This book was really something special. It centered around a topic I haven't read about or honestly considered much - how black people of lighter complexion would "pass" as white in the time of segregation. It makes complete sense that they would have done so given the environment in our country during that time period, yet adds so much sorrow when you consider how it changes their lives and what they had to give up. The characters in this book, especially Mary/Kitty and the women of Blair House, really do jump off the page and involve you in their story. I will withhold one star as I believe the introduction of the back story was a little awkward - the book seemed quite disjointed for a while and it was jarring. Once you got past the early stages, the story flowed well and was very difficult to put down. Highly recommended read.

This sweeping multigenerational saga is worthy of its own miniseries as a family uncovers their incredible legacy and what Black women must do to survive, set against the backdrop of old Hollywood glamour. If Evelyn Hugo and The Vanishing Half had a baby, it would be a powerful story that examines race and privilege.

Eighty-one-year-old Kitty Karr Tate has died, and her death has dominated the week's news. She was an American icon, an Academy Award winner, a writer, a television star, and a philanthropist. But, along with praise for her career, there are also wild conspiracy theories about her mysterious life and the circumstances of her demise.

In one final mysterious plot twist, Kitty has bequeathed her entire fortune- approximately six million dollars to the Black daughters of her co-star in a sitcom aired almost fifty years ago. As these women are thrust further into the spotlight, they are left to grapple with why they received these funds. After all, they are daughters who had been multimillionaires by birth. Why do they receive this unexpected windfall?

We get to solve this mystery along with the St. Johns family in this dual-timeline story, beginning in the 1930s and shifting to 2017. The story starts with Hazel, who works for the white, wealthy Lake family, whose financial wealth was built by black hands. Their family legacy is tobacco grown, cured, and manufactured under their family's name in Winston-Salem.

Hazel’s beauty catches the eye of one of their sons, and, like many women before her, she is raped and ends up pregnant with his child. Rather than give the baby up, Hazel keeps her daughter and names her Mary Magdalene because she believes she will one day "absolve the sin of her creation." This baby appears as white as any other children, and at this discovery of her fair skin, Hazel decides that maybe there really is a God after all. Hazel’s goal is for Mary to have the life she never could, and it is a sacrifice that starts early.

In this world of passing, we follow Mary's childhood days as her mother takes her to a neighboring town where she can play and have experiences like a white child, while her mother monitors her as the help rather than her mother. She offers Mary the continued legacy as she paves her way to Hollywood, breaking all ties to her so she can pass as white. There she is, newly named Kitty Karr, and she starts her new life in California, quickly finding her way into Hollywood after showing a genuine interest in what is happening in a nearby movie lot.

Rising to the top of Hollywood isn't easy; it isn't just her talent and beauty that gets her there. It is made possible through a secret network of women who can also pass and help her along the way. They teach each other the skills they need to survive, including avoiding any behaviors that could give them away: no spicy foods, staying out of the sun, not using grease in their hair, and hiding their Jet magazine issues. For Kitty, it is initially quite exhausting, but those who can pass as white climb up the ladder and can help other women do the same.

This network's job is to keep these Black women in Hollywood's top roles, keep the most powerful people informed of important headline news, and fund crucial nonprofit work that helps their mission.

As Kitty adjusts, she also must acknowledge that there are days when she isn’t really white and that she “no longer feels splintered but someone else entirely.” As she straddles these two very different worlds, we feel torn along with her.

This ambitious novel is over four hundred pages long and outstanding from start to finish. Crystal Smith Paul's scope in our fractured world acknowledges the grim realities of racial disparities while offering the reader reprieves through fantastical Hollywood escapes.

While I found the present timeline less compelling than Kitty's rich history, the way the author ended this present timeline’s message ends with profound wisdom while honoring the legacy of this fictional starlet, which felt altogether real.

This book feels very much like a novice's first stab at a novel, and the bloated story could have done with some extensive editing. I wanted to like the story because I was interested in the premise, but the actual reading experience was patchy and disjointed, like the book just couldn't get legs.

This is a bold debut from Crystal Smith Paul, taking on huge subjects and an 80-year span. Given the vastness of her story, she tackles it well and provides impressive depth to the four generations she follows. For me, she tried to do a little too much which left some of the motivations, characters, and relationships a bit lacking--I would have preferred she narrow the scope slightly to go deeper in some places--but that's a personal preference, and I can easily imagine readers will love this book. I particularly recommend this for fans of historical fiction (this covers the 1930s-2010s), hollywood opulence, intergenerational sagas, and tales exposing the complicated racism in America without having to read too much unpleasantness.

This feels like an accessible read for fans of The Vanishing Half or people who enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid. I tend to prefer a bit more grit--something less pat. But this is a comfortable read for a white person to look at how things were without having to contend too deeply with our complicity as white women.

That said, the characters Smith Paul created were often robust and compelling, and many of the relationships had texture. I think she did what she intended to do quite well, and she created an extremely readable and compelling story. She jumped between time periods pretty well, though at times the far-past chapters dragged. Ultimately, however, I though Smith Paul was intentional with what she shared, where she went deep, and what she glossed over. I felt in very capable hands as I got swept into this story.

Wow! This was the best book I have read in a long time. I was totally immersed in Kitty’s life. The author had to have done extensive research because this story was very detailed. The subject of “passing” was discussed in ways I never thought about. The historical events were discussed as part of the story and flowed effortlessly. I felt the pain and anguish of these women. I will purchase the audio book because I want to listen to it also. This would make an amazing film! Kudos to the author for an outstanding job. Did you hear about Kitty Karr? You definitely will.

****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

First, thank you to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Crystal Smith Paul's Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

I wanted to read this book initially because its vibes were giving me The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It more than delivered on those vibes. A vast story, rooted in Hollywood, but playing out through the 20th century and across America, this is one that will suck you in from the first page and not let go. Kitty is an indomitable character and, much as when I read Evelyn Hugo, I had to keep reminding myself that she was fictional. Overall, a great read and a fabulous debut.

Although this book is fiction, the reality of the actual storyline is fascinating. Kitty Lane Karr seems like a real. person. I was deeply invested in her story, anticipating another nugget with each page.

Typically, I enjoy multiple timelines. In the introduction, I found Elise and her family's portrayal ordinary. When the story developed they grew on me, but their story was predictable. I wanted to read about Kitty and her friends far more than the present-day story.

Ultimately, it came together and I started to research the book's topic further. The book is timely and gives voice to a topic silenced for too long.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is an absolutely stunning novel by Crystal Smith Paul. The characters are so well-written I felt as if I were in the room with them. The story moves seamlessly between modern times and the past as the connections of the characters are revealed. The bravery of the women in this book is inspiring. The decisions they had to make and especially the ones they were not allowed to make are heartbreaking. I cannot recommend this book enough. A wonderful choice for fans of historical fiction, celebrity fiction, strong women characters, bookclubs, or anyone who likes a compelling story. This is Crystal Smith Paul's first novel and I am ready for her next one! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for the opportunity to read Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? in exchange for my honest review.

In this book, we are introduced to a world of black women passing as white in 1950/60s Hollywood. We meet our title character as a child and follow her into adulthood. Born light-skinned, she easily passes as white around strangers which allows her access to a world typically cut off from her mother and herself. Weekends are spent shopping in stores her mother can only enter because they pass as nanny and charge.

After a move across the country and a change of name, Kitty accepts a respected position at a film studio and before long is one of the most popular actresses of her time. As a white woman, doors open to her. Opportunity is all around her. The few that know and share the same secret become her refuge.

Imagine living both lives - that of a black girl and then a white woman. Imagine knowing, experiencing, racism from both spectrums. Imagine having all you could ever want in life and knowing it would be taken away, your entire life erased, if the secret of your identity was revealed.

Told in dual timelines through Kitty’s neighbor Elise’s eyes in 2017 and Kitty’s in the 50s/60s, this book is a treasure. Despite knowing the history, as a reader I felt like I was living it. Author Crystal Smith Paul excels as making the reader feel every word of this fascinating story. This is one of those books I wish I could read for the first time all over again.

My only complaint is that the ending felt abrupt. I wasn’t ready and turned the page expecting more. I felt the characters deserved a more fleshed out conclusion.

Outstanding book. Preorder it immediately!

What an incredible book! Kitty Karr was an iconic Classic Hollywood actress who has recently died and left her estate to the three St. John sisters, all stars in their own right, What is the connection between them?

This absorbing multigenerational tale addresses so many important issues, from "passing" and the privileges that come with it, the way that family members' past choices and secrets can still affect future generations years later. The novel was beautifully written, and I was immediately invested in these characters and their stories. I'm so excited to see what Crystal Smith Paul writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. What an amazing story - it really pulled me in. As I read along I can totally see this being made into a movie. The author did such a great job of developing the characters in such a deep way.

A nuanced and elegant portrayal of one woman's journey through life and the heartfelt question of her legacy.

The author treats the issue of "passing" with an assured hand. The narrative' focuses on Kitty's time in the segregated South and in the film industry. Along the way, we wonder why she left her legacy to Elise St. John. We keep turning the pages trying to grasp the connection.

My one slight criticism is that it does the novel a disservice to call it a thriller; the pacing is not quite what readers of thrillers have come to expect.

This novel is highly recommended for book clubs who will find much to discuss. Readers who enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo are sure to love this one.

A wonderful book! Kitty Karr was an old Hollywood icon whose death opens the door to family secrets and the connection between her and the three black women left to inherit her estate. The pace was a little slow, but the story was engaging and the characters were well developed. A great read!

I am a HUGE fan of any and everything old Hollywood. So when I saw this read was classified in that time period but also marked as a thriller, I knew I was going to love it from the beginning and that I did! I kept reading the name as Kitty Carlisle from the old show To Tell the Truth, so I hope that’s where her name was derived from. This has the old Hollywood glamour of Evelyn Hugo with the thriller aspect of your favorite thriller writers. Definitely one of my favorites to finish out the year reading. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

A glamorous read accentuating important topics such as racism and the strive to overcome obstacles life throws at the main character. Loved every page!

I didn't expect to love this as much as I did. Crystal Smith Paul's character development and journey reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait for others to read this in May 2023.

Sometimes I feel very lucky as a reader/reviewer, and this is certainly one of those moments. This is an extraordinary, well-written book about”passing.” I have enjoyed other novels about this subject, but this is so nuanced and sophisticated that it surpassed my expectations.

We all hear about Kitty Karr after her passing, through her extraordinary legacy. The focus of her story is her experience as a child in the segregated South and as a woman in the film industry. She has left her story and possessions to Elise St John, a young movie star who loved her. What was their connection?

As a reader, I was extremely engaged in their stories and trying to understand their connection. I couldn’t put this book down. Being old enough to remember the events embedded in this novel made it very meaningful. I understood the supreme conundrum of Kitty’s life and empathized with the path she chose.

I highly recommend this novel to reading groups. I believe that in addition to its’ readability, it will provide endless fodder for meaningful discussions. This is a true winner. I think it will jump to a place on the Best Books Lists.

Thank you Netgalley for this enjoyable and thought provoking novel.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr tackles many issues of race including the rape of black women by their white “owners”, and the passing of black women as white to have a better life, while all the time staying fearful they would be discovered. In the book Kitty as a white woman builds an amazing career as a writer, and actor, while living a lie from her husband and she’s part of a secret like minded group of women who fundraise and donate money to black causes.
The book starts in present day with the St. John family, all famous in their own right, dealing with the recent death of next door neighbor, close family friend Kitty Karr and the fact she’s left her entire fortune to the three St. John daughters, then travels back in time to the south in the fifties and the beginning of the Kitty Karr story.
The writing style of the author is wonderful and she brings to light a story that should have been told long ago and she does it brilliantly. Multi nuanced, with wonderful characters this is a book not to be missed.

Many thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Crystal Smith Paul's Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Anyone out there saying sagas won't sell or sagas are a thing of the past hasn't read Ms. Paul's book. It's one of the best books I've read this year, and I'm already impatient for her next book.

A brilliant cast of characters, a story that kept me enthralled. A writing voice that is enjoyable and engrossing. A timely, important novel.

A beautifully written story spanning several generations. The author weaves about engrossing story. I am thankful to Net galley, the publishers and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this excellent ARC.