The unique setting of Lenker's Old Hollywood romances make them a stand-out in the genre. Here, an aspiring female director reunites with her childhood friend (and secret crush) while proving to everyone around her that she belongs there. These characters shine, and the dreamy Hollywood backdrop is a perfect place to watch the smooth-on-camera dancer and ambitious director fall in love.

I loved reading for all of the Gene Kelly and Old Hollywood references but grew bored with repetition of the characters' motives. I was like WE GET IT.

This story of early Hollywood was interesting however it seemed a little frivolous. It was based not on a single person but was created to show the struggles women had in a male dominated industry and how the mob influenced some of the early Broadway and Hollywood hopefuls. I am sure the likes of Dorothy Arzner and Ida Lupino who the character of Arlene Morgan was based in addition to those that came before and after them had a great many obstacles blocking their way. Don Lamont’s character was based on the dancing of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire who changed the Hollywood musicals forever with their innovative techniques. The film Arlene and Don create was roughly based on the film Cover Girl with Gene Kelly. The author does a great job detailing her research into her characters and early films in the Author’s Notes at the end.

This historical fiction novel gives the reader a glimpse into 1930s Hollywood but goes beyond the lights and glamour to give the reader a true view of the period. 1930s Hollywood came alive in the pages of this book.

The Old Hollywood series by Maureen Lee Lenker is one of my favorite historical romance series of all time, and this book is no different. Delivers on every single level.

FEMINISM IN GOLDEN ERA HOLLYWOOD

I LOVE (!) old Hollywood movies and especially musicals. Singing in the Rain with Gene Kelly was my gateway to that passion, so of course I had to read this book! I wish I was more engaged and exited about it, but I did still enjoy it.

What I liked

👍 Gene Kelly: For a true fan of old musicals, all the Gene Kelly references are easy to pick out. It was a bit of an easter egg hunt, which I really enjoyed.

👍 Arlene: Arlene is a passionate main character. She fights for what she wants and she goes for it with her all. I found that inspiring, especially with the historical setting.

👍 The mob: Frankie and his mob connections gave the story a bit of an edge, made it more action packed, which was a good counter weight to the romance.

What I didn't like

👎 Repetition: It felt a bit repetitive, especially Don and Arlene's inner monologues. It felt like reading the same bits over and over, and I really wanted to see more growth and self reflection.

👎 Pacing: Sadly, the pacing was too slow for me. Perhaps that was partly a by-product of the repetitiveness. For me, it was a bit hard to keep my interests engaged and I actually ended up skipping some portions of the story.

In this fun new historical fiction novel, readers follow Oscar-winning screenwriter and rookie director Arlene Morgan on the cusp of her big break for Evets Studios, a movie musical starring Don Lamont who, before he made it big on Broadway, was Don Lazzarini, her next-door neighbor and first crush. Struggling against the sexism of 1930s Hollywood, Arlene’s movie will succeed -- because she has no choice but to succeed -- despite Don ignoring her for the last decade. However, Don’s Broadway success put him under the thumb of a gangster manager, and this movie is his chance to get away from this -- except Arlene has changed, and they can’t get along. With alternating perspectives and three fascinating conflicts throughout the book, readers will love this friends-to-lovers historical fiction novel set against old Hollywood. The characters are unique and complex, as the novel’s stars should be, while their relationship is layered and realistic after ten years of growth and separation. With so many unique conflicts in this novel, Lenker does a fantastic job bringing the challenges and corruption of the 1930s to life in fascinating and immersive detail, complementing the characters and their challenges incredibly well in this fun and fascinating new historical fiction title.

His Girl Hollywood is a cute story by Maureen Lee Lenker. It’s the 1930s, and Arlene has dreamed of becoming a director. She finally gets that chance after writing an Oscar winning screenplay. However, her childhood crush Don, who left for New York to become a broadway star when he was 18, is cast as her leading man. She hasn’t heard from Don in ten years and is hurt by his absence; meanwhile, Don is trying to break free of his mob ties, not wanting to get Arlene tangled in his troubles. Will they find a way to each other?

I enjoyed reading this book. The story was a fun caper, and I enjoyed the ties to Gene Kelly. The dual perspective was enjoyable. The characters complained a lot about why they couldn’t trust each other which got a bit frustrating but overall an enjoyable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. I really enjoyed the fresh take on the characters and how well written the romance was. I definitely recommend.

Based in Hollywood during the 1930s, a female director and a male dancer try to make a movie while ignoring the growing attraction between them. Arlene and Don knew each other as kids, and Arlene had sent her best friend, and childhood crush, off to Broadway without being able to tell him how she felt. 10 years later, they end up reuniting and making a movie while fighting off the mob and gangsters.

The romance was cute, and the terms from the 1930s kept making me laugh, even though it was cheesey at times. A little suspense, a little romance, a little historical, it was pretty good. My biggest pet peeve was the word "giggle" which personally drives me nuts in romance books. Sometimes the writing for Don seemed to soft, with him crying a lot - but I get it, men can (and should) let out their emotions. It just seemed like he was always letting out his emotions. Probably 3.5, rounded to 4.

His Girl Hollywood by Maureen Lenker is a fun read. This book is a welcome addition to the historical romance genre, focusing on the golden age of Hollywood - a glamorous and interesting time in American history. It follows Arlene Morgan, who we met in It Started One Fight. Arlene is given her shot at becoming a Hollywood director, and the leading man is her former best friend and childhood crush. This second chance romance is about two people reconnecting after ten years to achieve a shared dream. There are misunderstandings to correct, mobsters to thwart, and a relationship to rekindle. I found a good balance between the emotional connection between Arlene and Don, as well as action sequences and insight into the filming industry. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end, which explained some of the "forgotten" history of woman directors. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoy historical fiction, and is looking for a romance where the female lead is driven, ambitious, and does the rescuing. I look forward to Lenker's next book.

This was an interesting historical fiction that I really found myself drawn to. During the 1930’s women weren’t given nearly the opportunities they are now (and they still don’t have as many as men) so I was excited to read about Arlene. She is such a well written female main character, she’s strong while still having flaws. I really enjoyed that she came across as mean, but in reality, she couldn’t show any weakness because so many were trying to undercut her at every turn. I know this feeling all too well, so it was nicely relatable to me. Don was also really interesting, and I enjoyed reading about his journey with the mob and then moving to Hollywood. The romance between Don and Arlene was nicely done, not quite a second chance, and not quite friends to lovers but good. The spice scenes were well done and fit the story nicely.

If you’re looking for a historical romance that will make you stop and think, then check this one out.

Loved this author other book It Happened One Fight so looking forward to this one. Arlene becomes a female director for the first in the 1930s. Her leading man is her first love, Don. Don has been under the law of his gangster manager and is hoping that a hollywood role will free him for once. Don wants to keep Arlene from his dangerous manager....

Enjoy Don and Arlene a lot. Love their romance and the banter. Also enjoyed the lessons on feminism... It's done in such a way that it's not even noticeable....

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This is a captivating read for fans of historical romance and second-chance love stories, particularly those who enjoy the glamour of old Hollywood and the thrill of rekindling a childhood romance amidst the backdrop of the 1930s film industry.

Book 2 of 2025 - ✅! Thanks to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca, Maureen Lee Lenker for the ARC of His Girl Hollywood, in exchange for my honest review. (Please note that I read/listened to this as an audiobook through my ALC from NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Maureen Lee Lenker.)

His Girl Hollywood by Maureen Lee Lenker was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and it did not disappoint! I loved It Happened One Fight was one of my favorite reads of 2023 (and I think about it often), so you better believe that I requested His Girl Hollywood so quickly. Set in the same universe as IHOF, HGH follows the story of Oscar-winning screenwriter-turned-director, Arlene Morgan, and Broadway star turned screen actor, Don Lamont (born Don Lazzarini). This second chance romance set in the 1930s has all of the makings for an enjoyable rom-com, though I’d give the edge to IHOF - having Joan & Dash pop in made me miss them and their story, but I love that their still together in this book. (I still also stand by what I had in my review for IHOF - I want to see Monty’s story because I want him to get a HAE!) I was curious as to where the mafia storyline would go, and found Lenker seamlessly incorporated this into the world.

I love that Lenker included her inspiration(s) for each character at the end of the book - Don Lamont was clearly heavily inspired by Gene Kelly, and that Arlene was inspired by so many female directors of the 1930s.

If you know me, or you’ve been following my reviews, you know that I work in TV Production, so I’m always intrigued by stories set in Hollywood. This also tends to make me a little hyper-focused on the details, such as mentioning a grip moving a light (which wouldn’t happen in today’s world - an Electrician would move a light, but perhaps rules were different back then…).

Overall, I very much enjoyed the book, and I was happy to finish it before attending her book event. I’m ready for her 3rd book - A Star is Scorned - which is scheduled to be released in October. 4/5 ⭐️ overall, and 2.5/5 🌶️ (those scenes were quite good). 🎥 🕺🏽 💫 #HisGirlHollywood #NetGalley

I was so excited to see that Maureen Lee Lenker was putting out another romance book from the old Hollywood era! This was one of my most anticipated books of the new year. I loved her previous book, It Happened One Fight, and was thrilled to see His Girl Hollywood set in the same world. The story surrounds Joan Davis’ former assistant, Arlene and Arlene’s childhood crush, Don, receiving a second chance at romance while making a movie and dealing with the mob. Lenker does a great job of incorporating Joan, Dash and Flynn into the story without taking the spotlight from the two main characters.

Lenker continues to do well at molding her characters and plot into combinations of real old Hollywood stars, directors and movies. She’s taking some of the best elements of these and creating mashed up sequels while infusing them with more romantic drama. As a TCM fan, her style of writing is one I really enjoy.

Despite my excitement for the book, I found the pacing too slow in the beginning. The internal monologues of Don and Lena became too repetitive. The reader did not have to be reminded of the stakes of each character every chapter. But about half way through the book, the pace sped up and the end put a nice bow on everyone’s story.

While I didn’t think this book was as strong as It Happened One Fight, I still really love the world Lenker has created and I hope for more books in the series.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book reads like a classic 1940s film and if you like those movies you’ll like this book. It feels like you’re watching one of those with its quirky humor, dance numbers, the friends-to-lover romance, the gangsters and the glamorous movie stars. Lenker even lists some classic films that were inspirations for the book and I watched Cover Girl while I was reading. I could easily picture Gene Kelly as Don and Rita Hayworth as Arlene (shown in this post) and kept them in my mind's eye while reading. In fact, Kelly's famous shadow dance number is pulled directly from that movie and it’s fun to read and then watch it.

Set during the 1930s Studio system, Arlene is one of the first female directors of her own picture and hires her former next-door neighbor turned Broadway dancer Don to be its star, and feelings ignite or reignite between them. It is dual POV which is nice to get their inner thoughts, however I did find the writing style a bit straight forward and repetitive. Since Don is mixed up with Frankie, a New York gangster, and gives 60% of his profits to him, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop which of course it did. The quirky solution Arlene organizes as a way to break Don free from Frankie’s hold is quite delightful and again reminiscent of a classic film.

My favorite part of the story is that it focusses on a strong, talented woman finding professional agency during a time when women weren't allowed to direct or have opinions or ambitions or power or anything at all. Arlene is a breath of fresh air who Don can’t help but fall for and they end up having a wonderful creative partnership, as well as a few mildly steamy love scenes. I also really loved her friend group of A-list actors and Oscar winners.

– Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca & NetGalley for the ARC –

📖 +🎧: His Girl Hollywood- can be read as a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Maureen Lee Lenker, I read It Happened One Fight and gave 5 ⭐

📅Publication date: 1-14-25 | Read 1-7-25

Format: E-book 384 pgs. and Audiobook-Run Time: 12:28

🗣️Narrator: Patti Murin voices all the characters with standouts from Eleanor, Frankie, and Harry. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

Genre:
* Historical Fic/ Romance
* Adult Fic

Tropes:
* Childhood crush/unrequited
* Celebrity romance
* 2nd chance romance
* Workplace romance
* Forced proximity
* Found family

⚠️ TW: child abuse, abortion-mentioned, misogyny, kidnapping

👆🏾 POV: 3rd person, dual

🌎 Setting: Hollywood

Summary: Arlene has been given her first director opportunity but must have her childhood crush Don Lamont as her leading man. They agree to keep things professional, but Don's gangster manager threatens his life and career.


👩🏾 Heroine: Arlene Morgan-28, Oscar winner and 1st time director of a musical. Her and Don were neighbors and friends as children.

👨🏾 Hero: Don Lamont/Lazzarini-28, a Broadway dancer gets his 1st movie w/ Arlene.

🎭 Other Characters:

*Eleanor Lester-Don's dance partner
*Frankie Martino-Don's manager
*Eddie Rosso- a choreographer, Don's friend
*Mabel Snyder -Don's ex-girlfriend, a model
*Rita Carter-Don's leading lady in new movie
*Joan Davis- Arlene's friend, a famous actress who was the main heroine from IHOF
*Harry Evets-studio head, Arlene's boss

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the old Hollywood feel and how studio heads like Harry protected the talent. Don and Frankie's contractual relationship gave mob movie vibes with gambling and blackmail. Joan, Dash, and Flynn's cameos were funny especially when they rescued Don. I hope Flynn gets a story.


Rating: 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 4/5🔥🔥🔥🔥

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Dreamscape Media, and Maureen Lee Lenker for this ARC and ALC 🎭! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

A really interesting and original read because, I think we don't have enough books set in this time period, at least not that I have read.

Arlene is one of those characters that I love, a strong female character, that's looking to be herself and grow. Her relationship with Don felt kind like a second chance (even if it they were just friends).
I loved all the Old Hollywood descriptions and story.

Thanks to the publisher for the eArc

While I loved the first book in this series, this felt truly sophomoric.
The inner conflict/dialogue was tiring and the witty banter from the first book was lacking. I did enjoy being back in the world of Old Hollywood that Ms Lenker created but ultimately, the book grew tiresome.