I find this period of American history absolutely fascinating and I've read some great fiction books about it. Some even this year. But this unfortunately wasn't one of them. Not even close.
This book was 400 pages long and it felt like it. Actually it probably felt longer. It felt as though I'd been reading the book for months. It was so slow. I truly believe this book could've been a lot shorter. Or maybe less about how the sisters met their future husbands and more about the time after the Civil War finished, as that was only lightly mentioned but seemed much more interesting.
This book was dense. Extremely dense. And at times, dull. Whatever you say about this book, there's no denying it has been meticulously researched. Usually I love Historical Fiction novels with a lot of details, in fact most don't have enough for me. But there's was something about this book that I couldn't put my finger on, why it wasn't connecting, then I realised, it had no heart.
Now, what I mean when I say the book has no heart is it felt like the book had no story. It felt like I was reading a list of dates, or a list of battles, a list of states the characters visited. It felt more like a textbook trying to teach me something than a work of fiction. It didn't feel like there was much of story woven in between, and what story was woven in between, well it certainly wasn't a good one.
The characters of Mary and Emily weren't very likeable. Neither one really had any personality. And the book needed it. When it's going to be that historical, it needed characters that you can emotionally connect to and these two weren't it. Their characters felt vapid and shallow. Emily's love story was sweet but I wanted it to go further. And when her husband was killed in battle, she barely shed a tear. That was this books change to connect and it missed it.
I have to say, unfortunately I wouldn't recommend this book. I found myself feeling annoyed at its lack of fluidity, it's dullness and it's repetition. There's better books out there about this period in history.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me with a copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review.

I was provided with a digital ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Todd and her sister Emily were the closest of sisters. They loved and supported one another from afar, even though their husbands fought on opposing sides of the war that devastated a young nation.

This is a beautifully written portrait of the sweet courtship of a pair of opposites - the wry, stoic Lincoln and the vivacious, sharp-minded Mary Todd. It is a beautifully written portrait of the bonds of sisterhood, and the inimitable joy and often choral grief of motherhood.

This is Lincoln and his beloved Mary as we have never been privileged to truly see them. All of their foibles, flaws and idiosyncrasies make them leap off the pages. This painstakingly researched book will give you a new appreciation of Lincoln's tenacity and strength of character. It finally gives us a window into the complexity that was Mary Todd Lincoln.

Four and a half stars.

This book is one of the best I've read this year. The story is as beautiful as the cover. It is well written and will keep you turning the pages. If you are a fan of historical fiction you will love this book. Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Alternating in the narrative between sisters Mary Todd Lincoln and Emily Todd Helm, Susan Higginbotham takes readers back to American Civil War where politics separated families.

The conflict between North and South has been one of my favorites since I was a teenager. I hope I am not the only Canadian who feels this way! Tensions did run high and the fact that brother against brother(or in this case sister against sister)extended right up to the seats of political leaders and into the house of the president makes for a good story.

I felt that Emily Todd was much more likeable in this story than her more well known sister. I felt that the way Higginbotham portrayed the relationships of Emily and her husband, Hardin more appealing to the reader. Their relationship and commitment to one another was endearing and I felt I had a good sense.of who they were as people

The author admits to a great love of Lincoln and that is apparent throughout the novel. But I could have done with a bit more life breathed into them. Their courtship in chapter one was quite dull. Mary Todd Lincoln definitely appears in this story to be a staunch advocate of there being no shades of grey. As many of her siblings become supporters of the Southern cause, the First Lady stands firmly beside her husband and sees their actions as foolishness and has an air of "they reap what they sow." But I couldn't help but get the impression that she was also not a generally warm person who failed to connect with the people. Lincoln alone was her lighthouse and what he cared and thought was her main focus.

Overall, I was interested enough to follow these ladies right to the bittersweet end.

Goodreads review published 27/09/19
Publication Date 01/10/19

If you, like me, were not aware that Mary Todd Lincoln's sister Emily was married to Benjamin Helm, a Confederate officer, then this will be an illuminating novel. Told by both sisters, this is about more than the Civil War, although that is, of course, what divided both them and the country. Mary's life is well documented (and debated). Emily's is less well known so this was a treat. Emily, like some other Confederate wives, followed her husband as he moved between battle fields. To be perfectly honest, I would have been happy (perhaps happier) had this focused only on Emily but the contrast between the two sisters is well done. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical fiction.

This is the story of Mary Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln (TheFirst Lady), as well as the story of her sister, Emily (the rebel).. Since the latter is on the Confederate side, it makes for interesting reading. If you are a historical fiction lover, this book is for you. Taking place during the pre and civil war years, the reader is a witness to a terrible time in our history. Due to the excellent characterizations, you learn why Abraham, Lincoln is considered one of our best presidents. Moreover, the reader is like a fly in the wall, learning about Mary and Abe’s personal life, and the difficulties they endured in their marriage, due to the stress of him being president during this time as well as the loss of their children and Mary’ and Emily’s siblings.

Although there were some slow parts, this books made me want to go back for more. It is evident that the author did much research in order to make this a wonderful book.

I am a huge fan of Susan Higginbotham and her books. The First Lady and the Rebel does not disappoint. I enjoyed getting to know Emily and Mary. This book gets a well deserved five plus stars. I loved it!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the premise and the setting of the book, and especially liked the courting between Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln, who showed the young man who whould become one of the most famous american presidents in history. It was interesting to read about the backgrounds of the Civil War and Mr and Mrs Lincoln, and the book is well-written.
Unfortunately, I felt there was something missing and I couldn't finish it. The subject is good and the author writes well, but I couldn't feel a connection with the characters (it's difficult to really get to know them) nor the story, as to me they didn't convey any emotion. I agree with some other reviewers that at times it felt like reading a historical textbook rathern than a novel. I am really sorry I wasn't able to finish it, as I liked the premise and I truly wanted to enjoyed it, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Susan Higginbotham for giving me the chances to read her new book: The First Lady And The Rebel.

I must admit at the very start of the book I was a little unsure if I would like it and if I would find it boring?
Not the case at all, I really enjoyed reading it and it's a brilliant book.

It's a interesting story about two sisters, they married two very different men, they're husbands didn't share the same political views and when the American Civil War starts they support opposite sides.
Mary Todd is married to President Abraham Lincoln and Emily Todd is married confederate officer Benjamin Helm.

Mary Lincoln is the Union's First Lady, she supports her husband, his job is a stressful one, it's extremely demanding, with very long hours, making tough decisions, it takes its toll on her husband and his health.
Mary is hoping for a Northern victory, but she's very concerned for her family living in the south, some members of her family are fighting in the confederate army and she now has very little contact with them.

Emily is hoping for a Southern victory, her husband is a confederate officer, she and her children live a nomadic way of life. They follow her husband around the south never staying in one place for very long and she lives with the constant fear of her husband being wounded, maimed or killed in battle.

The war is a long brutal one, a shocking loss of life, terrible injuries, and thousands of men who will live with the physical and mental scars for the rest of their lives.

The war rages on, both women have to deal with the challenges of motherhood, being separated from each other and accepting their husbands choices.
The sisters may have been supporting different side in the war, but they both show incredible strength, they both suffer terrible personal loss, they both have to deal with grief, yet had no time to properly grieve and have to be strong for the sake of their children.

I really enjoyed The First Lady And The Rebel, it's a story about two strong and incredibly brave sisters. They loved each other, their children, and husbands. Separated by politics, war, illness, and both of their husbands made huge sacrifices for what they believe in. I gave the book 4 stars and I look forward to read Hanging Mary!

I love a good multiple-perspective novel, and Susan Higgenbotham definitely has the skill to pull it off. This novel/historical realism about two of the (many!) Todd women - Mary Todd Lincoln and Emily Todd Helm - shifts between the perspectives of the two women seamlessly. The dates at the beginning of each chapter also help a lot!!

It was interesting to read about Mary Todd Lincoln's family -- they aren't really a part of the American History overview you get in high school and college. I know the author stuck to facts as much as possible, and I appreciated her diligent and thorough research. And I enjoyed getting to know Emily Helm -- despite the fact that the first half of the novel is very much just a romance between her and her husband (although it is very tastefully done, thankfully!).

But honestly, the book seemed a bit too long; at times reading like a textbook of facts/battles/important people's names. I know it's difficult to encapsulate the entire Civil War (and beforehand!) from two perspectives in a succinct manner, but it started dragging pretty quickly. I waded through it in order to give an honest opinion, but it was very long. Lots of words. If you're looking for a book that you can knuckle down and learn from, this might be it!

Reading anything about Abraham and Mary Lincoln has always been a passion of mine. Higginbotham has written a fine novel based on the lives of Mary and her younger sister Emily. The parts devoted to a Emily I found the most interesting to read as I knew less about her life than Mary's. I think the author adequately captured the voices of both ladies. I appreciated the author's note and her brief bibliography.

An interesting take on the complex historical figure of Mary Todd Lincoln and one of her sisters, Emily Todd Helm, who were divided by the Civil War on opposite sides of the battles. I found myself googling many of the people mentioned to try and learn more about them.

Mary herself is an interesting and difficult individual to get a hold of, historically speaking, and it was nice to see things through her eyes, even if imagined to some extent.

I loved reading The First Lady and the Rebel by Susan Higginbotham as the author created a fictional story that brought home how the Civil War affected families. The two main female characters Mary Todd and Emily Todd Helm illustrate how the war affected their families. Mary Todd was married to Abraham Lincoln while Emily Helm was married to Benjamin Hardin Helm. Lincoln represented the north as he was president of the United States while Helm was a famous southern general. Higginbotham writes well as her book shows how the Civil War affected families personally.

I also liked how Higginbotham presented Mary Todd in a sympathetic light. While this is fiction, it was good to read something that helped show how Mary Todd may have acted (and why) rather than reading typical reports of Mary Todd spending money a bit too freely and communicating with the dead in seances. Higginbotham does gloss over both aspects of Mary Todd's reported actions.

The only drawback of Higginbotham's book is the book could have used a bit more depth when it came to creating characters. The characterization was fairly well done but it could have been a bit better.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Two sisters, Mary and Emily, divided by war and on different sides of history itself. Mary is wife to President Lincoln and Frist Lady of the United States of America. Emily is the wife of Benjamin Helm, a general of the Confederate army and aiding the Confederate cause. What follows is the story of a family, like many others, that is spread across both sides of the divide and the hardship that result.

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Very slow start. Not because the writing was dry, but because the starting chapters were so very long in order to introduce us to our main characters and how Mary and Emily came to be with their husbands. And where the first chapter about Mary(covering three years) ends, the next chapter about her younger sister, Emily, starts two years later(and covers an additional two years). Those first two chapters alone filled 18% of the entire book and so I had to push myself to get through them so I could get to some actual plot progression. The third chapter then picks up 5 years later, at which point it did begin to pick up.

I know the author likely felt it important to dedicate time to establishing each woman's connection and dedication to the men who would become their husbands, which it is. But... it just felt far too drawn out.

Although Mary is more personalized, human, and relatable in this book than she has been in other books that focus on Lincoln or the Civil War, I still didn't feel as though we got to know her all that well. I wasn't invested in her or really any of the other main characters. They all felt flat and 2-dimensional.

In this book, the more mundane seemed to be focused and expanded upon far more than need be. Whereas it felt that several major plot points were glossed over or merely mentioned in passing.

The book had such a promising premise, but overall I found it to be dry and a little dull. If you are looking soley from a historic point of view, to read a book that delves into the views and loses of those on both sides of the Civil War, than this would be a great book for you. But if you are looking for a human connection with characters from history, displaying emotion and depth, than I'm afraid you will find this book lacking. I am a bit disappointed. For a book about one of the most divided times in American history, I felt almost no deep emotion from or connection to the two ladies whom were supposed to be sharing their experiences of this time.

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Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing an electronic copy of this book with me for reviewing purposes, this is my honest review.

<b>WONDERFUL PREMISE, BUT ODDLY LACKING</b>

Sadly, I have had this problem with Higginbotham's books before. They are well written with interesting subjects, but there is always just something lacking, keeping me from fully getting into and loving her books.

<b>THE THINGS I LIKED</b>

<u>The premise</u>: The American Civil War narrated through two high profile sisters, one backing the Union, the other the Confederacy. That is a truly enticing and interesting premise, especially when the one sister is the wife of the, perhaps, most famous Civil War man, President Lincoln. That premise was a hook like few others!

<b>THE THINGS I DISLIKED</b>

<u>Spectators</u>: The story is told from the alternate POVs of the sisters Emily and Mary. But here's the things - Mary and Emily are no more than spectators in their own stories! They take no action whatsoever and play no part in the unfolding of the overall plot.

<u>Characters</u>: Both Emily and Mary felt underdeveloped and lacking in depth, which made it really hard to connect with them. I simply couldn't feel them.

Poignant and emotional, The First Lady and the Rebel is a beautiful historical story about loyalty and relationships. I like how the story is told from both Mary and Emily's perspectives, which allows the reader to see the issues presented in the story from all sides. Higginbotham does a wonderful job at intertwining the two sisters' narratives. The pacing is at times a little inconsistent (which I tried to ignore but couldn't), but I love reading about women in history, and The First Lady and the Rebel is no different. Fans of historical fiction will be excited to see this novel.

I enjoyed this book very much!! It was well written and interesting at the same time.
I give this book 5 stars. I wish the rating would go higher because I would definitely give It 10!
I love historical fiction and this is historical fiction at it's finest!! I always learn quite a few things whenever I read a new author. I love her writing style! I like how she brings these characters to life and can make you feel like you're right there in the room with them. Kind of makes you feel like you're listening in on their conversations and then you feel kind of guilty for doing so!
I strongly recommend this book!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own.

This is a story of two sisters: Mary Todd Lincoln and Emily Todd Helm. Both women chose to be loyal to their husbands. Abraham Lincoln stood for the rights of humanity. Benjamin Helm decided to be loyal to the South.
I found the story of both sisters and their actions during the civil war fascinating Narrated between the two sisters, the novel is a compelling portrait of two sisters divided by the Civil War.

The First Lady is Mary Todd Lincoln and the Rebel is her sister Emily. I've read lots of books about President Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary. I've never read about their other family members except for their four sons. This book was nice. It alternates between the two sisters and each has their own side of the story. It was refreshing to read about the Confederate side of the story, it's usually not written well and taken out of context. As a Southern woman I enjoyed that the author told of loss and Love on both sides of this horrible war. There is the perfect amount of time spent on battles and the perfect amount of time spent on the life of these sisters. This book is well written and researched! Highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you so much, Netgalley!
All opinions are my own.

Enjoyed reading this book. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ACR. Loved going don the journey and getting lost in this book!