A story about one of modern history’s original power couples. I have a little knowledge of Winston Churchill, but had nothing of Cat. What an incredible woman!! A well written, easy-to-read book. The question remains, would Hitler and the Nazis have won the war without Winston Churchill’s leadership...and would Churchill have held power without Clementine? Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.
This book was very interesting all the way through. For someone who enjoys learning about history, it was a nice change to read about a strong female involved in so much history.
Some parts of the story surprised me and made me want to keep reading.
I already know people I will be recommending and buying this for!

This was an interesting read because I never really knew much about Clementine Churchill. She was a very a strong, diplomatic, and inspiring woman who strived to support her husband. This was well written historical fiction and I learned a great deal.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read and enjoyed every single one of Marie Benedict’s novels. She writes about these strong women in history that of course I know existed but perhaps I hadn’t given much thought to. By the end of all of these books I have always hungered for more knowledge. Searching Wikipedia, finding documentaries or anything else that I can get my hands on. Benedict really has a way of bringing these women of the past to life and I thank her for it. All of that being said I believe I have officially reached fan girl status. I will always buy, read and recommend her books to my friends and other historical fiction book lovers.

Lady Clementine is her fourth novel and I am so impressed. I am amazed at how the majority of Clementine Churchill’s life was condensed into just over 300 pages and I wasn’t left wanting more - or feeling that something was lacking. It was the perfect length for me and I never felt as if a scene or situation was drawn out.

Clementine was someone that was intelligent and resilient. She loved her husband and supported his pursuits. They had this romance and love for each other but readers also get to see them work together behind the scenes of politics.

As strong a person as Clementine was she was also very human. Sometimes she would become overwhelmed and take breaks and vacations. A lot of the time she’d do these things alone. She also was the mother of 5 children whom she loved I’m sure but in her own way. You get the impression that she didn’t have a normal mothering instinct. She had nanny’s to take care of her children and she was more concerned about accompanying her husband and traveling than being in the home.

Why I didn’t give it 5 stars-

It has nothing to do with the author or her ability to write. The writing is fantastic. I am just not a fan of books that are politics heavy. It’s like I immediately get bored and my brain shuts off.

I shouldn’t compare books but once you get to the point of reading all of an authors works it’s kind of hard not to. The book was good but not my favorite.

Also I found Clementine to be unlikeable at times. Why have 5 children if you don’t necessarily put being a mother as your top priority? Just a personal opinion 🙂

I am so thankful to Marie Benedict, Source Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book prior to its publication. I am so grateful to be able to read and review books for them. It is a privilege.

Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict is a beautiful story, not without adversary, of Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine Churchill; as they call each other Pug and Cat or Clemmie. I have read and loved the first of three books by Ms. Benedict about the wives of very famous men and their influence on them, and this fourth is just as terrific. Mr. Churchill and his difficult clime up  in the politics's of Britain and aided by Mrs. Churchill has she makes a name for herself along with assisting the future Prime Minister with his tasks along with her own idea of change and service to the people of Britain.. Mrs. Churchill does have her own issues, some being not a very good mother, a selfishness about her and sometimes her disregard for her family when pursuing something of want to her. I loved this story! Thank you #NetGalley#LadyClementine#SourcebooksLandmark

This book opens on the eve of Clementine's marriage to Winston and follows their life through the end of WWII. Understanding that a life with Winston demands loyalty, and that she take a back seat, Clementine does her best to cater to his needs and support his political career. At times the strain is too much, as she is forced to put her needs, and the needs of her children second to the charismatic, unstoppable force that is her husband.

This was a pretty interesting read. Clementine was a very likeable character, and well rounded. At times Winston comes across as a bumbling, stubborn man with little common sense, which is at great contrast to his legacy. The passing of time was done particularly well, leaving the story with a nice flow. Overall, well worth picking up.

Unfortunately I am only half way through this one and put it down. The writing and accuracy is top notch, as this author always is, but I cannot get into the Churchills as a couple or a family. I do not feel connected to any of the characters. It may be me and timing because it is really interesting history and Clementine Churchill is a strong smart female character. I may pick up again after taking a break.

This book about Clementine Churchill read like a memoir and was very fascinating. I loved learning more about her life. I did think it was a little slow in the middle, but overall, I really enjoyed it.

I need to start this review by saying that I'm a fan of Marie Benedict's work. I loved The Other Einstein and Carnegie's Maid. Even The Only Woman in the Room was good (but not as good as Einstein, I'm afraid). But that being said, it's with a heavy heart that I announce that I did not like this book. Like...at all.

The book centers around Clementine Churchill and her longtime marriage to Winston Churchill. The book starts with their courtship, where Winston makes no secret of the fact that he's besotted with her and her intelligence. They quickly marry and she stands behind him during his political career. Of course, you can't have a book where the main character is relegated to the sidelines! What fun is that? So instead, Clementine makes it so that she's indispensable to Winston. Then she starts manipulating him to do exactly as she says, to give herself a bigger role in his universe. Then - oh no! - she can't handle such a stressful life as a wife and mother, so she has to go away a few times and leave her children in the care of nannies. To the point where her own children PREFER the nannies to their own mother. But does she let that stop her? Nope. Instead she takes advantage of it, and keeps doing what she's doing. All the men remark on how odd it is for a politician's wife to be so involved with her husband's work. Does THAT stop her? No, again! She consistently manipulates Winston and the other men into proving her points so she can get her own way, especially after the war starts. Granted, she's not doing anything bad. But she walks around on a smug high horse, because none of the men can do anything she can, or keep up with her and her big brain.

All of this is just my way of saying I did not like Clementine at all. The rest of the story was fine; it was interesting seeing the war from a politician's view. But all in all, I'd rather have seen it from Eleanor Roosevelt's point of view. I have a feeling she would have come across a lot more likeable.

Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine was a very strong and successful woman. Not only did she assist Winston, but she did many things to help the British women herself. I knew very little about her or their family life, so this was quite interesting to me. Focus on their relationship, and with their children, and also on the war years. She was instrumental in Winston's career. A fascinating woman in her own right. She certainly had her hands full with Winston, but she was an equal match for him.

Lady Clementine tells the story of the remarkable Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston Churchill. Beginning in 1909 with Clementine’s marriage to Winston, the novel spans 35 years of this extraordinary women and her life with one of the world’s most influential leaders. Much more than just “the woman behind the man”, Clementine was an intelligent, driven and forceful person in her own right, with strong opinions and beliefs of her own often in conflict with those of her husband. Theirs was one of the great marriage partnerships in history. Winston relied often upon Clementine’s observations and judgement; and he was often demanding of her time and energy, leaving her with scant resources for her children and herself. Winston Churchill’s career spanned some of the most pivotal events of the 20th century from WWI through WWII, and like Eleanor Roosevelt, Clementine was instrumental in the decisions and actions that helped shaped history.

Like Benedict’s other novels, this is a compelling look at the life of someone under recognized by historians. Extremely well researched, the story is fast paced and engaging. The reader sees the best and the worst of Clementine and we are left to draw our own judgements on her life. This is a fascinating account of an important life during an important part of history and very relevant to today’s headlines. This will be popular with fans of historical fiction, early 20th century history, and book clubs.

Marie Benedict has become one of the most popular writers of historical fiction and she does a good job with it. I knew nothing about Clementine Churchill so that part was interesting to me. I never felt any connection with Clementine, though. She just didn't seem very likable - maybe she wasn't a likable person but there was just sort of a disconnection for me. It was interesting to see some of the historical events shown in this new light with a different perspective.

Marie Benedict brings to life the stories of fascinating women in history, and in her latest novel, Lady Clementine, she does it again. We all know Lady Clementine as Winston Churchill's supportive wife, but do we really know HER? Wife, daughter, sister, she is a fascinating character, fiercely devoted and supportive of her husband through his myriad ups and downs. Clementine is intelligent, politically astute and has excellent instincts for people and often saves Churchill from potentially disastrous decisions. But she's not just his wife...she has passion for many projects of her own. It's Clementine who brings women fully into the workplace during wartime, and Clementine who helps pave the way for women's suffrage.

Lady Clementine is a wonderful book, an unvarnished look at an amazing woman who had a huge impact on the fate of England in the first half of the twentieth century.

This was a good book--but something is keeping from saying it was a great book. The research, the understandable emotions, all of it made sense--but perhaps it was the story structure that was somewhat lacking. There wasn't a clear buildup to any events. And sometimes the skips over time missed seemingly big events, like the reader was speeding through Clementine Churchill's life versus being a part of it. Not a bad book, and definitely enlightening.

Benedict is becoming the specialist of historical fiction that focuses on the female counterpart of a strong, successful, famous man. This time around it is Clementine Churchill, the wife of the famous Winston Churchill. Clemmie is a complex woman. On one hand, she is from an old, distinguished family, yet they are impoverished, with a mother who drinks, has many lovers, and neglects her children. Once Clementine marries into the Churchill family, she is thrust into the political world in which she ultimately thrives. Unbeknownst to many of us (me included), Clemmie was instrumental in Winston's rise in power and his comeback, editing his speeches and providing vital moral support as well as organizational skill during the Blitz. I was fascinated with the history, but not as much with Clemmie. She's still a bit of a cipher to me, unclear as to her motivations, her own wants and desires, her passions. I liked this book, but didn't love it as much as the previous one about Hedy Lamar. Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book wasn't a win for me. I was excited to learn more about Clementine Churchill, but I think this book would have been better as a biography. I felt as if it was written to make us like Clementine and show she was a strong and powerful woman, but she came off so unlikable throughout. The writing felt a bit unnatural - more like a listing of facts then a narrative that flowed. Reading through other reviews, I am happy to be in the minority here. Although the book was not for me, it is very well loved by many others! Thank you to Sourcebooks, NetGaley and Marie Benedict for the opportunity to read the eARC.

Fans of Marie Benedict’s The Other Einstein, Carnegie’s Maid, and The Only Woman in the Room will enjoy Lady Clementine, her upcoming historical novel about Clementine Churchill, to be released January 7, 2020. Those who haven’t read one of Benedict’s novels but who enjoy WWII fiction should also buy a copy or reserve one at a local library.

Lady Clementine opens on the couple’s wedding day but fills in their individual backgrounds and their meeting at a dinner party. Although portraying Clementine and Winston Churchill’s devotion to one another, Benedict focuses largely on Clementine as she copes with the ups and downs of Churchill’s political career, her growing understanding of her own and her husband’s weaknesses, and her personal grown both to meet her husband’s emotional and political needs and her own need for independence, self-fulfillment, and a place in national and world history.


Set mostly during the London Blitz and ending with the Allied victory, Benedict’s Lady Clementine is fiction grounded in historical events and peopled with not only the Churchill family members , but other British and American politicians including Franklin Delano and Eleanor Roosevelt. Unlike most history textbooks writers, Benedict portrays these famous figures warts and all, not as perfect superheroes who saved the free world, but as flawed—sometimes downright unlikeable—human beings.

Drawing details from history, ranging from war events to Winston’s elitist tastes in foods and drink during lean times to Clementine’s hostess skills, from their struggles with insecurity and depression to their pet names for each other, Benedict has written an engrossing historical novel about two flawed but key players on the world stage.

Based on my previous reading and limited research as I read Lady Clementine, Marie Benedict appears to have done her homework. Nonetheless, I would like to see an added section in the back of the published edition, as in some other historical novels, in which the author discusses her research and her deviations from historical fact necessitated by the demands of telling an entertaining story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an Advance Reader Copy of what Kirkus Review has called “A rousing tale of ambition and love.”

I've never read a book about Mrs. Churchill, the wife of Winston Churchill. While I realize this is historical fiction and the author probably took some liberties, I loved reading about this woman who refused to stand quietly besid her husband and instead took an active role at his side. I was upset at the fact that she seemed detached from her children however and put her husband's career first. Overall. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

From the beginning of their marriage, Lady Clementine Churchill put her husband first often times before their children and her own health. Not content to be seen and not heard like so many politician's wives were treated, Clementine forges her own path proving to be a force to be reckoned with. I was fascinated by this woman who stood up not only for other women but for people effected by the brutal bombings of London by the Nazis. I wonder if Winston Churchill would have reached the political heights he did if he had chosen another woman to marry. With this book, Marie Benedict has introduced another intriguing, brilliant woman I look forward to learning more about.

2.5 Stars...This is a tough book to review. While the book is well written, and very well researched, I just did not like Clementine Churchill.

I realize this is a historical fiction book, so I'm not sure how much of this is true, but I can only review the version of Clementine I read here in these pages, and in these pages, she was pretty horrible.

It's one thing to be ambitious and wanting to do everything you can to help your husband succeed in his political career, but Clementine put Winston before everything and everyone...including her children.

No matter how much I may disagree with someone else's parenting style, I don't usually call another woman a 'terrible mother' as that's just so incredibly harsh, and mothering is subjective and everyone parents differently, and what works for one kid may not work for another, blah, blah, blah. However Clementine Churchill was a TERRIBLE MOTHER.

She was selfish and narrow-minded, and had no business having as many children as she did. Even when she lost a child to illness, she STILL didn't change! She still didn't step up and be there for her remaining children, and the child that followed after. Parenting was left to the revolving door of Nannys.

No wonder her kids were so messed up.

Overall, I'd recommend this is you're a fan of the Churchills and enjoy reading about them and this time period (WWI and WWII). Otherwise, I'd say skip it. It's extremely slow going, and I skimmed the last 20% just trying to get through it.

Again, well written, but Clementine was just too unlikable for me to enjoy this.