You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

A review by erinbeth11
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I mean, eat the rich for starters.

30 year age gap? Super predatory and a lot of power imbalance. 

I don’t think this was some star crossed love affair, but an older man in midlife crisis taking advantage of a younger woman. Full stop. 

As an interest in the Titanic and historical fiction, this scratched an itch. I find the Gilded Age of America fascinating so that was interesting too, but the actual couple featured is problematic, in my 2025 opinion.

Otherwise well written, kept me engaged.