3.5
It's difficult to pinpoint anything to complain about here except to say that the tone was occasionally off putting, enough so that I had to really push through by the end.

Lindsay Lynch snagged some powerful blurbs for a debut author — Ann Patchett, Emma Straub, Geraldine Brooks to name a few — owing in some part to her job at Parnassus Books, but there must be some merit there. Edie O’Dare’s contract with FWM Studios in Hollywood is about to run out, and there’s not a lot for a young woman to do in 1939 California. She uses her quick wits and strong relationships with a lot of A-listers to parlay her low-profile acting career into a columnist for a newspaper. Lucky for her, Hollywood is in the midst of a scandalous trial where Edie knows a lot of the main players — all of whom seem to make an appearance in the story. Do Tell suffers from this overabundance of characters; there are also a lot of other things including clothing, makeup, hair, etc. that may put off some readers. But, if you love glamorous Hollywood with all of the accouterments, under the fluff Lynch has written a solid novel about female power in an unexpected time and place.

Edith O’Dare is an actress and part-time gossip columnist in the last year of her acting contract. Without any future prospects and a juicy scandal falling into her lap, Edith decides to work at getting this scandal published while spilling the secrets of her former colleagues.

A riveting novel set in the ’30s-’40s about the glitzy Hollywood scene and the seedy underbelly of the elite.

I feel as if I would have enjoyed this novel much more if there were fewer characters to keep straight. I felt almost drowned with the number of names thrown around at first and had difficulty connecting with anyone in particular. But overall, it felt like a very authentic Hollywood experience of that period.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Unofficial publicity associate" is the title Edith O'Dare, a "moderately successful actress" who isn't having her studio contract renewed, prefers to use as her new career title instead of "snitch". The relationships she has developed with many in the film industry over the prior few years give her a glimpse into the lives of many actors and actresses. She spends the rest of her working life writing published fluff stories about them that intrigue and titillate. However, she isn't always truthful nor is she correct about some stories she believes to be accurate.

I found this novel to be highly readable and engrossing. I was curious about how Edith and the characters she wrote about would evolve over time. The ending was poignant and satisfying.

Would she tell all? What do her articles reveal about her? Do tell?

The idea of old Hollywood glitz and glamour with juicy gossip and tons of secrets is what appealed to me about Do Tell, the story of an actress turned celebrity gossip columnist in the 1930s at the beginning of WWII. I wish I could say I found the scandals and feuds compelling and that I couldn’t stop turning the pages, but this story fell flat for me. Each chapter was broken up into short passages which seems like it would be fast-paced and keep the reader’s attention, but instead it just felt choppy and uneven at times. Even the Me Too storyline never really had enough depth to get off the ground. 2.5⭐️

Do Tell is the debut novel by Lindsay Lynch about an actress turned gossip columnist in Hollywood's golden age. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story!! I loved how Lindsay Lynch remained true to the 1930's-1940's time period with not only the Hollywood Glamour but also, the characters' reactions to and thoughts about events unfolding around them. Main character, Edie O'Dare, was a fantastically complex character who drew both my sympathy and disappointment during the novel. Accompanied by a great cast of characters, juicy gossip, and world events, Do Tell will be a great pick for book club discussions, historical fiction readers, and fans of old Hollywood!
Thank you to Lindsay Lynch, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of Do Tell!

It took me a while to get involved in this novel since it contains so many characters. It is the story of Edith O’Dare a blossoming gossip columnist in Hollywood. I found myself somewhat confused by all the interactions, especially as the novel began.

As a big fan of Old Hollywood, I did get more involved in the story, but I’m not sure I would recommend this to reading groups since discussions might be difficult. I know that I have an issue with. “Crowded” novels, but I found this confusing.

Thank you Netgalley.

"Do Tell" me why I spent time reading this book! Edi can't make it as an actress in 1930's Hollywood so she becomes an insider "spy" for the local gossip columnist as she still has access to the back lots, stages and offices of the production company until her contract runs out. Finding that she doesn't like the way some of her friends are being reported upon in the column, she sets out to write one of her own. Confusing for this reader was the addition of fictional characters mixed in with real Hollywood stars of the 30s and 40s. Were some of these secondary characters real people at the time or strictly imagined? The most scandalous items are Edi's discovery that two of her male friends are gay and have been having a secret relationship and the rape of a 16-year-old starlet by a leading man. If you like reading about gossip (and it's creation) then you'll stick with this. Personally, I was bored and wanted the story to get going-it never did.

Hollywood 1939….a pivotal year in the Golden Age of film, and a city with a limitless supply of gossip and ambition.

This addictive story is told through the eyes of Edie O’Dare, born Edith O’Shaughnessy to an impoverished family back in Boston, now a moderately successful actress under contract with FWM Studios. There are three months left on that contract, and she is well aware that her studio seldom renews them for “moderately successful” actresses like her. She has supplemented her income through the years by feeding tidbits of information to reigning gossip columnist Poppy St. John; Edie has always been observant, and knows when to stay silent and fade into the background to listen, and how to pay attention to not just where people are but where they aren’t. Who didn’t show for a film shoot and who didn’t attend an A-list party can be every bit as much a story as who did, and a good columnist fills in those blanks to create a story. With her acting career about to come to an end, Edie needs to find a new way to support herself, and using the sources and connections she has accrued through the years to start her own gossip column may be just the way to do it. She’ll need a dynamic story to get her foot in the door, and when one presents itself she sets aside her scruples and uses it. A lovely sixteen year old named Sophie who just finished filming what everyone said would be her breakthrough role and for which she is sure to be offered a contract by FWM, was excited to attend her very first Hollywood party. Surrounded by some of her movie idols, she ended up drinking a bit too much champagne (Edie herself helped clean her up when she ended up getting sick in the bathroom), and then disappeared from the party for awhile….only to turn up dazed and disheveled a few hours later. In the days that follow, Sophie slips Edie a letter to pass along to Poppy, claiming that during the party, the highly popular swashbuckling actor Freddy Clarke convinced her to come upstairs with him that night so that she could rest and recover, but instead forced himself on her. She wants him to be punished for what he did to her, and her wealthy father is willing to hire lawyers to help her press charges., Edie makes the decision to use the letter herself, and sets in motion both her new career and a huge scandal. Edie soon finds that she will have to keep uncovering secrets, alienating former colleagues and eventually publishing a story that results in consequences which she never anticipated would be so catastrophic for so many. Knowledge is indeed power, and should be wielded carefully.

I grew up fascinated by the classic movies of the 1930’s and 1940’s, so this novel attracted me first because of where and when it is set. Glamour and opulence abound, and every now and again a famous name makes a brief appearance. But author Lindsay Lynch also shows what went on behind the scenes…manufactured romances and marriages, misdeeds covered up, and careers made and destroyed according to the whims of the studio heads. Edie is a fascinating character; she grew up poor, managed to escape the hardscrabble life she was destined to lead and instead worked relentlessly to grab a niche for herself in the world of make-believe and magic. She is trying to do the same for her talented but tortured brother, a writer who may or may not fit into this same milieu. Abusive but influential directors, publicity directors feeding stories to the insatiable maw of movie fans, actors and actresses who may be talented or successful or even sometimes both, whose relationships with one another may or may not have anything to do with what the public is being told….its all in here. Movie buffs may be tempted to guess what real life stars were the inspiration for the characters of Charles and Nell, Margy and Hal, Freddy and Sophie, and others who pop up, and would certainly enjoy this novel. Fans of Stewart O’Nan’s West of Sunset, George Baxt’s Hollywood Mysteries, and novels by Martin Turnbull may also want to give this one a try. Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of Do Tell.

It is Hollywood in the 1930s and 40s. Edie O'Dare is the final year of her contract with FWM Studios. A bit actress she almost aways goes unnoticed. She has been selling gossip to the gossip columnist of the time. When handed a note that tells her someone has been assaulted by a A-list actor, Edie realizes the power of the pen. A entire chain of event of set into motion. The book exposes Hollywood glamor and secrets and has courtroom drama.

I could not put this book down. Despite her moral greyness, spending time attending parties and premieres with Edie O'Dare is exactly my idea of fun. Age has brought Edie clarity, as she narrates her story about Hollywood in the 30s and 40s from several decades later in the 70s or 80s. Gossip, scandal, horrible men behaving horribly, Edie could be describing the Hollywood (or any ego-dominated industry) of today. The deep dive into the ultimately predatory studio system of Old Hollywood was fascinating, and it was easy to think of real bygone stars who were forced into archetypes that no actual person could neatly fit inside--the ingenue, the wisecracker, the villain, the hero. As Edie follows the lives and careers of her coworkers-turned-subjects as she transition from actress to gossip columnist, we experience every emotion alongside them. Through career triumphs, personal disasters, and a long-awaited culmination of love, we witness an entire studio weather the slings and arrows of a particular industry at a particular time. This is a perfect readalike for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Edie O'Dare is about to finish the final year of her contract with FWM Studios, and then she will have to find a new gig. When an up-and-coming starlet hands her a letter alleging an assault from an A-list actor at a party with Edie and the rest of the industry’s biggest names in attendance, Edie helps get the story into print and sets off a chain of events that will alter the trajectories of everyone involved.

Edie will learn that publishing the secrets of those former colleagues will have catastrophic repercussions, and when she finds herself in the middle of the trial of the decade, Edie will have to make an impossible choice with the potential to ruin more than one life.

I'm a big fan of the vibes of this book. It really captures the glamour of Hollywood and the gossips from the tabloids. I enjoyed the description of the setting, the fashion and the style of the characters. The way this book was written, made me think about the magazines where we can find a lot of the scandals of the celebrities. I think that was the point, and it was well executed. What i didn't enjoy was the big amount of flashbacks. I wanna keep reading about the present.

It was a fun read and I'll definetly check the future books by Lindsay Lynch.

Do Tell follows Edie, a character actress turned gossip columnist during the Golden Age of Hollywood. When Edie finds about about a sexual assault of an underage actress by a big male star, she decides to get involved. I had to think about this book for a while after I read it to decide how I feel, and I imagine many other people would be the same. This book reads more like literary fiction than historical fiction, which I did love and I think really sets it apart from others. However if you are not used to literary fiction you might not enjoy the formatting as much. You can tell Lynch has a strong voice and can write well. She is able to transport you to old Hollywood and the setting is very atmospheric. The only things I felt brought the story down for me were first: so many characters. There’s a character glossary at the front but while you’re reading and trying to keep the momentum of the story, trying to remember who everyone is and going back to look can be a bit jarring. Secondly, I did think the pacing was a little bit off towards the end of the book. That said, the more I sit with it after finishing, the more I enjoy the book. It is very well written, atmospheric, and despite a few bumps I do think is definitely worth the read.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Edie O'Dare is a b list actress in the 1940's. When her contract runs out with the mid-level production company FWM she parlays her relationships into creating a name for herself in the gossip world. There are plenty of stories to report on but the question is how will this newfound power change her relationships?
Lindsay Lynch breathes life into a unique story about the golden age of Hollywood- creating characters that you care about along with villians and clear illustrations of who holds the power in Hollywood. If you are a fan of film, love golden age or movie star stories or just want to read a new and talented author Do Tell is for you! .#Doubleday #DoTell #LindsayLynch

I was asked to review “Do Tell” by Lindsay Lynch. I went into this book without barely glancing at the synopsis. Hence, I did not realize at first that this was historical fiction about the golden age of Hollywood, which is not an era I know a lot about. The writer did a captivating job of putting the reader into this time frame. Edith is a character actress who has a second career as a gossip columnist. Yet when a young actress confides an assault to her, Edith knows she has to act.

The author took care to research her, which shows in her picturesque narration. I did not care for so many flashbacks—I understood the purpose, but they came across as formulaic. Overall, I liked the story and would be interested to see what this author writes next.

Three and a half stars.

Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love reading books about life in Hollywood. The movie stars intrigue me! Lynch has done a great job with Do Tell. Her writing is fabulous. I enjoyed this book a lot. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars!

Lindsay Lynch has written a gorgeous debut novel.I loved the characters the setting in old Hollywood the juicy story line.I enjoyed it from first page to last will be recommending to anyone who enjoys a delicious read.#netgalley #doubledaybooks

Lindsay is one of the book buyers at my hometown bookstore in Nashville.. I LOVED this book! I love old Hollywood and this was a unique take on that era.

I enjoyed this, but it isn't something incredibly memorable for me. I found it to be a tad choppy with flashbacks that seemed to distrupt the overall flow of the story.

I enjoyed this behind the scenes glimpse into the olden days of Hollywood. I recommend this book to lovers of old movies and historical fiction.