Genre Fiction
![Mary Adkins - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B00J94H26S.jpg)
Palm Beach: A Novel
"Difficult to put down. . . . The novel is itself like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable. . . . Lines blur and expectations aren't met, keeping readers on their toes. . . . makes for a surprisingly fast-paced Palm Beach." -Associated Press
A thought-provoking page-turner from the author of When You Read This and Privilege that captures the painful divide between the haves and have-nots and the seductive lure of the American dream.
Living in a tiny Queens apartment, Rebecca and her husband Mickey typify struggling, 30-something New Yorkers-he's an actor, and she's a freelance journalist. But after the arrival of their baby son, the couple decides to pack up and head for sunny, comfortable Palm Beach, where Mickey's been offered a sweet deal managing the household of a multimillionaire Democratic donor.
Once there, he quickly doubles his salary by going to work for a billionaire: venture capitalist Cecil Stone. Rebecca, a writer whose beat is economic inequality, is initially horrified: she pillories men like Stone, a ruthless businessman famous for crushing local newspapers. So no one is more surprised than her when she accepts a job working for Cecil's wife as a ghostwriter, thinking of the excellent pay and the rare, inside look at this famous Forbes-list family. What she doesn't expect is that she'll grow close to the Stones, or become a regular at their high-powered dinners. And when a medical crisis hits, it's the Stones who come to their rescue, using their power, influence, and wealth to avert catastrophe.
As she and Mickey are both pulled deeper into this topsy-turvy household, they become increasingly dependent on their problematic benefactors. Then when she discovers a shocking secret about the Stones, Rebecca will have to decide: how many compromises can one couple make?
A thought-provoking page-turner from the author of When You Read This and Privilege that captures the painful divide between the haves and have-nots and the seductive lure of the American dream.
Living in a tiny Queens apartment, Rebecca and her husband Mickey typify struggling, 30-something New Yorkers-he's an actor, and she's a freelance journalist. But after the arrival of their baby son, the couple decides to pack up and head for sunny, comfortable Palm Beach, where Mickey's been offered a sweet deal managing the household of a multimillionaire Democratic donor.
Once there, he quickly doubles his salary by going to work for a billionaire: venture capitalist Cecil Stone. Rebecca, a writer whose beat is economic inequality, is initially horrified: she pillories men like Stone, a ruthless businessman famous for crushing local newspapers. So no one is more surprised than her when she accepts a job working for Cecil's wife as a ghostwriter, thinking of the excellent pay and the rare, inside look at this famous Forbes-list family. What she doesn't expect is that she'll grow close to the Stones, or become a regular at their high-powered dinners. And when a medical crisis hits, it's the Stones who come to their rescue, using their power, influence, and wealth to avert catastrophe.
As she and Mickey are both pulled deeper into this topsy-turvy household, they become increasingly dependent on their problematic benefactors. Then when she discovers a shocking secret about the Stones, Rebecca will have to decide: how many compromises can one couple make?
Editorial Reviews
"Palm Beach centers on a 30-something married couple who pull up stakes and relocate with their newborn son to South Florida, where they become increasingly, uncomfortably close to a billionaire VC and his wife." - Bustle, "20 Books to Read if You Love Sally Rooney"
"Mary Adkins' PALM BEACH is a rare page-turner that gives you all the fun and decadence of a beach read while exploring the relevant issues around wealth inequity. I opened it up and could not stop reading!" - Jessica Anya Blau, author of Mary Jane
"A look inside the world of the ultra-rich, PALM BEACH offers up moral complexity, page-turning plotting, and deep insight into motherhood and family. Delicious, addictive, whip-smart and full of heart." - Rufi Thorpe, author of The Knockout Queen
"A smart page-turner." - Palm Beach Daily News
"Poses serious questions relatable to many readers in addition to being an entertaining, quick read. . . . Adkins' latest has plenty of substance. . . . Palm Beach would certainly generate lively discussion among book club members and may have you questioning what you would do in a similar situation." - BookTrib
"A unique twist on a fish-out-of-water story centered on a couple who relocate to Palm Beach from New York City. . . . Fans of Jojo Moyes and Sally Rooney will appreciate Adkins' talent in weaving subtle events together to create complex characters whose persuasions evolve throughout." - Booklist
"An entertaining read. . . . Adkins offers great fodder for book club discussions; her novel should appeal to readers who enjoyed Cristina Alger's The Darlings, Julian Fellowes's Snobs, or Sophie McManus's The Unfortunates." - Library Journal
"Delves into the world of Florida's wealthy excess. . . . it'll keep readers turning the pages." - Publishers Weekly
"Mary Adkins' PALM BEACH is a rare page-turner that gives you all the fun and decadence of a beach read while exploring the relevant issues around wealth inequity. I opened it up and could not stop reading!" - Jessica Anya Blau, author of Mary Jane
"A look inside the world of the ultra-rich, PALM BEACH offers up moral complexity, page-turning plotting, and deep insight into motherhood and family. Delicious, addictive, whip-smart and full of heart." - Rufi Thorpe, author of The Knockout Queen
"A smart page-turner." - Palm Beach Daily News
"Poses serious questions relatable to many readers in addition to being an entertaining, quick read. . . . Adkins' latest has plenty of substance. . . . Palm Beach would certainly generate lively discussion among book club members and may have you questioning what you would do in a similar situation." - BookTrib
"A unique twist on a fish-out-of-water story centered on a couple who relocate to Palm Beach from New York City. . . . Fans of Jojo Moyes and Sally Rooney will appreciate Adkins' talent in weaving subtle events together to create complex characters whose persuasions evolve throughout." - Booklist
"An entertaining read. . . . Adkins offers great fodder for book club discussions; her novel should appeal to readers who enjoyed Cristina Alger's The Darlings, Julian Fellowes's Snobs, or Sophie McManus's The Unfortunates." - Library Journal
"Delves into the world of Florida's wealthy excess. . . . it'll keep readers turning the pages." - Publishers Weekly
Readers Top Reviews
KatieKatieSassy B
Adkins’ book is the definition of a page-turner. While her writing appeals to all audiences, this novel is especially poignant for mothers. She makes you laugh out loud, cry, gasp, relax and worry- emotions you feel every day as a mother. Her ability to paint such a clear picture makes you feel like your walking on the sidewalk in Palm Beach with the characters. It is clear she did her research. I find it fascinating that she can write with such clarity about the catering world, performers and medical terminology. From my research on her, it does not appear she has experience in these fields. It is evident the work she puts into her novels to make them unique and engaging. I also find it fascinating just how different all three of her novels are in content and style. Can’t wait for book 4!
Shymala DasonKati
This novel explores lots of complicated issues. Marriage, parenthood, friendship, trust, the contrasting lives of the super rich and ordinary people. The writer doesn’t tell us what she thinks. Instead, she gives us a rich cast of characters whose lives collide to produce a constant stream of surprises that entertain even as they provoke thought. She deftly uses the spaces between their public and privates face, and between what they think of themselves and what they really are, to create a page turning story that is never cliched, never predictable, and always real and believable. No character is perfect. None is irredeemable. All are, like real human beings, richly layered, and the story challenges each of them and allows us to watch the layers fall away as the characters reveal themselves. The opening has a little too much background information, but a few pages in it takes off and doesn’t stop.
CK KocalisShymal
Not what you think of when you hear Palm Beach. Pulled me in and didn't let me go. Loved the twist. Easy reading, liked her style.
CK KocalisShy
My first purchase by this author. I wasn't sure what to expect as the female protag and I do not share common values. The description and reviews from her other books convinced me to give it a try. Once I was into the story, it became more interesting and in places compelling. There were enough twists and discoveries to keep me turning pages. I liked the idea of a couple whose ideas, interests and world outlook are not in lockstep with each other. I also liked that the female protagonist was open enough to realize that her point of view wasn't the only one of value. The author did a good job of developing the characters in a way to give them depth beyond the surface, and growth based on the reality of life, not just their personal biases.
Marie Pagan CK
Palm Beach has a plot unlike any I've ever read. The first two chapters were slow but there was a reason for that. There was great depth to both the story and the characters. They came alive and took me along on the journey of their progression. Rebecca and Mickey made me commiserate with them, feel trepidation because of them, and even feel embarrassment on their behalf, among other things. It's a story that will stay with me for quite some time. For the first time in years, I dedicated myself to reading. It also became my first audio book, when I had to get on with life but wanted to continue with the narrative. The audio heightened my Palm Beach experience. The blurb describes what the story's about but making the decision to read leads to something else altogether. Still, I have to say that I wanted to know what happened to the mother. ;)
