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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
3.75 stars. I loved all three of the narrators and felt like the tension slowly crept up to what did feel like an inevitable conclusion. But the end felt too quick? The ending too pat? Salome’s story could be that, but I wanted more from Vera and Nancy. That said, as always, the author is phenomenal and the era was shown so clearly.
medium-paced
dark
sad
medium-paced
This is a historical fiction in the vein of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and it's great, especially if you're into old-Hollywood gossip. Everyone in this felt like a real person, like this was a real thing that happened, and a real movie that was made. Just great.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It didn't quite hit 5 stars simply because I've read other Moreno-Garcia books that I enjoyed more. I will say that listening to the book rather than reading it probably increased my pleasure in this book because the cast was fantastic. I loved the switching POV's which heightened the tension until the climax, I loved learning what everyone did afterwards through Joe's chapter, I loved the ending of Salome's dream, and I loved the setting of this book being in 50's Hollywood. Nancy was such an interesting character to watch develop, especially with how she can read as many in the States today who blame immigrants for their lack of work, when, in fact, it's just that some - like Vera - got lucky and some - like Nancy - did not. Nancy strove so hard, believed in herself to the point of delusion, yet even when she got the infamy, she wasn't able to translate that into a success story for herself.
Vera's POV's hurt me so much. It's one thing to know how much Mexicans were hated in California and it's another thing to see the racism and barbs in the narrative. Her statement to Jay (love interest) that "he didn't get it" was something I felt viscerally.
Some might say the ending was too abrupt, but I think it was a great narrative choice. Moreno-Garcia constantly surprised me with how adeptly she can switch genres and this book just showcases her talent even more. I'm always ready to see what she's going to do next. This book was just so great and I'm a little upset I slept on it as long as I did.
Vera's POV's hurt me so much. It's one thing to know how much Mexicans were hated in California and it's another thing to see the racism and barbs in the narrative. Her statement to Jay (love interest) that "he didn't get it" was something I felt viscerally.
Some might say the ending was too abrupt, but I think it was a great narrative choice. Moreno-Garcia constantly surprised me with how adeptly she can switch genres and this book just showcases her talent even more. I'm always ready to see what she's going to do next. This book was just so great and I'm a little upset I slept on it as long as I did.
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don’t often audibly gasp at parts but the end of this book truly had me gasping. Beautifully nuanced and written. I really loved this book a lot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was incredible. I haven’t read anything by this author before but now I have to.
This follows 3 different women, Vera, Nancy and Salome. Vera is a young Mexican woman who by chance ends up getting the lead role in a new movie about the biblical character Salome. Nancy is a wannabe actress who auditioned for the lead role but was cast as an extra. She also has some dangerous connections. Salome was a minor character in a few biblical stories, said to be a princess, and was later rewritten by history as a femme fatale.
The three women are trying desperately to survive in a world not made for them. There is an under current of politics in all three stories. It sounds like it should be too much to wrap your head around but it’s not. It’s done incredibly well. It’s easy to follow, but still mysterious. In some ways you can see where things are going but in others you really can’t.
I did find the ending a little abrupt, and would have liked a little more. Maybe a couple of articles about what happened or something, just to make it feel more fleshed out.
This follows 3 different women, Vera, Nancy and Salome. Vera is a young Mexican woman who by chance ends up getting the lead role in a new movie about the biblical character Salome. Nancy is a wannabe actress who auditioned for the lead role but was cast as an extra. She also has some dangerous connections. Salome was a minor character in a few biblical stories, said to be a princess, and was later rewritten by history as a femme fatale.
The three women are trying desperately to survive in a world not made for them. There is an under current of politics in all three stories. It sounds like it should be too much to wrap your head around but it’s not. It’s done incredibly well. It’s easy to follow, but still mysterious. In some ways you can see where things are going but in others you really can’t.
I did find the ending a little abrupt, and would have liked a little more. Maybe a couple of articles about what happened or something, just to make it feel more fleshed out.
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated