friend Jaise is a divorced, single mother living large via child support and alimony. Raising a wannabe thug and attracting all the wrong men, Jaise has her hands full.
In the other corner...
Milan is in a dysfunctional marriage with a washed up former athlete that is spending more money than is coming in. For Milan, the show is a last stitch effort to get out of debt, even if it means dealing with the wife of her one true love. Chaunci is a single mother and co-owner of a popular magazine. She is engaged to her silent partner and wealthy benefactor. Theirs is a relationship of finance and security for Chaunci, not love.
Okay, ladies, we want a match with plenty of drama, maybe even a little blood shed. Low blows, head-butts and kicks below the belt. DING! DING!
With the cameras rolling the women do little to put their differences aside, especially when off-camera drama spills on camera, secrets are exposed, money dries up and the past returns.
I'm on the fence with this one. On one hand, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB was a page-turner and it definitely held my attention. On the other hand, at times, it was over the top, like the author was trying just a little too hard. In doing so, things that were supposed to be funny instead came off as outlandish and stereotypical. Some elements of the story were predictable. But even with that Tu-Shonda has the talent and skill to keep readers reading. While not wildly memorable, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB is slick and engrossing in its own right.
Tu-Shonda, if you are reading this review...You've got skills. You've got talent. You have an imagination. And you have the power to deliver. You've got what it takes so you don't have to try so hard. Let your pen do what it does! However, I'd like to see you challenge yourself with your next project and think a little more outside the box and rely less on going for the obvious. The sky's the limit...
OOSA Selected Read (Nov)
Evan, Milan, Jaise and Chaunci have invited the world into their lives through the newest reality show Millionaire Wives Club.
In one corner...
Evan is in a loveless marriage with an athlete in love with someone else. She's willing to do whatever to keep him and keep up the charade that she calls her life. Her good friend Jaise is a divorced, single mother living large via child support and alimony. Raising a wannabe thug and attracting all the wrong men, Jaise has her hands full.
In the other corner...
Milan is in a dysfunctional marriage with a washed up former athlete that is spending more money than is coming in. For Milan, the show is a last stitch effort to get out of debt, even if it means dealing with the wife of her one true love. Chaunci is a single mother and co-owner of a popular magazine. She is engaged to her silent partner and wealthy benefactor. Theirs is a relationship of finance and security for Chaunci, not love.
Okay, ladies, we want a match with plenty of drama, maybe even a little blood shed. Low blows, head-butts and kicks below the belt. DING! DING!
With the cameras rolling the women do little to put their differences aside, especially when off-camera drama spills on camera, secrets are exposed, money dries up and the past returns.
I'm on the fence with this one. On one hand, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB was a page-turner and it definitely held my attention. On the other hand, at times, it was over the top, like the author was trying just a little too hard. In doing so, things that were supposed to be funny instead came off as outlandish and stereotypical. Some elements of the story were predictable. But even with that Tu-Shonda has the talent and skill to keep readers reading. While not wildly memorable, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB is slick and engrossing in its own right.
Tu-Shonda, if you are reading this review...You've got skills. You've got talent. You have an imagination. And you have the power to deliver. You've got what it takes so you don't have to try so hard. Let your pen do what it does! However, I'd like to see you challenge yourself with your next project and think a little more outside the box and rely less on going for the obvious. The sky's the limit...
OOSA Selected Read (Nov)
January 13, 2014
This was a very entertaining read from start to finish. This is the first book I've read by Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker and it won't be my last as I'm now a fan of this author. This book was full of drama, humor, and scandal and I really enjoyed reading it. This was a good read and I can't wait to see what I'm going to read next by this author.
January 17, 2014
DA TRUTH....is this book was funny as hell, I can not wait to see what Tu-Shonda Whitaker is going to bring in the next book! OMG I have almost pee'd my pants laughing so HARD. I have to admit I might not have gotten the same effect if I would have read it...I actually listened to the audio version and the narrator was on point! and that's DA TRUTH
May 23, 2012
I could hardly put this book down. I loved it and can't wait to read the next one. The characters pull you in and refuse to let you go.
June 2, 2013
This was better than The Real Housewives of Atlanta
June 26, 2018
This book is better than any soap opera I could watch on TV. We get a first hand look at each woman and their lives behind closed doors are not what they appear on camera. The camera crew are just as good as the women, Carl the camera man and Bridget the Producer both add into the drama. Some things in the book really had me guess. The twist on Jaise's love interest really surprised me. The ending to the love triangle between Kendu, Evan and Milan was surprising. Overall a fun book to read and I will definitely read more in the series.
November 17, 2023
Four women struggle to find love and happiness while also dealing with all the pain and anger that life throws at them. This book proves the old adage true, money can not buy happiness ... but it can buy a killer 2-thousand-dollar pair of heels!
Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways, for providing me with a free copy of this book.
Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways, for providing me with a free copy of this book.
December 9, 2017
This book was very slow. I couldn’t get into it
April 5, 2018
Full of Drama & Laughs!
June 8, 2018
This book reminded me of the reality show House Wives of Atlanta. It was a lot of drama and the characters were interesting.
February 27, 2019
Great book. Drama, drama, and more drama. Only likable character was Bilal. Onto book 2.
August 12, 2019
Didn't care for it very boring 😴
December 23, 2019
SMH I can NOT believe what she was doing to her daughter how can someone do that?!?!?!?!?!
April 5, 2020
This book was hhhhhiiillllarious!!!!! I wish they had a sequel to it. I felt a personal connection and great dislikes for all the characters
January 13, 2021
Great book
This book is good but crazy the characters are something else each one have their on demons to deal with about to start on part two.drama drama
This book is good but crazy the characters are something else each one have their on demons to deal with about to start on part two.drama drama
October 15, 2023
Real Housewives of ——- drama reenactment
January 31, 2025
Loved it!
April 13, 2025
Just a bunch of mess.
December 25, 2016
Welcome to Tu-Shonda Whitaker's RHOA (Real Housewives of Atlanta) meets Women of Substance on reality tv. Evan, Milan. Jaise and Chaunci may be dressed eloquently but they are missing a few screws. Heck, they are missing more than a few screws!
I was not familiar with this author. But, it seemed as if I knew what would be written next and the entire flow. Cat fights, the love of a man, love don't live here anymore and so many other issues are presented. Oh no...more cat fight reading.....
Evan would do just about anything to keep a husband who loves someone else.
Or...does she want to keep him to maintain her lifestyle? Is that shallow or is she? You read and tell me. Milan....well you've got to read to see who she's craving. Jaise gets huge alimony checks but is she happy? And, what's up with Chaunci?
They say money can’t buy happiness, but these ladies believe it can get you awfully close. Heck, on some days...I think like them (giggling). Money hasn't brought any of them happiness...but it can buy them a pretty good therapist. And maybe he/she can figure out what the hell’s wrong with them.
Note: This was a Book Club read. Glad I garnered more from the sisters during our discussion.
I was not familiar with this author. But, it seemed as if I knew what would be written next and the entire flow. Cat fights, the love of a man, love don't live here anymore and so many other issues are presented. Oh no...more cat fight reading.....
Evan would do just about anything to keep a husband who loves someone else.
Or...does she want to keep him to maintain her lifestyle? Is that shallow or is she? You read and tell me. Milan....well you've got to read to see who she's craving. Jaise gets huge alimony checks but is she happy? And, what's up with Chaunci?
They say money can’t buy happiness, but these ladies believe it can get you awfully close. Heck, on some days...I think like them (giggling). Money hasn't brought any of them happiness...but it can buy them a pretty good therapist. And maybe he/she can figure out what the hell’s wrong with them.
Note: This was a Book Club read. Glad I garnered more from the sisters during our discussion.
December 6, 2009
Too Much
There's nothing as interesting as other people's lives, especially if those people are in the public eye. The setting is the Millionaire Wives Club, the newest reality TV show that follows the lives of four women - Chaunci, Evan, Jaise and Milan.
I had heard a lot of good things about this author and this book, so I was excited when I picked up my copy. An ambitious project, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB is overly exaggerated. While developing interesting characters, they were also lacking depth. I couldn't connect with them. I had no feelings for them. Whitaker did have a good plot going, and I was curious as to what would happen. But I soon tired as it became predictable and unbelievable. The cameras were there for this but not there for that. The producer spent as much time on camera as the ladies being followed. The comedic edge went from funny to outrageous, and at that point the author lost me. To Whitaker's credit, she put forth a valiant effort. However, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB was not quite what I expected or hoped.
Reviewed by: Lela
There's nothing as interesting as other people's lives, especially if those people are in the public eye. The setting is the Millionaire Wives Club, the newest reality TV show that follows the lives of four women - Chaunci, Evan, Jaise and Milan.
I had heard a lot of good things about this author and this book, so I was excited when I picked up my copy. An ambitious project, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB is overly exaggerated. While developing interesting characters, they were also lacking depth. I couldn't connect with them. I had no feelings for them. Whitaker did have a good plot going, and I was curious as to what would happen. But I soon tired as it became predictable and unbelievable. The cameras were there for this but not there for that. The producer spent as much time on camera as the ladies being followed. The comedic edge went from funny to outrageous, and at that point the author lost me. To Whitaker's credit, she put forth a valiant effort. However, MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB was not quite what I expected or hoped.
Reviewed by: Lela
December 1, 2009
The New Normal
"The Millionaire Wives Club" is a reality show based on the extravagant lives of four African American women. Evan is married to New York Giants linebacker Kendu Malik. Milan is married to Yusef `Da Truef' Starks, number twenty-three for the New York Knicks. Chaunci Morgan is the editor in chief of Nubian Divas magazine. Jaise Williams is divorced from Lawrence Williams, the ex-heavy weight champion.
I was hoping that "The Millionaire Wives Club" would be something new, fresh and exciting by Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker, who also who writes under other pseudonyms. Unfortunately, I feel as if I'm re-reading the same story yet again. Milan, Kendu and Evan could easily be replaced with Yuri, Britt and Jeff (The Sweetest Taboo).
"The Millionaire Wives Club" may be a good read to first time readers of the author, but for this reader, it's predictable and expected from start to finish. It's official, the sizzle has definitely simmered. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
OOSA Online Book Club BOTM
"The Millionaire Wives Club" is a reality show based on the extravagant lives of four African American women. Evan is married to New York Giants linebacker Kendu Malik. Milan is married to Yusef `Da Truef' Starks, number twenty-three for the New York Knicks. Chaunci Morgan is the editor in chief of Nubian Divas magazine. Jaise Williams is divorced from Lawrence Williams, the ex-heavy weight champion.
I was hoping that "The Millionaire Wives Club" would be something new, fresh and exciting by Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker, who also who writes under other pseudonyms. Unfortunately, I feel as if I'm re-reading the same story yet again. Milan, Kendu and Evan could easily be replaced with Yuri, Britt and Jeff (The Sweetest Taboo).
"The Millionaire Wives Club" may be a good read to first time readers of the author, but for this reader, it's predictable and expected from start to finish. It's official, the sizzle has definitely simmered. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
OOSA Online Book Club BOTM
January 5, 2013
I love a good reality show and I love the occasional display of drama but this book was a bit too much for me. It was drama overload and had no thread of hope what so ever, not that it had the intention of being so. What really depressed me more than anything was the notion that if we are really lucky in life, when we turn away from the money-chasing, we will end up with a good man that will save us with his goodness and also happen to be rich. We keep re-telling the Pretty Woman story in different ways re-enforcing it as the way to truly escape from the hardships of our lives. It’s played out.
The author clearly is a story teller. I would like to see what else she could do with her talent. If nothing else, she is on her way to producing/scripting some good reality television (I am not foolish enough to believe that all reality television is actually reality).
The author clearly is a story teller. I would like to see what else she could do with her talent. If nothing else, she is on her way to producing/scripting some good reality television (I am not foolish enough to believe that all reality television is actually reality).
February 3, 2013
I've been a fan of TuShonda Whitaker's work since the beginning. Millionaire Wives Club doesn't disappoint. There's so much drama between the pages, it was hard for me to set the book down to do anything else. Evan, Milan, Jaise and Chaunci have so many issues; they are a producer's gold-mine. I could visualize the show being a hit, but since it was a book, I think Whitaker has another hit on her hands.
The women in Millionaire Wives Club make the Atlanta Housewives seem like kittens. Good Job Ms. Whitaker.
The women in Millionaire Wives Club make the Atlanta Housewives seem like kittens. Good Job Ms. Whitaker.
November 11, 2009
If you like the Real House Wives of Atlanta (Notes)...... I had to say that like that ok... you will love Millionaire Wives Club, the book is Da Truef, The character in this novel will have you turning the pages and wish this book never comes to an end, and just when you think the author is about to wrap the story up she brings in a few more characters that will have you LoL! The is a page turner that will not disappoint you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews