jillianne hamilton - blog
Review: A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler
October 25, 2018

Therese Anne Fowler’s 2013 bestselling novel Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald was an astonishing piece of literature. Fowler’s descriptions of 1940s Savannah, Georgia were absolutely delicious. I even enjoyed the Amazon adaptation (RIP).

Because of Z, I was very excited for Fowler’s 2018 follow-up, A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts.

My knowledge of Gilded Age America is, admittedly, a little lacking so I did quite a bit of Googling while listening to this audiobook. Just like Z, Fowler’s in-depth research has paid off in the form of a rich and vibrant novel that was very enjoyable to read. While Fowler’s last novel was based in the glittering world of the 1920s, the rich lifestyles found in A Well-Behaved Woman aren’t built on a castle of sand. Instead, the lead character of Alva Vanderbilt goes from being well-connected but poor to rich and then to very rich. We’re talking hard-to-comprehend rich.

Alva Vanderbilt

The one disappointment of this novel is probably my own fault because of my heightened expectations. Alva’s story covers nearly her entire life so there was a lot less time for lush setting descriptions in this novel compared to Z. Although Fowler does a commendable job of bringing the glitz and glam to every party and social event in the book (and there are lots), I could’ve used a few more setting and style details. However, I do realize doing so would have added to the book’s page count considerably.

This book is chockablock with familiar names fashioned into lively characters, many of them frustrating and flawed. A Well-Behaved Woman is a comfortable step into the prickly world of Gilded Age wealth, privilege, and the evolving world of the late 19th century.

RATING: 4/5 stars


0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jillianne Hamilton writes delightful historical fiction and historical romance featuring rebellious heroines and happy endings.

Available Now

The Land Girl on Lily Road
The Hobby Shop on Barnaby Street - WWII historical romance
The Hobby Shop on Barnaby Street - WWII historical romance
Barnes and Noble Nook
iBooks - Apple Books
Amazon Kindle
Kobo
Audible
Scribd
Barnes and Noble Nook
Amazon Kindle
iBooks - Apple Books
Kobo
Kobo
Google Play

sign up for updates

Subscribe for email updates (every other month) from me.

Get awesome subscriber-only exclusives, be the first to learn about my new book releases, see what I’m working on, get a behind-the-scenes look at my writing process, and more.

Don't forget to confirm your address via the email you will get upon registering. Emails may hide in the spam folder or your promotions tab.