The Engagements

The Engagements follows multiple storylines across different decades, from the 1940s to the present day. At its center is Frances Gerety, the real-life advertising copywriter who created De Beers' famous slogan "A Diamond Is Forever" in 1947. The novel tracks four couples in different time periods as they navigate marriage, relationships, and the cultural significance of diamond engagement rings. Their stories intersect and echo each other through the decades, revealing the evolution of attitudes toward commitment and tradition. The narrative includes a paramedic in 1970s Boston, a couple facing financial hardship in the 1980s, a woman involved in the blood diamond trade protests of the 2000s, and a present-day musician planning her gay cousin's wedding. Frances Gerety's own story of pioneering success in a male-dominated industry runs parallel to these fictional accounts. Through these interconnected tales, Sullivan examines how marketing shapes cultural values and explores the complex relationship between love, marriage, and material symbols. The novel raises questions about authenticity in both advertising and relationships, while considering how societal expectations of marriage have transformed over time.

Readers consistently note the book's interconnected storylines spanning multiple decades and relationships. The historical details about diamond marketing and advertising provide context that many found fascinating. Likes: - Complex character development across different time periods - Frances Gerety's storyline and the creation of "A Diamond is Forever" - Research and historical accuracy - Examination of marriage through different cultural lenses Dislikes: - Multiple storylines felt disconnected for some readers - Difficulty keeping track of numerous characters - Some found the pacing slow, particularly in the middle - Several readers wanted more resolution between the narratives Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (21,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (400+ ratings) Common reader comment: "The Frances Gerety chapters were the strongest" One frequent criticism from Amazon reviews: "Too many characters to follow, could have been two separate books"

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🔸 The book's historical storyline about Mary Frances Gerety - the real copywriter who created De Beers' famous "A Diamond Is Forever" slogan in 1947 - is based on extensive research and interviews with people who knew her. 💍 Prior to De Beers' marketing campaigns in the 1930s and 40s, diamond engagement rings were not a widespread tradition in America - only about 10% of engagement rings contained diamonds. 🔸 Author J. Courtney Sullivan wrote part of the novel at Yaddo, the prestigious artists' retreat where Sylvia Plath and other literary luminaries have worked, and finished the manuscript just weeks before her own wedding. 💍 The book spans nearly 100 years of romance and marriage (1947-2012), weaving together five different storylines that connect through a single diamond ring. 🔸 The novel was named one of The Washington Post's "50 Notable Works of Fiction" and was included in People magazine's "Top Ten Books of 2013" list.