Book Review - A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler

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After the Civil War, Alva Smith and her southern family find themselves destitute. She arranges herself to marry into the Vanderbilt family who is wealthy but, socially outcasts. Alva is determined to win respect after being ignored by the socialites from old money. She designed and help builds nine mansions, hosts grand balls attended by a duchess, and her daughter marries a duke. Alva also disrupts the norm for her time by asserting power in her marriage and becoming a leader in the women's suffrage movement.

It was interesting to read about Alva Vanderbilt who is a very complex person. I loved, hated, and loved to hate her while reading this book. I felt like the novel was a bit slow-moving and then in some parts, significant events were mentioned in passing.  I wish more time was spent on developing characters than describing the mansions she built.

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Book Review - A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

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Valerie Alston-Holt is a single mother who is raising her talented biracial son in tight-knitted Oak Knoll, a North Carolina neighborhood. Xavier is headed to college on scholarship and Valerie is facing the prospect of becoming an empty nester. While Valerie is planning on how to spend her future, things take the turn for the worse, when a new affluent family moves next door.

The Whitmans is like every other family except, their teenage daughter has a few secrets. Brad Whitman is a local celebrity around town and he made a small fortune after selling his invention. He and his wife, Julia escaped their meager upbringing. Together they try to build a new life filled with privilege and wealth.

The Whitmans and Alston-Holt have very little in common with each other. However, when Valerie's beloved oak tree starts dying and the two teenagers secretly starting dating; the two families find themselves at odds. Will the neighbors be able to look past each other's transgressions and live peacefully?

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book but, I will say that the ending certainly did stay with me. I kept thinking about what would I do if I was in the characters' shoes. The novel discussed many important topics such as racism, class, money, and power. I felt like this novel was very much relevant and really makes readers think.

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