The Sunset Crowd

by Karin Tanabe

Money and fame: in 1970's Los Angeles, everyone is fighting to reach the top, but very few have the talent, ambition, and luck to get there.

Meet LA darling Evra Scott. The daughter of an Oscar-winning director and a Brazilian bombshell actress, Evra is the city's reigning style queen. By day, she's at the helm of Sunset on Sunset, the store beloved by Hollywood's young and beautiful. By night, she's on the arm of Kai de la Faire, Hawaii's hottest export, and the screenwriter of the moment.

Enter Theodora Leigh. The twenty-something Paramount assistant looks like a big screen star, but her sights are firmly set behind the scenes, as she fights to become a movie producer in a town where sex and sexism sell. Theodora's got the talent and instincts, but she's not willing to wait. Luckily, getting ahead by any means necessary is LA's mantra.

Observing it all is Bea Dupont, a photographer for Rolling Stone and Vogue, who never misses the party, but always keeps to its fringes. A Manhattan blue blood turned West Coast bohemian, Bea holds Evra's Sunset crowd together. She's also Kai's oldest friend, and she's harbored a not-so-secret flame for him since they met at an elite Swiss boarding school.

But in Hollywood, no one stays on top forever. And it's not long before Theodora's unrelenting ambition sets in motion a dramatic quest for power in an industry that is as glamorous as it is duplicitous. From Rodeo Drive to the French Riviera, The Sunset Crowd is a tale of survival and reinvention, of faking it until you make it, and the glittering appeal of success and stardom, as it seeks to answer that timeless question--who gets to have the American dream?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Adult Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2023

About the author

KARIN TANABE is the author of six novels, including A Hundred Suns and The Gilded Years (soon to be a major motion picture starring Zendaya, who will produce alongside Reese Witherspoon/Hello Sunshine). A former Politico reporter, she has also written for The Washington Post, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Tribune, and Newsday. She has appeared as a celebrity and politics expert on Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and CBS Early Show. A graduate of Vassar College, Karin lives in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I loved the sound of this one, set in the 70’s in LA with a cast of characters that are part of the Hollywood elite sounded exactly like the type of book I want to read in the summer. Give me a little sex, drugs and rock and roll set against a glitzy backdrop and I’m all in. There was a lot to like here, mostly the aforementioned vibes but something was off for me. There are quite a few characters and a handful didn’t even seem necessary so I’m not sure what the point of including them even was. It was also super predictable, I’m talking like as soon as a particular person was introduced the end game was glaringly obvious. But I did enjoy the jet setting aspect, the juicy drama and the throwback to the past so overall not a wasted read. The ending definitely elevated things for me, (including my rating) so if you like the sounds of this it may be worth the read for you.

[Katie Samsock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads for the give away win

I was so excited to be able to read this in its uncorrected bound manuscript form. It is definitely in the same realm as the book Daisy Jones and the Six except that this book lives in 1970’s Hollywood kingdom instead of the recording studios. The book for me did not really get started until page 90 and then after that it took off and I couldn’t put it down. I think before that, the story was just too confusing because there was so much going on. The author was trying her best to portray the 1970s party scene in all of its glory and chaos. The problem is, that type of description is suited better to a visual media as opposed to reading the description. When trying to read about the chaos in such a chaotic form it gets really confusing for the reader but I see what the author was trying to accomplish in order to set up the appropriate drug infested party scene that ruled that decade.

Overall I liked the main characters a lot especially Beatrice and Theodora and Kai. Some of the side characters were pretty forgettable and not really necessary in my opinion. Especially Gemma and Miriama. They just became more names that I had to figure out when trying to pinpoint all the different characters in the very beginning.

Considering this is the uncorrected bound manuscript and definitely probably has some edits to get through I’m super excited for this to hit the bookshelf, especially if the editors cut back a little bit in the first third of the book.

[Trey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out as a behind the scenes look at the 1970s Hollywood party scene. The jet-setting and the partying and the it girls. The plot thickens once Theodora Leigh enters the group and shakes everything up.

The main characters are fun and well developed, even if they aren’t all likeable. The story is very character driven. The writing is good, but the beginning did take a little time to pick up. Once it picked up it really had me hooked for the rest of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway. I found it onerous to pick up, especially in the first half. It was slow and I found the dialogue difficult to read. I would often have to reread what a character is supposed to be saying to understand. Maybe this was LA in the 70's? The story wasn't believable. I wasn't buying that someone would have invested thousands of dollars without seeing a script. Nobody asked to read the script? But more than that, I really didn't like the ending. I don't want to give a spoiler but I felt the story could have been wrapped up better.

[Shannon (The Book Club Mom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you in the mood for some historical fiction, but don’t feel like reading a depressing war story? I struggle with historical fiction this time of year. It’s one of my favorite genres, but just not what I want to read by the pool, or at the beach. The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe is a perfect historical fiction option in the summer months, in my opinion. If you love reading about the 1970s, and the whole sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll hippy vibe, then add this one to your TBR. Tanabe captured this era marvelously with her slower-paced, easy breezy writing style. The reader receives an inside look at the fashion, music, and film industry during this time period. The bright and fiery cast of characters includes a photographer, a screenwriter, a clothing store owner, and a fame chaser, who all brought tons of juicy drama and scandalous moments to the storyline. I truly loved the overall vibe of this book, but felt that it moved a little too slowly for my liking, and I was constantly craving more action. It needed more shock and awe, in my opinion. If you loved the movie Almost Famous, or loved reading Daisy Jones & The Six, or Groupies, then The Sunset Crowd is right up your alley. It’s available now, and I give it 3.5/5 stars!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I am beyond happy that I did! There's a little something for everyone in this tale- fame, money, deceit and love. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for choosing me!

Karin Tanabe is an incredibly talented writer. She weaves a story that will hook you from the very first sentence and won't let go until the very last word she wrote has been read.

The cast of characters is intriguing and alluring. I found myself rooting for Kai throughout the story and when he becomes less than the polished man he was meant to be I wanted to punch him! He redeemed himself by the end and I only wish his story didn't have to end so tragically. I get why it did, but my goodness it tore my heart out of my chest. Kai and his big dreams and his even bigger heart deserved more!

Evra Scott could be a little conceited but she was loveable if only a bit shallow at times. When all is bright and light she can smile pretty and stand by him and be his biggest fan but as soon as there's a hint of failure she doesn't seem to remember that she claims to love Kai. She also has been through quite a lot and once her backstory is fully explained you understand her on a deeper level.

Bea is loveable and relatable. I mean we all want to fit in and find our crowd and for most of the story that's what she wants. Her teenage crush on Kai turns into an attraction when their worlds collide in LA after many years but she manages to respect her friendship with Evra and her love for Kai enough to keep herself from destroying their relationship. Instead she chooses to remain his friend and gains a friend in Evra too. She becomes part of her world and truly believes it's everything she wants. By the end she's so close to getting what she actually wants that my heart broke for her. I felt the devastation when she found Kai and still do as I sit here writing this review.

Theodora was awful - she was so good at being awful that she was good (you'll fall for her until you see the light again) but she's a terrible human. A liar. Possibly a murderer (I vote 1000% yes she did it). She knows exactly what to say and how to dress and act to get the right people interested in her. She's a conartist.

I enjoyed every second of this amazing book and will definitely be adding Karin Tanabe to my list of must read authors.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75. I really like Karin Tanabe. I even had the pleasure to meet her once at a book review of The Diplomat’s Daughter. She is a wonderful young writer and appears to seamlessly venture among different types of literary genres and clearly does not write the same book with different characters. Her research for her books is always thorough. Her new book, The Sunset Crowd is interesting but I had trouble engaging with it. The novel generally revolves around Bea DuPont (yes of the DuPont family), a young up and coming photographer living the life in the “in” crowd of LA in the 1970s, including the jet set, partying, drugs, alcohol, trips to the French, among other things. Then enters Theodora Leigh and the plot thickens. This novel has a slow start and although it picks up, it was not enough for me to get totally pulled in. I had trouble relating to the characters and the plot. Perhaps it was the plasticity of the characters which frankly is what one should expect in LA; however,very few were likeable. A loose take on The Great Gatsby. It is not my favorite Tanabe book but as always I look forward to her upcoming books. I received an advance copy from NetGalley for a candid and unbiased review.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea DuPont shares the story of her Hollywoods friends living the party life and readers can’t help but wait in anticipation as the story barrels onward.

This story is slow to start, so stick with it until Theodora Leigh enters the main stage and then enjoy the ride!

If you enjoy character-driven stories, friendship circles with heightened drama, and 1970’s pop culture, you’ll like this book!

ARC provided via NetGalley

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

as a fan of daisy jones and any throwback I cant wait for others to read this

Thanks to St Martins and Goodreads for the giveaway win

[Bill Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5? I’m being generous because of the obvious—and intentional—allusions to The Great Gatsby…but this is mostly a pretty dumb book, I’m sorry to say.

[Melissa | bookswithbuzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this book but at the same time I couldn't put it down!!! The 70s Hollywood vibe was so fun and I wanted more and more, but all the different characters got a bit confusing - I'd say if you liked Daisy Jones you'd probably enjoy this one as well!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is the 1970s, and Hollywood is full of A list celebrities living life to the absolute fullest in all ways. The drugs are openly available, the alcohol never stops flowing and everyone is chasing their next high.

Bea is a photographer and her friends are making their way into Hollywood’s social scene where they have a front row view of all the decade has to offer. One thing is certain: everyone wants to be a star and are willing to do anything to make it happen, which is where the drama comes in.

It was an overwhelming amount of drama occurring to make this an enjoyable read and mix that with the amount of characters it was just a bit much. I feel the story would have flowed better if it wasn’t so many characters. I felt the author was trying to make every character a main character and it just didn’t work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Keli Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're waiting for a guilty beach read, this one fills the void. The Sunset Crowd is 70's Hollywood elite and those who want in on being a part of the fame and fortune.

Evra, a daughter of famous Hollywood actors owns a designer clothing store where everyone who is anyone shops for fashion in L.A. She becomes friends with Bea DuPont who is trying to make it big as a Hollywood photographer. Bea is reunited with an old friend Kia, who is Evra's boyfriend and getting noticed as a director/producer. Bea is hoping to rekindle the friendship but Theodora, a newly inspiring producer gets in the way.

There's lost love, betrayal, ambition, fame, fortune and adventure all packed into the Sunset Crowd.

Thank you Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of The Sunset Crowd.

[Lea Rummel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be pretty disappointing. I absolutely loved her last novel, A Woman of Intelligence, and hoped that this one would bring me in right away, but it felt very disjointed to me. The plot was not very clear. There was some interesting history about Hollywood, but the actually substance of the novel was just not very interesting to me. I hope the author's next novel will pull me in the way that A Woman of Intelligence did.

[Christopher Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining and I would go so far as to round up a bit, and give it a rating of 3.5 stars. I was invested in the characters enough to keep me reading, I felt that the story moved along fine, but in spots it did drag just a little. This book is geared more towards the middle America housewife who wants to shut out the world around her and delve back into a 1970s California/Paris life she never had the opportunity to have in her own life. Someone who enjoys gossip, and the drama that goes with it all will enjoy this novel. Nothing to write home about, and maybe that is the audience Tanabe is trying to capture.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the 1970s setting. I loved the design at the beginning of each chapter because it was vintage 70s.
I failed to relate to any of the characters in the book. I tried chapter after chapter and but I just couldn’t engage with the story and what was going on.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the early read.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine summer read that took some abrupt turns that didn’t feel sufficiently explored. The dynamics of the friend group were written better than the characters individually and I was left feeling like something was missing.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever aspire to be a star in Hollywood, read this book first! Narrated by photographer Bea Dupont, the novel follows the Hollywood crowd with its sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll culture. At the center are designers, movie stars, Swiss boarding schools, and plenty of phony people just trying to make it big or at least pretend they matter. It's a fascinating look at a side of society we know exists but are always on the outside looking in. And now that you've looked in, is it something worth selling your soul for a moment of fame? Guess I'll never know as I prefer the "safe" side of life without the glamor and glitz...but this book is a thrill ride for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Serina murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book jumped it’s way up to my favorite book. I truly think it’s my first 6/5 read. Let me preface by saying that this will not be everyone’s cup of tea. but truly, this book could not be more perfect to me. I loved every single character so whole heartedly. i did not hate any of them & that’s probably never happened to me. i loved how it was only from Bea Dupont’s POV. i loved how she was surrounded by fierce and glamorous people, especially women. and although she was not described as fierce and stunning, she 10000% was. she was so cool. i loved how she shot for vogue & variety & rolling stone. her love for Kai was truly the best part of the book. how could anyone not fall in love with Kai de la faire

I loved Evra. they described her as self-absorbed towards the end of the book, but in my mind, she was not self-absorbed. She just didn’t know any other way of life. she grew up with fame. but she left to go travel & i think that gave her character growth. the way the book started, with her riding in on a zebra and elephant is what really had me hooked. I loved how fierce and powerful she was and how effortlessly beautiful and cool she was. I love how she owned sunset on sunset and had clothing & jewelry & accessories from all over the world. also, what happened to her mom, and the fact she had to witness it, really explains why she was the way she was.

don’t even get me started about Theodora. She obviously was the villain in the story, but I loved her. I loved the storyline. you could tell she was sketchy from the beginning, but it almost didn’t matter. her cool outfits and cowgirl boots and how she was powerful one day and meek the next. I think she is probably the most relatable character. obviously not the murder part but trying to play a part until you fit in. she took it to an extreme but i think what kai said is very true - you change your name and story to fit into LA.

Strass & Miriama & Gemma & Tash were all such important characters to me too. i loved the glamorous yet real friendships. and yes it is hollywood friendships but it was fun & i truly think that’s what everyone in this life craves - fun.

Lastly Kai. i think i fell in love with him. i loved his background: Hawaiian & French. i loved his determination to not just be successful in creating Hawaiian films but determination to get out of his comfort zone. i loved his comments to Bea & his slight flirtyness. i had to pick my jaw up off the floor when he died. i hated Theodora for it but it was truly the best way to end this book. I would not have changed a thing.

Quotes i loved:

“ as the LA Times wrote Sunset was like the 60s and 70s had met the 20s and 30s at a cocktail party, shook hands, Clinked glasses, and declared that they were getting along famously and dear God, why hadn’t they met before?”

“ the owners favorite genre of art is bored – looking women in memorable outfits. And that right there is a bored woman in a very good hat.”

“she occupied rare air”

early on in the book, chapter 5, theodora is talking about a movie she is producing. about a girl who moves to NYC for the summer to sing & has a summer romance with a professor & grows in popularity. but at the end of summer, she catches a flight back to the midwest & you get a glimpse of her life back there. marrying a violent men who has money in order to save her parents farm. and that made me really sad.

“kai de la faire wanted west coast and wild. evra scott was that and more, a true Californian and sex in heels”

“blue collar kids make the best rock stars”

“the thin rats live the longest” - on why being thin is important

“ all that energy that you had in your youth will just disappear. And you’ll be the worst thing in the world.”
“which is?”
“boring.”

“everyone needs love and sex and laughter and big, crazy times.”

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it, not sure it's super memorable. The tone of merging these people in with real 70s celebs was just... odd? But I had fun!

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this one hit at a weird time but I struggled to connect and worry about the highs and lows of this group of rich socialites of Hollywood. The start was odd, it felt more like an article being read than a novel - it had to give us the background of the characters and why they were involved with the Hollywood crowd.

Finally, Leigh enters stage left. She's in your face trying hard but also trying hard to make it seem like she's not trying at all. There were more parties, galas, and "fund raisers." I tried to feel tied to the dramas and the wonders of who would reveal what secret and who Leigh was but I just struggled to worry about them when their dramas felt so small.

If you need a distraction read that tackles some interesting Hollywood gossip type dramas, you might like this one. It just wasn't for me.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Karin you talented minx. This story is the very definition of RICH. It is New Hollywood. It is glamour. And it’s also addictive.

The dialogue in this book gave me all the Daisy-Buchanan-in-a-maxi-dress vibes. Privileged drama. Effortlessly charismatic. Despite Hollywood elite and high fashion being the absolute farthest thing from my scene, it was so incredibly captivating.

I loved that Bea, our lead, is a photographer. She’s not the main subject of the story but we’re seeing the whole thing unfold through her lens. She remains peripheral, blends in with the scenery in a way, and so she sees more than most. It was the most perfect point of view for this glamorous mystery.

This book is a work of art.

[Andrea | andrea.c.lowry.reads]

Sadly this was a DNF for me. I really wanted to enjoy it since the premise spoke to me, but with the slow and repetitive pace I just couldn’t get into it. There were also an over abundance of characters and the plot is tissue paper thin. The dialogue was interesting in the whole “stream of consciousness” sense, but when paired with the actual storyline, it made the story very choppy and at times confusing.

I’ve heard that the last 1/3 of the story is where it finally gets better, so maybe it will speak to more readers at that point.

[Stella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have known that I would hate this for one very specific reason:
1. People said it had Daisy Jones vibes....HATED that book.

This was full of vapid people, doing vapid things. Backstabbing, possibly murder and questionable careers. It just...didn't interest me. Nothing about any of these people was interesting.

For a better book about the same time period and LA, Groupies by Sarah Priscus is much more compelling.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this juicy domestic historical fiction, set during the sex, drugs and rock and roll era of the 1970s in Hollywood, California.

It was fun to be in the world of fashion, music, and film, and I love a fake con artist storyline!

I paired the book with the audiobook and loved to read this way. The narration was by Sarah Mollo-Christenson, and I really enjoyed it.

*many thanks to St Martins Press, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

[Marcia Shirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit that I never should have read this book. The characters are rich, beautiful, talented, successful, and miserable. One among them is faking it in order to fit in and it is painfully obvious what she is doing. Rather than give up on the book, I kept reading because I was sure there would be a twist in the plot that would make it worthwhile. Alas, there was not.

[Tanya Standarowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book and I think they may have made it a better book for me. The narrator did a great job of bringing the characters to life and I felt the happiness and the pain of the main character “B” DuPont. The book provided a great view into glamorous Hollywood in the 70s. I recommend the audio version (it is over 11 hours) but the story was a good one either way.

[Barbie Bumpus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the NetGalley for the ARC. This book was ok. Some of it dragged on for me. Also, I didn’t like the ending. Some characters were memorable while others shouldn’t have been mentioned. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell flat for me.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed this in one evening. Was pretty boring.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ending shattered me :(