When I heard this author worked closely with Ann Patchett my hopes and expectations for this novel skyrocketed. Unfortunately, the book fell flat for me. I loved the time period and setting, I just didn't love the main character and was bored by her story.

I was very excited going into this one and I'm a huge fan of Golden Age Hollywood films and stories. Unfortunately I truly did not enjoy this book and cannot recommend it. It felt almost like a tabloid-esque exposé with real life names thrown in. The characters were two-dimensional and extremely unlikeable. The plot was confusing at times and didn't really have a point. I wouldn't have finished it if I wasn't reading to rate it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was initially drawn to this book for its classic Hollywood theme (I'm a HUGE fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo), and her writing certainly transported me there. However, the structure of the story, with its constant flashbacks, made it challenging to stay engaged. That also made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. While readers of literary fiction might appreciate this approach, as someone who leans towards more commercial tastes, I found it distracting and somewhat detracting from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I loved the setting of this book! Who wouldn't be intrigued by scandal in old Hollywood? The scene setting and characters were great and I look forward to the author's next book!

This is such a tough review to write because there are SO MANY things I love about this book, but also so many things that deterred me from finishing it.

Starting with the great: Lindsay Lynch has a strong voice that perfectly captures the era without without feeling over-the-top. Her descriptions of Hollywood are both the dreamy portrayals we romanticize in modern times and seamlessly realistic. I wanted to step into that world, get to know Edie, and bask in the fictional glamour.

However, I struggled with elements of the writing. I surprisingly loved the short, truncated scenes that made up each chapter. But as fast-paced as those vignettes were, overall it felt like the plot dragged. I also struggled with how the flashbacks were written into the story; it was challenging to keep up with the timeline and what happened when.

All of that said, I think this is an incredible debut and I'll absolutely be watching for the author's next book.

Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch is a story that brings light to the golden age of Hollywood, and Lynch is a local writer to Nashville, so I love to give her support. It's a great debut and an intriguing work of historical fiction.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Lovely writing and such a fun setting, but the “Me Too” in a different era premise was ultimately not for me. I look forward to whatever Lynch does next!

I was beyond impressed by this debut novel, and how expertly it navigated the shine of Hollywood and the dark underbelly of stardom. Lindsay Lynch is a wonderful writer, and I'm excited to see where she goes next.

Gosh. I had high hopes for this one - I am OBSESSED with the golden age of Hollywood, and though I don't typically gravitate towards a historical fiction pick, the synopsis and description of this one had me hooked. Unfortunately, it really fell flat for me and I slogged through to the finish in hopes it would get better (spoiler alert: it never did).

It has all the elements that would normally intrigue me - the setting, the journalism, the investigation, the mystery, but all were poorly executed and never really captured my attention. I never should've finished this one because the ending was less than satisfying and didn't make the process worth it. Skip this one - it's not as good as you want it to be.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me and was a DNF but I am sure other readers will feel differently! Thank you for the ARC!

Fully immersed in this world with lots of great characters that keep you engaged from start to finish!

A very engaging debut about the Golden age of Hollywood.

This was a fresh take and I was wholly engaged through out the entire tale.

This debut novel will appeal to fans of old Hollywood and all to familiar gossip stories that ring true today. Lindsay Lynch is an author with a lot of promise.

A well-written and clearly well-researched debut novel about the golden age of Hollywood. I found myself wishing there was more plot and less description. I'll be curious to see what Lynch writes next, though!

The main thing that will stick with me from Do Tell is the novel's incredibly strong voice. The old school Hollywood tone and vibe are immaculate. It makes the book very moody and evocative. As a reader, you feel immersed in the action and can vividly visualize the plot. I found this novel to be an extremely strong debut, and I'd definitely pick up future releases by Lindsay Lynch.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Doubleday for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I tried this one but was just kinda bored, it didn't really feel like much was happening. After talking to a few other sources who had read this, I felt okay putting it down.

If you are fascinated by 1940s Hollywood: the movies, the glamor, and perhaps, most of all, the gossip Lyndsay Lynch’s debut novel Do Tell is for you. Not a book for the starry eyed, this book is an often cynical look at the era - at the inside lives of the stars and the studios that own them.

The narrator Edie O’Dare is brutally honest - as she finishes out her contract at a major studio and transitions to writing a gossip column. She walks a tightrope - needing to maintain access to the studio and the stars to have something to write and writing copy that will keep her editors and readership reading. The throughline is the story of a young actress who has the temerity to accuse a leading man of sexual assault. Edie has to make several decisions along the way that impact the case dramatically. I’m not sure I loved her, but found myself admiring her nonetheless.

Lynch does an excellent job of keeping me interested in a cast of characters who are not overly likeable. She does an excellent job of recreating the uphill fight of women of the era. I celebrate the victories even if we don’t admire how they are achieved. I feel the frustrations and the sadness - even if we feel some might be deserved. Her setting is the best! She captures for her readers the fashion, the language, the physical settings and the culture of the time.

You are saying old Hollywood gossip around characters screen main character energy? Please, Do Tell! Set in pre and during WWII era, Do Tell is your TMZ of the times. Everyone was afraid of Edie, who was a B-list star before her contract expired with FWM. She was feeding info to other gossip columns while staying close to one of the studio execs and getting herself invited to every big event. So, what she did next? Start her own column. She did not get much out of her contract with FWM, but still she would give back to them in form of good exposure.

The only problem with being a gossip columnist was not knowing where to stop. There was an understandable trade-off between talking about the most scandalous gossips out there to push your agenda and fame further and wreck people's lives. Edie crossed that line not once but twice forgetting there were people attached to these stories. All her days came after those two ball-drops were about trying to find out the truth and make up for what she destroyed.

I really liked the atmosphere created in the book. How the traditions and customs of the time were weaved into the story was on point. There was even a nod to unsung heroes of the movies, costume department! If you like old school Hollywood glam, read this

Such an interesting book. I was so enraptured by the book that I flew through the book. I will for sure read more by this author in the future.

A novel that takes place in old Hollywood when gossip columnists reigned large and spread a shadow of fear over the stars - women like Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper who also had ambition to act but ended up reporting on former co-workers - stars and directors. There are loads of interweaving scandals and cover-ups here including allegations of rape, sexual harassment and gay stars having to hide in the closet. The dialogue at times is quick and witty like in a screwball comedy. There are wonderful detailed descriptions of the gowns and the Academy Awards ceremony at the Roosevelt Hotel - I felt like I was there. Famous stars are mentioned in passing (such as Cary Grant and Myrna Loy) but the main characters resemble famous stars (such as Errol Flynn). Overall, this was a good read. Sometimes, it felt the threads got tangled and the book became bogged down (this is Lynch's debut novel) but still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.