When We Were Brilliant

by Lynn Cullen

"AN HOMAGE TO FEMALE FRIENDSHIP AND AMBITION." --LA TIMES

They were an unlikely pair—a blond bombshell and a photographer determined to be taken seriously—but Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold would make a deal that would change their lives in this dazzling new novel from the national bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and The Woman with the Cure.

In 1952, Norma Jeane Baker follows documentary photographer Eve Arnold into a powder room on the night they first meet. She has a proposition for her. Norma Jeane created Marilyn Monroe to be photographed, and she wants Eve to do it. Eve is better than anyone she’s seen at revealing a person’s inner truth. Together they can help each other. Together, she says, they can make something brilliant.

Skeptical of this cipher of a young woman, Eve demurs. She’s looking for more serious subjects than this ambitious starlet. But she keeps getting drawn back into Marilyn’s orbit, and the women come to recognize something in each other—something fundamental. Nothing will get in the way of what they want, and when Marilyn’s star takes off to teetering heights, neither will ever be the same.

A lavish and transporting novel, When We Were Brilliant captures the halcyon days of an icon and the grit of women determining their own futures as it explores the exceptional and complicated friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Feminism, Womens Fiction, Adult

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

When We Were Brilliant written by Lynn Cullen was inspiring, beautiful, powerful, emotional, raw, real, pure, heart breaking, stunning, poignant, and empowering. I'm so happy to kick off 2026 with a banger, I couldn't have been more blessed to have this book in my life to remind me that girls rule the world. I have never read a book by Lynn Cullen before, but her writing style flowed so beautifully I often forgot that my heart was being split into a million little pieces because this story was just so heart breaking. At times, I had to remind myself that this was a work of fiction, but inspired by real events. This book was so bitter sweet that it made me smile while I had tears streaming down my face. Ladies, here's a little life advice, we are more than just our looks, we are more than worthy, not because we are beautiful, but because we have a pure heart and good intentions. I mainly wanted to read this book because of the beautiful pink cover, but once I started reading I was completely captivated by the lives of Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold that I remembered this book wasn't cute, but it touched my soul in ways I will always remember because it was so truthful. When We Were Brilliant is a beautiful poignant story about female friendships and women taking the lead in a male dominated profession and often times a male dominated world. I can't recommend this book enough, so if you are a woman struggling with your self worth, please mark your calendars for January 20th, 2026 because this book will speak to you and let you know that YOU ARE A BADASS WOMAN!!!!!! I'm getting emotional again writing this review.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
Suicide
Overdosing
Consumption of Sleeping Pills
Miscarriage's
Molestation

"Everyone has beauty inside of them".

"Here's a little advice for the future: treat all women like they are your sister".

"Being with such a kindred spirit was both the rose and the thorn. It hurt to like someone so much".

"Would you ever believe the plain truth that you were extraordinary just the way you were?"

"No one can imagine such hatred coming from strangers until it comes for you".

Marilyn Monroe was a beautiful glorious butterfly. Marilyn Monroe was formerly known as Norma Jeane Baker before she became a big popular sensation. Marilyn was often called a blonde bimbo, but she was more than just a beautiful woman, Marilyn was a powerhouse icon. Marilyn's story absolutely broke my heart, she was a fierce strong woman, but behind the scenes she was a fragile human being because social media picked apart her life piece by piece and often overlooked by many because she was a rising star in a male dominated world. Marilyn had been an orphan since she was a baby, she lived in an orphanage and taken in and returned by twelve different foster families. At just sixteen years old, Marilyn married her neighbor so she didn't have to go back to the orphanage. Marilyn infused charm- she was so sympathetic and her vulnerability was so genuine, beautiful, and heart breaking. As Marilyn rose to stardom, there were rumors that she was sleeping with her photographers, but that's what social media does when they get jealous of others who are making a name for themselves, they are just keyboard warriors trying to bring down others who are succeeding in life. Despite the rumors, it was mentioned the Marilyn did have an affair. During her rise to the fame, along the way to stardom Marilyn was molested a few times by many different men because they thought they were above everyone else and they thought they were better than Marilyn Monroe. One year in her lifetime, Marilyn had to play a role for a movie as an actress for Anna Christie where she became the brittle and broken Anna, many people thought it was a performance, but it wasn't- it was more than just acting, it was Marilyn ripping open her deepest wounds- wounds she had spent a lifetime stitching up. Despite being an absolute icon, Marilyn wanted nothing more than to become a mom, but she had two miscarriages in her lifetime and she later suffered from endometriosis. I just wanted to reach into my kindle and hug this woman.

Eve Arnold was one badass photographer and a beautiful human being. Before becoming one of the biggest photographers, Eve used to photograph the wives of presidential candidates such as Jackie Kennedy and many others, people rarely took her seriously because again she was just a nobody photographer in a world full of male photographers. Eve was different compared to other photographers, she wants to photograph the real you- the real, the beautiful, and the messy version of yourself. Eve never used a background and what we call them today ring lights, she loved to use natural lighting. Eve started photography when she was in her twenties, she worked at Magnum Photography as a documentary photographer where she documented the lives of others in their real day to day life. Eve had a horrible and heart breaking childhood, she grew up in poverty and lied to about food on the table, her mother would tell her she was cooking dinner, but really the pot was just sitting on the stove because they didn't have any money to their names. Eve became a young mother to her son Francis who was a beautiful baby boy, I loved watching him grow up throughout the book. In 1957 at forty-five years old, Eve became pregnant with her second child and had a miscarriage as well, later on Eve had a hysterectomy after losing her daughter. As Eve became known, she's the only female Marilyn had ever done a photo shoot with. During her career, Eve's marriage with her husband Arnold is at it's wits end because Eve was always on the road doing photo shoots. At sixty-eight years old, Eve now has her own museum exhibition in Brooklyn. I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give Eve the biggest hug as she took the world on by storm.

Marilyn and Eve were one of the most beautiful and iconic duos. During their time together, I absolutely loved and adored watching Eve and Marilyn's friendship blossom, it truly was so beautiful to witness to very unlikely women bring to light the true definition of female friendships. We might not always see eye to eye, we might think we are better than the other, but in a male dominated world, women need to come together and support one another no matter how big your name is. During their time together, Eve was always the camera and Marilyn was always herself. They never referred to each other by their names, Eve always called Marilyn- "Miss Most Advertised" and Marilyn always called Eve- "Miss Documentary Photographer". As they worked together, Eve sometimes felt betrayed because Marilyn never completely opened her ugliest side to Eve on camera, but during the story you do get to watch Marilyn show her ugly and bad side to Eve despite some of the things Marilyn keeps hidden from the cameras. I absolutely love how inspirational these two women were, whenever Marilyn turned to negativity, Eve would lift her up with just one simple line- "c'mon, kid". Marilyn and Eve were just two young women starting out in this male dominated world, but they had the most fun they could together, they both made each other feel brilliant, they both brought out the best in each other. In 1957, Marilyn and Eve both became pregnant at the same time and both of them had miscarried their pregnancies, but they didn't let that derail their friendship, they actually supported one another during this difficult time. My heart just broke for these two powerful women, they were always dealt with the shittiest situations, but often made the most out of what they were dealt with. I couldn't help but cheer on these two beautiful powerhouses, they truly were the most remarkable characters that I won't be able to forget anytime soon. Numerous times I just wanted to reach into my kindle and walk hand in hand with them as they navigated life, family, fame, hardships, and friendships. Often times the world can be an ugly place, but when you have the right person by your side, anything is possible, Marilyn and Eve both showcased that.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A splendid histfic look at two real life women, actress Marilyn Monroe, and photographer Eve Arnold, whose relationship is told is such authentic fashion that I had to remind myself that this tale is fictive. Absorbing and memorable!

[Christine Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really dull retelling of Marilyn’s life and her friendship with Eve. I would have love to explored more information about Eve’s life and her role as a mother to her son. How did her job affect his young adult life?

[Maren’s Reads]

Thank you Berkley Pub for my gifted copies.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly fascinating and rich novel about the unique friendship between the famous 20th century photojournalist Eve Arnold and the movie star Marilyn Monroe. Told from Eve’s point of view and beginning when she is a struggling New York City photographer and Marilyn is rising to her height in the film industry, Eve slowly begins to find the real person under the protective layers of her new acquaintance. After a time, they are closer than sisters. They bond over difficult marriages and the desperate need to have babies. Eve, who is far the more stable one, increasingly leaves her family when Marilyn needs her. But though every reader will already know that the ending will not be happy, and that Marilyn will succumb to pills and her inner demons, Eve does not know it. What a deep story of friendship between women! WHEN WE WERE BRILLIANT is a marvelous novel.

[Gary Parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo! Cullen delivers another beautiful novel on the human condition, this time brings Marilyn Monroe to the front and center through the eyes of brilliant photo journalist Eve Arnold! This story is equal parts Marilyn and Eve, including the topics of fame, sexism, ageism, racism, love, loyalty and so much more. Cullen paints a picture of the time and tone without imposing her own opinions on the reader.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great perspective on Marilyn Monroe’s life and her photographer Eve Arnold… I knew a lot about Marilyn, but nothing about Eve.. this book prompted me to look her up and view some of her photos of Marilyn… they had a great friendship and faced lots of challenges of the times as they fought for respect of the men in their lives .

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly done! Interesting finding out Marilyn and her unique relationship with her photographer.

I loved watching her movies and after reading about her personal life I felt for her. Sad she never felt truly loved for who she was. Norma Jean we see YOU!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I wasn't found of the second person POV, and the story dragged at some points.

[Emily Harp · Rating 5 out of 5]

When We Were Brilliant by Lynn Cullen will leave you missing your two new best friends Eve and Norma Jean! This book was a perfect blend of fact and fiction creating an immersive story of two complex successful women simply living their lives. Cullen did not shy away from the impact these women and others like them had on the beginnings of the feminist movement growing traction at the time. She also included several cultural truths and taboos relevant of this period including race, sex, abuse, journalistic voyeurism, mental health, poverty and drug abuse, painting the complete and wholistic picture for the reader. While these themes were woven throughout the storyline, this was ultimately a book about friendship and trust and love. Eve Arnold and Marilyn Monroe both achieved fame and notoriety while grappling with their identities and striving to be seen for their personal truths. Their struggles and triumphs are given depth and purpose during each changing phase of their lives allowing the reader to sympathize with every chapter. The narrative is given through Eve’s perspective speaking almost directly to Marilyn which also easily pulls the reader into their reality. I was utterly captivated by every aspect of this story and couldn’t recommend it enough. I’d give it a solid 5 stars!!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a brilliant gem of a historical fiction novel! This book explores the friendship between award winning photographer, Eve Arnold, and one of her most intriguing subjects, Marilyn Monroe. Written from Eve’s perspective, this thoroughly researched story unfolds from the women’s first meeting and delves into their one-of-a kind work relationship that led to them being friends. Eve was one of the few true friends in Marilyn’s life. She didn’t want anything from Marilyn and this shows in her photographs. Marilyn was happy and her true self in front of Eve’s lens. I truly enjoyed this book and loved being introduced to Eve and her work. She was much more than ‘Marilyn’s photographer’. Having read this book, I’ve been inspired to look at Eve’s other famous photographs. I also have a great desire to watch some of the Marilyn films mentioned in ‘When We Were Brilliant. As with Lynn Cullen’s other historical fiction books, this one is a truly remarkable look at a strong, intelligent woman who was somehow overlooked in history. So glad Eve was brought to life and to the forefront in this novel.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When We Were Brilliant is a nostalgic journey into the life of Marilyn Monroe as told by her photographer. This book took us on a journey through Marilyn’s rise to stardom, and introduced us to Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and the civil rights struggle of the 60’s. But not just an entertaining read, it also explored the role of women and what it meant to be a working mom and wife in the 60’s (although many of these issues feel relevant today). I could not put this book down! I look forward to reading her other books, including Mrs. Poe (next on my TBR).

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It’s about Marilyn but it’s also about her photographer and friend, Eve. It’s Eve’s story. It’s about their relationship and it’s about the power of female friendship. I could go to the beginning and read this book all over again.

[melhara · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 30, 2026 - Review:

4.5/5

This book is a fictional love letter from Eve Arnold to Norma Jeane (famously known as Marilyn Monroe).

"Let me tell you how it was. Marilyn and I were two young women starting out in this quite male world, so we just played together, had the most fun we could. She made me feel as if I were brilliant, and I suppose I made her feel the same. We fed off one another until I couldn't tell where I began and she left off."

Spanning from 1952 to 1992, When We Were Brilliant is told from "Marilyn's photographer", Eve Arnold's point of view and depicts the friendship between the two women and the symbiotic relationship between artist and muse/photographer and subject, and the bond between two women who understand each other on a deeper level.

What makes this book interesting (and a bit difficult to adjust to at first), is that the book is also written in second person and addressed to Norma Jeane. From the way the story is written, you can tell how much Eve comes admire and care for Norma Jeane, making this book a true appreciation of the creative genius that is Norma Jeane and the work that Norma Jeane had put into shaping and marketing her persona - Marilyn Monroe.

"I want photographs to prove to the world that Marilyn is okay, and I need a friend to shoot it." You inhaled, then sighed. "And you're my only real friend, you know?"

Many photographers have photographed Marilyn Monroe but only one photographer, and the only female one at that, has been able to show a different side of Marilyn in her photographs. You might even say that while other photographers were taking pictures of Marilyn, Eve was the only one able to capture pictures of Norma Jeane before she puts on her seductive Marilyn mask.

I knew how this would work. I'd become known as Marilyn Monroe's photographer. My decades of other work would recede into the background, my name as the woman who saw the unseen would fade, my other subjects would fade away, too. Because that's how it is with Marilyn Monroe. She overshadows everyone around her. Even you, Norma Jeane. Especially you.

In many ways, this book also tells the heartbreaking story of how difficult it was for women to succeed in the film and photography industry and how hard both Marilyn and Eve worked to obtain recognition. It showed how Marilyn was constantly being typecast and how Eve was similarly pigeonholed into providing a more feminine take on her photo assignments. Perhaps that's why the two of them got along so well.

I'll also note that the descriptions of all the photos that Eve has taken throughout her career had me scrambling to look them up as I was reading the book. I found a few (along with other photographs from other photographers mentioned throughout this book), which you can find by scrolling through my reading progress (if you're reading this on a mobile or tablet, make sure to switch to desktop view to see the images) but more would likely be found in Eve Arnold's books.

**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**

January 20, 2026 - Pre-Review:
Happy Publishing Day!

The writing style takes some getting used to (as it's written in both first and second person - I needed time to adjust to the second person) but I'm about 30% into this book and enjoying this fictionalized depiction of the complex friendship between Marilyn Monroe (1950's starlet) and Eve Arnold (the only female photojournalist to have worked with Marilyn).

I can't help but look up Eve's photos while reading this book!

[BookBabeNails · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the stylistic choices of this book in terms of having the story told in Eve’s POV and using second person speaking to Norma Jeane. It made the story feel more intimate as it unfolded. I think historical fiction like this can be a little tricky because it’s written about real people, real events, but fictionalized so it can feel a little bit intrusive sometimes. This one was handled really well though and it didn’t give me that icky feeling. I went down some research rabbit holes while reading and I think that’s a good sign that the writing has inspired the reader to learn more.

The friendship between these two felt so nostalgia. The weight of that time and everything, good and bad, that went along with it was so present. This book tackled so many social issues as a backdrop for the main story and it ended up being such a pleasant read. The only thing I took issue with was the pacing. It started feeling like it was dragging at some point and I had a lot of pages left to read.

[Desirae · Rating 3 out of 5]

When We Were Brilliant by Lynn Cullen is an ambitious reimagining of the friendship between Marilyn Monroe and photographer Eve Arnold, and it achieves something many Monroe biographies and fictional portrayals fail to do: it succeeds in presenting the vulnerable, flesh-and-blood woman behind the pinup façade. Through the lens of Arnold — the only woman Monroe ever invited to photograph her — Cullen offers a portrait of Norma Jeane Baker as a complex, striving, deeply insecure human being, rather than a mythic “dumb blonde.” The novel’s central strength lies in how it peels back the layers of Marilyn’s public image to reveal her tenacity, her hunger for genuine connection, and the gritty emotional reality that undergirded her legendary rise.

Cullen frames the narrative as a kind of love letter from Eve to Marilyn, uniquely told in second person as if Eve is speaking directly to her subject and friend. This narrative choice — unusual and intimate — allows Monroe’s inner life to come alive on the page. We see her craft and calculate her own persona, treating “Marilyn” as both a shield and a tool in a world determined to define her. We witness her longing, her joy at being seen for who she was beneath the glamour, and the subtle corrosions of fame on a woman who spent her entire life longing for stability and love. The novel convincingly shows that Monroe was much more than a sex symbol — she was thoughtful, insecure, brilliantly self-aware, and profoundly human.

Yet for all its richness and sensitivity in depicting Marilyn’s emotional life, the book struggles with portraying her later psychological decline, particularly during and after her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller. In real life, Monroe’s struggles with mental health were far more serious and documented than the novel suggests: she was briefly institutionalized at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in 1960, where she was placed among severely mentally ill patients and confined in a padded cell before being transferred to Columbia Presbyterian, spending nearly a month under psychiatric care. Her issues — depression, anxiety, and substance dependence — were not peripheral but central to her final years.

Moreover, Monroe’s family history includes a long shadow of mental illness, particularly her mother Gladys Baker, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and spent many years in and out of mental institutions. This history had a profound impact on Norma Jeane’s childhood and emotional landscape, yet in When We Were Brilliant, these elements remain background whispers rather than dramatic forces shaping her psyche. While Cullen’s portrayal touches on Monroe’s vulnerabilities, it rarely grapples fully with the depths of her trauma, leaving the reader wanting a more nuanced exploration of how these personal histories — and the very real pain they inflicted — shaped the woman behind the myth.

Equally interesting — and at times frustrating — is the character of Eve Arnold herself. As written, Eve often feels more like a narrative device than a fully fleshed protagonist. Yes, we learn about her struggles as one of the few female photographers in a male-dominated profession, and Cullen admirably portrays her career challenges and her devotion to realism in her art. The novel portrays Arnold as grappling with societal expectations of motherhood and career and shows her determination to be taken seriously.

But despite being positioned as the narrator and emotional anchor of the story, Eve sometimes remains uncomfortably elusive on the page. Because the narrative is so tightly focused on Monroe through Eve’s gaze, we get less insight into Arnold’s inner life than one might expect from a book ostensibly told through her perspective. At times, she feels like a lens through which we view Marilyn rather than a fully realized individual in her own right. For a novel that begins with Eve’s photographic realism as its grounding metaphor, this ambiguity about her interior depth can feel like a missed opportunity — especially since many readers, like yourself, came to the story eager to know Eve beyond her role as Marilyn’s chronicler.

Meanwhile, Cullen’s inclusion of figures like Joan Crawford often leans into familiar Hollywood caricatures. Crawford’s contempt for Monroe — her reported disapproval of Monroe’s provocative image and rising fame — is a recurrent theme in Hollywood lore. For example, when asked about Monroe’s antics at an awards ceremony, Crawford allegedly compared it to a burlesque show, reflecting the generational clash and professional jealousy between established stars and new icons.

In When We Were Brilliant, these moments are vivid and sometimes darkly comic, providing anecdotal counterpoints to Marilyn’s triumphs. But there’s a risk that Crawford’s portrayal flirts with stereotype, reducing her to a “Mommy Dearest”-like villain rather than a fully dimensional character with her own vulnerabilities. This choice gives Crawford a glaring simplicity that contrasts with the otherwise textured tone applied to women like Marilyn and Eve.

In sum, When We Were Brilliant does a remarkable job of humanizing Marilyn Monroe and showcasing the emotional intelligence, ambition, and vulnerability that defined her. Yet it falters in its treatment of her deeper psychological struggles and in fully realizing Eve Arnold as a character in her own right. The novel offers an evocative and affectionate portrait rather than a complete psychological or historical excavation. For readers drawn to the emotional heart of Monroe’s life, this book is a moving tribute — but for those looking for a deeper, more critical engagement with her mental health or a truer embodiment of Arnold’s perspective, it may leave you yearning for more.

[Elicia Ruiz-King · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up; I don’t know how I was so bored reading a book about Marilyn Monroe! I liked the unique perspective the author was trying to take with telling her story and how she was portraying the difficulty of women trying to have a family and career, especially in a man’s world.
I just did not connect with the writing style and I didn’t feel attached to the characters. This was told entirely through Marilyn’s friend’s POV and snapshots of moments they experienced together. It just seemed to jump around with little plot, and I didn’t like the flow of the story.
Overall, I think I was just bored and didn’t feel inclined to pick it up. Maybe if you are a bigger fan of old Hollywood though you would appreciate it more.

[Margaret Menkus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book parallels the careers of two amazing people - Norma Jeane Mortenson (aka Marilyn Monroe) and Eve Norton. Both women were finding their way in the 60's, and found that they could use each other to help their careers.

Eve was the 1st female photographer at Magnum Photos, an international cooperative started by Robert Capa. She had the opportunity to take photos of Marilyn, and revealed to Norma Jeane that she offered friendship along with good photography. Marilyn had struggled to find success as she pursued modeling and acting - even attending the Actor's Studio with Lee Strasburg to gain credibility. She needed someone like Eve to capture her trajectory into fame without losing sight of who she really was.

This story of ambition and desire for power was fascinating and insightful as both women discovered their talents. Their journeys were complicated by marriage and motherhood, both of which required compromise that required personal choice. In reading this book, I discovered a greater respect for both actor and photographer as well as the synergistic relationship of them both.

[Noelani · Rating 3 out of 5]

▪️Read this if you like:
▫️historical fiction: 1950s-1990s U.S.
▫️stories of badass women
▫️slow burn character-driven stories
———
This was my first time reading historical fiction featuring Marilyn Monroe, and I enjoyed it!

I love when historical fiction is based on real people, and it felt especially interesting in this book. Marilyn Monroe is an icon, but I liked getting to know a different side of her through this book. Her “Marilyn” persona and the way she talks about that persona as a separate person reminded me a lot of Paris Hilton, in that they both used their ultra-feminine ways to move through the world. I wasn’t aware who Eve Arnold was before reading this book, but I can appreciate and admire all that she went through as a woman in photography during this time period.

While I really enjoyed the story of these two women working together in a man’s world, the pacing of the book just didn’t fully work for me. The plot moved pretty slowly, and there were sections of the book that felt repetitive, causing some moments to drag. However, pacing aside, I think this was a fascinating look at this period of time with these two women, and I enjoyed the girl power themes.

Thank you Berkley for the free copy!

[MARY L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eve Arnold, a photographer, describes her interaction with Marilyn Monroe. A work of fiction that made both women seem unbrilliant while putting down other well known people.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, captivating, and rich!

When We Were Brilliant is an insightful, immersive novel set in the 1950s that draws readers into the lives of photographer Eve Arnold and her most famous subject and close friend Marilyn Monroe, through their unusual, evolving bond, the highs and lows of fame and fortune, the pressures of marriage, the ache of loss, and the toll of living under constant public scrutiny.

The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are hardworking, devoted, and passionate. And the plot is a compelling tale of life, love, friendship, family, glitz, glamour, jealousy, scandal, uncertainty, infidelity, ambition, and the many complexities of stardom.

Overall, When We Were Brilliant is a vivid, absorbing novel by Cullen that showcases her impressive research and deep understanding of both a pioneering photographer and a brilliant, misunderstood actress whose life was tragically short and painfully complicated, yet who is unfortunately too often remembered only for her beauty and sex appeal.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars

This is another historical novel based on real events and real people. I'd recommend it if you've enjoyed "L.A. Women," "Let's Call Her Barbie," or "Rodham." I don't actually know that much about Marilyn Monroe, and this was my first introduction to the famous photographer Eve Arnold, but I was intrigued by their dynamic. Whether or not they were as close as this (fictional) book implies I can't be sure, but it was an interesting plot to explore.

Feminism is a theme throughout the book from the perspective of women trying to make it professionally in a male-dominated work space. The misogyny is clear in these pages, but at times the women empowerment writing felt a bit heavy handed and trite.

The author also writes this book entirely from Eve's first person perspective, but she is addressing Marilyn directly the whole time by saying "you did this" and "you said that." I found this writing style off-putting, as I had to keep remembering that "you" was Marilyn. I know this was purposeful on the author's part to really emphasize the relationship between the two women, but I found myself wishing Marilyn was just written from third person.

This was a quick read with a lot of references to famous moments in Hollywood history, so it was entertaining for what it was.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew a lot about Marilyn Monroe but this latest historical fiction novel from fav author, Lynn Cullen sheds new light on the tragic life of an American icon through her real life friendship with married Jewish photographer, Eve Arnold. I really enjoyed this story told from Eve's perspective that spans the 1950s-80s, following the rise of both women's careers. I also had no idea Marilyn suffered from endometriosis and that discovery was eye-opening. Cullen does a great job showing the depth of these women's lives as they fight to make names for themselves in male dominated worlds in spite of many obstacles. Equally moving and heartbreaking, this was incredible on audio and will definitely be a favorite read of 2026 for me! I can't recommend it enough!!

[Aimee Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded down

The insight on Marilyn was headed toward fascinating. I enjoyed learning about her as a person & this time period in Hollywood. I wanted more of this.

I felt that it’s possible a disservice was done to Eve. She didn’t shine as brightly in my opinion. Her narrative was at times frustrating - she’s a woman in a man’s world & overcoming that to the best of her ability which I can appreciate but this was on repeat throughout. Instead of looking at herself & her work as an overcomer, I heard more of a victim mentality. She also lacked accountability in the demise of her marriage & upbringing of her son. She recognized her work played a part but rationalized it defensively.

[Kim. E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marilyn Monroe (Miss Most Advertised) and Eve Arnold (Miss Documentary Photographer) developed a friendship when Eve photographed Marilyn on a movie set. Eve was a photographer in a male dominated world, and preferred showing the reality throughout the world while those who purchased her photographs preferred the "women's view". One of the reasons I enjoy historical fiction so much is that I am often led to further research, and in this situation, I went to learn more about Eve and her photographs, her family, her travels. Norma Jean is so much more than a sex symbol with a tragic ending, and Eve was so much more than a photographer for Marilyn.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. 25 ⭐️ I love to read historical fiction as well as books on Marilyn Monroe. I had never read anything on Eve Arnold before so it was interesting to get a perspective on her life as well. I found some aspects of this book to be fascinating and others to be really boring. I would like to try another book by this author later on and see if I enjoy it better than this one.

[Gisele Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the female perspective on Marilyn’s story, especially seeing it through the eyes of a friend. But for me, the most unexpected and wonderful discovery was learning about Eve Arnold — a truly badass professional photographer who made her way in a male-dominated world.

Tip: While reading, check out evearnold.com to see the photographs mentioned in the book..

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book taking me back to the 1950's and 1960's which I remember so well. It is the story of the friendship of Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold. I have al ways been fascinated by the lives of documentary photographers and Eve Arnold is one of the best. It's really a woman's story of how hard it is to have a career, marriage and be a mother and of the private person who is a public figure.

[Brenton Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this take significantly longer to read than I would’ve wanted? Absolutely. Was it worth it? A 1000 times yes. Eve Arnold is a cool cat, and this historical fiction novel feels authentic to the renowned photo journalist. This’ll have a difficult time budging from my top five by the end of the year I’m almost certain.

[Lisa Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not set out to learn about Marilyn Monroe, whom I grew up thinking was a victim. This book followed her complicated life story through the eyes of photographer (and friend) Eve Arnold, who was fascinating in her own right. So glad I read this book. Brave girls swimming in a river of American misogyny.