The Talent

by Daniel D'Addario

Hollywood Wives meets A Visit from the Goon Squad in this emotional debut novel from Variety chief correspondent and a moderator of the Actors on Actors series about a group of actresses confronting their careers, their secrets, and each other throughout one turbulent awards season.

As Hollywood prepares for its most glamorous evening, five actresses compete to see who will claim the top prize.

Adria, a dignified and highly regarded grand dame of the movie industry, is intent on cementing her legacy as one of the greatest thespians of all time, even as the younger generation creeps up quickly behind her. Bitty must keep a nervous breakdown—and an increasingly debilitating alcohol addiction—at bay, as she searches for genuine closeness in an unforgiving landscape. Contessa, a former child star, is determined to make the world, and her leading man, take her seriously. Davina attempts to find her footing in superficial Los Angeles, a far cry from her roots as a serious London stage actress. And Jenny—always the underdog to her rival, Adria—sees this awards season as her personal redemption, a chance to atone for past mistakes and make up for missed opportunities.

With humor, wit, and an insider’s insight, The Talent peels back the layers of women who are in the business of being perceived. And while they work to push their careers forward and maintain the public’s goodwill, all five are forced to confront truths about themselves that they would rather Could Adria and Jenny have been a team all these years, rather than bitter enemies? Is it their responsibility to offer a lifeline to poor Bitty, who is clearly teetering on the edge? Should Contessa and Davina dim their own rising stars to make those around them more comfortable? What do women in the spotlight owe each other, and themselves?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club, Adult Fiction, Pop Culture, Literary Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2025

Reviews

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juicy and frivolous, this is like the book version of reading a particularly gossipy issue of Vanity Fair. The biggest issue is that it can be hard to keep all these fake actresses straight. There are the 5 nominees but there are also several others in their orbit, all with their own histories and pedigrees and lists of fake movies. There are some recognizable types: if Meryl Streep was a diva, if Glenn Close was a recluse, the child star grown up, the party girl gone serious, and the Brit everyone assumes is a snob. We follow them around through all kinds of hijinks--festivals, photo shoots, red carpets--as they get through awards season.

I think a lot of people will have a lot of fun with this book. It isn't serious and you can tell it's written by someone who has seen a lot behind the scenes.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published February 25, 2025.

Two stars.

Contessa: “…it felt thrilling to be able to live in the moment. Like an actress, or a woman.”

Here five actresses nominated for Best Actress look at their careers during one turbulent awards season.

ADRIA BENEDICT - she’s in her late 60s and she’s won three times. She’s the grand dame, trying to cement her legacy.

BITTY HARBOR - she’s trying to hide her alcoholism and a nervous breakdown.

CONTESSA LYLE - a former child star attempting to make the world see her as a serious actress.

DAVINA SCHWARTZ - a London stage actress trying to find her place in the insanity of Hollywood.

JENNY VAN MEER - always a bridesmaid, always behind Adria, always trying to make up for missed opportunities and mistakes.

I LOVE award shows and trying to guess who is who in books like this, but I expected this to be far more salacious and gossipy, especially since written by a “Variety” chief correspondent. Instead, it was pretty subdued, a little dull. Disappointing.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

So incredibly predictable, and every character is a stereotype with nothing new or interesting. That this is arriving near Oscar season might get it more attention but... luckily it's an easy skim.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure I really understand the point of this book, and I was really underwhelmed by it. I kept expecting something to happen but nothing ever really did. It just abruptly ends after the award show results and the little plot we did have was left mostly unresolved. The characters felt underdeveloped and were somewhat stereotypical. There is also a lot of talk about that thing that happened without giving details to add suspense which is not my fav. I think having fewer than 6 POVs and focusing more on their development would have helped.

This is narrated by a full cast which I enjoyed but the narrators had very different delivery speeds meaning a lot of playback speed adjustments.

I wasn’t the right audience for this one, maybe bigger fans of celebrities and award shows will enjoy it more.

2⭐️ Not for me

Post read quick thoughts - Audiobook has multiple narrators making it an easy listen, but the story fell a bit flat for me.

[Bbecca_marie]

Sad to say, this is yet ANOTHER DNF for 2025. As always, I tried both the physical book and the audiobook and unfortunately It did not hold my attention. I tried but it didn’t stick. I am happy many others did enjoy it though.

happy reading

[Tess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m simply not sure what to make of this book. As a huge fan of awards season (my favorite season!) and the author’s coverage of Hollywood, I thought this would be a slam dunk. I expected a salacious, page-turning look at catty actresses and juicy drama. However, I found it quite boring and unoriginal. I truly expected more from an author who has covered this world for years and who is fantastic at creating drama himself (I had also been a fan of his Twitter and oft controversial opinions.

As we follow 5 actresses all up for the top awards of the year, we learn about each one in alternating chapters. But a vast Hollywood narrative is not made - it’s almost like those 5 actresses, along with another one who isn’t nominated and one actor who is in two of the nominated movies and in a love triangle with two of them as well, are the only celebrities in the world! It felt insular and I didn’t learn all that much about each character since we bounce around a lot. I dunno, maybe I went in with too high expectations but it just wasn’t that I wanted it to be.

[Courtney Fortin · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really wanted to like this. pacing and prose were too slow and verbose for me.

(thank u goodreads for the arc!)

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this story was poorly written. It was very difficult to determine who was speaking. The premise was good but poorly delivered. I had no connection whatsoever to any of the five leading ladies.

[Matt Pedretti · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10 this was embarrassing all around hahahahah. How are you going to make a story about the Oscar race for Best Actress and be SOOOO boring!!!!

There was so much opportunity to NOT lean into stereotypes and yet! Exclusively flat characters with trajectories you would be able to guess when you first meet the girls.

STUPID to have all 5 of them connected so easily and like actually a spit in the face of Glenn Close to have her lose even in a fake story. Avoid! Get on the forums instead.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

had a blast, perfect read for any award season sickos

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're an awards junkie who spent high school in the aughts reading The Film Experience in the library and trolling the Gold Derby forums, this is the book for you. If you like Anne Helen Petersen's writing on celebrity and female stars, this is the book for you. If you listen to The Big Picture and The Town religiously, this is the book for you. As a person who does all of those things, this was definitely the book for me. I love the Oscars, I love movies, and I love stars and what it means to be a star - and this look at the business, emotions, strategy, and role the awards season plays in Hollywood was a lot of fun. There's a few if you know, you know mentions - Telluride, Hollywood Reporter/Variety features, and various precursor awards come to mind - but even if you don't know, it would still be a lot of fun. I thought the way the actresses were each treated was very well done, and the competition between them was enjoyable to watch, as was the discomfort of the entire process. Definitely recommend to oscar buffs and movie fans!

I received this ARC in exchange for a review

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

They have some nerve comparing this to Goon Squad

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the interwoven stories of actresses competing for Best Actress! I found it darker and sadder than I was expecting but each actress was interesting.

[Allyssa Garza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down, so predictable though. Justice for Bitty

[Evandruker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five actresses navigate awards season in Hollywood in this novel by Daniel D’Addario, a writer for Variety who clearly is familiar with the mechanics of Hollywood. The author seems most interested in the performative nature of these womens’ lives, both on and off the screen and perhaps because of this, everything here feels a little superficial and it’s hard to muster any empathy for the characters. I couldn’t help feeling that a writer like Jackie Collins or even Harold Robbins would have made a much meatier meal out of this.

[hunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want a second, third, and fourth part for this book. I wanted to email Daniel directly and ask him to write a book for every award show scenario. Jenny deserved to win and Bitty pissed me off but I neeeeed to share a cig with her. Eleanor > Contessa, I’M SORRY! Write a Gena Rowlands type character and I’m forced to fold. When is the movie remake getting made?

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and intricate glance into a world I hope never to be a part of! Probably more of a 3.5 for me. But I respect how scrupulously the author engages with such delicate and complex interpersonal dynamics. Some story lines way more engaging than others, and it took me a long while to get the characters straight.

[Joe Starosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun read! I love awards season and it really gave you a behind the curtains look at what goes into these “best actress campaigns” I liked learning about each character. Only complaint was it was short! I wish there were longer stories and we got to dig in more. Super quick and fun read!

[Skyler Luttrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book pretty much tailor-made to be my favorite thing I’ve ever read. And it almost is. I fear it’s a little safer and a little less vibrant than it could be. But it’s oh so satisfying for someone who cares as much about actresses and award season as I do. And for a Glenn Close stan? Damn. Heart wrenching. That final chapter. Glenn, I will avenge you.

[Ben Kesslen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody go buy this book!!!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! Kinda niche but as an awards lover it was a fun look behind the curtain of these campaigns.

[Deena Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this great book, which I started yesterday which I got from the library Friday which just came out a month ago. A different sort of story, a different way of telling it. It’s about 5 fictional actresses during award season.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

the plot didn’t really exist. it was more of just rambling and the relationships between the various actresses.

[Brendan Molloy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strangely plotless for what could have been a slightly juicier book.

[Em theglitterybookworm_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

interestingly, i did not have the problems that so many people seem to be having with this. maybe the full cast audio distinguished the women enough?

[Clare M]

A fun premise, but every character was a version of the same caricature- they all blended together- and the climatic moment of the entire book happened off screen. Meh!

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

could not finish, hated that all the characters names were alphabetical for some reason (adria, bitty, contessa, etc) but do love the name bitty harbor for a character and rooting for her x

[Ynna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Talent attempts to expose the juiciness behind the iconic race for Best Actress by following the awards seasons of the five nominees. There are moments of interest, but as someone who feels more than a casual fan, I was bored by the anecdotes and predictability of this novel.

[Morgan Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up to 3.

[Kevin Keegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dragging of Award Season and its stars by and for people who love it and will be tuned in next year.

Want the sequel where they all have to survive on a desert island together.