Many thanks to Henry Holt & Co. for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publication. I would love to see this story brought to the screen. I wasn’t quite ready to leave the characters when I finished it. I’ll be thinking about this novel for a long time. Let me know your thoughts on the story below! The Synopsis Crystal Smith Paul attended Spelman College and UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and received her master's in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is her first novel.

Chapters in the Past: The past and the lead up to the present were chapters that held my attention and kept me reading. Super readable and easy to binge as I wanted to know more! Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is an intoxicating and seductive debut, drawing you into an underground Hollywood world that is as glamorous as it is dangerous. Kitty Karr is an iconoclastic, complicated, and fascinating woman, whose legacy is as relevant as ever today. Crystal Smith Paul is a thrilling new voice in fiction and I cannot wait to see what she does next.”

This debut novel may be the best book of fiction I read this year. A multigenerational saga connecting families across racial, class and geographical lines. It's historically authentic provoking genuine understanding and empathy for the characters. Choices have consequences reaching beyond a single person in time. Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their stores—a gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstore—become fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love. While Elise thinks it’s time for the public to know the truth—Sarah doesn’t agree. Do you think Kitty wanted the world to know as well? The writing was atrocious. I had no idea what was going on the first chapter as Smith completely failed to set up the story and properly introduce the characters. The historical chapters were better and much more interesting. I didn’t read the Goodreads blurb until after I gave up on this one, but I had more or less called the twist.

With a Master’s degree in Journalism from New York University, Crystal has made her mark in the digital media landscape, with her writing featured in esteemed publications such as Salon, Jezebel, and The Huffington Post. Her insightful storytelling sheds light on the deep-rooted impact of racial violence and its ability to fracture families, as well as the intricacies of colorism within family relationships. A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. Reflecting on the portrayal of strong female characters, such as Kitty, Elise, and Hazel, what messages does the book convey about women’s resilience, agency, and the pursuit of their own dreams? Discuss the importance of female relationships and the ways in which they support and shape the characters’ journeys. For Kitty, she feels she’s left with no choice. In her opinion, events in her life happen to her and she has to figure out how to move forward. What’s interesting is a character says to Elise in the present that he doesn’t believe that—there’s always a choice to be made.That’s the crux of the story, told through different timelines and perspectives —mainly Kitty in the past and the eldest St. John sister, Elise, in the present. Chapters in the "Present": The present chapters are my least favorite part of the book. The St. John sisters are hard to relate to, and having them already millionaires who weren't truly affected by Kitty's gift made me want to care less about them. Overall these chapters just dragged as again we're introduced to more unhappy, unmemorable characters. Editorial note: I received a copy of Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

How did the author’s narrative structure and storytelling techniques contribute to your overall engagement with the book? Did they effectively convey the intended messages or create a unique reading experience?Paul's debut is a riveting, often heartbreaking tale that explores race, privilege, and celebrity in America through the eyes of a one-of-a-kind character. Readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Piper Huguley will be enthralled." It was cloudy, and the only light was from the spokes of the Ferris wheel. It sat low on the fourth tier of their property, so only half of it was visible from the house. It was a gift, given to her mother more than two decades ago by a French director courting her for a film she ultimately declined. Her mother thought it was an eyesore but kept it for the sake of good conversation. Visitors likened it to a giant dream catcher, fitting considering that what and who lay behind its presence mirrored the collected, albeit programmed, wants of many. It was a symbol of celebrity, a club into which everyone wanted entry—a partition between gods and mortals. From the Perch, Elise did feel somewhat godly.

If you’re fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Vanishing Half, you’ll love this story. It features similar elements but of course, very much stands on its own. One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit.What kept me from loving the book were the present day/Elise chapters. For the most part, I found these chapters confusing. Everyone but Elise and a couple others seem terrified of letting Kitty's secret out, but it's not clearly explained why. It kind of dulls the impact of the final moments because their hesitation is just confusing. There are other parts that confused me, but I'll leave those out to avoid spoilers. The chapters aren't particularly strong compared to the past chapters. With the past, there's a strong, driving voice, and each moment is clear, emotional, and powerful. That same drive isn't there in the present chapters. Loved the timeline of this novel, and the relationships were really beautiful. The harsh realities of “passing” in American society were brutal, crucial plot points to giving this book so much heart. Elise St. John, one of the sisters and a celebrity in her own right, finds herself knee-deep in sorting out Kitty’s affairs. But what she discovers in Kitty’s journals turns her world upside down. We’re talking scandal, family ties, debts owed, and even debatable crimes. Whoa, right? Hope you enjoyed my book club discussion questions and reading guide for Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul! Besides the overdone storyline, there were a few other aspects that didn't work out for me. First, there were too many POVs, making it confusing at times. It would often get jumbled and I had to re-read certain chapters to make sense of it all. This is a slow burn book, so it took awhile to get into the story. The book was too long and I struggled with the execution. The writing itself left alot to be desired. I really could not relate to the St. John sisters. You are already millionaires, who just inherited more millions and they were unhappy, ungrateful and overall seemed miserable in their lives.