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The Girl from the Grand Hotel
The #1 bestselling author of Cooking for Picasso and The Godmothers returns with The Girl from the Grand Hotel, a dazzling historical novel that brings readers into the glamorous world of the first (and doomed) Cannes Film Festival and the deadly atmosphere of Europe on the brink of war. Summer, 1939. The glittering Côte d'Azur is having a particularly brilliant season, as the world's wealthiest vacationers collide with Hollywood's illustrious movie stars for the first-ever film festival on the French Riviera. Into this hothouse playground comes an American named Annabel Faucon. Having left a dead-end job and a broken heart back in New York, she's escaped to a summer stint at the fabulous Grand Hotel where her uncle is the manager. But when a major movie studio brings its flock of stars to stay at the hotel, Annabel is hand-picked to "keep an eye on" two of the mysterious a screenwriter who's been literally "in his cups", and a renegade actor who keeps luring the studio's female star into his independent productions. The arrival of Nazi guests only intensifies the situation. Suddenly everyone is watching everybody else during this feverish last summer before the outbreak of World War II. Faced with international spies who will stop at nothing to get what they want, Annabel finds herself embroiled in murder, intrigue, and a race against the clock to disrupt a secret Nazi communications system. Inspired by true events and the histories of three great hotels on the Côte d'Azur--with appearances by such real-life luminaries as Marlene Dietrich, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Cagney and Mae West--The Girl from the Grand Hotel is a brilliant page-turner that is not to be missed.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2024
414 people are currently reading
25429 people want to read
About the author
Camille Aubray
3 books475 followersCamille Aubray is the author of THE GODMOTHERS and COOKING FOR PICASSO. Both novels were a People Magazine's Pick for the Best New Books. THE GODMOTHERS was also chosen for Best Books lists by Newsweek, Buzzfeed, Parade, and Veranda. COOKING FOR PICASSO is an Indiebound bestseller and won a spot on the Indie Next Reading Groups List.
Camille Aubray is an Edward Albee Foundation Fellowship winner and was a writer-in-residence at the Karolyi Foundation in the South of France. She studied writing with her mentor Margaret Atwood, and was a finalist for the Pushcart Press Editors' Book Award and the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference.
To see Camille Aubray's events, book club kits, photos, recipes and the locales that inspired her, visit her at her website: www.camilleaubray.com
Camille Aubray is an Edward Albee Foundation Fellowship winner and was a writer-in-residence at the Karolyi Foundation in the South of France. She studied writing with her mentor Margaret Atwood, and was a finalist for the Pushcart Press Editors' Book Award and the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference.
To see Camille Aubray's events, book club kits, photos, recipes and the locales that inspired her, visit her at her website: www.camilleaubray.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
August 31, 2024
If there was ever a book that made me want to read an author's backlist, it is The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray. I had already been eying her debut Cooking for Picasso, but now I will be reading anything and everything this woman writes that is in novel format. I always enjoy my time in a historical fiction story, and this lead in to WWII was both suspenseful at times and very informative. I was a big fan of the characters, especially Annabel who was very headstrong and while foolish at times, I couldn’t help but admire her bravery and tenacity. Aubray did a superb job capturing the glamour of 1930s Europe, and I loved my stay at the Côte d'Azur.
I strongly believe the audiobook is the way to go with The Girl from the Grand Hotel and I personally found Mozhan Navabi to be an amazing narrator. I loved listening to her voice, and she did a fantastic job bringing Annabel and all facets of the story to life. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing names like F. Scott Fitzgerald and I loved that Aubray had Annabel interacting with these famous names. I do wish there had been some sort of author’s note in the book to express what was entirely fictional and what was based on real life, but I loved it all the same and would definitely recommend this to historical fiction readers who like some mystery and drama in their books!
I strongly believe the audiobook is the way to go with The Girl from the Grand Hotel and I personally found Mozhan Navabi to be an amazing narrator. I loved listening to her voice, and she did a fantastic job bringing Annabel and all facets of the story to life. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing names like F. Scott Fitzgerald and I loved that Aubray had Annabel interacting with these famous names. I do wish there had been some sort of author’s note in the book to express what was entirely fictional and what was based on real life, but I loved it all the same and would definitely recommend this to historical fiction readers who like some mystery and drama in their books!
April 29, 2024
The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray is a delightful historical novel set on the French Riviera in 1939. Europe is on the brink of war, but the area is excited and abuzz as celebrities arrive for the very first Cannes film Festival.
“I…would give my life for three years in France.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald.)
For Annabel it is a dreamy time. A twenty-something New Yorker, she leaves the US and now works for her uncle at his famous Grand Hotel on the Riviera. She loves her uncle, the job, and the people of the area. But with the threat of war, there are also some sinister types, mostly German army officers, at the hotel, throwing a damper on some of the excitement of the new Cannes’ “Celebration of the Stars.”
As in her previous novels set in France, the author shows she knows well the country and its history. There is copious name-dropping and tidbits about celebrities as the movie types and even a famous author (!) come to stay. Balancing the frivolity of that subject, there is a more serious tale of wartime activity with intrigue and personal danger for many.
I enjoy Aubray’s vivid descriptions of the place, the time, and the people of the area! The story telling is charming in its simplicity, and the arc of the story is nicely wrapped up in the revelatory epilogue.
I recommend this novel to readers who like 20th century French history seen through the prism of old-time glamour and a bit of melancholy for the lovely days in the sun before the gathering clouds of war.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.
“I…would give my life for three years in France.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald.)
For Annabel it is a dreamy time. A twenty-something New Yorker, she leaves the US and now works for her uncle at his famous Grand Hotel on the Riviera. She loves her uncle, the job, and the people of the area. But with the threat of war, there are also some sinister types, mostly German army officers, at the hotel, throwing a damper on some of the excitement of the new Cannes’ “Celebration of the Stars.”
As in her previous novels set in France, the author shows she knows well the country and its history. There is copious name-dropping and tidbits about celebrities as the movie types and even a famous author (!) come to stay. Balancing the frivolity of that subject, there is a more serious tale of wartime activity with intrigue and personal danger for many.
I enjoy Aubray’s vivid descriptions of the place, the time, and the people of the area! The story telling is charming in its simplicity, and the arc of the story is nicely wrapped up in the revelatory epilogue.
I recommend this novel to readers who like 20th century French history seen through the prism of old-time glamour and a bit of melancholy for the lovely days in the sun before the gathering clouds of war.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.
April 22, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishers for the eARC of this book!
This is the story of a young woman named Annabel who moves to France from the US on the eve of WWII following the death of her parents. Her uncle runs the illustrious Grand Hotel on the Côte d’Azur so she takes on a job there for the summer of 1939. During this time, the Grand Hotel is hosting the inaugural Cannes Film Festival. Annabel encounters starlets and spies, writers and actors, heirs and Herrs. 😜
Annabel has the ability to and an interest in producing the various arts. Through this novel we get a glimpse at a bit of this in both the theatrical and literary fields with some big names in both that many readers will be familiar with! Drawing upon real events in a historical fiction is necessary, but accurately depicting a character whom really existed and doing them justice is less common and what really pulls this one up to the full 5-star rating for me. The background of this novel is researched SO well and, as a historian I appreciate that a lot!
I know, I know—another WWII historical fiction! There are so many, right? However, I felt like this one definitely stood out from others I have read. I tend to avoid giving novels 5 stars (sorry @ authors 🫣), but I really can’t come up with any reason to deduct even half a star from this one. This novel had some mystery and intrigue, glamour, great pacing, and a tiny bit of romance that ACTUALLY contributed to the plot (it’s so hard for me to find romances I actually like LOL)!! I can’t wait to read more from Camille Aubray now!
This is the story of a young woman named Annabel who moves to France from the US on the eve of WWII following the death of her parents. Her uncle runs the illustrious Grand Hotel on the Côte d’Azur so she takes on a job there for the summer of 1939. During this time, the Grand Hotel is hosting the inaugural Cannes Film Festival. Annabel encounters starlets and spies, writers and actors, heirs and Herrs. 😜
Annabel has the ability to and an interest in producing the various arts. Through this novel we get a glimpse at a bit of this in both the theatrical and literary fields with some big names in both that many readers will be familiar with! Drawing upon real events in a historical fiction is necessary, but accurately depicting a character whom really existed and doing them justice is less common and what really pulls this one up to the full 5-star rating for me. The background of this novel is researched SO well and, as a historian I appreciate that a lot!
I know, I know—another WWII historical fiction! There are so many, right? However, I felt like this one definitely stood out from others I have read. I tend to avoid giving novels 5 stars (sorry @ authors 🫣), but I really can’t come up with any reason to deduct even half a star from this one. This novel had some mystery and intrigue, glamour, great pacing, and a tiny bit of romance that ACTUALLY contributed to the plot (it’s so hard for me to find romances I actually like LOL)!! I can’t wait to read more from Camille Aubray now!
May 3, 2024
Another great book by Camille Aubrey. I enjoyed reading about a beautiful French hotel on the French Riviera during World War II frequented by both movie, stars and Nazis and the conflicts that ensued. It was interesting reading about the movie stars and the interactions between them and the main characters. The author did very accurate research on the movies from the time period as well as the movie stars.
February 21, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed this book, it had a bit of everything that in my opinion makes a good read, interesting time period, some mystery, some romance,, but most importantly the story had a brisk pace it kept moving. The story of Annabel, a young American who goes to live with her uncle at the French Rivera and work at the Grand Hotelwhere he is the manager., takes place right at the start of World War II. Annabel who speaks English, French and some German is an asset to her uncle at the hotel, working a variety of different jobs and ultimately getting mixed up in some espionage. The time frame for this story is also the first Cannes film festival, so there is a sprinkling of famous Hollywood names which adds to the interest of this story. I highly recommend this book, it kept my interest and it was a fun read.
April 29, 2024
I thought I had read about every possible angle of World War II in the dozens of titles I’ve read in the past few years, but this was a new one for me. Camille Aubrey drew me right into this story about the first attempt to hold the famed Cannes Film Festival in 1939–which was interrupted by Germany’s invasion of Poland.
This book had it all—spy intrigue, romance, a murder mystery, and lots of juicy Hollywood gossip which kept me Googling far into the night. I had a good time with this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book had it all—spy intrigue, romance, a murder mystery, and lots of juicy Hollywood gossip which kept me Googling far into the night. I had a good time with this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 5, 2024
This book, inspired by true events, intersects old Hollywood at the first Cannes Film Festival and the brink of war and Nazi invasion. The author beautifully pulled in rich details of the French Rivera and the resort that transported me to another time.
January 1, 2025
As I said in my notes as I read this novel, this book has all the subtlety of a brick thrown through a window.
With no grace, no poise, and jaw-droppingly bad prose, The Girl from the Grand Hotel certainly ranks high (or would it be low?) among the worst books I've ever read.
We follow Annabel, a particularly dull protagonist whose uncle ("Oncle") is the manager of the great Grand Hotel on the French Riviera as the Nazis set the scene for the second World War. Annabel has no charm, no wit, an annoying and overbearing need to help others and be a very nice very good girl, and a weird (for an ostensibly straight character) fascination with other women's breasts.
Annabel mindlessly and effortless does menial jobs at her uncle's hotel, including being assigned to work as a secretary for F. Scott Fitzgerald and as a sidepiece for a hot young American actor, and haplessly finds herself in the middle of a Nazi spy plot involving Enigma machines and murder and a frightening amount of telling instead of showing.
The plot itself was bafflingly paced. The reader spent much of the first half of the book being bombarded with detailed (to the floral variety) descriptions of the Azure Coast—which was ironically the only sort of descriptive prose the author ever attempted to give the reader—and very slowly introduced to the cast of characters, and the last ninety pages included effectively the entire spy plot, which was mostly detailed in an epilogue set in 2000, of all things.
Given Aubray's middling plot and her lack of whimsical, or even interesting, prose, one might have to conclude that her motivation for writing this book was her desire to create a cardboard cutout of a main character and surround her with historical figures up the wazoo, including the aforementioned F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, and too many other one-off mentions to count. It also seems imperative to mention that all these historical figures desperately, desperately want to bang the cardboard cutout protagonist.
It put a bad taste in my mouth to see F. Scott Fitzgerald be the third-most important character in this book, and his treatment of his wife Zelda was so brushed to the side it made me laugh. What a weird book. What horrible prose.
Chin up, kids. If this book can get published and blurbbed by Kristin Hannah, you too can do absolutely anything you set your mind to.
With no grace, no poise, and jaw-droppingly bad prose, The Girl from the Grand Hotel certainly ranks high (or would it be low?) among the worst books I've ever read.
We follow Annabel, a particularly dull protagonist whose uncle ("Oncle") is the manager of the great Grand Hotel on the French Riviera as the Nazis set the scene for the second World War. Annabel has no charm, no wit, an annoying and overbearing need to help others and be a very nice very good girl, and a weird (for an ostensibly straight character) fascination with other women's breasts.
Annabel mindlessly and effortless does menial jobs at her uncle's hotel, including being assigned to work as a secretary for F. Scott Fitzgerald and as a sidepiece for a hot young American actor, and haplessly finds herself in the middle of a Nazi spy plot involving Enigma machines and murder and a frightening amount of telling instead of showing.
The plot itself was bafflingly paced. The reader spent much of the first half of the book being bombarded with detailed (to the floral variety) descriptions of the Azure Coast—which was ironically the only sort of descriptive prose the author ever attempted to give the reader—and very slowly introduced to the cast of characters, and the last ninety pages included effectively the entire spy plot, which was mostly detailed in an epilogue set in 2000, of all things.
Given Aubray's middling plot and her lack of whimsical, or even interesting, prose, one might have to conclude that her motivation for writing this book was her desire to create a cardboard cutout of a main character and surround her with historical figures up the wazoo, including the aforementioned F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, and too many other one-off mentions to count. It also seems imperative to mention that all these historical figures desperately, desperately want to bang the cardboard cutout protagonist.
It put a bad taste in my mouth to see F. Scott Fitzgerald be the third-most important character in this book, and his treatment of his wife Zelda was so brushed to the side it made me laugh. What a weird book. What horrible prose.
Chin up, kids. If this book can get published and blurbbed by Kristin Hannah, you too can do absolutely anything you set your mind to.
May 25, 2024
The first Cannes Film Festival was supposed to promote goodwill and peace, but in 1939 the road to war was clear. The Grand Hotel filled with celebrities and studio executives, who mixed with German representatives. For Annabel it was a thrill to meet celebrities, including Mae West and James Cagney. Annabel came to the hotel to work for her Oncle JP, the hotel manager, when her parents died. While she was not to socialize with guests, she was assigned to do secretarial work for Scott (F. Scott Fitzgerald) and keep the social calendar for actor Jack Cabot. She and Scott become friends, but it is Jack who steals her heart. The death of a German tennis player who opposed Hitler, the disappearance of a Polish secretary and the discovery of her uncle’s work for French intelligence serve as reminders of the political situation in Europe. The hotel is buzzing with gossip and preparing for galas, but there are also spies among them. When Annabel stumbles on an enigma machine she is not sure what she has found and turns it over to her uncle. It forces him to involve her in his work and places her in danger.
Camille Aubrey fills her story with celebrities of the day, some making a cameo appearance and others who play more of a role. Scott is working on revising scripts while writing his own stories. His wife’s confinement to an asylum has placed him in debt. While Annabel works with him he confides in her and provides support for her when tragedy strikes. Annabel is also befriended by Charles Laughton and his wife Elsa Lanchester who add some humor as well as providing a solution to the enigma problem. The first film festival was a disaster when war was declared before the opening movie premiered, but Aubrey turns this disasterous event into a story that will appeal to fans of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing this book.
Camille Aubrey fills her story with celebrities of the day, some making a cameo appearance and others who play more of a role. Scott is working on revising scripts while writing his own stories. His wife’s confinement to an asylum has placed him in debt. While Annabel works with him he confides in her and provides support for her when tragedy strikes. Annabel is also befriended by Charles Laughton and his wife Elsa Lanchester who add some humor as well as providing a solution to the enigma problem. The first film festival was a disaster when war was declared before the opening movie premiered, but Aubrey turns this disasterous event into a story that will appeal to fans of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing this book.
August 18, 2024
TITLE: The Girl from the Grand Hotel
AUTHOR: Camille Aubray
PUB DATE: 04.30.2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set during the summer of 1939 at the first and doomed Cannes film festival that brings the glitz of old Hollywood and the glamour of the French Riviera just at the start of the World War II. I loved this breathtaking novel it’s both thrilling and suspenseful.
AUTHOR: Camille Aubray
PUB DATE: 04.30.2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set during the summer of 1939 at the first and doomed Cannes film festival that brings the glitz of old Hollywood and the glamour of the French Riviera just at the start of the World War II. I loved this breathtaking novel it’s both thrilling and suspenseful.
May 24, 2024
Interesting modern novel set on the Cote D'Azur at the beginning of WW2. Ayoung American woman naively becomes involved with Nazis spies and Hollwood stars there for the Cannes Movie Festival. An interesting combination of romance, mystery and history.
August 17, 2025
Enjoyable read. I particularly liked the variety of old Hollywood royalty as characters. I truly enjoyed the Fitzgerald character. The plot moves well and keeps you engaged.
September 24, 2024
Μάιος 2000. Μία ηλικιωμένη γυναίκα βγαίνει από μία λιμουζίνα και όλα τα φώτα αστράφτουν επάνω της. Πρόκειται για μία σκηνοθέτιδα που ήρθε να παρουσιάσει την ταινία της στο Φεστιβάλ των Καννών. Μία ταινία φόρο τιμής στον Φράνσις Σκοτ Φιτζέραλντ.
Το καλοκαίρι του 1939 οι μεγαλύτεροι αστέρες του Χόλιγουντ παρελαύνουν από την Γαλλική Ριβιέρα. Προσωπικότητες όπως η Μάρλεν Ντίτριχ, ο Γκάρι Κούπερ και ο Φράνσις Σκοτ Φιτζέραλντ βρίσκονται ανάμεσα στους διάσημους επισκέπτες που θα παραστούν στο πρώτο κινηματογραφικό φεστιβάλ των Καννών.
Η Άναμπελ, μετά τον θάνατο των γονιών της και την άσχημη κατάληξη της σχέσης της, θα εγκαταλείψει την Αμερική και θα αφιχθεί στην Κυανή Ακτή προκειμένου να εργαστεί κοντά στον θείο της ο οποίος είναι διευθυντής στο πολυτελές ξενοδοχείο Grand Hotel. Μεταξύ των καθηκόντων της είναι να προσφέρει γραμματειακή υποστήριξη στον Φιτζέραλντ και στον διάσημο ηθοποιό Τζακ Κάμποτ.
Και ενώ όλα δείχνουν να κυλούν ομαλά και όλοι να ετοιμάζονται πυρετωδώς για την έναρξη του Φεστιβάλ, η άφιξη των Ναζί στο ξενοδοχείο καθώς και ο θάνατος ενός Γερμανού τενίστα ανατρέπουν τις ισορροπίες και φέρνουν αναστάτωση.
Παράλληλα, η Άναμπελ ανακαλύπτει μία μηχανή κρυπτογράφησης και διαπιστώνει ότι ένα δικτυο κατασκόπων δρα στο ξενοδοχείο. Αψηφά τον κίνδυνο και προσπαθεί να βρει στοιχεία ώστε να βοηθήσει τόσο στην αποκρυπτογράφηση των μηνυμάτων των Ναζί όσο και στην ανακάλυψη της ταυτότητας του δολοφόνου.
Πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο με άρωμα μίας άλλης εποχής που διαδραματίζεται στην Γαλλική Ριβιέρα λίγο πριν ξεσπάσει ο Δεύτερος Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος. Μας μεταφέρει την λάμψη της χρυσής εποχής του κινηματογράφου την οποία θα επισκιάσει η σκιά του πολέμου. Πλούτος, χλιδή, έρωτας, μυστήριο και κατασκοπεία συνθέτουν ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα που σίγουρα θα σας καθηλώσει. Και όπως σχεδόν όλα τα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα έτσι και αυτό βασίζεται σε αληθινά γεγονότα.
Το καλοκαίρι του 1939 οι μεγαλύτεροι αστέρες του Χόλιγουντ παρελαύνουν από την Γαλλική Ριβιέρα. Προσωπικότητες όπως η Μάρλεν Ντίτριχ, ο Γκάρι Κούπερ και ο Φράνσις Σκοτ Φιτζέραλντ βρίσκονται ανάμεσα στους διάσημους επισκέπτες που θα παραστούν στο πρώτο κινηματογραφικό φεστιβάλ των Καννών.
Η Άναμπελ, μετά τον θάνατο των γονιών της και την άσχημη κατάληξη της σχέσης της, θα εγκαταλείψει την Αμερική και θα αφιχθεί στην Κυανή Ακτή προκειμένου να εργαστεί κοντά στον θείο της ο οποίος είναι διευθυντής στο πολυτελές ξενοδοχείο Grand Hotel. Μεταξύ των καθηκόντων της είναι να προσφέρει γραμματειακή υποστήριξη στον Φιτζέραλντ και στον διάσημο ηθοποιό Τζακ Κάμποτ.
Και ενώ όλα δείχνουν να κυλούν ομαλά και όλοι να ετοιμάζονται πυρετωδώς για την έναρξη του Φεστιβάλ, η άφιξη των Ναζί στο ξενοδοχείο καθώς και ο θάνατος ενός Γερμανού τενίστα ανατρέπουν τις ισορροπίες και φέρνουν αναστάτωση.
Παράλληλα, η Άναμπελ ανακαλύπτει μία μηχανή κρυπτογράφησης και διαπιστώνει ότι ένα δικτυο κατασκόπων δρα στο ξενοδοχείο. Αψηφά τον κίνδυνο και προσπαθεί να βρει στοιχεία ώστε να βοηθήσει τόσο στην αποκρυπτογράφηση των μηνυμάτων των Ναζί όσο και στην ανακάλυψη της ταυτότητας του δολοφόνου.
Πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο με άρωμα μίας άλλης εποχής που διαδραματίζεται στην Γαλλική Ριβιέρα λίγο πριν ξεσπάσει ο Δεύτερος Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος. Μας μεταφέρει την λάμψη της χρυσής εποχής του κινηματογράφου την οποία θα επισκιάσει η σκιά του πολέμου. Πλούτος, χλιδή, έρωτας, μυστήριο και κατασκοπεία συνθέτουν ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα που σίγουρα θα σας καθηλώσει. Και όπως σχεδόν όλα τα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα έτσι και αυτό βασίζεται σε αληθινά γεγονότα.
May 2, 2025
The far-fetched story is mostly an excuse to drop in a whole bunch of real historical figures as characters…that’s fun, I guess, but no one really seems like a real person (and the dialogue is ludicrous). I’m all for a redeeming portrayal of F. Scott Fitzgerald…if this gets readers to pick up any of his novels or stories, then that’s all to the good.
January 31, 2025
Another great read!
I enjoyed all of the celebrities that were in the book and it was interesting to see a different perspective of WWII through the eyes of these glamorous people.
I enjoyed all of the celebrities that were in the book and it was interesting to see a different perspective of WWII through the eyes of these glamorous people.
January 22, 2025
I hadn’t read this author before. I enjoyed how she mixed her characters on with real life celebrities in this story of life in the French Riviera before World War II came to France.
December 17, 2024
I'mThank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Camille Aubray for the chance to read, The Girl From the Grand Hotel. It was a wonderful story about the first Cannes Film Festival in 1939 happening right when World War II was starting.
It was centered around an American woman, Annabel Faucon, who was living and working at a hotel in Cannes with her uncle and young cousin. Annabel had relocated to France from New York City after both of her parents had passed away. She was a college student at Vassar, but she could no longer afford her living expenses, let alone continue paying for college on her own. Her uncle was kind enough to take care of her and also give her a job at his well known Grand Hotel in France.
In 1939, the first Cannes Film Festival was happening and several well known Hollywood celebrities were staying at their hotel while attending the Cannes Festival. Annabel was asked to help F. Scott Fitzgerald with typing and other secretarial jobs. She also met another famous pair, Jack Cabot and Téa Marlo who were acting in a movie together. She quickly fell madly in love with Jack. It was evident that Jack also returned her feelings, but he also was enamored by Téa.
As they all prepared for the film festival it was also quite evident that Hitler was getting ready to start a war in Europe. Several of his cronies were in attendance at the Cannes Film Festival and they made it clear how they felt about anyone who was Jewish or less than perfect in their eyes. Annabel's young cousin, Delphine, had been left with a limp after having polio and it was also obvious what they thought of her. They put lots of pressure on Téa, because she was a German actress and they wanted her to leave America and film propaganda for the Nazis.
Annabel came to realize there were many spies in France working for both the Nazi party and for their opposing parties also. The tension was high and it was difficult to tell who was fighting for which side. As tensions grew higher and higher, Annabel realized she and her family were in danger. She knew she had to help in some way if she could.
When Hitler invaded Poland everyone at the festival scurried to flee France, because they were petrified they'd be stuck in Europe during the war. Annabel also realized she needed to leave, but she wanted to first try to protect her family and her new friends. She soon found out her loved ones held important secrets and she didn't know who she could trust anymore.
I really enjoyed this story about WWII, especially the take on all of the different celebrities and how they reacted to Hitler and the war in Europe. It was a unique historical fiction story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. #NetGalley #TheGirlFromtheGrandHotel
It was centered around an American woman, Annabel Faucon, who was living and working at a hotel in Cannes with her uncle and young cousin. Annabel had relocated to France from New York City after both of her parents had passed away. She was a college student at Vassar, but she could no longer afford her living expenses, let alone continue paying for college on her own. Her uncle was kind enough to take care of her and also give her a job at his well known Grand Hotel in France.
In 1939, the first Cannes Film Festival was happening and several well known Hollywood celebrities were staying at their hotel while attending the Cannes Festival. Annabel was asked to help F. Scott Fitzgerald with typing and other secretarial jobs. She also met another famous pair, Jack Cabot and Téa Marlo who were acting in a movie together. She quickly fell madly in love with Jack. It was evident that Jack also returned her feelings, but he also was enamored by Téa.
As they all prepared for the film festival it was also quite evident that Hitler was getting ready to start a war in Europe. Several of his cronies were in attendance at the Cannes Film Festival and they made it clear how they felt about anyone who was Jewish or less than perfect in their eyes. Annabel's young cousin, Delphine, had been left with a limp after having polio and it was also obvious what they thought of her. They put lots of pressure on Téa, because she was a German actress and they wanted her to leave America and film propaganda for the Nazis.
Annabel came to realize there were many spies in France working for both the Nazi party and for their opposing parties also. The tension was high and it was difficult to tell who was fighting for which side. As tensions grew higher and higher, Annabel realized she and her family were in danger. She knew she had to help in some way if she could.
When Hitler invaded Poland everyone at the festival scurried to flee France, because they were petrified they'd be stuck in Europe during the war. Annabel also realized she needed to leave, but she wanted to first try to protect her family and her new friends. She soon found out her loved ones held important secrets and she didn't know who she could trust anymore.
I really enjoyed this story about WWII, especially the take on all of the different celebrities and how they reacted to Hitler and the war in Europe. It was a unique historical fiction story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. #NetGalley #TheGirlFromtheGrandHotel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
The Girl From The Grand Hotel" by Camille Aubray is a masterful summer beach read, whisking you away to the picturesque Grand Hotel on the French Riviera in 1939. Perfect for Old Hollywood enthusiasts, it features iconic stars like Charles Laughton and Marlena Dietrich amid the backdrop of the first Cannes Festival. As war looms, follow Anabella, a young American girl, as she navigates the glitz, glamour, and uncertainties of life at the hotel. With captivating storytelling, Aubray transports readers to a world of luxury, intrigue, and the looming shadows of World War II, making it an unforgettable tale for those who appreciate the golden age of cinema and historical fiction.
February 23, 2025
While I appreciated the author's attempt to write about the little know history of the start of the annual Cannes Film Festival, there just wasn't enough here to make it a really engaging historical fiction novel. The characters were a bit boring, and there wasn't any real intrigue or action to the story until two-thirds through the book. The last third of the story was interesting, but it just took too long to get to that point. Also, the old Hollywood stars in the book came across as"name dropping," as opposed to giving these characters some purpose in the story. The book does not lend itself to being a good book for discussion in a book club either.
June 8, 2024
The Girl from the Grand Hotel is a great piece of historical fiction, written with such conviction that you will be wondering if our heroine Annabel is real.
Blended with real Hollywood legends, author Camille Aubray writes a story that tugs on the golden movie era buff’s heart strings, set in the uncertain times of the beginning of WWII.
The plot thickens in the second half, and became a page turner for me as I realized Aubray had perfectly planted so many seeds in the first half.
If you love historical fiction with an old Hollywood twist, add this to your list!
Blended with real Hollywood legends, author Camille Aubray writes a story that tugs on the golden movie era buff’s heart strings, set in the uncertain times of the beginning of WWII.
The plot thickens in the second half, and became a page turner for me as I realized Aubray had perfectly planted so many seeds in the first half.
If you love historical fiction with an old Hollywood twist, add this to your list!
May 31, 2024
This is a fresh new focus in historical fiction. Camille Aubrey has a talent for taking a much written about era and putting a fresh new perspective on it. I very much enjoyed reading about Hollywood and literary icons. She had me reaching for my phone to research some of the actors which, in my opinion, is always a good sign of a well written historical fiction.
June 12, 2024
Another fabulous read of a book I had never heard of and just picked up by accident. Having just been to the
Côte d’Azur last year, I could visual the beautiful setting of this book. I loved the story and the characters and enjoyed reading about the first Cannes Film Festival and the famous stars who were there.
Côte d’Azur last year, I could visual the beautiful setting of this book. I loved the story and the characters and enjoyed reading about the first Cannes Film Festival and the famous stars who were there.
May 26, 2024
Exceptional book! I loved learning about all the old-time actors! The storyline flowed so well that I kept reading and reading. I could envision myself right there in the hotel! The ending was perfect! This is a do not miss book!
August 5, 2025
A great story reminding us of the complexity of life at the brink of WWII, the Cannes Film Festival, and the decisions made by folks who were faced with the onset of fascism.
March 23, 2025
Listened to this audiobook, and love the story! French Riveria, movie stars, spies…great Historical Fiction novel.
June 1, 2024
The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray is a beautiful piece and novel written about a time of history.
The Golden Years of Hollywood era - the time of Mae West, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davies, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Tyrone Power, Humphrey Bogart, Author F. Scott Fitzgerald…...just to mention a few. It was also the time in history in the brink of WWII Germany Nazi occupation, spies and army intelligence.
The novel is set on the French Riviera in 1939, at the Grand Hotel where the celebrities are arriving to celebrate the first Cannes Film Festival. ‘The Celebration of the Stars’, parties are on the highest lead up to the event. Amongst the Glitz and Glamour of the event of the year, arrives Annabel a twenty year old young lady with secretarial skills from New York and the niece of Uncle JP the owner of the Grand Hotel.
She begins working for her Uncle in the hotel. She loves both her uncle and her job. She discovers the fascinating world of Hollywood movies, script writing, the luxurious parties and falls in love with one of the actors Jack Cabot, even though her uncle has told her not to get involved with the hotel guests.
Her uncle appoints her to assist Scott F Fitzgerald as his secretary and Annabel’s life changes and secrets are revealed. As well as the celebrities the other hotel guests are more sinister and deceitful, spies and mostly German army officers with plans of their own……bringing war to Poland, England and France.
This is the part of the story that reveals how secretive and corrupt people can be. Annabel finds an enigma machine left behind by a polish guest hidden in a shed on the grounds of the hotel. She later discovers that her uncle has a hidden radio that he listens to war propaganda and news, later deciphering coded messages using the enigma machine.
Together Annabel, her uncle and other hotel staff at one of the many parties realise who the real spies are. Are Annabel and her Uncle safe in the beautiful hotel? Do they report the spies or do the spies escape?
War eventually is declared in France, most of the staff and guests have left, new owners have bought the hotel, the French Army have occupied the hotel for their military purposes. So what is the future going to be like for Annabel and her uncle?
I have been fortunate to have read this advance copy of the book thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishers, for an honest review. I loved the mix of storyline between actual historical events and the reality of the beginning of WWII. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Looking forward to reading any other books by Camille.
The Golden Years of Hollywood era - the time of Mae West, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davies, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Tyrone Power, Humphrey Bogart, Author F. Scott Fitzgerald…...just to mention a few. It was also the time in history in the brink of WWII Germany Nazi occupation, spies and army intelligence.
The novel is set on the French Riviera in 1939, at the Grand Hotel where the celebrities are arriving to celebrate the first Cannes Film Festival. ‘The Celebration of the Stars’, parties are on the highest lead up to the event. Amongst the Glitz and Glamour of the event of the year, arrives Annabel a twenty year old young lady with secretarial skills from New York and the niece of Uncle JP the owner of the Grand Hotel.
She begins working for her Uncle in the hotel. She loves both her uncle and her job. She discovers the fascinating world of Hollywood movies, script writing, the luxurious parties and falls in love with one of the actors Jack Cabot, even though her uncle has told her not to get involved with the hotel guests.
Her uncle appoints her to assist Scott F Fitzgerald as his secretary and Annabel’s life changes and secrets are revealed. As well as the celebrities the other hotel guests are more sinister and deceitful, spies and mostly German army officers with plans of their own……bringing war to Poland, England and France.
This is the part of the story that reveals how secretive and corrupt people can be. Annabel finds an enigma machine left behind by a polish guest hidden in a shed on the grounds of the hotel. She later discovers that her uncle has a hidden radio that he listens to war propaganda and news, later deciphering coded messages using the enigma machine.
Together Annabel, her uncle and other hotel staff at one of the many parties realise who the real spies are. Are Annabel and her Uncle safe in the beautiful hotel? Do they report the spies or do the spies escape?
War eventually is declared in France, most of the staff and guests have left, new owners have bought the hotel, the French Army have occupied the hotel for their military purposes. So what is the future going to be like for Annabel and her uncle?
I have been fortunate to have read this advance copy of the book thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishers, for an honest review. I loved the mix of storyline between actual historical events and the reality of the beginning of WWII. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Looking forward to reading any other books by Camille.
May 20, 2024
If you like a well written historical fiction novel that takes place right before WWII kicks off, then this is the book for you.
I don't read them all the time, but honestly, I'm always a sucker for historical fiction books, especially if it's WWII based. Always have been.
Camille has a beautiful way with words, throughout this novel. I will say it starts off a tad slow, but it picks up. I could not put it down, the moment the mystery aspect took place.
There were so many large Hollywood names that came up throughout the book, including the famous novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Hollywood, history, a bit of romance, and war: you got yourself an amazing book! I honestly would love to see this book as a movie some day.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
I don't read them all the time, but honestly, I'm always a sucker for historical fiction books, especially if it's WWII based. Always have been.
Camille has a beautiful way with words, throughout this novel. I will say it starts off a tad slow, but it picks up. I could not put it down, the moment the mystery aspect took place.
There were so many large Hollywood names that came up throughout the book, including the famous novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Hollywood, history, a bit of romance, and war: you got yourself an amazing book! I honestly would love to see this book as a movie some day.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
June 19, 2024
I should have known better, since I don’t typically like WWII historical fiction, as it’s usually quite cliche. This book was no exception. I gave it a chance when I saw “French Riviera” and “Old Hollywood,” but ended up disappointed once again. Odd pacing, weird cameos that felt unnatural, and “historical” fiction that felt far too fictitious for a sane person with a basic understanding of European history during the lead up to WWII.
July 6, 2024
This may be one of the most poorly written books I’ve ever read. The plot zigs and zags one way to another as if the author is making it up as she goes along. Random events happen in the book, seemingly without consequence. The characters are very two dimensional. A good idea but poorly executed.
April 28, 2024
Welcome to the Grand Hotel.
The onset of WWII looms on the shores of southern France, as Hollywood's elite gather for the first Cannes Film Festival. A young American girl loses everything, and comes to live with her uncle in the hotel. A schooled young women, she's assigned various secretarial tasks with an actor and screenwriter. Then the Nazi's arrive...
This story is inspired by real life events pre-war in southern France. The writing was gorgeous with its locale, but the cast of characters was daunting. It almost felt they were inserted to add glitz to the story, maybe a bit too much. The romance, and mystery takes a bit for the story to unveil, so this is truly a slow-burn story.
Thank you, Blackstone Publishing
The onset of WWII looms on the shores of southern France, as Hollywood's elite gather for the first Cannes Film Festival. A young American girl loses everything, and comes to live with her uncle in the hotel. A schooled young women, she's assigned various secretarial tasks with an actor and screenwriter. Then the Nazi's arrive...
This story is inspired by real life events pre-war in southern France. The writing was gorgeous with its locale, but the cast of characters was daunting. It almost felt they were inserted to add glitz to the story, maybe a bit too much. The romance, and mystery takes a bit for the story to unveil, so this is truly a slow-burn story.
Thank you, Blackstone Publishing
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