Macallister’s writing is both elegant and gripping, making it hard to put the book down. The plot twists are well-executed, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. The historical elements are seamlessly woven into the narrative, providing a vivid backdrop that enhances the overall experience. If you like the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you'll like this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Greer Macallister for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Thirteenth Husband. It was a story about a high society woman in the early 1900's.

It was not my favorite story of Macallister's but it was well written. I guess the story fell flat for me, because I really didn't understand the whole "ghostly" part of the story. I also wasn't interested in reading about a woman, with her many loves and escapades, who was a millionaire due to her father's death. I was rather annoyed by her and all of her crazy shenanigans.

However, I did think it was well written and I was glad to see the main character found a way to be a strong woman and divorce at a time when it was rarely done.

This won't keep me from reading another novel by Macallister. I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by the same author and I am confident I will enjoy more from her in the future. This book just wasn't my cup of tea.

5 out of 5 stars for another gem by Greer Macallister!! This has to be in my top 5 historical fiction books for 2024. Enjoy every page!

The Thirteenth Husband follows child heiress Aimee Crocker after she inherits $10 million after her father's death and spends her life looking for love and romance. While I admired Aimee's resilience and her fierce independence for the time period, I ended the book confused on the point. The writing was beautiful and super well done. In the end, I just don't think this book was for me.

Amy/Aimee was definitely eccentric for her time period but I’d venture to say she would be considered that now. Maybe not so much for the number of husbands and paramours but for her beliefs in what people would view as occult.

I did appreciate how she had no regrets and definitely lived her life to the fullest.

Ack! Another book I forgot to review here...

Title: The Thirteenth Husband
Author: Greer Macallister
Publisher: Sourcebboks Landmark
Genre: Historical Fiction

Happy Pub Day 8/6 and thank you to @sourcebooklandmark & @netgalley for the #gifted ARC of The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister. I loved the author’s previous book The Arctic Fury and was so excited when I saw she had a new book coming out. While these books are totally different, I’ve come to expect a well researched novel by this author and she delivered again.

“I had no choice in the matter. Love’s arrow had struck, and I was helpless against it, pierced to the core.”

The Thirteenth Husband is a wildly compulsive read. It’s based on the life of Aimee Crocker, a heiress, from the late 1800s and early 1900s. She was a trailblazer for women who often went against the grain of society norms, starting with divorce. Something that was unheard of in those days. She was a fierce independent women who travelled all over, but I’m not going to lie, she was sort of an odd duck. After having a palm reading when she was young and being told she would have thirteen husbands and the thirteenth would bury her she sort of had an obsession with guides to the supernatural—mediums, clairvoyants, mystics, palm readings, and tarot. Her mysterious dreams only fueled this more.

Aimee’s story is tale that shows money and influence allowed her to be the person she wanted to be and not what society valued and deemed the “ideal women”. This is a true counterpart too many stories we see in this era. It’s a message that we all should take a stab at pursuing happiness and passion for things.

Don’t miss the author’s note for more…I was surprised to learn she stumbled on Aimee Crocker researching The Arctic Fury and while she didn’t work for that book, she couldn’t forget about her and thought she deserved her own book!

This book is like a voice of fresh air in the historical fiction genre. Absolutely loved every minute of it.

I tried to get into this book, but ultimately it fell flat. I didn't like the main character, so I couldn't get invested in her story. Of all the historical figures to write about, why her?

I loved this book! I loved it even more because it was based on a real woman. Aimee Crocker was an absolute whirlwind and well ahead of her time. This book was very easy to read and I soared through it!

4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks/Landmark for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a fascinating read from start to finish. It was full of colorful and vibrant characters, an intriguing and interesting story about a strong and independent woman, in a time where women were not meant to be in the spotlight. The fact that it was based on a real woman just makes it even more interesting. This was a great read!

Macallister’s engaging and descriptive writing style, combined with a blend of historical detail and fictional drama, brings Aimee’s story to life. Told from Aimee’s perspective, the narrative offers a mix of public scandal and private pain, making it a compelling read about a strong, independent woman navigating a life filled with adventure, wealth, and mystery.
The Thirteenth Husband is a glorious part-fictionalization, part-biography about Aimee Crocker who was a trailblazer in the late 1800s. I thought Aimee was such a spitfire really paving the way for women to define their lives without a man. I adored this historical fiction story and got lost in Google after I was finished looking up more about Aimee.

The Thirteenth Husband is actually based on a real person - Aimee Crocker. She inherited a fortune when her father passed away and truly lived life to the fullest! She went where she wanted to go, did what she wanted to do, married many times and didn't care what anyone thought of her and her outlandish behavior. But there were many sides to this remarkable woman - good and bad - and I really enjoyed learning all about it!

The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister is the story of Aimee Crocker, one of the heirs to the Crocker empire. She was ten years old when her father died and she inherited 10 million dollars. That amount of money is mind boggling and at such a young age will ultimately change the trajectory of her life. We hear about her young mischievous ways at boarding school in Germany. We hear about the tension between her and her sister. Two completely different woman with different views on how to be a Crocker. Her relationship with her mother and how special that was and then her adult life. Her first marriage and the relationships that followed. Aimee Crocker was clearly a very different woman of her time. I love a good historical story but this one just fell short for me. It read more like a list of her life. It was just a run through and it was a bit boring. Even with her fiery behavior, this book just fell flat. I kept reading because, I wanted to know how her life ended. She spent millions of dollars, traveled the world and still she was so unhappy. But this really wasn’t the book for me. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy for an honest review. It is always a pleasure to read and review books.

Tearing through millions of dollars, four continents, and a hearty collection of husbands, real-life heiress Aimee Crocker blazed an unbelievable trail of public notoriety, private pain, and the kind of strong independent woman the 1880s had never seen. Her life was stranger than fiction and brighter than the stars, and she whirled through her days as if she was being chased by something larger than herself. Greer Macallister brilliantly takes us into her world and spins a tale that you won't soon forget.

I loved it.

The protagonist is too spoiled. And the jumping around from husband to husband in the chronology is unnecessary. It feels like Macallister was throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if that would make her character enticing. I DNF'd around 20%.

3.5 stars

Imagine being the Paris Hilton of your time but during the late 1800’s into the next century. Aimee, who became an heiress in childhood, married young at 17 and was divorced by her early 20’s. A divorcée at that time was unheard of, especially when the woman initiated it, but Aimee always marched to her own beat. She was unapologetic about her adventures and her love life, experiencing the kind of freedom other women were jealous of and secretly dreamed of, but could never have at that time. Her free-spirited nature took her from her hometown of San Francisco to New York, and then to Hawaii, Japan, India, and France. Nothing slowed her down, and the gossip rags loved her for it.

Aimee’s life is fascinating, and I appreciated the factual details Macallister included in her story. She was curious and open to everything. She wasn’t exactly a social pioneer, however, her steadfast pursuit of happiness on her own terms during a time when women still had limited agency over themselves is inspirational. The title is a tad misleading as there weren’t 13 husbands but you’ll get your read for yourself where that comes from.

Highlights:
* Historical fiction, based on a true story
* Strongminded heroine
* International settings

I’m glad I was introduced to Aimee, and her own self-discovery and adventures.

Thanks again @bookmarked for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ever wonder what you would do if you had unlimited funds, didn't care what society dictated and married whoever you wanted? Meet the real life heiress Aimee Cocker who lived in the late 1800's Gilded Age. It's an easy read and told by Aimee herself. She was quite a character and there are quotes from her 1936 memoir. By why 13 husbands? She will tell you. During important events in her life an apparition appears. She is involved with fortune tellers and psychics which were very popular. She is an interesting person and led a very interesting life which is brought to our attention by a gifted story teller Greer Macallister.

Book Review: The Thirteenth Husband: A Novel by Greer Macallister
Rating: 4 Stars

The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister is a fascinating fictionalized account of the wildly unconventional life of Aimee Crocker. Before picking up this novel, I knew nothing about Crocker, but her extraordinary life immediately captivated me. Macallister weaves a compelling narrative that stays true to the spirit of Crocker’s adventures, and it was incredible to discover how many of the events were rooted in reality.

This novel is perfect for fans of historical fiction and stories about bold, independent women who defied societal expectations. Macallister brings Aimee’s world to life with rich historical detail, portraying her as a vibrant, fearless protagonist. While the narrative’s complexity might feel challenging at times, it ultimately adds to the layered portrayal of Crocker’s life and legacy. Overall, The Thirteenth Husband is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that invites readers to explore the life of an extraordinary woman who truly lived on her own terms.

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks | Landmark and Greer Macallister for free e-ARC of The Thirteenth Husband in return of my honest review.

I was genuinely looking forward to this book, but I ultimately found myself frustrated and disappointed. From the outset, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had read this story before—too many similarities to "Evelyn" made it difficult for me to engage with the narrative on its own merits.

The plot felt derivative, recycling themes and character arcs that were already well-explored in "Evelyn." It was as if the author was relying heavily on familiar tropes without bringing anything new or innovative to the table. Instead of feeling fresh and original, the story felt like a rehash of the same old ideas, which left me disinterested and disengaged.

The characters, while initially intriguing, lacked depth and development. They mirrored those in "Evelyn" so closely that I found it hard to differentiate them or invest emotionally in their journeys. I kept expecting a twist or a unique perspective that would set this book apart, but it never came.

Overall, I was left feeling let down by a book that had the potential to be something special.

The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister is a historical fiction novel based on the life of wealthy, eccentric heiress Aimee Crocker.
Born in 1864, Aimee inherited a fortune at age 10, after her father’s sudden passing. At odds with her mother, Aimee spends her teens in Europe and thus begins a colorful life full of adventure, travel, and notoriety. She experienced many romances along the way, but real love was elusive. While she had more independence and freedom than most women of her time, she experienced grief and persistent tragedy, as well.
I enjoyed reading about this Bohemian woman whose life spanned a time that included several wars, epidemics, and innovation. Her eclectic acquaintances and lover/husbands added to the interest and drama of her tale.
The story is told by Aimee, and includes many quotes from her 1936 memoir, “And I’d Do It Again.” The novel’s use of her first person voice is very effective, revealing her sharp observations about life, love and colorful locales. Macallister’s bright sassy prose perfectly compliments Aimee’s character.
I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy well-written stories about not-very-well-known characters who are worth getting to know.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.