The description of this book intrigued me, especially since it was set in old-time Hollywood during the filming of Gone with the Wind. Meissner populates her tale with a mix of real and imagined characters, as she follows two young women trying to find their way out of the secretarial pool at Selznick Studios. They have come to Hollywood with dramatically different goals, which is at times perfect and at others difficult for their budding friendship. I loved how Violet first discovered Audrey at the studio, how they became roommates, and soon, friends. The details were just right, the setting vivid and the characters, alive. I think Meissner worked hard to get me to dislike Audrey, a relentless schemer determined to get her break as an actress, but instead, I found Violet far more sinister, because she pretended to want nothing, but wanted everything.

Once the story is well under way, and Violet has committed what she acknowledges as a treacherous act, I had the relentless feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. But for me, it never really does. Meissner introduces characters from the present day, adding, for me at least, an unnecessary, almost jarring sidebar. It seemed as if this was the only way Meissner could accomplish the “twist” alluded to by Violet earlier, but the characters here are barely sketched in, and their relative importance to the earlier story seemed weak.

In any case, there are definitely things to like about this book, especially if you are looking for a story that takes place in this time period but is not a story about World War II. I have not read Meissner’s other books, but Secrets of a Charmed Life was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction in 2015.

Violet, the Southern Belle, and Audry, the aspiring actress met by chance, became roommates, and worked at the same secretarial pool at Selznick International.

The stages of Gone With The Wind were the feature of the book along with Violet and Audry's personal lives.

STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD has the glitter of Hollywood, the disappointments of Hollywood, behind-the-scenes fun, and the wonderful, amazing friendship between Violet and Audry.

I really enjoyed STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD because of the warmth of the characters.  It wasn't as much about Hollywood, as it was about friends, lives, and choices.

STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD will enchant and delight all women's fiction fans and of course fans of Hollywood and Gone With the Wind.  

Don't miss reading this beautifully written, touching book.

You will not be disappointed with the love and tenderness along with some jealousy that oozes off the pages with Violet and Audry's enduring friendship.

A lovely, heartwarming read that will have you thinking about your friendships.

ENJOY....I definitely did.   5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard is a quick reading, circular story set in modern day Los Angeles, and 1930's Hollywood.

In the modern day, a hat worn in Gone With the Wind shows up at a vintage clothing boutique run by Christine McAllister. Her desire to find out why she remembers touching the hat as a child, leads her on a special journey.

1938, the Golden Age of Hollywood. Filming has just begun on Gone With the Wind, a groundbreaking movie poised to change film-making for the future. Violet Mayfield arrives at the studio to be a secretary, she meets Audrey Duvall on her first day, and quickly decides to room with Audrey. Audrey has a past as an actress, and aspires to become famous once again. Violet is starting over in a new town, as far from her family as possible.

Their friendship spans decades, families, secrets, and lies. But through it all, Violet and Audrey always come back to each other. They both have deep running desires to achieve success, and success means something very different to each of them. The choices and sacrifices each one makes to achieve their goals have repercussions that reach farther and wider than either of them ever expected.

I enjoyed reading Stars Over Sunset Boulevard, it was an easy read that didn't require much effort to follow. The characters are both likable and pity inspiring at different times in the book. I found myself feeling for both Violet and Audrey, and the emotions didn't feel forced by the author, they felt quite natural. The story did feel a bit contrived at times, the plot was very predictable, and the supporting characters remained completely two dimensional. However, it didn't make me dislike the story, it made it feel more familiar, if anything. This was a nice book, and I'd recommend it for someone looking for a bit of an escape. 

In the full interest of disclosure, I did get and ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

By: Susan Meissner

ISBN: 9780451475992

Publisher: PENGUIN/Berkley 

Publication Date:  1/5/2016

Format:  Paperback 

My Rating: 4 Stars 

A special thank you to PENGUIN Berkley/NAL and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Master storyteller, Susan Meissner delivers a stunning detailed account of the Golden Age Hollywood’s era of the 1930s, STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD —filled with magical lyrical prose, emotion, dreams, allure, friendship, and desires of the heart; with behind the scenes of the iconic, "Gone with the Wind" movie set.

Meissner draws you into the personal worlds of two memorable women who become friends— set in one of the most exciting times .. the charm and glamour of Hollywood. A heartwarming tale of the power of love and forgiveness—a relationship that spans decades and weathers life's complex storms.

Meet two women: Violet Mayfield and Audrey Duvall --a hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara resurfaces in a vintage shop in Los Angeles. The story alternates between present day, and from the late thirties to the late sixties. Two women who become friends.

Violet, the southern belle wants home and family. She comes from the South (Alabama) in 1938, to Los Angeles to work as a secretary for the studio making Gone With The Wind. She wanted to be a wife and a mother; however, it did not work out the way she planned.

Audrey was once a rising film star, now a secretary and the women become friends and roommates working with one of the most famous motion picture of all times. Unlike Audrey, Violet has no desire to become an actress. Audrey is glad, because she does not need the competition as a roommate. She is waiting to be discovered.

Something about Audrey made Violet think old hopes could be given new shapes. Audrey looked like a highly-paid actress rather than a fellow studio secretary when they met.

As most friends, they experience ups and downs. A complex relationship, things are said and done, lies, betrayal, secrets----each have their own desires and aspirations. As we see, even in earlier days there is also ways a power struggle between personal and career for a woman. Choices. Decisions. Consequences.

Ultimately an inspiring story of love, friendship, and redemption. Susan is definitely in her element—no one can revisit the past, and put her own unique spin to history, like Meissner-- with her distinct style, elegance, grace, and charm.

It is quite exciting to learn the inspiration behind the novel:

Inspired by the green velvet “curtains” hat that Scarlett wears in the film, Susan contacted the curator of the “Producing Gone With the Wind” exhibit at The University of Texas at Austin to hear about how the hat and outfit came to be. After that conversation, the idea for a novel came to Susan; what if there was another green hat made for Scarlett that went missing… only to be rediscovered decades later?

“The hat is the color of envy and greed. However, the green is the color of life springing up out of the earth. The color of new beginnings."

If you have not read A Fall of Marigolds or Secrets of a Charmed Life highly recommend. Reinvention. (previews included).

Named to Booklist’s Top Ten
Women’s Fiction for 2014…

5 Stars!  #StarsoverSunsetBoulevard  @PenguinBks  @SusanMeissner

This was a great book, I really enjoyed reading it. Two young girls are in the secretarial pool during the filming of Gone with the Wind. That in and of itself was pretty cool to read about. I still can't believe I haven't seen the movie though. HA!!

One girl wants to become a wife and mother and one girl just wants to be found and wanted. They both end up getting their dreams, well maybe a piece of their dreams. But the road they have to take is an interesting one. A road filled with a lot of human emotion.

The story goes from present with the girls' granddaughters back to the time of the young girls all evolving around a hat that Vivien Leigh wore during the filming of Gone with the Wind. The story of how that hat made the rounds is just part of the journey these two women make.

I enjoyed reading this book about the two women, their ups, downs, successes, failures and frustrations.

Thanks Penguin and Net Galley for approving my request to read this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. It's very entertaining and I recommend it.