I just finished this book and I’m sad the story is over. I felt so immersed in it- like watching a movie.

Vivian Stone was an amazing woman who rose from nothing to fame. She initially had to make things work by being walked over and taken advantage of. Those were the norms of women who wanted to be actresses back then.

I love how towards the end she found her voice and wouldn’t settle for anything less than she wanted and deserved. She also stood up for other women as well!

I enjoyed the dual time line with the two love stories.

I will say I was more invested in Vivian’s story compared to Margot. I think if there was a little more to the current day plot I would have felt more connected to Margot’s life as well.

The story was such a cool concept. I could see this being an amazing audiobook as well!

Read if you like—
-dual timeline
- dual POV
- 1950s Hollywood scene
- hidden secrets
- mystery
-heartbreak
-drama
-friends to lovers
-second chance
-closed door romance

Thank you Melissa for gifting me an ARC copy. Pub day 7/22/25

I am so excited for the future books you will write! Well done on your debut novel!

A fantastic debut! THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE is a dual timeline story about a present day woman who finds a mysterious set of cassettes that contain the story of an actress from the golden age of Hollywood. I was super invested in both timelines and thought the author did a great job showcasing what Hollywood was like for women back then. Highly recommend!

What a debut! This one yanked my heartstrings in every direction. It’s a sweeping and layered love story—bittersweet and quietly devastating. There are multiple timelines and several leads, and it all just worked.

I expected to feel most connected to the present-day Margot/Leo storyline (like I usually am) but it was Vivian’s tapes and the glimpse into old Hollywood that completely undid me. I ached for her, and for Dean, Ruth, Hugh, and Kit, and how they were so caught up in the twisted twentieth-century Hollywood: its cruelty, its sexism, its addiction to beauty and control. Much of this history wasn’t new to me (think Wizard of Oz behind-the-scenes, but worse), but seeing it unfold through Vivian’s eyes made it feel raw and real. It’s hard not to read this and think about the real actors and actresses whose lives were consumed or destroyed by the industry.

Romance-wise, this is a subtler and slower burn than what I usually read, but it’s definitely there. Glances, letters, years-long yearning, right person/wrong time… it has it all, but most of all the quiet burn of love that builds through time and hardship.

The writing itself is strong, especially for a debut. I did occasionally get a little lost in the Margot/Leo chapters—the transitions between past and present sometimes blurred together so much that I had to backtrack to reorient myself. And a few of Vivian’s letters felt a bit too scripted to be letters (more like scenes written in dialogue), but these were small bumps in what is overall a beautifully written novel.

*The One and Only Vivian Stone* is ambitious, emotional, and full of heart. A powerful debut about art, love, loss, and legacy, and about how women have always had to fight twice as hard just to survive the spotlight.

I loved it, and I can’t wait to see where Melissa O’Connor takes us next.

This story was well thought out and a unique take at a second chance. There are multiple HEAs AND there's a lot of grief. More than anything there is perseverance. It's beautifully written.

<b>Five stars.</b> No notes.

ps. Melissa O’Connor, you’re my new favorite author.

Pps.. if you liked The Favorites (minus the sports) and Evelyn Hugo (emotional journey & stardom), you MUST read the one and only Viviane Stone.

Ppps. I’m going to NEED the audio

✨ THINGS AND STUFF ✨
-dual timelines: 1951 & present
-newspaper articles & cassette tapes
-two (three?) love stories
-childhood crush
-family dynamics
-old hollywood
-a mystery
-the yearning!!!
-comedy & drama
-sitcom a la I love lucy
-it’s always been you
-redemption
-#IsThisAKissingBook closed door.

Thank you gallery books for the advanced copy!

Thank you for the opportunity to take a look at this 'Read Now" title. I did not feel myself drawn to Margot's storyline but I appreciate the opportunity to check out a new-to-me author!

An utterly marvelous debut by Melissa O'Connor - The One and Only Vivian Stone is a smash! Thank you Melissa O'Connor, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read early.

It's very unique to fall in love with the FMC & MMCs in both storylines, but O'Connor weaves both their storylines expertly - making you want more from both timelines. Margot, Leo, Vivian, Hugh, Kit, Ruth, and Dean - you're rooting for them all and invested in each of their narratives. I love that O'Connor used the gritty and dirty side of old Hollywood to showcase the flaws and pressure that existed back then. It gave a deeper understanding to the shortfalls of the characters while advancing the storyline despite their unreliability as a narrator.

If you're a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid you should 100% pick up The One and Only Vivian Stone. It has the unique storytelling of Daisy Jones and the Six while combining the glitz and glamour of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I would absolutely LOVE for this to be picked up as a TV series, limited series, or a movie as it already reads as one.

This was a stunning and well written debut! If you liked Evelyn Hugo or Great Big Beautiful Life, you’ll definitely love this one. It’s told in a similar fashion with dual timelines focusing on the present and past. The storytelling was mesmerizing from start to finish and I loved the creative structure of the newspaper and tapes being incorporated into the book to allow us the glimpse back into Vivian’s life.

This book had me so emotionally attached to every character, especially with Vivian’s story. Her friendship with Ruth was so precious. They were so supportive of each other. I also loveddd the swoony romances with Kit and Hugh. Despite all the ups and downs that Vivian went through, each men had a meaningful impact at different stages of Vivian’s life. There were many emotional moments and I was thoroughly invested in the overall plot.

I was always rooting for Vivian and was so proud of her. I had a lot of respect for her dedication to working for what she wanted because she deserved all the successes that eventually came to her. The book also touches a bit on the darker side of Hollywood, particularly with the struggles that female actors tend to face in the film industry. It was really interesting to see the positive and negative experiences of an actress’s role in the film industry and how her identity as a woman affects her work lifestyle and the opportunities offered. There’s alot of themes centered around misogyny, body shaming, and even SA that women constantly face in the industry by the higher ups taking advantage of them. I think the author covers that quite well. This would be a great book club book if you’re looking for a “story within a story” with themes of old Hollywood and important life lessons.

Throughout the entire book, I had running theories about who Vivian really was and what her relationship was to her grandmother. The mystery aspect was done well through the reveal but I did feel that it was just a tad bit rushed at the end.

I also wish the relationship between Margot and Leo (the main present-day romance) was more developed. While we were told most of what happened between them, their relationship was happening secondary to the main story centered around Vivian. While I could assume that was the point, I really wanted more of Margot and Leo to have a balance between the two timelines. More flashback scenes would have added to the meaningful moments of their relationship too.

I absolutely LOVE this book. I am a big fan of the old Hollywood vibes and how it has both the glamour and the dark side. I love the romance in the present and past. The friendship with Ruth. The way it all came together at the end.

This book started so strong for me. I LOVED the Old Hollywood vibes, loved the classic romance vibes, the Lucy/Desi vibes, even the Dark Hollywood elements that were touched on: it was all so intriguing and I was vibing hard for this book! It took a turn for me around 60% that I just was not a fan of and was so disappointed.

Spoilers:
I am not opposed to any trope because I believe I can like anything if it’s done well but, in this case, I could not get behind the love triangle… I LOVED Kit, and I loved the relationship he and Vivian had and felt what they had was genuine and his feelings, everything about him, was genuine. But getting married and then Vivian continuing to pine for a man that was not her husband, write secret love letters to a man that was not her husband, go on (essentially) dates with a man that was not her husband, and then gaslighting her husband for being jealous was just not okay for me. And then Kit’s abrupt change in character simply so their marriage could implode and she end up with Hugh was just too much 😩 I feel like if Vivian and Kit’s relationship had started deteriorating before they got married and ended BEFORE they got married etc it would have been a lot easier to get behind? There were just no red flags prior to their getting married so it felt so out of left field the way things changed and ended for them… I do love that they eventually reconciled and that they remained friends.

Overall I found the story to be very intriguing and there were many elements I loved, I just wish the love triangle was done a bit differently.

3.5/5 ⭐️

After her grandmother’s death, Margot DuBois is preparing to sell her house when she finds some cassette tapes amongst her grandmother’s belongings. Her tape player is broken, leading her to track down her ex-boyfriend who is able to fix the equipment. Together they listen to the tapes and reform their bond. To their surprise, the tapes contain the voice of Hollywood famous actress Vivian Stone, who tells the story of her life across the eight cassette tapes. The book switched from past (Vivian’s story) to present (Margot’s story), until the two intersect in a way that Margot never sees coming.

This was a fun read! I read it fairly quickly, especially the last half which I basically read in one sitting. Vivian’s story is by far the best part of this book - her rise to fame and her various relationships were beautiful and interesting to read about.

Margot’s story for me was a little lacking in depth and interest, but it played a role in moving the plot along. I understand why it was there, I just wish there had been a little more to it than we got.

All in all I really liked it! As a fan of Evelyn Hugo, it definitely delivered. I would definitely recommend checking this one out when it is published on July 22, 2025!

Thank you to Net Galley, Gallery Books and the author for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

3.5⭐️s.

This was pretty good. I liked the premise… Margot finding these old cassette tapes in her grandma’s attic and realizing they’re from a famous actress, Vivian Stone, was a fun setup. Vivian’s story had some interesting layers, including the old Hollywood vibes, the romance, and things she went through in the industry. That part kept me engaged.

What didn’t really land for me was the present-day storyline. I really needed more from Margot and Leo’s relationship and Margot in general. It felt kind of flat and underdeveloped. Their second chance romance just didn’t hit for me.

I was wondering throughout how it was all going to come together, and while I did enjoy the twist, I saw it coming after a certain part of the book. Then the ending felt rushed to me, and I think it could’ve had more of an emotional impact if it had been drawn out a bit and if Margot’s character had been explored more.

Overall, I liked the book and the idea behind it, but it didn’t wow me. Still a good read though!

A story of old Hollywood and the lives of its stars brought to life in present day with letters found in an attic. Interesting and well worth the read.

I really enjoyed this one! I found the writing to be easy to devour and I was quickly hooked into the story. It definitely gave me vibes of Emily Henry's new book Big beautiful Life.

I really liked the story set in the past and it definitely feels like the main story. Which made the side story feel a little rushed and insta-lovey But the fact that it's a second chance romance helps with that. The overall romance was a good slow burn but I feel like had a good natural development! I was conflicted at times on who to root for.

This was a fun change of pace for me and I found myself so invested in Vivian's life. It was a good book to just kind of get sucked into. I love the old Hollywood vibes.

This book was an addicting read I could not put down. I have to say that I was more interested in the storyline of Vivian Stone than the MFC Margot. I found myself skimming those chapters to get back to Vivian's timeline. Overall, It was a good read and I enjoyed it.

THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE was such a fun debut! I loved the Old Hollywood/Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes. This will also be a good one for fans of Emily Henry's latest, Great Big Beautiful Life. I loved the dual timeline and the mystery and how they eventually connected, as well as the second chance romance. Highly recommend!

This was a surprise, in a wonderful way. The story of Vivian Stone is a well written romance and “faux” memoir of life in 1950’s Hollywood.
A box of old tapes is found by Margot and as the memories on the 8 tapes unfold, her own romance with former beau, Leo, blooms as well.
For those of us that love stories of old Hollywood, this is a winner. Of course, those of us who are familiar with that era see many parallels to certain people. I found this novel compelling as I unreeled the tapes with Margot and Leo.

If you like this era, check out TYPEWRITER BEACH and THE LAVENDER BRIDE.

Thank you Netgalley for this fascinating novel. I really enjoyed it!

The blurb was right. The One and Only Vivian Stone did give off The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with a dash of The Marvelous Miss Maisel vibes. That is a great thing as I loved both of those and I had a fabulous time reading this book. I was intrigued by both Margot and Leo's story and the one that was unwinding through Vivian's cassette tapes. I enjoyed how Margot got her second chance with Leo while learning what tore them apart originally. I was even more entertained by Vivian's Hollywood story, the romances she had, and why Margot's grandmother had her tapes. Everything unraveled so perfectly and in a way that kept me from wanting to put the book down. It is hard to believe that The One and Only Vivian Stone is Melissa O'Connor's debut novel. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

What a gorgeous debut from Melissa O'Connor! Vivian is an unforgettable heroine, and watching her grow from a scrappy girl doing what she can to make it to a bonafide star was truly a delight. O'Connor beautifully balances aching romance and fantastic period details (the outfits!) with the reality of what it was like to be in the studio system for both men and women -- and the cost many women felt they needed to pay to pursue their dreams. In the present timeline, Margot is a deeply relatable character, and, again, O'Connor crafts just the right balance between her grief and the stress of having to pack up a house and a life under a time crunch with the distraction and relief she finds with Leo and the mystery of the tapes. And that mystery pays off well, effortlessly underscoring the books themes. The writing is fantastic and the characters across timelines feel real and lived-in (Ruth and her dolls and her ketchup!). THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE is a story that hooks you from the beginning and doesn't let go, and I look forward to Melissa O'Connor's future books! Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery for the ARC.

I felt like this was a good read about old Hollywood. It was very well written and atmospheric and overall just a good read Thanks Thanks.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book