Lady Tremaine: Reese’s Book Club Pick (A Novel)

Rachel Hochhauser

Mar 2026 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

Instant New York Times Bestseller • REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • IndieNext Pick • LibraryReads Pick

"With transporting prose and a galloping plot, this wholly original take on Cinderella recasts the wicked stepmother...a riveting, complex paean to women's strength." —People (Book of the Week) • "Destined to be one of the biggest books of the year." —Glennon Doyle, #1 bestselling author of Untamed • "Breathtakingly beautiful." —Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward

Twice-widowed, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor. Fierce and determined, Ethel clings to the respectability her deceased husband’s title affords her, hoping it will secure her daughters’ future through marriage.

When a royal ball offers the chance to change everything, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the wellbeing of the stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.

As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairy tale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.

Ratings and reviews

What a surprise!🤴🍏🏰 I was having a hard time figuring out why a lesson in falconry at the opening was relevant to this reimagining of the Cinderella story, but it soon made sense & the story just soared like the falcon that meant so much to Lady Tremaine & her household's needs. This was a breeze to read & gave a good account of the way women throughout the centuries have been made or broken by the fortunes & characters of their husbands. Great storytelling, total surprise of an ending!

I thought that this book's premise was irresistibly intriguing. Taking all the familiar thoughts and feelings about the classic fairytale Cinderella, giving them a generous twist and looking at things from an entirely new angel is what this author does and honestly, I found the results truly brilliant. There are two sides to every story and where you are standing greatly influences how things are perceived, this book uses those facts to captivating perfection.

When a self-made millionaire oil tycoon faces death, can spirits from beyond help him face his past, his mortality and make amends for his mistakes? Wildly creative and quite funny!

About the author

Rachel Hochhauser grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She attended New York University and earned a master’s in professional writing from the University of Southern California. Currently, she lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two daughters. Lady Tremaine is her first novel.