Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach

By Karen Soven

In her compelling beach-read memoir, Once Upon a Time In Palm Beach: Tales of Life and Love From The Land of Sunshine and Money, author Karen Soven reveals the world behind the wrought iron gates of Palm Beach. When a fashion job brings her to this land of wealth and privilege, Karen is as much a stranger here as Alice was in Wonderland. Island dwellers are here to enjoy life and she has come to make one.

Karen’s path is a whirlwind—from Manhattan fashion apprentice to sales director for handbag designer Lana Marks to soccer mom in a Lilly Pulitzer shift, to finally, when a socialite stepped in to play fairy godmother, business owner. With each role, Karen honed her gift for creating authentic connections, a skill that would later prove invaluable when she helped rebuild her husband’s law firm to include clients ranging from hip-hop legends to the ultra rich.

When financial hardship and personal upheaval threaten to derail her carefully constructed world, Karen pushes forward, driven not by riches but by a deep sense of purpose. Her captivating prose captures the sky blues and cotton candy pinks of Island living, which isn’t all glamour and fashion but grace under pressure when the glass slipper shatters.

Additional Information

Written with humor and heartfelt prose, Karen’s unique story explores themes of identity, belonging and flourishing on your own terms. With thought-provoking anecdotes that are both entertaining and unexpected, she shows that while the past shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us, and that opening our lives to others can allow us to move beyond what we dreamed possible.

With a fresh take on fairy tales, gender roles and tradition, Karen holds up a mirror for readers to reflect on who they are when fortunes are reversed and gowns and jewels are consigned to pay the gardener. Just like the famous Worth Avenue—the setting for much of this story—Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach will leave you wondering: What is the real cost of happily ever after? How far will you go to get it? And in the end, is it all really worth it?

About the Author

Karen Soven spent three decades in the luxury fashion industry. She holds a B.A. in Mass Media Studies, but she's quick to note she's not really a "credentials" person. Born on Manhattan's Upper East Side, she now resides between Miami and Palm Beach. For fun, she enjoys reading, listening to music, swimming, crafting party favors, entertaining at home and mentoring youth. Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach is her first book.