The One and Only Vivian Stone - a memorable, bittersweet tale of a Hollywood actress in the 1950s.

Margot DuBois returns to Long Beach, California, after the death of her grandmother. Faced with a mortgage neither she nor her mother can handle, she begins clearing out her childhood home to prepare it for sale. Margot's dream of being a writer has stalled. She has lost confidence in her writing, especially after her now-ex-boyfriend Ben, also a writer, published a bestselling book. While sorting through items in the attic, Margot finds a shoebox containing a love letter and cassette tapes. She visits her childhood boyfriend Leo, who runs his family's music store, and he agrees to help her listen to them with a working tape player, on the condition that he can listen too. It soon becomes evident that the tapes were made by the beloved comedian Vivian Stone, who rose to fame in the 1950s. The recordings reveal the history of Vivian's career and personal journey, but they also contain shocking stories about the Hollywood studio's treatment of its contracted artists. Margot and Leo are captivated by Vivian's story. But what is the connection to Margot's grandmother?

Melissa O'Connor has hit it out of the park with her debut, The One and Only Vivian Stone. If you're a fan of Old Hollywood tales, prepare to be completely immersed in the life of Vivian Stone, who yearns to be a dramatic actress but finds her true calling in comedy. While the darker aspects of the studio system have been explored before, Vivian's experiences and those of the people around her bring a fresh poignancy to the story. This is the tale of a strong, determined woman who takes control of her life. Though comparisons to the legendary Lucille Ball are inevitable, this is uniquely Vivian's story. Modern-day Margot is also a woman to root for, with O'Connor skillfully building anticipation before revealing the connection between the two women. Don't miss this bittersweet, unforgettable book.

Many thanks to Gallery Books for providing an advance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Historical & Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: July 22, 2025.

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