*finishes book* *stares at ceiling with tears in eyes processing what just happened* *immediately texts sister to tell her I just read the best book of 2024 so far* *pre-orders paperback* || I devoured this book in 24 hours, I'm officially a fangirl for it.

The Last Secret of Lily Adams is a masterfully executed dual point of view novel that focuses on the misogyny and abuse of old Hollywood, seamlessly intertwining the lives of three women and those around them, both past and present. This narrative is nothing short of a whirlwind, boasting a fast-paced plot filled with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There's no unnecessary fluff (my ick)– just pure storytelling brilliance. And let's not forget the added charm of a second-chance romance and a delightful cinnamon roll of a love interest. The Last Secret of Lily Adams transcends genres, making it a must-read recommendation that I'm sharing with everyone I know

However, it's important to note that this book does touch upon sensitive topics such as sexual assault, domestic violence, divorce, emotional abuse, murder, and drugs. Despite these heavy themes, the author handles them with tact and sensitivity. I would add a TW or content warning, but wouldn't change anything else about this book.

5+++++ stars! Thank you Sara Blaydes, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6327168714

Sara Blaydes has woven together this incredible tale that's part mystery, part family drama, and all-around amazing book! If you're into mysteries, historical fiction, and a sprinkle of old Hollywood glamour, this book is an absolute must-read!

Lily Adams, a shining star of Hollywood's golden age, mysteriously vanished from the spotlight, leaving behind unanswered questions. Seventy years later, her granddaughter Carolyn Prior discovers a letter revealing Lily's secret life intertwined with the murder of her rival, Stella Lane. As Carolyn delves deeper into her grandmother's past, her own life becomes entangled in shocking ways, forcing her to confront the truth at any cost.

I love books with dual timeline and it was managed perfectly in this book, One minute, you're chilling with Lily Adams, the Hollywood starlet from the 1940s, and the next, you're hanging out with her granddaughter, Carolyn, in present-day. And let me tell you, it's like getting sucked into this whirlwind of intrigue and secrets!

And speaking of secrets, I have to mention how this book tackles some serious issue. It shines a light on how women have been undervalued in, like, every industry, and it's impossible not to draw parallels to the whole Weinstein scandal. But through it all, you see these strong, resilient female characters who are just slaying!

I mean, Carolyn? She's this total boss babe who's trying to piece together her grandma's past while dealing with her own struggles. And then there's Lily, leaving clues behind like some kind of mystery-solving queen! It's like a treasure hunt mixed with a Hollywood blockbuster, and I am here for it!

The Last Secret of Lily Adams is the page-turner. It's got murder, mystery, old Hollywood glamour, family secrets, and just a touch of romance to keep things spicy. If you're looking for a book that'll make you think, feel, and maybe even gasp out loud a few times, then seriously, do yourself a favor and grab a copy ASAP!

🌟🌟🌟✨- 3.5 stars
This book was a whirlwind from start to finish! I found it was a slow start but it picked up pretty quickly. I admired Lily’s spirit and found her story more enjoyable than Caroline’s, though both were good. I would highly recommend for fans of Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo as it gives similar vibes of both. The mystery aspect had me hooked and the plot twist at the end was fun! Moreover, I enjoyed seeing both Carolyn and Lily's character development throughout the story.

thank you to NetGalley for giving me this novel in exchange for an honest review

I was captivated from the first chapter. This novel follows the lives of Lily Adams, her granddaughter Carolyn, and Stella Lane. Told from the point of view of the main characters in different time periods, I rushed to finish this book to discover how the story came together. Why did Lily Adams give up her career? How was she connected to one of the most famous names in show business? Old Hollywood meets today- it was a page turner.

Thanks to NetgalleyUK for this SP. The synopsis immediately reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by TJR. I fell in love with this book.

It's a story with two timelines, centred on 3 women from the same family. On the one hand, we follow Lily Adams in the 1940s. Born into a poor family in Minnesota, her dream was to become an actress in Hollywood. She succeeds thanks to her talent as a dancer and her perseverance. But she soon discovered what went on behind the scenes.

On the other hand, we follow Carolyn and her daughter Em, in the present day. Carolyn is Lily's granddaughter. Following her death, Carolyn has to sort through her grandmother's belongings. She discovers parts of her life that have been buried for years. All Carolyn knows is that it's all linked to Stella Lane, the leading actress of Hollywood's golden age.

I really liked this dual timeline, which gives the story a good twist. It keeps things a little suspenseful.

I also really liked the female characters. They are so well described by the author that they seem so real. They are strong and resilient.

The author's writing is fluid. I couldn't stop reading because I loved this book so much.

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo lite with a touch of mystery.
this actually might be one of the best books I've read this entire year and i'm just so glad I picked this up. One of the reasons for that is tshoeh is one my favorite stories ever and I haven't read anything even remotely similar to that which was very disappointing ngl. now that I found this i was excited albeit a little skeptical. And while neither Stella nor lily are as remarkable and iconic as Evelyn Hugo, diving into their lives was really interesting. both the women were so similar in their roots yet so different after they branched out. women-centric books are charming in a way men-centric can never be, no offense. and what can I say about my guy jack, he was honestly the best, the only kinda of guy I'll ever settle for. the present day characters were also interesting and nuanced. while the teen daughter might come off as too dramatic but given her age it was understandable and sympathetic even. all in all the characterization was not complex but not dull either and the plot was a page turner too. for more than 2/3rd of the book I did not see the twist coming and even after that I was second guessing myself till the last page. A true on-the-edge-your-seat read.

Wow! This might be one of my favorite reads this year. It is told in two timelines, Lily, a Hollywood star in the 1940s, and Carolyn, her granddaughter, in present day I’m a sucker for murder, mystery, old Hollywood, family secrets and a hint of romance, and this book has it all. It showcases the struggles of trying to achieve your dreams, the roadblocks of life along the way and the bits and pieces of what make us who we are. I love the story and the writing and could not put it down.

Sara Blaydes takes readers on a captivating journey through the glittering world of Hollywood's golden age in "The Last Secret of Lily Adams." Blending betrayal, rivalry, and the harsh realities of fame, Blaydes crafts a breathtaking novel that explores the mysteries surrounding the death of legendary actress Lily Adams.

Seventy years after Lily's sudden disappearance from the spotlight, her granddaughter Carolyn Prior embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about the enigmatic woman she never truly understood. Amidst the relics of Lily's glamorous career, Carolyn discovers a letter revealing a secret life intertwined with the notorious unsolved murder of Hollywood superstar Stella Lane, Lily's longtime rival.

As Carolyn delves deeper into Lily's past, her own life becomes entangled with her grandmother's in unexpected and shocking ways. With each revelation, Carolyn must confront difficult choices about how far she's willing to go to unearth the truth.

Blaydes' masterful storytelling and richly drawn characters make "The Last Secret of Lily Adams" a mesmerizing read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page. Prepare to be swept away by this gripping tale of love, betrayal, and the enduring allure of Hollywood's darkest secrets.

This dual timeline story had a fairly engaging mystery and one fairly engaging protagonist (I found Lily a much more likable character than Carolyn). What it didn’t have was any real sense of the 1940s. A number of anachronisms pulled me out of the story. The most egregious was the author’s insistence on using Ms. for all the female characters in the ‘40s timeline. While a picky person might claim accurately that Ms. is an old title, short for Mistress, which was reclaimed by feminists, it was certainly NOT in common usage in the 1940s. All of these women would have been called Miss, and every time Ms. popped up it was like nails on my mental chalkboard. And I can’t see how a story could possibly be set between 1946-1951 without even a tangential mention of WWII.

Wow, what a book, I could not put this book down. At last a book that shows a historical time as it truly was, no rewriting of what young starlets went through to make it in Hollywood. I found this book refreshing and the dual time lines for once worked really well.
I know that some will be put off by the content, to those people please understand that history cannot be changed regardless of how long ago it happened and should never be glossed over or forgotten about, how else can we change the future, and at the time that Lilly and Stella were in their heyday as portrayed in this book the abusive was real.
A wonderful book I will be recommending to everyone.

I just adore novels based around fame and Hollywood so this was right up my alley and I enjoyed reading it!

lovvveeeeeeedddddd this book more than anything!!!! completely blown away by the story line. highly recommend

<i>The Last Secret of Lily Adams</i> is a beautifully touching story which explores the hidden histories of two actresses who rose to fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Altering between the past and the present - in which Adams' granddaughter works to uncover the truth - Sara Blaydes does a powerful job of portraying the dark side of fame, and the terrible prices which some people paid as stars.

I was drawn to this novel because of my lifelong love of Old Hollywood and I was not disappointed. Dance, family, and friendship are three significant themes which course through the book. I would love to read more stories similar to this one, whether fiction or non fiction (and I adore and frequently watch Golden Age film and television, so I am now inspired to have a movie binge-watching day - perhaps a Gene Kelly marathon?)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Lily Adams was a seamstress turned actress. After her passing, her granddaughter Carolyn goes on a road trip with her daughter Em to sort through her grandmother’s belongings. She discovers Lily Adams notebook and learns more about her grandmother than ever before.

What is the story behind the murder of former actress Stella Lane? What big secret was Lily Adams hiding? Sometimes, family isn’t blood; it’s chosen.

I really enjoy a book that exposes the corrupt and dark world of the film industry. A lot of things can go away with the right amount of money. Carolyn tries to protect Em from the world, but Em is also holding a secret of her own. This mother daughter duo are trying to mend their relationship and work on their communication as seen more often in the real world. I was able to predict some of the twists, but I was still engaged in the story and the hardships Lily Adams went through in her career and love life. Another book that revolves around actresses and the movie industry similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

The Last Secret of Lily Adams is a dual perspective story about a rising hollywood actress Lily Adams and her granddughter Caroyln. Carolyn and her daughter, Em, are getting Lily's affairs in order after her passing in present day. Carolyn and Em's relationship is tense at best since the divorce between Carolyn and her husband a few months prior. Carolyn is hoping the trip from Seattle to LA will provide good boding time with Em. As they are navigating clearing out Lily's things, they stumble upon evidence that Lily knew a starlet named Stella Lane who was brutally murdered. Intrigued, they set off down a journey of discovery to unearth just how close Lily and Stella were.

Over seventy years in the past we get Lily's narrative. She is an up and coming actress who is enamored with the golden age of film. She begins to delve deeper and deeper into the underbelly of Hollywood and finds out too late that it is not all glitz and glam. An unlikely friendship with a co-star, the famous Stella Lane, may be the most dangerous experience yet.

I was drawn to The Last Secret of Lily Adams because the description boasted old Hollywood glamour, murder and mystery however I am left wanting by the book as a whole. The pacing in the book was off to me - some parts of the story seemed to drag and then other parts that felt important flew by. I wanted a bit more around Jack and Lily and less about Carolyn and Em. The dialogue in the book also felt disingenuous, particularly the dialogue during the flashbacks in the 1940s and 50s. It felt like the author was trying to write through an old timey trans-atlantic voice but couldn't sustain it so the dialogue just felt odd. For example, there were a lot of lines like "I'm still the greatest goddamn actress the wold has ever seen" which just felt extremely cringe. The ending also was way too fast and the twists/reactions were at time really confusing.

Overall I am rating this book a 3/5 stars. I want to thank NetGalley for their advanced reader's copy for an honest review.

4 stars

Content warnings: eating disorders, drug abuse, sexual assault/harassment, physical violence, sexism, murder

A fascinating read about multiple generations of women as they deal with careers, romance, fame, fortune, family – and the obstacles in their way.

This was an excellent read. I found that it wasn't super predictable, and it took me until almost the end to guess what the twist was. The dual pov was implemented well. That's something that can be tricky at times. I found that I cared about both Lily's story in the past and Carolyn and Em's story in the present day.

Women are the focus of this novel, and I felt that they were written well. They were relatable characters who had their own distinct personalities and struggles. In the present day teenage Em has developed a cold shoulder toward Carolyn, her mother, as they navigate a divorce and the death of Lily, Carolyn's grandmother. In the past, Lily struggles to make it in Hollywood after losing both her parents and leaving her old life behind. Her story will collide with Stella Lane's, the greatest star of their generation.

I find myself hesitant to award 5 stars, although I can't quite articulate why I feel that way. Maybe it was the writing style? It wasn't bad, but it didn't quite stand out to me stylistically.

What a great story! I loved the uniqueness of the historical fiction, glamour, drama and mystery. The dueling timelines were easy to follow. It reminded me of a Fiona Davis style book which I think is great.

I'm not a fan of two timelines at once. I perferred Carolyn's point of view. I liked the ending. The author didn't paint Hollywood in a positive light. I liked how it was both historical fiction and mystery. Enjoyable overall.

Historical fiction showing the not so glamorous side of Hollywood. Drugs, money, misogyny, murder... It's all there. From page one, I was hooked. The pacing was steady and kept things moving along. It was a bit predictable at times, but that didn't take away from it, I found myself staying up late to find out how it would all end- which to me is a sign of a good book.

It's not badly written, and it's an interesting (fictional) look at the golden age of Hollywood, but it's filled with cliches and is too predictable to be truly enjoyable.