The Invitation

By Belinda Alexandra

Book cover for 'The Invitation' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in vintage clothing and a large hat with feathers, against a cityscape background.

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Find it at your local bookstore →

In the Gilded Age, New York, money buys everything. What is your price? Sometimes the ties that bind are the most dangerous of all …

Paris, 1899. Emma Lacasse has been estranged from her older sister for nearly twenty years since Caroline married a wealthy American and left France. So when Caroline invites Emma to help prepare her shy, young niece for her society debut, Emma is intrigued.

Caroline lives a life of unimaginable excess and opulence as one of New York's Gilded Age ultra-rich and Emma is soon immersed in a world of luxury beyond her wildest dreams - a far cry from her bohemian lifestyle as a harpist and writer with her lover, Claude, in Montmartre.

Emma hopes for an emotional reunion with her only family, but instead, she finds herself in the vice-like grip of her charismatic and manipulative sister.

As Emma begins to question Caroline's true motives, a disaster strikes, and New York society is stripped bare - beneath the glittering exterior lies a seething nest of deceit, betrayal, moral corruption ... and perhaps even murder.

Book Club Questions
Book Club Questions
Read a Chapter Sample
Read a Chapter Sample
Listen: Belinda on the Booktopia Books Podcast "We are in the age of psychopaths.
Listen: Belinda on the Booktopia Books Podcast "We are in the age of psychopaths.
Better Reading Facebook Live
Better Reading Facebook Live
Belinda Alexandra visits Better Reading
Belinda Alexandra visits Better Reading
Better Reading Podcast
Better Reading Podcast
Belinda Alexandra on Crackpods with Myf Warhurst - ABC Radio
Belinda Alexandra on Crackpods with Myf Warhurst - ABC Radio
From the bestselling author of Tuscan Rose comes a mesmerising tale of two sisters and the dangers and seductions of excess.

Product Details
PRINT ISBN: 9780732296643
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
Published: 18th November 2019
Pages: 416
Historical Fiction

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What people are saying about The Invitation:

  • Book cover for 'The Invitation' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in vintage attire with a large decorated hat, cityscape background. Tagline about Gilded Age New York and money.

    Better Reading

    ‘A heady mix of Dangerous Liaisons, The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (a century ago) and Cinderella, The Invitation is a wildly entertaining and absorbing read that leaves you with a lot to think about.’

  • Book cover for 'The Invitation' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in vintage attire with a large decorated hat, cityscape background. Tagline about Gilded Age New York and money.

    Daily Telegraph

    ‘It’s a tale of excess, depravity and hidden family secrets — there’s much to love in Alexandra’s latest historical drama … Beautifully researched’

  • Book cover for 'The Invitation' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in vintage attire with a large decorated hat, cityscape background. Tagline about Gilded Age New York and money.

    Mrs B Book Reviews

    ‘I always eagerly anticipate a new release from Alexandra. I love her ability to weave a strong historical fiction based tale, with plenty of detail, lavish settings and appealing characters.’ ‘The period detail in The Invitation is absolutely sensational. Alexandra has clearly performed an immense amount of research around her main subject matter, setting and timeline.’

THE INVITATION FEATURED ON THE BLOG:
When Belinda Met Anna

Many of you know the wonderful Anna Loder, Sydney bookselling and event personality and champion of Australian writers.

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Belinda Alexandra’s Books in Chronological Order

For readers who want to read the books in order, I’ve listed my novels and non-fiction book in order by publication date for you.

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So You Want to Be a Publisher?

I have wanted to ask my publisher, Anna Valdinger at Harpercollins Publishers Australia about her career for some time. Recently, I got to do just that!

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Navigating the Complicated World of: Mother and Daughter Relationships

Mother’s Day, which is celebrated around the world in May, conjures up images of happy motherhood and femininity – lots of pink; carnations and roses; bathrobes and bath bombs; scented candles and slippers. It’s a time to remember and honour the woman who brought us into the world.

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Natasha Lester on Her Upcoming Book, The Riviera House

For those of you who have read my books Wild Lavender, Golden Earrings and The Invitation, you will know that I have a love for Paris and its artists, writers, dancers and entertainers. Fellow Australian author, Natasha Lester, has a similar love for Paris as the home of couture fashion.

Read More →

BELINDA ALEXANDRA’S BOOKS:

Book cover titled "The Italian Correspondent" by Belinda Alexandra featuring a woman wearing a headscarf seated next to a vintage scooter against a sky background.
Book cover of 'The Masterpiece' by Belinda Alexandra featuring a profile of a woman with long brown hair wearing a teal hat and purple coat, with a cityscape and artistic background.
A paperback book titled 'The French Agent' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a profile of a woman in a dark coat with red lipstick, set against a background of Paris with the Eiffel Tower.
A book cover titled "The Mystery Woman" by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in a red dress walking on the beach with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background.
Book cover titled 'The Invitation' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in vintage clothing and a large, decorated hat with feathers, standing near a city waterfront.
A book cover for 'Southern Ruby' by Belinda Alexandra featuring a close-up of a woman's face, a house in the background, and pink flowers.
Book titled "Sapphire Skies" by Belinda Alexandra featuring a woman in vintage attire with a light blue beret against a snowy, historic cityscape background.
A book cover for 'Golden Earrings' by Belinda Alexandra featuring a portrait of a woman with dark hair and red lipstick, dressed in red, with a backdrop of a cathedral or church in warm tones.
Book cover titled 'Tuscany Rose' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman with short hair carrying a pink blazer over her shoulder, standing in front of a Tuscan landscape with rolling hills, cypress trees, and a villa, with planes flying in the sky.
Book cover of 'Silver Wattle' by Belinda Alexandra, featuring an illustrated woman in a pink hat and white dress against a sunset landscape with orange and purple hues.
Book cover titled 'Wild Lavender' by Belinda Alexandra featuring a woman in a teal dress with short dark hair, sitting with her hands clasped, in front of a lavender field at sunset.
Book cover titled "White Gardenia" by Belinda Alexandra, featuring a woman in a blue coat and purple hat holding a red umbrella and suitcase, with Chinese lanterns in the background.
A book cover titled "The Divine Feline" by Belinda Alexandra. The cover features an illustrated woman with black hair in a bun, red lipstick, and a gray cat draped over her shoulder against a blue background.
Colorful book cover featuring red flowers and gold accents with the title 'Emboldened' by Belinda Alexandra and a quote about finding fire when all seems lost.
A pink and white journal titled 'The Feel Good Now Journal' by Belinda Alexandra and Kelly Morton with black and pink text and a silhouette of three cats and a pug on the cover.

International bestselling author. Lover of nature, beauty and magic.