The One and Only Vivian Stone

De: Melissa O'Connor

Narrado por: Alex Finke, Patti Murin

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in this enchanting novel about estranged lovers reconnecting over mysterious tapes found in an attic and the old Hollywood secret hidden within them.

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 how not succeeding wrecked her confidence. 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 costar-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 tied to her past in this moving exploration of how it’s never too late to start over.

©2025 Melissa O'Connor (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

A lovely creation

Couldn’t stop listening. Interesting story lines, appreciated the light shown on greed taking precedence over actors’ wellbeing. A perfect book club book.

Hollywood's Golden Age

Fully immersive fictional autobiography of a 50s era up and coming starlet interspersed with a contemporary narrative exploring what happened to this woman who seemingly had it all. Both narrators bring it to life and set the stage perfectly.

An Engrossing Romp Through Hollywood

O’Connor’s characters are three-dimensional. Her protagonist, Vivian balances her dogged determination with a morality and fairness that keeps her from descending into ruthlessness or into a spiral of addiction and despondency. The buoyant support of her best friend is tempered by the trauma of being forced into a horrible situation by the studio. O’Connor also manages to convey the cruel misogyny of the studio executives without becoming pedantic. She also includes some enticing plot points that kept me on the edge of my seat.

unique

I thought it was going to be one of those predictable love stories but don't be fooled it is intriguing and interesting and beautiful