The greatest lie of all

Still in the depths of mourning the recent loss of her mother, actress Amelia Grant receives another emotional blow when she walks in on her boyfriend in a compromising position with a costar. When the opportunity to play the famous romance novelist Gloria Diamond in a biopic arises, Amelia leaps at the chance for a change of scenery. To prepare for the role, Amelia plans to spend some time with Gloria at her rural Washington estate. While Gloria seems committed to keeping Amelia at arm's length, a budding flirtation with Gloria's son Will proves to be a bright spot in the week. When Amelia stumbles upon a secret from Gloria's past that causes her to question what Gloria may be hiding, it becomes clear that there is more to the story than Amelia expected. Cantor (The Fiction Writer, 2023) crafts an engrossing, emotionally resonant tale that weaves the past and the present to uncover the story of Gloria's life and loves. A natural fit for readers who enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017) or Crystal Smith Paul's Did You Hear about Kitty Karr? (2023).

In Cantor's latest (after The Fiction Writer), struggling actress Amelia is having a hard time after her mother's untimely death and her discovery that her boyfriend is cheating on her. Then Amelia gets a big break when she's offered the role of a lifetime-- portraying famous romance novelist Gloria Diamond. Even better, she'll be spending a week with Gloria at her Washington State home. But Gloria is cold and aloof, not nearly as glamorous as Amelia thought she'd be. Gloria's son Will is a different story. He and Amelia form a deep friendship, and they work together to put together the puzzle of Gloria's mysterious past. The story is told through two timelines: the present, with Amelia and Will; and the old Hollywood heyday, with Gloria. As Amelia and Will learn more about Gloria's life, they realize why Gloria is the way she is. VERDICT This well-written novel evokes other Hollywood-centric fictional biographies, such as Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Recommended for readers who enjoy a book that deals with human nature, relationships, heartache, and love; a bit of Hollywood glamour makes it even better.--Lupita Garza Grande