While I chose to read Blonde Dust thinking it would be about old Hollywood Glamour, Marilyn Monroe, etc., the truth is that Monroe and the Hollywood/movie making side of things was truly just the background setting for the main character, Pauline's story. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I did still enjoy Blonde Dust. A much bigger portion of the novel revolved around the wild mustangs of Nevada and Pauline's growing love and passion for them.

Tatiana de Rosnay has delivered another wonderful novel. The story of Marilyn Monroe‘s life ,while filming her final film, ,The Misfits in 1960 in Reno, Nevada. The story is told through the eyes of a chambermaid who cleans her suite each day. She touches on the lives of Clark Gable and other co-stars during this time period. Marilyn is surrounded by what she calls her happy people who try to keep her on a good path. We get to meet her trainer, her masseuse, her coach, and her secretary. The Misfits, , of course, is written by her husband, Arthur Miller, their marriage is already falling apart. It brings further light into the tragic story of this talented actress. It is cleverly written. It keeps your interest and is a very quick read.
As an aside to all of this, you learn about the Mustangs who ran wild in Nevada. Many were caught and sold for dog meat.
We are privy to another culture and the people who tried to save these wild horses.

This book really was not that interesting or enjoyable to me and i did not enjoy how the chapters were laid out or put together.

I really enjoyed this book. I initially wanted to read itb because I have enjoyed other books by this author. The book had a lot of depth and character. It was difficult at times to follow due to past and present shifts.

Blond Dust
I don’t know if any of the plot of this book is based on any real events, other than the movie Misfits was filmed in Reno, Nevada. It’s about an unlikely friendship between Marilyn Monroe, the movie’s star and a young maid. Right from the beginning, the story didn’t ring true to me and it just got more and more unlikely. The proverbial happy ending was also very contrite. I can’t give this novel more than 3 stars, although I enjoyed this author’s previous work.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

Ms. de Rosnay has written a beautiful coming of age story about a young woman, Pauline, a maid who cleans at the Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada. She meets, of all people, Marilyn Monroe while Marilyn is there filming the movie, The Misfits, with Cliff Montgomery and Clark Gable. It's a feel good book about Pauline, who has a child out of wedlock from a real creep of a boss (the worst kind) and decides to chuck it all to become an equine veterinarian. I loved it all....I've read lots of books about Marilyn and while the author and I do not share the how's and why's of her death....this is a great book. Marilyn is depicted as the kind and warm person we all grew up hearing stories about.
Highly recommended reading!

I very much enjoyed this novel, Blonde Dust, by Tatiana de Rosnay. The story’s protagonist showed growth from a people pleaser to a strong independent woman who succeeds in life despite adversity. This was a great basis for the story. The story’s interplay revolved around Marilyn Monroe and the protagonist’s love of horses, and her dream of becoming an Equine Veterinarian. I enjoyed the way de Rosnay wove these two seemingly unrelated elements together and came up with the storyline. I learned a lot about Marilyn Monroe and the Hollywood of the Golden Age. This was a very good read for me. 4 out of 5 star. I would definitely recommend this novel.

What an enlightening book. Who knew all things about Marilyn Monroe. What a sad situation. I love the way this author writes and have read other books by her all wonderful.

Beautiful character building in this one. I just felt bored at times. Thank you for the copy. Enjoyed the read and would recommend it to my book group.

“Blonde Dust” by Tatiana De Rosnay is the reimagining of a side of Marilyn Monroe that features Pauline, a cleaner and single mom, for the Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada. Through a twist of fate, Pauline is asked to clean the famous actress’s suite. During the filming of “The Misfits,” a friendship springs up between Marilyn Monroe and Pauline which has a lasting effect on Pauline’s life.

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

I enjoy this author, and I enjoyed this book. It explores how a chance meeting and a short relationship can change a life. It also demonstrates how two people from opposite ends of the spectrum of our social system can meet, and relate, and be a comfort and support for each other, no matter how little they have in common. In this case, it is a young girl cleaning the bathrooms at a prestigious, hotel, and a starlet at the height of her fame. How they meet, relate, make an impact on each others’ lives, and then go their own ways is the crux of this well told tale. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy, i’m glad I read it.

An interesting, yet slow moving story about a young woman who comes to this country and finds her passion for mustang horses. Also, she had a brief encounter with Marilyn Monroe so that part was interesting too. The scenery descriptions were lovely too. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for my copy of "Blonde Dust." What a beautiful story between two friends. I had different emotions while reading this book. I'd also like to be friends with Marilyn Monroe.

So beautiful! Blond Dust is a richly re-imagined historical fiction novel about a young chambermaid who met Marilyn Monroe during a film shoot. Their relationship blossomed and Marilyn’s generosity and kindness made the young lady’s life leap forward from ordinary to extraordinary. The setting in Nevada is evocative of the old West, rich with horse and ranch stories mixed with the glamour of Hollywood.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

It was a DNF for me. It frustrated me that it was taking too long to the action and it was very much a telling instead of showing novel which is unfortunate because I've liked this author before

Blonde dust is an amazing book that will stay with me long after I have read the final word. I have always been fascinated by the actress Marilyn Monroe, and when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I love how the author Tatiana de Rosnay has written a story that is historically accurate and fiction at the same time. The historical facts add depth and reality to the story for me. I found myself googling various facts to learn more. The characters are written so well that you I wish I could get to know them,, Even the characters I didn't like I found they added to the story in important ways, One of my favorite things that the Tatiana de Rosnay does is shows the different sides to Marylyn's personality, I have read many books on her life and some touch on this but Tatiana de Rosnay does a great job of demistrating it. .Today, we often hear pay it forward, which is wonderful, but usually done by just your average Joe. Marylyn's generosity in this story could be seen that way, but I also wonder if Marylyn saw a little bit of herself in Pauline, and wanted to help her because of that similarity, Yet, my favorite thing about this book is the beautiful way the Tatiana de Rosnay brings the story back around and finishes the story on a lovely note, I am so grateful to have been given this ARC from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing, this review is my honest option

A chance meeting, while substituting for another chambermaid at a casino, young Pauline's life begins to change. The occupants are Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but Pauline doesn't recognize the pale, naked lady with messy hair. She speaks politely & continues to work, but has no idea that she's chatting with THE Marilyn Monroe!

"Mrs. Miller" requests Pauline be assigned to her suite and they strike up an unlikely friendship. They talk and share memories & she even insists on meeting Pauline's young daughter. By sharing just a bit of her inner light, Marilyn inspires Pauline to remember her dreams.

This story is about that unexpected friend who may only enter your life for a short time, but changes you forever.

Netgalley-thanks for the ARC.

The mystic of Norma Jean lives on!
Those of us who are old enough to remember the fame and tragedy of Marilyn Monroe will be heartened by this fictional tale of her generous, kind, lonely and damaged heart.
Pauline is a young unwed mother who is working as a maid in the nicest hotel in Reno when Marilyn’s final film, The Misfits, is being filmed on location. By chance, she is assigned to clean Marilyn’s suite and Marilyn decides to take the younger woman under her wing.
Reno in the 1950’s was still much larger than Las Vegas so it was the place to be in Nevada. As anyone who has ever lived there knows, the desert is a special place that has its own unique ambiance. From childhood Pauline was one drawn to the wide open spaces, the special scents and topography so unique to the desert. In that way, she and Marilyn would outwardly appear to be polar opposites, but they have a lot more in common than anyone would suspect.
It sounds fanciful and maybe foolish, but it is actually an ode to a misunderstood superstar who was a victim of her time and her own beauty that was unable to protect her tender heart.

"A "Hollywood tale with heart" about a reimagined friendship between Marilyn Monroe and a young maid whose life will be changed forever, from the New York Times bestselling author of Sarah's Key. (Adriana Trigliani)

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."

A female empowerment version of My Week with Marilyn!

Pauline is a chambermaid at the Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada. When another employee was injured, she was instructed to clean Suite 614. The suite was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Mrs Miller is also known as Marilyn Monroe. She is in Reno filming a movie called The Misfits. This is the unlikely story of the friendship that bloomed between the actress and the cleaner.
I really enjoyed this book. I basically read it in one sitting. The writing was crisp, and the characters three dimensional. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.