Reviews
"This moving fictionalization brings the whole cast of characters back to vivid life. Gossipy and fun, it's also a nuanced look at the beauty and cruelty of a rarefied, bygone world." -- People (Book of the Week) "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his 'swans' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It's a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty--and for Capote, too." --Sara Gruen, New York Time s bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote's greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection." --Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you're offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York's elite--without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin's prose--captivatingly earnest and sophisticated." --Vanessa Diffenbaugh , New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth." -- Library Journal "The beautiful people of the fifties and sixties glitter in this riveting tale of betrayal and greed. . . . Irresistible, astonishing, and told with verve . . . not to be missed." --Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe "The season's must-read guilty pleasure, a delicious amalgam of wit, gossip, beauty, and scandal, meticulously researched and cleverly imagined . . . From Truman Capote's devious charm to Babe Paley's tragic glamour, Melanie Benjamin conjures, in vivid detail, a lost world." --Michael Callahan, author of Searching for Grace Kelly "A deliciously spiky novel of love and betrayal." --Alex George, author of A Good American "Heart-rending . . . at once gossipy, intimate, poignant, and astonishingly perceptive." --Robin Oliveira, bestselling author of I Always Loved You "A compulsively readable tale of friendship, betrayal, tragedy, and unconventional love." --Renée Rosen, bestselling author of What the Lady Wants "A beautifully written story of friendship, love, and betrayal, The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating look at a gossipy, glamorous world filled with brilliant and vulnerable people. Every moment of triumph and tragedy is riveting, and Melanie Benjamin makes this gilded world come alive in a funny and moving novel that captivates from the first page to the last." --Edward Kelsey Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, People ''s Book of the Week * USA Today ''s #1 "New and Noteworthy" Book * Entertainment Weekly ''s Must List * LibraryReads Top Ten Pick "This moving fictionalization brings the whole cast of characters back to vivid life. Gossipy and fun, it''s also a nuanced look at the beauty and cruelty of a rarefied, bygone world." -- People "The era and the sordid details come back to life in this jewel of a novel." -- O: The Oprah Magazine "Shamelessly gossipy . . . a catty, juicy read that''s like a three-martini lunch." -- USA Today "[Captures] the mesmerizing sparkle and scandal of New York high society in the 1950s." -- Chicago Tribune "Tantalizing . . . Readers will fall into a world of glitz, glamour and the exciting life of the rich and famous. The details and conversations are so rich, you may forget you''re reading a novel." --Associated Press "Highly entertaining." -- The Washington Post "Take Gossip Girl and move it to the 50s." -- theSkimm "[Melanie] Benjamin has given us a compelling look at an American icon, a talented yet vulnerable man, and the complex woman he loved in his own distinctive way." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his ''swans'' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It''s a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty--and for Capote, too." --Sara Gruen, New York Time s bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote''s greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection." --Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you''re offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York''s elite--without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin''s prose--captivatingly earnest and sophisticated." --Vanessa Diffenbaugh , New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth." -- Library Journal "The beautiful people of the fifties and sixties glitter in this riveting tale of betrayal and greed. . . . Irresistible, astonishing, and told with verve . . . not to be missed." --Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe "The season''s must-read guilty pleasure, a delicious amalgam of wit, gossip, beauty, and scandal, meticulously researched and cleverly imagined . . . From Truman Capote''s devious charm to Babe Paley''s tragic glamour, Melanie Benjamin conjures, in vivid detail, a lost world." --Michael Callahan, author of Searching for Grace Kelly "A deliciously spiky novel of love and betrayal." --Alex George, author of A Good American "Heart-rending . . . at once gossipy, intimate, poignant, and astonishingly perceptive." --Robin Oliveira, bestselling author of I Always Loved You "A compulsively readable tale of friendship, betrayal, tragedy, and unconventional love." --Renée Rosen, bestselling author of What the Lady Wants "A beautifully written story of friendship, love, and betrayal, The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating look at a gossipy, glamorous world filled with brilliant and vulnerable people. Every moment of triumph and tragedy is riveting, and Melanie Benjamin makes this gilded world come alive in a funny and moving novel that captivates from the first page to the last." --Edward Kelsey Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Supremes at Earl''s All-You-Can-Eat, Advance praise for The Swans of Fifth Avenue "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his 'swans' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It's a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty--and for Capote, too." --Sara Gruen, New York Time s bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote's greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection." --Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you're offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York's elite--without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin's prose--captivatingly earnest and sophisticated." --Vanessa Diffenbaugh , New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth." -- Library Journal "The beautiful people of the fifties and sixties glitter in this riveting tale of betrayal and greed. . . . Irresistible, astonishing, and told with verve . . . not to be missed." --Lynn Cullen, nationally bestselling author of Mrs. Poe "A delicious amalgam of wit, gossip, beauty, and scandal, meticulously researched and cleverly imagined . . . From Truman Capote's devious charm to Babe Paley's tragic glamour, Melanie Benjamin conjures, in vivid detail, a lost world. The season's must-read guilty pleasure." --Michael Callahan, author of Searching for Grace Kelly "A deliciously spiky novel of love and betrayal." --Alex George, author of A Good American "Heart-rending . . . at once gossipy, intimate, poignant, and astonishingly perceptive." --Robin Oliveira, bestselling author of I Always Loved You "A compulsively readable tale of friendship, betrayal, tragedy, and unconventional love." --Renée Rosen, bestselling author of What the Lady Wants "A beautifully written story of friendship, love, and betrayal, The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating look at a gossipy, glamorous world filled with brilliant and vulnerable people. Every moment of triumph and tragedy is riveting, and Melanie Benjamin makes this gilded world come alive in a funny and moving novel that captivates from the first page to the last." --Edward Kelsey Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, "This moving fictionalization brings the whole cast of characters back to vivid life. Gossipy and fun, it''s also a nuanced look at the beauty and cruelty of a rarefied, bygone world." -- People (Book of the Week) "The era and the sordid details come back to life in this jewel of a novel." -- O: The Oprah Magazine "Shamelessly gossipy . . . a catty, juicy read that''s like a three-martini lunch." -- USA Today "[Captures] the mesmerizing sparkle and scandal of New York high society in the 1950s." -- Chicago Tribune "Tantalizing . . . Readers will fall into a world of glitz, glamour and the exciting life of the rich and famous. The details and conversations are so rich, you may forget you''re reading a novel." --Associated Press "Highly entertaining." -- The Washington Post "Take Gossip Girl and move it to the 50s." -- theSkimm "[Melanie] Benjamin has given us a compelling look at an American icon, a talented yet vulnerable man, and the complex woman he loved in his own distinctive way." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his ''swans'' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It''s a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty--and for Capote, too." --Sara Gruen, New York Time s bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote''s greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection." --Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you''re offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York''s elite--without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin''s prose--captivatingly earnest and sophisticated." --Vanessa Diffenbaugh , New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth." -- Library Journal "The beautiful people of the fifties and sixties glitter in this riveting tale of betrayal and greed. . . . Irresistible, astonishing, and told with verve . . . not to be missed." --Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe "The season''s must-read guilty pleasure, a delicious amalgam of wit, gossip, beauty, and scandal, meticulously researched and cleverly imagined . . . From Truman Capote''s devious charm to Babe Paley''s tragic glamour, Melanie Benjamin conjures, in vivid detail, a lost world." --Michael Callahan, author of Searching for Grace Kelly "A deliciously spiky novel of love and betrayal." --Alex George, author of A Good American "Heart-rending . . . at once gossipy, intimate, poignant, and astonishingly perceptive." --Robin Oliveira, bestselling author of I Always Loved You "A compulsively readable tale of friendship, betrayal, tragedy, and unconventional love." --Renée Rosen, bestselling author of What the Lady Wants "A beautifully written story of friendship, love, and betrayal, The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating look at a gossipy, glamorous world filled with brilliant and vulnerable people. Every moment of triumph and tragedy is riveting, and Melanie Benjamin makes this gilded world come alive in a funny and moving novel that captivates from the first page to the last." --Edward Kelsey Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Supremes at Earl''s All-You-Can-Eat, "This moving fictionalization brings the whole cast of characters back to vivid life. Gossipy and fun, it's also a nuanced look at the beauty and cruelty of a rarefied, bygone world." -- People (Book of the Week) "The era and the sordid details come back to life in this jewel of a novel." -- O: The Oprah Magazine "Shamelessly gossipy . . . a catty, juicy read that's like a three-martini lunch." -- USA Today "[Captures] the mesmerizing sparkle and scandal of New York high society in the 1950s." -- Chicago Tribune "Take Gossip Girl and move it to the 50s." -- theSkimm "[Melanie] Benjamin has given us a compelling look at an American icon, a talented yet vulnerable man, and the complex woman he loved in his own distinctive way." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his 'swans' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It's a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty--and for Capote, too." --Sara Gruen, New York Time s bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote's greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection." --Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you're offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York's elite--without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin's prose--captivatingly earnest and sophisticated." --Vanessa Diffenbaugh , New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth." -- Library Journal "The beautiful people of the fifties and sixties glitter in this riveting tale of betrayal and greed. . . . Irresistible, astonishing, and told with verve . . . not to be missed." --Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe "The season's must-read guilty pleasure, a delicious amalgam of wit, gossip, beauty, and scandal, meticulously researched and cleverly imagined . . . From Truman Capote's devious charm to Babe Paley's tragic glamour, Melanie Benjamin conjures, in vivid detail, a lost world." --Michael Callahan, author of Searching for Grace Kelly "A deliciously spiky novel of love and betrayal." --Alex George, author of A Good American "Heart-rending . . . at once gossipy, intimate, poignant, and astonishingly perceptive." --Robin Oliveira, bestselling author of I Always Loved You "A compulsively readable tale of friendship, betrayal, tragedy, and unconventional love." --Renée Rosen, bestselling author of What the Lady Wants "A beautifully written story of friendship, love, and betrayal, The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating look at a gossipy, glamorous world filled with brilliant and vulnerable people. Every moment of triumph and tragedy is riveting, and Melanie Benjamin makes this gilded world come alive in a funny and moving novel that captivates from the first page to the last." --Edward Kelsey Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, Advance praise for The Swans of Fifth Avenue "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his 'swans' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It's a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty--and for Capote, too." --Sara Gruen, New York Time s bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote's greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection." --Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you're offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York's elite--without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin's prose--captivatingly earnest and sophisticated." --Vanessa Diffenbaugh , New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth." -- Library Journal "The beautiful people of the fifties and sixties glitter in this riveting tale of betrayal and greed. . . . Irresistible, astonishing, and told with verve . . . not to be missed." --Lynn Cullen, nationally bestselling author of Mrs. Poe "A delicious amalgam of wit, gossip, beauty, and scandal, meticulously researched and cleverly imagined . . . From Truman Capote's devious charm to Babe Paley's tragic glamour, Melanie Benjamin conjures, in vivid detail, a lost world. The season's must-read guilty pleasure." --Michael Callahan, author of Searching for Grace Kelly "A deliciously spiky novel of love and betrayal." --Alex George, author of A Good American "Heart-rending . . . at once gossipy, intimate, poignant, and astonishingly perceptive." --Robin Oliveira, bestselling author of I Always Loved You "A compulsively readable tale of friendship, betrayal, tragedy and unconventional love." --Renee Rosen, bestselling author of What the Lady Wants "A beautifully written story of friendship, love, and betrayal, The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating look at a gossipy, glamorous world filled with brilliant and vulnerable people. Every moment of triumph and tragedy is riveting, and Melanie Benjamin makes this gilded world come alive in a funny and moving novel that captivates from the first page to the last." --Edward Kelsey Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, Praise for Melanie Benjamin's The Aviator's Wife "Exhilarating . . . Anne Morrow Lindbergh narrates the story of the Lindberghs' troubled marriage in all its triumph and tragedy." -- USA Today "Remarkable . . . The Aviator's Wife succeeds [in] putting the reader inside Anne Lindbergh's life with her famous husband." --The Denver Post "Will fascinate history buffs and surprise those who know of [Anne Lindbergh] only as 'the aviator's wife.' " -- People "It's hard to quit reading this intimate historical fiction." --The Dallas Morning News "Fictional biography at its finest." -- Booklist (starred review) "An intimate examination of the life and emotional mettle of Anne Morrow." --The Washington Post