Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca was one of my absolutely favorite books in highschool and I remember it fondly so when I saw this was a retelling of sorts I knew I had to gove it a try . Also that I loved a book I read by the author last year .

Unfortunately this didn't hit quite how I expected it to . I didn't love the characters , they actually kind of killed it for me but I did enjoyed the writing, the setting and parts of the mystery.

The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor is about a writer who is hired to write about Henry Asherwood's family history with Daphne du Maurier. Olivia Fitzgerald is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Henry, especially since she is so interested in du Maurier. While things start out okay with Henry, strange things start happening; and Olivia isn't sure she can trust him. This book really sucked me in at first, but it just didn't end up working for me in the end. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of novels that retell or reframe a classic- Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful (Little Women) and Curtis Sittenfeld's Eligible (Pride & Prejudice) are two of my favorites- so when I heard that Jillian Cantor's new novel The Fiction Writer paid homage to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, I was intrigued.

Writer Olivia Fitzgerald is having a bad year. After the success of her first novel, her second novel (a retelling of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca) doesn't sell well at all. Her live-in boyfriend moves out, and her editor is not excited about her next effort.

Her editor says that billionaire and People's Sexiest Man Alive Ash Asherwood has requested that Olivia ghost-write a book with him about his grandmother and her relationship with Daphne du Maurier. The money is too good to turn down, so off Olivia goes to Malibu.

Ash is a widower, his wife perished in a car accident (was it an accident?) and he is reclusive. His housekeeper seems to be very attached to him and is hostile to Olivia.

While Olivia is becoming accustomed to life in Ash's beautiful ocean front home, Ash is pulling her more into his orbit. But when Olivia tries to get down to work discovering what exactly his grandmother and Daphne du Maurier's secret is, Ash becomes cagey and puts her off.

Olivia decides to investigate on her own, and discovers that Ash has not been truthful with her. What is he hiding and what is his real purpose for bringing Olivia to Malibu?

Fans of Rebecca will enjoy The Fiction Writer on a deeper level, and the controversy around Daphne du Maurier's novel (other people claimed that she stole their story) adds an interesting aspect to the story. Pairing a nice copy of Rebecca with The Fiction Writer would make a great gift for the classic literature lover on your holiday list.

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Fall 2023 Blog Tours.

I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I thought it moved a little slow and could be a little repetitive. That said I did enjoy the mystery and the book within a book aspect. I was thrown by the ending and how it was tied up.

Sometimes you just shouldn’t mess with the original. Olivia Fitzgerald’s first novel was a massive success. Her second, a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca,” (titled “Becky”) was not. It flopped. Big time. “Last night I dreamt I went to Malibu again” just doesn’t have the same sinister overtones as the original sentence, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

When I read author Cantor’s first line, I almost put it down. Then I remembered that this story is a contemporary re-telling, and a re-telling itself, of du Maurier’s classic novel. With that in mind, I plunged ahead.

Olivia’s having a bad year. “Becky” was a disaster, her boyfriend of nine years dumped her, and she has no clue what her next book will be about, if anything. Even her agent doesn’t want to talk with her. But he does call with a lucrative ghost-writing offer.

“Henry ‘Ash’ Asherwood, a reclusive mega billionaire, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive,” wants to hire her, for $50,000, to ghost-write a book for him. He simply adored “Becky." It seems, according to Ash, that there is a connection between du Maurier and his grandmother and a salacious claim. He insists that Daphne stole his grandmother’s manuscript and published it, the manuscript that became known as “Rebecca.”

At first, Olivia doesn’t want the gig, but her curiosity gets the best of her, and she hops on a plane for California. When she arrives in the land of the rich, famous, and beautiful, she is treated like royalty, but Ash never seems to want to get to work on the book. First, he claims the story and proof are in his grandmother’s journals, which he has sent out to be translated from their original French.

That is the first lie that Ash tells her about the journals. Again, Olivia’s curiosity gets the best of her, and she starts researching Ash’s grandmother and wives. She cannot find a trace of them anywhere online.

Sometimes it is hard to keep up with what is happening, and the people in Ash’s life. The housekeeper was also a bridesmaid from his marriage to Angelica; the discovery of Rose, the third Mrs. Ashwood; the fire at Malibu Lake, eerily reminiscent of the fire at Manderley. And much more.

Taut, tense, and creepy, “The Fiction Writer” is a perfect read for a stormy afternoon. The Fiction Writer gets 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

"A sultry and mesmerizing novel that transforms the iconic Malibu coastline into the perfect gothic backdrop, The Fiction Writer will have the reader second guessing everything they thought they knew about the fictional Asherwood family as well as the real-life Daphne du Maurier."

The beginning had me hooked, but I lost interest as we progressed. This book was mysterious and I would recommend it for fans of Rebecca.

Thank you to Jillian Cantor, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks also to Justine Sha for inviting me on the blog tour. I'm sorry unforeseen circumstances prevented me from participating as I had planned.

Aaaaaand perhaps that's for the better, because DNF 45%. I cannot stand Olivia, and I want to punch Ash in the face. She's letting this grade-A asshole billionaire yank her chain for no reason except he's hot and she's horny. Um, no. Have some dignity, woman. But he might give her a lot of money! Hey, I get it, I got bills, too, but either get it in writing or gtfo.

I was intrigued by the mystery but Olivia is so frustrating, the pace so plodding, that I don't care enough to stick around and find out more. Angelica's excerpts come across as whiny. I'm not sure what to think about Charley; she doesn't strike me as a good agent.

Anywho. Things to do, better books to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

4+ stars

I quite enjoyed how most of this story unraveled, although I will admit I was slower than I should have been to catch onto some details/hints. It wasn’t totally what I anticipated, but I think that was a good thing, and I certainly had fun with this book. It also has a beautiful cover, and while I of course don’t base all of my judgments on that alone, it (along with the title) certainly helped to capture my attention initially.

I will just come out and say it - this latest novel by Jillian Cantor was not for me. In the past I have found myself to either love her stories or find them sub par and sadly The Fiction Writer fell into the latter category. Having never read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, I wasn't lacking in comprehension of Cantor's plot and the parallels between the stories but I couldn't share in the love and respect of such a classic novel.

The entire time I was reading, I had the sense of being off kilter and not fully trusting Ash in the way that Olivia seemed to. It wasn't that Ash's personality was so charming, more that Olivia is a fool for missing so many "red flags" in the budding relationship. Maybe that was Cantor's point but it simply did not resonate with me as the reader.

When Olivia Fitzgerald’s literary agent calls her with an offer, what she suggests is enticing. After all, Olivia’s life is anything but golden at the moment. Her long-term boyfriend has moved out, her third book was never picked up by a publisher, and her fourth is giving her a major case of writer’s block. So hearing that someone has inquired about hiring her to ghost write a book for the eye-watering sum of $50,000, Olivia says yes before her agent even finishes the question.

Before she knows it, Olivia has hopped on a plane and flown to the other side of the country. There she meets with the reclusive billionaire, Henry “Ash” Asherwood. Every bit as handsome as the two Sexiest Man Alive titles he’s won from People Magazine says he is, Olivia is intrigued to know what this write-to-hire gig is all about. So when he reveals that his grandmother, Emilia, just so happened to know the famed author of Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier, her interest is well and truly piqued. Especially when her soon-to-be employer mentions a well-hidden secret that relates to the two women.

This book was flawless in its writing and kept me engaged from the beginning. I love Jillian's writing style and this was no different. I thought it was awesome that she is dipping her feet into another genre as I've seen her write historical only. This mystery was a nice shake up and came out great.

I really enjoyed this spin on Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, which happens to be my all time favorite book. This was so well done, I loved the premise, thought it was well executed and it kept my attention the entire time. I read this in one sitting and loved how it all ended. I listened via audio and overall this is one I loved and highly recommend.

Thank you to Park Row for the digital copy to review.

🕸️ LAST READ of 2023: GOTHIC THRILLER EDITION 🕸️ featuring “The Fiction Writer” by Jillian Cantor! Giving me ALL of the eerie, unsettling and atmospheric vibes!!!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤.5/5

Olivia Fitzgerald is a struggling writer whose first novel was a HIT, but then her second novel was a disaster. Her second novel “Becky” is a modern day retelling of “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier and did not receive the acknowledgement and reception that she was hoping for. Now she is struggling with writers block and avoiding her agent who is on her back about her third novel that she has hardly started.

One day Olivia’s agent calls with an exciting opportunity to GHOST WRITE for a very high paying sum! This is exactly what Olivia needs right now … but she has NO idea what she is getting herself into. She finds out that she has been hired by a billionaire to write about his family history and mysterious ties to author Daphne du Maurier. Olivia starts to go through the Great Grandmother’s diaries and finds herself tangled up in a web of deep dark secrets, obsessions, lies and hidden manuscripts! WHAT ELSE is this family hiding?? And WHAT ELSE is lurking within this family history??

Thank you kindly to Jillian Cantor, Park Row Books, Harper Collins Canada and Netgalley for my gifted digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book is out NOW and is perfect for readers who enjoyed the classic novel “Rebecca”!

I am drawn in by the title - The Fiction Writer. The description of Jillian Cantor’s novel pulls in a classic - Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. As a reader, I love books about books! I struggle with this story as the descriptions and actions depicted of the main character do not lend themselves to a protagonist to cheer for or one that is interesting enough in their poor choices to watch and follow just to see what happens. Unfortunately, I find myself not the reader for this book.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/the-fiction-writer.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.

The Fiction Writer was an amazingly surprising and intensely mysterious page turner which you don’t want to end. For those who have read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or a fan of the author, you will have won the lottery with this one! Even if you are new to du Maurier or Rebecca, not only will you completely enjoy the story, but the Rebecca tease will have you reading this book as well.

Olivia Fitzgerald is a very down and out writer. Her first book was a moderate success, her second, Becky, a new take on the book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier did not sell very well at all. Now, she not only faces writer’s block trying to piece together a new story but has an unhappy agent who she thinks will drop her and a boyfriend of many years who has decided to move out. So, she now sits paralyzed in her life with only her new pet goldfish to keep her company.

But that all changes when she gets a call from her agent about a job in Malibu, California as a ghostwriter for a billionaire named Henry Ashwood who lost his wife in an accident last year. He specifically asked for Olivia to write a book about his grandmother who he claims was the actual writer of Rebecca and du Maurier stole it from her. Now, there have been a few others who have claimed this, but none could prove it. He says he has his grandmother’s diaries and insists he has the proof. The only caveat, he has requested she sign a non-disclosure agreement. But the money he is offering her is too outrageous to turn down, so off Olivia goes to write the story, even though she only has written fiction in the past.

But once there, she soon discovers inconsistencies in Ash’s story, and these mysterious diaries don’t seem to exist. Ash’s housekeeper hates Olivia even though she has no idea why. Olivia thinks she is in love with the mysterious billionaire. Her visits to the mansion go from wonderful to terrifying. Her own book, Becky seems to be some sort of catalyst to Ash, and she has no idea why. As Olivia begins to learn more about his grandmother, she seems to accidentally discover that perhaps his wife who died accidentally was murdered. Why does he really want her here? The longer she stays, the more she realizes something is wrong and she needs to get away. 

As Olivia fights to find the truth, she suddenly discovers she herself is in danger because of her questions. And when she agrees to go to a Gala with Ash, well…let’s just say that is the final straw. But will she be allowed to leave? Has she discovered too much?

The Fiction Writer is truly a unique take on a beloved gothic novel, modernized for today’s world with flawed characters and anxiety ridden twists and turns.

Thank you #NetGalley #ParkRow #JillCantor #TheFictionWriter for the advanced copy.

The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor.
The once-rising literary star Olivia Fitzgerald is down on her luck. Her most recent novel—a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca—was a flop, her boyfriend of nine years just dumped her and she’s battling a bad case of writer’s block. So when her agent calls her with a high-paying ghostwriting opportunity, Olivia is all too willing to sign the NDA.
At first, the write-for-hire job seems too good to be true. All she has to do is interview Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a reclusive mega billionaire, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, who wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. But when Olivia arrives at his Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. The more Olivia digs into his grandmother’s past, the more questions she has—and before she knows it, she’s trapped in a gothic mystery of her own.
A good read. Little eerie and creepy atmosphere. 4*.

Olivia Fitzgerald's second book didn't quite make any money and her live-in boyfriend has left her. When she gets an offer to ghost write a book based on and because of her second book, Becky, a Daphne Du Maurier retelling, she needs the money and the jolt to her creativity, so off to Malibu she goes to work with an attractive widower, Ash Asherwood in a glass tower on the hill.

I'm not going to say much more than that because I don't want to spoil anything. What I liked most about this story was the atmosphere. There's a definite creepy gothic vibe from the start which I loved, and Olivia just can make a reader want to throw something, which I found both frustrating and amusing at times. But I did like the story and its twists and turns. I haven't read this author before, but I will be looking for future titles.

Overall, great gothic atmosphere, strange and frustrating characters, a quick, entertaining read.

Olivia Fitzgerald's stalled writing career leads her to take a ghostwriting job with Henry "Ash" Asherwood, a mysterious billionaire. He's drawn to her recently failed novel, Becky, based on Rebecca, and wants her to tell the story of his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier (the author of Rebecca). But at Ash's fancy Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. Is Ash telling the truth about his family's past, and can Olivia trust him?

This was an... interesting... read. Made me want to re-read Rebecca, but perhaps not this story! Olivia and Ash were incredibly annoying characters. Olivia had an amazing inability to stand up for herself, letting Ash dictate everything, resulting in some very poor decisions and judgements. About 25% in, it felt as if there was no forward progress on the book whatsoever, as Ash and Olivia just hung out in Malibu and did... nothing. Except drink and talk . And did I mention make poor decisions?

Yes, Olivia consistently drinks too much, with the book focusing constantly on her drinking and oh, did it happen to mention Ash was the "sexiest man alive?" Maybe once or twice or a hundred times. The gothic mystery wrapped in layers of meta seems like it would be intriguing, but ultimately winds up confusing, with too many layers of Rebecca and retellings and stories within stories.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I adored "Beautiful Little Fools" and it was a 5 star read for me, so naturally I wanted to dive into her latest. Unfortunately, I struggled to become invested and had to push myself to finish it.

I would still give the author another chance in the future because of the first book I read by her.