Rating 3.2

I picked this story up off of Net Galley as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) and I loved the premise of the story but at times really struggled with it too. This is totally my own feelings on stories (I'm not big into any story line that involves 'happiness' around cheating wife / husband - main character or otherwise etc.) but it was a good read and really dived into a world that I have ZERO connection to - high rollers and major donors into the arts world and all kinds of drama that comes with it.

After reaching a breaking point in her law profession, Julia Wild took on a new career path and has decided to blend her law background into fundraising for the Addison Center (the local Performing Arts Center) where she focuses on securing donations from the local rich and wealthy. Royal Coconut Beach is filled with plenty of wealthy socialites! But wining and dining the wealthy isn't all that Julia experiences in this new role including sabotage, insider trading, crimes, divorces, fundraising and sucking up, wealthy rich men who like to swoon partners, and a husband whose new work partner may be more than a colleague.

Thank goodness for the women she does meet that invest in her and take the time to be with her though - without her ladies in the lunch club, Julia could have fallen apart. They help work through the tricky and new situations that arise and the different insights these women supply truly show that they are good friends and are always there for each other.

This story had so much potential for me, but it felt really choppy at times. I enjoyed reading about fundraising and the world of the rich and wealthy, but it also was hard to connect to anyone in the story - although I did enjoy being able to pretend, I owned a pair of Christian Louboutin and would pay CRAZY amounts of money for an outfit! For some this story will transport you to a life of luxury while still being on the outskirts of the true rich and famous. For me, I struggled a little with understanding the timeline and the focus of the things, I almost wanted more lunch group content than we got!

Thanks to NetGalley and Diane Bergner who, in collaboration with Meryl Moss Media Group, released this copy early so that I could provide a review prior to publish date!

I felt like I don't really know what point this book was trying to get across. The timeline would move super fast at times just glossing over some things. It also felt very repetitive with Julia and her husband. I'm not sure I would have finished this book if it wasn't for the tour I was on.

I really enjoyed getting a first row seat into the drama and life of the upper class in this debut novel by Diane Bergner. Julia is a very likable character as are her closest girlfriends who make up the Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club! The intrigue into the lives of the VERY rich is always so fascinating to me and the way Diane ties in her first hand knowledge, mirroring her real life career in Julia’s character. The addition of greed, infidelity, and ego was a great way to add to the suspense when the mystery unfolded later in the story.

Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club is Diane Bergner’s debut novel. Julia Wild quits her reputable job at a law firm to work at The Addison Center, schmoozing as a high society fundraiser.

Julia’s new coworkers, however, are the quintessential mean girls; enter Chrissy, Poppy, and Maya. There is no shortage of secrets with this catty bunch! While working at The Addison Center, Julia forms The Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club with ex coworker and friend Nina. What’s better than Prosecco and gossip with a good friend? 🥂

Y’all I wanted to love this book! The synopsis was right up my alley, but unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this one. It had short chapters which I love, but read like a YA. Now I love a good YA, however, I found this one to have a clunky writing style, very repetitive, and lacking essential details at times.

I would have liked to see more points of view: the coworkers at The Addison Center or the lunch club friends could have been a fun take.

Thank you to @katieandbreypa and @meryl_moss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Diane Bergner and Meryl Moss Media Group for the copy of Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club. This is my personal review.
This book was a fun ride in the life of Julia Wild. She gave up the job with a law firm to begin working for a non-profit as their Fundraising Coordinator.
She now leads a life of entertaining many to raise funds and has her mixing with some mega rich people living in high society.
The characters and their stories were so well woven together that the story just flowed off the pages. This is a perfect beach read that you will enjoy from cover to cover.

This was a cute and easy read. It was certainly the kind that you want to read on your summer vacation by the pool or beach. Great for light reading.

This book was interesting enough, but I wanted more. The premise and characters were so interesting, but it felt like the story never got deep enough to really engage me. It had elements of romance, thriller, and suspense, but none of these plot lines took the lead.

Unfortunately, I just could not get through this book despite getting to the half-way point. It is a story that revolves around Julia, who left her career as a successful lawyer to work in fundraising for a classy theatre in Florida. Upon doing this, she comes to meet for regular lunches with other wealthy women donors to talk shop and gossip. Although it is fun to read about the lifestyles of the rich and famous,, I found the book to lack any substance. Even the lunch club has no deep discussions. The short chapters have great titles but feel like they were written as quickly as possible, with little thought.

I just could not finish this book. Thank you Net Galley and Meridian Editions for the ARC.

Book #5 for march
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book had everything a reader looks for when choosing a book. Romance, challenges,career driven characters, strong women, and mystery! I could not put this book down. I did at some point get so invested in the characters I was afraid one was going to make terrible mistake. My husband had to remind me it was just a book. That's how amazing it was to me! I highly recommend this book!

This fun fiction novel kept me guessing all the way through! Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club tells the story of Julia, a former lawyer turned fundraiser for the Addison Centre, a performance arts venue use by the rich locals as a source of competition and boasting when it comes to who can donate the most to have their names on the playbill. Julia quickly learns that her job is more about maintaining appearances and schmoozing with donors than marketing and searching for new donors. She also soon realizes that rubbing shoulders with the rich inevitably leads to scandals.

With relatively short chapters, this book felt like a really quick read, but it covered a lot of content. There were a few moments where I was a bit confused about the timeline (near the end it said it was only a little under a year but it felt like two full event seasons so I thought 2 at least?) but it was all chronological and easy to follow! There were enough interesting characters to keep you interested, and the author did a great job with slowly revealing things. The characters are mainly in their 40s and up so it also is a nice read for someone who is looking for more mature storylines.

Thanks to @katieandbreypa @meryl_moss @booktrib @dianebergner for giving me the chance to read this fun book. I definitely look forward to seeing what else this author writes in the future!

Just couldn't get into this novel. I felt it was too YA for me, but I'm sure others will love the storyline.

This is a fun beach style read that reminded me of old school Judith Kranz or Jackie Collins for the Real Housewives generations. Lots of fashion and high society glamour with a bit of mystery thrown in. Perfect summer read!

This book wasn't what I was expecting... The blurb made me think it would be a juicy, scandal-filled high society/jet set romp like Jackie Collins is so known to write. However, this was no Jackie Collins, sadly. The writing felt very dry, the happenings there for shock value more than being organic to the tale, and so very staid overall - not juicy at all! Furthermore, the main protagonist felt wishy-washy at best (the love triangle was tedious, not at all engaging, I'm afraid), when she wasn't behaving like a pouting, sulking teenager despite being in her 40s.
There was much, much potential there, and I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at how donating and fundraising for a wealthy arts centre happened, but the tale itself was dry, borderline staid, and much too telegraphed in some places

I started this book knowing it wasn’t my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it! It was a fun, light, easy read but still had some big surprises! I was very intrigued on how a few of the events were going to play out and was overall satisfied with the resolutions.

Thos book was such a great escape. I could totally see this being made into a netflix movie! This book was so good!! I loved it!!
I just reviewed Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club by Diane Bergner. #RoyalCoconutBeachLunchClub #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Julia Wild was thrilled to trade her legal briefcase for stiletto heels and a glam wardrobe when she accepted the position as a high society fundraiser at a prestigious performing arts center. The Addison Center is supported by mega-donations from the ultra-rich in Royal Coconut Beach, but the gala lifestyle is a minefield.

As if the punishing schedule isn't enough, Julia's boss is having an affair with an important donor (is this what it takes to get big donations?) and someone is trying to sabotage her job. Even as she begins to doubt her new career choice, she weakens to the seduction of elite social circles and the allure of becoming a fundraising rainmaker.

But what really matters are the fascinating and strong-willed women who become her confidantes. They meet regularly for lunch, gossip, subtle lessons, and cocktails - while they dissect the wealth-fueled dynamics of the rich and powerful.

The deeper Julia is drawn into this world, the more reality and fantasy blur, and fault lines in her marriage surface. When she meets a debonair Argentinian billionaire, moral ambiguities and temptations are stirred. Will this fascinating man push her to her limit? Will she listen to her new companions who offer their smarts and feminist sensibilities?

It is only when a suspicion caused by an untimely death blows up the carefully constructed glittering mask of the moneyed set that Julia realizes she must decide whose side to take-and how willing she is to risk everything?

A perfect read for a dreary day. I really enjoyed the story. Will recommend to others.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of a crowd between Hollywood Wives and The Real Housewives. An entertaining read. Recommended.

A debut novel by Diane Bergner about Julia Wild, who changes careers from working in a law firm to the cut-throat world of non-profits when she accepts the position of Fundraising Coordinator for the Addison Performing Arts Center in Royal Coconut Beach, Florida. Julia enters a world very different from her own, now being expected to entertain, wine & dine the elites at exclusive clubs, to raise funds. The book follows Julia on her journey into this new world and all the trappings that come with it.

It was a good read, very well written and would class it as a beach read. It's not my usual genre of book, so at times I did struggle with the pacing of the book, looking for a little more to happen, but overall a good read. I'd give it 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Meryl Moss Media Group and Diane Bergner for this ARC.

I really, really tried to like this book. The blurb made it sound like it would be a juicy beach read, but I just could not get into it. I guess I could not relate to any of the characters and their uber-wealthy lifestyle. Others seem to have enjoyed this book, so I guess this was just not a good fit for me.

A cute and easy to read book that makes it perfect for a beach or pool side read. The main character is cute and uncomplicated while the story she tells is delightful.