I wish I could write as thoughtful and nuanced a review as this book deserves. First of all, what a debut. I look forward to reading many more book from this author. Her voice is clear and sharp and smart and I was hooked on the story.

The book is messy. Not that it's sloppily written, I mean the plot the messy. The book opens with our heroine, Rachel, finding out her husband has been having an affair for months and wants to leave his wife for his mistress. She learns this while hosting his 40th bday party. Theirs is an IR marriage, she is Black, he is white, wealthy, the mayor of their rich little exclusive town, and has dreams of running for the U.S. Senate. Rachel gave up her whole identity and her own dreams to basically become Matt's wife, the supportive partner. She was a teen mom, homeless for at a time and the way that Matt plays on her background to curry votes is sickening but also accurate. Something this book does extremely well is the commentary on race relations and racism, on allyship and how performative it can be.

Enter Nathan, younger than Rachel by 11 years (she's 37, he's been 26). He has secrets of his own. Secrets about who he is, his family, his art, his dreams. He is hiding and Rachel is done with hiding who she is. It's an interesting dichotomy, these two have, the instant attraction is there, of course, but it's fascinating that Nathan just wants to hide his existence and Rachel finally wants to come into the light and find her wings.

I liked the book a lot, loved the writing and immediately added this author as one to watch.

I will say, there's a good amount in this book that could be triggering, from the infidelity to toxic family relationships, to parental illness (there's a revelation of a cancer dx and resulting death, both in the past off page and also in current times) on page, teen pregnancy, homelessness, drug use, slut shaming.

5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Oh the love I have for this book. The characters, the scandals, the emotion, the passion... loved it all.

Tropes:
Age gap (reverse)
Taboo romance (she's married)
Work together
Forced proximity
Soulmates
Artistic MCs
Latinx rep
LGBTQIA rep (side characters)
Dual POV

So before y'all get up in arms you have to know right off the bat... Rachel is the mayor's wife but he was cheating on her so she's basically done with him. So she had every right to take life back. Unfortunately, she's coerced into staying married for political reasons. I was so upset by this decision but I can't judge her for protecting her daughter and her future. But then when she meets Nathan... OMG that chemistry was palpable. I just knew some scandal was going to come... they couldn't hide their attraction. But it was more than just lust... it was a meeting of like minded individuals who yearned for more. You could tell that the attraction was going to develop into something deeper very fast.

I loved that both MCs are artists... he hid his true talent for years because of family pressures and she smothered her talent for her husband's political career. The journey of hope they inspired each other to be brave and embrace their talents was amazing. I loved how it all came together in the end, even with the inevitable scandal.

The build up to the spice was also well done. Like I said... the chemistry was on point... they really felt like soulmates. It is open door but it's not super descriptive so that's why it's rated low.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves tense love stories full of passion and drama.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Teen pregnancy (past tense), homelessness, misogyny, classism, infidelity (not between the MCs), death of a parent

Ohmygod I absolutely loved this book! This is a great BIPOC age-gap romance that definitely is written in a more mature voice? It's a romance that also has other stakes involved and definitely isn't that rom-com/wholesome romance. But! That's not to say that this book is definitely gives off "hot romance of the summer vibes" - it has really well-written stakes, a good romance storyline, and it's HOT. I fell in love with this book, with Rachel and Nathan, and their forbidden relationship. Highly recommend if you love forbidden romances.

This was a good debut for the author. I love a story that centers around a woman trying to take back her life after her heartbreaking betrayal.

The characters were pretty well developed and their back stories were well done also. The book held up to it's title with having plenty of scandal, politics, romance, Nathan and Rachel relationship was written very well. While I understand some of the reasons the decisions were made, I did find myself having a hard time connecting with the characters and rooting for them.

Overall I really enjoyed the premise of this story and would read more of this authors work

When Rachel receives an explicit text from her husband Matt on the night of his 40th birthday party she knows immediately it was meant for another woman. And so begins the fallout of their marriage - except, Matt is a rising star mayor and doesn’t want anything to tarnish his image. He convinces Rachel to continue playing the ideal Black trophy wife and in return she’ll receive a million dollars and get to keep their home. But what she doesn’t expect is 26 year old artist, Nathan, or the attraction between them.

I wanted to love this book so much more than I did - it had all the makings of a book that I’d fall in love with. But from the get go I felt like there were so many characters, that all of them were pretty unlikable except for Nathan, and that this wasn’t really a romance at all as it seemed to be from the blurb. Had I had different expectations, I think I would’ve fallen more in love with this story.

I wanted more of the romance but I felt like we hardly got Rachel and Nathan on the page together - we didn’t really get to see them fall in love or the build up. And with all of the plot lines I found myself often losing interest.

I’m sad to say this one just wasn’t one for me.

I really wanted to love this one, but I struggled with the last half. I was totally hooked by the first half of the book, but the last half seemed to fall apart a bit. I struggled to understand Rachel and Nathan's chemistry in the second half. It just didn't carry over for me. The writing is good, but the pacing is a bit off.

Kudos to the author for making a solid Black- and POC-centric addition to the romance genre. This book has serious "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" vibes, with key characters Rachel Abbott and Nathan Vasquez having a significant age gap. The book's theme is essentially how a wife supports a rising-star husband and loses herself along the way - very relatable!

Unfortunately, Rachel's politician husband from a rich family, Matt, is super cringy, and that cast a negative spell over the whole book for me. I felt like he could have been written as a little more likeable character to whom Rachel was attracted many years ago, and still had the message of the book work.

That said, my rating is within the romance genre and in support of a debut author with a novel representing persons of color, very positive. 4-stars. Pub date 8/1/23. 335 pages.

Thank you NetGalley, for providing an eARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

#netgalley @netgalley #theartofscandal

What first drew me to The Art of Scandal was its tantalizing premise! After discovering her husband Matt's infidelity, Rachel Abbott is determined to break away from her crumbling marriage. The only problem is their airtight prenup could prevent Rachel from receiving a fair divorce settlement, so she agrees to keep playing the part of dutiful wife for the remainder of Matt's political campaign. Putting on a facade is second nature to Rachel, she's been putting on a front for the cameras for years, but when she meets young artist Nathan Vasquez he ignites a desire within her to grab hold of her true self. What ensues is a passionate love affair scattered with secrets, betrayals, and searing romance.

I would venture to say that this book is more of a character study than plot-focused, something I think we rarely see in romance. The way Regina Black dives into Rachel and Nathan's psyches allows readers to understand the depths of their trauma and how it impacts their decisions. I was fully invested in their relationship and felt that the progression of their journey was crafted in a realistic manner. The drama within the town and the tangled cast of characters also made for exciting moments. I could see the author expanding on this universe and delving into some of the side characters' stories deeper. My only complaint is that while this book is relatively short, the chapters themselves are quite long. As a reader who refuses stop in the middle of chapters, I felt like there were times when sections could have been split up.

The Art of Scandal was deeply emotional and contained beautiful passages on grief, love, race, and inner strength. For lovers of literary romance, this book is sure to capture your heart!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

This was a wonderful read! Based on the cover & title I thought this was going to be a spicy read. While there was some spice the story was more intriguing. After finding out her husband has cheated Rachel’s life is falling apart, she meets Nate and finds a friend who she can be herself with. Having to be trophy wife to the mayor for 13 years she’s lost herself and who she used to be. Poor Nate is a trust fund baby who is the black sheep of his family.

There were A LOT of characters at play here and at times I had to stop and think of who was who. I found there to be some pacing issues and would have preferred more on page interactions between Nate and Rachel. They meet at one point and then 2 weeks later they’re text buddies, I would have rather read about them exchanging phone numbers than given an entire back story to Sophia or Mia.

Ending was a little too dramatic for me and the hea seemed too hea? Do you know what I mean? But all in all this was a fantastic read and cannot believe this is the authors debut novel. Hoping there will be another book from this world (I’m looking and you Joe and Mia 👀 ) And if there is it’ll be a smoother read since most characters we’ll already have their history.

Despite a few moments where the wording was awkward, I loved this debut novel. I simply fell in love with Nathan and Rachel. I am also a huge fan of a book with a political setting, and loved the insight into Matts career and how it played a role in his relationship with Rachel. The whole time I was just desperate for Rachel to leave Matt and run away with Nathan. But I understood her motivations, needs, desires, and that she needed to consider faith. I also loved the angle that art played in this book. I was not expecting that, and it was very unique and compelling. I spent a lot of time thinking about Nathan’s art and imagining it in my head. The steamy scenes were super steamy but not totally vulgar so I didn’t feel uncomfortable reading them. I think this book will be a huge hit. I totally wanted Nathan for myself by the end.

4.5 stars

A fantastic debut novel from Regina Black.

Synopsis: Rachel is a Black woman whose white husband is a mayor with ambitions of making it to White House. On her husband's 40th birthday, Rachel discovers that her husband is having an affair. Rachel is prepared to leave him, but it is important for optics during the campaign that she remain by his side. Therefore, she is bribed into keeping up appearances for the duration of the campaign. However, when Rachel meets Nathan, a young artist and laundromat owner, matters become more complicated. There is an instant connection, despite appearing to come from completely different worlds.

Thoughts: The writing in this book was phenomenal. Regina Black captured the complexity of Rachel's situation with such expert detail, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story and secrets unfold. This story is not necessarily as spicy as the cover suggests, but I didn't find that to detract from the reading experience. It really had all of the ingredients for a bingeable read: politics, scandal, secrets, and romance. I could easily see this being adapted into a TV series-- it reminded me a bit of the show Sex/Life (though with way less steam).

Scandalous indeed - this book definitely lives up to its name. If you're a fan of the show Scandal or Desperate Housewives, you'll love this. We follow Rachel, a DC housewife who finds out her husband engaged in a torrid affair via SEXT of all things. Literally within the first 5% of the book and I was DYING listening to it happen on audiobook. So in typical scorched earth fashion, she's going to get her money, revenge, and then some. While she definitely didn't plan on Nathan Vasquez being part of that, this reader certainly was happy he stayed. The steam is real, but I really enjoyed the plot more than anything. Combining family dynamics with politics gives everything grand stakes, just amping up the tension. I'd love to see Mia and Joe get a book because lord knows I need to know what's going on there. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a little more DRAMA in their life.

*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and LibroFM for the gifted ALC*

This was very good. First off the amount of pages in the book was PERFECT. It was the perfect length for a romance story. Not too long where I lose interest but not too short I feel like something is missing. Second, I love the relationship between Rachel and Nathan. I love LOVE them together but I also enjoyed seeing them grow individual as characters just as much.

The Art of Scandal is a debut romance novel written by Regina Black that NEEDS to be on everyone's radar!!

It all starts when Rachel Abbott gets sent a text that she quickly realizes was supposed to be sent to another woman. Knowing divorce is the solution, Rachel will not walk away without getting her fair share. Yet her
husband" Matt cannot let Rachel go as he announces he's running for a spot in the White House. Rachel will take his offer up to be his woman on the stage for a price and their house.

One day Nathan walks in and Rachel forgets everything she's known for him. Nathan's an artist, kickstarting Rachel's lost dream to create art and perhaps find love again. But are these two able to keep their love away from the prying, gossiping eyes of Oasis Springs and other notorious towns? Will both their loves and all they've worked for be worth it if everyone starts dissecting everything they are?

The Art of Scandal had me hooked from page one and had me consistently flipping the pages. I loved Regina George's voice as she set the tone for all characters and made me care about everything that was put on page. I was definitely rooting for Nathan to shine throughout and Matt to get whatever was coming to him. While there are some steamy scenes on page, they don't take away from the storyline. I recommend lovers of romantic dramas and the television show Scandal grab a glass of wine (or beverage of choice) and read Art of Scandal when it hits bookstores soon!

The Art of Scandal- Regina Black

🔥🔥🔥🔥🖤🖤🖤

(Internally screaming) This book was exactly what the title said- SCANDAL… Political drama, family feuds, secrets uncovered, manipulation, cheating , corruption… you name it! This was something Olivia Pope would have her gladiators suiting up to defend because this was EVERYTHING!!!!! Available August 2023 , so glad I got the opportunity to read this ARC , because this was perfectly executed!!! 💋💋💋💋

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 +

#theartofscandal #reginablack

The Art of Scandal is one of my top reads of 2023, and this author's debut novel. You could not tell because this book was beautifully written and I couldn't put it down.

Rachel is an older black woman who has been married to her husband for years. Her husband, the current mayor, is starting his political campaign for office, and wants Rachel by his side. The problem? Rachel just discovered that her husband has been cheating and plans to leave her. For a woman as loyal as Rachel, this turns her world upside down, especially when her husband only wants to give her money in the divorce if she agrees to present themselves as a happily married couple while he's campaigning.

Rachel meets Nathan, a younger artist and laundromat owner, on the night she discovers her husband cheated. From the outside, these two appear to be from opposite sides of the track, but they have so much in common. Their friendship turns into more, and while they form a romance, there are other forces at play that will jeopardize the peace they've found with each other.

I loved watching Rachel rediscover who she was as a woman. She'd been suppressed for so long by being a prop for her husband. Nathan feels like a family disappointment, and has artistic talents that he is too afraid to believe in until he's met with Rachel's quiet encouragement. These two complemented each other in the best way. I loved how flawed they were because sometimes you don't meet your soulmate under the perfect circumstances. It takes heartache and some self-growth to get these two where they need to be, and the author took us on that journey in a way that had me rooting for Rachel and Nathan the entire time!

There were a few surprises here and there, so I do recommend being prepared to binge this book because once you start, you're going to want to see it through to the end. I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

I was so excited to receive both an ARC and ALC of this debut from an author that I’m proud to call a local! While spice and political intrigue are definitely not a go to for my reads, this was an unexpected surprise. Yes, it was spicy and sultry (in a supremely well done way, I might add) but the plot was driving and explosive. There was a twist that made me audibly gasp, and this is a treat for friends of Shonda Rimes flavored drama!

Loved this! My jaw dropped so many times while reading, it really is up to the "scandal" in the title. I loved the drama, the writing was beautiful, and watching Rachel and Nathan fall in love amid so much chaos... whew. I can't wait to recommend this to customers when it comes out!

I enjoyed the scandal and mystery of this novel, but I wish there was more romance. I had high hopes for this based on the cover and hype but it fell a little short. It was still interesting and I definitely recommend it!

I adore this book by Regina Black. The opening sentence had me hooked and I deliberately took my time with it because I loved the characters so much that I really wanted the book to last. Rachel Abbott is a wonderful lead character. She had a daughter a very young age, never graduated college after the death of her father, married a white man with political aspirations and lost herself in the years that lead up to her discovering (in an incredibly memorable way) that her husband of 13 years is cheating on her.

Nathan Vasquez is a part of a well-connected billionaire family in the same community, but has done everything he can to avoid being a part of that world. He owns a laundromat and is an artist. He’s distant from his father, looks up to, though resents, his brother, and his mother is a constant source of frustration in his life. Though his family and Rachel and her family run in the same circles, the two don’t meet until the night Rachel discovers Matt’s affair.

The chemistry between Nathan and Rachel is beautifully written. This is a romance, but it’s also a story about race, class, art, and family. I adore this book.