Addictive, salacious, and entertaining!

Climbing in Heels is an immersive, provocative tale that takes you into the lives of the rich, glamorous, and famous, as well as the not-so-important people of 1980s Hollywood and reminds us that not everything is always as it seems and amongst all the designer clothes and extravagant mansions there’s also an abundance of sex, power, ambition, temptation, rivalry, jealousy, and deception.

The writing is effortless and fun. The characters are self-obsessed, relentless, and driven. And the plot is a captivating mix of life, love, fame, fortune, secrets, despicable behaviours, friendship, drama, and the intricacies of movie-making.

Overall, Climbing in Heels is an exciting, seductive, amusing tale by Goldsmith-Thomas that highlights her impressive behind-the-scenes knowledge of the motion picture industry.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas is a fizzy, fast-paced debut that offers a juicy behind-the-scenes look at 1980s Hollywood through the eyes of three ambitious secretaries clawing their way up the entertainment industry's ranks. Drawing heavily from Goldsmith-Thomas’s own experience as a top agent, the novel is brimming with sharp dialogue, high drama, and a palpable sense of era-specific decadence—think power suits, Rolodexes, and cocaine-fueled late nights.

Beanie, Mercedes, and Ella are compelling in concept, each bringing a different flavor of ambition and vulnerability. Beanie's grit, Mercedes's savvy, and Ella's rebellious charm create a dynamic trio with enough friction and flair to keep the pages turning. The themes of female solidarity, betrayal, and survival in a male-dominated world are timely and potent, especially in their depiction of how some women begin to mirror the very systems they once fought against.

However, while the setup is promising, the execution sometimes falters. The plot tends to skim the surface of deeper emotional development, relying more on sensational moments than character-driven storytelling. Some of the dialogue feels forced, and the narrative occasionally reads more like a screenplay than a fully fleshed-out novel. The glitz and gossip are entertaining, but they sometimes overshadow the heart of the story.

Climbing in Heels is a flashy, dramatic read that offers plenty of entertainment and insider flair. But despite its empowering premise and addictive energy, it doesn’t quite stick the landing in terms of depth or resonance. Worth a read for fans of showbiz fiction, but don’t expect it to linger long after the final page.

This started out focusing equally on the characters, but by the end I feel like there was a main character and the rest were scattered in sparingly. I had a hard time keeping track of who everyone was as the POVs changed. There was little to differentiate the women from each other until midway through.

Climbing in Heels has a unique story premise with strong female characters who crave to advance in their industry, and they’ll stop at nothing to get ahead. Friendship is important but it doesn’t prevent them blackmailing, extorting, and seducing their way over, under and through friends and anyone else who might get in their way!

I enjoyed the characters in the novel, and I appreciated how Ms. Goldsmith Thomas leaned on her own experiences in the industry to present realistic situations to the era. The pace of the story was a little slow for my taste, but not atypical of a character-driven novel.

Climbing in Heels is a great read for younger women who want a realistic idea of what it was truly like to be a trailblazer.

3.5 stars

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. I wanted to love this one more. I loved the premise but I think the execution is where I had the problem. Beanie is the most likeable unlikeable character I’ve read about in a long time. While I admired her drive, work ethic, and self confidence in work, I was turned off by her lack of self-worth in her personal life. She was so pathetic with her romantic interests and yet capable and determined with work. It took me awhile to get through this as I put it down for awhile after reading 20%. I’m glad I finished it and I’m excited they’re bringing this to tv via streaming. I think that this may be one of the few that will actually be better than the book. I think if they can tweak the story in the screenplay it could be very good.

Hollywood, 1980's. Three women become secretaries at one of the biggest talent agencies in Hollywood, all rising to the top. A book that is filled with sex, drugs, betrayals and most of all power;;yada, yada!. This book could easily become a "soap opera" since it has the premise to do so. I managed to get through it, needless to say it wasn't my favorite. Considering the fact that it was quite long (which usually doesn't bother me) I felt get it over already. My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest opinion.

This is a really fun read about three strong-willed FMCs who knew what they wanted and would not take no for an answer. They all had things in their past that they would rather not remember, which made them that much more interested in succeeding. I was so impressed with Beanie; when it seemed like she couldn't get herself out of a difficult situation, she somehow came up with something. She was determined to be something great and nothing was going to stop her.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC~

Beanie Rosen, Ella Gaddy, and Millicent Baxter all had varying upbringings. They found that they needed to work hard and continue to reinvent themselves to get ahead in life. They all ended up working at the Sylvan Light Agency in Los Angeles which was a film agency.

Beanie changed her name and moved to California to try and make a name for herself in the world.

Ella Gaddy was a rebel with red hair who lived to buck the rules.

Millicent Baxter was brought up thinking that her actual mother was her sister. After the woman met a rich man and moved on, Millicent managed to find ways to make her keep on supporting her.

Oh for goodness sakes. This book was all over the place and even though we are at first concentrating on teenage girls, I know girls did not act like these girls did during that time frame. I cannot say that this book was enjoyable for me so, I’m afraid that I cannot give it a good rating. Sorry.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I liked the premise of Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, but I had trouble wading through the completed book. Three women working in low-level jobs at a talent agency during the 80s who are determined to rise to power despite the challenges. I was not a fan of the characters. They were not likeable or relatable (at least to me). I would never do the things these women did to get ahead. I felt that the characters lacked depth. We learn superficially what the women do at work, but we are not told what they do daily. On the flip side, there are graphic details regarding intimate relations (I am phrasing it nicely) and long-winded descriptions about room details as well as the character’s outfits. The story is told from the three main characters’ point of view, and it jumped from one to another. I did not like how things just happened (no rhyme or reason). The story became slow in the middle which had me skimming to reach the end. If I had known that the story contained extensive foul language, intimate relations, and drugs, I never would have chosen to read Climbing in Heels. I found the shenanigans that went on between men and women to be scandalous (I know they go on, but I do not wish to read about it). I thought that Climbing in Heels lacked depth, flow, and heart. It felt more like a first draft instead of a finished novel. Climbing in Heels didn’t tickle my fancy.

I enjoyed reading Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my #gifted copy of Climbing in Heels! #ElaineGoldsmithThomas #stmartinspress #ClimbingInHeels

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡-𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Climbing in Heels is an entertaining debut by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas that follows three secretaries as they shatter glass ceilings trying to make their way to the top of the hottest agency in Hollywood in the 80s. I love books that focus on strong female characters, and I enjoyed watching Beanie, Mercedes, and Ella as they climbed their way to the top. This book had a lot of sex, drugs, and drama. It was an entertaining read. I did find that there were a lot of side characters. Many were introduced once and never again and I’m not sure how much they added to the overall plot. I feel like many could have been removed because it felt like there were just too many secondary characters involved and at one point I was trying to keep track of them but they were never introduced again.

I would certainly read the next novel by this author as I love historical fiction and I loved the premise of this one. Overall, I loved cheering for these women!

Posted on Goodreads on April 29, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around April 29, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 29, 2025
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Climbing in Heels should have pulled me into the story a bit more than it did. I wanted to feel more for the characters. Telling the stories about their lives was ok but slow and as I was reading, I got confused and had to stop and reread a few pages. I wanted to read a book that made me cheer for them as they made their way thru the “mans world” of LA.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas for the ARC of the book Climbing in Heels.
This is my personal review.

"Climbing In Heels" by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas is an absolute gem that had me hooked from the very first chapter. The use of multiple narrators adds a dynamic layer to the storytelling, providing unique perspectives that intertwine seamlessly to create a rich, engaging narrative. Each narrator brings depth and authenticity, making the characters feel vivid and relatable.

The character development is truly exceptional. Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas crafts individuals who are not only memorable but also resonate with real emotions and experiences. Their journeys are compelling, filled with moments of triumph, vulnerability, and personal growth that kept me invested throughout.

The pacing is perfect, with just the right balance of drama, wit, and heartfelt moments. It’s a book that’s hard to put down, and even harder to forget.

I highly recommend "Climbing In Heels" to anyone looking for an inspiring, entertaining read with excellent character work and a fresh narrative structure. Five stars well deserved!

This story of three women fighting to make it in a man’s world is definitely inspiring—but Climbing in Heels isn’t really a happily-ever-after kind of story. Readers will fall in love with these flawed characters—and hope they find some kind of happiness in the end.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas is a fictional book about three secretaries at the hottest Hollywood agency who all have greater ambition than to be a secretary. It was interesting to see these women try to fight their way through the old boy's network and what 1980s Hollywood was like behind the scenes. While I enjoyed this, it took a while for me to really get into the story and keep everyone straight - there were lots of ancillary characters. Ultimately this was a story about ambition, friendship, and betrayal. I liked that the author was an agent in the 1980s and would love to know what elements of the book were based on real events.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy.

𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦 is the story of three secretaries working at a Hollywood talent agency in the 1980s as they try to prove they're just as talented - if not more - than the old boys club they work for.

I love a book set in the entertainment industry and this one is written by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, first-time author but longtime Hollywood insider. Like the characters in the book, Goldsmith-Thomas worked her way up to become a talent agent in the 80s working with Julia Roberts, Nicholas Cage, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna, and as a studio executive and producer, she's responsible for some of my favorite movies like 13 𝘎𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 30, and is also adapting @emilyhenrywrites' 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. With a pedigree like that, you know this is going to be an entertaining book.

It's like 9 𝘵𝘰 5 and 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 crossed with some of my favorite Jackie Collins books (if you haven't seen the 80s classic film or read the soapy 80s books, you are missing out!) with a dash of 𝘔𝘢𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯. The story is juicy and glamorous, and I'm not surprised it's already been optioned for a TV series. The 80s hair, makeup and clothing alone will make it a must-watch but the girl power theme is as timely as ever. As the author says of the women at the heart of the novel "...their passion to be heard was as fierce as their rage at being silenced." It may 40 years later but we're still fighting the same battles today.

3.75 rounded up

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review.

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was juicy, gossipy, and salacious - I couldn’t force myself to turn away. But at the same time, it got bogged down with so many characters, side tangents, and over explaining that I couldn’t wait for it to move on (especially near the middle). I loved Beanie as a character, but I never fully felt like I knew her - the whole book I was hoping to finally connect. I never did.

I struggled with the set up of the other two girls, Ella & Mercedes. They were super detailed in the beginning but fell by the wayside and Beanie was the only thread that connected them. Also, a plethora of other side characters existed, and many were descriptively explained and given a lot of devotion to, but I never really understood the point of them.

While I never wanted to completely give up on this one, I did pause several times and ask what the point was to all the descriptions. My feelings and thoughts on this one made it hard to rate. With more focus on Beanie and less fluff, this could’ve been a knock out for me, but with everything I’ve mentioned, 3.5 stars feels fair.

Fans of books with female-centered narratives, Mad Men-esque work environments, and books that are character driven may enjoy this one.

Where to even start? LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. While I know Elaine's work as a producer and development exec, I had no idea she was such a talented writer. What a treat this book was! I was expecting a frothy beach read and I got a coming of age story with so much heart, so much attention to detail, so much wisdom. I absolutely loved the characters that she has created and the relationships that felt personal and real. I loved that she didnt shy away from real sexuality and flaws. This was a ride and wow, I am just floored.

I cannot stop thinking and gushing about this book. I rarely give a book 5 stars but Climbing in Heels was that good. Goldsmith-Thomas crafted a dazzling and compelling narrative that kept me engaged from the first chapter. I had such a fun time reading this book and enjoyed all three women’s stories especially Beanie. They were all funny, brilliant and flawed in their own ways but I loved watching their journeys play out in 1980s Hollywood. One of my favorite reads of the year and the perfect book for the summer!