Publication Date: October 13, 2026
USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe returns with an angst-filled retelling of Beauty and the Beast, set against the excess and opulence of Gilded Age New York.
Love isn’t always a fairy tale.
Charming and popular, Orson Grey is the most sought-after bachelor in Manhattan. When Caroline pledges to spend her life with him, it feels like the beginning of a fairy tale.
The fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare.
Behind closed doors, Orson is controlling and cruel. Trapped by laws that prevent women from leaving unhappy marriages, Caroline has no choice but to endure her husband’s behavior. Each day grows more intolerable, and her frustration and resentment mounts. Even her passion for rare books is stifled, leaving her isolated and lonely, a fading rose trapped under glass.
When Caroline is offered the opportunity to catalogue a private library, she seizes it like a lifeline. Exploring the literary treasures, she discovers a friend in the library’s owner, Zane Bishop—a brilliant, wealthy recluse who was disfigured in an explosion years ago.
Thoughtful and kind, Zane is everything Orson is not. As their trust builds, Zane realizes that Caroline’s pain runs much deeper than she lets on. He suffers with her, knowing precisely of Orson’s cruelty firsthand. Zane will stop at nothing to set Caroline free, even if it means risking everything.
The Gilded Rose is a story of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of love.
Tropes
• Gilded Age
• Fairy tale retelling
• Friends to lovers
What happens when the man of your dreams turns into your worst nightmare? For women living in the late 19th century, it means a marriage full of misery.
Author Joanna Shupe serves up a poignant tale in The Gilded Rose. When Caroline is swept away by the gallant attentions of Orson Grey, she has no idea that she’s trading her freedom for life with a brutal man.
Her deep love for books is forced to take a back seat to her husband’s whims, isolating her from everyone and everything. However, she catches the eye of Zane Bishop, a disfigured recluse.
The Beauty and the Beast-like narrative gets a makeover as Caroline receives an opportunity to catalog Zane’s extensive library. What ensues is a deep friendship that offers solace and hope.
To get a second chance at happiness, Caroline will have to face the monster masquerading as her husband.
The Gilded Rose offers a story of resilience while illustrating the power of love.
A USA Today bestselling author, Joanna Shupe has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage. She lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and dashing husband.
