4.25⭐
Fascinating story set in the 1930's, the golden age in movies, focused on the lives of several women seen through the perspective of Frances Healy. Frances is 25 and has just become the secretary to a unit producer at a movie studio. There her boss plans to produce a movie based on the life a child star from the California Gold Rush Era when the woman whose story it is objects. As her story unfolds, so does Frances's. Weaving between the stories, in a leisurely and contemplative manner, shows the depth and richness of their lives without any triteness. An entrancing read.

Ginny Kubitz Moyer’s *A Golden Life* is a heartfelt, introspective journey through love, loss, and the search for meaning. This novel delivers an emotional yet uplifting exploration of how life’s most challenging moments can lead to unexpected growth and profound connections. With its tender prose and relatable characters, it’s a story that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.

At its core, the story follows Sarah, a woman whose carefully constructed life is upended by an unexpected loss. As she grapples with her grief, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, piecing together the fragments of her past and uncovering new possibilities for her future. Moyer’s writing is rich with emotion, capturing Sarah’s highs and lows with an authenticity that makes her journey deeply relatable. The narrative deftly weaves themes of family, love, and renewal into a story that feels both personal and universal.

What sets *A Golden Life* apart is its exploration of the small, golden moments that can shine through even the darkest times. Moyer’s storytelling invites readers to reflect on the beauty in everyday experiences and the relationships that shape our lives. The story doesn’t shy away from the messiness of grief and healing, but it also offers hope and a reminder that joy can be found even in life’s imperfections.

The pacing of the novel is gentle yet compelling, allowing readers to fully absorb the emotional depth of the story. Moyer’s descriptions of Sarah’s surroundings and emotional landscape are vivid, making it easy to picture the world she inhabits and the emotions she wrestles with. Her prose is both lyrical and grounded, evoking a sense of intimacy and reflection that draws readers in.

*A Golden Life* is a poignant and deeply moving novel that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or is seeking a story about rediscovering joy and purpose. It’s a reminder that life, even when it feels fragile, is filled with moments of connection and beauty. Ginny Kubitz Moyer has crafted a story that is as much about healing as it is about hope, making it a five-star read that will stay with you long after the final chapter. Perfect for quiet evenings or reflective moments, this book is a treasure that gently reminds us of life’s golden threads, waiting to be discovered.

There are few books I love more than a Hollywood Golden Age novel—this was such a lovely historical romance! The setting was gorgeous and so evocative of the time. I really enjoyed both Frances and Kitty. These were two strong women with many parallels in their lives and their stories, so multi-faceted and well-rounded as characters. The dual timelines worked well and kept the pace moving. I just really enjoyed living in this world for a bit. Highly recommend!

I absolutely adored this book!
Set in 1930s Hollywood, it follows Frances, a 25 year old secretary for a successful movie producer, Lawrence. Before long, the two find themselves on a road trip to Napa Valley on a quest to convince the former acting legend, Kitty Ridley, to allow the studio to make a movie about her life. Throughout their journey, Frances looks back at her life, painful as it is, for the very first time.
This book had me engaged from the beginning to the end. I read it in one sitting as i just couldn't get enough and absolutely had to find out what happened next. An absolutely charming book about coming to terms with the past and finding hope in the present.

“The Golden Life” is historical fiction about the Golden Age of Hollywood. In it we have a secretary with a past, an aging starlet, a studio producer, and a reclusive legend. The characters and their pasts were all carefully drawn and their arcs clear. 4.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy. .

This story is full of great characters! I loved Sally, Frances and of course, Miss Ridley!

Miss Ridley is a 90 year old woman and she takes no prisoners. She doesn’t care who you are, she is the boss. Miss Ridley started performing at a very young age and Frances’ boss, Lawerence, is wanting to do a film about her life. Needless to say, Miss Ridley expresses her wishes!

Frances has had her share of life’s misfortunes and she is someone you root for. And believe me, she works hard. She is a good girl who has made some bad choices but she does not let it stop her!

Then there is Sally. Sally broke my heart. I just wanted to come through the pages and hug her. She is Lawerence’s daughter and he really does not know what he is doing and Sally gets hurt on more than one occasion.

These are just a few of the great characters in this novel. As this story unfolds, the author creates a world you will not soon forget. This tale is full of emotion, strength and fortitude and you do not want to miss it!

Need a tale about Old Hollywood…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel for a honest review.

Frances felt a little thrill shoot along her veins: the thrill of the fresh start, of the possible.…

Get ready to immerse yourself in the glamorous yet complicated world of 1930s Hollywood, where the allure of fame often masks deeper struggles. Frances Healey, a secretary for the prominent movie mogul Lawrence Merrill, grapples with her troubled past while navigating the vibrant yet treacherous film industry.

Set against the backdrop of Hollywood's Golden Age, I felt Moyer captured the sparkle,glitz and glam of the era, and brought to life not only the movie-making process but also the people behind the glamour. Frances is seeking a fresh start after rocky times. Her journey reveals the complexity of her inner life, shaped by her past and her relationships. Moyer deftly explores themes of self-acceptance and forgiveness, as Frances learns to reconcile her history with her present.

The story takes an intriguing turn when Lawrence and Frances embark on a road trip to Napa Valley in an attempt to persuade the reclusive former actress Kitty Ridley to allow a film about her life. Kitty’s character adds depth to the story, highlighting the tension between public perception and personal reality.

I felt that Moyer’s attention to detail vividly brought the California setting and the characters to life, and made the era feel authentic. It made me fall in love with the golden era all the more,as I could picture myself immersed in the setting she provided.The novel not only serves as a captivating look into the behind-the-scenes of Hollywood but also delves into the emotional complexities of its characters.

A Golden Life is more than just a historical fiction piece; it’s a beautiful exploration of resilience and the courage to confront one's past. With its nuanced characters and richly drawn setting, I felt that Moyer’s novel was a beautiful story that resonated well beyond its glamorous façade.

The Golden Age in Hollywood is the new go-to for historical fiction as of late. There have been a slew of releases in the past year during occurring in this magical time period but A Golden Life has been my favorite. Frances is a secretary to a top executive in a Hollywood movie studio while they are in development for a film about the life of Kitty Ridley. The author created such a vivid and memorable character that I actually thought she may have existed during the Gold Rush so I actually did a Google search. We receive a junior version of a masterclass on movie-making in the Golden Age and we have Kitty Ridley tell her story of fame during the Gold Rush, living in Paris, marrying an aristocrat as well as her life in Napa. Frances has her own story and painful secrets she has carried around and run from for long enough and there are multiple parallels between the two women. Both of their tales unfold in a parallel. I was invested by chapter two. If I had to change anything it would be that the Napa days could have been shortened by about 25 pages but this is a thoroughly enjoyable read and in the end, I came away having learned something. The author’s notes at the end are a must-read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading A Golden Life by Ginny Kubitz Moyer. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I am a huge Classic Hollywood fan, so I couldn't wait to read A GOLDEN LIFE! I so enjoyed it. The setting was really well-developed and the story felt true to the time period, without feeling too dry or old-fashioned in tone. I also appreciated how much depth the characters were given, and Frances was a wonderful lead to follow! Overall, I'd highly recommend this one, particularly for fans of historical fiction set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and She Writes Press for access to this arc.

Well one the main things I enjoy about the book is how period it feels without it feeling too much like a history lesson. The names – good gosh thank you for the names. Frances and Lawrence and Sally and Celia and Joe and Nancy. Even “Belinda” picked a period sounding name when she left Podunk, Nebraska behind for the bright lights of stardom.

Each of the characters has issues and those issues make them seem alive and well rounded. There are hints for past events about Frances and Kitty that are slowly revealed. These make sense for the times and the mores. Frances’ past has driven a wedge between her and her beloved father. Lawrence and Sally are also divided by something that has left them floundering and in pain. But things aren’t one sided. Everyone has made mistakes and has regrets that haunt them which need to be addressed before any reconciliation can occur. I especially appreciate that Lawrence acknowledges that he knows he’s messed up.

There is one person I expected to dislike, do dislike but darned if this person isn’t given a good reason for the way they act and what they do. The family with whom Kitty lives is delightful but also given their troubles to face and overcome due to the Volstead Act. Kitty herself is indomitable.

All the way to the end, I wondered will this be a historical fiction with a romance … or not. Frances and Lawrence have both endured some hard knocks. They carefully negotiate a working relationship (and yay, that Frances really is fantastic at her job) and then cautiously advance when they both feel there might be something else between them. They are both kind but also flawed characters. Still we are given several instances of the innate core decency that is at the heart of them.

There are many strong female characters here aged from thirteen to ninety. They act realistically for the time period but yes, they do suffer at times from what was considered moral and normal then. They still manage to be themselves and choose how they want to live.

This is a wonderful book about a young woman who not only finds the courage to live her own life, but also finds romance in the glittering golden age world of Hollywood. When Frances Healey finds herself in a difficult situation, her stepmother decides on the solution to the problem. Frances rebels against her plan and leaves her home to start a new life. After many jobs, she finds herself secretary to Lawrence Merrill a producer for VistaGlen Studios. As an important movie project begins to fall apart, both Frances and Lawrence set out to save the picture. It is during a trip to Napa that Frances and Lawrence begin learning about each other. They learn to care for each other. Throw in a problem with Lawrence’s daughter, Frances’ issues with her family, a flamboyant movie star and a beloved stage actor. All this adds up to a very enjoyable novel. I would recommend this book as a really nice read.

I think this might be the first historical fiction book I’ve read. And I don’t know how I feel about it.

I found myself enjoying it while reading, but it also felt like it was missing something. The characters were well thought out and had depth. But it was kind of a story about nothing at the same time, which is ok. I liked the trajectory of Francis’ arc, it was true to who she was striving to be.

If you’re interested in the golden age of Hollywood film and want to get lost in a story about an infamous actor, I think you’ll have a good time.

In Jenny Kubitz Moyer's novel A Golden Life, Frances Healy wants a fresh start and finds it in a secretarial job with the studio head, Lawrence Merrill. When the studio wants to make a film about a Gold Rush era child performer turn serious stage actress, Frances and her boss are surprised Kitty Ridley is still alive and reluctant to have her life played out on screen. (Kitty is based on Lotta Crabtree, a real child performer during the Gold Rush.) Frances, Lawrence, and his daughter Sally travel to Napa to try and persuade Kitty to let the film be made. Frances visits her hometown of San Francisco and reckons with the past she was desperate to escape, and Lawrence realizes he needs to face up to his wife's death and be a better parent to Sally. Kitty tells her truth, not the story presented in the hack biography.

The novel is based around the idea that you can't change or deny the past ; your past is what defines you and helps spur you to change for the better. The characters are likable and the story is believable and relatable. Golden Age Hollywood novels with a dual historical perspective are usually set in a modern era with the golden age as the past. This novel uses the golden age as the present setting, with Kitty's Gold Rush days and pre Hollywood stage time as the past. We often forget there was entertainment before film. A Golden Life is a meditative novel about who we are, and who we can become.

It's 1938 and Frances Healey has landed a new job as the secretary to movie producer Lawrence Merrill at VistaGlen Studios in Hollywood. Frances quickly proves to be an immediate asset to Lawrence by not only assisting with his daily work needs but also by helping the young widower with his difficult 13-year-old daughter Sally and his actress girlfriend Belinda Vail, who is eager to move from her current ingenue roles to more substantial parts. The perfect opportunity arises with an exciting movie based on the life of Kitty Ridley, a colorful performer who started out during the Gold Rush years, became a celebrated stage actress and then disappeared. However, plans for the movie are disrupted when Kitty, now 90 years old, contacts Lawrence declaring that the book they based their movie on was a pack of lies and their plans for the film must be cancelled. Lawrence and Frances travel to Napa Valley to meet with Kitty, who has no desire to see them.

If you are a fan of books about the Golden Age of Hollywood, you're sure to enjoy A Golden Life by Ginny Kubitz Moyer. Not only is it a well-done story about movie making, it's also a tale of smart, ambitious women striving to succeed during this era. Frances, who harbors her own secrets, joins the other memorable characters in a compelling historical novel rich in vividly detailed settings that make the period come to life. 

4.5 stars.

This book is historical fiction, but of a time period I don't see often...the late 1930s as Hollywood and the film industry was taking off. I felt like the reader had a bit of a peek into the industry, but without focusing completing on that.

There were subplots that were just as interesting, and I loved them. The characters were well done, and I liked them without feeling they were saccharine or fake.

The ending was good...but the author took a different approach than most, trusting her reader to read into the ending. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #SheWritesPress #GinnyKubitzMoyer #AGoldenLife #OldHollywood #EarlyFilmIndustry

So I’m still new to the genre, but I thought the story was interesting! The FMC felt dry and I didn’t connect with her well. Overall plot pace felt a tad slow.

Not a horrible read, but I wasn’t finding reasons to read this story like I have some other recent reads.

I really liked "A Golden Life'. I love historical fiction. This book does not delve too deeply into history, but it definitely sets the stage for this tale. I love the descriptions of all the places 'Hollywood' related. This was a golden age in film making. The book really shows the ups and downs that so many people go to break into and succeed in show business. I also liked the relationship, although I kept anticipating something more for two of the key characters. While the story may not have flowed in the exact direction I thought it would, it definitely explained the relationships and history of the characters and wrapped it all up nicely at the end. I would recommend this for anyone who like general fiction, and especially those who like to look back in time a bit.

A Golden Life, by Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a wonderful old Hollywood story. I found myself fully immersed and invested in the well developed characters and the great storyline. This is a great book!

Fun fast easy read about Hollywood in the 1930’s. At its core it’s a story of falling in love but the plot around it is very compelling. I’d like how they incorporated a key characters past by having her tell her own story rather than turning this into a two time zone tale. Definitely recommend this one and I look forward to future books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.