The Philadelphia Heiress: A Novel
Women’s Fiction
by Anita Abriel
In pursuit of happiness, a young woman’s dreams extend beyond money and marriage in this aspirational historical novel by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War.
It’s 1927, and Helen Montgomery is coming of age on Philadelphia’s Main Line, where privileged young women are set for life. But Helen has desires of her own. Debutante balls, eligible bachelors, and marriage aren’t among them…until her father is embroiled in a devastating scandal that jeopardizes the family’s financial future and social standing, that is. Then it becomes up to Helen to repair both by marrying a man of wealth and connection.
Edgar Scott is as independent as Helen. The black-sheep scion of a railroad magnate, Edgar’s aspirations of becoming an author go against the grain of his own family’s expectations. For a time, Helen and Edgar’s marriage grows from attraction and convenience to genuine loyalty and respect. But as Edgar’s frustrations and rejections mount and Helen’s personal dreams recede, the cracks in the perfect life Helen wants are beginning to show.
So begins Helen’s journey of forgiveness, redefining the meaning of perfection—for herself and in others—and accepting with all her heart the mistakes humans make in the name of love.
REVIEW
4 out of 5
The 1920s come to life before your eyes in this book, with a rich setting, and great characters. Helen and Edgar were practically made for each other, but things in life are rarely perfect, and we get to see their journey from single, independent young adults, to a married couple, to dealing with the troubles that eventually arise. I loved both their characters. They’re unique but believable. The story moves along fairly smoothly overall, and really is character driven. If you enjoy historical women’s fiction, you’re sure to enjoy reading this!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anita Abriel was born in Sydney, Australia. She received a BA in English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing from Bard College. She lives in California with her family and is the author of The Light After the War which was inspired by her mother’s story of survival during WWII.
