This book flew by and was really enjoyable! A different point of view of Marilyn Monroe or "Mrs. Miller" while she was filming her movie in Reno - and taught a woman how to find her voice and made a huge impact on her life

This book was so good and yet so sad. The difference between public Marilyn and private Marilyn was incredible. It made me wonder--did the real Marilyn do wonderful things like this for people who were actually down on their luck?

And it was depressing to read that like with Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe was fed pills nonstop to control her emotions and regulate her days. How could anyone have been surprised that she died of an overdose?

This book was well written and researched.

Tatiana de Rosnay’s Blonde Dust is a tender, nostalgic blend of historical and women’s fiction that reimagines an unexpected friendship between a young chambermaid and Marilyn Monroe during the filming of The Misfits.

Pauline, a twenty-year-old single mother working as a maid at Reno’s iconic Mapes Hotel, is assigned to clean Suite 614—home to Mr. and Mrs. Miller. But Mrs. Miller is none other than Marilyn Monroe, fragile and luminous, at the height of both her fame and her personal struggles. From that first startling encounter grows a fleeting but profound bond that alters Pauline’s life, giving her the courage to pursue her long-buried dream of becoming a veterinarian.

De Rosnay weaves the glamour and shadows of mid-century Hollywood with the grit of Reno’s working-class women and the raw beauty of the Nevada desert. The wild mustangs running free outside town mirror the theme of untamed longing—for freedom, for self-determination—that runs through Pauline’s journey. The novel’s dual timelines, shifting between the early 1960s and Pauline’s reflections in 2000 at the demolition of the Mapes Hotel, are handled gracefully and never lose their emotional resonance.

Monroe herself is drawn with sensitivity: vulnerable, generous, and tragically unable to stand against the forces that shaped her. The contrast between her fate and Pauline’s hard-won independence deepens the novel’s impact.

Blonde Dust is not only a tribute to Marilyn Monroe’s humanity but also a moving story of resilience, female friendship, and the power of fleeting encounters to change a life forever. Fans of historical fiction, Old Hollywood, and stories of women finding their voices will be captivated.

I enjoyed Blonde Dust, even though it wasn’t quite what I expected. The story mostly follows Pauline, a young maid at the Mapes Hotel in Reno, who ends up befriending Marilyn Monroe while she's staying there. I thought it would be more about Marilyn herself, but Pauline’s story was interesting and heartfelt.
There was a lot of focus on Pauline’s love of horses, which I assumed would connect more directly to the movie Marilyn was filming.
I do wish there had been an author’s note at the end because I would love to know what was based on real events and what was fictional (I'm assuming the friendship between the two women was entirely fictional), and I would’ve loved a bit more insight there. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read.

Many years ago I had the greatest pleasure to read the captivating, distressing tale “Sarah’s Key” by novelist Tatiana de Rosnay about a young French girl who locks up her younger brother in a cupboard to keep him safe from the Nazis while she and the rest of her family are taken to a concentration camp. Her inability to release him from his hiding place haunts her for the rest of her life. Thus, I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy of a new novel written by Ms. de Rosnay offered to me by NetGalley called “Blonde Dust.” My opinions regarding this new novel are voluntary.

“Blonde Dust” couldn’t be more different from “Sarah’s Key” than night is from day. “Blonde Dust” has nothing to do whatsoever with the Holocaust or World War II and mostly takes place in the late 1950’s and during 1960. Although it begins briefly in France, the story primarily takes place in Reno, Nevada, and focuses on a few short months during which Marilyn Monroe and the cast and crew of the film “The Misfits” were ensconced at a once famous hotel there during the movie’s filming. It focuses on the humanity and vulnerability of Marilyn Monroe and portrays her as a warm, caring, friendly, gentle, and generous person. She befriends a young housekeeper and through words and deeds empowers her to stand on her own two feet and seek the life she’s dreamed for herself. Having previously read other books about Marilyn Monroe, including the lengthy “Blonde” by Joyce Carol Oates, I found this relatively short, sweet, sentimental take a joy to read.

Ms. de Rosnay is a wonderful writer, and so far both of the books I’ve read of hers are five out of five stars for me. I look forward to reading more novels by this terrific author.

This story provided a small historical picture at a brief time in the life of Hollywood and Marilyn Monroe. I truly loved this perspective, the jump between time points, and the unique look in to the life and tragedy of Marylin. The writing kept me pulled in and the timeline changes were nto too confusing.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve read one other book by this same author that I thoroughly enjoyed so I jumped at the chance to read this one.
While I did enjoy the book I felt like I just wanted more. I didn’t feel I really got to know any of the characters and they didn’t develop very much except for Pauline at the end.

Perfectly solid historical fiction. As someone who appreciates Marilyn Monroe, The Misfits movie, and horses, this book instantly appealed to 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 combines vivid storytelling with real researched events.

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

I enjoyed every word of Tatiana de Rosnay's BLONDE DUST. The story of the friendship between maid Pauline and Marilyn Monroe in a Reno hotel as Monroe's marriage to Arthur Miller is disintegrating. The relationship between the two wildly different women was totally believeable and I thoroughly enjoyed this view into a very different Marilyn from the blonde bombshell she was purported to be. Here, Monroe is vulnerable, intelligent, and deeply moving as a lost woman finding her way through a treacherous time with a curious, kind young woman probing and supporting her. As always, de Rosnay is a deeply engaging storyteller with immense respect and insight into complicated, well-drawn characters. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This newest book from Tatiana de Rosnay is set in Reno, Nevada and is a tale about a maid in a hotel with happens to meet Marilyn Monroe while cleaning her hotel room. The two strike a bond, and an understanding of each other, that is something special. While the majority of the book is about the maid (and her life), Marilyn Monroe is felt on every page. It was a very considerate ode to one of America's most beloved celebrities.

I read this in a day. These are the type of historical fiction books I love! I love how it includes real people and makes them feel alive, as if they could be your friend instead of just a famous figment from the past. Tatiana de Rosnay did a fantastic job making Marilyn Monroe come to life off the page.

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.

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.