I enjoyed this book a lot. The moment I learned this book is about the Vanderbilt / Gilded Age, I knew I had to read this. I already enjoyed the TV show "The Gilded Age" and ever since the season 1 premiere, I have been reading a lot about the Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt is no stranger to me. However, Alva Vanderbilt or Alva Belmont was an unfamiliar figure to me, except me reading her Wikipedia page. I have learned so much about her from this book. Although this is a docu-fiction / a fictionalized version of Alva's life based on real events, I could tell the amount of research was very well done here. It made the book more interesting to read. I have learned to admire Alva's strong-willed personality. Some may see her as stubborn and persistent (not in the good way), but I admire her for being someone who was very wealth and very much in power would take advantage of that to be a rebel of the high society and be an example for women (which later on not just upper class but every woman, which to be honest, I would love to see more of her involvement in women suffrage).

Aside seeing who Alva was, I was very much looking forward to Alva and Oliver's relationship blossomed. It's unfortunate their relationship / marriage was short-span (relatively to her marriage to Vanderbilt), but I am very happy that she found her happy ending and her true love at the end. If anything, some say she's a gold digger - marrying to the Vanderbilt - she had to do what she had to do at that time, which is providing financial stability to her family. But it got me wondering - would I rather be with someone who provides me all the stability but love, or with someone that I truly love?

Anyways, I look forward to reading Fowler's first book, "Z" about Fitzgerald, whom I know nothing about, except know of.