First published 1994
In the glittering world of 1870s New York, five wealthy young American girls find themselves systematically rejected by high society. Determined to secure their social standing, they set sail for England, where their beauty and dowries become weapons against the calcified British aristocracy. Each woman hunts for a title, a husband, and acceptance—but the rigid rules of European nobility promise more danger than opportunity. As these bold women navigate complex marriage markets and unwritten social codes, they risk everything: their reputations, their futures, and their hearts. Some will triumph; some will be crushed. But they will reshape the boundaries between old money and new power.
Genres: romance, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, social-climbing
Setting: New York
Period: 19th-Century
406 pages · Kindle Edition · Penguin Putnam