What starts off a little slow, quickly picks up the pace after chapter one in a perfectly easy summer read. The Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club by Diane Bergner follows protagonist Julia Wild through her transition from lawyer to fundraiser for a prestigious performing arts center in the heart of Royal Coconut Beach. Taking obvious inspiration from Palm Beach, Florida, this novel shows the ins and outs of high society and the schmoozing, deviousness, and backstabbing that can often come along with it.
This fun, quick, page-turning novel follows the timid turned force-to-be-reckoned-with Julia through her career transition, and the unexpected circumstances that come along with it. Right off the bat, Julia discovers her boss is having an affair with a big-wig donor, she suspects her colleagues of sabotaging her, and a debonair billionaire donor threatens to sweep this married woman off her feet. Will she survive the tumultuous new life she’s built for herself?
Although the plot of Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club might seem a bit outrageous on the surface, the relatability of workplace drama, second chapters in life, marriage struggles, and behind-the-scenes philanthropy workings make it a winner. Readers will feel a kindred spirit in Julia, navigating a world she’s not sure she fits into or deserves.
The debut novel from author Diane Bergner draws inspiration from her own life, a powerhouse fundraiser for over 20 years, who, much like her protagonist, went from New York attorney to Palm Beach development director. Pick this up if you’re looking for an easy and entertaining read.
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