This was one HOT read, in addition to just being good! Well thought out and pltted with interetsing characters. Loved the way it played out! Agree with others who would like to see MORE

Can I interest you in checking out one of my favorite books of the summer? For me, The Art of Scandal (love the play on words here btw) gave what it was supposed to give, so I'm just gonna leave my 5 stars right here.

Make no mistake, this book had its flaws, sometimes it felt like the story took on too many issues and important themes without being fully fleshed out. I occasionally found myself getting excited about a particular issue being brought up, only to realize that it didn't really go anywhere or resolve anything. But EVERYTHING I loved about it overshadowed what I didnt like so yes, still 5 stars for me.

Nathan & Rachel, their chemistry jumped off the pages👌🏾🔥🥺

●The age gap romance
●Dirty politics
●Old money
●Interracial marriage, microaggressions & racism
●Single mom redemption story
●Mother in law from hell
●The power of art
●Initially, Nathan gave me mama's boy vibes but he stood his ground and i respect it.
●If you read this, tell me you didnt want to slap Rachel upside the head at her hush money offer to Matt!

Joe🥰

Beto🥺

Matt and the entire Abbott Klan can go to hell flying😒

I'm a little sus about this tension between Bobbi and Joe, wondering if that's a book 2 in the works? If so, im here for it!

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black explores the tumultuous world of love, betrayal, and political ambition, centered around Rachel Abbott, who is confronted with her husband's infidelity just before his campaign. The novel beautifully blends steamy romance with a complex narrative about identity and the consequences of public life, drawing comparisons to Seven Days in June and The Good Wife for its depth and intrigue. Critics have praised its emotional resonance and character development, describing Rachel and Nathan as fully realized and relatable. While some readers found the ending a bit rushed, the story's richness and depth make it a standout debut that promises to keep readers engaged​.

3.5 stars

“The Art of Scandal” by Regina follows Rachel Abbott, the spouse of an up-and-coming politician, who uncovers her husband’s infidelity on his fortieth birthday. Rachel agrees to keep up the appearance of a perfect marriage until her husband’s reelection campaign concludes, in return for financial stability. However, her life takes an unexpected twist when she meets Nathan Vasquez, a young artist who rekindles her passion for art and life.
Their immediate and intense connection forces Rachel to reflect on what she truly desires. The story alternates between Rachel and Nathan’s point of view which I loved because you are privy to both of their emotions. This adds depth to their Rachel feels free to follow her true desires, even at the risk of scandal.

“The Art of Scandal” speaks of love, ambition, and self-realization. It’s a must-read for contemporary romance lovers who like a little drama and messiness as I do.

Political Scandal, Artistic Passion

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black is a debut novel that intricately weaves themes of romance, political scandal, and personal rediscovery. The story centers around Rachel Abbott, the wife of a prominent politician, who discovers her husband's infidelity on his 40th birthday. This revelation propels Rachel to reevaluate her life, leading her to rekindle her passion for art and connect with Nathan Vasquez, a young and talented artist. Their burgeoning relationship challenges Rachel to confront her past decisions and contemplate a future filled with new possibilities.

The Art of Scandal is a commendable debut that successfully combines romance with deeper social and personal issues. Its strengths lie in its rich character development, engaging plot, and thematic exploration of art and identity. While the pacing may be a minor drawback for some readers, the overall narrative is compelling and emotionally resonant. Regina Black has established herself as a promising new voice in contemporary fiction, and this novel is a must-read for anyone interested in a heartfelt and thought-provoking story.

On the night of her husband Matt’s fortieth birthday, Rachel Abbott receives a sexy, explicit text from her husband that she quickly realizes was meant for another woman. Divorce is inevitable, and Rachel is determined not to leave her thirteen-year marriage empty handed. Meanwhile, Matt, a rising star mayor with his eye on the White House, can’t afford a messy split in the middle of his reelection campaign. They strike a deal: Rachel gets one million dollars and their lavish house in the wealthy DC suburb of Oasis Springs, as long as she keeps playing the ideal Black trophy wife until the election.

Ooo this was spicy! I really enjoyed it. I loved the political set up and that Nathan was unexpected. The art sections lost me, just a bit, but I did enjoy watching this woman come back into finding herself. I could used even more scandal but that's a me thing.

if its a older woman/ younger man book imma eat ot up every time. I enoyed this book and I cant wait for more stores from this author

I really wanted to love this book especially because of the cover is gorgeous! This one just didn't work for me, I ended up dnf'ing at 42%. I did not connect to the characters or believe their chemistry at all. Unfortunately this one was just not for me. Thank you #netgalley and Grand Central publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

This book was very well-written and super relatable! The characters were ones that the reader could empathize with and the author did a good job building the suspense of the story.

Even though it was not what I was expecting, the book itself was still a good read. It was cute romance, second chance type story. From the title I thought that it was going to be a tid bit messier but it was what it was. It was a good story but i felt that it did drag a litle for my taste.

Five stars. Ten stars. All the stars.

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THIS WAS A DEBUT?!?

This was GRIPPING. Lush, evocative, tender, raw…I devoured this book like it was my first meal in weeks.

CANNOT WAIT for what this author brings in her next book.

Thank you for letting me read this book! I know I am a few months behind on writing a review, but this was fantastic. The characters were amazing, the passion was tangible, and i adored how realistic everything was. I felt for each of the women, and adored the ending. Thank you writing a wonderful story!

Such a phenomenal book! It was emotional and fraught and lovely and full of tension and feeling and jsut overwhelmingly gorgeous in every way possible. Holy moly am I obsessed with this book!!!

This book had me engaged from the very beginning and I could not put it down. Although the start of their relationship was unconventional, Nathan and Rachel were meant for each other. I’m so happy they both started to focus on their passion and stopped letting other people hold them back from their goals.

Regina Black's debut is a sizzling romance filled with tension and drama, and it hooks you from the beginning. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.

When Rachel's husband mistakenly sends her a dick pic during his fortieth birthday, she knows he's cheating even before confronting him. But after thirteen years of marriage and with his electoral campaign just around the corner, leaving Matt isn't that simple. A deal is made: she'll get the house and a million dollars if she stays with him long enough for him to be elected.

But Rachel didn't count on meeting Nathan, a younger man who reminds her of who she was before Matt, and everything she wanted and forgot about.

Flawed characters are my kryptonite. I'll always love books that feature them because, in the end, aren't we all just extremely flawed people?

Rachel and Nathan's chemistry is undeniable, and they're journey to getting to know each other. past that first attraction is so beautiful you forget that she's technically cheating on her husband throughout the whole book. Also... with a husband like that, even if their chemistry wasn't good, I'd still be okay with it lol.

Regina intertwines important discussions so naturally in the plot, that it feels like we truly are just watching the life of this brilliant woman unfold before our eyes. Themes like race, wealth, motherhood, family expectations are all found in the story and worked in an amazing way.

If you liked the TV show Scandal, you'll devour this book. And if you watched it but wished the show was better developed in terms of characters, you'll definitely love this book.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read! Once I reached the halfway point though, it just didn't hold my attention as well. I did love the Scandal + Housewives vibes this book was giving!! I just wish the story had moved a little quicker. The characters were all so devious, sneaky, and rich & suburban and I loved that about them even if I didn't like their actions or choices- it made for an interesting time! 3.5 stars

This was a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

DNF at 70%
It was nice and a messy contemporary romance with Rachel trying to find herself again. I just lost interest at the time but plan on picking up where I left off again.

I was drawn in from the first few pages. The story hits the ground running. I spent the majority of this book shocked at the unmitigated gall of Rachels politician husband Matt and his handlers. I thought it was a tense slow burn romance. There is clearly chemistry between Rachel and Nathan from their first encounter. They try to fight their attraction because of their circumstances, age difference, families and society obligations but keep being thrust together. A story about family, sacrifice, self discovery, privilege, class, and love. Another reviewer described this as a crossover between Scandal and The Perfect Find heavy on the Scandal reference and I whole heartedly agree.