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A Starlet's Secret to a Sensational Afterlife
A budding starlet and her handsome-but-moody co-star go from bitter enemies to reluctant partners when they get tangled up in the disappearance of a beautiful young actress in 1930s Hollywood.
Eighteen-year-old Henrietta arrives in Los Angeles in 1934 with dreams of trading her boring life for stardom.
She’s determined to make it as an actress, despite her family’s doubts and rumors of would-be starlets gone missing. And by the skin of her teeth, she pulls it off! A serendipitous job offer arrives and Henrietta finds herself on a whirlwind publicity tour for a major film role—with a vexingly unpleasant actor tapped by the studio to be her fake boyfriend.
But fierce Henrietta has more in common with brooding Declan than she realizes. They both have gifts that they are hiding, for fear of being labeled strange: he is immune to injury and she can speak to ghosts. Together, they might be the only people in Hollywood who can do something about these poor missing girls. And in doing so . . . they might just fall in love for real.
This whip smart, seductive caper by the author of Murder for the Modern Girl has the perfect combination of romance, vengeance, and a hint of the supernatural, set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Hand to fans of These Violent Delights and My Lady Jane.
Eighteen-year-old Henrietta arrives in Los Angeles in 1934 with dreams of trading her boring life for stardom.
She’s determined to make it as an actress, despite her family’s doubts and rumors of would-be starlets gone missing. And by the skin of her teeth, she pulls it off! A serendipitous job offer arrives and Henrietta finds herself on a whirlwind publicity tour for a major film role—with a vexingly unpleasant actor tapped by the studio to be her fake boyfriend.
But fierce Henrietta has more in common with brooding Declan than she realizes. They both have gifts that they are hiding, for fear of being labeled strange: he is immune to injury and she can speak to ghosts. Together, they might be the only people in Hollywood who can do something about these poor missing girls. And in doing so . . . they might just fall in love for real.
This whip smart, seductive caper by the author of Murder for the Modern Girl has the perfect combination of romance, vengeance, and a hint of the supernatural, set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Hand to fans of These Violent Delights and My Lady Jane.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2023
About the author
Kendall Kulper
10 books330 followersKendall Kulper is the author of the historical fantasy YA novels SALT & STORM and DRIFT & DAGGER (Little, Brown Young Readers). Her latest novel, MURDER FOR THE MODERN GIRL, will be published Summer 2022 by Holiday House. She lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband, two daughters, and anxious rescue dog, Abby.
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September 13, 2024
Girls, you know you'd better watch out / Some guys, some guys are only about / That thing, that thing, that thing (Doo Wop, That Thing – Lauryn Hill).
Hi, this was really good, and that’s all there is to it, nothing left to say! Okay well, I feel like I at least owe a couple words dedicated to it. Nothing too crazy, but maybe a few paragraphs worth? Anyway, I know that with me, it’s always “this was so~oo good”-this and “That was so~oo great!”-that, but I promise that when I say this book was really good, I mean it was really good! This is especially noteworthy this time around because… I wasn’t so sure it would be. I tend to get caught in the routine of certain genres and I was worried that this book would be too much of a departure from what I’m comfortable with when it comes to mysteries. And in a way, I was right, because any story that has to do with missing people always has my stomach turning, but in the end I do think this was a good thing. It’s really important every now and then to be challenged by the literature you consume. Here's the thing, I’m usually not so sure about adding fantastical elements to mysteries because it’s a genre that operates on such a strict set of rules, and giving the characters a paranormal or magical edge could have easily felt like cheating or something. I was also afraid that the paranormal aspects would somehow unintentionally make light of the subject matter, so it was nice to see that not only did this book expertly navigate around the obvious pitfalls, but worked back around to being a sensitive and compelling piece of art. In fact, this was so expertly written, that I couldn’t even imagine this story done in any other way. And while the paranormal aspects veer on the outrageous side, I thought that both abilities of Henrietta being able to see ghosts and Declan being invulnerable to damage ended up giving the narrative an extra layer of emotional weight rather than detract from the message. You know how I’m always talking about how stories should be about something, that they should mean something? Yeah well, A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife has something to say, and I was more than happy to listen.
Otherwise, I like how “Fantasy Mystery” is, like, becoming this author’s thing, because it's fun to notice common motifs throughout an author’s catalogue! Like how all of Stephen King’s main characters are writers (write what you know, right), or how Adam Silvera always halts the narrative to air out old grievances about how he used to get picked on for playing as Zelda in Super Smash Bros. (Caring about that? Couldn’t be me), or the way John Green ends all of his books like someone writing an English 101 essay at 11:46 when it’s due at midnight; we’ve all got our own thing! Uh, I got a little sarcastic, but I started out with good intentions and I really do like how this author has found a specific niche. And if nothing else, I’m always here for any story about the dark underbelly of Hollywood. Without any of the flash and glamour, what is there? Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life. Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life. I mean, Since I’ve been waxing poetic about how “literature should mean something” and “art can be an important teacher” and blah blah blah for a minute now, I guess I should roll up my “essay writing” sleeves and actually talk about what the story is about. Try to talk to the text, as it were. Well, if I were to take a stab at it, I’d have to say that this is a book all about how fragile the male ego is. Hardly a groundbreaking topic, sure, but it’s never a message that’s lacking in its need to be told. Say it often, and say it loud. It’s especially effective in how it's told here because of the way that toxic masculinity is sprinkled around naturally throughout the book. For example, we see it in the way a handsome leading actors will constantly throw tantrums, yelling at those who can’t say anything back, or in nauseating plethora of situations where powerful men will prey on young women who are just trying to become actors and how they always retaliate against them if the women don’t “fall in line.” It’s harrowing how normalized it is, it's realistic and awful, and it's something that needed to said. And that’s it, this book doesn’t just examine male fragility on a personal level, one asshole here, another there, it also knows how important it is to explore exactly how embedded within the culture it really is. Sure, actors acting like manbabies, going on Christian Bale Terminator Salvation-esque rants is terrible, but it’s the environment that makes them feel safe enough to act out in these ways that's the core of the problem. It’s a systemic thing.
That's why I think this book works as a standalone, because with "one-and-done" mysteries, you’re able to tackle more intense story-lines without worrying about stretching the story out across several sequels. You can get as real as you need to, without having to adhere to classic mystery tropes. And while I'd say that this book still generally has a hopeful tone to it, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness that was challenging to shake, because the opposition just felt that inescapable. “How many opps you really got? I mean, it's too many options" and all that. More often than not, I found myself wondering how these two people could possibly topple the corruption of Hollywood when it’s so inborn, so accepted, and so encouraged in every facet of our society? This is a historical-fiction novel, but I'm using present tense because I there's a lot of shades of these issues permeating to modern Hollywood. Things change, but not fast enough. The problem seems larger than any one person can handle, but I think that that’s why this story was so powerful, so profound to me, because there’s always going to be people who will want to do the right thing. Declan may have been invulnerable, but it was Henrietta’s resolve to find justice and the missing girl’s spirit that ended up being the one unbreakable thing that could dismantle the insurmountable corruption at the end of the day. It's a great story, and I really enjoyed reading something that forced me to confront some hard truths and didn't shy away from shining light in the dark corners. This is why “Moriarty” type characters are always so useful to introduce as "the final boss" in mystery novels, because it not only gives a face to systemic issues that are hard to conceptualize on our own, but also by having the main characters go against these powerful men, it offers us the opportunity imagine something better than the world given to us. Change takes time and work, and just by these kinds of books existing as they are now, they express exactly what it is that makes these types of stories so triumphant in the first place; they feature heroes that fight the power.
“Why didn’t you just keep your mouth shut?” How many times had someone said that to me? Smile. Say nothing. Go along. My mother had even given me a dainty embroidered pillow that read A woman is beautiful with her mouth closed in a smile (it made a truly excellent pincushion), and my oldest sister used to scold me constantly, not for talking back but for rushing in without a plan: “If you’re going to make a fool out of someone, at least be smart about it!”
Hi, this was really good, and that’s all there is to it, nothing left to say! Okay well, I feel like I at least owe a couple words dedicated to it. Nothing too crazy, but maybe a few paragraphs worth? Anyway, I know that with me, it’s always “this was so~oo good”-this and “That was so~oo great!”-that, but I promise that when I say this book was really good, I mean it was really good! This is especially noteworthy this time around because… I wasn’t so sure it would be. I tend to get caught in the routine of certain genres and I was worried that this book would be too much of a departure from what I’m comfortable with when it comes to mysteries. And in a way, I was right, because any story that has to do with missing people always has my stomach turning, but in the end I do think this was a good thing. It’s really important every now and then to be challenged by the literature you consume. Here's the thing, I’m usually not so sure about adding fantastical elements to mysteries because it’s a genre that operates on such a strict set of rules, and giving the characters a paranormal or magical edge could have easily felt like cheating or something. I was also afraid that the paranormal aspects would somehow unintentionally make light of the subject matter, so it was nice to see that not only did this book expertly navigate around the obvious pitfalls, but worked back around to being a sensitive and compelling piece of art. In fact, this was so expertly written, that I couldn’t even imagine this story done in any other way. And while the paranormal aspects veer on the outrageous side, I thought that both abilities of Henrietta being able to see ghosts and Declan being invulnerable to damage ended up giving the narrative an extra layer of emotional weight rather than detract from the message. You know how I’m always talking about how stories should be about something, that they should mean something? Yeah well, A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife has something to say, and I was more than happy to listen.
Otherwise, I like how “Fantasy Mystery” is, like, becoming this author’s thing, because it's fun to notice common motifs throughout an author’s catalogue! Like how all of Stephen King’s main characters are writers (write what you know, right), or how Adam Silvera always halts the narrative to air out old grievances about how he used to get picked on for playing as Zelda in Super Smash Bros. (Caring about that? Couldn’t be me), or the way John Green ends all of his books like someone writing an English 101 essay at 11:46 when it’s due at midnight; we’ve all got our own thing! Uh, I got a little sarcastic, but I started out with good intentions and I really do like how this author has found a specific niche. And if nothing else, I’m always here for any story about the dark underbelly of Hollywood. Without any of the flash and glamour, what is there? Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life. Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life. I mean, Since I’ve been waxing poetic about how “literature should mean something” and “art can be an important teacher” and blah blah blah for a minute now, I guess I should roll up my “essay writing” sleeves and actually talk about what the story is about. Try to talk to the text, as it were. Well, if I were to take a stab at it, I’d have to say that this is a book all about how fragile the male ego is. Hardly a groundbreaking topic, sure, but it’s never a message that’s lacking in its need to be told. Say it often, and say it loud. It’s especially effective in how it's told here because of the way that toxic masculinity is sprinkled around naturally throughout the book. For example, we see it in the way a handsome leading actors will constantly throw tantrums, yelling at those who can’t say anything back, or in nauseating plethora of situations where powerful men will prey on young women who are just trying to become actors and how they always retaliate against them if the women don’t “fall in line.” It’s harrowing how normalized it is, it's realistic and awful, and it's something that needed to said. And that’s it, this book doesn’t just examine male fragility on a personal level, one asshole here, another there, it also knows how important it is to explore exactly how embedded within the culture it really is. Sure, actors acting like manbabies, going on Christian Bale Terminator Salvation-esque rants is terrible, but it’s the environment that makes them feel safe enough to act out in these ways that's the core of the problem. It’s a systemic thing.
That's why I think this book works as a standalone, because with "one-and-done" mysteries, you’re able to tackle more intense story-lines without worrying about stretching the story out across several sequels. You can get as real as you need to, without having to adhere to classic mystery tropes. And while I'd say that this book still generally has a hopeful tone to it, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness that was challenging to shake, because the opposition just felt that inescapable. “How many opps you really got? I mean, it's too many options" and all that. More often than not, I found myself wondering how these two people could possibly topple the corruption of Hollywood when it’s so inborn, so accepted, and so encouraged in every facet of our society? This is a historical-fiction novel, but I'm using present tense because I there's a lot of shades of these issues permeating to modern Hollywood. Things change, but not fast enough. The problem seems larger than any one person can handle, but I think that that’s why this story was so powerful, so profound to me, because there’s always going to be people who will want to do the right thing. Declan may have been invulnerable, but it was Henrietta’s resolve to find justice and the missing girl’s spirit that ended up being the one unbreakable thing that could dismantle the insurmountable corruption at the end of the day. It's a great story, and I really enjoyed reading something that forced me to confront some hard truths and didn't shy away from shining light in the dark corners. This is why “Moriarty” type characters are always so useful to introduce as "the final boss" in mystery novels, because it not only gives a face to systemic issues that are hard to conceptualize on our own, but also by having the main characters go against these powerful men, it offers us the opportunity imagine something better than the world given to us. Change takes time and work, and just by these kinds of books existing as they are now, they express exactly what it is that makes these types of stories so triumphant in the first place; they feature heroes that fight the power.
“Why didn’t you just keep your mouth shut?” How many times had someone said that to me? Smile. Say nothing. Go along. My mother had even given me a dainty embroidered pillow that read A woman is beautiful with her mouth closed in a smile (it made a truly excellent pincushion), and my oldest sister used to scold me constantly, not for talking back but for rushing in without a plan: “If you’re going to make a fool out of someone, at least be smart about it!”
Read
February 20, 2024review to come 💌
but for now please enjoy the playlist i curated for hennydec
a starlet's secret
⋆ weird by lizzy mcalpine (with laura elliot)
⋆ pretty isn’t pretty by olivia rodrigo
⋆ mad woman by taylor swift
⋆ dancing with your ghost by sasha alex sloan
⋆ kiss her you fool by kids that fly
⋆ feel you now by the driver era
⋆ the man by taylor swift
⋆ star by bazzi
but for now please enjoy the playlist i curated for hennydec
a starlet's secret
⋆ weird by lizzy mcalpine (with laura elliot)
⋆ pretty isn’t pretty by olivia rodrigo
⋆ mad woman by taylor swift
⋆ dancing with your ghost by sasha alex sloan
⋆ kiss her you fool by kids that fly
⋆ feel you now by the driver era
⋆ the man by taylor swift
⋆ star by bazzi
May 25, 2023
Ya know what? I really enjoyed this! So much so that I’m now reading Murder for the Modern Girl! The story was a bit all over the place and they definitely felt older than 19, but it was compelling and definitely unique. The mystery wasn’t all that hard to figure out, but I had a good time nonetheless. The supernatural element was fun and added a lil something extra to the story!
As for the audiobook, oh my god Jesse Vilinsky is my absolute favorite YA narrator. Her emotion and character voices are so wonderful, especially the ever coveted GUY VOICE. Ugh so hot. I’m generally not a Teddy Hamilton fan, but I don’t mind his Andrew Eiden alter ego when he does YA. My biggest thing is that his feminine voice really ages the heroines down…which works for YA but not for adult. Overall, it was a strong audiobook and I thought both narrators POVs really meshed with each other. Jessie’s tone matches Eiden’s feminine one and vice versa.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
Thanks to PRHaudio for an ALC All opinions are honest and my own.
As for the audiobook, oh my god Jesse Vilinsky is my absolute favorite YA narrator. Her emotion and character voices are so wonderful, especially the ever coveted GUY VOICE. Ugh so hot. I’m generally not a Teddy Hamilton fan, but I don’t mind his Andrew Eiden alter ego when he does YA. My biggest thing is that his feminine voice really ages the heroines down…which works for YA but not for adult. Overall, it was a strong audiobook and I thought both narrators POVs really meshed with each other. Jessie’s tone matches Eiden’s feminine one and vice versa.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
Thanks to PRHaudio for an ALC All opinions are honest and my own.
August 10, 2023
This book is an old Hollywood paranormal mystery with faking dating. If I haven’t convinced you I don’t know what will.
September 24, 2023
Enjoyed this quirky book set in 1930s Hollywood with a vibrant heroine who confronts the sexism and exploitation of the industry that still exists today and a hero who shows sensitivity and appeal.
June 23, 2023
A murder mystery romance set against the backdrop of glamorous, but shady old Hollywood.
Soooo, it wasn't until after I borrowed the book did I realize that it's a spinoff of a book still on my To-Read list.
I blame Libby. But now I'm even more eager to read Murder for the Modern Girl.
There was definitely some Evie O'Neill from the Diviners vibes. Spunky, ambitious young girl with a heart of gold.
There's something about this time period that's just so delicious to read. The glitz and the glamour are so alluring.
But not all that glitters is gold in Tinseltown, and when girls start going missing, it's up to Henny and Declan to save the day.
The integration of ghosts and unbreakable men at first glance seems like this book may have too many things going on, what with Henny's dreams of stardom and Declan's hunt for his mother, but it all blends so well.
I'm not a big romantic comedy person, nor do I care for the heavily touted "fake dating" or "enemies to lovers" tropes, however, even though it was kind of all those things, I truly enjoyed every second of it.
My whole life nothing had really touched me, nothing got underneath the surface of my impenetrable skin. Yet here was Henny, slipping in so easily, leaving her fingerprints all over me. She could shatter me, this girl, this starlet. But I didn't care. I'd been the incredible, unbreakable boy long enough. I'd never understood how much strength you needed to be fragile.
I also appreciate that the author kept this story sweet and not trashy.
I had so much fun reading this book and hope that Kendall Kulper continues this wonderfully specific genre of supernatural vintage romantic mystery.
*CW level language.
Favorite Quotes:
He took off his glasses and cleaned them, meticulously on his handkerchief; his tell for when one of his daughters was worrying him. Poor Papa. He'd had spotless glasses for a decade now.
The truth could be so painful, but it was solid. Something to build on, push off from.
Typical Henny. Putting every one of my eggs into such a precarious basket.
Soooo, it wasn't until after I borrowed the book did I realize that it's a spinoff of a book still on my To-Read list.
I blame Libby. But now I'm even more eager to read Murder for the Modern Girl.
There was definitely some Evie O'Neill from the Diviners vibes. Spunky, ambitious young girl with a heart of gold.
There's something about this time period that's just so delicious to read. The glitz and the glamour are so alluring.
But not all that glitters is gold in Tinseltown, and when girls start going missing, it's up to Henny and Declan to save the day.
The integration of ghosts and unbreakable men at first glance seems like this book may have too many things going on, what with Henny's dreams of stardom and Declan's hunt for his mother, but it all blends so well.
I'm not a big romantic comedy person, nor do I care for the heavily touted "fake dating" or "enemies to lovers" tropes, however, even though it was kind of all those things, I truly enjoyed every second of it.
My whole life nothing had really touched me, nothing got underneath the surface of my impenetrable skin. Yet here was Henny, slipping in so easily, leaving her fingerprints all over me. She could shatter me, this girl, this starlet. But I didn't care. I'd been the incredible, unbreakable boy long enough. I'd never understood how much strength you needed to be fragile.
I also appreciate that the author kept this story sweet and not trashy.
I had so much fun reading this book and hope that Kendall Kulper continues this wonderfully specific genre of supernatural vintage romantic mystery.
*CW level language.
Favorite Quotes:
He took off his glasses and cleaned them, meticulously on his handkerchief; his tell for when one of his daughters was worrying him. Poor Papa. He'd had spotless glasses for a decade now.
The truth could be so painful, but it was solid. Something to build on, push off from.
Typical Henny. Putting every one of my eggs into such a precarious basket.
March 28, 2025
2⭐️
Too many dumb decisions were made. Horrible side characters. And it took 63% of the book to get to heart of the mystery (the whole point why I chose to read this book). 🙄🙄🙄.
But…
💕Henrietta Newhouse and Declan Collins were sssooo cute together. 💕
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Holy. Moly. This marks my 9th book and final book for this month. How?!?! When?!?! Where?!?! Why?!?! What?!?! I honestly don’t know. 🤭🤭🤭.
Too many dumb decisions were made. Horrible side characters. And it took 63% of the book to get to heart of the mystery (the whole point why I chose to read this book). 🙄🙄🙄.
But…
💕Henrietta Newhouse and Declan Collins were sssooo cute together. 💕
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Holy. Moly. This marks my 9th book and final book for this month. How?!?! When?!?! Where?!?! Why?!?! What?!?! I honestly don’t know. 🤭🤭🤭.
Want to Read
January 12, 2023SO MUCH EVIE O'NEILL ENERGY IN THIS COVER!!!! I love it!!!
September 14, 2023
First things first. I LOVE the cover. It captures the period and vibe of the story perfectly.
Now for the review:
Henrietta like many young women her age in the 1930's is enamored with becoming a movie star. Willing to do whatever it takes (or so she thinks) she sets off for Hollywood where she discovers the seedier, darker side of the industry that is not only rife with corruption but heavily sexist. For many young women with dreams on the red carpet it means being subjected to physical & sexual abuse from male costars, directors, etc... As she attempts to maneuver her way around the industry she finds herself embroiled in the murder of a friend. From the other side of the tracks is Declan, a young man left haunted by the disappearance of his mother. He earns a living as an unwilling stuntman alongside his friend/adoptive brother Pep. He is determined to find his way into the industry and (finally) find the answers to what happened to his mother all those years ago. While Henny and Declan quickly find themselves playing the part of a young gorgeous couple very much in love they (more importantly) find themselves entangled not only in an industry full of coverups but one that will do anything to keep them a secret.
--> Possible SPOILERS Ahead<---
I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. Would I buy it? No. Would I read it again in the future? Possibly. With everything that I've expressed in this review and with the rating I've given, I would still recommend you at least give it a shot and read a few chapters. If there is one thing I have learned is that some books can start slow but then really take off. If you just give it a few pages you are depriving yourself of what may be a good book.
Now for the review:
Henrietta like many young women her age in the 1930's is enamored with becoming a movie star. Willing to do whatever it takes (or so she thinks) she sets off for Hollywood where she discovers the seedier, darker side of the industry that is not only rife with corruption but heavily sexist. For many young women with dreams on the red carpet it means being subjected to physical & sexual abuse from male costars, directors, etc... As she attempts to maneuver her way around the industry she finds herself embroiled in the murder of a friend. From the other side of the tracks is Declan, a young man left haunted by the disappearance of his mother. He earns a living as an unwilling stuntman alongside his friend/adoptive brother Pep. He is determined to find his way into the industry and (finally) find the answers to what happened to his mother all those years ago. While Henny and Declan quickly find themselves playing the part of a young gorgeous couple very much in love they (more importantly) find themselves entangled not only in an industry full of coverups but one that will do anything to keep them a secret.
--> Possible SPOILERS Ahead<---
I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. Would I buy it? No. Would I read it again in the future? Possibly. With everything that I've expressed in this review and with the rating I've given, I would still recommend you at least give it a shot and read a few chapters. If there is one thing I have learned is that some books can start slow but then really take off. If you just give it a few pages you are depriving yourself of what may be a good book.
March 12, 2024
My biggest hang-up was the inconsistency with Henrietta’s psychic abilities. At first the ghosts would just appear, then they appeared as they had died, then they could talk with her, then they changed their appearance, then she could summon them, then Decklyn could see them, then they could control her??? I know it’s small, but the inconsistencies bothered me.
Everything also just worked itself out so conveniently it felt unrealistic. I know it’s fiction, but I think even in fiction the conflict should feel like it matters. Everything was solved so easily.
Everything also just worked itself out so conveniently it felt unrealistic. I know it’s fiction, but I think even in fiction the conflict should feel like it matters. Everything was solved so easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2023
(4.5 stars) This was such a pleasant surprise! This has the perfect combination of mystery, the supernatural, 1930s Hollywood, and romance. The narrative does an amazing job of striking the balance between hard subject matter (the abuse of young girls in Hollywood) and hopeful tone. It never felt trite or like it wasn't giving the difficult realities due weight, but it also never felt overwhelmingly depressing.
I really enjoyed both of the main characters. Henrietta is determined, skilled, and not timid about facing misogynistic men, which is something I often encounter in historicals. She was good at what she did and didn't let people walk over her. Declan was the perfect complement to her, not jealous of her success or a rich boy who could solve all of her problems. They really were such a fun and refreshing couple!
I can definitely see this opening up possibilities for a sequel, but it also felt like it had a satisfactory, but not cheesy conclusion.
This is definitely worth picking up and I hope it gets more hype!
I really enjoyed both of the main characters. Henrietta is determined, skilled, and not timid about facing misogynistic men, which is something I often encounter in historicals. She was good at what she did and didn't let people walk over her. Declan was the perfect complement to her, not jealous of her success or a rich boy who could solve all of her problems. They really were such a fun and refreshing couple!
I can definitely see this opening up possibilities for a sequel, but it also felt like it had a satisfactory, but not cheesy conclusion.
This is definitely worth picking up and I hope it gets more hype!
August 3, 2023
An unplanned library find that turned into a decent read. I actually like both of our main characters and their abilities. It was nice that we didn’t get or need any long back stories as to why Henrietta and Declan were the way that they were. Sometimes, just because, is okay. It can be a bit wordy at times and the author did take a few creative liberties, in my opinion, as the book went on. Their were a few chapters closer to the end that made me go “hmm”. This was good enough though that I’m interested in reading more from Kendall Kuloer.
January 18, 2026
This book follows two teenagers making a name for themselves in Hollywood in 1934. One dreaming of her name in the marquees, one wishing to just move back home, both hiding secrets about themselves from the world, and through the majority of the book, each other.
The plot of this book was very intriguing, young starlets in Hollywood going missing, or whose deaths seemed maybe a bit suspicious, and the two protagonists find themselves at the centre of it all, trying to figure out what was really happening to these women, before it happened to our heroine as well.
Although I did enjoy the plot, I did have a couple of criticisms about the book. There were a couple of things that were never really explained, why the two protagonists could do what they did. The answer, the classic, they don’t know either, so we as a reader will never know.
The characters were supposed to be 18 (FMC) and 19 (MMC), but in all honesty these characters did not read as teenagers to me. I often found Myself forgetting that they weren’t in their mid-late twenties. Their age would be mentioned in passing, and I would have a, oh right, they’re just teenagers moment.
My only other criticism of the book was the beginning felt a little slow and drawn out. Not in a slow burn, yearning sort of way, but more in a just dilly-dallying about sort of way.
Although I was still left with some questions at the end, I would say that overall, this was an enjoyable read.
The plot of this book was very intriguing, young starlets in Hollywood going missing, or whose deaths seemed maybe a bit suspicious, and the two protagonists find themselves at the centre of it all, trying to figure out what was really happening to these women, before it happened to our heroine as well.
Although I did enjoy the plot, I did have a couple of criticisms about the book. There were a couple of things that were never really explained, why the two protagonists could do what they did. The answer, the classic, they don’t know either, so we as a reader will never know.
The characters were supposed to be 18 (FMC) and 19 (MMC), but in all honesty these characters did not read as teenagers to me. I often found Myself forgetting that they weren’t in their mid-late twenties. Their age would be mentioned in passing, and I would have a, oh right, they’re just teenagers moment.
My only other criticism of the book was the beginning felt a little slow and drawn out. Not in a slow burn, yearning sort of way, but more in a just dilly-dallying about sort of way.
Although I was still left with some questions at the end, I would say that overall, this was an enjoyable read.
April 25, 2024
I really wanted to give this a four stars but I literally have no reason to. It was such a page turner and fun read.
I went into this book not thinking anything of it, just crossing out a book from my tbr list and I was shockingly reeled in.
This was such an enjoyable book that kept me on my toes and had me screaming at the pages to the characters.
If you need convincing to read; fake dating, mystery, supernatural(?), enemies to lovers, golden age Hollywood !
I went into this book not thinking anything of it, just crossing out a book from my tbr list and I was shockingly reeled in.
This was such an enjoyable book that kept me on my toes and had me screaming at the pages to the characters.
If you need convincing to read; fake dating, mystery, supernatural(?), enemies to lovers, golden age Hollywood !
Read
January 9, 2025"suicide according to the studio, but pretty unusual for someone to kill himself with five bullets."
57:08 sam
that was hella cute and creative. i love the use of the supernatural powers in the plot and character lives. like, declan especially being a stuntman with his is so random and awesome. henreitta gave major evie o'neill vibes and we know i love her. solid hollywood feminist mystery.
january 8, 2025
57:08 sam
that was hella cute and creative. i love the use of the supernatural powers in the plot and character lives. like, declan especially being a stuntman with his is so random and awesome. henreitta gave major evie o'neill vibes and we know i love her. solid hollywood feminist mystery.
january 8, 2025
September 7, 2025
4.5/5
Old Hollywood meets Fantasy Mystery: I really, really liked this story and will be thinking about its vibe and the characters for a long time. This is the vibe I was looking for when I read "Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen" in 2024 (which wasn't a fave). So glad I finally read this novel (that would make a great movie btw). Loved that some scenes & characters reminded me of Anastasia (1997) and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Old Hollywood meets Fantasy Mystery: I really, really liked this story and will be thinking about its vibe and the characters for a long time. This is the vibe I was looking for when I read "Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen" in 2024 (which wasn't a fave). So glad I finally read this novel (that would make a great movie btw). Loved that some scenes & characters reminded me of Anastasia (1997) and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
August 13, 2025
Very good. Just connected the dots and realized that big sister Ruby stared in Murder for the Modern Girl, a five star book.
Excited for Genevieve's story next!
Excited for Genevieve's story next!
August 1, 2026
To be honest, i didn’t like a modern girls guide to murder a lot. But when i saw this book, i was like “okay, sounds interesting” and decided to give it a try. I am happy i did. I liked it with its fun main characters and their quirks even if i know they mostly got very lucky in situations.
Henrietta was my favorite. I loved that her nickname was “Henny” and that her friends and family called her that. I love her bravery in standing up for people but also her naivety at times. She felt very real and her motivation for being a movie star was amazing.
The second best characters were the ghosts with their “oh you aren’t paying attention to me” even when they know no one can see them.
The whole premise of this book was cool and the focus on showgirls in hollywood and how hard it can be was eye opening.
It gives Life of a Showgirl vibes hardcore.
Henrietta was my favorite. I loved that her nickname was “Henny” and that her friends and family called her that. I love her bravery in standing up for people but also her naivety at times. She felt very real and her motivation for being a movie star was amazing.
The second best characters were the ghosts with their “oh you aren’t paying attention to me” even when they know no one can see them.
The whole premise of this book was cool and the focus on showgirls in hollywood and how hard it can be was eye opening.
It gives Life of a Showgirl vibes hardcore.
October 18, 2023
A fast-paced, engaging story that is a lot more than the first 25 pages or so suggest. It's about Hollywood, misogyny, ghosts, invincibility, fixers, and justice without feeling too cramped or crazed. One of the best bedtime books of the year.
March 29, 2025
Any character who can see ghosts has my full attention.
January 28, 2025
A murder mystery romance, set in 1930s old Hollywood. It read like a historical fiction, but there were some delightful surprises of supernatural elements. Targeted audience feels like it's geared toward YA, but definitely some new adult themes as the protagonist female makes way to fight sexism and exploitation of women in Hollywood (which obviously still exists today). Overall, a fun, quick read.
June 29, 2026
The cover art was better than the book
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August 24, 2023The audiobook was not listed on GR, but that's what I "read." A great story of old Hollywood with a supernatural twist. The narrators did a great job—it was almost like a radio play.
January 27, 2025
Oof, was this a long read.
I’ve wanted to read this story for a while, after I first spotted the cover at my local library. I was excited to read about one of my favorite eras, 1930s Hollywood, and the author did an incredible job of capturing studio backlots of the day. She did her homework on the studio system, the silent era, and even the film industry before it became more of a factory/machine. The fictional Silver Wing Studios was a solid combination of multiple studios of the time period, specifically the Tiffany studio, MGM, along with the studio head and “enforcers.” All true. A lot of the behind the scenes drama is what draws me to this time period, and in that sense, this story is believable.
I don’t know how well this time period would resonate with anyone not familiar with it. I could picture it easily, but I’ve been vacuuming up Old Hollywood content since the early 2000s. Definitely a niche book, but that doesn’t make it bad.
I did like the supernatural elements of both Henny and Declan’s characters, they complimented each other well. We never get much of an explanation of why she can see dead actresses and he’s a walking Superman, but they both take their abilities—hers newly discovered, his he’s known about since childhood—and use them for the greater good. The dialogue didn’t read very authentic in parts, and their ages, 18-19, didn’t feel believable. They read older to me. Henny didn’t feel much like a girl right out of high school. She’d also flip flop, personality wise, and she was difficult to predict. Declan was more fleshed out.
Something about this was missing. I can’t put my finger on what. The story itself was too long, even though everything was wrapped up relatively well with a bow. The alternating chapters between Henny and Declan were fine. I don’t know what else I wanted, but it left me feeling like it could’ve been so much better.
I’ve wanted to read this story for a while, after I first spotted the cover at my local library. I was excited to read about one of my favorite eras, 1930s Hollywood, and the author did an incredible job of capturing studio backlots of the day. She did her homework on the studio system, the silent era, and even the film industry before it became more of a factory/machine. The fictional Silver Wing Studios was a solid combination of multiple studios of the time period, specifically the Tiffany studio, MGM, along with the studio head and “enforcers.” All true. A lot of the behind the scenes drama is what draws me to this time period, and in that sense, this story is believable.
I don’t know how well this time period would resonate with anyone not familiar with it. I could picture it easily, but I’ve been vacuuming up Old Hollywood content since the early 2000s. Definitely a niche book, but that doesn’t make it bad.
I did like the supernatural elements of both Henny and Declan’s characters, they complimented each other well. We never get much of an explanation of why she can see dead actresses and he’s a walking Superman, but they both take their abilities—hers newly discovered, his he’s known about since childhood—and use them for the greater good. The dialogue didn’t read very authentic in parts, and their ages, 18-19, didn’t feel believable. They read older to me. Henny didn’t feel much like a girl right out of high school. She’d also flip flop, personality wise, and she was difficult to predict. Declan was more fleshed out.
Something about this was missing. I can’t put my finger on what. The story itself was too long, even though everything was wrapped up relatively well with a bow. The alternating chapters between Henny and Declan were fine. I don’t know what else I wanted, but it left me feeling like it could’ve been so much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2023
This book was SO GOOD!!! I loved Murder for the Modern Girl so I’ve been anxiously anticipating getting my hands on this one since it was announced that Henny was getting her own story and wow, it did not disappoint! I actually loved this one even more than Modern Girl! I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope so I obviously loved that aspect. The pining and yearning while thinking the other one is just faking everything just hits every time and this one was no different! Also it being set in old Hollywood? So freaking good!! I also just absolutely adored both Henny & Declan so being in their heads was just so wonderful!
Kendall has this way of writing stories with magical elements like seeing ghosts or being indestructible or reading minds, etc and weaving them into a historical romance that makes them feel so real and completely believable. And her characters are so well developed and just really feel like real people that you’re given the opportunity to get to know through their own words. And on top of that the romance is so well written and I think she does that by making the characters whole people on their own and allowing them to come together and have a love that’s undeniable!
I’ll probably write more later but for now I’m just really grateful to Holiday House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review! 💖
Kendall has this way of writing stories with magical elements like seeing ghosts or being indestructible or reading minds, etc and weaving them into a historical romance that makes them feel so real and completely believable. And her characters are so well developed and just really feel like real people that you’re given the opportunity to get to know through their own words. And on top of that the romance is so well written and I think she does that by making the characters whole people on their own and allowing them to come together and have a love that’s undeniable!
I’ll probably write more later but for now I’m just really grateful to Holiday House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review! 💖
July 21, 2023
This was a lot of fun, while still being very serious at times. We follow Henny, little sister to Ruby from Murder for the Modern Girl, as she ends up in 1930s LA to become a starlet. She is definitely more lively than Ruby, but no less determined. I liked watching her work her way around the film studio. We also follow Declan, a stunt man who after a mishap is hired by the studio to play boyfriend to Henny. I think the intrigue and machinations surrounding the film industry at the time were interesting to learn about through the eyes of young people trying to make their way and running into corruption at every turn. This is a companion book to Murder for the Modern Girl and doesn't necessarily need to be read in a certain order. We don't really end up spoiled for what happened in MftMG. If you like a paranormal mystery with a historical setting, I think you should give this book a shot! I think I liked MftMG just a little bit more, but I really enjoyed this one as well. I hope we get a book for Genevieve!
December 27, 2023
This is maybe a 2.5, because there were times when this could really pack a punch emotionally.
The problem I had with this book was it moved along so slowly for me. And it spent way too much time on the "enemies" in the enemies-to-lovers romance. At the beginning, the characters were just annoying, with Henrietta seeming like a brat and Declan seeming like he wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.
The last 25% or so of this book was the best, where the plot picks up and Henrietta and Declan are falling for each other. (Though sometimes it's hard to believe they could be falling for each other when they despised each other before.)
I think where the book is best is the historical setting and when it shines a spotlight on how girls can be mistreated and then their reputations tarnished, ending up being thrown away like garbage. It is unfortunate that this part was based on true historical events.
A mixed bag, but it is different from other books and that makes it stand out in a good way.
The problem I had with this book was it moved along so slowly for me. And it spent way too much time on the "enemies" in the enemies-to-lovers romance. At the beginning, the characters were just annoying, with Henrietta seeming like a brat and Declan seeming like he wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.
The last 25% or so of this book was the best, where the plot picks up and Henrietta and Declan are falling for each other. (Though sometimes it's hard to believe they could be falling for each other when they despised each other before.)
I think where the book is best is the historical setting and when it shines a spotlight on how girls can be mistreated and then their reputations tarnished, ending up being thrown away like garbage. It is unfortunate that this part was based on true historical events.
A mixed bag, but it is different from other books and that makes it stand out in a good way.
July 28, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A Glamorous, Ghostly Mystery with Tons of Heart
A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife is a delightfully unique blend of historical fiction, old Hollywood glamour, and supernatural mystery. Kendall Kulper does a fantastic job building the atmospheric, glittering, yet slightly gritty world of 1930s Chicago. Henrietta’s voice is sharp and engaging, and the central mystery keeps you turning pages.
The only reason it doesn’t quite hit a full 4 or 5 stars is that the pacing slows down a bit in the middle, and a few of the secondary characters felt like they needed just a touch more development to really make their relationships hit home.
That said, it’s a fun, atmospheric story about ambition, secrets, and what we leave behind.
A Glamorous, Ghostly Mystery with Tons of Heart
A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife is a delightfully unique blend of historical fiction, old Hollywood glamour, and supernatural mystery. Kendall Kulper does a fantastic job building the atmospheric, glittering, yet slightly gritty world of 1930s Chicago. Henrietta’s voice is sharp and engaging, and the central mystery keeps you turning pages.
The only reason it doesn’t quite hit a full 4 or 5 stars is that the pacing slows down a bit in the middle, and a few of the secondary characters felt like they needed just a touch more development to really make their relationships hit home.
That said, it’s a fun, atmospheric story about ambition, secrets, and what we leave behind.
February 11, 2023
I finished this delight today, and I’m so glad it gave me a chance to switch things up. A STARLET’S SECRET TO A SENSATIONAL AFTERLIFE, by Kendall Kulper, is not necessarily something I would have grabbed at this point in my reading life, but I’m so lucky an advance copy got sent to me and the blurb pulled me in. The post-Great Depression setting and plucky main character reminded me of THE DIVINERS, but where that series is so deeply complex, this book gives you a straightforward paranormal adventure with a hearty helping of feminism, romance, and some representation of marginalized groups. I rarely read advance copies I don’t request, but this was a wonderful surprise and super enjoyable.
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