Down on her professional and romantic luck, Olivia jumps at the chance to take a well-paying, mystery writer-for-hire assignment. She flies across the country to meet the client, a wealthy, "sexiest man alive" who lost his wife in a car accident a year prior. Although excited about the project, road blocks and questions keep getting in the way and Olivia's unease keeps her in LA digging for the truth. She reconnects with her college bestie Noah, currently a professor at nearby UCLA, after a rocky parting five years earlier. We get a bit of "spice" throughout, but when a certain relationship commences it is a little lacking in that department. Not gory or overly violent, a fast-paced read with a satisfying conclusion. I won a copy through a Goodreads giveaway.

Boy oh boy, this was a letdown. Normally, these kind of suspenseful, "slow reveal via letters or journals" stories are right up my alley but normally the lead character isn't a monumental dummy like Olivia.

Olivia is completely dickmatized by her potential new employer and I get it, we've all been brought down by horniness at some point. But she not only ignores her gut in the face of repeated red flags (examples: he is moody and possessive toward Olivia who is a literal stranger, he physically grabs her and pulls her around multiple times, he hedges and distracts whenever she asks questions about the book he wants her to write, his claims are at best unverifiable and at worst outright lies, and oh yeah, she starts to suspect he may have killed his wife), she also ignores a variety of people who flat out tell her to get the hell away from this guy. She knowingly and willingly puts herself in actual bodily danger MORE THAN ONCE because this dude is hot.

Now I know that under other circumstances, I would be tiptoeing right up to the line of blaming the victim in an abusive relationship, but these two aren't in a relationship! This was a JOB INTERVIEW. She hasn't been paid, she hasn't signed a contract and she's under no obligation to stay in this dangerous situation where her wishes and bodily autonomy are consistently overruled and she is suspicious of all food and beverages because she was drugged the first time she drank coffee at his house. Olivia is an idiot.

She also has a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol (she spends the first half of the book consuming entire bottles of wine and champagne by herself and then disparaging herself for the inevitable hangover), but she allows Ash to push booze on her even when she tells him no. Olivia is an idiot.

After she confronts him with what she knows and suspects, he doesn't deny anything and she fully understands that he falls somewhere between an abusive narcissistic cheater and maybe a murderer. This is when she fantasizes about moving in with him. Olivia is an idiot.

Then she's given a scene that I suppose is meant to redeem her and show her strength but it falls extraordinarily flat. Olivia goes on to get everything she's ever wanted but continues to imagine that Ash pines for her, and I'm reminded of all the mediocre white men that fail up over and over again. I guess it's good to see a mediocre white women failing up? Yay equality.

I also want to mention that the author is fascinated with people who bite their lip, especially when that person is Olivia. "I bit my lip" should be a drinking game while you read this book, but you may end up blotto before you finish the book. Clara also bites her lip, but not as much as Olivia. Maybe it's meant to add to Olivia's sense of naivety or maybe she's just too dumb to stop chewing on her own body. Who's to say?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my (clearly) honest review.

This is a fast-paced, engaging read perfect for fans of gothic suspense, especially the classic, Rebecca. The story has multiple layers, and the reader needs to pay attention, but rest assured, this is no tiresome task because the story really does delight from start to finish. The scene-setting is evocative with just enough details. Clever and captivating, the pages practically turn themselves. You can tell the author had a blast writing this novel. Plot twists are woven in with subtle foreshadowing, and the conclusion is satisfying. THE FICTION WRITER should be your fall book club pick.

I absolutely loved Beautiful Little Fools by this author so I couldn’t wait to request her newest novel coming out in November. It was a fun read but I would assume fans of “Rebecca” will enjoy it even more. Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Ms. Cantor has crafted an entertaining, if at times confusing, tale here that is a must read for fans of Daphne DuMaurier’s “Rebecca,” exploring the classic in contemporary retelling from an entirely different angle. However, the rather sudden and surprising insertion of yet another retelling of the story into the linear timeline then turns the story into a book within a book within a book, and this is where Ms. Cantor loses me. Honestly, I thought the inserted story far more interesting and compelling than the main story itself (which felt contrived and had paper-thin characters that didn’t really come alive for me) and wish that she had just stayed with that. That inserted story shows just how strong and powerful a writer Ms. Cantor is, so I look forward to her next work. And my sincere thanks to HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Fiction Writer is Jillian Cantor's newest novel about an author who is hired by People's Sexiest Man to ghost write his grandmother's story. It becomes complicated when Ash tells Olivia that Daphne de Maurier stole the idea for "Rebecca'" from his grandmother's journals. As Olivia becomes more involved in Ash's life, a series of suspicious events unfold. Did his wife Angelica really die in a car accident, or is she alive and hiding somewhere? Is Ash's housekeeper Clara trying to poison Olivia? As Olivia becomes more involved in the twisted lifestyle of Ash's rich and powerful family, she realizes that she may have been hired under false pretences.

This is a quick, propulsive read that will definitely keep you guessing until the very last page.

This is one for your TBR pile! This was such an exciting and entertaining read. You never know what’s going to happen once you turn that page.
If you’re a fan of the novel Rebecca and Daphne’s du Maurier, then you do not want to miss this one. The story of Rebecca, the ghost of Rebecca and ghosts of past relationships are everywhere. The Fiction Writer will keep you on your toes with the many twists.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Review has been posted to goodreads. Date of publication, other reviews will be posted to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, bookbub, etc.

“The Fiction Writer” is by Jillian Cantor. First - let me say that the house on the cover of this book is impressive. I mean, a lot of houses near the ocean in SoCal are impressive, but this cover immediately caught my eye (and made me wonder how long it’s going to last up there as it’s so close to the cliff … but I digress). Anyway, give me the name Daphne du Maurier and I’m like “sign me up to read it.” Like Olivia in the book, I read du Maurier’s Rebecca as a teen and caught the 1940 movie on the late-late show soon after my first read. Ms. Cantor takes the story of “Rebecca” and gives it an interesting modern twist. I would say that if you like books within books, a psychological twist (or two), and a gothic atmosphere, this book might be up your alley. If you enjoy books about writing, this also might be up your alley. I have to admit - I figured out pretty quickly what was going on and wasn’t too surprised by the potential twist at the end. I also feel compelled to note - I read this book in a few hours as it really held my attention.

Thank you to the publishers for the advanced copy on NetGalley. I absolutely loved this novel! It was so captivating and I couldn't put it down.

Olivia Fitzgerald is a twenty-something Bostonian and she’s in a place where many struggling young writers have been. Five yea ago, when she was only a couple of years out of college, her first novel sold 100,000 copies. She was considered someone to watch. But her second one -- a retelling of Du Maurier’s Rebecca -- sold barely a thousand, and her semi-autobiographical third book, into she had poured every last bit of her creative energies, can’t find a publisher at all. And the same day her agent called to tell her she’d had to withdraw it from making the rounds, her long-time boyfriend also moved out of their apartment. Writing is all Olivia has ever wanted to do, it’s her addiction, but the earlier advances are about gone now and her checking account is getting dangerously low.

Then her agent calls out of the blue with a proposal. Henry “Ash” Asherwood III, multi-billionaire and CEO of a chain store empire with more locations that Costco and Target combined, and chosen as People marine's Sexiest Man Alive more than once, wants to hire her for a ghostwriting project. Her, specifically. And the gig pays $50,000 -- for start. How does a guy like that even know who she is, Olivia wonders. She’ll have to sign the NDA and fly to his amazing glass mansion on the Malibu cliffs to find out.

As it turns out that Ash’s grandmother, Emilia, a contemporary of Du Maurier, led a life very similar to the fictional Rebecca’s, and she recorded it all, in French, in a set of journals, and then died young. All this was several years before Du Maurier published her iconic novel and Henry wants justice for his grandmother and and what he claims is her stolen real-life story.

And Olivia is the perfect person to carry out this literary vengeance because her own life has parallels to Du Maurier’s boo, too -- which is why she wrote her own second novel, the one that didn’t sell well, but which let Henry Asherwood to her. But after days of aborted interviews and not much in the way of discussions of the project, Olivia has become confused, and at the same time is being swept up in Ash's own strong personality. And as she continues not to get answers to the questions she asks, things begin to feel . . . off. Another parallel to the way her own mother died when she was in college. And she keeps remembering that his own wife died in a car crash only a year ago.

Cantor has written nearly a dozen earlier well-received novels for both adults and teenagers, and her experience shows. This one has a multilayered plot with appropriately Gothic overtones. The author also has a taste for foreshadowing. If you like semi-Gothic cozy-thrillers with a distinctly creepy vibe, you could do a lot worse than to spend a weekend with this very readable book.

The Fiction Writer is an enthralling novel that somehow manages to balance modern-day thriller with gothic classic, all while asking some very meta questions about who owns a story. The book even proclaims from the start, “there are no new stories,” and proceeds to show the reader how our own experiences are retellings of previously told stories.

In the case of this story it’s Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, or rather Jane Eyre, that is layered throughout the novel. Every woman featured in the book has their own connection and personal experience that ties them back to Rebecca. I was wholly immersed in the story from the start - the mystery, the gothic atmosphere, and the character’s relatable struggles. The twists kept me guessing until the end and I enjoyed the romance subplot.

I highly recommend The Fiction Writer to all lovers of classics, especially the gothic genre, and those who enjoy books about authors.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Park Row Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Fiction Writer
By Jillian Cantor
Pub Date: November 28, 2023
Park Row Books
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I really liked this one! It was an exciting read. I liked the characters. There is also an underlying romance,
This book is a winner!
4 stars

This is a very exciting read. Cantor places the main character in a fascinating, Gothic-like setting in Malibu. Olivia is struggling to save her writing career when her agent gets her a lucrative gig with a wealthy, mysterious man. Arriving in his home, she is buffeted by fear, revulsion and strong attraction.

The story is bracketed by DuMaurier’s novel Rebecca which serves as an inspiration to several of the novel’s characters and acts as a catalyst for the central theme and the interactions between the characters.

I liked the characters. Olivia is intelligent and sympathetic. Ash is so well depicted that I could picture him and his machinations as the novel progressed. Beyond the mystery, there is also a charming underlying romance.

All in all, this novel is a winner. Cantor has created a compelling story.

Thank you Netgalley for this very enjoyable, fast paced read.

A Spirited Tribute to Classic Suspense

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advanced copy of "The Fiction Writer" by Jillian Cantor. This book proved to be an enjoyable homage to the "mad woman in the attic" genre, specifically echoing the aura of "Rebecca".

Cantor's narrative is suspenseful, with an invigorating pace that keeps you turning pages. Yet, the protagonist's occasional implausible decisions might give readers pause. Although somewhat frustrating, these moments didn't overshadow the overall fun of the read.

"The Fiction Writer", despite its flaws, stands as an engaging read for fans of suspense and classic thrillers. It's a fun, if sometimes incredible, dive into a world of mystery and intrigue. Cantor's literary nod to genre classics is worth the venture.

This was a solid book that fans of “Rebecca” will enjoy. I didn’t think it was as strong as the author’s previous book, “Beautiful Little Fools”, but it held my interest. About three quarters of the way through, I started to get annoyed with the decisions made by the main character. Still a very good book!

So, one doesn't have to be a Daphne Du Maurier to enjoy this book, but it would certainly help. The premise of the story is that someone else wrote Rebecca and wants a story about the plagiarism. Or is it truth or fiction--what is truth and what is fiction. Whose telling the truth? And aside from Olivia and her college best friend all the characters are not particularly nice people and no one hesitates to stab each other in the back (figuratively not literally--they might use cars or drugs in the food). Even knowing all that it is still a fun read and the last chapter (even though one can see it coming) finishes the book off very well.

This book was absolutely enchanting! I could not put this down! It was a complete page turner with deep Gothic roots and lines in it. I freaking loved it!!
I just reviewed The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor. #TheFictionWriter #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor. The classic du Maurier novel Rebecca will generate interest among readers and writers forever. The Fiction Writer was excellent and I recommend it to Rebecca fans.

Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is one of those iconic stories that transcends the period in which it was written. The shadow of a previous wife that permeates the very essence of a household; the incomparable presence looming over a new bride. The Fiction Writer takes the base of Rebecca and attempts a new angle. The read was quick, fast paced, and thrilling in parts, but did not completely achieve its lofty goal.

Olivia Fitzgerald is in the midst of an existential crisis. Her last book was a flop and her current book will never reach print. She is also in the midst of a breakup with a long-term boyfriend. At her lowest, she cannot even keep fish alive, her agent calls with an unreal new project. Olivia is to ghostwrite a novel for the fabulous and exceedingly handsome widower Henry Asherwood.

Arriving in Malibu, Ash puts Olivia through a series of testing situations. The ghostwriting is continually pushed out as Ash seemingly woos Olivia. This is where the story gets stilted and repetitive. Like how bad do you need 50k, enough to be staying with at best a narcissist and at worst a psychopath? Olivia waffling between staying and leaving lasts forever without any real revelations. When she decides to finally leave everything tumbles together overly quickly. I also feel her relationship with Noah was forced. No one can go from unromantic friends to the other end of the spectrum after decades of knowing each other.

Summing it up, two books are written. One is a tell all and one is a ghostwrite, who writes which was the entire mystery.

This was an enjoyable, quick read about Olivia, a writer who signs an NDA and is hired to help an enigmatic billionaire with a book about his grandmother. She flies to Malibu and starts researching, but there are lots of twists and turns, including his dead wife and his grandmother's unlikely story, which just happens to be similar to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier,

The Fiction Writer would be a great summer beach read! Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC.