⭐️ REVIEW ⭐️

📖 The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf by @arsen.prose 📖

Thank you to #NetGalley and @putnambooks for the opportunity to read this eARC and provide my honest thoughts.

Synopsis: A sexy, atmospheric mid-century novel about two Shakespearean actors in an unusual marriage during one summer that will drive them closer than ever or rip them apart for good.

Emojis: 🎭🪞🩸💊♥️🏳️‍🌈🗡️

🌟Rating: 3.75/5 stars (Rounded to 4/5)🌟

My thoughts: The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf was not something I would usually pick up, but I’m glad that I did. This book was an emotional and raw portrait of sacrifice, the search for love/acceptance in many forms (self, friend, partner, public), and the struggle for power over one’s demons. There are challenging themes throughout the plot which may make this read sensitive for some (see trigger warnings).

The first half of the book was a bit slow, but by the middle of the book, I was hooked and found myself unable to put it down. Some of the plot points were a bit odd (traveling out into the middle of nowhere to perform for no one and getting mixed up with members of a drug ring), and a few of the Shakespeare references likely went over my head, but I enjoyed those that didn’t. Overall, I am glad I gave this book a shot, and found it captured and held my attention.

I hope you consider giving this one a chance. If you do, let me know your thoughts!

Trigger Warnings: suicide attempts, drug abuse, sexual assault

There’s just so much in this book. Best friends, Margaret and Wesley, get married to save him from the HUAC, ok that’s a story that happened a lot in old Hollywood. The story takes us through their marriage while they are acting in Shakespeare plays. Things are going well until Margaret hurts herself and Wesley will do anything to help her. Her doctor on the other hand is a pill pusher not a healer, but life goes along at an even pace until Wesley takes an out of town job and meets a man. Margaret also meets this man and his interference will change both their lives.

I loved the story so much that I chose this for my January book. There are a few things that might bother some readers, graphic sex scenes, assault, drug use, very old Hollywood true crime themes.

Margaret Wolf, who was raised in a troubled household in Kentucky, uses her career as an actress—preferably as Lady MacBeth—to express her annoyance. Margaret meets Felix Haas, a costume designer and tailor, when she and her husband decide to take their company to New Mexico to perform summer stock. The individuals in charge of the summer stock take advantage of Margaret and Wesley, who have no other pals. They exact their retribution with their backs to the wall. The character development is superb. As the narrative progresses, it becomes unexpected to learn that every character has a Manichean battle. It helps the reader empathize with each character. The book comes to a terrifying end. The conclusion raises the question of whether enduring a catastrophe makes one more resilient in What will you be able to do in the next act, a nasty struggle to eat or be eaten?

The Unbecomming of Margaret Wolf by Isa Arsen is an atmospheric read. Set primarily in NYC in the 1950s. Our FMC, Margaret, is an actress in a Shakespearean Theatre troupe, and Wesley our MMC joins the group. Margaret and Wes are the leading actors of this troupe and become best friends. Wes is gay, and that can be a problem in this era. He begs Margaret to marry him because he fears he is being investigated by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee. Of course Margaret agrees - Wes is her best friend and she loves him. The theatre group decides to put on the Scottish play and Margaret gets the role she believes she was born to play, Lady MacBeth. All seems to be going well, but Margaret has anxiety about the play and begins having conversations with the Lady. After the triumphant opener, Margaret falls apart. She is replaced in the role because she has been hospitalized and when released, she can't get cast because they all think she's crazy. She begins seeing a therapist and he prescribes uppers - a white powder that she inhales. For the summer, the theatre troupe is invited to the desert of New Mexico to put on a play. It is for a large sum of money so they say yes and Margaret goes with to accompany Wes. On the journey, Margaret and Wes meet a man they are both interested in. This story contains suicide ideation, a violent sexual assault and a violent murder scene. I think the writing is good as it hooked me from the start. Margaret and Wes have decent character development, but the story itself is slow moving and the remaining characters really do not get any real development and deserve better. I give this book 3.75 stars and want to thank #netgalley and Penguin Publishing for my advanced reader copy.

👉🏻For my friends who want a sexy, atmospheric mid-century novel about two Shakespearean actors in an unusual marriage.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARGARET WOLF by Isa Arsén

Thanks to G. P. Putnam's Sons | Penguin Random House for the advance review copy via #NetGalley. (Available 7 Jan 25)

To protect him from professional ruin, Margaret marries her best friend and fellow Shakespearean actor, Wesley. Recovering from a desperate attempt to shuffle off her mortal coil and hopped up on therapist-prescribed amphetamines, she then joins him for a performance in the New Mexico desert. There, they both fall for a handsome costume designer who is more than he appears, and whoo boy, do things get debauched quickly.

The story, set in the 1950s, is dark but fascinating, disturbing but powerful, and full of bad decisions and figurative demons. This is Arsen’s second novel, and I also enjoyed her debut novel (though it was very different from this one). Her characters pull you in and make you want to stay and watch whatever happens next.

You’ll want to check the TW; there’s sex, violence, and sexual violence. (Not to mention drug use, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.) While not gratuitous, it’s very clear what is happening.

In Isa Arsen's The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf, actress Margot meets actor Wesley Shoard, who is gay and on HUAC's radar. The two marry and Margo's psyche slowly begins to unravel. Bored at home as a housewife, Margot accompanies Wesley and a troup of actors on a road trip to New Mexico for a theater festival. Margot becomes addicted to the "nerve powder" provided by her psychiatrist to stem her ennui. Both Margaret and Wesley become intrigued by a man they meet in the acting troup. The sharply written novel examines addiction, marriage, a woman's place in the world, and how all three mingle together.

The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf by Isa Arsén is a captivating novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy fiction centered around the theater and the United States during the mid-twentieth century. This book is a great choice for fans of authors such as Patti Callahan Henry and Marie Benedict.

Margaret Wolf finally gets the role of her lifetime--Lady Macbeth. But she is too consumed by the part--with nearly tragic results. Taking a break from acting, she struggles with her new role, as wife of Wesley, another actor, who she agrees to marry primarily to protect him from too-close scrutiny. Her therapist prescribes uppers to help her get through her days, and with an inadequate supply for her growing habit, she accompanies Wesley to a sketchy summer theater in New Mexico where both she and Wesley get involved with Felix, a devious Austrian costume designer.

Set in the 1950s, this novel captures a period of time, where everyone smoked and drank, hid their so-called "proclivities," and unashamedly used amphetamines to get through the day. Decidedly unusual, this novel will capture your attention. The dual settings of Manhattan and New Mexico are equally fascinating. #TheUnbecomingofMargaretWolf #NetGalley

This book actually hurt me to DNF, and it may be a soft DNF for now (I made it to 50%). I had high hopes going into this one, as although it seemed to be a bit dark, the plot sounded very interesting. This book is marketed as a historical fiction, with two Shakespearean actors in the 1950s, with an LGBTQ romance. I do like what this book was aiming to do, it focuses on the tragedy that certain LGBTQ historical figures had to overcome, but also the love and relationships that many LGBTQ people in the 1950s were able to find. The themes are very heavy and dark, with a suicide attempt at the beginning of the story. The writing was quite beautiful and Shakespearean-esqe, and I did appreciate how beautiful and descriptive the writing was. However, the book ultimately just felt too heavy for me to continue with right now. I found the beginning of the book quite slow to get into and combined with the darker themes, I'm not sure this book was right for me. I also found it hard to connect with Margaret as a character, which made it more difficult to want to push through the rest of the book. Probably not the right book for me right now, but I expect many will enjoy it!!

Thanks to Putnam for the free book!

I'll be the outlier. I struggled to get into this- it felt mannered and all to0 literary at first. Margaret is an interesting character but she wasn't one I cared about. I liked the 195os setting but as has been noted elsewhere, there are some inconsistent details that should have been caught in the editing process. Thanks to the publisher for the Arc. Over to others-many of whom I'm sure will enjoy it.

Embark on a dark and captivating journey into the world of “Jack”. The author relentlessly portrays the depressing events that unfold as a woman strives to become the woman she desires. The characters are intriguing, and the author’s skillful portrayal of the time period breathes life into the narrative. The plot, akin to a train wreck, keeps the reader enthralled and unable to look away.

Please remember that this review is entirely voluntary, and all opinions expressed reflect my personal views.

Whoa! This book was a lot. An emotional roller coaster to say the least. “You cannot ignore the sins you carry. You must bear living with, lest they claw through the walls to make their own room.”

Thank you NetGalley for the rARC in exchange for my honest review.

Facing life in all its hideous beauty.

Living on NYC's Christopher St in 1955, aspiring stage actress Margaret Wolf has found steady work in director Ezra Pierce's theatre group the Bard Players, a sort of Island-of-Misfit-Toys ensemble for actors. Margaret has her demons; she escaped the trauma of her childhood and has created a strong persona which she projects to the world, masking the sad and frightened young girl she once was. When she meets the latest Bard Player, the handsome and charming Wesley Shoard recently arrived from California, they immediately click. It is clear that there will never be a romance between them....Wesley is gay, a fact which he must be careful to keep relatively hidden...but when Wesley past rears up to ruin him, he begs Margaret to marry him as a form of protection. Their relationship, odd though it is, works quite well and each blossoms professionally. When Margaret suffers a very public breakdown on the eve of playing her most sought-after role, she is forced to take a lengthy sabbatical to recover. No longer able to use the profession she loves to keep her demons at bay and prescribed an amphetamine powder to treat her "melancholia", Margaret struggles to manage life and remain happy in her marriage. When she insists on accompanying Wesley to an odd summer theatre residency in Lake Sumner, New Mexico, where each becomes attracted to and involved with the compelling Felix Haas, their marriage and in fact their lives seem headed for tragedy.
A story of life in the theatre as well as some of the many kinds of love which one can experience. this is an intriguing novel whose settings are as much characters as are the people who populate it. Margaret and Wesley are richly developed individuals, damaged and doing their best to transform themselves into more powerful creatures. They are surrounded by friends and other players in their world who are also finely drawn, from former actress and Margaret's well-connected mentor Edie to the gifted but short-tempered Ezra and the magnetic but dangerous Felix. The world of theatre, at times glamorous but also duplicitous and rife with betrayals large and small and the uncertain life of a queer person in the 1950's are woven into the fabric of the story, as are Margaret's psychological problems. There are certainly elements of darkness in this tale, but it would be hard for readers not to find the protagonists appealing and deserving of empathy despite their flaws. I found this to be an intriguing read, one that would appeal to readers of authors like Beatriz Williams, Marie Benedict, or the co-authors Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group/G P Putnam's Sons for allowing me early access to this sensitive portrayal in return for my honest review.

I love a good character study, and WOW did this not disappoint!
(Check the content warnings before reading.)

Margaret Wolfe is an actress, and finally lands her dream role- Lady MacBeth. You see Margaret's mental health unravel from the heat of opening night, to losing her career, to becoming hooked on the uppers she is prescribed. We see how Margaret is impacted by the identities she assumes on stage, how she grapples with her new role as "wife," and the growing desire she has to devour. When Wesley is offered a position in the desert, Margret accompanies him on the trip and it is here, their shared affair with Haas unfolds.

I loved Margaret and Wesley's relationship. The love and care they have for each other is palpable. The prose was beautiful. I wish I had read Macbeth, or knew anything about it. I certainly enjoyed the story without it, but I can tell there is so much brilliance with the interplay of the stories, and I wish I could more deeply appreciate it.

I want to speak to everything else in this story, but I don't want to spoil its effect. I will say- female rage is just steaming off this book, and I am here for it.

This is a story with complexity and intensity that will be with me for a while.

Isa Arsén’s The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf unfolds the story of an actress’s participation in an alternative marriage and it is an unexpected delight. Set in the 1950s, Margaret is a NYC actress at a small venue with an eclectic troupe. The set up is slower, reminding me very much of City of Girls, as the characters are introduced and we settle in for the performance.

When Margaret finally gets to play her most coveted role, her world falls apart and in a way she is rescued by Wesley, another actor in the company when he proposes marriage that will save his reputation. The wildness begins there as Margaret finds her path to healing and understanding her husband and the circles of friends he keeps.

The pages start turning faster when Margaret and Wesley end up in a complex affair with the mysterious Haas, as I’m riveted to how the story will unfold and how Margaret will end up after all the threads are tied—and if the tragedy she loves will have a happy ending.

Slight spoiler—the twist tying up the subtle plot was staring us all in the face.

Beautiful evocative writing with loads of introspection and historical detail. If you enjoyed City of Girls, take a look.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read this advanced copy for an unbiased book review

This was a very strange book, but it was interesting.How things seemed to come together. Margaret had a really strange past.So she came to new york from richmond virginia. Things were not going really well for her but she was trying really hard. She was a Shakespeare actor and she met a man named w.E!L s l y. He had problems from his past so he asked her to marry him. This was a very strange marriage because she had a breakdown after she performed l M ACH ET. H.. So she stayed home and was miserabut she had her little pills and made her feel better. Things got really crazy when they went out to new mexico to do shakespeare play The company was VAUGNKL.I m. You had all the actors come out and she was not acting but she wanted to go anywhere. Things got really crazy when they were there because it was a small town and a lot of nonsense went on. One of the actors was bisexual and they had affairs with him and margaret. This was kind of strange but it gets stranger as it goes. They asked Margaret if she would do the play again and she said OK, but remember what happened last time?. Things got out of hand and the ending is really shocking

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