Marren's A Palm Beach Scandal is the second book in this series, which I didn't know going in, but that didn't take away from the experience. What did take away from the experience was the bananas ending. But, if you like a wild ride of a book, this one is for you. I did enjoy delving into the world of luxury in Palm Beach.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I had really had high hopes for this book. Despite the reviews of the first book in this series (Palm Beach Wife) I really enjoyed it. However, with A Palm Beach Scandal, I could not relate to any of the characters and couldn't connect to the story, I had hopes of some of the characters in the first book being in the second book to have a better flow and just didn't find any of the characters had transferred to this book. I liked the thought of the series based on the higher class lives and struggles they occur. I do plan to revisit this book and will update my review how I see fit at the time.

This was a good book until the end. I was fascinated by the secrets that were uncovered, and the news ones being kept, as these two sisters embarked on a miraculous journey of motherhood together. The havoc wreaked on their family, their partners, and the reactions of the Palm Beach wealthy elite was intriguing at times and funny at others.

But then there was the ending. It was an ending, I'll grant you that. But I'm not sure what kind of ending it was supposed to be. I felt it left a lot of unanswered questions, most specifically WHY? I can't really say more than that without giving away any of the ending, but I really didn't understand why what happened at the end happened. It just didn't make sense to me with what had happened earlier in the book.

There was a lot of doubt about identity, family, love, and hope in this book. I felt it was a clear depiction of what people might go through when they struggle with infertility and begin to uncover facts they never expected. But the ending was just too jarring for me and made what could have been a really good book rather frustrating for me.

I really liked this book, it was unexpected and now I see there's a sequel that I'm looking forward to reading. There are serious issues dealy with here, like pregnancy loss and surrogacy. I thought those subjects were deftly presented and handles, which I appreciated. On top of all that of course was the Palm Beach life of fashion and gossip. All in all, this was a great beach read which I thoroughly enjoyed. 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fun, dramatic continuation of a series I loved. They are the women we want to be - but everyone has their own secrets... It's a look into the other side... Things aren't always what they want to be and these two sisters aren't the perfect pair we think they are!

I found A Palm Beach Scandal to have so much more substance than your usual beach read. It is the classic example of not to judge a book by its cover. Susannah Marren's characters are enjoyable to read and easy to relate to as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susannah Marren and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This book has a very interesting premise, but I felt the ending was just okay. I did love both Elodie and Aubrey's characters, as they are both very well written. Good story, ending could've been better.

I loved this book, until the end. Without spoiling anything, I understand the ending, and why it was a necessary part of the story being told, but it was just a little too much. Despite this flaw, I would certainly read more by this author, and more about these characters.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This book started out strong for me. I loved reading about the rich, shallow, over the top stereotypes living in Palm Beach. Elodie is also a citizen of Palm Beach but she has a more detached view of the people in her social circle. She has just suffered another heartbreaking miscarriage and unfortunately is told by her doctor that she shouldn’t attempt another pregnancy. Her husband, James, comes up with the idea to have Aubrey, Elodie’s free spirit younger sister be a surrogate for them. As this plan is put in motion the sisters discover that the father they have grown up with is not their biological father. At this point the character of Elodie takes a drastic turn that really doesn’t make sense. I was annoyed with the ending because it was so abrupt and I’m not even sure what happened. The book was good up until the three quarters mark and then it fell apart for me.

A Palm Beach Scandal provides a look at sister’s bond even when the sisters are so different. I enjoy the family drama and the setting for this tale.

A Palm Beach Scandal is a story about two adult sisters and their family relationship. I read and enjoyed the author's previous novel which also takes place in Palm Beach. This is a great story. It sounds like a light read but it is actually an excellent drama. I live in Florida and the setting for the novel is very life-like. I enjoyed this book and have recommended it to my friends.

Elodie and Aubrey are sisters that to any outsider would think are best friends. So when Elodie and her husband James lose another child by miscarriage, and are told they need to look for other options if they still want children. Of course asking your sister to be surrogate sounds like a good idea, right? Maybe it would have been if it didn't unlock more secrets and lies that their family has been keeping from them....

A Palm Beach Scandal is about family. Is your family the one that you were born into? Is it those who love you? Or is it those who are related to you?

Palm Beach socialites Elodie and James want desperately to have a baby. After four miscarriages, she’s been advised not to try again. So she and James turn to her happy-go-lucky sister Aubrey for help. Aubrey and her boyfriend Tyler are beginning both careers in the music business and a new relationship. When Elodie asks Aubrey to be a donor and a surrogate and to carry James’ baby, Aubrey is at first unsure. However, because the sisters have always been very close, she is haunted by Elodie’s sadness and decides to go through with it. She is pregnant after the first round of IVF. What follows is surprising. The two couples and their parents do not react to the pregnancy in the way you would expect. When a long buried, devastating secret is revealed, we do not know how these families will survive.

The title A Palm Beach Scandal is misleading. You expect a frothy, beach read sort of book and instead you get a thoughtful, well written family drama. The issues raised by Susannah Marren will stay with you long after you finish reading. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Susannah Marren for this ARC.

Elodie and her husband James very much want a baby. and, at the end of their rope, decide to ask her sister Aubrey to serve as a surrogate, These two have always been very different- Elodie is more strait laced and Aubrey more free spirited for one thing- but the pregnancy brings them together until an old family secret comes to light. Why has their father Simon always seemed so distant? No spoilers from me but you might guess it. What you won't guess is how this impacts the relationship between Elodie and Aubrey, as well as the baby. Marren has used a topical issue as part of her plot line and done it well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This would have been a terrific beach book but this summer- it's just as good inside on the couch.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was hoping this would be better than the authors first book - A Palm Beach Wife, but unfortunately I had to DNF this one as well. I just couldn't get into it and it was a slow beginning and unlikable characters.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I really wanted to love this book but I just didn’t. I had a really hard time getting emotionally attached to any of the characters. I thought it unrealistic that Elodie even asked her sister this huge favor and even more unrealistic that Aubrey would say yes... without even discussing it with her boyfriend. I was waiting for something to occur that would pull me in and make me identify with at least one of the characters and it just didn’t happen. The big secret reveal 3/4 thru the book was a bit of a non starter. Shocking when you discover but adults should adapt a little quicker. One sister was obsessed and the other was meh? I will say my reading time has been limited so possibly it was my fault that I could not get in the flow... I will be anxious to see other re jeez because I suspect many will love this story. #netgalley. #stmartinspress

Diving into the gossip driven community of Palm Beach are sisters facing upheaval and expectations. Excellent portrayal of how much our exterior lives influence out decisions and choices.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Elodie likes to people watch. I wasn't interested in the descriptions of people. I liked Elodie but I wasn't hooked by the story although cute

The story started off focusing on the fabulous lifestyle of Elodie and James, a good looking, successful, social couple living in Florida. They are desperate for a family and unfortunately IVF and miscarriages plague the couple. The plot ranges from the light and superficial to the heavy and dark without much transition. Things seem desperate for Elodie and James (although more so for James) which is understandable, and it dominated the first part of the book. This is the second book in a series, and I did not read the first, so maybe things wouldn't seem so 'dramatic' if I had read the first book. In the end, I made it 20% into the story when I felt this wasn't the book for me and decided to DNF.