This story was based on the true life of a socialite from the 1920s, which certainly is an interesting premise. Going into this book I thought perhaps this was going to be a Liz Taylor meets Evelyn Hugo vibe, and it started off that way. However, halfway through the book, when we're still on husband number 2 or 3, I was starting to wonder how there would be time to tell the story of all thirteen husbands, especially since there is a dark premonition associated with husband number thirteen. But here's the thing... there weren't thirteen husbands. For a book entitled The Thirteenth Husband, there were only something like 5 actual husbands. The author explains this discrepancy away towards the end of the book by saying affairs of the heart are also considered husbands, and counts up the MC's lovers (both significant and insignificant in the novel) so they equal thirteen. I mean, it's OK I guess but if I'm reading a book entitled The Thirteenth Husbands, I want thirteen husbands or at minimum thirteen fully fleshed out love stories. Aside from that, it was an interesting read about a young heiress who grows into herself over time, however I couldn't come back from the fact that my expectations were let down by the misleading title.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of the novel. I had not heard of Aimee Crocker prior to seeing this book on NetGalley but she is a fascinating figure. The second person being addressed throughout the book was a mystery to me and I did enjoy that conceit. It was also a very quick read for me because Aimee was a good narrator and she kept the audience engaged. I was not expecting a lot out of this book and I definitely held off on reading for quite a while but I am glad I have it a chance. 3.75 stars.

The Thirteenth Husband is a super interesting and thought-provoking read. Macallister’s take on Aimee Crocker is both inspiring and fun, making this a book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it. The mix of history, mysticism, and personal drama makes for a unique and memorable read.

I’d totally recommend The Thirteenth Husband to anyone who loves historical fiction or stories about strong, unconventional women. The book’s rich historical backdrop and compelling main character make it a standout read that’s both informative and enjoyable

This is a story based on a real life heiress named Aimee Crocker. She was a multi-millionaire heiress of the late 1800s who refused to play by the rules. I normally love historical fiction but this did not hold my appeal like I wanted. Although well written, I got bored with all of her relationship issues. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Based on a true story about a glamorous and notorious elite New York woman, readers explore Aimee Crocker’s incredible life in New York, her travels around the world, and her thirteen husbands. While her life seems beautiful -- friendships with royalty around the world, jewels, adventure, art, and wealth beyond imagining -- Aimee is lonely, isolated, and constantly afraid of the death that her thirteenth husband will bring into her life. With the Woman in White shadowing her through her triumphs and tragedies, Aimee Crocker manages to live the high life, accompanied by scandal, tragedy, and a total rejection of societal norms. Greer Macallister has woven so many threads, names, events, and adventures into this novel that readers will not know what to expect (except for thirteen husbands). Aimee is a fascinatingly complex character; though she narrates the entire novel in a tell-all style, readers get the feeling that they don’t understand everything happening in her life -- and that she doesn’t know either. The many settings and characters from this novel are enchantingly brought to life in incredible detail, and everyone manages to have a distinct personality. A fascinating, complex, and chaotic narrative, fans of Gilded Age historical fiction will love exploring Aimee Crocker’s life.

I originally expected this book to be more like the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but it took me by surprise with it's deeper focus on historical fiction. The pacing was strong and kept me engaged even though it ended up being a book I typically wouldn't pick up.

I’ve never heard of Aimee Crocker until this book fell into my hand so I had no idea what a wild ride her life was. And I knew this was a fictionalized account of her life and adventures but once I finished reading, I looked up more stuff about her and was surprised by how many things were based on real events!

Aimee was an unintentional celebrity - a combination of her huge inheritance and her unconventional, strong willed ways made the media and public obsessed with her. I love that she used her money to travel and be independent in ways that were unheard of for a woman at that time! This story was filled with scandals, love, lust, heartbreak, tragedies, adventures and a touch of supernatural! I was thoroughly entertained, loved how vastly different men in her life were and most of all I loved how it all connected!

This one will appeal even to readers who don’t usually go for historical fiction, it really has a wide appeal.

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very slow book for met was unableto fully catch my interest. This will be perfect for someone else though.

Solid 3.5 stars - rounded up to 4 since we can't give 1/2 stars .

This was an interesting take on the life of Aimee Crocker. I have read a few of these semi-fictionalized biographies before so this is not a new genre for me. Overall the book guided you through the life of Aimee Crocker - which was someone I did not know about prior to reading this book and this book made me go down a rabbit hole of google to learn more about her. I felt that in this retelling some areas of her life were glossed over and some were more in depth then they needed to be. The writing was a bit stilted for me as some parts felt very matter of fact and verged on dryness for me and I felt a bit bored by the story.

Aimee (neé Amy) Crocker was one of the most colorful American heiresses of the late 19th, early 20th centuries. With her menagerie of husbands, penchant for mysticism, and riotous parties, any book attempting to portray her is a daunting undertaking. However, Greer Macallister masters this intriguing woman’s life, in this glittering historical fiction.

This book was wonderful. Sprinkled with the spooky & mysticism, colorful just like Crocker’s life was, and fast-paced (again, like Crocker’s life), Macallister didn’t shy away from the flamboyance of Crocker’s life. Macallister provided context and filled in the gaps (fictionally, of course) for how this larger-than-life lady navigated the world.

Crocker would be easy to “write off,” pun intended, due to her extravagance, wealth, and “kooky” proclivities. However, Macallister made her real - a real person, with loves, losses, pain, successes, and so much more. With American heiresses, they were often villainized characters in newspapers, much like modern celebrities, but who were people. Macallister brought that humanity, without sacrificing the woman defying society’s expectations.

One beautiful note to add is the epigraphs Macallister includes from Crocker, herself. It really lends Crocker’s personality to the book, and is a sweet homage to a woman who defied society and played by her own rules

A captivating historical fiction novel that combines true life events with a bit of the supernatural. The author does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the late19th and early 20th centuries immersing the reader in a world of opulence and intrigue. The life of Aimee Crocker was well researched and the story is rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Aimee Crocker’s Scandalous Life

The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister is a partly fictionalized biography of the socialite Aimee Crocker. Set in the late 1800s and early 20th century, the book follows Aimee's extravagant and licentious life as she travels the world, tears through millions of dollars, and marries a series of husbands. The narrative begins with Aimee as a spirited teen chafing at the strict social restrictions of her time and evolves into a tale of lavish dinners, parties, and mysticism, giving readers a glimpse of her scandalous adventures.

Overall, The Thirteenth Husband is a fascinating read for those interested in historical fiction and the lives of unconventional women. Greer Macallister does an excellent job of bringing Aimee Crocker's story to life, making it both captivating and thought-provoking. The book’s strengths lie in its rich historical detail and dynamic portrayal of its protagonist, though some readers may find the narrative's complexity a bit challenging.

Loved this fascinating story about a strong woman who over comes the men on her life - kept me turning pages

Aimee Crocker was a real-life heiress to California Railroad wealth. Inheriting millions at only ten years old, Aimee is probably as close to American Nouveau royalty as they come. She did a good job of being the spoiled rich girl, going through husbands, and continents along with the money. She’s been affectionately dubbed the queen of Bohemia.
Though Greer Macalister did an admirable job of staying true to the facts in this historical fiction, the facts were just too much for me. Aimee made stupid mistakes, with marriages and the things she enjoyed, including her sexual escapades. She believed in mystics and often took their advice and predictions to heart, in ways that boggled common sense. I was tired of her antics, before we got to the fourth husband, and the rest of the book felt tedious to me. The sprinkling of supernatural references, though I’m sure were completely accurate, just was over the top for me. Much, I assume, like Aimee Crocker herself.
As a woman in 2024, I have to admire her independence, strength and curiosity. Having money let her explore the limits of each, and I never felt that she truly ever found what she was looking for.
The Thirteenth Husband was released on August 6, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the review copy.

San Francisco, late 19th century. Meet Aimée Crocker, a free spirit, born into great wealth, but not willing to budge to society's rules.
When her first divorce is final, she decides to take a trip, which turns into a decades long journey around the world, treating the reader to exciting places, decadent parties and magical meetings with friends and lovers.
A life lived to the full. The Thirteenth Husband is a wonderful read based on a true story.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

Amy Isabella Crocker inherited a fortune as a child but she was also a woman born in 1864 ... can she live life on her own terms ? It was so interesting to read @theladygreer 's depiction of a highly unconventional life defying all rules and standard but also a life adrift. Aimee as she wants to be called is not the most likable of characters and the author resists the temptation to paint her as such (as is so often done when looking at the past) and instead paints her as a complex person, somebody aware (at least to a certain extent) of their immense privilege but still inclined to use money to get out of self causad her tany. Set inauseat as an impulse Her until refect he ochie in e ande enges to cried
rearing within the last 150 years - the amount of time children take up in the lives of their parents has greatly increased and it would not do to judge her by the standards of today.
Still... in the end I was left questioning whether she was ever truly content or whether she was just stuffing her life full of excitement of all sorts so as to never rest and think - reflect. I felt a bit sorry for the poor little rich girl who experienced it all but was never truly satisfied.
I knew the Crocker museum from the time I spent in law school in Sacramento but Amy/Aimee Crocker was a figure unknown to me and I loved reading tet the charactes she murse) and dile a quite s note was a fabulous addition to my reading !
I mixed reading and listening to this one and the audio was very well done !

This novel is based on real-life heiress Aimee Crocker and her exploits after inheriting millions as a young girl. She is ahead of her time, fiercely independent and refuses to bow to societal pressures, choosing to live her life as she pleases and shocking many - giving the tabloids endless juicy fodder. Hers is a journey of self discovery, loss, love and joy. I love her independence and can just imagine the scandals her behaviour caused!
I enjoyed the writing style, and was pulled in to the story from the first page. I'll be looking for more books by this author and recommend adding this to your list if you feel like a scandalous hf read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark publishers, and the author for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing people need to know is that this book is based on a real person and focuses on real things that happened to her. Her life was so outrageous that I would say they were unbelievably if they hadn’t actually happened! It was nice to read about a woman who was in control of her own life back when many women were not.

I have several great biographical fiction stories about women who I never knew existed. When I saw Greer Macallister's new novel was about a woman during a time period I don't read too often but have been trying to read more of, I decided to give it a try.

I tried to like Aimee but I really couldn't find much to like about her. I admire that she lived life on her own terms but I found her to be self-centered and a bit self-absorbed. I know the book was focused on her husbands but it didn't seem like she had any long-term (let alone life-long) relationships. Even her children seem out of the picture often. I wonder if she had any true friends in life or if everyone found her as unlikeable as I did and therefore could only spend short periods of time with her.

I thought with her confidence and brashness she would be a suffragette. But in this account, she doesn't really seem to care about society. In fact, she makes several comments about charitable giving that made it seem that when she did give it was out of obligation (or to make her mother happy) rather than a passion.

Once I stopped looking for redeemable qualities, I googled Aimee Crocker and got an overview of her life. So the rest of the book for me was just to see what Macallister would do with the details.

Macallister brings Aimee to life and it was interesting to see this time period from a different perspective because definitely Aimee had a perspective on life that was different than most women of the time period.

If you enjoy the biographical fiction of Erica Robuck, Ariel Lawhone, and Karin Tanabe, then you should add Greer Macallister to your list.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/08/the-thirteenth-husband-by-greer.html

The Thirteenth Husband is a semi-fictionalized biography of socialite Aimee Crocker, capturing her scandalous and unconventional life. It chronicles her globe-trotting adventures, thirteen marriages, and explorations into the mystical arts.

Prior to this book, I had never encountered Aimee Crocker, and discovering a nineteenth-century woman who lived so bohemian a life was both intriguing and enlightening. Crocker's fearless defiance of societal norms and her commitment to living on her own terms make for a compelling narrative. Her experiences with high society, eccentric characters, and exotic locales were both captivating and thought-provoking. While the beginning and end of the book were particularly engaging, the middle section felt somewhat drawn out and less compelling.

For those interested in a real-life socialite with a flair for scandal and adventure, The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister is a recommended read.