A historical fiction novel about the real life actress, Dolores Del Rio, narrated by her fictional hairdresser, Mara. I always enjoy learning about real people through historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

Although this was a great historical fiction novel, it is not one I will include in my classroom library at the middle school level. It took awhile for me to get into the story, and my students are looking for books that will grab them right away.

I have never heard of Dolores Del Rio, and I was excited to read a novel about her. However, I came from away from this novel feeling like I did not know her. She seemed emotionally distant. This was because it was told from her hairdresser. It felt more like the focus was not on Dolores but the hairdresser. Therefore, I wish that the novel was told from Dolores’s perspective. Still, I recommend this for fans of The Blue Butterfly, Marlene, The Girl in White Gloves!

Reviewed for a feature on Historical Novel Society. Available on the HNS website.

Interesting fictionalized biography on Dolores del Río.

A colorful, vibrant and fun historical fiction story about a famous Hollywood actress, Miss Del Rio was a light and enjoyable read. With very detailed settings and scenes, this novel was very entertaining.
However, after reading, I was left wondering how much is historical and how much is fiction. This is a balance that I can be picky about. I prefer historical fiction to be more on the historical side. With that being said, I do appreciate the way the author was able to describe Del Rio’s personal struggles and how she dealt with her accent in Hollywood and being the first Latina star in Hollywood.
A fun, easy read if you’re looking for something more on the entertaining side.

The beginning of this book reminded me a lot of the beginning of Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Fleeing Mexico during the revolution, hardships, danger, sacrifice, etc. In Miss Del Rio there’s the dual perspective of a wealthy landowner’s daughter and then a poor orphan. I really liked the contrasting perspectives that Lola and Mara had on life. The emphasis on the history of Mexican cinema and Mexican history was great.

What I didn’t like was that the dual perspectives and the conversations seemed really disjointed at times. I don’t know why this wasn’t told in alternating chapters from Lola and Mara’s POVs but I feel like that would’ve been better.

Delores del Rio oozed sex appeal that partnered well with her beauty. She rose to Hollywood fame quickly, there was no one like her on the silver screen in the 1930's. Dark, exoticly beautiful, and very sexy. In the film, Flying Down to Rio, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appearing for the first time as dance partners, Delores holds her own as the local beauty but is confined by old traditions and a observant family chaperone. Luckily, Delores is able to break away for some romance.

Apparently, Dolores had a passionate affair with the handsome Gary Cooper, among other Hollywood men.

Her films were alawys delightful and entertaining, as is this book. A fabulous and stunning account.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Pubishers

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

I have always been a fan of historical fiction, and Mis Del Rio is a perfect fit for any historical fiction craving. Miss Del Rio brought to life a figure and setting that I didn't have much familiarity with prior to this novel–not as much as I'd like, at least!–and I absolutely loved getting to dive into this book and learn more about Dolores del Río's life and this particular period of time. The author clearly did an abundance of research and really managed to showcase her life through all of its ups and downs and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the pacing fairly consistent, though there were times when I felt things slowed down a bit too much and it did slow my reading down a bit as well. Overall, I really liked this historical fiction and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to read about an incredible woman and fascinating period of time.

Dolores is Mexican actress. She is absolutely stunning. She is even considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. But staying on top of the Hollywood screen is a never ending problem. So, her personal life takes hit after hit.

I read this book on a long flight. It was absolutely perfect for the plane. I was very much enthralled by Dolores. And to be honest, I enjoyed reading about the Spanish culture. I have not read too much about this, so it was intriguing. Add in the old Hollywood era and this was a pretty dang good read!

I loved that this story is based on a true person. As most of y’all know, I truly enjoy a book which has me researching. And you can read more about Dolores here.

Need a very different historical fiction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I enjoy a good historical fiction, especially if the subject is based on a real person. Bárbara Mujica's historical novel Miss del Río, is a fictionalized account of the life of Mexican actress Dolores del Río, who appeared in many Hollywood movies in the 1920s- 1940s, and became the first major Latina actress to find stardom there.

Dolores del Río led a privileged life in Durango, Mexico in 1910 as a young child. Her family had ties to high government officials, and her father was a wealthy banker. When revolutionaries led by Pancho Villa burned down expensive villas, Dolores escaped with her family to California.

The beautiful Dolores met a director at a party who saw potential in her, and Dolores was on her way to appearing in motion pictures. Dolores' husband Jaime wanted to be a screenwriter, but his career did not take off like Dolores' did.

Dolores was drawn to the glamour of Hollywood, but as a beautiful woman, she was also subject to its abuses by powerful men. While her professional life was blossoming, and she sucessfully made the transition from silent movie to "talkies", her private life was less than happy. She had a series of marriages that didn't work out as she didn't always choose her mates wisely.

Dolores' story is narrated by her childhood friend Mara, who later became her hairdresser. (Mara is a fictional character.) Mara also fled Mexico, and the contrast between Dolores' life and Mara's life fuels much of this intriguing story. Mara had a happy marriage to a man she loved, and they had several children together. Dolores longed for children, but it was not meant to be. Mara and her husband struggled financially, Dolores had plenty of money. Mara was torn by her love and appreciation for Dolores and her disappointment in the way Dolores lived her life.

As her success in Hollywood waned, Dolores moved back to Mexico. She became a big part of the Mexican film industry, making movies about subjects that mattered to her, instead of playing the stereotypical roles she was being offered in Hollywood. She had her share of dealings with difficult filmmakers in Mexico as well.

Plenty of famous people make cameos in Miss del Río. Dolores was good friends with Marlene Dietrich, had a torrid love affair with Orson Welles, and became enchanted with Frida Kahlo when she returned to Mexico. (Mujica wrote a fantastic historical novel Frida as well that led to Miss del Río.)

A good historical fiction always has me wanting more, and I immediately began to search out more information on Dolores del Río. If you liked Adriana Trigiani's All The Stars In The Heavens and Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, (I loved both) you'll want to read Miss del Río. It's also a great read for Hispanic Heritage Month.

In this engaging and informative book by Barbara Mujica, the life and experiences of Dolores Del Rio are delivered to readers. Delores Del Rio was the first Latin American film star, and she proved to be a true legend. Having not been familiar with Miss Del Rio, a quick stop on the IMDB website provided wonderful clips of several roles, thus helping me to really dive into this fabulous story.

The year was 1910 Mexico and the country was experiencing extremely difficult times, including a devastating revolution. Forced to flee her home at the age of sixteen, Dolores very soon marries the influential American director Jaime del Rio. This was the beginning of her being catapulted into the life of a very sought after actress, and she became famous practically overnight.

Dolores shined in those years during her life in Hollywood. She continued to shine pretty much until the day she died, although she did change the direction of her life years later. While in Hollywood, Dolores rubbed shoulders with fabulously famous people in the scene. During those years of popularity, Dolores also experienced tragedy in her family, as well as divorce and other more difficult times. At the same time, the world was changing and she experienced prejudice as well as abuse, and ultimately headed back to Mexico, where she shone once again.

This amazing story was narrated in first person by her fictional friend and hairdresser. I love how the author did this, because it felt like I had a seat in a theater while watching the life of Dolores Del Rio unfold, and I was there for every minute of it. While this book was written as historical fiction, a true biography of Miss Del Rio's life would no doubt be truly an enjoyable read, but I applaud Barbara Mujica for bringing her to life in this fabulous book.

Many thanks Graydon House to and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I found this author's writing very flat and the characters, both real and imaginary two dimensional.

I would love to read a actual biography about Ms. Del Rio, but this historical fiction take on her life left me flat.

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of Miss del Río: A Novel of Dolores del Río, the First Major Latina Star in Hollywood by Bárbara Mujica. I enjoy reading about old Hollywood which is what drew me into this book and I feel I learned so much about an amazing woman I didn't know!

Narrated by Dolores fictional hairdresser and longtime friend Miss Del Río is a look at a trailblazing woman with a long legacy in Hollywood and Mexico. I liked the first part of the book and learning more about the Mexican Revolution and her early days in Hollywood. At times I feel like this got bogged down in too many details and trying to see the differences between the narrator's story and how that was interwoven with Dolores. I did like the author's note!

Miss Del Río comes out October 4th and is perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month!

I had never heard of Delores Del Rio so I was happy to read a book that combined a starlet from Mexico with the golden age of Hollywood.
It was an interesting read. The part that I found the most interesting was the first quarter of the book when the Mexican Revolution is described. My knowledge of the era is scant so I learned quite a bit.
Reading historical fiction from a different viewpoint is always valuable.
I liked the author’s endnote and bibliography.
The cover is reason enough to read the book!

I had not heard of this actress before reading this book.
Parts of this book were interesting and others not so much. Miss del Rio seems like a typical Hollywood star. I found her friend Mara much more likable.
While I enjoyed the story for the most part I do think it was a little too long.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

A fascinating book about Dolores Del Rio, the first Latina star in Hollywood.
It was a riveting and fascinating read, I learn who Dolores del Rio was because all knew was related to some pictures.
I discovered a clever woman and how hard her life was.
The author did an excellent job in developing the characters and describing the fascinating historical background.
There's a lot of research and this book made watch a Del Rio's movie and read something more about her.
Good storytelling, character development, and well researched historical background.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Graydon House and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Mara, the friend and hairdresser of Delores Del Rio-Lola- tells their story in this tale of the early days of Hollywood. This focuses more on her life in film than it does on her life in Mexico. Lola left Mexico to become a silent film star but found she had evolve to "talkies." She lived a big life in so many ways with multiple relationships (including with Orson Wells) and a return to Mexico. The device of using a fictional friend sort of worked- Mara has her own story to tell as well- but it seemed to me that this glossed over Lola's life in spots. It's well written, I learned a great deal (I spent some time googling people), and it's enlightening. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Miss del Río caught my attention due to the cover and the blurb. Prior to picking the book up, I didn’t know anything about the book’s subject, Dolores “Lola” del Rio. As such, while I appreciate the book for bringing her to my attention, the execution didn’t fully work for me.

I love the exploration of the times in which Lola and her friend and hairdresser, Mara lived. The upheaval of the Mexican Revolution and the constantly evolving nature of Hollywood are both vividly brought to life. They both flee Mexico to save their own lives, and ultimately I love how the story constantly highlights adapting to survive. Lola starts off as a silent film star, and she must evolve as “talkies” become more popular. She also has a passionate, tempestuous personal life, including liaisons with men like Orson Welles…who ironically would end up marrying Rita Hayworth, who was compared to Lola in the press at the time, after their breakup.

But with Lola’s vibrant personality and the descriptions of her Hollywood connections and passionate affairs, I feel like it was a mistake not to make the story a more intimate portrayal. Yes, Mara is incredibly close to her. But she’s still merely a friend, and there will inevitably be things Lola wouldn’t confide in her, even if they are really close.

And this book falls into the trap many books have when the protagonist and narrator are two different people: I just didn’t care about Mara. There’s attempts to give Mara some family drama, but I simply wasn’t invested enough in her as a character. That’s not to say it couldn’t have worked, but I feel like it’s a lot harder to pull off.

While I didn’t care for this book, I see a lot of merit in what it’s trying to do. If you’re a fan of stories about Old Hollywood, it might still be worth checking out.

I really didn't know anything about Dolores del Río, so I was excited to read a historical novel about her. Bárbara Mujica had a great writing style and I was invested in the story that she wrote. I did look up the real person and it added to my enjoyment of the story. It was a good read and I was glad I was able to read this. I can't wait to see where the author will go next.

"Lola took her place behind the microphone and, with her now customary poise and elegance, began to speak. “Es un gran placer…nuestro adorado México…” She blew kisses at the audience, and the orchestra played “Siete Leguas.” Lola bowed and blew more kisses."