Alva Smith is a woman who knows what she wants. And what she wants, and desperately needs, is a husband who will bring stability to her financially floundering family. The Smiths don’t have much left but their good name, and reputation doesn't pay the bills. Having mingled with royalty in Europe, they are now having difficulty coping with life’s new challenges. Alva takes it upon herself to regain the lifestyle to which her family is accustomed and make sure that her sisters never have to worry about money again.

William Vanderbilt is rich, but he’s shut out of elite New York society due to his nouveau riche status. When he meets Alva, her good name is not all that interests him. With a potential marriage proposal in her sights, Alva does all she can to convince herself that marrying William is the best choice for everyone. In the short term, it solves her family’s financial problems, and she’s certain that, with time, she’ll come to love him.

"A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN is anything but a well-behaved book. It’s a lovely, sometimes biting and harsh peek into the upper levels of New York society in the late 19th century."

With her marriage to William secured and her family’s future assured, Alva sets out to improve the Vanderbilt standing --- once and for all proving that they are worthy of inclusion in the highest levels of society. While their first forays into the upper echelons prove unsuccessful, Alva crafts a plan to bring the Astors to the Vanderbilts. This includes building mansions that architecturally outshine everything in New York City and hosting a ball that all of society wants to be seen at, even the Astors.

Twenty years later, Alva finds herself unhappy, unloved and ready to make the biggest change of her life. Putting her wealth, privilege and status on the line, she files for divorce --- something unheard of for a woman in her position. What she learns is that life, even when in upheaval, can still bring surprises and joy.

While I don’t really care for drama in my personal life, oh how I love it in my fiction. By turns, the book made me sad, annoyed and angry, all in a good way. Therese Anne Fowler manages to make you love, hate and admire Alva Vanderbilt, sometimes all on the same page. The high society drama rivals the best of the European courts, and Alva is a person you want to cheer on, even when her choices seem questionable.

A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN is anything but a well-behaved book. It’s a lovely, sometimes biting and harsh peek into the upper levels of New York society in the late 19th century. Alva changes so much throughout the novel but never moves outside of who she is --- a strong-willed woman who will do anything to help her family succeed.