Karen Soven’s memoir is titled “Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach: Tales of Life & Love from the Land of Sunshine & Money.”
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- “Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach: Tales of Life & Love from the Land of Sunshine & Money” by Karen Soven was released in December.
- The memoir draws on years of journals Soven kept while building her career and raising her daughter.
- The memoir emphasizes resilience, reinvention and finding purpose at any stage of life.
In a new memoir, Palm Beach resident Karen Soven gives an insider’s look at the island’s fashion, social and philanthropic circles and chronicles her personal and professional growth.
“Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach: Tales of Life & Love from the Land of Sunshine & Money” traces Soven’s move from New York’s fashion world to Palm Beach, where she built a career, raised a daughter and later carved out a new path in the legal field.
Drawn from years of journals, the book examines the people, places and social worlds that shaped her life.
Soven said a sense of community drew her to Palm Beach at a pivotal time in her life.
“I’m a New York City girl,” she said. “I wanted to be part of something active and engaged while raising a young child.”
Soven said her memoir is based on the notes and reflections she kept while navigating major life transitions and observing Palm Beach’s social scene.
Published in December, the book shares her experiences working with luxury handbag designer Lana Marks, running high-profile charity events, and later helping rebuild a boutique law firm, while also managing motherhood and financial pressures.
Set against recognizable Palm Beach landmarks — from Worth Avenue and the Paramount Theatre to beach cabanas and charity luncheons — the book also captures the etiquette and social expectations that shape life on the island.
Soven said longtime residents will recognize the emphasis on manners, discretion and community involvement.
“The civility — the code of civility — is supported by the ‘Old Palm Beach’ residents,” she said. “You know, that’s not something you can buy.”
Soven began writing the book in 2019 and completed it during the pandemic, a time she said highlighted just how important daily human interaction and shared purpose are, regardless of wealth or status.
She emphasized the central theme of the book is resilience. “It’s about reinventing yourself in life and love, at any age,” she said. “No pedigree required.”
A New York native, Soven grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side before moving to suburban New Jersey as a child. After beginning college at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, she transferred to the University of Miami, where she earned a degree in communications.
After graduation, Soven returned to New York and entered the fashion world “by accident.”
“Even though I always loved fashion, I never thought I’d be working in it,” she said.
In 1994, with a young daughter, she moved to Palm Beach for career opportunities in luxury fashion and her husband’s work in finance.
Soon after arriving, she began working with Marks, helping the brand grow from a small wholesale operation into a recognized name with boutique stores and high-profile clients.
In her early years on the island, Soven balanced professional and personal responsibilities, organizing charity galas, managing trunk shows and navigating Palm Beach’s social circles.
She later ran operations for Scottish cashmere designer Valerie Louthan and worked with Valentino — handling production, sales and client relations — and gained hands-on experience while building lasting connections in Palm Beach and elsewhere.
“Work is never just like a job for me,” Soven said. “I just become obsessed.”
Her work in fashion and the luxury business eventually led Soven to a new challenge in the legal world, where she helped rebuild her husband’s law firm and put her skills in client relations, organization, and strategy to use.
After years of balancing career and family, she shifted her focus to writing.
“Once Upon a Time in Palm Beach” (Legacy Launch Pad Publishing, $29.67) is available online and in stores, including Classic Bookshop at 310 South County Road. Soven said she’s looking forward to promoting the book across the country.
“I’m excited to take the book on a nationwide tour this year and share these stories with readers across the country,” Soven said.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com.