Set against the glamorous 1960s Jet Set, THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE is a novel about a failed debutante whose new job as assistant to society photographer Slim Aarons takes her into Palm Beach’s inner circle, and a beguiling friendship with its star, fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer.

Click here to read an article about Lilly hitting it big.

It’s 1961, and for Margo Hightower, everything is about to change. True, her engagement is off, her family has fallen in scandal, and she’s completely broke. But she’s just been hired as assistant to photographer Slim Aarons—famous for his vibrant pictures of high society, royalty, and Hollywood stars—and she knows this opportunity is her ticket to something better.

From the bright beaches of Acapulco to glitzy parties in New York, Margo is thrown headfirst into the glamorous jet-set world she so covets, observing its ways from behind the camera as Slim’s sidekick. There’s Jackie Kennedy, Truman Capote’s Swans, a host of Vanderbilts. Beautiful people in beautiful places.

But when they land in Palm Beach, a scene with few rules and many riches, the lines between work and play begin to blur. As Margo becomes swept up in the city’s social circle—and into a friendship with heiress and rising fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer—the golden life seems increasingly in reach. Until she finds herself entangled in a complicated web of loyalties and secrets that could bring it all crashing down…

“A brilliant, gripping, historical novel… Well researched and smartly told, this novel is a must read for World War II buffs and those who like a peak behind the curtain of the role women played in it.”

-

Library Journal

THE LIPSTICK BUREAU

“Gable’s deeply personal historical fiction vividly conjures the deprivations of war-torn Rome and the tenacity and creativity of a valiant, rag-tag group charged with changing the course of history.”

-

ALA BOOKLIST

THE LIPSTICK BUREAU

“Gable’s witty narrative effortlessly moves between two time periods and is enriched with cameos by historical figures and authentic, memorable characters. Historical fiction fans will be riveted from the first page.”

-

PUblishers Weekly (starred review)

The Bookseller’s SEcret

ABOUT

Michelle Gable is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including her April 2024 release, The Beautiful People. Michelle grew up in San Diego and was the kind of kid who checked out a dozen library books at a time, only to return a week later to check out a dozen more. In fourth grade, her parents gave her a book called Someday You’ll Write and a new passion was born. According to lifelong friends, Michelle tried to turn every playdate and slumber party into a writing group.

After graduating high school, Michelle attended The College of William & Mary and majored in…accounting. As would-be writers do. Although she pursued a career in finance and investor relations, through it all, Michelle wrote. Every day. She wrote at five o’clock in the morning, or eleven o’clock at night, or while sitting behind softball dugouts or in the car. Today you can find Michelle writing or working in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, where she lives with her husband, two daughters (when they’re not away at school), and two jindos rescued from the dog meat trade.

CONTACT

Michelle can be reached via email at

m.gable@outlook.com

or on social media. Due to volume, we cannot respond to all messages. Thank you for understanding!

LITERARY AGENT

Barbara Poelle, Word One Literary

barbara@wordonelit.com

FILM AGENT

Steve Fisher, Independent Artists Group

sfisher@independentartistgroup.com

PUBLICIST

Justine Sha

Justine.Sha@HarperCollins.com