About the Book
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.
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.
My Review
I didn’t realize this was a sequel until I was actually writing this review, but I did feel several times like I was missing little bits of the plot, which was probably the case because of that. The Palm Beach setting felt very exclusive, a little elusive and very over the top, and made for a great backdrop amongst all the scandal indeed going on. The story of the Cutlers was interesting to me because of the fertility struggles Elodie is experiencing, and her sister Aubrey agrees to step in as the surrogate. I don’t want to give too much away, but we learn a lot about the family as a whole through this journey, and there were some surprising secrets that added a new layer to their story. I’m still not sure I really understand Elodie and the ending she gave us and I felt unsettled as I closed the book. Interesting and it definitely made me think, but I felt a little disconnected while reading.
3.5 stars
