UNGODLY RICH

A modern-day Greek god falls for a mortal woman who has to fight for her place in the pantheon.

When Julia Dodds meets Harry Adams throwing darts in a dive bar in New Zealand, the two hit it off, quickly fall in love, and move in together. But while out celebrating their second anniversary, a chance run-in with Harry’s cousin reveals a shocking truth: Julia’s scrappy, adventure-guide boyfriend is actually a member of the billionaire Ellene family. Unbeknownst to Julia, that’s not the only secret Harry has been keeping: The Ellenes also happen to be Greek gods. “Harry” is actually Ares, son of Zeus (here the CEO of a powerful family-run conglomerate) and Hera. At the yearly family reunion on Olympus, Julia—who studied Greek pottery at Harvard—notices some family idiosyncrasies, but she chalks the weirdness up to their extreme wealth. Besides, she’s got bigger worries—namely, fitting in and impressing Harry’s parents and siblings. Though outwardly helping plan the couple’s lavish wedding, several family members are actively working against her assimilation. When the disapproving Hera and spurned Aphrodite (wife of Harry’s brother, Hephaestus) join forces to kick Julia to the curb once and for all, it seems they might get their wish. With chapters told from the perspectives of nearly half a dozen characters and a timeline that often skips ahead right in the middle of a juicy conflict, the novel can sometimes feel unmoored. But readers looking for a bright, self-assured protagonist, lush depictions of wealth, and a not-too-steamy romance will find McGee’s novel hitting all the right notes.

An engrossing tale with clever references to Greek myth and a winking portrait of how gods might behave in the modern day.