When Rachel Abbott receives a message from her mayor husband that is clearly meant for someone else, the careful control she has exercised throughout their marriage begins to crack. She knows they will divorce, but after years of dedicating her life to supporting him and his career, she wants guarantees that she and her daughter will be taken care of when their marriage ends. He needs her for the optics of his reelection campaign. The two strike a deal, but can Rachel handle the cost?

Enter Nathan Vasquez: young, handsome, and instantly attracted to Rachel. They don’t expect their chance meeting to go anywhere, but then they keep crossing paths. Nathan and Rachel both wake up something in each other; as they spend time together, they begin finding pieces of themselves again.

After years of subjugating her own needs and sublimating who she truly is in order to support her husband’s image, Rachel comes into her own again, and Nathan becomes the man he was meant to be all along.

What to expect:
- Discussions and representation of class and race differences
- Discussions of gender roles
- Age gap
- Steam
- Instant attraction
- High angst

This one definitely doesn’t feel like a debut. I look forward to seeing what Regina Black writes next.

I received an advance copy of the book from Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

WOW! This is an absolute jewel of a debut novel down that you won't be able to put down. It is much less spicy than the cover suggests but I didn't even care. This was the perfect binge book full of angst, drama, self- discovery, politics, and scandal. I loved every minute!

This book was so damn spicy and I loved every moment of it. This is what a romance book should be each and every damn time

The Art of Scandal has an interesting premise that had me very excited to read.

I saw a few reviews that mentioned it started a little slow until it heated up but unfortunately it did not capture my full attention. There is a lot of storytelling on how their relationship began and some of the obstacles they had faced before the big scandal that brought us to the current moment. With some of the prior context I found it hard to connect with the MC's and it was difficult to fully immerse myself into the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for honest review. Wow wow wowwweee i am blown away by this mesmerising, stunning debut book. Man did it live up to the hype. Matt was the biggest dog and deplorable human to exist in some time!!!! She was delight raw real and vilnerable with the ines that xount. Look out world i have a new book boyfriend. I am awaiting my linby audio hold but cpunting down till a reread.

In The Art of Scandal, we meet political wife Rachel, who has been the perfect mayoral first lady for the prior decade until she discovers her husband is having an affair. Desperate for money, she agrees to stay with him through the election in exchange for one million dollars and the house. But then she meets young, attractive artist and laundromat owner Nate, who shows her everything she's been missing her life--freedom, art, and passion. The two begin an affair destined for scandal, with a push and pull for the ages, all while Rachel plans a gala that will showcase Nate's art in front of everyone they know, including Rachel's husband and Nate's equally powerful family.

I had heard amazing things about this book from fellow bookstagrammers and author Ava Wilder at an author event I went to, so I was extremely excited to read it. The idea of affairs and the constant threat of scandal made me nervous--I don't typically read books with cheating, even though Rachel's marriage was so clearly over and it was hard not to revel in her affair as revenge. But the book was crafted beautifully, with me rooting for Rachel and Nate at every step of the way. The ending was perfect, and I'm happy with where everyone ended up.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my eARC and finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

I feel fairly confident saying that The Art Of Scandal by Regina Black is THE audiobook of the summer for me. There was just something so sultry about this book. The Art Of Scandal opens with Rachel Abbott getting a lewd text from her husband at his fortieth birthday party. Only, it turns out the text isn’t meant for her. He’s cheating. To make matters worse, he is in a high profile position as town mayor with hopes of making it to congress someday. In order to do that, he can’t have any hint of scandal. Rachel has sacrificed so much for Matt and his career. As his Black wife, she is good for his progressive image. And so, Rachel negotiates with Matt, she’ll play nice if she gets the house and a cool million. Only, Rachel doesn’t anticipate meeting young artist Nathan Vasquez.

Seriously, The Art Of Scandal was so good. It has moments of drama. There’s moments of romance. Also, we have art playing a role. There are big reveals. And a moment where I was about to stand up out of my chair and cheer. There’s so much payoff in this book. Read it. I fell for Rachel and Nathan. They are so engaging to read about. Mela Lee is the perfect narrator for this audiobook. It is 8 hours and 25 minutes and I could barely put it down — but had to thanks to meetings and calls. Do not get FOMO, pick this book up — particularly on audiobook — and experience the absolute enthralling excellent plot and characterization.

LOVED this book! wow! what a debut! was totally stunned by this one and couldnt get enough. rachel was such an interesting MC to me. I loved the growth and build of this story. spectacular!

What a wonderful debut novel by Regina Black!

The Art of Scandal centers on the love story of Nathan and Rachel. Rachel is a Black woman married to Matt, a white man who is mayor and has his eyes on DC. They've been married for over ten years, and Matt's family is RICH. At Matt's 40th birthday party, Rachel texts Matt a pic that is uncharacteristic for him (rhymes with stick pic) and Rachel has a feeling this pic was not meant for her. He caves and says he is in love with another woman, and Rachel tells him she is leaving him. Matt begs her to stay because this scandal will affect his political career, and her by his side has always been good optics. She angrily agrees only if he pays her a million dollars. Disgusted with herself and Matt, she storms out of the party and gets drunk at the Drive In, where she meets Nathan. He is way too handsome, way too tattooed, and way to young (26 to her 38). Nathan owns a laundromat but also is an artist, though he does not want to go public with his works. He knows who Rachel is, is attracted to her, but at first glance dismisses her as just another socialite. But their worlds keep intersecting and they can't stop the connection that develops.

The Art of Scandal is beautifully written and the banter between Nathan and Rachel crackles of the page. There is plenty of angst, outrage,and swoony moments as well as commentary of the intersection of art, race, wealth, and politics in our modern times. I look forward to seeing what Regina Black writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Station for the ARC for my honest review.

Thank you to Regina Black and Grand Central for this ARC!

i have been so excited to read this since one of my other favorite authors (Ava Wilder !) talked about this story on her Instagram! it did not disappoint, the opening line was so good and got me hooked! this definitely felt like the scandal series by shonda rhimes but still different!

will def be on the lookout for future books from this author!

Regina Black tells us the story of a woman named Rachel, and how she rediscovers her life after finding out her husband of 13 years has been cheating on her. After been so long in the shadow of her husband and running on his schedule to fabricate a perfect life for his politician ambitions she decides to start living the way she always wanted: getting what she desires. She meets Nathan, an owner of a laundromat/son of the most powerful family in town. Their romance is hot, full of desire and scandal.

I loved the book but sometimes I found myself wondering around, and I think it was because, even though it caught my attention, it was slower and tried to include too much information out of characters that maybe didn't deserved it. I wish I would got more from Matt (the husband) and Rachel relationship and Nathan and Beto's (Nathan's dad) relationship, we got a glimpse at the end but I think I wanted more.

Overall a good book to read, I felt I could see the art that Nathan created for the Gala, Rachel's thesis pictures and that makes this book a 3.5 stars in my books!

Thank you Netgalley and Regina Black for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

This was a really impressive debut. The storyline was indulgent and addictive. It feels like it should be turned into a Shonda Rhimes limited series.

Regina Black's THE ART OF SCANDAL is, dare I say, a scandalous, sexy book filled with political intrigue and the complexity of what it means to be a Black woman in a White world. I was not expecting the nuance and emotions that this book brought forth when it comes to being a Black woman and the roles that we are expected to play. The intersectionality this book struck really resounded with me. As a biracial woman, I found myself tenderly connected to this book because I could understand Rachel's plights that were beyond the surface level of being with a terrible partner.

Rachel's and Nathan's relationship was tender, warm, and full of passion. I really enjoyed seeing them get to know one another and how their lives intertwined and spurred us to the conclusion.

Definitely a book I will recommend and look forward to seeing more from Regina!

DNF @ 54%. I really wanted to be into this book. But it just felt so laggy and I think I just expected more. I felt like I just keep waiting for that hook, but it never came. And after reading more than 50%, I really needed in order to keep going.

Thank you to Grand Central and NetGalley for the advanced reader copies provided to the Joyful Chaos Book Club and to LibroFM and Hachette Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This is a brand new debut from Regina Black. Her writing was lush and engaging. She immediately made me feel connected to the main characters, especially Rachel Abbott.

The book begins with Rachel learning that her husband is cheating on her. But because he is the mayor and has ambitions for higher office, she agrees to stay with him until the election ends. But as that time passes, Rachel meets and immediately feels chemistry with Nathan, a young, local artist.

I enjoyed the age gap and that Rachel wasn't a young main character. This book had tons of steam and lots of intrigue. And there were fascinating discussions on social class, race, art, and more. I would have enjoyed a bit more on the political parts, but that was not a primary storyline.

Ultimately, the romance felt somewhat flat to me. It was far too instalove for my taste. It seemed much more rooted in physical chemistry than emotional intimacy. And I was disappointed in some of the choices that both main characters made near the end of the story.

I'll look forward to Regina Black's next book because her writing is so great. But this plot wasn't my favorite.

Rounded up to 4 stars

I very much enjoyed this debut romance from Regina Black! Other reviews said it was giving Scandal and Real Housewives vibes, and they were right but I'd say more housewives than Scandal.

The book opens when Rachel Abbot receives a dick pick from her husband...that wasn't intended for her. Even though she's pissed, she agrees to keep playing the part of political trophy wife for the remainder of her husband's mayoral campaign. When Rachel is asked to lead the planning committee for another stuffy fundraiser, she meets Nathan Vazquez - dark and broody artist and more than a decade younger than her. They embark on their own affair until everything blows up and everyone is forced to reckon with the consequences of their actions.

Rachel is an awesome character. She's strong and determined to find herself again after burying her needs and desires for too long in service of her husband's career. The chemistry between her and Nathan was really scorching which I liked. My biggest complaint about this book is that I wanted to see them together on page more! Because of the forbidden nature of their romance, these two aren't together on page a lot which made it harder for me to buy in to their relationship being more than lust fueled by revenge.

Content flags: cancer diagnosis for one character's parent; cheating; divorce

I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

SCANDALOUS!

"When your husband of thirteen years sends a close-up of his erect penis, you should not, under any circumstances, ask him why he sent it."

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I should state that what first drew me to this book was its cover. While I love the artwork, it was the opening line above that drew me into the scandalous affair(s) that occur in <b>The Art of Scandal</b>.

Imagine being at your spouse's fortieth birthday party, icing a cake that he clearly does not care about and your phone alerts you to a text. Only it's your husband, sending you a photo of his peen. Imagine the first few things that may run through your mind... the emotions garnered. From denial to anger to hurt to disappointment is how we meet Rachel Abbott, the mayor's wife in this story.

Divorce is on the table and Rachel is forced to ask herself some hard questions about herself and what it means to be love and be in love. It's a dark time for her until she meets Nathan. A guy who presumably is the black sheep of his family and who is very handsome. He's an artist who has kept his talents out of the limelight until a chance encounter has him meeting Rachel in person and the energy between them begins to build immediately. She awakens something within that thrusts him more deeply into his work and he offers her what she's already wanted to be seen, to be felt, to be heard.

The Art of Scandal is a book that is full of lies, stolen moments, broken hearts, love and loss, finding self, and so much more. It is hot and steamy and it is shattering in some parts. Overall, I loved it and highly recommend it.

The Art of Scandal is a hot summer romance! One part family drama, one part politics (a la the tv show Scandal), and even more parts steamy. I love a strong female protagonist and Rachel Abbott is just that. Her husband Matt is involved in local politics and even though he knows full well an affair is not something his campaign needs, he can't seem to resist. Rachel receives a text (ahem, sext) meant for his mistress and all hell breaks loose. While Matt's the one with the affair, its Rachel who is asked to keep quiet...husband of the year over here.

Rachel isn't about to be a doormat though and knows she's worth more. What follows is an unexpected, but oh so steamy, forbidden age gap romance sure to make you feel the characters' tension and passion.

This is a book that will stay with me for awhile. It is beautifully written and so thought provoking. Rachel Abott is the mayor's wife, living in an upscale neighborhood. On her husband's 40th birthday, she receives a text that changes her entire world when she learns that her husband, Matt, has been cheating on her. Matt is up for re-election so the two come to an agreement that they will postpone any news of separation and divorce until after his position is secured. Meanwhile, heartbroken Rachel meets Nathan....a 26 year old artist who spends his days running his laundromat instead of working on his art. Nathan has been made to believe by his parents that his art isn't worth anything.

This is such a complex story about the messiness of love and family. Nathan and Rachel have great chemistry but also great conversation about what it is to take ownership of who you are and who you want to be. Both have lost themselves in their own ways. This book is about rediscovering your true self and loving others for who they are instead of who you want them to be. The difficult relationship Nathan has with his family, especially his father, felt so very real. This is a love story at its core, but there is also hints of politics, racism, and scandal throughout. It is such a multi-layered story that keeps the pages turning. It was tough to believe that this is a debut.

5 Stars

The Art of Scandal is a beautifully written story full of political scandal, reignited passions, and rediscovering yourself. The story is told through dual perspectives of Rachel and Nathan as their relationship begins to unfold.

Black manages to breathe life into Rachel and Nathan as she masterfully develops them into well-developed characters past the stereotypes forced onto them. Rachel as the betrayed Black trophy wife and Nathan as the young, privileged artist wandering through life.

Despite these stereotypes, The Art of Scandal highlights this doesn’t define them. The story explores Rachel’s experience as a Black teen mom used as a tool to further her husband’s political career as a figurehead of progressive ideals. Nathan struggles with finding his place as he feels like the disappointment of the family and afraid of putting his art into the world.

While they come from different walks of life, they both go on similar journeys as they try to rediscover themselves despite the roles forced onto them and figure out what they truly want from their lives. As their friendship unfolds into a passionate romance, it leaves readers in suspense on what will happen next. For Rachel, Nathan represents a return to the life she had before, the woman she was before. Whereas for Nathan, Rachel inspires him to focus on his art and gives him a newfound direction for his life.

The Art of Scandal is a gorgeously written love story highlighting the importance of embracing forgiveness and self-love to find a sense of belonging.