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,but Rachel is determined not to leave her thirteen-year marriage empty handed so she strikes a deal with him: she gets one million dollars and their lavish house if she remains his trophy wife until after th election. But then Rachel meets Nathan Vasquez.

Listen, from the very FIRST line of this book, I was hooked! I could not put this book down! I actually had to force myself to slow down to savor this book. It was well written, fast paced, humorous, sexy and REAL all at once.

It's been so long since i read a well rounded book, I'd almost forgotten what it's like.

It was just so SATISFYING right until the end.

READ THIS BOOK.
It's really my first real, no thought, 5 star read of the year.

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

This book captivated me from the first page. It deals with remembering you are and living in your truth!

This book was good! I found it delivered on heat, backstory, angst, and passion. However it’s pacing sometimes felt off. Was this a good read? Yes. Will it be in my top 10? No.

Well-written, compelling, and very fast-paced. I will definitely want to read more from Regina Black in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

Equal parts sexy, heart wrenching, and insightful, this book kept me enthralled from page one. When Rachel, the Black, perfectly composed wife of a white “progressive” politician, finds out her husband is a lying, cheating scumbag, she realizes she can’t stay in a life that’s forced her to suppress who she is to be palatable for her husband’s base.

Determined not to leave the marriage with nothing after propping him up for over a decade, she agrees to delay the divorce until after his election. But things get complicated when she meets Nathan, the beautiful, brooding artist who challenges her to find herself again. Torn between the security she’s always needed and the love she’s always deserved, Rachel will have to decide what future she wants.

The book does a phenomenal job of balancing all aspects of the story. Humorous and angst, sexy and loving, all while looking at how a persons experiences and identity impact the way they see the world, and the way the world sees them.

Rachel and Nathan were as irresistible to me as they were to each other!

Perfect for fans of Tia Williams’ Seven Days in June.

I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in a singe day. The characterization is spot on and conflict kept me turning the pages. The Art of Scandal is the book I never knew I needed!! Highly recommend and can't wait to see what this author writes next!!

I really enjoyed this book! What reeled me in was the main character. There should be more books with women 40+ either finding love or finding love again. Love isn't always easy or pretty--this book had just enough mess. I definitely would recommend this to a friend.

The Art of Scandal is the story of Rachel, the wife of a scheming politician who is running for election. While their marriage is fizzling, Matt is all too quick to use her to his advantage for the campaign. When Rachel finds out he’s cheating on her, Matt agrees to pay her in order to keep the news from the press. Rachel will be the perfect wife one last time…except she’s finally trying to figure out who she is again. What happened to the artist she once was? Rachel meets Nathan, a young artist who is fascinated by Rachel. Will Rachel keep her bargain with Matt or pursue her passion with Nathan?

The Art of Scandal is an outstanding debut. Rachel is a character that you won’t be able to look away from. The explosive opening scene drew me in- from the dialogue to the deep secrets exposed. Nathan and Rachel have excellent chemistry and find each other right when both of their worlds are changing. Their romance is captivating!! Nathan’s difficult relationship with his father Beto is exacerbated when Beto receives a cancer diagnosis. Nathan’s grief and sense of loss upon hearing this news felt realistically portrayed. I really enjoyed Rachel’s relationship with her daughter Faith and how connected they were.

I hope there are more stories in this world! The Art of Scandal is an unputdownable and scandalously good romance. I am so impressed with this debut and eager to see what Regina Black writes next!

Thank you so much to Regina Black, Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Throughout my life, there have been several main characters I've felt close to, a few I've wanted to hang out with, and a handful I've wanted as my besties forever. And then there's Rachel Abbott. Rachel, babe, you are it for me. I would blow up my life for you. I would go to war for you. You need me, anytime, anywhere? I'm so there.

The Art of Scandal by the brilliant Regina Black is a story about a woman who gives up so much of herself, her dreams, even her personality to be the perfect, supportive wife of a Very Important Political Darling. In perhaps one of the strongest first chapters of any book I have ever read, Rachel finds out in one of the worst possible ways that her hubs is a cheating POS. Going full scorched earth, as she damn well should!, Rachel finds herself another man. She just doesn't realize this other man—the younger, tattooed, text-flirt-extraordinaire, Nathan—is THE man. Rachel and Nathan are not in good places. They aren't ready for the obvious connection they have. There are SO MANY REASONS they just can't right now. But, too bad my babies, good luck trying to stay away from each other while I scream at my kindle "YOU'RE PERFECT TOGETHER WHY CAN'T YOU SEE IT????"

This book is gorgeous, enraging, steamy, sweet, real, uncompromising, and satisfying as hell. Regina Black's writing is so good, evocative and emotional and so sharp sometimes it lacerates (one specific line made me shout out loud like I'd been punched in the stomach. I'm still not over it). If you bow to Kennedy Ryan the way I do, my friends, this one is for you.

I loved every second of this spectacular book, and I am so grateful to the author, Grand Central, and NetGalley for this ARC. Pardon me while I go back for a reread.

4.25⭐️

This is going to be a perfect debut romance novel for the summer with the right amounts of steaminess!

When I first heard about this book while doing one of my deep dive searches for new reads on goodreads, I was immediately intrigued and I knew I wanted to read this book in whatever shape or form I can get my hands on. I was not disappointed.

Regina Black did a great job bringing me, the reader, into this story filled with different kind of complex relationships, either being familial, romantic, or friendships, and how they mold you into the person you become. Additionally, with everything going on in the story between the two love interests, Rachel and Nathan, I really enjoyed how practical it was. In my experience with romance, things can something feel to fictionalized and fairytale-like which is something I greatly enjoy in romance novels, but I appreciated Black not going down that route especially with issues such as, possible divorce, family tensions, being a token black woman, imposter syndrome, and etc., looming over the characters heads.

Aside from that, I did find the pacing just a little to quick within the book. I would have loved for certain scenes between Nathan and Rachel to be dragged out more with a little more detail instead of only seeing small moments with them. There was a lot of time skips and I really wanted to slow down absorb everything happening. When I first started reading the book, this issue definitely threw me off, but I slowly fell in line with how the story was being told.

With that being said, I found this to be a pretty addicting read, and would definitely recommend to those who enjoys:
- age gaps
- black FMCS
- art/artists
- stories set in political setting (although I wouldn’t say this is like Scandal)
- hot tattooed men

content warning: teen homelessness, teen pregnancy, infidelity.

With stunning prose and a page-turning plot, Regina Black's debut is sharp from the very first page and emotionally gripping right through the last. Rachel and Nathan's relationships with their family and friends are given the same thoughtful depth and attention as their steamy, addictive romance, and Rachel in particular is a protagonist whose story will stick with me.

I cannot go on and on about how GOOD THis book was. It was hot, It was steamy. It had heart. I cannot wwait to read more from Regina Black

Such a good debut! I loved Rachel and Nathan and their forbidden, spicy romance. Reader beware, there is infidelity in this novel, but that doesn't bother me. It worked for the story and I was still rooting for Rachel and Nathan. I hated when I had to put this down and couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it! It does get a little bogged down in the middle, but overall this is a great debut and I would definitely recommend it!

This was a debut? HOLY HELL!
This book was phenomenal. Truly. Phenomenal. All I knew was that the cover was hot. But the inside? Just as good.
Like, I knew from the second page I’d be hooked. I will read whatever Regina Black writes. WHATEVER!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.
I really enjoyed reading this debut novel. The main character Rachel is a Mayor’s wife that finds out he has been unfaithful. She is an older woman of color that has overcome a lot in her life. Single mom with homelessness to becoming a major public figure in her town. She meets Nathan, who is a younger artist trying to find his way. He comes from wealth and his family doesn’t approve of how he lives. Him and Rachel find comfort in each other as their lives fall apart around them. It’s a story of strength, leaving someone even when it’s hard, and never being too old to start over. I would recommend this book to any romance lover looking for a substantial plot.

I loved this book! I've been excited about this book for awhile and it did not disappoint. The relationship between Rachel and Nathan felt raw, honest, and passionate. Regina Black did an excellent job balancing the political nuances between Rachel and her husband and also the age difference between Rachel and Nathan. It felt like very a realistic and powerful take on how people like them might find connection and fall in love. I also loved the connection to art and how that enhanced their relationship.

Regina Black's writing style is fresh and poignant. There were many lines that felt like a punch in the gut, in a good way. She is now a must-read author for me. I highly recommend this book!

I have been dying to read this book since I first heard the premise and then even more so once I saw the cover reveal. I was so thrilled to get an ARC of this book!
Wow! I was not disappointed! The setup for this book is incredible: Rachel discovers her husband is cheating on the night of his 40th birthday when he accidentally sends her an explicit text meant for someone else, but since his political career can't afford a divorce in the middle of his campaign, they strike a deal to stay together until the election and she'll walk away with a million dollars. Meanwhile, she meets Nathan and woo boy is Nathan is the romance hero of our dreams. Besides being wildly good looking, Nathan is so observant and in-tune with Rachel from the moment they met. I fell for him immediately and absolutely loved every moment of their steamy and heartfelt connection. The secrets in this book kept the tension high throughout and the devious side characters created surprises and conflict at every turn. This book was to impossible to put down and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again. Thank you to Regina Black, NetGalley, and Grand Central for the ARC!

When I first snagged this book in Netgalley I honestly thought it was going to be all spice with a small bit of back story to hold it together. This book was NOT that. There was depth to both Nathan and Rachel that I absolutely loved. Nathan was not just a piece of beautiful alpha male and Rachel was not a “desperate housewife”. The connections in this book are deep, as is the family trauma but no villain is left without some semblance of redemption.

If you are looking for a beautiful story of a woman reclaiming herself after hiding from her true identity for so many years, this is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Rating: 3.5

On reading the summary, I expected this one to be more juicy and steamy, but it actually was more than that with some important topics also included. It focuses on how Rachel who is a trophy wife of a white politician who gets a push in his career simply on the fact that his wife is black and was a single mother. On finding out that her husband is cheating on her, she meets Nathan at a drive-in and they see each other more deeply than family. They fall for each other and form a strong relationship and really respect each other. It then follows how their relationship grows and how art plays a major part in their lives. At some point, they obviously have to face the consequences of their relationship in society. The relationship obviously becomes a scandal but how they come out of it is admirable.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for my copy of The Art of Scandal! All thoughts are my own.

After Ashley Herring Blake pitched this book to us on Read It Or List It, I immediately requested it. It did not disappoint and I really loved the complexity of this book. It was juicy and sexy, but it really was “more” than what I expected. This felt like it bridged the gap between literary fiction and Romance. If you enjoyed Seven Day sin June, I think you’ll really enjoy this book!

It’s heart wrenching and delightful, full of surprises that will make you swoon and anger you. Imagine the passion of Scandal with the backdrop of The Good Wife and the prose of Seven Days in June. Oh, and the “taboo” goodness of The Idea of You.

Synopsis:

“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.

Then Rachel meets Nathan Vasquez, a very handsome, very lost twenty-six-year-old artist, and their connection makes Rachel forget about being the perfect politician’s wife. As Rachel reawakens Nathan’s long-dormant artistic aspirations, their attraction becomes impossible to resist. But secrets are hard to keep in a town like Oasis Springs, and Nathan has a few of his own. With the risk of scandal looming and their hearts on the line, they’ll have to decide whether the possibility of losing everything is worth taking a chance on love.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Premise—I was immediately intrigued by the blurb and it did not disappoint. It even surprised me more than I thought possible.

The Complexity of the Characters—Rachel and Nathan were fully realized characters, flaws and all.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

Length—I think I am protesting against long chapters. It made picking It up harder for me, which I know is a picky personal thing!

Rushed Ending—Now, since this didn’t feel like 100% a traditional Romance novel, I get it. But things felt a little rushed for me at the end! I wanted more of a resolution!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Racism (microaggressions), Mental illness, Alcohol, Cursing, Infidelity, Cancer