Anyone that knows me knows that “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is one of my favorite books. So, it is unsurprising that I LOVED “An Audacious Woman.” The wealthy, older woman, eccentric in her wishes, with an exciting and adventurous life, on the precipice of history, looking to get things off her chest in old age – makes for an incredible read!
Eleanor Beaufort is an audacious 85-year-old woman. Tired of managing the large Beaufort estate, with no heirs to take it over, she decides to host a contest to give away her fortune. With an open call for contestants, she chooses five candidates to move into the large 20,000 square foot home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Dating back to 1901, and valued at over $70 Million, this is quite the bequest to give away to a contest winner.
Each of the five contestants must move into the house for 30 days as they undergo a series of challenges to test their ability and business plans for the future of the estate. The first of which is decided upon, on the fly, as the rooftop balcony crumbles while they are touring it. As the contest wears on we are given glimpses of the extraordinary life Eleanor has lived, from her activist lifestyle to the arts, social scene, and relationships. Readers easily fall into author Corinne Cavanaugh’s writing as she crafts a woman you can’t help but marvel at. Not one to let the men off the hook so easily, Eleanor holds steady to her values and has the inner dialog of a true feminist queen.
“An Audacious Woman” was quick and enjoyable. Rightly rocketing to the top of my 2024 favorites list, there is much to love about the characters within. Cavanaugh has created a remarkable women’s fiction read in this humorous, unconventional, and inspiring novel. As a bonus, end capping this story are book club questions from the author, sparking thought and discussion that appropriately accompany the various themes and situations that arise in this book.
For The Love Of The Page 