In her compelling beach-listen 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; 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 rebuilt 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.

With a fresh take on fairy tales, gender roles and tradition, Karen holds up a mirror for listeners 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?