I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good historical fiction novel. Love the cover. Highly recommend.

I had high hopes for this book, but just didn't connect. It became slow and more and more difficult for me to keep reading. I've really enjoyed other books by Pataki, so think this was just not the right book for me. Others have loved it. I did not post a public review.

One of the best books I've read in 2022. I loved learning a bit about the early days of the Post family and its company and then Marjorie Post. What an interesting woman. I really felt for her. She enduring much sadness in her life, but boy did she just come out on top. Very strong capable woman. Great read!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a very entertaining and informative book of historical fiction. Marjorie Merriweather Post led a fascinating life. As the daughter of C.W. Post, she continued her father's legacy of expanding the availability of fresh, quality foods to millions. In doing so, she amassed a fortune. While she lived a lavish lifestyle, she gave her money to good causes - building hospitals, providing food for the needy, and supporting war efforts to aid the Allies in Europe.

In addition to telling Ms. Post's story, the scenes and conversations are very realistic. This makes for an enjoyable reading experience.

I was really drawn to this book since I love historical fiction and her story really sounded interesting in a pioneer sort of way for women. I really wanted to get a concept of who this woman was and what she felt as she lived her life and not a glaze over of different points. This is what I felt that I got and why it took me so long to make it through this book. The events were written well and were often beguiling, but this character was left so flat for me that there was really not any type of emotional connection. She was definitely unlucky in love, but it was hard to really understand her as other than a doormat from the way she was written.

This was a fantastic historical novel about Marjorie Taylor Post. Very informative and a great read. I couldn’t put it down and when I finished I had to do a deep dive research to find out more about her fascinating life

Really enjoyed this one. It was fascinating to see history through the eyes of someone who lived through them. This sent me to Google quite a bit to seek out pictures of the fascinating places and things in Marjorie Merriwether Post’s life.

My schema for Marjorie Merriweather Post was at 0% when I started this book, so I found it very interesting to learn about her life and how her family created the Post Cereal Company (which later became General Foods.) The words that stuck with me the most in this book were: “My wealth would have been a burden on my soul if I did not find ways to share it with others.” Although it was crazy to think about how much of Marjorie’s money was spent on houses, trips, jewelry, entertaining, and furnishings for her elaborate houses, it was also amazing to read about the service she gave her community – at both the local, state, and national levels. I ended this book wanting to know even more about Marjorie’s life and feel compelled to help others learn about her too.

As a side note, I have mixed feelings about the writing style of this book. It was written in the first person with Marjorie as the narrator, so I didn’t feel like I was reading a biography. However, it didn’t feel like a historical fiction novel to me either. I would describe the reading experience as more like I was reading someone’s journal or diary where the writer lists everything that she did that month. It felt weird to hear Marjorie talk about all the beautiful things she was buying, but also describing all the philanthropy projects she had going on as well. I don’t think the author meant for Marjorie to sound like she was bragging about all her wealth and service projects, but since the book was written in the first person it came across like she was. In my opinion, I think the book would have been better written in the third person and would have been enhanced with more dialogue and character development. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy learning about influential American historical figures.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki.
I learned so much about Post Cereal, General Foods, and other big name brands from this book. The life of Marjorie Merriweather Post was filled with fame and fortune, yet she kept a level head and ran her business and life with integrity. The next time I am in D.C. I intend to visit the Hilltop Museum.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
A Novel
by Allison Pataki
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to NG and RHP for the early read.
Allison Pataki is one of my favorite authors! She does an amazing job with writing historical fiction. She brings the past back to life. Grabs you from the beginning and refuses to let go until the end. Highly recommend!

I once toured Marjorie Post’s famous home, so as soon as I saw this title - I knew it would be marvelous! Her life was so fascinating, and this book truly captured her character and history. This is great for fans of historical fiction, especially when it’s based on amazing, real women. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted review e-copy.

Allison Pataki shines her light on Marjorie Post and you will never look at a box of Grape-Nuts the same way again. That is history and a grand story in your pantry- of a little girl who glued the original boxes for her father to entertaining Presidents, multiple marriages and homes such as Mar-A-Lago. How to not make this review sound like a summation? This woman worked hard both with how she amassed her vast fortune and in love. Four marriages proves money doesn’t buy happiness but Marjorie Post who I had not really thought about prior has earned my respect.

I've read other books about Marjorie Post but this one was the best researched. She was really quite a character. It's hard to feel sorry for someone who is so wealthy but then again her life proves money can't buy happiness. Her four marriages were sad. It's too bad she didn't find love before all that money. I especially found it interesting that she worked in her early days. And her houses were exquisite. She has great taste. All in all, I really enjoyed this.

I don't read much historical fiction and truth be told I requested this book because our town park is Marjorie Post park so I felt I had to read it :). It was well researched and Pataki is a great writer - if you like historical fiction this will be a great book for you. At times it felt a little fact heavy and character light but Post is such a fascinating woman with an incredible story it is definitely worth hearing her life story.

I love this book!! I cannot say that enough. Was not really sure what to expect but the continuous chapters of Marjorie’s life and challenges she overcame kept me enthralled the entire time. She was a main character you wanted to continue to root for and hope for the best.

I wish I had been a friend and confidante of Marjorie Post. Her life, as defined in this book, was one of innovation, ingenuity and creativity interspersed with family trials and tribulations. It was obvious that the author admired her character but there was so much grist to do just that.
The heir to the Post Cereal Empire and all the other businesses that Post' and her father began was an American success story. What made the book especially entertaining was the people in Post's sphere of influence. Presidents sought her out as did all the influencers of those times. She was known for her magnificent and many homes that were furnished beyond imagination as well as her generosity to those who suffered from hard times. Her 4 marriages were thoroughly dissected which made the book even more intriguing.
Post was a fascinating personality. Since I reside in the DC area, I plan on visiting Hillwood and seeing, in person, what the author wrote about. Wonderful read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
The story of Marjorie Post and her many husbands. She was a talented woman who mainly erred in her choice of men. Got a little boring but mostly a good read.

3.5 stars

Marjorie Merriweather Post was an entrepreneur and businesswoman. In this biographical novel, Marjorie narrates her life from the time she was gluing cereal boxes for her dad’s company in her father’s barn to her final moments. Before she turned thirty, she became the wealthiest woman in America. This novel also chronicles her four disastrous marriages. The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post tells the tale of a wealthy woman who spent her life searching for love.

Before reading this novel, I did not know much about the life of Marjorie Post. However, this novel shows that she lived a fascinating life. She inherited a successful business from her father and was a major philanthropist. Yet, I could not connect with Marjorie Post. Marjorie Post seemed very vain and selfish. She desires to be loved by all. The novel also spends a lot of time on her romances. Marjorie rushes headlong into marriage and always chooses bad men. She never seems to learn from her mistakes, and her marriages keep ending the same way. Therefore, Majorie Post was a very annoying and vain character. I did not feel sorry for her difficulties because I could not connect with her.

Overall, this novel tells of heartbreaks, ambition, and wealth. The characters are mostly bland. Marjorie’s husbands are stereotypical bad guys. The novel is very repetitive. Most of the novel focuses on her romances or how much she spent on her sumptuous and lavish lifestyle. The parts I did like were the scenes depicting her business, and I like the relationship with her father. I wished that this novel focused more on her career and her philanthropy. Therefore, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post reads like a soap opera because it has enough glitz, glamor, and drama that it will keep you entertained. I recommend this for fans of American Princess, American Duchess, and The Second Mrs. Astor!

I enjoyed it and the research was very thorough, and it was an interesting read about a fascinating woman. However, I heard the author’s voice throughout the book instead of Marjorie’s. There was no depth of character. It read almost like an autobiography and list of her accomplishments and her spending. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!

This is an in depth and very informative look into the life of Marjorie Post. Written in the first person, Ms. Post takes you on her life’s journey beginning with her family’s moving to Battle Creek, Michigan where her sickly father enrolled in Dr. Kellogg’s sanitarium. From living in small rented quarters to becoming the richest woman in America, Ms. Pataki takes you along. The tremendous excess of the 1920’s, through the dramatic days of the depression and even her days as Ambassadress of Russia …you get to see what Marjorie Post is all about. I don’t think there was a woman who gave more to help the needy in this country for decades…from hospitals to soup canteens, donating to the Red Cross and Girl Scouts, and countess other charities, to making sure her hundreds of employees maintaining 4 luxurious homes never went without in hard times. She was the brains behind General Foods for decades. The author details her four marriages and her final triumph of Hillwood. A miraculous life well lived. Very well researched. Very enjoyable reading.