After her grandmother’s death, thirty-something Margot DuBois prepares to sell the house quickly so she can go back to her predictable life in Santa Barbara. There, no one knows she used to write and that her lack of success wrecked her confidence. But while cleaning out the attic, she comes across eight unlabeled cassette tapes. Unable to use the damaged tape player, she calls in a favor from Leo—her first love and first epic heartbreak—and they strike a deal: he’ll fix the player if he can hear what’s on the tapes. When they manage to listen, the two are shocked to hear the voice of comedic legend Vivian Stone. Why did she record these tapes and how did Margot’s grandmother get them?
Between listening to Vivian recount everything from her forbidden love for Hollywood’s leading actor, to working under a misogynistic exec, to her chemistry with her co-star-turned-husband on TV, Margot and Leo fall down a memory lane of their own. Margot is inspired by Vivian’s tenacity and courage to keep fighting for the life she wants, but everything changes when Vivian reveals a secret from her past in this moving exploration of how it’s never too late to start over. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
The One and Only Vivian Stone focused on two different eras of time; the 1950s, when women struggled to make their voices heard within a male-dominated world, and the present time, where women have come a long way but it still feels as though there is a long way to go–especially in this current climate. Vivian reminded me of a combination of Maureen O’Hara and Lucille Ball, and it was interesting to get a more behind-the-scenes look at what life would have been like for up-and-coming female comedians putting their stamp on something that didn’t have many women involved.
The premise of Margot finding Vivian’s tapes was an interesting one, and did well to tie Margot and Vivian together. The question that plagues the reader for many chapters is: how do Vivian and Margot’s grandmother know each other? And, how did her grandmother end up with Vivian’s tapes? Told with chapters that focus solely on the past and Vivian’s viewpoint, then Margot’s in the present, the truth behind it all slowly unfolds until the last moment, and I actually had no idea how it would turn out and what the answer would be.
I liked the relationship between Margot and Leo. I also liked how tough Margot makes it, for Leo to get back into her good graces. She doesn’t make it easy, considering her past relationships, but I could still feel the connection between the two characters. Without Leo, Margot would have a difficult time discovering who Vivian is, so he becomes an integral part to the story. It’s a slow-burn romance, but it also feels like Margot doesn’t delineate from her original goal regarding Vivian, the story’s own special connection.
I’d love to see The One and Only Vivian Stone turned into a movie! It’s suspenseful and engaging, providing an old-timey mid-century feel that also blended well with our present day experiences. It was a definite five-star experience!
Thanks to Gallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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