The sunset crowd

Tanabe (A Hundred Suns, 2021) immerses readers in the celebrity life of 1970s Hollywood through the eyes of Rolling Stone and Vogue photographer Bea Dupont. While attending one of Evra Scott's famous parties, Bea finds herself arm in arm with this lively rich daughter of Hollywood royalty. Evra runs Sunset on Sunset, one of the hottest clothing stores in Los Angeles. Welcomed into Evra's life, Bea gains an inside view of the constant struggle to reach the top of the Hollywood pyramid. Amidst the glitz, glamour, and competition emerges Theodora Leigh, a mysterious assistant from Paramount who charms her way into the Sunset crowd. A series of parties, awards shows, and lively dinners set the stage for Theodora's determined courting of fame and investors for her upcoming film. But Bea begins to see Theodora for who she really is, watching closely as the aspiring producer unravels the lives of those around her. Tanabe's dynamic, binge-worthy Hollywood novel poses the question, What are you willing to do, especially as a woman, to see your name on the big screen?

In the canny latest from Tanabe (A Hundred Suns), a woman navigates love and friendship in cutthroat 1970s Hollywood. Narrator Beatrice Dupont befriends Hawaiian native Kai de la Faire, whom she describes as "a beautiful man with a big personality," at a Swiss boarding school. Now, in her 20s and working as a photographer in Los Angeles for Vogue and Rolling Stone, Bea reconnects with Kai and meets his girlfriend, Evra Scott. A member of Hollywood's royalty thanks to her actor mother and director father, Evra has eschewed the spotlight and instead opened a trend-setting clothing boutique. As Kai finds success with a screenplay and Evra's star continues to rise, Bea plays the third wheel while pining for Kai ("I knew I couldn't compete, but I could wait"). When Theodora Leigh, an attractive assistant at Paramount, shows up at Evra's shop, she captures everyone's attention, including Kai's. Theodora is not shy about her determination to become a producer, but as she snakes her way into the trio's mix, drama ensues, and Bea wonders if Theodora might have ulterior motives. Tanabe paints Bea as a strong leading lady who understands the pitfalls of Los Angeles ("It's all one big con"), and she makes the characters deliciously complicated over the course of their ever-shifting allegiances. Readers will delight in this sunburst of '70s nostalgia. Agent: Alyssa Reuben, WME. (July)