Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This is my first Fiona Davis book! Shocker since I love historical fiction. This book images that caught in a scandal, Angelica/Lillian, the first supermodel, ends up as a private secretary for spoiled Helen Frick. In the 1960s, Veronica is a model on her first shoot for Vogue at the Frick Collection when she accidentally gets locked in the museum.
What I liked: I liked Lillian and it was interesting reading about the real first supermodel, Audrey Munson, in the author’s note. This book makes me want to tour the Frick Collection and see Audrey’s statues throughout NYC.
Veronica makes some really questionable decisions throughout but Davis does a good job of showing the reader why she makes these decisions. I liked how Helen’s life is affected by Martha and Veronica by her sister, Polly.
I flew through this book because I was curious how the storylines would intertwine and what happens to Lillian, Helen and Veronica.
What didn’t work for me: The end is a little too neat for my liking. After 50 years, a lost diamond is found, a mystery solved and everyone lives happily ever after. Davis also breezes over the ramifications of an interracial relationship in the 1960s.
I didn’t feel the romances in the book were very well developed. They seemed more convenient than passionate.
Who should read it: this reads a little like a mystery and the history was interesting. I really liked both storylines (which for me is rare in dual pov). Fans of early 1900s New York City check this one out.
Thank you Dutton for my gifted copy.
What I liked: I liked Lillian and it was interesting reading about the real first supermodel, Audrey Munson, in the author’s note. This book makes me want to tour the Frick Collection and see Audrey’s statues throughout NYC.
Veronica makes some really questionable decisions throughout but Davis does a good job of showing the reader why she makes these decisions. I liked how Helen’s life is affected by Martha and Veronica by her sister, Polly.
I flew through this book because I was curious how the storylines would intertwine and what happens to Lillian, Helen and Veronica.
What didn’t work for me: The end is a little too neat for my liking. After 50 years, a lost diamond is found, a mystery solved and everyone lives happily ever after. Davis also breezes over the ramifications of an interracial relationship in the 1960s.
I didn’t feel the romances in the book were very well developed. They seemed more convenient than passionate.
Who should read it: this reads a little like a mystery and the history was interesting. I really liked both storylines (which for me is rare in dual pov). Fans of early 1900s New York City check this one out.
Thank you Dutton for my gifted copy.
Told in alternating timelines between 1919 and 1966, two models from different times in history become connected through the infamous Frick Family of New York City. 50 years after Lillian waltzed into Helen Frick’s life, Veronica finds herself in the middle of a mystery that tore apart Helen and Lillian forever.
I love Fiona Davis’ stories and writing style. While her books are slower paced, I enjoy the alternating timelines and POVs and the mystery that is weaved between the two time periods. I enjoyed Lillian and Veronica equally, and loved how they’re lives intersected.
I had not read anything about the infamous Frick Family prior to this book, but now I’m finding myself researching and trying to find out everything there is to know about them! I love books that teach me knew things while engaging me in a fictitious world
I love Fiona Davis’ stories and writing style. While her books are slower paced, I enjoy the alternating timelines and POVs and the mystery that is weaved between the two time periods. I enjoyed Lillian and Veronica equally, and loved how they’re lives intersected.
I had not read anything about the infamous Frick Family prior to this book, but now I’m finding myself researching and trying to find out everything there is to know about them! I love books that teach me knew things while engaging me in a fictitious world
This book was so good and so beautiful. It read just like a movie and had me hooked from the start. It was a great mix of mystery and character development. The story was so unique and pulled you out of the real world for a while
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
3.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have completed my first book of the year (Goal- 52, right on track!) and what a book it was! I was especially pulled into this book because of the family in the story. One of America’s most infamously wealthy families, the Fricks made their fortune in steel. I currently live in Pittsburgh and knew almost nothing about the Frick history, believe it or not. I moved here and found there is a gorgeous Frick Park and a place known to yinzers simply as The Frick, which was the family’s home and is now a collection of museums and historical buildings. Other than those things, I knew nothing. Fiona Davis changed that.
The Magnolia Palace is told in dual timelines, 1919 and 1966. The story focuses on our 1919 protagonist, a muse turned private secretary to Miss Helen, Mr. Frick’s daughter. Our muse’s name is Lilly. She is smart, beautiful, and would do anything to work in film. Our 1966 gal is Victoria, a new model flown in from England who is stuck in the famous home/museum with intern Joshua after a snowstorm causes a blackout and locks them in. This actually takes place in NYC at their other home, where all the families erected their own “Vanderbuild”.
Mystery, scandal, murder, and money, Davis includes it all. Weaving her own storyline into the history of this well-known family, she gives us an historical novel impossible to put down.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Magnolia Palace is told in dual timelines, 1919 and 1966. The story focuses on our 1919 protagonist, a muse turned private secretary to Miss Helen, Mr. Frick’s daughter. Our muse’s name is Lilly. She is smart, beautiful, and would do anything to work in film. Our 1966 gal is Victoria, a new model flown in from England who is stuck in the famous home/museum with intern Joshua after a snowstorm causes a blackout and locks them in. This actually takes place in NYC at their other home, where all the families erected their own “Vanderbuild”.
Mystery, scandal, murder, and money, Davis includes it all. Weaving her own storyline into the history of this well-known family, she gives us an historical novel impossible to put down.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wasn’t sure what to think at first, but I just devoured over 100 pages in one sitting to finish this because I was pulled into the mystery surrounding the magnolia diamond! I found Helen to be rather annoying, but I’m assuming that’s how she was, so I’d say great writing there! I’m also looking forward to reading the book about the real “Lillian” (aka Audrey). I’d recommend this book.