I received this book through NetGalley as an advanced reader's copy. I will admit, the cover is what caught my eye, but after reading the synopsis, I thought it sounded good, and I always enjoy reading things that have a connection to my home state of MI.

This is the fictionalized life story of Marjorie Post, the daughter of C.W. Post.

C. W. Post was the founder of the Post cereal company which was probably the greatest rival to the Kellogg's company, at least back in the beginning. After her father's death, Marjorie continued to run the company (later renamed General Foods), although for much of her life she had to do it through each of her husbands, as women weren't allowed to have such positions of leadership back in those days. Marjorie was rather an unlucky woman when it came to love, she married four times, each of them ending in divorce. This novel, told from her point of view, was a great story about her life. She was a very rich woman, but she was also a very generous woman who led an interesting life. Post did spend a good share of her childhood in Battle Creek, MI and returns there for a few visits throughout the book.

One thing I really enjoy about reading historical fiction, is that when I'm done, I usually feel like I got a history lesson in a very enjoyable way. Many times, things in historical fiction novels lead me to do a little bit of research to learn more about something. One tidbit I gleaned from this novel is that Mar-a-Largo, the resort whose name most people will recognize because of former President Donald Trump, was actually designed and built by Marjorie Post and upon her death, it was bequeathed to the National Park Service. Post had hoped it could be used for state visits, or as a winter White House, but the costs of maintaining it proved too much, and it was returned to the Post Foundation in 1981, they in turn sold it to Donald Trump in 1985.

Marjorie Post lived an amazing life and I enjoyed learning about her. However, as a work of historical fiction this book was a little uninspired. At times I felt like the author was contriving story line just to slip in some extra facts about the Post company.

This book was a delightful window into the life of Marjorie Merriweather Post. I learned so much about her philanthropic work, business skills, her houses, marriages and divorces. It was so interesting to see her life across time and challenging circumstances.

Another historical fiction that I highly recommend.

I came into this story with almost no knowledge of Marjorie Post. Sure, I had heard of Post cereal and have eaten my fair share of Grape-Nuts, but I had no idea of the life that Marjorie Post lived!

Marjorie Post is the daughter of C.W. Post of the Post Cereal fame. Marjorie started her life in Battle Creek, Michigan helping her father with his cereal company. She ended her life as one of the richest women in America.

Marjorie lived her life to the fullest. She took full advantage of all of her money, living an outrageous luxurious life (she built Mar-a-Lago) but also doing all she could to help people.

She was a hard worker, rising to every occasion. From building hospitals for the poor to traveling with her husband to Russia to help with his Ambassadorship.

Her major personal downfall though was her luck with men. She was married 4 times. She came out of each marriage stronger and more determined to live her life on her own terms.

She led an amazing life, one that I can’t even begin to describe in this short review. Truly fascinating woman.

I did not know much about Marjorie Merriweather Post when I selected this novel to read. I knew of C.W. Post and his cereal company and General Mill Foods, but that was the extent of my knowledge. This novel was an interesting and enjoyable read on a fascinating American heiress, well ahead of her times who used her good fortune to promote good through her philanthropic endeavors and pioneer the way for women in a male dominated world.

This novel was well researched and is a mix between historical fiction and a biography of the life of Marjorie Merriweather Post. The author did an excellent job of presenting Ms. Post as a complete person, focusing on her highlights and strengths as well as her weaknesses and flaws. It made for a very captivating read. I particularly enjoyed the way the author narrated the novel and often ended a chapter with an insight into how things would go in the future. Ms. Post is a very likeable character, and the author did a fantastic job of depicting her as an extraordinary woman of strength, courage, forward thinking, power, and good character even when faced with adversity. I enjoyed how the author presented her as an entire person and did not just focus on one aspect of her life. The novel was entertaining and kept the reader engaged as the author explored her relationship with her four husbands and subsequent divorces and I enjoyed the descriptions of her beautiful homes, boats, and gardens. The author however also highlighted Ms. Post’s numerous acts of philanthropy and her need to give back to those during times of need. The reader learns of her involvement and support of troops during times of war and her creation of soup kitchens to feed those who suffered hard times during the Great Depression. She took great care to bring medical care to those in need in less privileged communities and donated significant amounts to schools, hospitals, and food pantries.

I would have liked a bit more on the early beginnings of the cereal company and how it evolved into General Foods Corporation. I found it particularly fascinating Ms. Post’s ability to foresee the needs of the industry and help run a company during a time when it was unacceptable for a woman to play a role in corporate America. It was inspiring to see how she handled herself with grace and paved the way for millions of women in corporations.

This novel is a delightful read and keeps the reader thoroughly engaged throughout it. I greatly enjoyed learning about Ms. Post and found both her and her legacy to be truly remarkable. The life of Ms. Post leaves us feeling inspired. She was a woman who always rose above the disappointments and hardships of life to tackle a new project with the intention of benefiting others. This is a truly remarkable person.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Growing up in DC, I always heard the name Merriweather Post because of the pavilion and never really thought about who it might have been named for. I loved learning everything about Marjorie Post; what a formidable woman! I found her to be so interesting: a shrewd businesswoman, a caring mother, a patriot and an incredibly strong woman. Allison Pataki does a masterful job bringing her to life to those of us who didn't have the pleasure of knowing her. I highly recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction and strong, independent women.

An incredible life that I am glad I read more about. in her time it was unusual for a woman to be a strong head of a company. She stayed very involved in her father’s company, but for years her husband had to hold the seat with the company. Eventually she was able to take her rightful place and she contributed great ideas and strategy. A fascinating life she lived. Born in 1887, Marjorie was the only daughter to a man who made his fortune in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was smart and pretty. And grew to be one of the richest women in the country. Along the way, she married four times, had three daughters and lived quite a life. She became a philanthropist as well as the consummate hostess to presidents, dignitaries and celebrities. She was rich in a time when so many people had none, however she spent millions providing food shelter and medical aid. Marjorie was a woman ahead of the times. She was in an era where women had no rights. Somehow she still managed to make her voice heard and get things done. One thing Marjorie was terrible at was choosing the men in her life. She marries and divorces four times and it was painful to read how terribly these relationships ended. I’m sure some were attracted to her wealth, and it was frustrating that for some of her life she wasn’t able to vote, serve on the board of her own family company, and she had to prove infidelity of her husband in order to be granted a divorce. One of her husbands served as the Ambassador to Russia just before WWII broke out. They entertained the top officials in Russia, and she was invited to warehouses to buy treasures that had been confiscated from the czars. Told in the first person, from the perspective of Ms. Post, Pataki has created a rich work of historical fiction that does justice to this grand woman. Really enjoyed the story of a strong woman who worked hard.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author and Random House- Ballantine for an ARC

Wow! What an exciting multi faceted woman Marjorie Post was. So interesting to read about her. Humble, yet suited for relationships within high society. Adventurous, with a big heart for helping others. Her romantic relationships/marriages also page turners. Such a good story, held my attention throughout, for sure.

I loved the cover on this one. It’s what drew me in! And this one was beyond fun! Historical fiction can sometimes be boring for me, but not this one. The author of Marjorie Post did an extraordinary job at making this story truly come to life. The name dropping was unbelievable. The details of her money, parties, decorating and relationships were intriguing. I didn’t want to put this one down!

Marjorie Post has led a privileged life, but love seems to disappoint her. She was married four times and loved them all fiercely, however as time went on, they all disappointed her. She was a marvelous and entertaining host to many presidents.
She grew up in the farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan. She had a strong work ethic instilled in her early years, but after her mother died, things changed. Marjorie was very close to her dad and he doted on his only child. As her father’s Post Cereal Company was growing she helped in any way that she could.
Marjorie would grow the company in many ways including acquiring Birdseye and frozen foods, which lead to the name change of the company. General Foods became a mainstay in many of our lives. While each relationship lasted, children were born, love was lost, empires built, but deception and betrayal plagued her. Marjorie picked herself up and started anew. She was a remarkable woman and has made her mark in History.

First off thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Marjorie Merriweather Post. From humble beginnings to being on first name basis with numerous presidents, from being a child of divorce to having 4 divorces herself, from Michigan to Russia to everywhere in between, lived her life to the fullest.
This book 3.5 starts rounded up to 4 for me, just because of the extensive detail of the different houses she furnished, it just seemed very repetitive at times with no clear reason.
I did learn quite a lot about this magnificent lady that impacted history in more ways than one.

You know, I don't really think about who makes my cereal or other food for that matter. I think about the ingredients, health benefits, etc.

Marjorie Merriweather Post was the only child of C.W. Post and inherited his growing company upon his death. It expanded even more under her leadership. She was dedicated, strong, hard working and brave. She lived a full life and the author delves into that in this book. She did a tremendous amount of research, and told the tale of a woman who hosted presidents, had an extensive art collection, was a philanthropist, had many love affairs (and husbands) and was a female business owner in a time where a woman's place was in the kitchen not the board room.

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Very enjoyable read! Truly a remarkable woman!! So much I didn't know about her. Another score for Allison Pataki!!

If you have poured yourself a bowl of cereal in the last 100 or so years, odds are it was a Post brand cereal! I think most of us are familiar with some uber wealthy names like Vanderbilt, Hearst, Kennedy, and Rockefeller. The name Post doesn’t necessarily ring any bells for me. It sounds like a common name with little attached to it to distinguish itself.

When this book came across my desk for review, I basically thought the cover was pretty and that was about it. The name and title in the book didn’t draw me in or anything, it was purely the elegant cover. I read the blurb and was instantly intrigued. Of course I know the Post name and General Foods brands—-I don’t live under a rock or anything! But I literally never gave much thought to the brand beyond just that—-a food company.

But after reading the blurb I wanted to know all the things about this interesting woman who became the biggest name in food and cereal! She sounded like an interesting figure. There are tons of books on the Vanderbilts, their name just screams ‘romanticism’, the Post name not so much but I was so drawn to this story after the blurb and couldn’t WAIT to read it. I was excited to see a new name and story that promised something different!

Summary
Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard–even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine.

Marjorie’s journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father’s barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post’s Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy.

And yet Marjorie’s story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love.

Bestselling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
Since I didn’t know much—-ok anything—about Marjorie Post prior to reading this book, I felt like I was reading something fresh and new! I was instantly drawn in to the world and life of Marjorie! Clearly she had a massive impact on the American family as economy, I loved watching her personal story come alive on the pages of this book. I felt like the author did a great job balancing her personal life with her professional impact. I loved reading about every bit of it! Sometimes in books like this, I lean more toward the personal stories rather than the history but in this one I found both aspects equally compelling.

This book came in at around 400 pages which is pretty long for a historical fiction book but not so long as to be weighed down with too many details. It felt long enough to be a fully developed story that does justice to Marjorie Post and her empire and justice to Marjorie Post the woman. I really enjoyed this book much more than I was anticipating! I felt so invested in the story and found Marjorie to be such a compelling figure and I had no idea she built Mar-a-Lago! I loved reading about her life so much and I didn’t want it to end!

In truth this novel did focus quite a bit on her personal life and marriages, and I think that some readers would prefer a story more about her empire. For me the novel felt balanced and if I wanted to read a book about her actual life I would have picked up a non fiction book. This is a historical fiction novel and written more for entertainment value rather than for facts and liner content. I enjoyed the romance parts and the parts about her personal life so much, they were interesting and intriguing. There was so much to love in this one and I think fans of historical fiction will embrace this lovely gem. It has so much to enjoy and its length gives readers more to sink their teeth into! If you haven’t read this one yet get it on your radar! I should also note that as I was reading I went down a rabbit hole researching her life and history. I love when that happens!

Book Info and Rating
Format: 400 pages, hardcover

Published: February 15 2022 by Ballantine Books

ISBN 9780593355688

Free review copy provided by publisher, Ballantine Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: historical fiction

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Review will be posted on 2/4/22

C.W. Post makes a fortune for his family when he invents cereals, such as Grape-Nuts. His family goes from living an average life to becoming very wealthy and this changes his only child, Marjorie, greatly. She attends a very good boarding school and brushes shoulders with influential people. However, she watches her parents' marriage falls apart and this breaks her heart. Some of the changes coming from this are good, but many are difficult for her. As she gets older, she helps turn her father's company into General Foods, yes the General Foods, and impacts the way Americans eat. Cue frozen food! But Marjorie wants to be more than just a wife. She has plans. She not only wants to help run her father's company, but she also wants to contribute to society. And that she does! Whether she was building a new hospital, a soup kitchen, or donating her yacht to war efforts, she was always a wonderful philanthropist throughout the many years of her life. That's not to say she didn't like to indulge. She had priceless jewels and she built Mar-a-Lago! The one thing she never could seem to do was to secure a happy marriage though. Allison Pataki's latest novel, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post is a compelling and interesting glimpse into a woman who deserves to be remembered.

I was familiar with Post cereal, but I knew nothing about the Post family. The story opens with C.W. attending a sort of health retreat by none other than the Kellogg family, which made me raise my eyebrow. That's where he gets his inspiration for his "health food." He tweaks the cereals and --boom-- he is the mastermind behind the food revolution that changed American breakfasts. C.W. suffered from stomach issues his whole life and some of the cereals and health drinks he invented apparently helped him. However, C.W. isn't perfect and has an affair. This impacts Marjorie greatly. It takes her awhile to bounce back from this betrayal to her mother, and then C.W.'s life ends tragically and unexpectedly. Marjorie finds herself as sole heiress.

Marjorie fights for the company from C.W.'s second wife and once she gains the rights, the rest is history in The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post. She came up with the idea to buy Birdseye Frozen Foods, as well as other food companies like Jell-o, and call her "new" company General Foods. These acquisitions makes her company even more successful. I also appreciated her philanthropic spirit. She was always helping America out with the war, building hospitals, soup kitchens, fundraising, and so much more. I respected her so much for that. Even at the end of her life, she wanted to donate Mar-a-Lago to the government as a Winter White House. If only she could see what it's being used for now.

Marjorie also lived an interesting life when it came to her opportunities through marriage. One of her husband's was the ambassador to the Soviet Union, so this proved to be very interesting. Living in the Soviet Union was difficult, but Marjorie wanted to do her part for America. While there, she came across some amazing Russian antiques and paintings for sale that she was able to purchase they ended up being on display in her Washington D.C. mansion. She had to deal with traveling from the Soviet Union and the threat of u-boats, war breaking out, and so much more upheaval at the start of World War II. Lastly, Marjorie was quite a host and her parties were well-known. She entertained royalty, presidents, and so many influential people. I couldn't believe she built Mar-a-Lago. How did I not know this? One would think her life was all rainbows and sunshine, but her love life was a disaster.

She married many times and I don't want to give anything away, but each marriage was worse than the one before in The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post. I would have given up years ago, but I think Marjorie was a romantic at heart and also she maybe had trust issues from how her father handled himself, not to mention many men were intimidated by show much she was worth. It just goes to show you, you really can't have it all; however, she did get three beautiful daughters out of her marriages.

I found Marjorie's life to be so very entertaining in The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post. I loved learning more about this new-to-me woman and I couldn't believe more people don't talk about her life and her contributions. If you love books about strong women, I encourage you to pick up The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post.

So, are you a fan of Allison Pataki? Have you read The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.

I came to "The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post" with virtually no knowledge of who Marjorie was or what made her life so magnificent. I left this book feeling as though I traveled an entire lifetime with a new best friend. Allison Pataki is a beautiful writer, immersing you from page one into Marjorie's world.

It's a bold choice to write historical fiction from a first person perspective, particularly a person whose life shapeshifts again and again as she grows, but Allison guides us masterfully from one iteration to another. Marjorie could have lived in her father's shadow - certainly C.W. Post, creator of Grape Nuts and Post Foods cast a large enough one. Yet, this is a story of a woman who grabs on to every moment of her life, from heiress to society wife to international influencer to philantropist, and proudly thrusts herself into the light.

Before I read this, I truly had no idea who Marjorie Merriweather Post was. What a fascinating life she led! I found this story so interesting, from the early days of Kellogg vs Post to the many celebrities she encountered. I looked up so many of the references and learned so much.

Before starting this book, I did not know anything about Marjorie Post. Through reading this book I learned plenty! The Post empire (cereal and General Foods) has quite a history lesson! Her father was a sickly man who recovered, and her mother was a depressed woman who succumbed to heartbreak. Marjorie's life was interesting to say the least! 4 husbands, bundles of money and children to raise...she preserved through it all! I was amazed by her accomplishments and her humbleness, very pleased to learn about her many efforts to start hospitals and feed the hungry. The author did a fantastic job writing about Marjorie’s life from her childhood, travel, her homes, marriages, children, and everything in between. Thank you for my advanced copy of this book!

“Marjorie the Magnificent” was the moniker given to Marjorie Merriweather Post, only daughter and heir to the C.W. Post family fortune. Allison Pataki’s novel reads like Marjorie’s private journal; the blue-eyed dazzling beauty born in 1887, who reigned as “America’s Most Fabulous Hostess” until her death in 1973. Pataki highlights Marjorie’s determination, passion, and generosity in this four-part, first person retelling of the opportunities, decisions and influencers that had such a profound impact on Marjorie’s life experiences. From Battle Creek, Michigan, and the beginnings of Grape-Nuts and General Foods, to Washington D.C., Palm Beach, and ambassadress in Moscow; readers are treated to personal details and descriptions of Marjorie’s palatial residences filled with art and treasures from around the world, disastrous marriages, and her famous guests and friends from the world of politicians and celebrities. As C.W. Post introduced the world to cereal, Allison Pataki introduces the world to The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post.