Ooh, I have to honest and say that I *definitely* wasn't the target audience for this.

Also thanks to Post Hill Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so as titles go. Excellent. As hooks go, pretty good. She's young, she's from prominent stock, she's married. Sadly for Pam, the marriage is a disaster and now she has to get up and do something with her life, also her father has a scandal, which is sort of big, sort of small.

The style was slightly odd. Short chapters with light dialogue on how she can get her life back on track. We got syrupy notes about Reagan and some decent descriptions of Washington in the '80s. Having recently read The Other Side of Midnight I guess it works as an companion. In general, I don't have too much to say about this but I wish Wicks luck with her book.

2.5 Stars
This is a memoir written by Pamela Wick memorializing the time between the dissolution of her marriage to her move to California. Her parents were close friends of the Regans, and her father was the head of the United States Information Agency during the time of the memoir. Based on the description of the book, I was looking forward to a juicy funny read, but ultimately that wasn't what I experienced.

The story centers around Wick's personal journey being separated and divorced and then dating afterward and then her experience going back to work at the end of her marriage. She's aware that she has gotten her lobbyist role due to nepotism and repeats this a lot of times. Unfortunately I didn't find that her insights were particularly engaging or unique. There's one very memorable incident where Wick and her sisters respond to their father's trouble with recording conversations in a shockingly shortsighted way, but overall, I didn't find this book to be insightful or interesting.

Thank you to Post Hill Press for an Advance Reading Copy for an unbiased review.

Pamela's parents were best friends with Ron and Nancy Reagan. They spent holidays with them and joined them and political parties. And for Pamela, Ron and Nancy were part of her support system when her marriage crashed. With the end of her marriage, she had to figure out who she was, what skills she had, and how to make a life as a divorced woman in Washington DC.

I genuinely don't feel as though I got to know who Pamela Wick. truly is or what she went through. There was more focus on the Reagans and on politics than there was on her. Where the Reagans and politics should have been the background, I feel like, for a memoir, Pamela's life were the background. This is further exemplified by the fact that you see nothing after her move to California, which is honestly the real beginning of her story. For those who lived through the Reagan era and or who enjoy politics may enjoy Pamela Wick's Honestly, She Doesn't Live Here Anymore may be the book for them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought this was a fascinating docu-drama memoir by Pamela Wick, whose father was part of the Ronald Reagan administration until scandal forced him out. Her story is a life of privilege, with her parents becoming good friends of then-Governor Reagan and his wife, Nancy. Pamela was of an age that she did what her parents expected of her, which was to marry a well-to-do young man from a very influential Republican family.

Pamela did the unthinkable when she divorced the white knight and went and–brace yourself–got a paying job! I don’t mean to diminish Wick’s job accomplishments, but going from a society wife to working woman was a big change. She was unsure of herself, but she worked under some great women who gave her a chance and mentored her.

I found Wick’s fiction-like conversations and memories made this memoir really interesting. At first, I thought it was historical fiction! I also liked her story arc, from submissive, conservative wife, to working woman with her own thoughts and feelings that she expressed. She escaped her conservative upbringing all while maintaining relationships with her family and friends. You really couldn’t do that in today’s political climate.

Oh, the meaning of the title of the book? While living in California, her parents bought a home previously owned by Lana Turner. Tour busses would come past so often that the family put out a sign in their yard that said, Honestly, She Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

Although this is a look back in time--the 1980s--when girls went to college and then married, got the 12 piece place settings in china and silver and spent their days shopping, running the house, and primping for their husbands, it is mostly a stream of consciousness of a difficult year in the author's life. Pamela Wick was the daughter of good friends of Ronald and Nancy Reagan (her mother was Nancy's best friend) and the book takes the reader through her divorce, her return to her parents' home (wasn't she lucky to have a familial home to go back to), her first real job, her first apartment, a first post divorce relationship, a first one night stand and a possible loss of a friend and mentor. While I'm sure this was all very traumatic for her, probably millions of women went through this and most not with the "soft" landing that Ms. Wick had. I think she left off in the middle of the story--once she had her epiphany at the end of her book, then what happened?...how did she handle not having the title "Charlie Wick's daughter" mean anything (when she went to California), how did she marry again after being burned a couple of times? (in other words) whe is she now and how is she feeling about it. Maybe there is a part 2 coming about her life after DC?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Pamela Wick for the ARC of Honestly, She Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

This year, I’ve been diversifying the kinds of books and authors I’m reading. I requested this book because the title, description, and the departure from my usual genre sounded interesting. Pamela Wick, the daughter of Charles Wick—who served under President Ronald Reagan—offers a reflective narrative on her upbringing, her relationship with her father, and the broader cultural and political forces that shaped her family and identity.

The author's writing style kept me waiting for something to pull me in emotionally or thematically, and left me feeling pretty disappointed. I had anticipated a more incisive reckoning with her father’s role in Reagan-era politics or deeper insight into the complexities of growing up adjacent to power, but those themes remained somewhat underexplored.

That said, I recognize that this memoir may resonate more deeply with readers who share the author’s generational perspective or who lived through the same cultural and political moments. For those readers, the reflective tone and personal anecdotes may offer a more meaningful connection. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review.

I admit 100% that I wanted to read this book because Ronald Reagan was on the cover. I found it interesting. I have never heard of Pamela Wick, but I have heard of her situation. She married the wrong guy as a young woman. She grew up in a society that thought she would be defined by her marriage….well, she proved society wrong. Seeing Pamela grow is a story many of us women experience in some way. I wanted not only be her friend, but to tell you “way to go!”

The Reagans were just a nice bonus.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me get my hands on this one.

Initially, I was buckled in for a memoir mainly about the Reagan era by someone adjacent to the Reagan family. But learning more about Pam Wick's life was a welcome surprise, from the breakdown of her first marriage to her baby steps to freedom from a politically entrenched family with high expectations. This book would likely suit someone who is interested in learning about the everyday lives of presidents, or someone who was coming of age during the Reagan administration.

This compelling narrative weaves a rich tapestry of personal and political upheaval as Pamela Wick navigates the glittering yet treacherous waters of Reagan-era Washington, D.C. With a backdrop of privilege and scandal, she poignantly reflects on her disastrous marriage and her father's fall from grace, creating a dichotomy between the glamorous facade and harsh reality of political life. The storytelling oscillates between humor and heartbreak, painting an insightful portrait of a young woman grappling with the expectations placed upon her while finding her own voice amidst chaos. Ultimately, it offers a unique lens on the intersection of personal identity and political legacy during a turbulent time in American history.

A very unique read, it was not quite what I was expecting. I thought it would focus more on her father and the Reagans, but it was a pleasant twist to see that it focused more on HER and her journey in breaking out of the mould of "what was expected of the oldest daughter" and finding what made her happy and what made her, her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Well written and engaging personal exploration of becoming an independent woman without the r=tags of wife and daughter. Plus a peak into the Reagan era of politics and life in Washington DC. thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

I think this will be really interesting and engrossing in print form. I could not get through the whole story in the format that the ebook was given, everything was blending together and was extremely hard to read

'Honestly, She Doesn't Live Here Anymore' is a poignant memoir about a life in turmoil. After a divorce from her husband, leaving behind the role of the dutiful and loving wife she was raised to be, Pamela Wick is caught in the political scene of Regan-era Washington.

I've got to address the title as I am an absolute sucker for a good title. It speaks to both the changing and growth of Wick metaphorically and is also a funny quip from within the book. Wick's reliance on humour throughout the hard times in her life is something relatable and her clever way of weaving it in from the title page enhances the storyline for the reader.

Wick is a very clever writer. I enjoyed how she meditated on her past, with a nuance of growth and separation from the events while still making you feel as though they are occurring in the present. I am not one for highlighting passages often but this book was so lyrical it seemed natural.

I would recommend this book to anyone struggling through a transitional moment in their life, interested in Reagan-era politics, or interested in feminism.

Thank you to #netgalley for this advanced copy of #honestlyshedoesntlivehereanymore

Honestly, We Don’t Live Here Anymore by Pamela Wick is a delightful exploration of change, growth, and the messy beauty of life. With wit and warmth, Wick takes readers through the journey of a woman figuring out what it means to let go of the past and embrace the future. The characters are wonderfully flawed and relatable, and the story has just the right amount of humor to balance out the more reflective moments. If you’ve ever found yourself caught between nostalgia and moving on, this book will feel like the perfect companion. It's a quick, heartwarming read that reminds you that sometimes, it’s okay to outgrow the places—and people—you once thought you'd never leave.

I just posted this on the DC Urban Moms site and will follow up with a more detailed review here. In the meantime, I'm telling everyone I know to preorder this book. My post on DCUM:
"Pre-order this. I read galley proofs for publishers. I have a special interest in women's lives in DC. I am a liberal Democrat, and this memoir is from a young woman who was very close to the Reagan administration. I loved it. It's perfect for a DC woman's book club (or any book club.) Don't sleep on this gem.
"Honestly, She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Hardcover release – April 8, 2025
by Pamela Wick

This was a quick read. I finished it in one night. Pamela Wick grew up groomed to be a wife and mother. She was the oldest of three girls and the daughter her mother intensely focused on teaching how to be woman like herself. A woman dedicated to her husband, children and home, but also involved in charitable and Republican party functions. Nancy Reagan was a good friend of her mother's, since their children went to the same school. Unlike other portraits of Mrs. Reagan showing her cold and aloof, Ms. Wick painted her as a kind, warm woman. This is a story of Reagan Republicans, not the current type.

Mostly, though, it's a story of how Pam Wick's life started falling apart when her marriage appeared to be unsalvageable. Her husband apparently much preferred the company of his best friend than his wife's company. The author walked out and wondered what could she be besides the woman she was trained to be her whole life? Her description of all her fears about being without a husband may certainly resonate with women like her, but goes on a bit too long, and might be much less captivating to readers who have never walked or tripped in her expensive shoes.

Next, the story goes on to describe a job she gets because she is associated with the Reagans, and a scandal involving her father taping phone calls, because her father always liked to tape what people were saying to him. (Charles Wick was the director of the United States Information Agency from 1981-1989.) After the scandal dies down and no legal action is taken against her father, the author has to deal with the terminal illness of a good friend and colleague, as well as a breakup with a boyfriend who had appeared to be her future husband. Finally, Pamela Wick has to figure out what she really wants in life, not what her parents or anyone else wants her to want.

As suggested earlier, it's uncertain if this memoir is going to appeal to readers who did not live the type of life Ms. Wick was living decades ago, and did not have a similar childhood in the same time period. The story is highly readable, however, and moved swiftly, although sometimes there was a bit too much self-absorption. Moreover, it's a story dealing with politics and the Republican party, but is not one trying to preach politics to anyone about anything. The Reagans were family friends and shared happy holiday gatherings with the Wicks, nothing more. The author sees those gatherings and her childhood as happy days, yet unfortunately she still was left highly uncertain about who she was and who she wanted to be in the future. Nevertheless, the ending of this memoir is most hopeful.

Pamela Wick’s memoir provides an intriguing look into her unusual upbringing in Reagan-era Washington, D.C. From unforgettable Christmas Eves with President Reagan dressed as Santa to private dinners at the White House, there are some really interesting moments. That said, I had trouble fully connecting with the narrative.

The story also touches on some heavy personal topics, like the breakdown of Wick’s marriage and her father’s political scandal, but these didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

While I’m not sure I was the right audience, fans of memoirs with a peek into political life may find more to enjoy here.

I am glad to have learnt about the author’s life in relevance to the Reagan times, and the aftermath, as well as some bits of Wick’s own specific life experience, and the hardships.
It is not a very long memoir. I would have liked to say that it could appeal to a wide audience, however I had not found it groundbreaking.
The writing was generally engaging and accessible.
I will not be reviewing this publicly.

Anyone fascinated by the Reagan years will devour this memoir by Pamela Wick, whose parents were best friends with Ronnie and Nancy. The author recounts their families' earlier life as friends in California, her own divorce from a "son of Republican royalty," as she calls him, and her journey to building a more authentic life afterward.

I agree with the memoir's description by Reagan's son Ron: "In her affecting memoir, a chronicle of self-discovery, Pam Wick (full disclosure: we've known each other since our teen years) illuminates some perennial truths: that no matter how privileged your background, you are not immune to sorrow; and that happiness must be sought and found within."

Recommended for lovers of the Reagan years, political life, and well-constructed memoirs.

Honestly, She Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is a memoir by Pamela Wick who is the daughter of Charles Wick who worked under President Ronald Reagan. Pamela ends up getting divorced and that’s a big deal for her as no woman in her family got divorced. Plus the political landscape Pamela and her family lived in impacted her life. Pamela’s family was extremely close to the Reagan’s and a lot of her family’s life was taken up with politics.

This was fine. In all fairness to this book I probably shouldn’t have requested the ARC but it was a read now and the cover drew me in. To be fair, I am interested in American politics so this wasn’t completely out of left field for me. That said, I found this to be very empty and I can’t say I cared for any of it. I do think this will resonate with people who grew up during this political time period and are a similar age to this author.