Climbing in Heels
By: Elaine Goldsmith- Thomas
Pub date
Publisher

4👠👠👠👠

A witty and entertaining debut novel. Hollywood in the 80’s was wild and the shows were fun.
👠
We follow three secretaries at the hottest agency. Beanie, Mercedes and Ella are fun characters who each have their unique challenges/strengths and do it all in heels. They come from different backgrounds which make this story extra lively.
👠
Sex, spice, drugs, glamour and power are all explored which each handles differently.
👠
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for the advanced audio. The narrators captured the characters perfectly.
#climbinginheels, #macaudio2025, #elainegoldsmiththomas, #stamperlady50

Three women we follow from little girls to full on adults. Enjoyable page turner, you know the one more chapter kind of book, well this is that. As the careers get going in the 1980s the competition and characters grow. Do you backstab or act honorably with ethics in your personal life as well as professional, that's the question for our three main characters, the entertainment industry is calling their names and making them choose. Thoroughly enjoyed this read from NetGalley for an honest opinion. It is one that is hard to put down. By

A story of three young women trying to make it in a male-dominated field by any means necessary.
I find this to be a quick read. I feel drawn into the politics and drama of the '80s and '90s talent agency.
I’m an 80s baby so I have no personal experience with this world and I don’t know all of the stars mentioned. All and all I enjoyed this book. The middle got a little confusing at first but I got it untangled.

This is a book I read. I didn’t love it or hate it. It was a solid OK book. In the way that fictional books are written by entertainment people, this feels more like a series pitch than a real book.

None of the characters had much to offer. It just wasn’t a really interesting book. I will check out the series they’re making though.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It’s well-written and engaging, but I never felt too much of a connection with the characters. In fact, the only one I liked at all was Beanie Rosen who, we find out in the first chapter, dies. She’s really the star of the story, with Millicent/Mercedes and Ella playing supporting roles. Although I had sympathy for Millicent’s humble beginnings, and some understanding for Ella and her inability to fit in with her family, both were essentially self-serving, while Beanie was the one who worried most about hurting other people. Maybe that was part of her insecurities, while the other two women were more confident in their inherent value.

There were times when I was reminded of Valley of the Dolls, but perhaps it was the time period and setting because I don’t remember the writing that well. It was a long time ago. I guess the main thing is that there were three friends who were pursuing their dreams and overcoming obstacles in a time when things were stacked against them simply because they were women.

There were a few times throughout the story when I laughed, like when Beanie describes her parents: “They had two beds, separated by one night table and a good amount of dissatisfaction.” And another time, Beanie’s high school friend Elise is described like this: “...both slightly cross-eyed and a bit pigeon-toed, which somehow lent her symmetry. It was as if each eye followed the opposing foot.”

Describing the rampant misogyny and racism in the 70s and 80s, there’s this scene where one of the male agents “banters” with the black receptionist: “‘Whatcha got, black beauty?’ he said, leaning on the counter, cluelessly racist, flirting in the way men do when they think they’re as charming as they are clever, and they are neither.”

Each chapter begins with a quote from some “famous” person. I didn’t recognize most of them, but one made me laugh with how nebulous it was in its attribution: “The greatness of our lives is not so much in what we leave behind, but in what we send forward. —AS TOLD BY SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE HEARD STEVEN JOBS SAY THAT TO SOMEONE ELSE.”

As I mentioned earlier, the book is well-written, but I was expecting something funnier. Based on the plot, I’m not sure why I would have chosen it otherwise. If I were interested in Hollywood, I probably would have enjoyed it more. There’s a lot of name-dropping mixed in with made-up names. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. I can’t give it a high rating because I didn’t relate to any of it. It is a good book. Not to be harsh, but I didn’t get the point. I suppose, it was a snapshot into another time.

And maybe it’s just me, because I was entering the workforce myself in the 80s, but it’s not exactly a snapshot I look back on fondly. This was just a reminder of how skewed things used to be, not only in the workforce, but also in society. Back then, the first female CEO was a big deal. A female astronaut was unusual. I was thinking women had come a long way, but as I look at current efforts in the US to erase the accomplishments of women and POC, it strikes me how easily it can all be taken away. I like to feel good when I finish a story, and maybe I should feel happy for Beanie for all of her accomplishments in the face of such adversity, but instead, I feel disheartened to think we may be headed that way again. I don’t want to spiral, so I’ll leave it at that.

“Climbing in Heels”, the debut novel from right hand woman to Jennifer Lopez, producer, and former agent Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas has been described as “Sex in the City” meets “Nine to Five” (I’d also add in a little bit of “Working Girl” meets “Gossip Girl”. Which is a lot to live up to! But man, this book does it. I loved every minute of this rollicking ride.

“Climbing in Heels” tells the story of Beanie, Ella, and Mercedes, three young women trying to make it all the way to the top at LA’s premiere talent agency in the 80s and 90s. They’ll do absolutely whatever it takes to get where they’re trying to go, and it’s so fun to read about their exploits.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of and sometimes the character development of the lead characters suffers because of this but honestly that didn’t bother me. The plot moved so quickly and the twists were so surprising and that’s what really kept me interested more than character development. Also, I have this book to thank for reigniting my fascination with the world of Hollywood talent agencies.

I was honestly so sad when this delightful book ended which is why I’m so glad that it’s already been optioned for TV and is being written and produced by the author and her friend (and SATC creator) Darren Star. Can’t wait for the show and can’t wait for more people to read this book so I have people to talk to about it!!

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas

4 Stars

This is the type of book that is needed in 2025!! It was a fun, and engaging novel that still tackles the issue of gender gaps in professional environments. The women in this book are headstrong, and willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead in a world where men have the upper hand. This message was delivered in such an engaging and inspirational way. In a race that is not fair, you do not just quit...you put in the extra effort to make sure you come out victorious. I will be highly recommending this novel to my friends, family, and followers.

( I will be sharing my review to my socials on May 10th)

This book is about women who are desperate to get ahead and will do anything it takes to do so. I really liked that it highlighted women's determination and friendship/betrayal in a "man's world".

Really enjoyed this one! It felt like Working Girl meets old-school Hollywood drama, with strong female leads fighting for their place in a male-dominated industry. The insider details were fun, and the story moved quickly. Some parts felt a little rushed, but overall, it was an engaging and empowering read. Perfect for fans of career-driven, glamorous fiction! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was fun! It reminded me of the Wolf of Wall Street only feminist and on the West Coast. Bernie, Ella, and Mercedes are all forces to be reckoned with in their own ways; learning how to rise to the top of their games in any capacity.

The chapters were short, sweet, and dated which for me was very helpful to note chronologically what was transpiring. I did predict a few things that were going to happen (thanks foreshadowing) but they fit well in the story and kept me interested in the plot line.

Overall, I would recommend this book to someone looking for a feminist period piece that doesn’t mind a bit of lude humor.

3.5 ⭐️ I thoroughly enjoyed this story of three young secretaries in the 1980’s riding up through the ranks in the Light talent agency to become talent agents.

The story was a realistic telling of women breaking the glass ceiling in the male dominated entertainment agency business. Loved the characters of Beanie Rosen, Ella Gaddy, and Mercedes Baxter, each trying to reinvent themselves in a cutthroat world.

Well written and engaging, it fell off a little towards the middle with a lot going on with many storylines, but the ending was very surprising and satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

Beanie, Ella & Mercedes are three women who want a different life than what they are told they have to have. They want to break through the glass ceiling in Hollywood. This is their journey, and all that was happening. I liked that the book, seemed to be the same pace as where the women were in different parts of their journeys. They went through a lot, and I enjoyed stepping back in time to see the women, started breaking into the good old boys clubs.
I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.

Fun novel about women Hollywood agents in the 80s. Great sense of time and place. Fun characters - three women - trying to get ahead at time when women were discounted and dismissed.

Beanie Rosen grew up in the 1950s and from an early age wanted to be a Hollywood agent. Much like Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry, Beanie was ahead of her time. A woman’s place in the 1960s was in the secretarial pool or on the agent’s couch. She is feisty and resourceful. She helps her romantic interests get ahead in the business but they generally leave her behind. Finally another female agent appreciates her talent and Beanie begins to take her rightful place in the agency. There are two other female characters trying to make their way in the business but Beanie is the star of this show. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t want the book to end. I think this will be a big beach read next summer. I’m sure it will be among my top books of 2025. I thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Climbing in Heels" is an absolute knockout! The characters are the heart and soul of this story, with the unstoppable Beanie Rosen stealing every scene. From the razor-sharp dialogue to the meticulously crafted backstories, every detail shines—especially the spot-on fashion references that make the world feel both dazzling and real.

This book is a deliciously indulgent ride, packed with high-stakes drama, ambition, and a touch of real-life Hollywood glam. Think Gossip Girl meets Entourage, but with powerhouse women at the helm. The 1980s Hollywood setting is pure magic, brimming with grit, glamour, and backroom deals that keep you hooked.

At its core, this is a story of resilience, friendship, and the cost of success in a world built to keep women on the sidelines. It’s sharp, witty, and impossible to put down. If you love fierce, ambitious women fighting for their place at the top, Climbing in Heels is a must-read. Someone turn this into a movie ASAP!

This is a fun but crazy novel about women in industry who are dying to get ahead and will do whatever it takes to get ahead whether it's blackmail, extortion, seduction, or restructuring. They are headstrong and determined and though often friends, they will stop at nothing to prove it's a woman's world as well as men's!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This is another book i requested and was approved for but NEVER RECEIVED. It is not a review to share with the publishers but one you should take very seriously. I will not request any more books from Netgalley.

Interesting read about agents and actors in Hollywood when most of the jobs were going to men and then some very determined women broke through and made their way to the top. Good read! Not usually the type of book I read but I received an invitation to read this book and decided to give it a try. Definitely recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really tried to finish this book, but I just wasn’t able to. I loved the concept of women working to defy the odds and climb the ladder into a man’s world, but there were too many characters to keep track of, and the descriptions of all the characters made the book move slower than I typically enjoy. I do appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy from NetGalley.

A good book. There is a lot of backstabbing and then character redemption. The 80"s was a tough time for women in business. It's even harder if women use the knives in other women's backs as a ladder to rise to the top. There was a lot of truth in this book.