I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. It's told in the past and present day, but we don't find out how they are connected until the end. I enjoyed both stories greatly. The information about how movie studios treated their stars not just with sexual abuse allegations, but also by controlling who they could date, if they should have a baby or an abortion, and pressuring them to take stimulants for long days on the set makes me wonder why people still wanted to act at all. I guess some people think the price of fame is worth it, but is it in the end? Vivian is a standout star in many ways throughout the book.

This book is for young romantics who want to drift in and out of mysterious and loving relationships.

There are two timelines.

Margot, in the present time, arrived from Santa Barbara to Long Beach to get her grandmother’s house cleaned up and ready to sell. She found cassette tapes in a box and took them to a music store where her former high-school boyfriend was working. She knew he would be able to help her find out what was on the tapes.

Meanwhile, Vivian was a Hollywood movie star from the 1950s and had a couple of admirers: Kit and Hugh. Yet, it wasn’t easy when the producers were dictating how they wanted the relationships to evolve as it could be used to promote the shows.

The story was easy to read with all sorts of complex issues and characters that were described perfectly. However, most of the book followed Vivian’s amazing career. It made me feel like Margot’s job as a writer wasn’t as noteworthy. Plus, Vivian was on top of the world and Margot’s life appeared to be simple and ordinary. There was always the lingering question if men could be friends with women.

Sometimes stories leave you with mixed feelings and this was one of them. It would be an interesting discussion with book clubs. There’s a list of questions at the end.

My thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 22, 2025.

The One and Only Vivian Stone drops you straight into the golden age of Hollywood. The details are expansive, the background is engaging. And Vivian Stone is one of a kind. Part Lucille Ball, part Evelyn Hugo she guides us through her rise to fame and everything that came with it. While the modern day story was not as engaging as Vivian’s past, it’s a fun read especially for anyone with a sweet spot for that era in the entertainment industry.

This is a book review. The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O’Connor is a warm, nostalgic, and beautifully layered debut that wrapped around me like a cozy blanket on a rainy afternoon. Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy—what a treat to experience this story before its release.

There’s something quietly magical about a book that pulls you in from the first page—not with explosions or cliffhangers, but with characters who feel like people you’ve known all your life. That’s exactly what happened here. I was immediately taken with Margot DuBois, a woman in her thirties navigating grief, disappointment, and the ghosts of her past. When her beloved grandmother passes away, Margot returns home to clean out the family house, only to discover a box of unlabeled cassette tapes tucked away in the attic. It’s the kind of discovery that hints at secrets, and like any book lover, I was instantly intrigued.

With her old tape player busted, Margot reaches out to Leo—her high school sweetheart and first heartbreak. He agrees to fix the player, on one condition: he wants to listen to the tapes, too. What they find on them is completely unexpected—the voice of none other than Vivian Stone, a famous comedic actress from Hollywood’s golden age. Think Lucille Ball with a little extra edge, a little more grit, and a whole lot of heart.

Vivian’s story unfolds slowly across the tapes, and I hung on every word. Through her memories, we’re swept into smoky backlots, glamourous sets, and behind-the-scenes drama that’s as dazzling as it is heartbreaking. She tells of forbidden love, friendships that defy the odds, career highs and crushing lows. Her voice is sharp and funny, but also tender—full of things left unsaid and sacrifices made for the sake of dreams.

The novel moves back and forth between Vivian’s past and Margot’s present, and I was surprised by how well-balanced both timelines were. Often with dual timelines, one feels stronger than the other, but here they both offered something special. Margot’s journey is quieter, more introspective, but just as compelling. She’s grappling with loss, with stalled ambition, and with the lingering what-ifs of her past. Watching her rediscover her voice and her courage through Vivian’s story was truly moving.

And then there’s Leo. I really enjoyed the slow-burn second chance romance between Margot and Leo. It’s gentle and full of longing—the kind of love that’s taken time to soften and mature. Their shared history added emotional depth to their scenes, and I appreciated how their relationship developed in tandem with Margot’s personal growth. It’s a romance that doesn’t overshadow the story, but rather enhances it in all the right ways.

What makes this book feel especially cozy and immersive is its format. O’Connor includes transcripts of the tapes, old letters, articles, and even small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. It gives the book a scrapbook feel, like we’re gently peeling back layers of a forgotten life, one artifact at a time. I loved that—it made the reading experience feel tactile and personal, like I was part of the mystery.

There are heavier themes woven throughout the book, particularly in Vivian’s timeline. O’Connor doesn’t shy away from exploring the sexism and exploitation that women faced in 1950s Hollywood. But she balances it with warmth, humor, and moments of genuine connection. Vivian’s friendship with Ruth—an unforgettable character in her own right—is one of the beating hearts of the book. Their bond felt real and grounding, a reminder that behind every strong woman is often another woman cheering her on.

The mystery at the center of the novel—why the tapes are in Margot’s grandmother’s attic, and what Vivian’s connection is to Margot’s family—is handled delicately and reveals itself at just the right pace. I did see part of the twist coming, but that didn’t make it any less satisfying. If anything, it made me appreciate the emotional payoff even more.

My only wish is that we had just a bit more time with Margot and Leo near the end. Their arc wrapped up a little more quickly than I expected, and I would have happily read another few chapters of them navigating their future. But that’s more a compliment than a complaint—when a story is this enjoyable, you never really want it to end.

Melissa O’Connor’s writing is warm, immersive, and brimming with heart. She captures not just the atmosphere of old Hollywood, but the quieter truths of modern life—the weight of grief, the sting of regret, and the courage it takes to begin again. The One and Only Vivian Stone is a story about love, legacy, and the unexpected ways the past can shape the present. It’s also about the women who came before us, the stories they left behind, and the power of finally listening.

If you loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & the Six, or even just have a soft spot for vintage nostalgia and heartfelt second chances, this one should be at the top of your list. I can absolutely see this being turned into a limited series—it reads like one in the best possible way.

A beautiful, bittersweet, and deeply comforting read. I’ll be thinking about Vivian, Margot, and Ruth for a long time.

Thank you to @Netgalley for the ARC of The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O’Connor. All opinions are my own.

Margot’s Gram recently passed away and she is back to clean out her house. She finds a letter with some mysterious cassette tapes in the attic- what a mystery! She needs help repairing her cassette player, which brings her to Leo, who broke her heart 20 years ago. She makes a deal to let him listen to the tapes with her. However, the voice doesn’t belong to her Gram, or her mom. It’s Vivian Stone, legend of comedy (think Lucille Ball). The tapes hold her story, and it is a good one. But why was it in their attic?

This is a visually appealing book. I love the drawings above the chapter titles, how they vary for the different storylines, and how they change. A drawing of a cassette introduces each new tape, and it just begs to be colored in. I love the letters, texts and articles, and the then and now timeline. Of course I adore romance, and this book has that as well.

I spent a lot of time thinking about the actresses of the past and what they most likely had to go through to be in the business. I daydreamed about the #metoo movement instead happening back then and being solved long ago.

Words we should bring back: “blockhead”, “swell” as an adjective, and calling a movie “a picture”.

Have you seen the 1978 video of Lucille Ball getting after a host named David by repeating “will you take your hands off her” after he kept touching the audience members? Look it up! What did she know?

This publishes July 22, 2025 and I recommend it!

4/5 stars
Off page love scenes
Location: Long Beach, CA

Wow! What an incredible story for a debut novel!! Congrats to the author Melissa, because if this is her starting point, I cannot wait to see what’s next!!!

I was super intrigued by this book from the moment I heard about it. The author is from my local area so I def knew I wanted to support her and check her out ✅ It’s a historical fiction which I tend to really enjoy ✅ it’s got old Hollywood vibes and was compared to Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ✅ there were some subtle references to things in WNY and like scenarios of stuff that had happened with the Buffalo Bills ✅ Throw in a little nostalgia with found cassette tapes and little bit of mystery and second chance romance and man I felt five star vibes all the way!

I really enjoyed Vivians character. She was beautifully written and I rooted for her and her happiness the whole book! The past timeline was amazing. And I couldn’t get enough of it.

Present timeline with Margot who found these cassette tapes was good as well. I did want a little more emotion with that but Vivian def stole the spotlight.

I highly recommend this one!! So beautiful. Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

For lovers or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Great Big Beautiful Life! This was a stunning debut from Melissa O’Connor. The dual timelines and mystery/intrigue made this hard to put down. When I tell you I was hooked from the first page. This is a must read!

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.