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The Chateau on Sunset
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26Epic Love. Tragic Loss. Beautiful Friendship. The entrancing story of an orphan who grows up surrounded by the beautiful and the broken in the world's most infamous hotel.
After her parents' deaths, Aria Jones is sent to live with her reclusive starlet aunt at the Chateau Marmont, the hotel on Hollywood Boulevard with a notorious reputation.
Left alone to wander the hotel, Aria sees everything-all the ways people wheel and deal for fame. But the Marmont isn't meant for young girls with big hearts, and Aria discovers an insidious secret that will haunt her childhood.
As she matures, she finds solace in the hotel's library. Her sole goal is to be as inconspicuous as possible. Until one day, the hotel is sold to mysterious rock star Theo Winchester and his troubled daughter, Adele. Will Aria realise there's more to life than being invisible?
After her parents' deaths, Aria Jones is sent to live with her reclusive starlet aunt at the Chateau Marmont, the hotel on Hollywood Boulevard with a notorious reputation.
Left alone to wander the hotel, Aria sees everything-all the ways people wheel and deal for fame. But the Marmont isn't meant for young girls with big hearts, and Aria discovers an insidious secret that will haunt her childhood.
As she matures, she finds solace in the hotel's library. Her sole goal is to be as inconspicuous as possible. Until one day, the hotel is sold to mysterious rock star Theo Winchester and his troubled daughter, Adele. Will Aria realise there's more to life than being invisible?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 2, 2026
771 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Lester
18 books3,526 followersNatasha Lester is the multi-award winning and New York Times best-selling author of THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS, THE PARIS ORPHAN, THE PARIS SECRET and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ASTRID BRICARD. Her new book, THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE, the story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only female leader of a French Resistance network in WWII, is coming in April 2025.
Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.
Natasha's books have been translated into twenty-one different languages and are published all around the world. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion history, practising the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books.
Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.
Natasha's books have been translated into twenty-one different languages and are published all around the world. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion history, practising the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The first writing course I ever did was with Natasha Lester. Those lessons were also my first Zoom meetings in the time of Covid. (Funny what we remember!) Since then I've become a fan of her books and even had her sign one at an author event. She remembered my name. I was blown away!
But I digress...
As with Natasha's back catalogue of historical fiction, The Chateau on Sunset is a combination of deep research and skilful prose. While many of her books are set around fashion and war-time espionage, this one takes us back to Old Hollywood in the 1950s and '60s, when men wielding power in the film industry took advantage of young women desperate for a break, a narrative that's still relevant today. Aria is only a young girl when her parents are killed in an accident and she is sent to live with her aunt at the Chateau Marmont on Hollywood Boulevard. A once-famous actress, her aunt has become an addict and a recluse after her career was cut short. The reason why remains a secret, one of many that only the hotel and a handful of its occupants know.
Aria is left to fend for herself and - thanks to two aspiring actresses who take her under their wing and all that she witnesses firsthand - she's given a front-row seat to the inner machinations of the movie business. This 'education', together with the connections she's made while being a resident of the hotel, arm her with more power than she realises. That is, until she runs away from her wedding and the only life she knows to carve out a new story for herself and, subsequently, the starlets back in Hollywood.
I adore Natasha's writing style. Every sentence is crafted with precision and elegance, and I find myself stopping to savour her words the same way our main character Aria savours hot dogs. This is a coming-of-age, rags-to-riches story with a passionate romance at its heart. The Chateau Marmont (which exists in real life) is written not just as a setting but as an almost sentient being that's aware of all the goings-on within its walls. This lent a gothic and moody vibe to the book that served the story well. In her author note, Natasha reveals that this story is, in its own way, a retelling of her favourite Charlotte Bronte classic, Jane Eyre.
For me, this book wasn't quite as strong as her historical war fiction, and I found the first part slightly confusing with the time jumps between chapters switching from first-person to third-person, but I still found it highly enjoyable. If you love well-written stories full of mystery, intrigue, glamour and power, this one's a winner. 4.5 stars.
But I digress...
As with Natasha's back catalogue of historical fiction, The Chateau on Sunset is a combination of deep research and skilful prose. While many of her books are set around fashion and war-time espionage, this one takes us back to Old Hollywood in the 1950s and '60s, when men wielding power in the film industry took advantage of young women desperate for a break, a narrative that's still relevant today. Aria is only a young girl when her parents are killed in an accident and she is sent to live with her aunt at the Chateau Marmont on Hollywood Boulevard. A once-famous actress, her aunt has become an addict and a recluse after her career was cut short. The reason why remains a secret, one of many that only the hotel and a handful of its occupants know.
Aria is left to fend for herself and - thanks to two aspiring actresses who take her under their wing and all that she witnesses firsthand - she's given a front-row seat to the inner machinations of the movie business. This 'education', together with the connections she's made while being a resident of the hotel, arm her with more power than she realises. That is, until she runs away from her wedding and the only life she knows to carve out a new story for herself and, subsequently, the starlets back in Hollywood.
I adore Natasha's writing style. Every sentence is crafted with precision and elegance, and I find myself stopping to savour her words the same way our main character Aria savours hot dogs. This is a coming-of-age, rags-to-riches story with a passionate romance at its heart. The Chateau Marmont (which exists in real life) is written not just as a setting but as an almost sentient being that's aware of all the goings-on within its walls. This lent a gothic and moody vibe to the book that served the story well. In her author note, Natasha reveals that this story is, in its own way, a retelling of her favourite Charlotte Bronte classic, Jane Eyre.
For me, this book wasn't quite as strong as her historical war fiction, and I found the first part slightly confusing with the time jumps between chapters switching from first-person to third-person, but I still found it highly enjoyable. If you love well-written stories full of mystery, intrigue, glamour and power, this one's a winner. 4.5 stars.
February 24, 2026
The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester is set inside the famous Chateau Marmont Hotel in 1950’s - the Golden Years of Cinema Hollywood through to the 1970’s brash rock and roll music scene.
Aria an orphaned teenager whose parents were killed in a car accident, comes to the hotel to live with her Aunt a retired actress who has become secluded in the halls of Chateau Marmont.
Aria grows up surrounding herself from afar with many of Hollywood celebrities and the elite. Many of whom are the industry leaders - beauty, glamour, fashion, wealth and fame will be remembered. However, Aria sees the reality of the industry and the broken hearted lives these celebrities have after the limelight and fame is gone.
Aria becomes friends with two aspiring actresses Calliope and Flitter and also discovers a secret hidden in the hotel. She is frightened by this mysterious secret and is determined to remain silent, invisible, earn money enough to runaway to live her life the way that she wants.
All is going to plan when along comes Theo Winchester the new owner of the hotel and a recluse rock star. Theo has a daughter Adele - trouble, scandal, follows and he feels burdened by caring for her.
Aria is employed to tutor Adele but will this be the road to the way out for Aria and will it lead her to the freedom she seeks? Passion ignites between Aria and Theo that may change everything that Aria had dreamed about. Will she decide to go and follow her dreams or will she be persuaded to stay?
Natasha Lester has written and retold the story with an atmospheric twist to the classic tale of Jane Eyre by Emily Brontë. It’s gothic style influenced feminine protagonist main character Aria Jones (Jane Eyre) on her journey from an orphan to a women who supports the moody Mr Rochester being represented by Theo the 1970’s washed up rockstar. The Chateau on sunset Hotel with its hidden secrets is of course the sun-drenched Thornfield Hall from Bronte’s classic.
The parallels to the original classic Brontë novel shows the symbolic way the industry treated women who refused to accept and conform to the way of the Hollywood lifestyle.
This novel is for fans of historical fiction with cinematic history and mystery.
I thank NetGalley, the Publisher Hachette Australia and Natasha Lester for generously providing me with the advanced copy of this book. I rate this novel 4 stars as it took me back to the classic novel by Brontë that I read many years ago but was brilliantly transported to a more modern era.
This book is due to be released on 31st March 2026.
March 4, 2026
An utterly mesmerizing and exquisitely written novel, this story sweeps readers into the gilded yet shadowed corridors of 1950s and 1960s Hollywood — where glamour dazzles, secrets fester, and innocence rarely survives untouched.
In 1957, fourteen-year-old Aria Jones is suddenly orphaned and shipped off to Los Angeles to live with her legendary actress aunt. Instead of sanctuary, she finds decay — a once-radiant star now cloistered in despair, hidden away in a suite at the iconic Chateau Marmont. A hotel whispered about in reverent tones, famous for protecting the indiscretions of the rich and powerful — because at the Chateau, what happens inside its walls never escapes.
Lost and unmoored, Aria is taken under the wing of two aspiring actresses, Calliope and Flitter, bright-eyed dreamers clinging to their own Hollywood ambitions. The Chateau becomes both refuge and cage — a world unto itself, humming with starlets, fading idols, producers, predators, and broken promises.
Told in dual timelines — shifting between Aria’s arrival in 1957 and 1964, when she stands on the cusp of twenty-one — the novel traces her strange coming-of-age within those velvet-draped walls. What begins as temporary exile turns into seven cloistered years. Aria barely steps beyond the hotel’s threshold, becoming almost spectral — present, watching, absorbing, but never fully living. The Chateau keeps its secrets… and slowly, it keeps her.
Everything changes with the arrival of Theo, the hotel’s magnetic new owner — a former rock star with a scandal-laced past and a dangerous kind of charm. His presence unsettles the delicate ecosystem of the Chateau and ignites something long dormant in Aria. As her attraction to him deepens, so does her awareness of the invisible life she has been living. Questions rise like smoke: Who has she become? Who decided her fate? And why has she allowed herself to remain in the shadows?
But Hollywood is no fairy tale. Beneath the sparkle lies something predatory. Aria becomes entangled in a secret that does not belong to her — one that makes her vulnerable to the sharks circling the industry’s murky waters. The Chateau may protect reputations, but it does not protect innocence.
What unfolds is a gripping portrait of a young woman awakening — to desire, to danger, to her own agency. Aria’s journey toward self-liberation is the blazing heart of the novel. Can she burn down the invisible walls that have confined her? Can she step beyond the Chateau’s seductive grip and claim a life that is wholly her own?
Lush, haunting, and intoxicatingly atmospheric, this is a story about survival in a world built on illusion — and about the courage it takes to walk out of the shadows and into your own light.
I was completely captivated. This is Old Hollywood drama at its finest — glamorous, scandalous, and impossible to look away from.
Many Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
In 1957, fourteen-year-old Aria Jones is suddenly orphaned and shipped off to Los Angeles to live with her legendary actress aunt. Instead of sanctuary, she finds decay — a once-radiant star now cloistered in despair, hidden away in a suite at the iconic Chateau Marmont. A hotel whispered about in reverent tones, famous for protecting the indiscretions of the rich and powerful — because at the Chateau, what happens inside its walls never escapes.
Lost and unmoored, Aria is taken under the wing of two aspiring actresses, Calliope and Flitter, bright-eyed dreamers clinging to their own Hollywood ambitions. The Chateau becomes both refuge and cage — a world unto itself, humming with starlets, fading idols, producers, predators, and broken promises.
Told in dual timelines — shifting between Aria’s arrival in 1957 and 1964, when she stands on the cusp of twenty-one — the novel traces her strange coming-of-age within those velvet-draped walls. What begins as temporary exile turns into seven cloistered years. Aria barely steps beyond the hotel’s threshold, becoming almost spectral — present, watching, absorbing, but never fully living. The Chateau keeps its secrets… and slowly, it keeps her.
Everything changes with the arrival of Theo, the hotel’s magnetic new owner — a former rock star with a scandal-laced past and a dangerous kind of charm. His presence unsettles the delicate ecosystem of the Chateau and ignites something long dormant in Aria. As her attraction to him deepens, so does her awareness of the invisible life she has been living. Questions rise like smoke: Who has she become? Who decided her fate? And why has she allowed herself to remain in the shadows?
But Hollywood is no fairy tale. Beneath the sparkle lies something predatory. Aria becomes entangled in a secret that does not belong to her — one that makes her vulnerable to the sharks circling the industry’s murky waters. The Chateau may protect reputations, but it does not protect innocence.
What unfolds is a gripping portrait of a young woman awakening — to desire, to danger, to her own agency. Aria’s journey toward self-liberation is the blazing heart of the novel. Can she burn down the invisible walls that have confined her? Can she step beyond the Chateau’s seductive grip and claim a life that is wholly her own?
Lush, haunting, and intoxicatingly atmospheric, this is a story about survival in a world built on illusion — and about the courage it takes to walk out of the shadows and into your own light.
I was completely captivated. This is Old Hollywood drama at its finest — glamorous, scandalous, and impossible to look away from.
Many Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“The Chateau on Sunset,” by Natasha Lester, features the Chateau Marmont, the legendary Hollywood hotel, as a character in it’s own right. In the novel, the Marmont is filled with famous screenwriters, producers, actors, actresses and aspiring young vulnerable starlets. The main character, Aria Jones, enters the hotel a few months shy of her 14th birthday, moving there from her home in Manhattan after her parents die in a tragic fire at a gas station. Aria comes to live in an apartment with her Aunt Devine Rey, a reclusive former actress addicted to pills and alcohol. At her lowest point, Aria meets two aspiring actresses, Calliope and Flitter, who take her under their wing and make her their honorary sister.
In contrast to the other occupants of the Chateau Marmont, Aria wants to remain invisible and live a small life, hoping that by doing so she will avoid further disappointments and tragedies. The first 70 percent of the novel consists of her sequestering herself at the Marmont and on the Marmont’s grounds, never venturing further than Scwab’s diner down the street. The narrative jumps back and forth between 1957 and 1966, moving forward in both time frames. The most significant action doesn’t occur until the last 30 percent of the book.
Although the characters were vivid, and the dialog was sparkling, this novel, unlike Natasha Lester’s previous ones, felt a bit long due to the book primary focus on Aria’s narrow existence at the Marmont. Moreover, the frequent jumps in time prevent the reader from becoming absorbed in the story, jolting them out of one time line to dump them abruptly into another. In addition, because there was only a 7 year gap between the two time frames, which both included the same characters, it became somewhat confusing to reorient oneself in the current storyline.
However, despite the above mentioned shortfalls, the theme, which depicts Aria coming into her own and finding her own strength, at the same time as she finds a way to give back sexually exploited young actresses their own strength, makes up for any deficiencies. The well-drawn characters and dynamic dialog also contributes to the strengths of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing me an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
In contrast to the other occupants of the Chateau Marmont, Aria wants to remain invisible and live a small life, hoping that by doing so she will avoid further disappointments and tragedies. The first 70 percent of the novel consists of her sequestering herself at the Marmont and on the Marmont’s grounds, never venturing further than Scwab’s diner down the street. The narrative jumps back and forth between 1957 and 1966, moving forward in both time frames. The most significant action doesn’t occur until the last 30 percent of the book.
Although the characters were vivid, and the dialog was sparkling, this novel, unlike Natasha Lester’s previous ones, felt a bit long due to the book primary focus on Aria’s narrow existence at the Marmont. Moreover, the frequent jumps in time prevent the reader from becoming absorbed in the story, jolting them out of one time line to dump them abruptly into another. In addition, because there was only a 7 year gap between the two time frames, which both included the same characters, it became somewhat confusing to reorient oneself in the current storyline.
However, despite the above mentioned shortfalls, the theme, which depicts Aria coming into her own and finding her own strength, at the same time as she finds a way to give back sexually exploited young actresses their own strength, makes up for any deficiencies. The well-drawn characters and dynamic dialog also contributes to the strengths of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing me an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Los Angeles, 1957. Aria Jones is orphaned at fourteen when her parents die in a car crash and she's sent to live with her aunt Miss Devine-Ray at the Chateau Marmont, a hotel on Hollywood Boulevard with a notorious reputation. Aria discovers her guardian hasn't left her room is years and explores the hotel on her own, uncovers it has a tragic history.
Here she meets two young actresses and they take her under their wing Flitter Reeve and Calliope Burns and become the sister she never had. Aria has no idea to make it in Hollywood, women have to do things to keep powerful men happy, to get the role in the movie and just think of “Harvey Weinstein” and that’s what went on, coercion, parties, alcohol and drugs.
Aria finds a place to hide in the hotel's library or the turret, her plan is to gain no unwanted attention, to save her money and escape when she turns twenty one. Until the hotel is sold to a rock star Theo Winchester, Aria offers to help him with his troubled teenage daughter Adele. Meeting Theo makes Aria consider taking a different path, a dangerous one and where she has to confront the past.
I received a copy of The Chateau on Sunset from NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. In her tenth novel Natasha Lester has used her interest in Jane Eyre, old hotels with a sordid history, secrets, Hollywood and the exploitation of women, as a basis for her narrative.
When I think of historical fiction written by Ms Lester, normally it’s set somewhere like Paris, with beautiful and strong leading female characters and with an emphasis on fashion.
While I can understand she wanted to write something different, I’m sorry to say I didn’t fall under the spell of The Chateau on Sunset, it has a dual timeline, told in two parts, the story jumps around a lot and I found it confusing. I did feel sorry for Aria and Calliope and they're the only two characters I connected with.
Maybe I missed something big or a light bulb moment, this is the first time I have wanted a book by the bestselling Australian authors to end, three stars and a half stars from me and I suggest reading it and making up your own mind.
Here she meets two young actresses and they take her under their wing Flitter Reeve and Calliope Burns and become the sister she never had. Aria has no idea to make it in Hollywood, women have to do things to keep powerful men happy, to get the role in the movie and just think of “Harvey Weinstein” and that’s what went on, coercion, parties, alcohol and drugs.
Aria finds a place to hide in the hotel's library or the turret, her plan is to gain no unwanted attention, to save her money and escape when she turns twenty one. Until the hotel is sold to a rock star Theo Winchester, Aria offers to help him with his troubled teenage daughter Adele. Meeting Theo makes Aria consider taking a different path, a dangerous one and where she has to confront the past.
I received a copy of The Chateau on Sunset from NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. In her tenth novel Natasha Lester has used her interest in Jane Eyre, old hotels with a sordid history, secrets, Hollywood and the exploitation of women, as a basis for her narrative.
When I think of historical fiction written by Ms Lester, normally it’s set somewhere like Paris, with beautiful and strong leading female characters and with an emphasis on fashion.
While I can understand she wanted to write something different, I’m sorry to say I didn’t fall under the spell of The Chateau on Sunset, it has a dual timeline, told in two parts, the story jumps around a lot and I found it confusing. I did feel sorry for Aria and Calliope and they're the only two characters I connected with.
Maybe I missed something big or a light bulb moment, this is the first time I have wanted a book by the bestselling Australian authors to end, three stars and a half stars from me and I suggest reading it and making up your own mind.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Clsssic retelling lovers will find a lot to ooh-and-aaah over in this modern Jane Eyre adaptation that's set against the seedy, glamorous backdrop of 1950's-1960's Hollywood.
After her parents die in a tragic accident, Aria Jones is sent to live with her reclusive, drug-addict aunt and former Hollywood starlet, Miss Devine Rey, at the Chateau Marmont. Left to wander the hallways alone, she soon finds that the hotel is haunted--not by ghosts, but by the cost many young women must pay in exchange for fame and stardom.
As she grows older, she carries this knowledge with her, burying it deep as she makes herself as invisible as possible, only finding sanctuary in the hotel's library and in the dream she cherishes of leaving the Marmont to explore the world as soon as she turns twenty-one, which is only months away. And Aria has been counting down the days.
However, all of this changes when the hotel is suddenly sold to recovering rock star, Theo Winchester. He brings along his troubled teenage daughter, Adele, and soon, the secrets of the hotel begin to raise their voices and demand to be heard. Will Aria be able to find hers, too? Can she find the courage to step out of the shadows and claim the life she wants?
This was a lush, atmospheric, and cleverly imagined story with compelling characters. It struck a good balance between paying homage to Bronte's classic while also grounding it in the fresh glitz, glamour, and grit of Hollywood. The dual timeline was interesting, giving readers a peek into Aria's trauma-filled childhood at the Marmont then, later, building toward the journey of her claiming her own independence, agency, and sovereignty. I enjoyed her relationship with Theo and Adele as well as found her sisterly bond with Calliope and Flitter to be emotionally complex and dynamic. Definitely worth a read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.
BOOK BLOG
After her parents die in a tragic accident, Aria Jones is sent to live with her reclusive, drug-addict aunt and former Hollywood starlet, Miss Devine Rey, at the Chateau Marmont. Left to wander the hallways alone, she soon finds that the hotel is haunted--not by ghosts, but by the cost many young women must pay in exchange for fame and stardom.
As she grows older, she carries this knowledge with her, burying it deep as she makes herself as invisible as possible, only finding sanctuary in the hotel's library and in the dream she cherishes of leaving the Marmont to explore the world as soon as she turns twenty-one, which is only months away. And Aria has been counting down the days.
However, all of this changes when the hotel is suddenly sold to recovering rock star, Theo Winchester. He brings along his troubled teenage daughter, Adele, and soon, the secrets of the hotel begin to raise their voices and demand to be heard. Will Aria be able to find hers, too? Can she find the courage to step out of the shadows and claim the life she wants?
This was a lush, atmospheric, and cleverly imagined story with compelling characters. It struck a good balance between paying homage to Bronte's classic while also grounding it in the fresh glitz, glamour, and grit of Hollywood. The dual timeline was interesting, giving readers a peek into Aria's trauma-filled childhood at the Marmont then, later, building toward the journey of her claiming her own independence, agency, and sovereignty. I enjoyed her relationship with Theo and Adele as well as found her sisterly bond with Calliope and Flitter to be emotionally complex and dynamic. Definitely worth a read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.
BOOK BLOG
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Aria Jones is orphaned when her parents die in a fire. She’s shipped off to LA to live with her estranged aunt, Miss Devine Ray at the Chateau Marmont. On the surface, this is glamorous and exciting, but in reality, it’s terrifying and strange for Aria. Miss Devine Ray is a cantankerous addict who never leaves her suite. Aria isn’t sure how she’ll make it and then she meets two starlets, Calliope Burns and Flitter, who take her under their wing. With these “sisters” to help care for her, Aria settles into the haunted and hallowed Chateu as her new home.
The book is a dual timeline, passing back and forth from 12-year-old Aria’s arrival and early days at the Chateau and Aria at 21 years old, still at the Chateau, but more settled.
Aria is an easy character to love and root for. Among a small, but spectacular world, Aria yearns to stay invisible while being helpful at every corner. When a starlet comes home after an abortion, Aria is there to call the doctor and nurse her back to health; when a starlet is pressured to have sex with a studio executive in exchange for a role, Aria is there to usher her away and to safety; when a newly motherless teenager moves into the Chateau, Aria is there to mentor and support her.
Aria’s journey is inspiring and heart-warming. There’s romance, heartbreak, self-discovery, renewal, love, and a full-circle conclusion.
Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“The girl whose hopes were the only things higher than her skirt,”
“That to be truly seen by one person is better than being seen on a screen by millions. I wanted to be loved by the world. But the world can’t love. Only people can.”
The book is a dual timeline, passing back and forth from 12-year-old Aria’s arrival and early days at the Chateau and Aria at 21 years old, still at the Chateau, but more settled.
Aria is an easy character to love and root for. Among a small, but spectacular world, Aria yearns to stay invisible while being helpful at every corner. When a starlet comes home after an abortion, Aria is there to call the doctor and nurse her back to health; when a starlet is pressured to have sex with a studio executive in exchange for a role, Aria is there to usher her away and to safety; when a newly motherless teenager moves into the Chateau, Aria is there to mentor and support her.
Aria’s journey is inspiring and heart-warming. There’s romance, heartbreak, self-discovery, renewal, love, and a full-circle conclusion.
Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“The girl whose hopes were the only things higher than her skirt,”
“That to be truly seen by one person is better than being seen on a screen by millions. I wanted to be loved by the world. But the world can’t love. Only people can.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
At age thirteen Aria Jones is left orphaned by her parent’s car accident and sent to live with her aunt, a world famous actress who is now an alcoholic recluse living in the famous Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood.
Many movie stars and “wanna-be” movie stars are also residents at the hotel. Aria feels like a ghost who doesn’t belong, but she develops a warm and lasting friendship with two teenage actresses who are striving for Hollywood success. The threesome consider themselves sisters as they navigate their way along Hollywood’s perilous life highway. Aria acts as their protector, but in doing so, angers a powerful man. Feeling like a prisoner in the hotel, Aria can’t wait for age of twenty-one when she can be free to leave it all behind.
This book is a fascinating peak at the movie industry in mid-century Hollywood. The plot revolves around the misogyny and mistreatment of young women by men in power. There's also an interesting romance along the way.
What I didn’t like:
- Having chapters with alternating 1957 and 1964 timelines. I agree with other reviewers that this causes confusion and hurts the reading experience.
- Being asked to believe that a babysitting salary could pay for someone’s rehab stay.
- An overlong 1950's section. I think some editing wouldn’t hurt the story and, in fact, would improve it.
What I liked:
- Aria’s journey of self expansion and renewal.
- A young romance that developed slowly and, through time … that it evolved with mature emotional growth.
Overall, this was a worthwhile read. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this offering.
P.S. The Author’s Notes section has a surprising tidbit about Natalie Wood. If interested, contact your friend, Mr. Google. :)
Many movie stars and “wanna-be” movie stars are also residents at the hotel. Aria feels like a ghost who doesn’t belong, but she develops a warm and lasting friendship with two teenage actresses who are striving for Hollywood success. The threesome consider themselves sisters as they navigate their way along Hollywood’s perilous life highway. Aria acts as their protector, but in doing so, angers a powerful man. Feeling like a prisoner in the hotel, Aria can’t wait for age of twenty-one when she can be free to leave it all behind.
This book is a fascinating peak at the movie industry in mid-century Hollywood. The plot revolves around the misogyny and mistreatment of young women by men in power. There's also an interesting romance along the way.
What I didn’t like:
- Having chapters with alternating 1957 and 1964 timelines. I agree with other reviewers that this causes confusion and hurts the reading experience.
- Being asked to believe that a babysitting salary could pay for someone’s rehab stay.
- An overlong 1950's section. I think some editing wouldn’t hurt the story and, in fact, would improve it.
What I liked:
- Aria’s journey of self expansion and renewal.
- A young romance that developed slowly and, through time … that it evolved with mature emotional growth.
Overall, this was a worthwhile read. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this offering.
P.S. The Author’s Notes section has a surprising tidbit about Natalie Wood. If interested, contact your friend, Mr. Google. :)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow, wow, wow. This book was so good. I did not expect it to captivate my interest in the Golden Age of old Hollywood. (But anyone who knows me knows that I am fascinated by that era of cinema.)
This was a well-written retelling of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, set at the Chateau Marmont in both the 1950s and 1960s. At times the seven year difference was too short, I felt as if I couldn’t see a ton of growth with each character. But as the story unfolded, I was completely engrossed in the plot, the main story, to notice the lack of differentiation. This captured the essence of old Hollywood and all its glamour — but largely the ugly sides, too. It dealt with themes of fame, power, greed, and corruption, and people would do anything to keep that power and fame. It was a bit of a slow burn to get those themes across, but well worth it. The writing pulled me in long enough to let those themes soak in.
I absolutely LOVED Aria. The author, Natasha Lester, was right in her author’s note — we all have bits of Aria within ourselves. She was an outstanding character. Also, Theo? As an avid romance reader, I really loved his storyline with Aria. I was swooning.
Although I hadn’t read Jane Eyre, I didn’t really need to understand that story to love this one. The only thing I knew about Jane Eyre was some mystery woman in the attic, which was a huge part of this story in its own special Chateau way. The author did a good job of reimagining that 1800s story with an old Hollywood twist.
Overall, I highly recommend. Beneath the glamour and grit of the movie industry, this was a book about power, fame, belonging, feeling invisible, and what it means to be seen and loved.
Out 6/2! Thank you to Ballantine Books for my copy. Pre-order if you love old Hollywood and cinema, and books set during that time period — the golden age of Hollywood.
This was a well-written retelling of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, set at the Chateau Marmont in both the 1950s and 1960s. At times the seven year difference was too short, I felt as if I couldn’t see a ton of growth with each character. But as the story unfolded, I was completely engrossed in the plot, the main story, to notice the lack of differentiation. This captured the essence of old Hollywood and all its glamour — but largely the ugly sides, too. It dealt with themes of fame, power, greed, and corruption, and people would do anything to keep that power and fame. It was a bit of a slow burn to get those themes across, but well worth it. The writing pulled me in long enough to let those themes soak in.
I absolutely LOVED Aria. The author, Natasha Lester, was right in her author’s note — we all have bits of Aria within ourselves. She was an outstanding character. Also, Theo? As an avid romance reader, I really loved his storyline with Aria. I was swooning.
Although I hadn’t read Jane Eyre, I didn’t really need to understand that story to love this one. The only thing I knew about Jane Eyre was some mystery woman in the attic, which was a huge part of this story in its own special Chateau way. The author did a good job of reimagining that 1800s story with an old Hollywood twist.
Overall, I highly recommend. Beneath the glamour and grit of the movie industry, this was a book about power, fame, belonging, feeling invisible, and what it means to be seen and loved.
Out 6/2! Thank you to Ballantine Books for my copy. Pre-order if you love old Hollywood and cinema, and books set during that time period — the golden age of Hollywood.
February 7, 2026
The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester is about the Hollywood scene. It teaches us about life, love, living, and the goings on in the film industry. It will make you both laugh and cry but you will love every minute of it.
Aria Jones is orphaned at 13, her parents having been killed in a fire. Her guardian is her aunt, a famous film star who lives at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, which is where Aria will now reside. Aria is young, naive, and scared of the world. Her aunt has no interest in raising a child so she is left to the actresses, production people, and the books inside the chateau for her education. She becomes best friends with 2 would be starlets and the three become the three sisters.
The first part of the book goes back and forth between her arrival years and her present day life. We learn about life in the chateau through her young eyes, her education about the goings on within it’s walls, as well as her role in helping the starlets. We see her grow up, fall in love, but also spread her wings and fly, only to return again.
I loved this book as much as other books of Natasha Lester’s. The book is a page turner. I could not put it down. Her writing is good, giving us wonderful pictures of what she is saying. She makes us both laugh and cry along with the characters in the book. She makes us cheer for Aria but in the end, leaves us feeling sad in other ways.
I would like to thank Megan Whalen, Penguin Random House as well as Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Aria Jones is orphaned at 13, her parents having been killed in a fire. Her guardian is her aunt, a famous film star who lives at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, which is where Aria will now reside. Aria is young, naive, and scared of the world. Her aunt has no interest in raising a child so she is left to the actresses, production people, and the books inside the chateau for her education. She becomes best friends with 2 would be starlets and the three become the three sisters.
The first part of the book goes back and forth between her arrival years and her present day life. We learn about life in the chateau through her young eyes, her education about the goings on within it’s walls, as well as her role in helping the starlets. We see her grow up, fall in love, but also spread her wings and fly, only to return again.
I loved this book as much as other books of Natasha Lester’s. The book is a page turner. I could not put it down. Her writing is good, giving us wonderful pictures of what she is saying. She makes us both laugh and cry along with the characters in the book. She makes us cheer for Aria but in the end, leaves us feeling sad in other ways.
I would like to thank Megan Whalen, Penguin Random House as well as Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a lover of Natasha Lester's historical fiction, with strong female leads, who lead us through dramatic events in history.
Sadly I just cant say the same about "The Chateau on Sunset".
I found the two time lines running quite close together confusing, with the same characters appearing in both, making it hard to tell the difference (if you don't look at the chapter title). Part One of the book was hard to navigate. But I really enjoyed Part Two, which sees us in one timeline.
Essentially a story of finding your full self, with help or hinderance from friends. I believe the Hollywood setting of Chateau Marmont and the actresses names (initials) are a nod to actual places and people. The seedy side of the 1950s and 60s is swept under the carpet of the Chateau which operates as a world of it own, as orphaned Aria tries to live under the radar amongst a bevy a Hollywood starlets.
This self imposed isolation seduces you into a web of untruths, suspicions and self doubt. Everyone is broken in their own way. I enjoyed the liberation of Aria and the reveal of the lies and coverups but wasn't as fully engaged as I have been in other Natasha Lester reads.
Thanks to Hachette Australia, Natasha Lester and NetGalley for my copy.
Sadly I just cant say the same about "The Chateau on Sunset".
I found the two time lines running quite close together confusing, with the same characters appearing in both, making it hard to tell the difference (if you don't look at the chapter title). Part One of the book was hard to navigate. But I really enjoyed Part Two, which sees us in one timeline.
Essentially a story of finding your full self, with help or hinderance from friends. I believe the Hollywood setting of Chateau Marmont and the actresses names (initials) are a nod to actual places and people. The seedy side of the 1950s and 60s is swept under the carpet of the Chateau which operates as a world of it own, as orphaned Aria tries to live under the radar amongst a bevy a Hollywood starlets.
This self imposed isolation seduces you into a web of untruths, suspicions and self doubt. Everyone is broken in their own way. I enjoyed the liberation of Aria and the reveal of the lies and coverups but wasn't as fully engaged as I have been in other Natasha Lester reads.
Thanks to Hachette Australia, Natasha Lester and NetGalley for my copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Hachette for sending this book my way!
This is a tightly plotted novel that has been tauted as a feminist retelling of Jane Eyre - and it absolutely nails that premise.
I have always loved Natasha's way of writing fabulously strong women characters, and I have to admit to being slightly hesitant when I first started reading, as I didn't want it to be just another book about Hollywood and it's glamourous stars.
I should have trusted Lester - because there is always more to her storytelling than simply reproducing cliches.
Woven through the tale are secrets, lies, addiction and abuse. There's love, hope, sisterhood and lecherous evil.
Without giving away too many spoilers - there are echoes of themes that have been brought out in the public eye over recent years and Natasha presents it with raw sympathy and dignity. I'm grateful she didn't shy away from the reality stars faced to get ahead in the industry.
Fans of classic retellings will enjoy the nods to Bronte, and so will those who like a love story, mystery and glamour.
Most of all though, it's an important read - I think we need to keep bringing these uncomfortable truths to light.
Well done, Natasha.
This is a tightly plotted novel that has been tauted as a feminist retelling of Jane Eyre - and it absolutely nails that premise.
I have always loved Natasha's way of writing fabulously strong women characters, and I have to admit to being slightly hesitant when I first started reading, as I didn't want it to be just another book about Hollywood and it's glamourous stars.
I should have trusted Lester - because there is always more to her storytelling than simply reproducing cliches.
Woven through the tale are secrets, lies, addiction and abuse. There's love, hope, sisterhood and lecherous evil.
Without giving away too many spoilers - there are echoes of themes that have been brought out in the public eye over recent years and Natasha presents it with raw sympathy and dignity. I'm grateful she didn't shy away from the reality stars faced to get ahead in the industry.
Fans of classic retellings will enjoy the nods to Bronte, and so will those who like a love story, mystery and glamour.
Most of all though, it's an important read - I think we need to keep bringing these uncomfortable truths to light.
Well done, Natasha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Natasha Lester is one of my favorite authors - she can write historical fiction! Her characters, the scenes, and the plot are always well-developed, with strong female characters. This story did not disappoint in that way. Aria, Calliope, Ms Devine, and Flitter bring an era of Hollywood alive for the reader, and we are kept engrossed with the ghost of the hotel. The two timelines in this novel were a little confusing at points - sometimes I had to double-check when reading to see where we were, and this could be because though there were two timelines, as there often are in books, these two were very close together, and the same characters were in each of them. I don't know if that was what made it a little difficult for me to get into at first, but I think it might be, as once we stayed in the more recent timeline story, I loved the book, and before that, I was reading it, but was not as engaged as I normally am with her novels. All that being said, it was a good book and gave me a look at a time period I don't know much about, and did it with strong and likable female characters as its lead actors! Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Chateau on Sunset offers a sweeping look at Hollywood’s golden era, a world glittering on the surface yet driven by an undercurrent of power struggles, manipulation, and ambition. The constant shifts between 1957, when Aria is just thirteen, and 1964, felt exhausting at times by the sheer amount of chaos.
While this wasn’t a story I loved, I can appreciate how accurately it likely reflects the industry during those years. My own father grew up in Hollywood at that time and shared similar stories about the hunger for power and the troubling expectations placed especially on women who dreamed of becoming stars.
Amid the deceit, abuse, and relentless jockeying for influence, Aria stood out as a bright, hopeful presence. Her character brought warmth and humanity to an otherwise harsh landscape, and she was who I connected with most.
Though the pacing and intensity didn’t fully work for me, readers who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction and behind-the-scenes Hollywood intrigue may find much to appreciate here. The novel certainly paints a vivid picture of an era defined by glamour, ambition, and the steep price of fame.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
While this wasn’t a story I loved, I can appreciate how accurately it likely reflects the industry during those years. My own father grew up in Hollywood at that time and shared similar stories about the hunger for power and the troubling expectations placed especially on women who dreamed of becoming stars.
Amid the deceit, abuse, and relentless jockeying for influence, Aria stood out as a bright, hopeful presence. Her character brought warmth and humanity to an otherwise harsh landscape, and she was who I connected with most.
Though the pacing and intensity didn’t fully work for me, readers who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction and behind-the-scenes Hollywood intrigue may find much to appreciate here. The novel certainly paints a vivid picture of an era defined by glamour, ambition, and the steep price of fame.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another utterly engaging, well-crafted story! Natasha Lester is among my favorite authors, and I so look forward to each of her novels. The Chateau on Sunset does not disappoint.
While I’m truthfully not all that interested in Hollywood, have never been starstruck and thus was not all that intrigued by the subject matter of this particular book, I nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed Lester’s scrumptiously feminist riff on Jane Eyre. As ever, Lester vividly portrays her settings - particularly the magnificent Chateau Marmont which serves as a main character in this midcentury tale. I felt as though I was walking the halls of the hotel, sitting by its pool, and hobnobbing with its many long stay residents. Lester also once again lauds friendship, family, financial and emotional independence for women and, yes, romance, while also conveying her passion for fashion and storytelling in various forms.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.
While I’m truthfully not all that interested in Hollywood, have never been starstruck and thus was not all that intrigued by the subject matter of this particular book, I nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed Lester’s scrumptiously feminist riff on Jane Eyre. As ever, Lester vividly portrays her settings - particularly the magnificent Chateau Marmont which serves as a main character in this midcentury tale. I felt as though I was walking the halls of the hotel, sitting by its pool, and hobnobbing with its many long stay residents. Lester also once again lauds friendship, family, financial and emotional independence for women and, yes, romance, while also conveying her passion for fashion and storytelling in various forms.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
The Chateau on Sunset by @natashalesterauthor 🎞️
Orphaned and sent to the notorious Chateau Marmont, Aria Jones grows up watching Hollywood at its most dangerous. Scarred by a childhood secret, she learns to survive by staying invisible until a mysterious (and dreamily handsome) rock star and his daughter arrive, threatening the life Aria has built in the shadows.
👏🏼 Natasha Lester, ladies and gentlemen. 👏🏼 She can do no wrong. 👏🏼
I adore her writing so much. It is always richly detailed, exquisitely crafted, and utterly transportive. This newest release was no different. Absolutely brilliant. All of the characters were so beautifully nuanced, and as always, her settings are vivid and immersive.
This book made me smile, cry and have that “can’t wait to get home so I can continue reading” feeling. Everything you could possibly want in a novel. Natasha Lester has such a gift for storytelling. 🤍
This one is out on March 31st 📖
Thank you @hachetteaus @netgalley for the gift of getting to read it early 🥰
#thechateauonsunset #natashalester #bookreview
Orphaned and sent to the notorious Chateau Marmont, Aria Jones grows up watching Hollywood at its most dangerous. Scarred by a childhood secret, she learns to survive by staying invisible until a mysterious (and dreamily handsome) rock star and his daughter arrive, threatening the life Aria has built in the shadows.
👏🏼 Natasha Lester, ladies and gentlemen. 👏🏼 She can do no wrong. 👏🏼
I adore her writing so much. It is always richly detailed, exquisitely crafted, and utterly transportive. This newest release was no different. Absolutely brilliant. All of the characters were so beautifully nuanced, and as always, her settings are vivid and immersive.
This book made me smile, cry and have that “can’t wait to get home so I can continue reading” feeling. Everything you could possibly want in a novel. Natasha Lester has such a gift for storytelling. 🤍
This one is out on March 31st 📖
Thank you @hachetteaus @netgalley for the gift of getting to read it early 🥰
#thechateauonsunset #natashalester #bookreview
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Natasha Lester’s writing. It never disappoints and I’ve lost many hours engrossed in the worlds of her making. Having said that, I don’t think this is up with my favourite books from her pen. That doesn’t make it a bad book by any stretch, and I did enjoy reading it.
This book is set in 50s and 60s Hollywood, when newly orphaned Aria is sent to live with her reclusive film star aunt, who lives in a hotel. Aria finds herself in a very alien world, having been a much adored only child, and she gets by on her wits and with the sometimes help of several people she befriends along the way. There are two timelines in this book, looking at Aria’s teen years, and her early adulthood, with the book swapping between the two.
I found this book to be a bit of a departure from Natasha Lester’s recent books, dealing less with an unknown war heroine, and more with an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances. It’s an entertaining read and I’m sure it will be well received by Lester’s legion of fans
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this book for review
This book is set in 50s and 60s Hollywood, when newly orphaned Aria is sent to live with her reclusive film star aunt, who lives in a hotel. Aria finds herself in a very alien world, having been a much adored only child, and she gets by on her wits and with the sometimes help of several people she befriends along the way. There are two timelines in this book, looking at Aria’s teen years, and her early adulthood, with the book swapping between the two.
I found this book to be a bit of a departure from Natasha Lester’s recent books, dealing less with an unknown war heroine, and more with an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances. It’s an entertaining read and I’m sure it will be well received by Lester’s legion of fans
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this book for review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. After losing her parents, young Aria is sent to live with her reclusive aunt at the famous Chateau Marmont, where she grows up witnessing the dark bargains and secrets of Hollywood. When she makes a disturbing discovery, Aria retreats into invisibility and books as she ages. When the hotel is sold to rock star Theo and his troubled daughter, Adele, Aria is forced to step out of the shadows and confront whether she’s ready to truly live rather than remain unseen.
This book follows Aria from being young into adulthood, so readers get a full scope of her trauma and how she was eventually able to overcome it as an adult. The story veers between past and present, and I thought in that way it really presented a very well-rounded storyline. The author provides a full range of emotion in this book, but in a healthy way that will leave readers really enjoying this book, including the character of the hotel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Aria from being young into adulthood, so readers get a full scope of her trauma and how she was eventually able to overcome it as an adult. The story veers between past and present, and I thought in that way it really presented a very well-rounded storyline. The author provides a full range of emotion in this book, but in a healthy way that will leave readers really enjoying this book, including the character of the hotel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Chateau on Sunset
By Natasha Lester
This is a work of historical fiction. The chateau is the hotel Marmont and the time frame is the 50s and 60s in Hollywood. It is an interesting expose of the early days of the studios and the unscrupulous men who preyed on young girls who wanted to be movie star.
Aria is the main character. She was orphaned at an early age when her parents were killed in a gas station fire. Sent to live with a previously unknown aunt – a former star who now lives in the hotel – Aria is a lost soul. But as she acclimates to her environment, she finds friends and love – but also betrayal. Her eyes are opened to the abuse suffered by the young girls who naively arrive hoping to make it big in Hollywood.
This is an interesting story. Sadly so much of it is based on the reality of what was going on behind the scenes of glamour.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By Natasha Lester
This is a work of historical fiction. The chateau is the hotel Marmont and the time frame is the 50s and 60s in Hollywood. It is an interesting expose of the early days of the studios and the unscrupulous men who preyed on young girls who wanted to be movie star.
Aria is the main character. She was orphaned at an early age when her parents were killed in a gas station fire. Sent to live with a previously unknown aunt – a former star who now lives in the hotel – Aria is a lost soul. But as she acclimates to her environment, she finds friends and love – but also betrayal. Her eyes are opened to the abuse suffered by the young girls who naively arrive hoping to make it big in Hollywood.
This is an interesting story. Sadly so much of it is based on the reality of what was going on behind the scenes of glamour.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester, features the legendary Hollywood hotel, Chateau Marmont. The Marmont is filled with famous actors, producers, and aspiring young and very vulnerable starlets. We meet Aria Jones, only nearly 14 years old, having to move there from her home in Manhattan after her parents die. Aria comes to live in an apartment with her Aunt Devine Rey who is a reclusive former actress with an addiction problem. Aria befriends two up and coming young actresses Calliope and Flitter who take her under their wings. And soon, Aria becomes their champion.
Aria grows up in this male dominated society and decides to take on the mistreatment of young women by men in power.
This is a fascinating story about the movie industry in mid-century Hollywood.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Aria grows up in this male dominated society and decides to take on the mistreatment of young women by men in power.
This is a fascinating story about the movie industry in mid-century Hollywood.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Chateau on Sunset lacks the historical depth of Lester’s other novels but the characters are compelling even when the plot is a bit fantastical. It explores themes of trauma and the bonds between women over generations through a unique setting that feels both magical and realistic. I was hoping to see historical figures and tiny links to her other stories that make her other books special, so I was a little disappointed that it is missing that bit of connection, especially with the backdrop of an iconic hotel and the glamorous myth of Hollywood . However, the story of Aria and the women she helps gives hope that justice will prevail in our world where wealthy men who destroy young girls and women live in prison instead of the White House.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Natasha Lester has done it again! In this tightly woven novel, Aria Jones, orphaned at a young age, is sent to live with her aging, once famous actress aunt, at the very well known Chateau Marmont. Told in two timelines, Aria witnesses and becomes friendly with two young actresses and is faced with the very seedy side of Hollywood. The Chateau Marmont is a character in itself, with vividly drawn details of how the rich and powerful lived at and controlled all around them. There is addiction and abuse, yet also love and friendship in this nod to Jane Eyre. With Lester’s trademark strong female characters, important themes are addressed. Highly recommended. With thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC. My opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this book! Bonus is you are a fan of Old Hollywood or Jane Eyre.
This book follows orphan Aria Jones through a dual timeline, starting at 1957 and her "present" in 1964 while living at the famed Hollywood Chateau Marmont. Not only are we filled with characters from the chateau staff, it's Hollywood residents, but also the chateau itself serves as a character.
This book kept me constantly guessing if my favorite characters were ones I could trust. It kept me engaged, pulling back the curtain on the "glamour" of Old Hollywood, exposing the truth that lay behind it. It was the perfect blend of story and atmosphere.
This book follows orphan Aria Jones through a dual timeline, starting at 1957 and her "present" in 1964 while living at the famed Hollywood Chateau Marmont. Not only are we filled with characters from the chateau staff, it's Hollywood residents, but also the chateau itself serves as a character.
This book kept me constantly guessing if my favorite characters were ones I could trust. It kept me engaged, pulling back the curtain on the "glamour" of Old Hollywood, exposing the truth that lay behind it. It was the perfect blend of story and atmosphere.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Echoes of Jane Eyre are strong in this novel about an orphaned girl dropped at the Chateau Marmont in the starlet era of Hollywood. In a hotel full of secrets, Aria sees more than most and quietly helps where she can. The narrative strays from a modern retelling of Jane Eyre, with the author keeping a firm grip on Aria herself rather than on Aria through the eyes of the powerful men around her. At times, I felt the foreshadowing got a little too heavy and lingered a bit too long, but I never once thought of putting the book aside. The ending was heartfelt, and I was sad to say goodbye to this cast of characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
★★★★☆ 4 stars
This is another read I wouldn’t normally gravitate toward, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was emotional, reflective, and surprisingly thoughtful. Beyond the glamour, it quietly explores the realities of growing up around the film industry; the sacrifices, the loneliness, and the life lessons you learn far too early.
It offers a gentle look at identity, ambition, and finding your place in a world that can be both dazzling and unforgiving. A moving and enjoyable read overall.
Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Lester, and Hachette Australia for the ARC.
This is another read I wouldn’t normally gravitate toward, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was emotional, reflective, and surprisingly thoughtful. Beyond the glamour, it quietly explores the realities of growing up around the film industry; the sacrifices, the loneliness, and the life lessons you learn far too early.
It offers a gentle look at identity, ambition, and finding your place in a world that can be both dazzling and unforgiving. A moving and enjoyable read overall.
Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Lester, and Hachette Australia for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had a hard time getting into the story during the first half with constantly going back and forth between when Aria first arrived at the Chateau Marmont and present day in the 1960s – especially since the characters were the same in each time period. Part one earned a solid 3 rating as it showed the corruption of Hollywood and dashed dreams. Part two, however, when Aria left the hotel for Europe the story became much more engaging as Aria finally found her voice. Part two earned a 4 rating which means 3.5 overall.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting me read The Chateau on Sunset. I am a huge fan of Natasha Lester's work and this book did not disappoint. The main character, Aria Jones is amazing. She is smart and funny and I loved how she eventually found herself. This is a story of self discovery and friendship set against the historical Chateau Marmont. This is a beautifully written story you do not want to miss.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Aria Jones at the age of 13 lost both her parents and was sent to live with her aunt. Her aunt lives in a suite at the Chateau Marmont in L.A., a hotel filled with stars, and wanna be starlets. There is a lost for Aria to learn as she goes about the hotel as invisibly as possible. An interesting read as the hotel itself is the protagonist in this novel. Ms. Lester never disappoints and did not do so with this novel. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Natasha Lester is one of my favorite authors and I am so thankful to have received an Advanced Readers Copy from NetGalley. This book didn't pull me in as quickly as her previous historical fiction reads, but once it did, it was so worth it. I loved trying to figure out the nods to real Hollywood celebrities and the writing about the Chateau Marmont was so atmospheric and gothic-novel like. I loved the not obvious re-telling of a classic novel and the well-developed characters and themes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
My second book in a row of men behaving badly and woman getting their revenge both set in Hollywood! I love the setting of Chateau Marmount - a place where tragedy and shenanigans go hand in hand. Definitely pick this one up if you enjoy historical fiction on old Hollywood.
My second book in a row of men behaving badly and woman getting their revenge both set in Hollywood! I love the setting of Chateau Marmount - a place where tragedy and shenanigans go hand in hand. Definitely pick this one up if you enjoy historical fiction on old Hollywood.
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