This novel is about a woman named Agnes who, after a tough childhood, has settled into life as a trophy wife to a rich older guy. Shortly after the book starts, he disappears and she is told he is in financial trouble, and she has to move across the country and work as a middle school teacher at a private school of last resort in New York. This was a cute book, but is bogged down by two things: (1) it's pretty obvious to the reader (or at least to me) from the start that the husband is a jerk, but yet it takes way too long for Agnes to figure it out; and (2) while Agnes is an appealing and fleshed out character, a lot of the other characters feel a little cartoonish. All that being said, it was a quick and fun read. 3.5 stars.

I really thought this book was going to be a light and breezy read. I was pleasantly surprised at what the book was, however. I love the self growth angle this book took. Agnes, who was used to a charmed life after years of struggling returned to the life of a struggling adult but she rocked it!

I love that Anges was placed in a middle school—I also went from teaching pre-k to teaching middle school, and I think the transition was well documented. The situations the students were in were really funny, and I’m definitely glad I’m not their teacher.

To sum it up, I was proud of Anges, and I don’t think I’ve said that about a character in a book in a long time,

I received an advance copy of this book.

Agnes is a California trophy wife whose life as she knows it comes to an abrupt stop when her husband fails to show up to their weekly massage date. Agnes is told by her husband’s confidante that she has to move to the Bronx to teach middle schoolers at a boarding school and wait to hear from her husband. Agnes goes from her gilded life to a mice-infested condo at the school. Her life turns completely upside down. The story of Agnes’ journey of awakening is told with humor and authenticity and I loved every minute of it. I was laughing out loud throughout the book. Trophy Life is the author’s debut book and I look forward to many more from her.

The story of Agnes' journey to discover that she is a strong, independent woman is a charming one. Agnes discovers her husband is running a Ponzi -type scheme and he sends her, with nothing, to teach at a boys boarding school to dig up information on one of his clients to help him. Agnes is bit too forgiving of Jack, her husband, but by the end realises she doesnt have to put up with his nonsense. A witty and charming debut!

Trophy Life is a cross-country tale of a thirty-something woman finding her way. Agnes had a rough start in her childhood, but she finds love and a more-than-comfortable life with Jack in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, their financial situation is not all she believed it to be, and she is forced to pack up and move to the Bronx with her infant to teach middle school at an all-boys private school while her husband attempts to right his mistakes.

Agnes struggles to adapt to her life, but not for the reasons you would initially think. She is happy to teach the boys and tries her best to help them whenever she can. Overall, this is an easy beach/summer read. I was occasionally frustrated with Agnes and what she was willing to tolerate, but also admired her strength and resilience in the face of adverse situations.

A great beach read! Trophy Life was light and funny without being silly. I enjoyed the character development and the overall message of the book.

Agnes Parson has it all, or so it seems. Married to a rich man, a baby daughter, a house in Santa Monica that comes along with staff (housekeeper and Nanny)...yes, she has it all. The fact that Jack, her husband, is 20 years older than her only adds to this rich life. So different from her childhood, one that was spent in foster homes after her parents were killed in an accident. Her current life offers security, love and comfort... But when Jack disappears, that secure life is no longer hers. Now there is no money, no home, no staff and Agnes has no clue as to where Jack has gone, or where the checkbooks were kept, if the house has a mortgage, or any life insurance information. As for Jack, he has business problems, huge business problems, with serious money owed, and debt, he no longer is able to provide for his family. For that matter, he has to go "underground." Agnes is stranded, and having no choice has to leave California for New York City where a job in an all-boy middle school in the Bronx awaits her.
As far as I'm concerned, Ms. Geller has given us a wonderful novel. Quite a feat for a debut and I'm quite sure we will be reading more from this author. Terrific writing, in depth characters as we are drawn into the life of Agnes Parson. Bravo!
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trophy Life was a fun, quick read about a woman named Agnes, who after years of just barely making ends meet after the death of her parents as a pre-teen, and being shuffled around between foster homes, meets, and falls in love with the charming, and wealthy, Jack Parsons. With her marriage to Jack comes safety and security, financially and relationship-wise, as Agnes becomes the stereotypical "trophy wife". Until one day, Agnes learns that things are not what they seemed, and that they are broke due to Jack's having been running a Ponzi scheme in his investment firm. Jack sends Agnes, and their baby daughter, off to the Bronx, where Anges must take a job as a middle-school English teacher, for a class of troubled boys, at a boarding school, in an effort to dig up some information on one of Jack's old acquaintances, in order to help get him out of his financial mess. As Agnes must suddenly go back to living barely making ends meet, in an effort to help Jack and save her family, she realizes that maybe her old life, and way of living, weren't so important after all. Trophy Life was a cute story- charming, and funny at times. I was frustrated watching Agnes remain so devoted so Jack throughout much of the book, but was glad to see her finally realize that she can make it on her own, and stand up for what is right by the end.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a good "chick lit" read - a type of book that would be good to read on vacation or a day at the beach.

The main character, Agnes, is basically left with nothing. And I do mean nothing. For years, her husband Jack has made her life comfortable by allowing her to live a life of California luxury, even taking it upon himself to make every little decision for Agnes and their young daughter.

When everything falls apart, Agnes is forced to move across the country and take a teaching job - dealing with middle school boys everyday. Something that is so far away from her previous life.

As a reader, you do begin to feel bad for Agnes and the situation Jack left her in. Agnes is not always a likable character - in fact, some of her decisions and thoughts really started to annoy me. But she really grows and by the end of the book, you are really rooting for her success.

I thought this would be a light, sexy read, but it was a lot more complex (in a very good way) than I expected. Agnes's husband is an investor who has done something he shouldn't. Their luxurious Los Angeles home, cars, possessions are all taken away and he finds a "safe place" for Agnes and their toddler daughter, Grace, in the Bronx at an all-boys prep school run by one of his clients. Agnes is in the dark as to what her husband, Jack, has done, but she goes along with the plan and moves across the country. Fortunately, this brings her closer to her longtime friend Beeks.

Agnes starts working at the boys prep school and at first the middle school boys she teaches are very undisciplined and she struggles to maintain order in the classroom. This reminded me a lot of the sweathogs in Welcome Back Kotter (I'm aging myself!!). The intimidating principal is there to help her and her annoying neighbor is also there to offer suggestions. There is an interesting cast of characters in this little community Agnes finds herself in. Over time she befriends her students and come to have an understanding of them and some things going on at the school and Agnes has to make some tough decisions.

This was a quick read and very pop-culture oriented with name dropping of stores and brands, but the message and the character arc were great. A solid 4 star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the quick and fun read!! Agnes is a woman who has everything and then loses everything and has to start over. It sounds depressing, but it really wasn't. I loved Agnes and how much courage she had through out the book. Great read with great characters.

Humorous and heartwarming tale of a woman who had everything to lose and then did. This had great character development and an enjoyable subplot. This book was graciously provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful debut! Most women would not want to be in Agnes’ position of starting over and all of the unknown things that go with it, but Agnes makes the best of it with heart and courage. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommended it to friends.

This was a delightful debut! While very humorous at parts, it was also extremely heartwarming and there was a lot of depth and character development of the main character. I enjoyed that the book was about so much more than a woman who seemingly had everything losing everything. The school subplot was especially entertaining for me. I adored the boys in Aggie's classroom and loved her relationship with them. The book had a villain, an outspoken BFF, a quirky neighbor, and a whole lot more. I recommend it.

A trophy wife forced to adjust to the life of a middle school prep school teacher in the Bronx.

Things I liked:

Agnes’s relationship with the boys she taught and the insight about middle school boys.

Agnes’s relationship with her friend Beeks.

Things I didn’t like:

The outcome of what was going on with her husband Jack as well as what was going on with Gavin the school principal was just too predictable.

3.5 🌟 Thank you NetGalley for an ARC. This book turned out to have more heft than I was expecting and the main character had more substance than the book title implies. I liked the main heroine a lot but wished she was a little quicker to realize what an ick her husband was and what a jem she was.

I really enjoyed this book. It did end the way I thought it would, but leading up to the ending was not what I expected. I read this book in 3 sittings and found myself wanting to read more when I was busy doing other things. Anges the main character is like an onion, at first you think she only has one layer, but as she discovers more about herself you realize that there are many layers to her. She is kind of shallow at first, but then blossoms unto a strong independent woman who can't help but root for.

Agnes is a girl after my own heart. The only thing she wanted was a family--to find her place in the world and to feel secure in her sense of belonging. Agnes marries Jack because she thinks he can give her the family and security she desperately wants. What Agnes discovers, however, is that people are not always as they seem and you can't put all of your happiness eggs in someone else's basket. As her world begins to turn upside down, Agnes has to face her worst fears of being alone. It takes a while for her to adjust to her change in circumstances but eventually she begins to embrace her new life. Adversity reveals character and we see that Agnes is resilient and stronger than she ever thought. She stumbles along the way but in the end she learns that money does not equal security or fulfillment.

I loved the strong message of personal responsibility. We all have choices and choices have consequences. It's our responsibility to own our mistakes and learn from them. Agnes chooses to follow her own conscience and accept whatever consequences that choice may bring.

This book was a very interesting read! It was quite suspenseful at times, had an engaging story and I found myself relating very well to the main character. I definitely recommend this book.

Trophy wife with her ups and downs. Full of insight of women with their financial, familial and personal problems.
Well written and very original. Looking forward to more books from Lea Geller.