Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I never read any books by this author before, and this one sounded like something I would really enjoy reading. I love historical fiction and all things Marilyn Monroe and old Hollywood, so I was really excited to read it.

I found this book really dry and boring unfortunately. The idea of the story was good, I just didn't think it was well executed. I almost didn't finish this one.

This novel imagines a fictional friendship forged between Marilyn Monroe and the housemaid assigned to clean her hotel suite while she's in Reno filming The Misfits. The housemaid, Pauline, is the protagonist of the story, a teenaged single mom who dreams of becoming a veterinarian but is stuck cleaning hotel toilets due to her circumstances. Her fortuitous relationship with the movie star changes her luck and the rest of her life.
This was alright. Not terribly exciting.
Thanks to #netgalley and #grandcentralpublishing for this #arc of #blondedust in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an interesting and enjoyable read. Although it is about Marilyn Monroe, it is told through the eyes of a maid in the hotel she stayed at while filming The Misfits. This time period is also when her marriage to Arthur Miller, the screenwriter for the movie, is falling apart. It portrays a very human and caring side of Marilyn and the impact she had on this young girl's life. Her generosity and friendship totally changed the trajectory of the young maid's life and allowed her to accomplish her long held dream of becoming a veterinarian to the horses she so loves. It is a very heart warming story and I highly recommend it.

Perfectly solid historical fiction. As a Marilyn fan who has watched The Misfits and likes horses, I knew this book was for me. While it doesn't depict Marilyn at her best and most luminous, it feels like an honest portrayal of that chapter of her life. Blonde Dust is a fun fictionalized narrative alongside real researched events.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the review copy.

This is the story of a friendship between a hotel maid and Marilyn Monroe, who stays in the hotel on a film shoot. I had mixed feelings about the story - I thought the friendship between the two was lovely, and it provided an interesting and intimate portrait of Marilyn Monroe in the troubled last year of her life. The story of Pauline, the hotel maid, was a bit less compelling for me. I never really connected with her story. A good read overall, though!

4.5 ⭐
Blonde Dust by Tatiana de Rosnay
was such a captivating read for me. I flew through the pages of this multiple timeline novel eager to find out how it all fit together. de Rosnay created such a wonderful character in Pauline and the the setting of the American West was exquisite. I learned so much about Marilyn Monroe as well. I highly recommend this novel.

Synopsis:
Pauline, a young chambermaid who works at the legendary Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada, is asked to step in for a colleague and clean Suite 614. Although she was told the rooms were empty, a dazed, sleepy woman appears before her. This is Mrs. Miller, aka Marilyn Monroe, whose stay in Reno coincides with the breakdown of her marriage to Arthur Miller and the filming of what was to be her last film, The Misfits.
 
Set in the American West in 1960 where the mustang horses run wild, an unexpected friendship unfolds between the most famous movie star in the world and a young cleaning woman whose life will be changed forever through the course of a few weeks. A testament to the enduring power of female friendship and a reimagining of a side of Marilyn Monroe that has never been seen before.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the digital copy of the book for my opinion.

I just finished Blonde Dust, and while the story was solid and easy to follow, it didn’t really pack an emotional punch for me. It follows a young woman coming of age in Reno, Nevada, with some historical and Hollywood elements woven in, which added an interesting layer.

The writing was smooth, and the plot had potential, but I didn’t feel a strong emotional connection to the characters or their journeys. There wasn’t much character growth, and even the more dramatic moments felt a little muted. One standout character, though, was the protagonist’s stepfather—his quiet support added warmth and heart to the story.

Overall, it was a good read, just not one that left a lasting impression. More of a “that was nice” kind of book than a “wow, I need to talk about this” one.

I really enjoyed Blonde Dust—there’s just something about any story involving Marilyn Monroe that pulls me in. While there were a few parts that felt a bit slow, the writing was strong and kept me interested overall.

The author truly captured old time Hollywood in this book. I am not a true fan of this genre but I am familiar with the author and I thought I would give it a try. I loved everything about the book. Being a child when Marilyn died I was captivated by the storyline. Although it was a novel I think the author portrayed Marilyn very well. The horses gave the story another dimension which added a little suspense and made the characters more realistic. Fans of both horses and old time Hollywood will enjoy. I am now all set to rewatch The Misfits which I haven’t seen in a long time!
Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for an advanced eGalley of the book. All opinions expressed are truly my own. #BlondeDust #TatianaDeRosnay #NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing

Blonde Dust follows Pauline, a housekeeper at the Mapes, a prestigious hotel in Reno, who has an encounter with the famed Marilyn Monroe. This encounter sets off a trajectory of more encounters and events that reshapes Pauline’s life.

I was really intrigued by this fictional tale of Marilyn Monroe. However, it felt slow, anti-climatic, and I was left feeling bored. The characters weren’t developed enough for me to connect to them. The story felt choppy, bouncing all over the place in time and sequence. Side plots were introduced, the equine passion and the illegitimate daughter, that were never fully understood until the end.

Overall, this is a great premise, but it fell flat.

Thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

What an interesting premise. I have a great curiosity about Marilyn Monroe which was nicely satisfied with this book. I enjoyed the depiction of life inn the 50s and 60s.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱”Blonde Dust" by Tatiana de Rosnay

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Published June 3, 2025

Thank you to @netgalley, @grandcentralpub, and Tatiana de Rosnay on a beautiful, well-written historical-fiction novel about the famous Marilyn Monore.  Set in Nevada in 1960 at the Mapes Hotel in Reno, readers are taken into the world of Marilyn Monroe as she films her final film, The Misfits. She is also separating herself from her husband Arthur Miller, and battling her alcohol and pill addiction. When she meets the young chambermaid, Pauline they form an unlikely bond that changes Pauline's life forever. 



#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This book should be enjoyed by lovers of horses, mid-century Hollywood, and stories of women rising above the men who dominate them.
Set primarily in 1956-1960 Reno, Nevada, Blonde Dust introduces Pauline, a young, unmarried mother, who cleans the hotel suite where Marilyn Monroe stays during the filming of “The Misfits.”

Monroe is presented as a troubled but warm and caring woman, and she and Pauline form a bond that helps Pauline find the courage to pursue her own dream to be an equine veterinarian. (There is an engaging sub-plot about her life-long friend Billie-Pearl and their commitment to saving wild mustangs.)

Ultimately, there is a sad difference between Pauline and Marilyn Monroe: “Mrs. Miller,” as she is known at the hotel, is powerless, unable to stand up for herself, despite an entourage of people who seem to care for her. Her situation is echoed by Pauline’s mother, a French war bride who experiences the same sense of emptiness and loneliness, though in her case, there is a loving husband and family. Caring for both of them, Pauline finally finds the self-respect and assertiveness to walk away from her own emotionally abusive relationship.

The alternating timelines, focusing on 1960 and 2000, work well, as the mature, fulfilled Pauline recalls her younger self and the dreams and predicaments she had. However, adding in the sub-plots of Pauline’s mother, and the fate of wild mustangs, lessened the story’s grip for me. Though it is told well, it lacks the depth of description and emotion that I associate with Ms. De Rosney’s other well-known book, Sarah’s Key.

BLONDE DUST by Tatiana De Rosnay is a spellbinding mash-up of historical fiction and women’s fiction that features a first-generation young French woman’s life as well as how in the heat of Reno, Nevada in 1960, a mega movie star’s unlikely friendship changed the course of her life. This standalone story will pull you in and take you on an emotional and nostalgic journey.

This story features three timelines while telling Pauline’s life story. You have the description of how Pauline came to America, fell in love with the wild mustangs, and became a single mother and maid with no prospects at The Mapes Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada. You also have a timeline which shows the development of Pauline and Marilyn Monroe’s friendship as she cleans Marilyn’s Suite 614 while she is filming on location for The Misfits, her last full-length movie. And the final timeline has Pauline looking back on her life and friendship with Marilyn as she attends the January 30, 2000, demolition of The Mapes.

The descriptions of both downtown Reno in 1960 and the landscapes outside of town on the film set and the mustang rescue ranch made me feel as though I was right there. As the timelines interweave, I was never lost or confused because each part of the story always left me wanting more. The research is obvious and blended throughout the story without interrupting the story.

There are so many aspects of this story to love; the unlikely friendship, the trajectory of a life changed, both emotionally and physically, the wild mustangs of the West, and a researched look into three short months in Marilyn Monroe’s tumultuous personal life. There are also dark moments of alcoholism and drug abuse, sexual coercion, and animal cruelty interspersed throughout.

I recommend curling up in a comfy chair and letting this mash-up of historical fiction and women’s fiction take you away.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

It is summer 1960 in Reno, Nevada. Pauline Bazelet, a twenty-year old single mother, is on her way to work at the famous Mapes Hotel. She has been hired as a maid there by the Assistant Manager, who also happens to be the father of her 3-year old daughter. But she gets no special treatment and in fact is assigned to cleaning the public restrooms on the main floor, one of, if not THE, worst jobs at the hotel. But one day another maid breaks her arm, leaving the head housekeeper short-handed, so Pauline is sent up the room 614, a suite assigned to Mr & Mrs Miller, in town for the filming of the movie The Misfits.

Unknown to Pauline, Mrs Miller is Marilyn Monroe - and her vacuuming wakes the young woman, sleeping in the bedroom!! From that fateful meeting a sort of friendship forms and Pauline is even invited to the movie set for Marilyn's last scene on location in Nevada. Two years later Marilyn is dead, but Pauline never forgets her and that summer and the wonderful gift she received from the actress.

Now Pauline is 61, a well-respected veterinarian in California and the Mapes Hotel is about to be imploded. Her longtime friend Billie-Pearl has convinced her to come back and witness this end of an era. As she waits to see the beautiful hotel come down, Pauline can't help but relive her time there, her family, her friends and where he life has taken her.

A great imagining of how that summer might have been, both for Marilyn, in the throes of filming a movie written and endlessly rewritten by her soon to be ex-husband, and a young naive girl who has only ever lived two places in her life.

One of the first books that sparked my passion for historical fiction was 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩'𝘴 𝘒𝘦𝘺, an international bestseller by Tatiana de Rosnay. So, when I stumbled upon news of her latest project, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! This captivating story is set in Reno, NV, in 1960, at the iconic Mapes Hotel and Casino, the epitome of vintage glamour in the west.

What unfolds in this narrative is quite unexpected. We follow Pauline, a young maid at the hotel, as she forms an unlikely friendship with Mrs. Miller. To her surprise, Mrs. Miller happens to be none other than the legendary Marilyn Monroe! What unfolds is a multi-layered story with wild mustangs, intriguing movie history, and a life-altering experience for sweet Pauline.

I was genuinely moved by how the author portrayed Marilyn Monroe's humanity. It offered me a new perspective on her life and the misconceptions that surrounded her. Plus, the behind-the-scenes glimpses into the filming of her last movie, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴, were absolutely fascinating. Hats off to you, Ms. de Rosnay!

Many thanks to partners, Grand Central Pub & NetGalley for this gifted review copy!

My Rating: 3.5⭐️

Blonde Dust is an atmospheric novel that imagines the friendship between a quiet hotel maid and Marilyn Monroe during the filming of The Misfits in 1960. I loved the descriptions of Nevada, the Mapes Hotel in Reno, and the bond between Pauline and Marilyn.

That said, the plot tends to wander. Marilyn isn’t as central as I expected or hoped, and some side plots (e.g., Pauline’s family drama, Pauline’s adulthood, Billie-Pearl’s efforts to save the wild mustangs, etc.) don’t feel fully developed. The story feels more like Pauline’s coming-of-age tale than a deep dive into Marilyn’s world.

If you enjoy slower historical fiction more centered on character evolution than full of action, I recommend this!

Thank you again to @tandemcollectiveglobal and @grandcentralpub for the gifted copy and readalong!

Blonde Dust
I loved this book! All the characters in this book stole my heart. I will be gushing about this book on my socials!

A historic chunk of Reno, Nevada’s past became a pile of rubble on January 30, 2000 when the Mapes Hotel, built in 1947, was bulldozed. Footprints of the past vanished when preservationists were unable to prevent its demise. Although the hotel had been abandoned since the 1980s, TV crews, as well as many folk who had stayed or worked at the hotel, gathered to pay an emotional tribute and reflect upon the hotel’s heyday. The Mapes Hotel had hosted Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift and director John Huston during the filming of “The Misfits” in 1960.

Pauline Bazelet’s mother was a war bride who met her American husband in Paris. In 1946, war brides were brought to the United States with the help of the Red Cross and financed by the American Government. Marcelle and her seven year old daughter Pauline were able to join Doug in Reno, Nevada. Marcelle used her Parisian esthetics to decorate the beauty parlor she opened, however, she never embraced the American way of life. She wistfully looked back at Parisian life where she frequented the cafes, theaters and museums . On the train ride to Reno, Pauline noticed untamed, free wild horses while glimpsing through the train windows. Her step-dad Doug encouraged this interest by driving her to the Double Lazy Heart Ranch. Ranchers Velma and Charlie Johnston were active in an organization to prevent mustangs from being hunted and captured. At the ranch, Pauline met tomboy Billie-Pearl who had “grown to love and respect the wild horses; they were part of the Old West legend.” It seemed that Billie-Pearl “was born on a mustang.” Doctor O’Brian frequented the ranch to attend to wounded animals. Pauline took advantage of every opportunity to learn horsemanship from Billie-Pearl and veterinary care from Dr. O’Brian.

In 1957, Doug decided to take his wife Marcelle and children, Pauline and Jimmy, for a special dinner at the Mapes Hotel. The evening would captivate but also imprison Pauline: A tryst with the hotel manager resulted in an unexpected pregnancy at 17, this same manager threatened to withhold child care payments, and controlled her by assigning her a job as a cleaner at the Mapes. After three years of the most undesirable cleaning assignments, she became a cleaner for Suite 614-Mrs. Miller’s suite. Mrs. Miller turned out to be Marilyn Monroe!

“She seemed disconsolate, and her apparent misery portrayed a very different picture than the glamorous photos in…glossy magazines. (She) was a person hardly anyone really knew…How was it possible to be so famous, and yet so vulnerable and insecure?” According to author Tatiana de Rosnay, Marilyn and Pauline “share a form of sisterhood, a complicity. The woman in the limelight notices the girl in the shadows, and that kindness will give Pauline her wings.” They would find a commonality and bond over the plight of the wild mustangs of Nevada.

A most enjoyable read of historical fiction I highly recommend.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blonde Dust is a fiction book imagining a friendship between Marilyn Monroe and a maid, Pauline. Pauline was born in France and moved to Reno as a small girl. Pauline dreams to be a horse veterinarian but does not have the means and is working at Mapes Hotel.
In her spare time, she volunteers at a farm where they tame mustangs. There, she forms a friendship with a girl her age, Billie Pearl. Their friendship was my favorite part of the book. Billie Pearl helped her believe in herself and become a better person.

I did enjoy the historical aspect of it, as Marilyn Monroe was before my time.