Hollywood Daze
by Simona Moroni
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Pub Date Jun 01 2018 | Archive Date Nov 15 2018
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Description
Lost in Translation meets UnREAL in this fierce and unexpectedly heartwarming novel.
At the center of this razor-sharp adventure is talented, deadpan, recluse Mona Larvink.
Lonely and lost, Mona arrives in dazzling California to help the only person left, her brother Joost, a famous European director, to make it big.
But working for her brother is a drag, always turning into major drama.
Mona could use a drink and some friends.
Enter: “A thief, a troll, a taxidermist and a traumatized dog.”
The de facto leader of this group, Elki Daniels, is also an insider who can explain Hollywood to Mona and, why not, even life.
Elki makes Mona believe she can stand up to her brother's selfish demands.
But the industry forces you to play its own wicked games. Soon—and maybe it's Mona's damn fault—everything spirals out of control and Mona find herself before an impossible choice that could destroy her friendship, her family, and everyone's future.
A treat for film buffs. With a deadpan style, a page-turning rom-com gone very wrong, an oh-so-relevant novel about that one friendship that will set you free.
Advance Praise
"Simona Moroni's Hollywood Daze is a dark, witty, coming-of-age tale.
Dutch filmmaker Joost Larvink invites his young sister Mona to work her editing magic on his first big-budget production. Joost's desire is to transform the film, a sci-fi remake of a classic Cary Grant romantic comedy, into a gay love story. Viewing the original as a piece of Hollywood history marked by fake heterosexual relationships, he emphasizes, "My Favorite Wife was a screwball comedy, and censorship created the genre." The well-paced first-person narrative reveals Mona’s newfound involvement with a motley crew amid continuous action: break-ins to collect movie memorabilia, crashed celebrity gatherings, stolen morphine for a suicidal landscaper and, ultimately, film edits that might destroy careers.
Artful backdrops become characters unto themselves. Indiscretions might lure young adult readers, Moroni's writing should also attract fans of Hollywood’s golden age. Moroni cleverly brings the story full circle with unexpected twists.
BlueInk Reviews
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Consumer, and wholesalers campaign
Digital marketing
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Goodreads giveaway
Cover and sample reveal
Key influencers mailing
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781999652302 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Heather N, Reviewer
This book was all over the place. Usually, that is taken in a negative context, but I think it might actually work here. It's different and edgy, with rough edges and sharp corners. It felt unpolished and gritty, and I think by the ending that was what really drew me in.
So, the characters are a little strange and off-kilter. Their relationships and interactions are frequently weird and random. Mona has just arrived in the States, following her famed Dutch director brother, Joost. He's really just a toxic blight on her life, only concerned about himself and his career, oh, and his "artistic integrity."
Luckily, Mona meets a whole menagerie of individuals that help to make her life in LA a little more bearable. Now, to note, I wasn't blown away by any of the characters. Their personalities weren't exactly warm and bubbly, rather they tended to be abrupt and rude at times. Maybe it's a millennial thing since many of the characters seem to be in that age range.
However, once the book progressed and Mona was on her own, I did appreciate her growth and maturing personality much more. Her time with the "turtles" was one of the better parts of the book.
I thought the ending had a surprising twist, in that it wasn't what I expected when the story came full-circle from the first scene (kudos to the author for pulling a switcheroo on an implied ending!). I did appreciate the creative way Simona Moroni wrapped the story up, with the future wide open with possibilities.
Overall, I gave the Hollywood Daze a 4/5 rating, with detractions for a writing style that didn't draw me in (until well into the middle of the book), some unclear character backgrounds, and the inability to relate (or empathize) with the most of the characters.
Reviewer 484260
As a cinema student i wanted to read this book. But i didn't get what i expected. I didn't connect the characters. It is an okay book for me.
Mary K, Media/Journalist
A surprising book, much more than a coming-of-age book, filled with eccentric characters and the delightful Mona, the main character. As Mona navigates her way through La-La Land, we see the depth of her emotions, her keen intelligence and her wicked wit. A thoroughly delightful book, fun, edgy, unforgettable. Looking for more books from this author.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Jodi Picoult; Jennifer Finney Boylan
General Fiction (Adult), Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction
