This is a fascinating look at the life of Marjorie Post. I am ashamed that I didn’t know more about this wonderful woman. You learn about her early background in Battle Creek and the lessons her father instilled in her : to always think for yourself, to work hard, and not to take success for granted. Throughout the book you learn about her marriages, her philanthropy, her children. and her business acumen. You learn about her many homes including the building of Mar -a-Lago and her friendship with Eleanor and FDR. She does everything on a grand scale, yet is so very generous. I enjoyed every page and can’t stop thinking about the amazing woman.

I loved Allison Pataki's memoir, so when her new book became available on NetGalley, I jumped on it. I was intrigued by Marjorie Post's incredible rags to riches story, and eager to learn more about her. As others have mentioned, the story was not as compelling as I had hoped, though I admit I did turn the pages (and finish), because it was like watching a train wreck, albeit a hugely expensive, gem-encrusted one. I was expecting that Pataki would focus on Post's groundbreaking career as an innovator, and female board member of a major corporation, juggling a family and philanthropy; but instead I was regaled with intricate, and often braggy, details about her wealth. The first person narration felt a little too intimate to me; especially when it veered toward being unreliable. I don't know if Pataki crunched timelines, but I couldn't help wondering about Post's lack of reflection on major life changes—she jumps into marriage four times, seemingly without a moment's introspection. I would have loved to have seen more of the actual Post cereal origin story; instead, the rise from dirt poor to incredible wealth is accomplished within a number of pages. Later, Post "remembers" the early days and I wondered, when did all that happen? Post is repeatedly honored by her hundreds of friends, staff, etc. for her amazing charitable works, but I got no sense of it here; considering her vast wealth, setting up a soup kitchen using the company food does not seem like much of an accomplishment. Did she do more than this, or did she just write a lot of checks? What did me in, though, was how, as a diplomat's wife abroad, she scooped up priceless spoils of war (at what she admitted were fire-sale prices, while people nearby went hungry). I am thinking that part of my ambivalence is reading this book of such vast wealth and selfishness with the current state of the world in mind. The other is that I want any story about a groundbreaking woman to be perfect—I want her to be someone I can respect, admire, and emulate. Instead, I almost think that Pataki has written a cautionary tale.

This was very slow. I had a hard time getting into the story, it eventually I ended up enjoying reading about important political icons, such as Eleanor Roosevelt. It was a little too long for my liking, and read a lot like a marriage/divorce listing. It felt like the author was going to Evelyn Hugo vibes, but this was a bit off the mark for that.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki. Pub Date: February 15, 2022. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5. This is the story of Marjorie Post, heiress to the vast fortune of C.W. Post. She inherited a cereal company and turned it into a corporation, General Foods. On top of that, she held a huge collection of art, was a philanthropist and socialite with many failed marriages. This story tells the multiple aspects of her life, which were fascinating. The author did immense research to create this novel and I learned a lot! It was a little long for me, but overall an interesting piece of American history. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #ballantinebooks

Very well written and so interesting. I had no idea who this person was at first and was pleasantly surprised at how much she did in her life.

Well written and full of info about a very fascinating woman. Part of the Post Cereal company from a young age. She lived such a life. Married many times and having her heart broken so many times would make you think she would give up. I praise her resilience and perseverance. All she went through to do what she did. All the things that made her life so interesting.

This book is so very good. Hard to put into words how much I think you should read this is book. Especially if you are a woman. Marjorie Post was in my opinion a very courageous and endearing woman beyond her time.

Thank you #NetGalley, #AllisonPataki, #RandomHousePublishing-Ballantine for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.
4/5 stars and a very high recommendation.

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.