“An engrossing novel…a perfect example of doing the wrong thing for all of the right reasons.” – The Authors Show From Susannah Marren, author of A Palm Beach Wife, comes her next book set in the exclusive, glamorous world of Palm Beach. Marren follows two sisters as one offers the ultimate selfless act to the other, proving the very meaning of family, in this novel of artifice and intrigue. … novel of artifice and intrigue.
Veronica and Simon Cutler and their dazzling adult daughters, Elodie and Aubrey, strike an enviable pose, the ultimate Palm Beach family. In a town where social aspirations, wealth and charm prevail, they are transcendent. While the sisters are polar opposites, they are fiercely loyal to each other. When Elodie receives the shocking news that she is no longer able to conceive a baby, she turns to Aubrey.
Aubrey, a free spirit, isn’t interested in marriage or children, yet when her sister asks her to carry her child, she can’t say no, despite her mother’s warnings. And then one stupefying secret, meant to be buried forever, is unearthed and no one in the Cutler clan is able to turn back. As the family is shaken to their core, Aubrey and Elodie must realize their places in the world and the lives they want to lead.
In the midst of the unforgiving opulence of Palm Beach, A Palm Beach Scandal is a story for our times, a captivating tale of discovery, sisterhood, and love for others where you least expect it.
“A great novel which explores some great themes: family, loyalty, what we will do for each other and what is right to ask of each other.” – The Girly Book Club
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Susannah Marren’s “A Palm Beach Scandal” Twists Sisterhood and Secrets Together In A Glamorous World. I enjoyed having the author on Charlotte Readers Podcast.
2.5 Stars rounded up to 3.
This book sounded good in the write-up, but fell flat for me. The storyline was intriguing, but the delivery and writing didn’t produce. At some point, I could have smacked each shallow character, and my feelings flip-flopped throughout the book. Not so much a scandal, as a interesting development to be talked and gossiped about, then forgotten. My heart broke for Elodie as she suffers disappointment after disappointment. Aubrey, as a loving little sister, made the ultimate sacrifice, putting her own needs and wants second for her sister. The toney Palm Beach scene shows shallow minded people more intent on money, status and appearances than anything else.
I can usually fly thru a book like this, but this one had me struggling a little bit, not sure if it was the writing style or the lack of connection with the characters. I would give this author another try but only in a different location.
Thanks to Ms. Marren, St. Martin’s Press andNetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
If you suspected Palm Beach materialistic and superficial, this book will confirm it. However, the behind-the-scenes peek at Palm Beach society portrays what happens to a family devoted to appearances while fearing scandal. The title itself and Marren’s suspenseful writing has us prepared for the fact that scandal will win in the end.
The plot of the novel brings to the fore contemporary issues around fertility, both with regard to surrogacy and the revelation of secrets this era of consumer DNA testing has wrought. Told in alternating points of view, two sisters, Aubrey and Elodie, are on the precipice of bonding in a most meaningful way when a genetic discovery threatens to pull them apart. Having no sisters myself, I have always been fascinated by sister relationships. Carrying the potential to be like no other, sisterly ties can also be rife with competition and disappointment. This novel runs the real-life gamut of sisterly emotions and had a forceful way of communicating the desperate measures infertility introduces into a family. With plot twists and turns, this is an entertaining book that raises important issues. I look forward to discussing it with others!
First of all, I love the cover and the title of this book. The characters were very well-written, especially Aubrey. I love the aspect of family in this book and how the author wrote it within the story. It was the plotline of this book that left me unable to put it down until the very end…even then, I flipped back through the book to re-read it. I say if you haven’t read this book, get your copy!
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Diving into the gossip driven community of Palm Beach are sisters facing upheaval and expectations. Excellent portrayal of how much our exterior lives influence out decisions and choices.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
How far would you go for your loved ones?
Elodie and Aubrey are sisters and have always been close even though their personalities are completely different. Elodie prefers the affluent Palm Beach Lifestyle and is the director of events at the Palm Beach Literary Society. Aubrey, a free spirit and prefers living in Miami where she is a music talent scout with her boyfriend. When Elodie learns she can’t have children, her husband comes up with the idea of Aubrey being a surrogate mother for them. Everything is perfect until Elodie and Aubrey’s parents’ secrets come to light and causes Elodie to pursue more answers that lead her down a trail that just might disrupt their family forever.
I read A Palm Beach Wife and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read this book when I learned of it. The story kept me intrigued the entire time. I started out liking Elodie and feeling sorry for all that she was going through trying to conceive. Aubrey was the one I didn’t like too much with her wild lifestyle. But by the end of the book, I was liking Aubrey much more than Elodie who started putting herself before everything and everyone else. I liked everything about the book, the glitz and glamour of Palm Beach, the secrets, family drama and the bond between sisters. The only thing I wish would have been different was the ending. It left me with a lot of questions when I really needed closure to the story. I can only hope it will be continued in a future book.