The Life She Wanted

A Novel

By: Anita Abriel

Narrated by: Valerie Rose Lohman

New York in the 1920s—a time when fortunes are made and a woman’s dreams are challenged against all odds in a sweeping historical novel by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War.

1926, Hyde Park, New York. Born to modest means but befriended by the wealthy, aspiring dress designer Pandora Carmichael has been surrounded by privilege yet never at home in it. That hasn’t stopped her from dreaming—of a romance in a rarified world that could also give her the status and resources to start a business of her own. When she’s introduced to a charismatic Princeton student, Pandora’s future begins to fall into place.

Marriage provides Pandora with a devoted husband, comfortable love, and the prominence and affluence to open a boutique. It’s a fantasy realized, until scandal and tragedy upend Pandora’s life and she flees Hyde Park with a heart-wrenching secret. As the Depression looms, Pandora must rethink everything she’s ever wanted.

From sprawling Gilded Age mansions in New York to the seedy underbelly of Greenwich Village and the stunning coastal vistas of the French Riviera, Pandora’s escape is a journey of self-discovery, adventure, true love, and ambition. There are new dreams to be had, and Pandora is betting on herself to make them come true.

©2023 Anita Hughes (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This is a fast-paced historical read that examines the roles of men and women in the 1920s, what was accepted and what was not, and the idea that sometimes what you are looking for is right in front of you.” —Booklist

“The Life She Wanted transports readers to glittering Jazz Age New York as Pandora Carmichael seeks to have it all…” —Historical Novels Review

“A delightful read from cover to cover. The Life She Wanted is the story of Pandora Carmichael, a woman of modest means thrust into a world of privilege and opportunity. When she finally finds her happily ever after, a devastating secret shatters Pandora’s world, forcing her to rethink her dreams. Abriel weaves a stunning tale of love and friendship while taking the reader on a masterful journey of self-discovery, where at the very heart is a woman of courage, loyalty, and ambition.” —Rochelle B. Weinstein, author of When We Let Go

Read, don't listen.

Difficult, and I really wanted to love it. I typically do not review books or performances that I don't love, since I believe there is something for everyone. The story had potential, but the narration was painful. The narrator would be ideal for children's books or Mickey Mouse Club. I continued with the story thinking I'd get used to it, but it only got worse. When the story continues to France, I almost pulled the plug after 6 hours. Awful.

Gone with the wind 20’s version

Gone with the wind mixed with Sabrina. Pretty good story. The narrator’s voice is better suited to the less serious parts.

Predicable

I’m afraid the narrator lost my interest in the story from early on. The way she performed the main character was too adolescent to hold my interest.

An enjoyable book, if you need some light entertainment.

Overall a good story, although a bit predictable. The narrater, however, spoiled it for me. Her voice is better suited for children’s books, or books for young adults.

Narrator nightmare

The story itself was a fine, good story worth listening to.
However, the narrator was a nightmare.
The story was good enough that I stuck to it but the fact that the narrator couldn’t pronounce half the words and names properly- NEVER MIND
the horrific French accent ‼️
Does nobody edit these readers?

Bad Narrator

Story was predictable and cute but the narrator was terrible. Totally wrong dialect for the era and made it almost impossible to listen to.

great book!

I really loved this book-just a simple story showing love and loss. I see comments about the narrators voice...her voice honestly was perfect for the character! the book started when she was young, so I would expect her to sound young! overall would recommend.

Awful narration and storyline turned to the dark side .

Don’t bother with this book. Waste of time. Awfully predictable and woke story line. Even made worse by the narrator. I didn’t realize I will be listening to a valley girl narrator.

May be an okay story, but that narrator

Could only take a short bit of the audio and had to stop. Even the bits of plot I heard were too cutesy

This was painful to listen to

I wanted to give this book a chance. I wanted to like it. I tried, I really did. I was hopeful it would get better. It didn’t. It started out bad and got worse. It’s absolute, unrealistic fluff. The narration is also distractingly poor. The narrator’s voice is adorable, but not at all suitable for this kind of book. Perhaps for a children’s book. And it is read as though someone is reading a children’s book to you. It’s over - acted. Overall, skip it. There are better ways to spend your time.