3.5 stars. A beautifully written story of an actress overcome by the role of Lady Macbeth. This takes place in the late 50s, when McCarthyism was rampant. Margaret's colleague, fellow actor, Wesley Shoard, begs his best friend Margaret to marry him so that he is not thrown into the Communism debacle. Margaret agrees, even though Wesley is a gay man and has his own side dalliances. However, Margaret is quite alright with this and the couple make do until the opening night of the Scottish play, where Margaret, seemingly possessed by her character of the Lady, tries to commit suicide in her dressing room.
After this debacle, and at loose ends, Margaret decides to go with Wesley when he travels to New Mexico for another Shakespearian production. They end up becoming entangled with a dangerous costume designer, and tragedy strikes.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this digital ARC.

This was a short, engaging, atmospheric read. The setting contributes a lot to the overall tense feel of the story. Margaret is a vivid character, and her backwards slide (and its aftermath) felt all too real. The Shakespearean influence was light and really only becomes apparent toward the end of the book. In some ways, it felt like the real story was hidden in the last couple of chapters, but the build-up is more or less worth it. I did want some more backstory about some of the side characters and to have more clarity about several things going on behind the scenes, but the story in general is still satisfying. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about someone who re-builds their life after a breakdown.

"You cannot ignore the sins you carry. You must bear living with them, lest they claw through the walls to make their own room"
"If you choose to live, you also choose to change"

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for an eARC of The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf! This book came highly recommended to me by a close friend, and I have yet to be let down by their recommendations- this book was no exception.

The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf follows two Shakespearean actors in an ~unconventional partnership~ (cough cough, lavender marriage!!) discovering the whole of themselves through love, betrayal, partnership, and uncovering an unflinching sense of self. This is a historical fiction wrapped up in a deliciously queer blanket, and I felt so attached to our main characters, Margaret and Wesley, in ways I can't find the words to describe.

I read this entire book in one sitting, if that's any insight into how much I enjoyed it. The tunnel-vision-turned-trance that had a hold on me throughout this entire reading experience was something that hasn't happened to me in I don't know how long. I *felt* everything right alongside these characters- the anxiety, the joy, the fear, the sense of power- everything. Like actually holding my breath as the plot unfolded.

This book is SO for you if you're a fan of historical fiction, Shakespeare, and If We Were Villains, but do be aware of TW/CW for self harm & suicidal ideation. The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf will be published on January 7th, 2025- and I hope you're just as enthralled as I was. Play the part!

Absolutely beautiful prose and expressive and well built characters. This book needs to sit with me for a little while longer before I can really give it a review

Thank you Penguin publishing for this ARC!

I thought that I would really enjoy this story, however it was opposite for me. I did love the writing style and found it to be beautifully written. I was not able to really relate or become engaged with the characters and or the storyline. I know plenty of historical fic fans will love this however it was not for me.

Ugh I just love 1950s New York / Hollywood fiction with a mixture of glamour and darkness. I hope y’all like the little mood board I put together for the book! This book fits neatly with Table for Two and Valley of the Dolls from earlier this year.

The book has a solid start, but I think it loses itself for a bit in that I really didn’t feel like it was moving anywhere for a solid portion. When it picks itself up in the latter half of the book, I think it does so greatly and again becomes highly engaging as a thriller. The story is interesting, though I admit I didn’t care much for the more “psychological” exploration with Lady Macbeth, which I guess didn’t hurt the story but was a bit unnecessary.

I liked reading this book, and again when I got to the second half I almost couldn’t put it down - the writing, itself, was fabulous.

This was another ARC thanks to @netgalley and @putnambooks - book is out 1/7/2025!

Actual Rating 3.5

TW: Self harm (on page)

There were a few things that really stood out to me while reading this. I appreciated how Margaret’s anxiety/depression/mental struggles were depicted and how well it was incorporated throughout the text. It felt realistic for the time but was still explored in a meaningful way that added much to the characters. I also quite liked the relationships and romance in this one. There were multiple relationships, but one especially was lovely to watch grow and evolve during the book. The complexity of the character and their overall moral greyness was also a terat.

While I did like the author’s writing style overall, there were times when it was overwritten and bogged down the moment. It was also quite a slow read, with it taking a long time for anything much to happen. I didn’t mind this, but it may not work for everyone.

If you’re interested in a character-driven historical fiction that focuses on mental health and theater, then you’ll probably enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for allowing me to read this work, which will be published January 7, 2025. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for the eARC.

The synopsis of this book really had me hooked, but the actual book was too slow paced for me to enjoy.

The writing is beautiful, but for me, this one lagged more than I expected. I think I'm the wrong reader for it though, because I thought there would be a little more fast paced. If you love non-traditional women paving their own unique paths, this might work well for you still!

Margaret and Wesley are Shakespearean actors who marry with Margaret as Wesley's beard. They love each other dearly as friends and plan to do their best to protect each other. When their company puts on Macbeth, Margaret has a breakdown and is put on an involuntary break. She struggles to just be Wesley's wife and starts seeing a doctor who gives her uppers. When Wesley and the other members of the company go to New Mexico for an insane payday, Margaret requests to tag along, hoping that the trip will help her come back to herself.

I had so much hope for this book based on the description. Instead, I struggled to get into it. None of the characters resonated with me and it just felt long winded. The first 80% was entirely too slow and a lot of the things about Margaret's backstory were never explained - which I kept thinking would make everything make sense. On top of that, at about 90%, it went right back to being too drawn out and tossing in other things that didn't seem relevant. So there was about 10% of the book that I found interesting.

Fueled by a terrible taste in alcohol and worse taste in colleagues, Margaret dreams to be Lady Macbeth on the stage, and also dreams of Lady Macbeth. Set in a 1950’s traveling theater group, I really wanted to enjoy this book, but the dark themes and morally devoid characters made the story feel empty and aimless.

The plot was slow going at the beginning, nearly incomprehensible in the middle, and finally became interesting and suspenseful near the end. However, at this point I had developed a strong dislike for every character besides Wesley. I would’ve given up on Margaret “Jack” Wolf’s story but instead I watched in horror, like a car crash you can’t prevent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Like its titular protagonist, "The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf" is a hot mess. Let's start with the fact that, although it's set in the mid-1950s, Margaret is on the pill, and this is a minor plot point. The pill wasn't approved for contraception until 1960. (Yes, some doctors did prescribe a version for "menstruation irregularities" in the late 1950s, but that was still after the year she starts taking it here, and it wouldn't have tied in with her purpose for getting a prescription, which is to add veracity to her lavender marriage.)

Then there's Margaret being prescribed uppers—but not in pill form. I cannot find any reference to "mother's helpers" being prescribed as powders; this seems to be pure contrivance to serve the plot. I didn't buy it.

Nor did I buy Margaret's out-of-nowhere breakdown (sure, they happen, but the book doesn't make hers believable), her three-day bus trip while going cold turkey from the above uppers, the climax of her relationship with Felix, and how every human who encounters her finds her mesmerizing—unless mesmerizing is a synonym for "self-absorbed."

For me, the many (many) metaphors obfuscated rather than clarified. And don't get me started on the specter of Lady MacBeth who visits Margaret throughout.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

Lately, I have been picking up more mid century historical fiction, and this one is one of the great ones! Margaret Wolf engrosses herself in her roles in her acting company so much that it causes a public breakdown. At the insistence of her husband, she seeks help from a therapist who prescribes uppers. She also takes a short break from acting, and follows her husband Wesley to a summer showing in the New Mexican desert, where Wesley and Margaret find their own different trouble.

This one is deliciously juicy, to include sex, drugs, and theater.

Please check content warnings before reading; they include (but not limited to) suicide attempt, drug use, bloody scene

I can't say that I enjoyed The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf but it is well written. I felt that I was in the room with the characters and in the very mixed up mind of Margaret. The sleazy world that Margaret lives in did not make for a good read to me. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for the advanced digital copy.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Putnam for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The bkurb of this book sounded intriguing, a bit dark , set in the 50's theater setting in New York. It was very dark, and very slow. It was a hard book to get through, both for the disturbing content ( a suicide attempt very early on to start) and for the initial slow pacing. The book was just not for me.

⭐️⭐️From Penguin Publishing: Up-and-coming stage actress Margaret Shoard has just taken a bow as Lady Macbeth, the role she has always believed was destined for her. At home, she plays wife to her best friend Wesley, even if she doesn’t hold his sole attention romantically. After a public breakdown threatens all she holds dear, Margaret’s doctor prescribes her uppers—just a little help to get through the days.
When Wesley is invited by eccentric director Vaughn Kline to join the cast for an inaugural Shakespeare performance in the New Mexico desert, Margaret decides to accompany him in the hopes that time away from the city will set her back to rights . . . but the world she finds in Vaughn’s company is filled with obsession and betrayal. Margaret and Wesley, embroiled in an affair with a man who may not be all he seems, must find a way forward together before their story becomes the real tragedy.
********************
My review: I had high hopes for this book: historical fiction, actors, a fake marriage. But it was extremely slow. The first quarter focused on Margot's mental illness and suicide ideation and attempt. And frankly, it was depressing to read about the outdated, discriminatory treatment she was subjected to. I waited for it to pick up as they started their trek across country for the summer desert production. I just couldn't get into these desperate, unhappy people. I DNF at 40%.

I'm sure there's an audience for this novel. The author writes train of thought well and I could picture so much that was going on in Margot's mind. But alas, the story was not for me.

⭐️⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

*The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf* is a thrilling and transformative journey of self-discovery, power, and identity. With gripping twists and a fierce protagonist, the story keeps readers captivated from start to finish. It's an empowering and suspenseful read that blends mystery and emotional depth seamlessly.

This is a heavy story, tragic in a Shakespearean way that was hard to put down. The author did an excellent job describing the 1950’s era and her attention to detail felt authentic.

Trigger warnings galore…so check them before you start ( I won’t list them so no spoilers) if you are a sensitive reader.

It was too much for me and perhaps the redemptive part went over my head. All I saw was tragedy.

I have mixed feelings about this. I enjoyed the atmosphere/vibes and Margaret was a good character but it was a lot more intense than I was expecting. Given all the of the Shakespeare references, I should have expected the plot to progress as it did, and yet I was still surprised. This book wasn’t entirely for me, though I’m not sure I could articulate why, but I would recommend it. Content warnings for self harm, suicidal ideation, a suicide attempt, drug use, sexual assault, and murder (all explicit on the page)

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the digital ARC; all opinions are my own.

It’s hard to describe The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf. At its basest level it’s about a pair of friends that are actors, going to the desert for a performance, when they meet a man that upends their lives. But it’s so much more than that. The friends are Margaret and Wesley, who are married to protect the gay Wesley from the Red Scare investigations. Margaret has been the victim of manipulative men throughout her life, and is also an actress that gets consumed by the roles she plays. After her latest turn as Lady MacBeth, she has an epic meltdown that leads to her being asked to step away from the theater troupe she’s a part of, and she ends up addicted to drugs. When Wesley gets an offer to be part of a performance in New Mexico for an obscene amount of money, Margaret decides to accompany him for a change of scenery. A change it is, but a dangerous one, when she and Wesley cross paths with the charismatic Felix Haas. The reader will experience the uncomfortable sensation of being in Margaret’s shoes while under the influence of drugs, being manipulated again by a controlling man. The question is whether she will have the strength to break the hold that Haas has on her and Wesley. The book is really more about Margaret’s state of mind than anything else, and for me that created that uncomfortable feeling of interpreting the story from her perspective while she was in someone’s thrall. It’s well done, but hard to do justice to in a review and may not be a book for every reader due to some of the triggering events in the story. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.