This is a wonderfully written, and seemingly well researched, story of the Roosevelt’s. It was a fascinating read to see events of history from the first lady’s POV, and learn of her strength and resilience. I admit I did not know much about Eleanor prior to reading, but could not put the book down once I started. A must read for all those who love historical books.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Having read the English Wife by the same author and loved it I was keen to read the president’s wife which details a similar time period from the other side of the pond. Beautifully written and researched it tells the story of Eleanor Roosevelt at the start and the end of her time with Franklin. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.

THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE by ANNA STUART is the well written and flawlwssly researched story of the life of Eleanor Rooseveldt, America’s first lady during the depression and the Second World War, whose love, humanity and political savvy impacted statesman and commoner alike. Her support of her husband, even after his infidelity, is amazing to see. Whilst they did not have a “normal” marriage,they had a strong partnership. The saying that “behind every successful man is a strong woman”, proves to be very true in hee case.
The book is so full of the history of the time, with Eleanor’s travels all over the world in support of the young men giving their lives for their country, her support of the Jews being murdered by Hitler, her compassion for mothers and wives awaiting news of their loved ones, with her own four sons in the armed forces, and her passion, with her husband, to create the United Nations to bring peace to a broken world, are quite remarkable.
I like to see her friendship with Clementine Churchill, admiration for Britain’s down to earth king and queen, and asmiration for Britain’s courage and fortitude under attack.
I cannot recommend this brilliant read strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Although I read many historical fiction novels set in this WW1 to WW2 era, I knew very little about Eleanor Roosevelt. This was a fascinating book about a woman who dealt with many challenges and had to show a lot of resilience to make a difference in a world where women were treated differently.. I look forward to reading more by Anna in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book, based on Eleanor Roosevelt life with her husband. I am somewhat familiar withthe Rosevelt’s’ story by reading previous books and also by watching the Ken Burns PBS series, but this book was truly Eleanor’s story. The writing was excellent, I liked the semi dual timeline between the early days of their marriage and their years in the White House. The historical aspects were interesting and very informative, there were aspects that happened during the war that I was not aware of, in particular Eleanor’s travels to Europe and the Pacific. I would highly recommend this book, I was impressed with the research the author did in getting the historical elements, and also reading about an interesting and somewhat challenging marriage relationship.

Anna Stuart’s The President’s Wife offers a thoughtful and refreshingly original perspective on WWII by focusing on the private and political life of Eleanor Roosevelt. Rather than centering the narrative on the front lines of battle or espionage, Stuart brings us into the quieter, often overlooked spaces of power—where influence is wielded through diplomacy, moral conviction, and public service.

The novel traces Eleanor’s journey from the start of the war in 1939 through its aftermath, blending well-researched historical detail with emotional depth. What stood out most to me was the portrayal of Eleanor’s complex relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Stuart doesn’t shy away from the tensions in their marriage; instead, she explores how Eleanor gradually asserted her own political identity, even as she remained tied to the expectations of her public role as First Lady.

I also appreciated the way the novel delves into themes of gender and soft power. Eleanor’s ability to navigate political influence within the constraints of her time—balancing diplomacy, advocacy, and personal conviction—felt both authentic and resonant. The narrative raises important questions about how women in history have shaped events from behind the scenes, often without formal authority.

Stuart’s writing is clear, engaging, and emotionally grounded. While the story is fictionalized, it’s deeply rooted in historical record, making it both accessible and intellectually rewarding. This is the first WWII novel I’ve read that focuses so closely on the Roosevelts, and I found it both enlightening and moving.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction, especially fans of Soraya Lane, Kate Quinn, and Ellie Midwood—or anyone interested in the untold stories behind major political figures.

Anything Anna Stuart writes is an immediate read for me!
Stuart’s writing is evocative, with poignant descriptions and well-researched historical elements.
Beautifully written and impeccably researched, this novel offers a heartwarming and heartbreaking story.

This book was so interesting as it told WW2 from a different perspective. Predominantly based in the US it’s the story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and their actions that helped shape the outcome of the war. Anna Stuart is a brilliant historical fiction writer and this didn’t disappoint, I was hooked from page one and hardly put the book down until I had finished it. I highly recommend reading it and I will definitely be buying a copy or two as gifts. Excellent read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Anna Stuart 's books. But this one , it just felt like a paralell to her other book , the english wife(if i.am not wrong). So in my head it felt like i had read some.parts of it before. Was it strong main character? Yes of course, it was about Eleanor Roosevelt. And all the good things she did for her country. I felt like she sacrificed a lot. For me the.book was too political heavy. But i am still glad i read the.book.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

An amazing historical book which I was addicted to right away. So interesting and the relationship between Eleanor and Franklin was fascinating. Reading about Pearl Harbor and the days leading up to it brought it to life. I loved this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book uses Eleanor Roosevelt perfectly and I hadn't know anything about this true story until I read this book. It was so well written and had that historical element that I was wanting and enjoyed about the genre. I thought the characters were true to the people and in the time-period, it was everything that I wanted and was invested in what was going on. Anna Stuart was able to create a strong storyline that made me think about World War 2 and how the pieces were used during this time.

I have read a lot of books about Eleanor Roosevelt. I enjoyed Stuarts take on her life with Franklin including their engagement. Eleanor was critical to his presidency and she was a force to be reasoned with.