The Devil in the Junior League - Book Review

‘The Devil in the Junior League’ was written by Linda Francis Lee and published in August 2006.

A basic summary of the book is as follows: Fredericka Mercedes Hildebrand Ware (“Frede” to her friends) is a 28-year-old woman, who lives in an exclusive community of the rich and famous in Willow Creek, Texas. In a society (called the Junior League), appearances are everything, and rumors, as well as uncouth behavior are not allowed. Unfortunately, Frede’s life takes a drastic turn when her lawyer husband, Gordon, runs off with another woman with all of Frede’s money, leaving the young socialite in a mess that all but sees her going to the poor house. In a desperate move to regain her status, she employs the help of an ‘unacceptable/flashy’ lawyer by the name of Howard Grout (who does have a great record of accomplishment for winning cases). Unfortunately, for Frede, Howard’s terms involve Frede getting his unconventional (and definitely not League material) wife into the exclusive society. Frede will have to do all she can to see that Nikki Grout gets in, although trouble and romance with the dashing Sawyer (an artist with a secret of his own) eventually come in the way.

This book would be most enjoyed by women (or a few men) who enjoy comedy and a good chuckle at the life of so-called socialites and the elite.

I especially liked Frede’s way of speaking – her references to common French terms to describe certain things, the way she always has to spell out M-O-N-E-Y instead of saying the word out right, and her general description of the world of the rich and famous. Gordon’s character…although he was written to come across that way (it’s actually a testament to how well his personality was conceived)

When I finished reading this book, I had the urge to find another of its kind, or specially to read another of Linda Lee’s work. It was unfortunate that my local library had no more at the time. This book made me feel like an outsider watching the superficial lives of the rich and famous – and made me feel even more cynical of their attitudes.

I recommend this book because it is definitely a good summer read; one that you can finish quickly if you set your mind to it. The characters are all distinctive and fun in their own right. The settings make you become a part of Willow Creek and by the time you put the book down, you’ll have made a few friends (or enemies) as if you were a resident of that neighborhood! A must read.

The Devil in the Junior League - Book Review