The Hollywood Daughter by Kate Alcott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love this book about old Hollywood.
Set in the 1950’s, Jesse’s dad is a PR man at a Hollywood studio and one of his stars is Ingrid Bergman who Jesse hero worships for most of her life. The best part of her childhood was in the carpool when they stopped to pick up Ingrid’s daughter, Pia, and she would get a chance to see her idol.
With the suspicions that there were communists among the movie industry, Jesse’s mother wanted her to switch schools and she began attending a convent school. The more her dad was involved in his day to day life, her mom sunk into her Catholic faith and there was much stress in the house. Jesse is a smart student and awarded the title of Valedictorian for her class. When she gave an award winning speech against the Catholic church and Hollywood, this title was taken away from her and angered her parents. By the time she graduated, she was so ready to leave her life behind and move to New York.
After college and several years working for Newsweek, she receives an invite to the Academy Awards. Having left that life behind she wasn’t sure she wanted to go but after speaking with her lifelong best friend, Kathleen, who still lived in Hollywood, she decides to make the trip.
The story goes through Jesse reflecting and sorting out her life and it ends on a happy note. Excellent book. I didn’t want it to end! 🙂