What a debut! While this book is being compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I would also say that if you enjoyed The Favorites and Daisy Jones and the Six, I think you'll definitely enjoy this.

The story is told between two timelines, present day as Margot uncovers cassette tapes when cleaning out her grandmother's house, and the 1950s when Vivian recounts her life in that decade on the tapes about breaking into Hollywood and where her life went after she got a studio contract. Margot's grandmother's name was Ginger, so she can't stop listening to the tapes as she tries to piece together how her grandmother and Vivian, who went on to become one of Hollywood's largest comedic stars, are connected.

It was so easy to get drawn into this story and I could not put it down. Just like Margot, I was eager to know how Vivian and Ginger were connected and after each tape came to an end, I loved that I was still not sure where the story was going. While Vivian is a fictional star, I truly felt like I was transplanted to Hollywood in the 50s with how Melissa wrote her point of view. You want to hug Vivian as she goes to audition after audition waiting for her big break only to be told no, and then when she finally gets her chance, is told to go on diet pills to lose weight, faces sexism in the industry, and when she writes her first comedy script, has to let her husband take the credit because no one believes a woman could write something so funny. This will easily be one of my favorites of the year and I can't wait to see what Melissa writes next!

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com and the publisher in return for a fair review. As an author myself, my favorite topic to write about is Hollywood history--especially during the silent and golden eras. Even though this book takes place during the 1950s, I was still intrigued by the story line. I believe this novel could have used a stringent edit. There were many extraneous words and scenes that could have been deleted, still leaving the story intact. I am not a fan of the dual timelines, but this time it kind of worked as the author tied it all up neatly in the end. I did not care for the main character, actress Vivian Stone. She and her gang had very little depth and all were self-centered. Stone should have been a little smarter than she was. The story starts in the present with a young girl, Margot who is clearing out recently deceased grandmother's house. She comes across these mysterious tapes and calls upon an old flame to help her. Of course, their relationship is rekindled--pretty standard stuff. I was disappointed in the story, the characters, and the lack of editing. Just not my cup of tea.

First thank you to galley books and NetGalley for an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

Synopsis: Margret is cleaning out her grandmothers house when she finds a set of tapes. She finds a friend to help her listen to those tapes and surprised to hear a famous actress on the tapes. Why would her grandmother have these tapes and what does it mean?

What I liked: I love old Hollywood stories and this delivered that vibe. I really liked that Vivian’s story was not the same as Evelyn Hugo story but still similar. Vivian was just as strong and did take care and charge. I also loved the side characters and their stories. Kits story really touched me too

This book started off a bit slow for me, but about halfway through I really got into it. By the end, I absolutely loved it—especially the glamorous old Hollywood vibes! I was super impressed with the writing, especially since it’s the author’s first book. I’d definitely recommend it and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this debut novel. I enjoyed reading it, and I thought it was a good novelization of Hollywood in the 1950s. I think that dual timeline books have been overdone, and I don't think it added much to this book to have the contemporary part of the story. I think the author did a great job bringing the characters to life and depicting what life was like for actors and actresses during this time period. It kept my interest, and I flew through the book. I would be happy to read another book by this author.

I was an absolute fiend while reading this book. I’ve been a big kick with old Hollywood starlet books and this one hit all the marks.

I enjoy seeing the story of Vivian Stone play out and at no point did I see where the story was going. The writing was engaging and the story absolutely capture my heart in every way. I also enjoyed the parallel story between Leo and Margot reconnecting. There is nothing like a double second change romance double feature ( which I would consider Vivian and Hug’s story a semi second chance romance as well)

I truly have no complaints about this one other than I wish it was longer. I would have loved to see the story play out at a slower pace as it did feel like it wrapped up pretty easy. I’m not sure what exactly it wasn’t that didn’t feel satisfied in the way it ended but it felt
Quicker than I needed it to be.

Other than that, it was a heartfelt story of love and life and I enjoyed myself.

Thanks so much to the publisher, Gallery, and the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a well-written novel, but it’s not for me. The tone is a little sad, and I need something more upbeat.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Oh, friends, I think this may be the case that not every book is for everyone.

Margot stumbles on a box of tapes while cleaning out her grandmother’s attic. With the help of her childhood friend turned first love, she soon discovers the tapes are a confessional of sorts about the life of 1950s actress Vivian Stone.

Dual timeline and POV, we are learning Margot and Leo’s story, as well as Vivian’s, and eventually how the two intersect.

I requested this arc after seeing comparisons made to Evelyn Hugo and Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Let me tell you, those are some big shoes to fill.

It bums me out that this did not fill them.

It pulls back the curtain, of sorts, on the Hollywood industry in the 1950s. Coercive sex for roles, the control and fixation on the size of women, addiction, publicity relationships. It took on heavy topics!

And usually this is where you win me over. The problem? It all felt shallow. We were told what was happening, but I failed to FEEL any of it. It felt like a strange mix of a gritty storyline told very innocently.

If I want a lighter feel to a story, I also need lighter topics.

I don’t think this will be a miss for everyone. There are plenty of people who aren’t nearly as masochistic in their reading as I can be. Hard topics need to gut me, and this did not.

This story consists of two different timelines. Margot finds cassette tapes in her grandmother’s home and begins listening to them with an old friend. Margot quickly learns that the cassette tapes are recorded by an Old Hollywood actress, Vivian, who is sharing her story! Margot begins listening to the tapes to try and figure out why these tapes are in her grandmother’s attic.
I recommend this book, and I enjoyed the exploration of working in Old Hollywood as a woman as well as various topics of friendship, alcoholism, etc.
However, the character development of one character in particular reduced my rating to a 4 star as I felt this character changed abruptly and began acting in ways that were inconsistent with his personality/character already established prior in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and will definitely keep my eye out for future releases from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Story #1 in the book is Margot getting the house of her recently deceased grandmother ready for sale which also means dealing with her past. In going through the avalanche of items, she comes across a box with cassette tapes, but doesn't have a working tape player. She gets in touch with Leo, her first love from high school days, to fix the player. They are surprised to learn that the tapes belong to Vivian Stone. Enter Story #2: Vivian Stone. The tapes tell the tale of Vivian's career amidst the controlling atmosphere of Hollywood. At the story's climax, the two stories merge in quite an unexpected fashion. What an intriguing and spellbinding story!

I enjoyed this one but there were parts of it that missed the mark for me. I really enjoyed Vivian’s storyline. I love stories of old Hollywood and enjoyed the “me too” aspects this book brought to light. I’m not a huge fan of love triangles typically but this one didn’t bother me because both men were good men.

Kit’s alcoholism was a tough storyline as someone who has personal experience with this in my family. While parts of it rang true, it didn’t come across as authentic is the experience itself is. Kit and Vivian’s reaction to his addiction seemed very surface level. It isn’t something that you forget and move on from after an incident. Maybe this won’t be a sticking point for those without a personal connection. But it was difficult for me to get past.

The current day storyline fell flat for me. It seemed like a vehicle for Vivian’s storyline and really didn’t add much to the book. I didn’t really feel connected to Margot and Leo and felt like they were only there to listen to Vivian’s story. I think the book would have been stronger if we just had Vivian’s story.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to people. I think they were just a few things on a personal level that didn’t click with me.(3.5)

My first thought after reading this book was total shock that this is the author’s debut novel. It is so well written and the characters are so charismatic. You’ll enjoy a dual time line story, one of which drops you into 1950s Hollywood, and the other present day where a woman tries to piece together cassette tapes recorded telling stories from the 1950s and how they connect to her family. With so many moments of perseverance and triumph, this is easily one of my favorite books of the year.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this romp through old Hollywood with its past and present timeline and dual timeline. The story has mystery, romance and lots of drama. I felt like the two timelines didn’t quite fit as well as I’d like, but overall this was quite an entertaining read.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.25⭐️. A wonderful debut! The story follows, Margot, who discovers old cassette tapes at her deceased grandmother’s home. The tapes chronicle the life of, Vivian, an actress who is navigating love and her career in Hollywood in the 1950s.

I’d characterize this one as historical fiction and romance with a twist of mystery. The story was so immersive - the author made you feel like you were in Hollywood back in the day. The characters were well-developed and the writing was flawless. I really enjoyed the mystery of how Margot’s grandmother came in possession of the tapes about Vivian … it kept me turning the pages late in to the night.

On a more serious note, this book highlights the darker side of Hollywood and the struggles and pressures of actresses in the film industry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for inviting me to read this book early in exchange for my honest review.

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor

This book has a dual timeline that works for me. In the present day we have Margot DuBois packing up the home of her grandmother, a home where Margot was raised by her grandmother and her mother. Margot is hurting at her loss and also feeling guilt for not giving her grandmother her full attention, especially during their last phone call together, when Margot was anxious to get back to a book she was reading. Now Margot is finding out there is so much she didn't know about her grandmother but that at least her grandmother stayed busy and active in her little community.

Margot learns about an earlier time when she finds some cassette tapes among her grandmother's belongings. The tapes were made by a actress who had a very rough start and Margot has no idea why she would have sent those tapes to her grandmother. We spend the most time with the actress, Vivian, and we learn of the abuses and vices of Hollywood. An actor or actress is faced with giving up so much to probably never reach the level of a star and the ladder to stardom, or not, is one that allows the big wigs of Hollywood to abuse the hopeful in so many horrible and disgusting ways.

Vivian never gives up, she keeps on fighting, although she does "pivot" at times. What she wanted when she started her attempt to conquer Hollywood is not what she got but what she got surpasses anything she would have managed without being willing to change. There are two men in her life who are victims of Hollywood, too. The story is so interesting and the side characters are also interesting. Plus, for all the bad men who women can encounter, this story helps us to see that there are good men, too.

I was able to read this book with DeAnn and even Jayme jumped into our discussion and commented on how much we had to say. This book stirred up a lot of thoughts and feelings for the characters in this story. The present day story gives us the closure we need for the earlier story and I enjoyed seeing some parallels to a famous real life actress and the shows she starred in over the years.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I’m a sucker for anything Old Hollywood, so I was sure I was going to enjoy this and I did. The glitz, the secrets, the larger-than-life characters…it was all there. That said, the “tape” framing didn’t quite work. They’re meant to be recordings, but they read like regular first-person prose, not like someone talking into a recorder or even telling their story out loud. It pulled me out a little, since I expected more voice and immediacy.

Still, it was an easy, entertaining read with a fun setting and plenty of glamour and mystery. I recommend it!

This book does a nice job of mixing old and new timelines. It was really interesting to learn of the past, especially the film and TV world aspects. You really get to know the characters. The problems they face are not only realistic, but also heartfelt. While the story modern day, the majority is set in the past and those parts were the most interesting. If you like the set up of Evelyn Hugo or GBBL, you’ll enjoy this!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!
I am super picky with my 5 ⭐️s, I don’t give them out easily, but this one had me hooked from the start! I loved everything about it…the 1950s Hollywood glitz and glamour, the dual timeline, the love story and of course the mystery that has me guessing till the end!
My heart ached for Vivian, for Ruth, and for Ginger. I loved both Kit and Hugh. It was such an interesting take on fame and the cost that comes with it.
This was an absolutely fantastic debut novel and I highly recommend it!!

Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Margot leads a predictable life in her thirties, and when her grandmother dies, decides to sell her grandma's house. Her plan is to quickly return to Santa Barbara, where she can hide from her professional and personal failings. While cleaning out the attic, she comes across eight cassette tapes. Since the cassette player is broken, she reaches out to Leo, her former love. He agrees to fix the cassette player in exchange for hearing what is on the tapes. The soon learn that the life story of Vivian Stone, a comedic legend, is on the tapes and wonder how her grandmother managed to acquire the tapes. Margot and Leo learn about all of the personal and professional details of Vivian, and in the process remember their own memories together. What they learn is that Vivian was a fighter for what she wanted, and never gave up, and that becomes inspiring for Margot in her own life.

I really enjoyed reading the dual timelines in this book. Vivian was written wonderfully and you could really sense her spunk and drive within the pages, essentially showcasing a woman beyond her time. I enjoyed also how Margot figured out there were parallels with her own life. That being said, there was a ton of emotional connectivity in this book, which the author portrayed well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought using the tapes to tell the story was a clever idea. After a recent divorce, Margot DuBois is cleaning out her deceased grandmother's house when she comes across some tapes. Leo, a great friend and a lost love, helps her clean the tapes and find a machine that will play them. It turns out they are tapes made by actress Vivvian Stone about her time in Hollywood. Along the way, Margot discovers some secrets and learns to love again. I thought this was a really good debut novel, and I hope to hear more from this author!