Publishers Weekly
06/14/2021
Adkins (Privilege) delves into the world of Florida’s wealthy excess with the fluffy story of a young family’s move from New York City to Palm Beach. When actor Mickey damages his vocal chords, his theater career ends and he takes a lucrative job managing a Florida estate, bringing with him his freelance journalist wife Rebecca and their eight-month-old son, Bash. About a month into the new job, neighbor and “vulture capitalist” Cecil Stone offers to double Mickey’s salary for a similar job. The socially conscious Rebecca is horrified that Cecil has built a fortune by decimating the companies he buys, though she gets cozy with Astrid, Cecil’s outspoken wife of 30 years, and begins to change her attitudes about the ultrarich. (Astrid even hires Rebecca to ghostwrite her memoirs.) After the couple learns Bash might have a dangerous genetic disorder, the Stones use their far-reaching connections and wealth to help him. While a subplot involving an insider-trading scam feels contrived, Adkins’s characters are reliably quirky, as with Cecil’s habit of hoarding ketchup packets, a condiment Astrid “didn’t believe in.” Though it’s not particularly memorable, it’ll keep readers turning the pages. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
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
Jessica Anya Blau
"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!"
Booklist
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.
BookTrib
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.
Palm Beach Daily News
"A smart page-turner."
“20 Books to Read if You Love Sally Rooney&# Bustle
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.
Rufi Thorpe
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.
Booklist
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.
Library Journal
08/13/2021
Are the rich different? Adkins (Privilege) attempts to answer that in this entertaining read. Mickey, a Broadway actor, loses his voice and his career. He's always hustled side jobs; now he lucks into a full-time job in Palm Beach for one of his clients and moves with his wife and eight-month-old baby to Florida. Mickey quickly finds an even better job as butler to a billionaire couple, the Stones, for twice the money. His journalist wife Rebecca is horrified that Mickey will consider working for Mr. Stone, the "vulture capitalist" who destroys every company he buys, but the money is too good to pass up—plus it leads to an opportunity for Rebecca to ghostwrite Mrs. Stone's memoirs. When Rebecca and Mickey's baby is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the Stones come to the rescue, causing the young couple to reexamine their feelings about the Stones and the power of money. VERDICT 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.—Stacy Alesi, Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Lib., Lynn Univ., Boca Raton, FL
