I am a huge fan of historical fiction, especially when it allows me to view events from a new perspective. I knew very little about Edith Wilson Galt prior to reading this book, and it was a fascinating deep dive into her life and marriage to Woodrow Wilson. This felt like a very accurate portrayal of her life and contributions and I am now curious to learn more about her. Full review to be posted to my socials closer to publication date.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the chance to discover the life of Edith Galt Wilson. I knew very little about her or President Wilson prior to reading this. I have since researched and read about their life together and their accomplishments while he was in office. This book is entertaining, as it was a good read, and it appears to be historically correct, according to the other sources I have searched out.

Tracey Enerson Wood, The President's Wife, Sourcebooks Landmark, 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected copy for review.

The President’s Wife is an apt title, encompassing as it does the part of Edith Galt’s life where she becomes instead, Edith Wilson, First lady. Galt is her married name – that of her first husband, a jeweller whose business she retrieved from failure after his death. At the end of President Woodrow Wilson’s life Tracy Enerson Wood’s novel shows Edith redirecting his failing ability to command, perpetuating her role as an able person in her own right. Edith’s capability, despite being known as the jeweller’s and then, the President’s, wife makes an engaging story.
Edith Bolling, Mrs Galt, the First Lady and the widow of the twenty-eighth American President are all given attention in the narrative. Tracy Enerson Wood weaves Edith’s background into the present, illustrating Edith’s capacity for the work that she was to undertake in maintaining Woodrow Wilson’s presidential responsibilities until they left the White House. However, these early years never intrude on the essential story, that of the First Lady to the Woodrow Wilson Presidency from their marriage in 1915 until the end of this presidency in 1921.
This is a political love story, replete with quotes from the romantic letters Woodrow Wilson write during their courtship and marriage. The introduction and last glimpse of Edith, features one of the symbols of their marriage, their play with names. This illustrates one of the important themes of the novel – the close nature of their marriage, despite their role as President and First Lady during a war time presidency which impacted on their time together and the nature of their interaction during that time.

The political narrative is really well worked, combining imaginative conversations, thoughts, and interactions, together with well-known events. The work leading to Wilson’s dream of a League of Nations is particularly well drawn. Wilson’s teeth gritting at the delays and the flamboyant international celebrations, meetings and journeys considered necessary after the end of the war are made thoroughly understandable to the reader. As readers we almost live the mixture of the lives led by the politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats during this time. We are also drawn into the terrible reality of the war through visits to hospitals and soldiers’ interaction with the Wilsons.

The issue of suffrage is covered – and Edith’s somewhat cursory understanding of the nature of this political movement. She concentrates on states’ rights and upbraiding the suffragists’ tactics to win votes – or even a hearing. Together with this uncomfortable insight into the politics of equality is that into race relations. So, at the same time as weaving a story, a reader gains an understanding of the enormity of the task these two movements faced, and remain facing, in achieving their aims.

This novel lacked the fully engrossing impact I would have liked. However, The President’s Wife is an informative and agreeable read.

The President's Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood, tells the story of a widow, Edith Bolling, who is courted by President Woodrow Wilson and eventually becomes the First Lady of the United States. While this is a historical fiction, it correctly highlights the life of the main character, Edith.

I was not familiar with Edith Bolling prior to this book. The author did a phenomenal job highlighting Edith's role in her husband's presidency. I found myself not being able to put this one down, as I was drawn to Edith and all she had to endure in her role as wife, She was brilliant and carried so much to protect her husband and keep the USA moving forward.

I give this super engaging book 4 stars! I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tracey Enerson Wood for this ARC!

I knew little about Edith Wilson before reading this book. She was the second wife of widowed President Woodrow Wilson. This book covers their courtship, marriage and the changes in their lives through WWI. During this time, the President was negotiating not only the logistics of war, but the start of the League of Nations. The politics in DC don’t seem to have improved or changed much. The President suffers an incapacitating stroke, so Edith along with a few advisors are basically running the country. It piqued my interest enough to investigate further. The author did excellent research. If you are interested in this time period or presidential history, it’s a great read. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of this book which comes out in August.

“Edith wished she could spread out all these events over the rest of her life, when she could enjoy each one thoroughly.”

I liked Edith and enjoyed reading about her life as the wife of President Woodrow Wilson. This time in history became more interesting to me when viewed through the lens of Edith.

With historical fiction, I often wonder “how much of this is true?” The author doesn’t specify in her notes at the end. However, much of the story revolves around recorded historical facts. I like Tracey Enerson Wood’s writing style and I always learn from her books. I especially enjoyed the scene where Edith met Julie Stimson, who Wood wrote about in The War Nurse.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

“No peace can last, or ought to last, which does not recognize and accept the principle that governments derive all their just powers from the consent of the governed, and that no right anywhere exists to hand peoples about from sovereignty to sovereignty as if they were property.”
Woodrow Wilson in “The President’s Wife”

I was very impressed with the writing and research on this book. I had no knowledge of President Woodrow Wilson, prior to reading this novel. I was absorbed in being educated and often took the time to do my own fact-finding. A benchmark for me to fully enjoy a book, is my desire to seek more information and achieve further clarification. I was quite stunned to learn, about the active role, in which Mrs. Wilson actively participated, with the “running” of the government during President Wilson’s temporary incapacitation. It certainly begs the question, as to how many other times, this has occured? Thank you NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark, for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #SourceBooksLandmark, #Netgalley.

This book is a historically correct depiction of the presidency of Woodrow Wilson written through the eyes of his second wife Edith. I enjoyed seeing the other side of the inner working of the white house and how Edith played a huge role in decision making. The book is well written and interesting but I found it slow moving when it came to the pinnacle part of the plot where Edith is most importantly needed. Overall I enjoyed the book and learned a bit of history as well.

The President's Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood is an enjoyable historical fiction that highlights Edith Bolling, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson.

I am so glad that I had a chance yo read this book. I learned so much, as I honestly knew very, very little about Edith. Reqding about her as a person, their courtship, and the pivotal roles that she played in his personal and professional lives, was just fascinating.

I have been such a huge fan of Ms. Wood in the past ( The Engineer’s Wife and The War Nurse), so I was hoping she would hit another home run…and for me she did.

Engaging, entertaining, and informative. I really liked it.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/15/23.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to read this historical fiction novel about Edith Wilson as I first learned about her as middle school student. Sadly this book did not hit the mark for me. The first 80% of the novel seemed to fall into a predictable pattern - Edith receives treacly letters or words of love from Woodrow Wilson, she isn't sure how to respond, she finally responds, he has an issue to deal with as the President, she offers a great suggestion. Rinse, repeat. To me, the meat of the story is when Edith begins to "help" Woodrow after his stroke. But even then her motivations seem muddled. Perhaps this book might have worked better as part flashback, showing how Edith's childhood impacted her marriage and choices later.

This was a really interesting historical look into a different side of the presidency. I will be the first to admit that I didn't know much about Woodrow Wilson or his presidency, so this was a great view into it. Edith, Wilson's second wife, falls for him and he falls for her. She has been independent for some time, so delving into a new marriage and her new role as First Lady is a challenge she rises to. Working alongside her husband, and when his health takes another turn for the worse, she is right there to assume the rose of the presidency. She is courageous, independent, and engaging to hear and read about. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn a little more about history and the integral role Edith played in it. A big thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for this book!