NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

TW: Rape, Child abuse, abortion

This is the story of 3 women whose stories begin in the late 1800s and carries forward to the heyday of Hollywood. Through in stars such as Rudolph Valentino and self realization with intricate character backgrounds, we have a story that will pull you in and keep you in it's clutches until the very end.

This is one of those books that I knew from the first page I would love as it has the perfect balance of humor and plot! Maybelle has moved from Kentucky to LA and meets the beautiful Joe who draws her into a life she never knew existed. Alternating in time from the 1800's to the 1900's, the novel reveals the lifestyles of the Roaring 20's with all its grandeur and pompous behavior. We also meet Alla whose lowly origins eventually catapult her to fame as these characters' lives intersect. What a joy ride as it was easy to picture!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I was drawn in by the cover art, but I stayed for the story. I love books set during this period and This one is no exception. I enjoyed the journey with these characters and was surprised to learn that Alla Nazi nova was a real person. I find myself wanting g to know more about her.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

This was such an interesting read diving into the lives of Alla, Maybelle, and Joe. What a pleasant surprise to discover Alla Nazimova was indeed a real person (I do not always read descriptions in full before I choose to read a book to be able to fully experience the twists and turns).

This is a tale of strong women and survival and ambition. The dive into the seemingly glamorous life of women of the 1900s was a fun one, but not without some needed trigger warnings. I must say that was unexpected, but I still enjoyed the read and the exposure to some of what the LGBTQ+ community may have looked like in that time and what the glitz and glam of the 1920s was like - including the good and the bad.

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one really reminded me of City of Girls, the lifestyle, the glamour, but also the tenderness. I looove feminist historical fiction with an absolute passion and I will be recommending this one to absolutely everyone. Wonderful!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

So well written an excellent book of historical fiction.set in the golden age of Hollywood.I was totally involved in the story the characters their lives.Enjoyed from first page to last.#netgalley #wellbehavedwomen

A thoroughly engaging read with fascinating queer women against the backdrop of beginning of the Hollywood age. Bravo! Thank you to #netgalley for an advanced copy.#wellbehavedwomen #carolibelamond

was excited the publisher, One More Chapter, reached out to me the other day to read this one on @netgalley. Most times I read these requests, it pays off and I love the book, and that was the case here!

Maybelle is a small-town girl from Kentucky, who’s now living right outside Los Angeles California. She quickly meets and is captivated by Joe, who introduces her to the charismatic Alla. Maybelle and Alla both have secrets that threaten to bring their lives down. Over the course of this book hearts are broken, careers are destroyed, and friendships are shattered because of closed door secrets that haven’t stayed hidden.

I can say that when I got this email the other day, I briefly scanned the description and quickly decided I would read it. I was not fully prepared to completely fall in love with it! This book is told from Maybelle’s and Alla’s perspectives. The story of Alla begins in the late 1800’s and the story of Maybelle begins in the early 1900’s. I loved both woman and their stories, including how they intersected. I enjoyed the queer aspect of this book, its not something that was widely out in the open during this time, so it was interesting to read this one. I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book surrounding being queer when it was very much only behind closed doors.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher, HarperCollins UK – One More Chapter, for my advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. Check this one out March 30th!

This was an incredible, but really difficult read because of the emotional themes. I’m really glad I was given the opportunity to read this ARC.