3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

I found it interesting yet I wasn’t dying to pick it back up after reading a little bit at a time. I enjoyed the premise and the writing but I think I wanted more depth of character development. There were so many fascinating personalities that only scratched the surface.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending this book for review consideration.

I absolutely LOVED The Beautiful People!! It may have a tiny bit to do with the fact that I have a closet full of Lilly Pulitzer, but I never knew anything about her personally. But this book proved that her life was the perfect material for a historical fiction novel that can't be put down! I was drawn in from the very first sentance and absolutely breezed through the whole story (one of those books that you want to read but also don't want it to end!). I loved the character of Margo and was rooting for her the whole time. And of course I had to look up Slim Aaron's photographs as soon as I finished, and I think Gable did an amazing job creating such vivid descriptions that when I actually saw the photographs, they were so close to how I imagined them!

The Beautiful People" by Michelle Gable is a captivating novel that intertwines the lives of two women from different eras connected by a luxurious ocean liner, the RMS Queen Mary. Set in the glamorous backdrop of Hollywood's golden age and the present day, the story follows a modern-day journalist named Kendra and a young socialite named Brooke as they uncover secrets from the ship's past. As they delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Queen Mary, they unravel a tale of romance, betrayal, and hidden identities. With its rich historical detail and engaging narrative, "The Beautiful People" is a compelling read that will transport readers to a bygone era of elegance and intrigue

Thank you, Graydon House, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Beautiful People.

I really liked this novel. Michelle Gable did an excellent job propelling the reader back into Palm Beach during the early 60s. I found myself googling some of the people so I'd get the proper vision in my head, and many times I referenced Slim Aarons's photos to see how a certain situation or person looked. The story was well told and included the right amount of scandal and fun!

I had never heard of Slim Aarons until this novel. He was a photographer known for his pictures of socialites and wealthy celebrities surrounded by their luxuries. He described his subjects as "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." While this novel does include some real-life names such as Aarons, Peter and Lilly Pulitzer, Wendy Vanderbilt, and the Kennedys, the novel mainly follows Margo Hightower, the newest assistant to Slim Aarons. Margo is on a downslide from a broken engagement and her stepfather's financial scandal, but all that is about to change once Lilly Pulitzer decides to befriend Margo and take Margo under her wing. As with all social circles, secrets are hidden, but they can't stay buried.

I was absolutely entrantsed by this book! I could not read this fast enough to find out what happens next. I absolutely loved this book. This was a perfect 5 star read to get lost into.
I just reviewed The Beautiful People by Michelle Gable. #TheBeautifulPeople #NetGalley
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Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Graydon House Books for the ARC on Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

In 1961, Margo Hightower lands in sunny Palm Beach with her boyfriend whom she is convinced will soon be her fiancé. The trip does not end in an engagement and Margo finds herself desperate for a place to stay. Through her only friend Dolly Fritz, Margo is introduced to photographer Slim Aarons. Margo is introduced to Peter and Lily Pulitzer and Jackie Kennedy. What follows is several missteps from among the wealthy until Margo finds her calling.

I loved reading about Lily Pulitzer and how her famous fashion designs came to be.

The story is about a young woman trying to both fit in as well as find herself while working as the assistant for the famous photographer Slim Aarons. The novel revolves around the true lives of Lilly & Peter Pulitzer and the creation of the clothing empire she built. We get to meet many of their famous friends like the Kennedy’s, Vanderbilt’s and Roseau’s and hear about the difficulties in their lives. The book traces the next two years of Margo's life. Margo learns about photography, people, life and herself. It tells a story that is familiar in parts, with a cast of characters that are larger than life. There is an afterword that gives more information about those people who were real, and what happened to them. I liked the plot and characters of the book.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Harlequin Publishing for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This is an historical fiction novel, based on a photographer in the 50's and 60's named Slim Aarons. Slim was what could be called a society photographer- he went to Palm Beach, Hollywood, Europe, and took pictures of the rich and famous. Slim and many of his subject, the Pulitzers, the Kennedys, are real. The main female character is fiction , and the weight of the story lies with her. Margo( Gogo) Hightower is down on her luck. She was a debutante in San Fransisco, before her step father was brought up on charges of fraud and fled to Brazil. Margo's mother is selling everything to try to help her husband. Margo and her boyfriend go to Palm Beach for a friends wedding, a trip Margo hopes will lead to an engagement for herself. It does not, and Margo is in desperate circumstances. She calls on her one friend- Dolly Fritz, for help. Dolly introduces Margo to Slim, who needs and assistant. Margo does not know anything about cameras, but needs a job, and Slim needs help. The book traces the next two years of Margo's life. Margo learns about photography, people, life and herself. It tells a story that is familiar in parts, with a cast of characters that are larger than life. There is an afterword that gives more information about those people who were real, and what happened to them. I liked the plot and characters of the book. I would have liked a little more back story on Margo , but thats just me. I really enjoyed it.

The Beautiful People by Michelle Gable is a fabulous story about scandalous Palm Beach socialites in 1960s. If you love this era, you'll love this book.
The novel revolves around the true lives of Lilly & Peter Pulitzer.
I enjoyed learning about Lilly Pulitzer's influence in fashion in that community. The main character, Margo, is trying to fit in and finds herself working as the assistant for the famous photographer Slim Aarons. We get to meet many of their famous friends. The Kennedy’s, Truman Capote and his 'Swans', and the Vanderbilts to name a few. As Margo's story develops, we learn more about these characters and the difficulties in their lives. This is a well researched and very interesting story. I looked these people up and loved all the photos I found online.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! I was so intrigued by the whole Palm Beach history. I hadn't realized the background and influence Lilly Pulitizer had in fashion and the community. She truly was a force to be reckoned with. Margot, our main character, was so naive to Palm Beach society. Taken under the wing of Slim Aarons, she evolves and grows as a mature woman and blossoms in her new career as a photographer. I loved how Margot took on the elite of Palm Beach. The characters were very well developed. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy.

This book was such a fascinating story. I loved the originality and creativity of using characters that already existed in history and give them a fictionalized plot by introducing a new character. I want to find out if the characters portrayed as awful people are truly awful. And if the relationship between Margo and her mentor slim are similar to anything in real life slim had, I will probably not look into this because I will be devastated if I learn he is not as great as a person the book paints him as. There were a couple points where I think I wanted more in between story and not all of the plot points had all the details I would have liked to see, I also wish I had more of a ending to Margo’s story. Did she make it? Did she end up married to some lowlife? I loved the plot. And would recommend it to all my friends.

What a great read!

It’s 1961 and Margo Hightower is expecting to marry her boo, but instead of “I dos” she gets dumped - in no other place but the gorgeous Palm Beach, Florida. She has no home, no money, barely any family but luckily her best friend Dolly comes to her rescue. Dolly sets her up with her friend, the world famous photographer, Slim Aarons. At just the right time he was looking for an assistant that had no strings attached and was able to travel the world with him. A collab that benefited them both. In comes “The Beautiful People” Slim Aaron photographs - Palm Beach socialites. Does Lilly Pulitzer, Jackie Kennedy, & Wendy Vanderbilt ring a bell? These are some of many that are mentioned throughout the novel.

While working for Slim, Margo gets caught up in the glitz and the glam of Palm Beach. As she encounters Lilly & Peter Pulitzer on multiple occasions, Margo becomes enamored by the “Tarzan & Jane” of Palm Beach. She discovers that these “beautiful people” might not be so beautiful after all. This novel deep dives into the history of Slim Aarons and his photography, Lilly Pulitzer and her brand, along with other striking historical facts.

This was seriously such a fun read!! I loved it. This was such a beautiful novel about life and self discovery, along with some juicy gossip. Michelle did a beautiful job of painting the picture of this story in impeccable fashion. I was a huge fan that the characters are real life people with real stories (Not me literally googling and looking up things along the way which made it SO fun) The character postscripts at the end of the novel was such a great addition because it let you know a little more about the person and what happened to their life after the conclusion. Slim Aarons sold his portfolio to Getty images - the author gives you numbers to look up so you can see the real photos being discussed in the book

This book comes out 4/16

run don’t walk to preorder this one if you like
📸Photography
🌴Historical Fiction
📰Gossip & Socialites
👗Fashion

Summary:
The Beautiful People transports you to Palm Beach Florida in 1961. You're going to hobnob with the famous people of the 1960s- the ones you read about in the newspapers. Be prepared to spend the next couple of years getting to know Peter and Lilly Pulitzer and a Vanderbilt. Get ready for the insanely lavish parties they throw and learn their secrets- whether you want to or not. And while you're jet setting around the world you just might discover a talent you never would've thought you could do. But be careful not to get too sucked into the madness where all that glitters isn't the gold it looked like from a distance.

Margot, "GoGo" Hightower was expecting to get engaged to her well off boyfriend. It was going to be the end of the financial troubles her family has been enduring since her stepfather's federal indictment on securities fraud. However, she gets dumped instead leaving her with no plan- or money. Best friend, Dolly, comes to her rescue when she introduces Margot and the well know photographer, Slimbo "Slim" Aarons. Margot begins a new life as Slim's latest photography assistant. Now, she's jet setting around the world and claiming Palm Beach, Florida as her new homebase. Hobnobbing with the likes of Peter and Lilly Pulitzer expose her to the life she longs to be a part of.

As Margot becomes friends with Peter and Lilly, she soon learns that not all love stories are as real as the story you make them out to be.. In time, she gets to know the key players of the Palm Beach society and their secrets. However, it doesn't come without her own entanglement with the very people she's been admiring. Once she starts seeing the not so shiny side of the wealthy, Margot realizes this isn't the world for her. But, now she's gotten herself entangled with the key players and doesn't know how she can get out.

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't an action packed story, but rather very character focused. Michelle takes you along for the ride as Margot navigates the ins and outs of Palm Beach society. You see what Margot sees and learn as Margot does. As the story unfolds, you get to know Slim. He's known for going through assistants, but he connects with Margot. They form a bond that sneaks up on Margot.

I especially loved all the real life information Michelle gives you about the characters you just read about. She directs you to where you can see the photographs that made Slimbo Aarons so famous. She tells you what happened to the people you got to know after you turned the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the world of Palm Beach in the early 1960s- all the people, the extravagant parties they had and the daily life of the privileged. It was eye opening- and very far from what I've ever known.

Pull up a chair. Grab a cozy blanket and get ready to travel back in time. Get to know people you may have only heard about. Enjoy your visit. I know I did.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.*

My first read of 2024, and it seemed perfect because I read this entirely while on vacation with my family in the Turks & Caicos.

I have read all of Michelle Gable's books, and to a one, I have enjoyed them. The one throughline in her stories is her impeccable research into characters and historical timelines. The Beautiful People is the fictionalized tale of Margo (Gogo) Hightower, the young assistant to the very real photographer to the jetset in Palm Beach, Florida in the 1960s. Margo sets out with the goal of just keeping her head above water following her shockingly being left at the altar.

Some of the plotlines left me a little confused and at times I found the language distracting, but I enjoyed the story, especially the look into the lives, albeit through the imagination of the author, of some very famous people.

Not my favorite of Michelle Gable's...but definitely a good one. I'd add this to a list of solid beach reads for the summer of 2024. Release Date 16 April, 2024.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

A very interesting book about society photographer Slim Aarons and his unwitting sidekick, Margo Hightower, who gets this job most unexpectedly. For those of us that have followed these society figures, it is tremendous fun to read.

Oh, such a great summer read. Thank you Netgalley.

Photographer Slim Aarrons took pictures of the jet set ; Lilly Pulitzer dressed them. The Beautiful People tells of Margo Hightower, given a job as Slim Aarrons assistant. Margo is left alone in the world after a family financial scandal. Margo's mother ensures her own security without a thought to Margo's well-being. Margo must paddle her own canoe without ever having dipped a toe in the water. As Slim's assistant Margo meets Palm Beach millionaires and soon Lily Pulitzer takes Margo under her brightly colored wing.

Soon Margo's life entwines with the powerful elite ; she trips over First Lady Jackie Kennedy, while Jackie is sitting on Lilly Pulitzer's kitchen floor. Lily takes a shine to Margo, and Margo, in need of a mother figure, is open to the friendship and the extravagant perks of being in Lily's social set. But of course every silver lining has a cloud. Will Margo actually find a career in her own means of support - or will she become absorbed by the glamorous life? Michelle Gable populates the novel with real life wealthy socialites and creates a seductive world of fun, beauty, and excess. As Margo sees more and more of the world she learns more and more about herself and who she could be.

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE will be perfect for next summer's reading lists. The frothy storyline begs to be read by a pool with a cocktail in hand.

At first, our main character, Margot, is annoyingly naive. But this is on purpose. And she's young so we forgive her.

As she begins working for Slim Aarons and gets swept into the world of the wealthy, the tension ratchets up.

Gable has clearly done a lot of research, and I especially enjoyed the sensory details and the historically accurate jargon that puts us in the correct historical frame of mind.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions expressed herein are my own.

“The Beautiful People” by Michelle Gable is an entertaining story about the glittering and scandalous Palm Beach socialites of the 1960s. The story is about a young woman trying to both fit in as well as find herself while working as the assistant for the famous photographer Slim Aarons. The novel revolves around the true lives of Lilly & Peter Pulitzer and the creation of the clothing empire she built. We get to meet many of their famous friends like the Kennedy’s, Vanderbilt’s and Roseau’s and hear about the difficulties in their lives. This is a well researched interesting read that had me googling old photos of all the people in the story. I was hooked from the very first page!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed this! I can't wait for others to read this. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun, light, and feel-good. A great vacation or summer read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61348013