bakingbookworm 's review for:

Climbing in Heels: A Novel by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas

3.0

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Goldsmith-Thomas brings her own experience in Hollywood in this debut novel that has a bold premise as it explores complex friendships, rivalries and the discrepancy in how women and men were/are treated in Hollywood. The book initially focuses on a trio of new-to-Hollywood young women - Beanie, Mercedes and Ella, but soon the story centres mainly around Beanie. 

If you know me, you know that a quarter of my brain is dedicated to random Hollywood facts. This book is FILLED with a Hollywood name dropping, from real-life actors/directors and Hollywood acronyms, there are a lot of Tinseltown's who's who mentioned in its pages. 

If I step back from the story, I liked it - the coming-into-herself focus about women's experiences in Hollywood. But I wanted more - more growth and better connection between trio and a stronger plot that really pulled me in. What I wanted less of were the numerous tertiary characters who bogged down the pace of the story and were hard to keep track of. 

In the end, I liked this book, and it will do well, but it wasn't a 'wow' read for me. It felt much longer than its 380 pages and unfortunately it struggled to hold my attention, taking me almost two weeks to finish it. I enjoyed the premise and Girl Power vibe but think this book would be better as a TV limited series.

Disclaimer: Thanks to St Martin's Press for the advanced digital and paperback copies of this book which were given in exchange for my honest review.