Strong-willed film star Joan Davis, an amalgam of cinema dames Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Barbara Stanwyck, is desperate to recover from being labeled “box office poison.” Her prior on-screen partnership with rising heartthrob and prankster Dash Howard (modeled on the early-career Clark Gable) faltered after a very public altercation. When the studio re-pairs them in a dramatic film set at a Reno divorce ranch, as with the best screwball movies, mayhem ensues. Echoes of the Golden Age classic It Happened One Night are embellished with twists that include an inconvenient revelation of the protagonists’ marital status, an even more inconvenient love affair, the place of ambitious women before and behind the cameras, and the machinations of a malevolent and self-important gossip columnist (clearly inspired by Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons). The combination of factors results in an agonizing betrayal and threaten to destroy the main characters’ personal and professional lives.
A fun and pacy debut, with appeal for fans of Hollywood’s wittiest and most glamorous era.

This book was very classy - as classy as the old Hollywood movies during that classic, unforgettable era. This book is a perfect example of why this romantic genre has taken off. Charming, romantic, delightful, this book was near unputdownable. The characterization is perfect, the plot is thrilling, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I highly recommend this book and think anyone who needs a satisfying read is in for a treat with this one!

It Happened One Fight
By Maureen Lee Lenker
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Sourcebooks
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I wanted to love this book!
I liked the time period of the 1930’s . The tension between the stars was wonderful.
However, the writing felt too modern for this time period.
Finally, the third act break up was just too much. There was too much forgiveness.
3 stars

Two Hollywood stars who can’t stand each other find out they’re actually married. Now they have to pretend it’s real at least for a little while, what could go wrong or right?

I thought this book was cute if not a little silly. I do like when characters are so admit about how something is NEVER gonna happen and you get to slowly watch them eat their words.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the free ARC.

DNF at 30%. Unfortunately, this book failed to hook me. The premise turned out to be way more unbelievable than I'd expected and I just had a hard time feeling interested/caring about where this romance was going to go.

Joan Davis and Dash Howard are the King & Queen of Hollywood thanks to their successful pairing in a string of films. Too bad they can’t stand each behind the scenes. He thinks she’s too haughty, she can’t stand his practical jokes and playboy ways. They agree to one last film together that Joan hopes will deliver her an Oscar and the respect of her peers away from Dash. Unfortunately, they find out one of Dash’s jokes actually makes them married in real life. Where does that leave them and the production? “On the train to Reno” ( haha- that’s a film reference that fits the time 😉)
This story is littered with these as well as a look at the old Hollywood system, but if that’s not your thing no worries, the story still will entertain. Dash and Joan find moments of genuine connection while dodging a nosy gossip columnist and reporters. Could all their animosity be hiding something else between the two? And what happens when their relationship is tested again?
I’m an old movie lover! I enjoyed the references and the way the author made you feel as if you’re in the middle of one. My only quibble was a little questioning of one of the characters solution in the form of a speech, but overall, this was enjoyable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
** Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. **

This one was a struggle. I was so excited to read a rom-com set in 1930s Hollywood but this was bland and repetitive. I skimmed a large portion of the last 50-60% and lost nothing. It suffered from telling and not showing. Not sure I ever believed dash and Joan were in love, except for them and other characters constantly admitting it. The entire book could have been set in modern times and bothering would need to be changed except a few words and phrases. Felt too modern and like the setting wasn’t given enough thought.

Plus - and this is probably just an issue in my own head - it just blatantly stole the exact plot and even a famous piece of dialog from It Happened One Night as one of Dash and Joan’s movies. I get pretending your fictional characters made a movie at that time period similar to a known movie to give some background info for the book, but does this mean the real move and actors don’t exist in this world?

DNF at 54%

I'm a big fan of black-and-white movies and I have really enjoyed Maureen Lee Lenker's work as an entertainment writer/movie podcast guest, so keeping up this book felt like an absolute no-brainer.

However, this book really missed the mark for me. The writing is very cut-and-dry with 90% of it being dialogue or internal monologue. I was really hoping that we would get to see a sense of the glitz and glamor of 1930s Hollywood, but alas, that was not to be. What we do get in terms of dialogue and monologue is pretty repetitive and the attempts at banter often fall flat as we are more often being told who these characters are rather than shown. As a romance, I didn't really care about these people getting together and I didn't even necessarily believe that they were even in love to begin with. The concept is fantastic and I know how much Lenker cares about this period in film history, but the execution really fell flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I’ve always been fascinated by the Golden Age of Hollywood—the time period, entertainers and most especially the films that I am sure more people have heard of or can recall at the top of their head—so when the book announcement was made, I was immediately on board to read this new to me author.

Was the author able to release a timeless classic? Absolutely not.

I wanted to love this—hell even like it but it felt too modern for me. The characters, Joan and Dash, were unlikeable and I was far from interested in their lackluster, unbelievable love story. The unnecessary drama/conflicts between the pair was long, repetitive and drawn out, the lack of communication was consistent throughout the novel, the bland storyline had me checking periodically how much longer I had to suffer through the read, the writing style was poor and the pacing needed a lot of work.

To be blunt, the premise was there for “It Happened One Fight” but the author failed to deliver.

This is the perfect book for fans of old Hollywood. It was also reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

I absolutely loved Joan and Dash. The characters were so fun and I really enjoyed reading them. I don’t love misunderstandings and communication tropes, but I think they were actually great for this particular story and really added depth to the book.

I loved the Hollywood drama. It reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid minus the 6 husbands. I loved the support system the characters created with each other and then the ending was amazingly done.

This is a fun old Hollywood read for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Dash Howard and Joan Davis are two movie stars who have made big movies together, but had a harder time admitting their feelings for each other in real life. SO MANY misunderstandings. So much mistrust. Then, of course, they have to make a film together AND stay in one bedroom on a ranch. Once they finally open up to each other, the romance moves quickly. You feel like it's earned because they have spent so much time with the sexual tension building up. This follows a pretty predictable Romance plot, and of course, there's a seemingly unsurmountable problem right after they get together. There's a HEA at the end, as there should be, but both characters have to do a lot of growing up before they can realize it. There's something so charming about Dash. He is a prankster and wears his heart on his sleeves. Joan is a tough cookie, and I admire her ambition. These are two very interesting characters that make you want to spend more time with them.


Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

It Happened One Fight by Maureen Lee Lenker is a captivating Hollywood romance that is full of witty banter, fiery chemistry, and unexpected twists. Joan Davis, a talented movie star, can't stand her co-star Dash Howard, who always seems to get on her nerves. But when they accidentally get legally married due to Dash's on-set prank gone wrong, Joan's carefully crafted plans start to unravel. As they navigate their forced marriage and the challenges of filming in Reno, sparks fly and secrets are revealed. Lenker's writing is sharp and engaging, with well-drawn characters and a delightful enemies-to-lovers trope. The story is filled with humorous moments, heartfelt emotions, and sizzling romance that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. It Happened One Fight is a delightful and entertaining read that will leave readers rooting for Joan and Dash's happily-ever-after.

I really liked the first 65 percent of this book so much but the last 35 percent just fell apart. I will say though that the spice for the time period of the novel is absolutely perfect though!

If you love the Golden Age of Hollywood, you’re in for a treat with this book! This swoon-worthy romantic comedy was so enjoyable. I loved the author’s writing style, and the fact that she blended classic Hollywood with a touch of modernity so well set this book apart for me. In addition, Maureen’s look at the grittier, less picture-perfect side of being a celebrity creates a lot of depth both for the plot and the main characters.

The plucky nature of Joan Davis, and her refusal to be pushed into a corner or made to feel shame were admirable. However, in my opinion, I would have liked to see Leda’s story wrapped up with more oomph.

For cinema aficionados, the parallels between her, her leading man, Dash Howard, and movie stars from the 1930s will be easy to spot. At the end of the day though, it is a fictional book!

I would highly recommend this book to those looking for romance mixed with some Hollywood glamour.

This is a truly entertaining historical romance that I enjoyed even more than I thought I would. I usually don’t grab historicals but this being set in the 1930s and involving old Hollywood made it very accessible and interesting to me. I thought this was paced very well- we have two stars with somewhat of a history and forced proximity of filming their next movie while also dealing with a marriage contract snafu (super fun premise honestly).

I loved Joan’s unapologetic and strong nature, but also that she was introspective and eventually vulnerable. Dash’s inner cinnamon roll made a wonderful match. I simply could not put this down I really enjoyed it!

If I could change anything it would be the overuse of “bee stung lips” I know it’s nit picky but it came up more than once. Although I do think the pacing was done well there was a particular time jump when I wish we could’ve had more happy couple time on page. But I am happy with what I got because I was pleasantly surprised this was open door. Overall I would definitely recommend this. Thank you to NetGalley, Maureen lee lenker, and sourcebooks for this ARC!

I really loved this delightful novel!

A terrific screwball comedy cleverly plotted, gorgeously choreographed, full of verbal pyrotechnics and blessed with a fantastic cast of exquisitely drawn characters, It happened one fight is a beautiful tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood and a brilliant fictional portrait of America during the 30s!

Highly recommended and to be discovered and enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this marvellous ARC!

It was a good book and really enjoyed it all and rooted for this couple to make it. Love it all. read it today you will not be disappointed.

This book was a huge letdown. As a historian working in southern California, I expected a better, more nuanced portrayal of this era of Hollywood, especially considering the author's previous credentials. I appreciate a modern take on historic events as much as the next contemporary feminist, however this book tried to fit in too much

The secondary queer characters weren't fully fleshed out and were essential Manic Pixie Dream Queers to help the hetero couple along, and I think that was handled really poorly, especially considering the manner in which queer actors were historically forced to hide their sexuality in Hollywood.

I didn't like either main character and couldn't understand why they were attracted to either of them. They were both shallow and vindictive and the manner in which they "made up" with each other was contrived and horrible.
The pacing was all off and everything constantly felt rushed. The best friends deserved better than these jerks.

This book was surprising in many ways, mainly that I could simultaneously love it and hate it so so much. I appreciated the non-traditional (at least for me) setting of the 1930s, and the tension and passion between the two stars was delicious. The accidental marriage setup was so fun, plus it was open door!

I’m fond of the occasional black and white film marathon, and this put me majorly in the mood. Plus, I have such a soft spot for this book’s namesake, It Happened One Night! In the book, the movie is referenced, but by a fake name as it starred the two main characters. They even recreated the sheet divider in the bedroom!! I also think I spotted other references to actors and films, but who’s to say.

However, and it’s a BIG however, I absolutely despised the atrocious third act. I knew it was coming because there was still too much of the book left for there not to be something major, but man it was way too much to handle. I’m not built for shit to go that bad because of decisions being made for the COUPLE by only ONE character with no communication. It was just cruel.

*minor spoilers below*

I don’t know how Dash forgave Joan because I sure haven’t. There was too l much forgiveness all around and I simply can’t abide I’m so sorry but absolutely FUCK Leda into next Tuesday. And we didn’t even get a confrontation. What do I hate? Blackmail and self sacrifice, both of which we got in spades. The last 10% just felt so unbelievable.

Aside from the last 35% of the book, I think a critique from other readers will be that it felt super modern and not like the thirties at all. But I never really have an issue with modern historical romances, so it actually worked for me. If this story would’ve actually been set in 2023, wouldn’t have enjoyed it, so I still think the time period worked effectively. I thought the setting was super interesting, and I really loved the celebrity relationship aspect, which I normally don’t like so much.

Like I said, I loved the book until the third act breakup. I’m assuming we’ll get Flynn’s book next? If so, I’m definitely interested, but I’ll need to read reviews to see how that third-act is handled. Because I do have some trust issues now. I didn’t have issues with the pacing and was actually quite riveted (until the third act), so I do think there’s a chance I could really love book two.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️.25*/5

*I truly didn’t know what to expect with this one. We got one full open door scene and I really really loved it. It spanned a lot of pages and felt like the perfect climax to their relationship and all that pent up passion. There were a couple later closed door moments that could’ve totally been open door and it would’ve made the payoff a little sweeter. For some reason I expected this to be all closed door, so I’m definitely not complaining.

P.S. I think the characters on the cover look super authentic, but I didn’t feel like they actually reflected the characters in the book. Also I’m sorry but pencil mustaches are disgusting.


Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.