Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I love reading about First Ladies and historical fiction so I really wanted to like this one. I have never read anything about Edith Wilson before and doing some research before jumping into the book, her story is fascinating. As First Lady in a time before Presidents were on TV and obviously no social media, Edith was really able to step in to help her husband during a difficult time for the country – during and after World War I – and when his health really didn’t permit the kind of attention the presidency needed.
Unfortunately, and maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. Oddly, I found this book a bit slow and also like I had just been dropped into it without any context. With so little time and so many books to read, I’m going to stop reading at about the 23% mark. I’m sure the book will get better from here as Edith assumes more and more responsibility but I just wasn’t getting into it.
Because I have to give a star rating, I'm giving this three stars here, because I think the premise is promising for it to get better. Because I didn't finish it. I will not post this review anywhere else.

The President’s Wife explores the life of Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson. A socialite widow content with travel and friendships, Edith’s life changes dramatically when she marries Woodrow and becomes First Lady. Despite her discomfort, she rises to the challenges, dealing with press scrutiny and World War I.

Edith soon becomes indispensable, replacing distracting staff, discussing policy with Woodrow, and encrypting top-secret messages. Her role expands further when she joins Woodrow in France for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

The author highlights the turbulent last months of Woodrow’s administration. After his debilitating stroke, Edith shields him from the press, effectively running the presidency until his death in 1924. Her dedication to preserving his legacy comes at a great personal cost.

The prose is sometimes cluttered with period details, and the portrayal of Woodrow as a simpering fool and the family's involvement in Spiritualism, including seances and Ouija Boards, might be uncomfortable for some readers.

Despite these drawbacks, the book vividly portrays Edith’s struggle to balance her position's demands with her personal integrity and her husband's wellbeing. Wood’s meticulous research offers a deep understanding of the period and the pressures Edith faced, capturing intimate moments against significant historical events like women's suffrage and partisan politics. 3.5 stars.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.

Edith meets. dates and marries President Woodrow Wilson during his time in the White House. Her input into many decisions the President makes during WWI and Women's Suffrage make an interesting read.

I chose to stop reading this title at about 20% in the ebook. The premise of the book was very interesting and I really enjoyed learning more about Edith’s character. The pacing of the book, however, was very slow and the plot was drawn out.

Tracey Enerson Wood does it again! She has mastered the art of finding unknown, unsung women in history and bringing their stories to the light of day.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

Reallt interesting and informative historical fiction about Woodrow and Edith WIlson. Loved it. I so enjoy making people from the past seem more human and relevant. I didn't know a thing about either character and not much about their time in history. I highly recommend this story.

The President's Wife provided an interesting glimpse into the lives of Edith Bowling Wilson and Woodrow Wilson. I was not familiar with much of their stories and learned so much about Mr. Wilson's presidency as well as their courtship and lives together.

This was the first novel I had read by this author and it should strike a chord with fans of Marie Benedict as it sheds light on a woman in history whose impact may not have been truly explored.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A well written story that portrays a very interesting couple in our history. I was pleased to learn more about Edith and her role as First Lady. Rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A unique and gripping experience. I love the lush and lyrical vibes. The settings are Devine and the characters refined.

I enjoyed this one. Very interesting and I found out things that I really didn't know. A very historical story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

After several attempts, I finally finished this book. Although Edith Wilson is to be commended and admired for her role as wife and First Lady, I just could not connect with this book. I will not review this on Goodreads as I do not wish to say anything publicly.

This historical fiction was about Edith Boling Galt, who married President Woodrow Wilson after his first wife died, soon after the end of World War I.
The book begins with their courtship and the relationship they developed. It was interesting to read about the etiquette of the early 20th century and the multiple letters that the couple wrote. Wilson was enamored of Edith and quite eloquently expressed it in his letters. In spite of his choice, the public and the media were not quite as open to this idea of a new First Lady.
The book detailed Wilson's thoughts and dreams for the US post WWI and his efforts to form the League of Nations. Edith was privy to his plan and that legacy of his term. She completely supported him in this plan in spite of the several politicians and government appointee who worked with him Throughout their time in the White House, Edith showed herself to be a dedicated, determined woman who took the reins when the president suffered a stroke which incapacitated him. She received considerable criticism for many decisions that she made as she took on the role of the president. I thought that the book highlighted how her decisions (acting unofficially as president) contributed to World War II.
The book was well researched although very slow paced. I felt that the author introduced too many issues - railroad strikes, prohibition, enfranchisement of women, maintenance of world peace post war.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I rate it 3.5*

“The President’s Wife” by Tracey Enerson Wood is a historical fiction novel that delves into the life of Edith Bolling Galt, who becomes the First Lady of the United States when she marries President Woodrow Wilson. The book explores their relationship, the challenges of Edith’s newfound role, and the historical events that shaped their time in the White House. The story paints a vivid portrait of Edith, a fiercely independent woman who had enjoyed her freedom and independence as a widow before her marriage to President Wilson. Their courtship is portrayed as a whirlwind romance, with Woodrow Wilson’s charm and romantic letters winning Edith over. The author highlights their shared interests and connection, making their relationship believable and endearing to readers.

The novel also delves into the political and historical context of their time, with a focus on World War I and the League of Nations. Edith’s role as the First Lady during these turbulent times is explored, showing her dedication to her husband and her country. Her involvement in raising money for the war effort and her support for the League of Nations are notable aspects of her character. One of the strengths of the book is the portrayal of Edith as a complex and determined woman who, despite facing criticism and challenges, stands by her husband and takes on a significant role in his presidency. The story raises questions about the extent of her influence and the decisions she made in her husband’s stead, especially following his stroke.

The historical accuracy of the novel is commendable, as it captures the events and political climate of the era. The author’s research shines through, providing readers with a compelling glimpse into the lives of Edith and Woodrow Wilson. Overall, “The President’s Wife” is a well-written historical fiction novel that offers an intriguing portrayal of Edith Bolling Galt Wilson and her impact on her husband’s presidency. It successfully combines elements of romance, politics, and history to create a compelling narrative that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and those interested in the lives of First Ladies.

Very good and interesting book about the wife of Woodrow Wilson, a previously unknown to me woman. Made more important due to her large role in running the country during Wilson's disability due to a stroke.

Edith is a widow who turned her deceased husband’s jewelry business around and enjoys her hard gotten independence. Edith is friends with President Woodrow Wilson’s first cousin Helen and one night she is introduced to the President. President Wilson had recently lost his wife Ellen, he has three grown up daughters, Margaret, Jessie and Eleanor. Despite this, President Wilson immediately falls in love with Edith and pursuit her feverishly.

Woodrow Wilson proposes to Edith very early on in their relationship, she thinks it’s too soon and decides they must wait till his term is over. She is quite afraid it will affect his voters loyalty. The president and Edith have quite a few things in common, both were born in Virginia and Woodrow woos her with romantic letters during their courtship. Edith and Woodrow marry on the 18th of December 1915, in a small ceremony at her house and Edith becomes the First Lady of the United States.

Despite the President wanting America to remain neutral, they become involved in The Great War and Edith wants to help raise money for the war. Edith is aware of the food shortage in Europe, she encourages Americans to start planting fruit and vegetable gardens.

The war years take their toll on America's 28th President and Edith does what she can to lessen his burden but it still ages him. Edith is the initial First Lady to travel overseas with her husband to Europe for the peace talks, the treaty of Versailles is being drawn up, the possibility of creating a League of Nations and to prevent another world war in the future.

Despite President Wilson’s health being careful monitored, his body starts to fail and Edith becomes his Stewart, with her help and guidance he manages to finish his term of office.

This history is not one that I've read a lot about. I thoroughly enjoyed all the history that I got to reflect on. However, I would have enjoyed reading more about Edith's time 'directing' the government after Woodrow's stroke and more of their life, adjusting after government - particularly how she reacclimated.

Amongst history buffs, Edith Woodrow is called the first female president. Being several years younger and healthier than President Woodrow, Edith is well known as acting on his behalf several times. Including at what ended up being his last days when she signed his name on documents leading up to the great war.
What is often left out of Edith's biographies is the love that was there. How one woman could have so much influence over one of the most powerful men in the world. Behind every historical figure is their spouse, and behind every spouse is a driving force that either helps or hinders a career and this novel straddles that line with expert story telling. Storytelling that makes you forget that the love story at the center was over a 100 years ago and not recently.

While I enjoyed hearing about Woodrow and Edith's relationship and how it came to be I found this to be a bit on the slow side. I kept on reading waiting for something more exciting to happen but it just fell flat for me.
I am sure that the very well researched details will be enjoyable for some.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I enjoyed this story. I did not know much about President and Mrs. Wilson. The story was interesting, but I wished it were a little more fast paced. The ending was so very sweet and enduring. I think the author balanced historical information with a personal story of Edith and Woodrow. If you like historical fiction give this a try. You will enjoy this little known story.

Charming historical fiction about two people of riper years whose love for each other is tested, re-tested, and ultimately short-lived due to death.

So many things about Woodrow Wilson are awful to me. A racist, an ivory-tower academic without the track record to be the strong-arming law-ramming president thr first World War demanded; but most of all the man who gave away the keys to the economy to the banksters of Jekyll Island's cabal in 1913, thus dooming us to cycles of boom and bust that would only get worse every time the banksters clawed more money from our pockets to feed their greed and gambling addiction.

*ahem*

That not being what this book's about, let me tell you about it, not him.

First of all, it's a novel about two older people whose lives are mostly behind them finding comfort and companionship at the end. That one of them is the president of the US is, in a strange way, tangential to their story. They had a true connection to each other as people, as a man and a woman left alone by the deaths of their spouses. Author Wood gives us the sense that, had they met without this central fact being present, they likely would've had an affair because they were so simpatico. The way their relationship played out, so very publicly, and at such high volume, meant that the end of the affair was inevitably going to be marriage...nothing less would assuage the "moral standards" of the day. Edith Bolling was, thank goodness, a practical person, aware of the world around her and its demands; also to be praised is her full belief in Wilson's political and social progressivism (as far as it went, anyway), so her voice was added to his, not in conflict with it in the battles he was waging.

The Great War, as World War One was called at the time, was only one item on Wilson's plate and isn't the major focus of the book. More weight is given to the all-important enfranchisement of women. This is the one unqualified success of Wilson's presidency. Edith Bolling Wilson was influential on the president's support for this amendment to the Constitution.

Again, more important than the history lesson of the book is the close relationship between these two people. The background of their lives together was always public, and the work they did together was consequential to this very day. But they themselves, as people, are Author Wood's focus. She does not present them as superhuman archetypes. Thy are believable characters, strong people with powerful convictions, who found each other in the last act of the play that is a human's life. Their needs and their interests matched so well that it feels, to this elderly reader, as though they each found the satisfaction of an entire lifetime's search for their best partner.

It's a fine story, about interesting people, and it's told well. Enjoy it soon.