Book Review - The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin

 

It's 1914, and twenty-five-year-old Frances Marion is ready for a change. She left her second husband and Northern California for the lure of Los Angeles. She is determined to live independently and follow her own dreams. While trying to decide what she wants to focus on, Marion comes across something called "flickers". Flickers is a new silent movie capturing the hearts and attention of people. 

Frances believes it's her calling to take part of this fledgling industry. She is excited that she is able to write stories for people to view. Marion is besotted when she makes the acquaintance of actress Mary Pickford and befriends her. Mary is known for her signature golden curls and her charm. She is known to people as "America's Sweetheart".

When their ambitions gets challenged by men around them and the limitations imposed on their gender, they realize  success comes at a price. Mary is the world's highest paid actress and she struggles to live the life she wants under the spotlight. She is afraid of losing her fans but, when she finds herself in love with a fellow actor Douglas Fairbanks, she has to decide if she is willing to lose her fame for love. Frances longs to share her life with someone but, she's afraid that she would have to give up her career.

At first I was really enjoying the novel and learning more about the two women. However, towards the middle of the book, I felt like the novel became boring and repetitive. I felt like the author tried describing how things might have happened but, failed to talk about how the characters really felt until the very end of the book. I felt like the book would have been better if it was shorter and had character development. I did like reading about their accomplishments and their experience in the industry.

Book Review - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Photo Source - Amazon

Evelyn Hugo is world renown aging Hollywood icon who is ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous but secretive life. The world is baffled when she picks a young reporter named, Monique Grant to write her life story. Monique is relatively unknown writer in the journalism world and was beyond perplexed when she was picked for the story. While, the pair begin the journey of writing the Evelyn's life story, each with a different motive; the two begin to bond. Evelyn's story is filled with lost loves, ambition, desire and the great love of her life. As Evelyn's story comes to a conclusion it becomes very clear to Monique the horrible way their lives are connected. Why did Evelyn chose Monique to write her story? Why did Evelyn chose to become a recluse? Will Monique be able to forgive Evelyn?

The novel was very engaging and interesting to read. Once, I picked it up I couldn't put it down and I ended up missing my train stops a few times. The beautifully written novel showcase a woman who was lost, struggled, wanted acceptance and wanting to be loved. It made me aware how easy it is to judge someone without fully knowing exactly what they are going through.

Book Review - June: A Novel by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

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Cassie Danvers flees to her family's crumbling mansion in St. Jude, Ohio after the breaking off the engagement to her older boyfriend and the passing of her grandmother, June who raised her. In the ancient mansion, she becomes a hermit and becomes closed off from the world. However, her world comes closing in around her when she receives news that she is the sole heir to legendary movie star, Jack Montgomery's millions.  Jack's daughters come to visit to Cassie to take back the inheritance and instead they uncover a dark secret from the past. Will Cassie be able to keep the money? Will the way she sees her grandmother change forever? Can the sisters prove Cassie is not the true heir to the inheritance?

The 400 page novel is a true page turner. It is slow in the beginning but it slowly unravels into  many twists and turns. The novel alternates between the past (between two friends June and Lindie) and the present (Cassie and the daughters). The characters were developed and interesting but I found it hard to like the main character, Cassie. Personally, I kept debating whether I loved it or just liked it. The more I thought about it, the more conflicted I got.  However, it is a great and interesting read, especially for those who like "Hollywood secrets" themes! 

** Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**