Escape into the glitz and diamond studded glamour of New York City’s Gilded age in Renee Rosen’s latest novel “The Social Graces.”

The novel tells the story of the social cold war between society’s reigning queen Caroline Astor and up-and-comer Alva Vanderbilt. While both women are fantastically wealthy, society looks down upon the newly rich and favors those who have inherited money instead of working for it. In a period where a woman’s only activity was to socialize and obey her spouse, Alva desperately wants to gain Caroline’s approval, but finds herself constantly rebuffed by the older woman, despite her friendship with Caroline’s eldest daughter.

As time wears on, Caroline finds that the ways she’s been protecting have become increasingly unfashionable and finds herself having to adapt to the new standards ushered in by Alva or fade into obscurity.

As the two women clash over who will be the social scene’s reigning queen through various snubs and ball invitations they find that they aren’t so different after all. While the two women have their passive battle of wills, they both experience heartache and loss over the course of 30 years.

Readers who can’t help but soak up gossip will find themselves captivated by Caroline and Alva’s maneuvers to keep them at the top of society. “The Social Graces” may also appeal to “Bridgerton” fans, as the book heavily trades on gossip and scandal throughout the course of the novel. Rosen’s writing, which offers plenty of details about the gilded fashions of yesteryear, spins an intriguing tale about how two women carved out a role of importance for themselves that didn’t rely upon their husbands.

Soapy and scandalous, THE SOCIAL GRACES is the perfect summer historical fiction read. The novel is based on the true story of the infamous rivalry between Old Money Knickerbocker, Caroline Astor, and New Money nouveau riche, Alva Vanderbilt.

The writing of Renee Rosen transports readers to the height of the Gilded age in Newport and New York with debutantes, operas and marital scandal. This story of social warfare is told from both women’s point of view and reads like a juicy gossip column spanning three decades.

I enjoyed taking a peek into the opulence and vanity of a time period I hadn’t previously read much about! The importance of lavish parties and social standing while women also fought for equal rights as men was an interesting juxtaposition. This was an entertaining and enlightening read. If you enjoy historically accurate accounts of rich people behaving badly, this book is for you!

RATING: 4/5 stars
AVAILABLE: Now!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In The Social Graces, Rosen highlights the legendary feud between grand dames Alva Vanderbilt and Caroline Astor regarding who would reign supreme over New York City society during the Gilded Age. Mrs. Astor, known for determining who made the powerful 400 list and setting the standard for what was in and what was not, represented the old money group, while Alva Vanderbilt, who married into the newly-wealthy Vanderbilt family, continually worked to be accepted by New York society and wanted to eventually take Caroline Astor’s place. The feud begins when Alva Vanderbilt marries into the Vanderbilt family, and most of the upper crust families refuse to acknowledge her. But Alva is more than determined to make her place in society setting off a battle with Caroline Astor that raged across decades and included some pretty juicy drama.

The Social Graces is just one of those books that's so excellent I'm still thinking of it even though I'm done with it.
This is high society upper crust Manhattan during the Gilded Age . Society was everything and if you weren't part of high society you were a nothing and no one would associate with you they believed.
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I really didn't know much about the Vanderbilts and the Astors.
What I found very interesting is this book is based on true events.
One woman marries into one of America's wealthiest families the other comes from a family who got theirs from the railroads.
These women had dizzying wealth beyond imagination but did they have true happiness? In my opinion no!
They were not satisfied with what they had they were in fierce competition with each other for their places in society while snubbing each other publicly and privately.
Nothing was enough,houses and yachts were never big enough,fashions had to be made by foreign seamstresses out of the country and balls were thrown so extravagantly they worried how they would top it with the next social event.
Did they have true love, I don't believe so. Marrying for their place in society was more important to them than love and they encouraged their children to do so as well.
Divorce was not something women initiated back then because if you did it would cause a scandal and the invites to balls and other high society ranking would go down, But when one woman did dare to stand up for herself see what happens by reading this absolutely mesmerizing book.


Pub Date 20 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved reading The Social Graces by Renee Rosen! For just a moment, I felt as though I was in their shoes, arranging grand balls and luncheons... scheming for a place in society and sparing no expense. I also felt heartbroken for the way they were treated - as property rather than real women..

This one is perfect if you're a fan of regency romance or Bridgerton, for example!

Review will be posted on 4/29/21
Alva Vanderbilt married one of the most wealthy men in America, which means she should have it all, right? Except she doesn't. She isn't one of the Gilded Age's top society members; in fact, she is shunned by Queen Bee Caroline Astor. Caroline only lets "old money" into her social circle and since the Vanderbilts are nouveau riche and obtained their money from the railroad, they can't ever be properly let into society. Plus, everyone knows that the Commodore's manners are lacking and Alva doesn't quite get the ins and outs of high society. It's the Gilded Age in New York City and if you are one of the wealthy families, dinners, the opera, mingling in high society and their lavish balls are everything. Alva naively thinks that she can befriend Caroline, but Caroline gives her the cold shoulder for quite sometime. After more time passes, Alva is determined to be accepted by high society, so she starts to play by her own rules not only for herself, but for her family too. Meanwhile, both women aren't untouchable. Each face their own triumphs and tragedies as the years go by and it has left them questioning if all of this is even worth it. Renee Rosen's The Social Graces is a fascinating historical read that will be put you front and center in the opulent Gilded Age.

I really liked Alva to begin with once I cracked open my copy of The Social Graces. I had read about her before in A Well Behaved Woman and Husband Hunters, so I was familiar with her story, but I love how Rosen focuses different aspects of Alva, especially when it comes to her struggle to be accepted in society. Alva is determined to beat Caroline at her own game, so she forces her way into society one way or another. Their rivalry spans decades and they try to outdo each other, but behind the scenes you have real people with real problems. There's untimely deaths, heartbreak, betrayals, disappointments, philandering husbands, and family members who let these women down. Underneath the gilded surface, Caroline and Alva both have to deal with problems that even money can't rid them of. As the years go by, Alva starts to care more about the average woman and what she must go through working in factories and their rights. I love this about her as we all know she is to become an important figure in the women's suffrage movement.

Caroline Astor in The Social Graces was a difficult person to like initially. She shuns Alva for quite awhile and her disregard for other people was nauseating. However, behind her steely persona is a woman that is relatable. She wants what is best for her daughters despite their best efforts to sabotage their promising futures and she sadly just wants her husband to love her. However, none of this comes easy for Caroline. It's kind of heartbreaking, because she presents herself as having it all when out in society, but we know the truth and like Alva even Caroline can't escape tragedy.

I really enjoyed how Rosen brought the Gilded Age to life memorably in The Social Graces. The posh parties, the outfits, the mansions, the gems, and the scandals were all so entertaining and to know that this was all based on real events makes it that much more enjoyable. In the end, Rosen reminds us that both women weren't just a pretty face; they contributed great things to society and often aren't remembered for that.

In sum, fans of Bridgerton would like The Social Graces as well as readers who enjoy stories about strong women. The Social Graces is one of my favorite historical reads of the year. So, have you read Renee Rosen's novels? Is The Social Graces on your TBR list? Do you like stories about the Gilded Age? let me know in the comments below.

The Social Graces was one of my most anticipated books this Spring! I was so excited last weekend to get an email from Berkley with a Netgalley widget!

The Gilded Age is my favorite time period and there aren't enough books set in it! I've read anther review and they described this book as a 19th century Gossip Girl and it made me laugh but honestly it's true!

I knew a lot more about Alva Vanderbilt and honestly she is such a fascinating woman to go from a well to do family to NYC socialite to a leader of the suffrage movement.

Anyway this book is about the decades long "fued" between the old money Mrs. Astor and the new money Alva Vanderbilt and the changing society.

I loved this book! It's wonderful writing in both the view of Alva and Caroline Astor plus a fun society view too! It was fun to read both of their sides, the 30 years of NYC elite society and how things were changing. Plus a great historical note on sources, recommend other books and the liberties she took in writing this!

If you are a Gossip Girl fan or love The Vanderbilts this is one I'd recommend!

Two women were big characters, but not in a time where women could be big characters. They both were creative in the way they made space for themselves in the world where men took center stage and women had certain expectations set for them.

Caroline Astor was the woman who set the standard for society. Women followed in her path just in the hopes that she would acknowledge them. She was the woman at the top of the pyramid, but didn't want to make room for another one at the top. Alva Vanderbilt had an interesting childhood for the woman she ended up being. She was a part of the new establishment that wasn't accepted by the old and she was bound and determined to make it to the very top.

I absolutely adored this book. The time and place and the characters were just right. It is 1876 in New York City and the world is changing and evolving and everyone is trying to "keep up with the jones" or the Astors! I loved the balls and the city. But what I loved the most was the history that I learned - the inception of the Metropolitan Opera House and the history behind the Waldorf Astoria hotel. If you are a fan of New York like I am and would love to know more about how it came to be, this book is just for you.

I love to read historical fiction. But I am loving the historical fiction that are far from wars and battles as that is what seems to be the most prevalent recently, so a good historical fiction that is just about a great time and place was what I needed right now.

My Rating: 9/10

Review:

The Social Graces was exactly what I needed to get the reading juices flowing. I haven’t had enough of historical fiction in my life lately and it is one of my favorite genres. Most Americans have heard of the Vanderbilts and some of us have heard of the Astors, as well. The Astors were considered Old Money and Caroline Astor was THE woman that could grant access into society during the Gilded Age. The Vanderbilts were some of the richest people in America but were looked down upon for being New Money. Alva Vanderbilt desperately wanted to be included in New York’s society but her eagerness works against her in Caroline’s eyes. Alva has the tenacity and vision to rise above, even in the face of scandal and judgement from the upper crust socialites.

I found myself enthralled from the first page to the last. Honestly, the only reason that I didn’t devour this in one sitting was because I found myself looking up each character and the scandals that followed them. So much of this novel is historically accurate and I was delighted to find that in the author’s note at the end, Rosen made sure to go over which moments she embellished upon. I found that most of the research I did throughout the book was covered in that section.

The Social Graces captured the gossipy aspect of the Gilded Age while also focusing on the transition into these women finding their own voice in society outside of being socialites and wives of rich men. With the suffragette movement going on, many of these women realize that they don’t have to be kept at the mercy of their husbands. Where women used to have to accept the marriages arranged for them or had to turn a blind eye to cheating, they realize they have a choice on how they react to these situations. Alva takes an interest in architecture and design and realizes she is quite good at it, though the men around her do their best to take credit for her achievements. Alva breaks down social barriers and we see other characters adapt with her or rebel against this.

With Caroline, we follow this very strong woman who doesn’t quite know what she wants. Does she want to adapt or does she want to preserve the ideals of her mother? Can she do both? Caroline also goes through quite a few grieving processes that highlight the way grief can sideline our plans or motives. There’s moments that we can tell she wants to toe her way into the way society is changing, but then something terrible will happen and she reverts into the comfort of her set ways. I found both of these women to be incredibly complex and endearing in their own way. They could both be insufferable in their power plays, but overall, they were just women trying to find and keep places in a world meant for men.

The line that The Social Graces straddles between the extravagance of the New York elite and the beginning of a feminist movement was done subtly and beautifully. Don’t get me wrong, the women of this novel weren’t wholly brave enough to sever the safety net of money and privilege the men around them provided them, but they laid down some stepping stones for their daughters and the women that followed. They made mistakes and they had regrets, but their journeys were remarkable.

All in all, this was a beautifully done novel full of excitement and multi-faceted characters. It has reignited that passion I have for historical fiction and I’d especially love to read Renee Rosen’s other novels. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review The Social Graces.

This book takes place during the Guilded Age in New York City and is told through the perspectives of two of the queens of society - Carolina Astor and Alva Vanderbilt. The novel as features commentary from “society”.

I really enjoyed this book and Caroline and Alva as characters. I was entertained by the feud between Caroline (old money) and a Alva (new money). I also enjoyed how their relationship changed over the course of the novel as each of them grew older and had pivotal life experiences. I also appreciated that both characters were real people and this story left me wanting to learn more about both of them.

Overall, this was one of my favorite historical fiction reads so far this year and one that I would definitely recommend!

During the Gilded Age, women of means had few rights, and certainly little independence, but they did control Society and its rules. Caroline Astor reigned as the acknowledged leader, with her advisor Ward McAllister, and they set the tone and determined what was proper.

But Alva Vanderbilt, wealthy with new railroad money, looked down upon by the “old money” Knickerbockers, was determined to have her place among Society’s women. When Caroline rebuffed Alva, she adopted the philosophy of “if you can’t join them, beat them,”engendering a decades-long competition to be most lauded woman in Society, regardless of the cost or collateral damage.

Before reading this book, I knew little about the conspicuous consumption of the period—the balls that lasted all night, the gowns decorated with jewels, the expensive party favors. The opulent houses and cottages were designed more as competitive showcases than places to live comfortably. At the same time, economic conditions in the country meant many were hungry and homeless.

Women who did challenge social norms through marrying beneath their station, having affairs, or divorcing paid a price, both financially and in terms of reputation. The lack of options makes devotion to Society interesting and understandable but it often had unintended consequences.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 by Renée Rosen is meticulous researched, at times using exact quotations from key players. With the story told from three points of view: Caroline’s, Alva’s, and Society’s, it offers a wide perspective on the time. However, I do wonder if the things that make Caroline and Alva most empathetic were real or a product of the author’s imagination!

Historical fiction lovers, especially those looking for insight into a little covered period, will want to read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 .

Mrs. Alva Vanderbilt, of the the "new money" Vanderbilts, was determined to make a mark on the Gilded Age's society. The one crucial thing she needs to pave her way into the social set was Mrs. Caroline Astor's (of the "old money" Astors) blessing, which she refused to give. Alva realizes that she has more money than the Astors and that money can open many doors. As Mrs. Astor becomes distracted by her daughters' poor choices for future spouses and is working to block some marriages and arrange others, Alva begins to make a name for herself and the Vanderbilt family by building bigger homes, throwing more outrageous parties, and donating larger sums of money to the culture scene. Mrs. Astor is forced to acknowledge Alva and reluctantly bestow a symbolic blessing.

I always love a good historical fiction book and have been searching out books about the Gilded Age because I am finding it quite intriguing. I feel the Gilded Age Society was left over from the Monarchical way of life from Britain, because if you were old money, with an old name, you were essentially royalty and your duty was to the people to continue that sheltered echelon. Marriages were to keep the societal lines "clean" and the parties, dinners, and attendance at social functions were not for entertainment, but were societal obligations. Mrs. Astor begins realizing that society had begun to dictate her instead of the other way around when her children's lives begin to fall apart and she realized the sadness she had inadvertently imposed by forcing "societal propriety" upon them.

This was a good book and I found myself researching many of the characters to find out more of their stories. This didn't feel so much of a historical fiction; I suppose because there really wasn't an event that the entire story revolved around as much as a glimpse of life in a certain time period. It felt more like a beach read set in the Gilded Age, if that makes sense.

I’m back with another ✨Book Review✨

The Social Graces

Old Money vs New Money during the Gilded Age in NY.

After marrying into the Vanderbilt family ambitious Alva takes on the queen of society Knickerbocker Mrs. Caroline Astor for control of New York’s elite. Both women go through great lengths to climb to the top and stay on top while suffering heartbreak and tragic loss along the way.
One instance, when Alva and her husband are not invited to join the Music Academy, she stops at nothing and pushes to build what today is The Met.

This is an interesting historical fiction . I loved how the author portrayed how powerless and yet how powerful these society women were.
Told from the perspective of Alva Vanderbilt, Caroline Astor and Society, it was a delight reading about this time period.

I knew that the upper class women of the Gilded Age were snooty, but I was not expecting this level of drama!

The Social Graces surrounds the battle between Caroline Astor and Alva Vanderbilt for the top spot in society..a battle between old and new money. Rather, the desire for the old to keep out the new. Over the years, challenges arise that compromise each woman’s status in high society and make them question what it’s all worth.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars out of 5. I’m not typically interested in this subject when it comes to historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this. I was in for the drama, heartbreak, and extravagance, especially since this is based on true events! The amount of money spent on these houses is absolutely insane, over $300 million at today’s dollar value! The author did such a fantastic job presenting this story that I’d love to learn more about these women!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Chicago author Renee Rosen is again taking us on a trip to the past. In her previous novels, she’s explored the city’s jazz roots (Windy City Blues), the Chicago Fire and the founding of the city’s iconic department stores (What the Lady Wants: A Novel of Marshall Field and the Gilded Age), and Prohibition-era Chicago (Dollface). Now, in The Social Graces we meet two mega-wealthy women—Alva Vanderbilt and Caroline Astor who starting in the 1870s vied to become the leader of high society.
If that meant spending $10 million in today’s money to stage a ball at the Waldorf Hotel, so be it.
“Think the original ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ but in Worth gowns,” says Rosen about the competition which in many ways also sounds like middle school. “They had plenty of balls such as the circus ball with a live elephant. Entertaining was the only arena where women could exert some influence. After all they had few rights, they couldn’t even vote, so they literally created this high society where they made the rules and determined who belonged and who didn’t.”
At first Caroline Astor ruled New York and Newport, Rhode Island society. She was old money while Vanderbilt was one of the nouveau riche and after all, no matter how much new money you had it wasn’t as good as the old.
“Mrs. Astor was the gate keeper, the reigning queen, she decided who was invited to her annual ball,” says Rosen, noting that only 400, the number her ball room could hold, were invited to this ball and thus they were deemed to be the elitist of the elite. “If you weren’t invited, you either left town or turned off all your lights and pretended you were out of town.”
Determined to replace Caroline, Alva hosted her famous Masquerade Ball at her Fifth Avenue mansion, inviting 1200 though not Caroline who finally was able to get an invitation. It was so excessive, it helped catapult her to the top.
Rosen didn’t want to just write about these women, she wanted to know them.
“I admired both Caroline and Alva for several reasons and I disliked them for several reasons,” she says. “Alva certainly wouldn’t have been mother of the year.”
And yes, it is true. Alva locked her daughter Consuelo in her room so she couldn’t marry the man she loved and instead forced her to wed the impoverished Charles Spencer-Churchill, the 9th Duke of Marlborough. He in turned just wanted her vast fortune to restore his very outdated palace which didn’t even have central heating or hot water. The marriage, by the way, made Consuelo a relative of Winston Churchill and the yet-to-be-born Princess Diana.
“Alva was such a trail blazer,” says Rosen. “This was a time when so many men had mistresses and women had to put up with it. But when Alva’s husband Willie K. started canoodling with other women, she put her foot down and divorced him. She became a suffragette. She wasn’t a licensed architect, but she knew all about building. There was something really vulnerable about Caroline. I think she was very lonely. She was at the top of society but at some level she knew that none of it really mattered. There was a whole lot of wealth but very little substance.”

The Social Graces by Renée Rosen is a captivating story set in New York City's Gilded Age.  A story that tells the rivalry between the storied Mrs. Astor and newcomer Alva Vanderbilt. A well-written story that is full of detail, intriguing characters, and lots of drama.  The Social Graces is a must-read!

Calling all fans of historical fiction – especially 1800s American HF. I thoroughly enjoyed Renée Rosen’s story of Caroline Astor and Alva Vanderbilt. Caroline was the head of New York society and Alva wanted to be invited into the select group. Given her wealth, that should have been easy, right? But, not so fast. There was a distinction between Old Money families and the Nouveau Riche thus sparking the feud between Caroline and Alva. Rosen’s story, both factual and fictional, became a bit addicting for me. I’ve never read the details of these families – only casual references in other novels. On more than one occasion I searched for photos, articles, etc. That’s what I love about the genre – when done well I’m motivated to find out more. I thought the author did a great job making these seemingly unrelatable people human – not a simple task, in my opinion. I appreciated the author interview, discussion questions, and bibliography included at the end.

This ARC was offered in exchange of an honest review:
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3*
Pros: A complex view from aristocratic women in 19th century-Manhattan, complete with battles of wit, passive-aggressiveness and pettiness that pertains to a life as a socialite. A fictionalised narrative of the history between old money and new money families after the war, particularly between the Astors and the Vanderbilts.
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Cons: Boasts feminism from the first page when the wealth of these aristocratic women was made on the backs of slaves. No intersectionality whatsoever. Slow-paced and uneventful storytelling.

I have not read many books set in the Gilded Age or about the Vanderbilts and Astors so I went into this book without knowing any of the history. That makes me sad to say but I can say now that I have read every single word of The Social Graces and now have knowledge and history of a time in American were New York Society was in a fight for their Queen.

Both families were rich, very rich, yet they could not accept each other. I was intrigued at how much pressure the families were under just to stay within the society of New York. They had to do everything right knowing that one misstep could push them out of society. It seemed that everything they did had an ulterior motive.

Alva Vanderbilt wanted in so badly and Caroline Astor wanted her to stay out just as badly. I enjoyed watching them both make their plans, set up their parties, and take the steps needed to live the lives that they felt they deserved. I found it interesting that there were many times that they questioned what they were doing but felt that they had no choice because it was what was expected of them.

Renee Rosen is a go-to historical fiction author for me. I always recommend her to other readers.

A fascinating look at the lives of society mavens Mrs. Astor and Mrs. Vanderbilt during the Gilt Age of New York City during 1876 as they battle for control of the social scene. Mrs. Astor is old money, a true Knickerbocker and Mrs. Vanderbilt is what some would have called "new" money. Money does not always lead to open doors as Alva Vanderbilt learns the hard way
You will get a detailed look behind the scenes, the clothes, the houses, the scandals and more.