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Lady Tremaine

The Reese’s Book Club Pick! The hotly anticipated, spellbinding and unmissable retelling of one of the world’s most iconic fairytales, Cinderella!

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Lady Tremaine

By: Rachel Hochhauser
Narrated by: Bessie Carter
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 THE REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK!

'Feminist, fierce, and wildly fresh. Lady Tremaine is destined to be one of the biggest books of the year' GLENNON DOYLE

'A reimagining of Cinderella's stepmother that explores motherhood, family, and the pressure to be perfect' REESE WITHERSPOON

Everyone said she was wicked.
Now Cinderella's stepmother tells her own story...

After the death of her second husband, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two daughters, Rosamund and Mathilde, her simpering stepdaughter Elin, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor buried in the woods.

When a royal ball offers the chance to change their fortunes, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of girls - only for her hopes to be fulfilled by the wrong one: Elin.

Yet as her stepdaughter's engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn...

Bridgerton meets Circe in this breathtaking reimagining of one of the world's most iconic fairytales, Cinderella.

**Lady Tremaine has stolen the hearts of readers everywhere!**

"Stunning - lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind" Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Definitely one of my favorite books of the year! One of those rare books that stays with you, and moves you in ways you never anticipated" Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Wow! I was not expecting this to be as great as it is - I totally devoured it. This may be the best fairy tale reworking that I've ever read!" Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This book is a masterpiece. Finally the fairy tale has been reclaimed with honesty and wisdom and nuance and depth" Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Fast-paced, unputdownable, and the story that women need right now" Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal" Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

**Praise for LADY TREMAINE**

'Breathing new life into a timeless fairytale, a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of second chances. My favourite read of the year' SARAH PENNER, author of The Lost Apothecary

'In breathtakingly beautiful prose, Hochhauser unpicks this old fairytale and weaves it into a feminist war cry. Visceral, powerful and stunningly told' EMILIA HART, author of Weyward

'Lady Tremaine shatters our preconceptions of a famous fairytale villain, presenting instead a mesmering portrait of a woman who discovers that real enchantment comes from daring to rewrite your own destiny' KIMBERLY KING PARSONS, author of We Were the Universe

'One of the best novels I've read in a long time. I am envious of any reader picking up this book for the first time' OLIVIA CLARE FRIEDMAN, author of Here Lies

'Wit, wisdom, poetry on every page. A voice that's both hauntingly familiar and crisp in contemporary understanding. Amazing' MARK RICHARD, author of The Ice at the Bottom of the World

'Cinderella gets the Maleficent treatment in the darkly sumptuous and deeply addictive Lady Tremaine, Rachel Hochhauser is a major new talent to watch' KATE QUINN, author of The Briar Club

'A totally fresh take on the story of Cinderella, Lady Tremaine feels like a miracle. With its gorgeous prose and nuanced characters, it's already in the running to be my book of the year. I just adored it!' PHOENICIA ROGERSON, author of HERC©2026 Rachel Hochhauser Epic Fantasy Women's Fiction Royalty Heartfelt Magic
All stars
Most relevant
An entertaining retelling of a classic tale framed by the realities for women in previous centuries and with a great plot twist.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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This was just fabulous. A retelling of Cinderella. Lady Tremaine is the ‘wicked stepmother’ and she is one fabulous character. Absolutely loved this. Special shout out to Bessie Carter the narrator. I think I’ve only seen her in one show. She was excellent.

Feminist retelling

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Beautifully crafted. Eloquently voiced. Left hungry for more.
Brave, courageous and tongue in cheek humour.

Theme of the feminine, nature versus nurture and the mind, body and soul.

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Interesting take on the Cinderella story, definitely not a fairytale. Strong female characters, dark and a bit gruesome. Nothing like the Cinderella of old!

Surprisingly dark

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