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The Fiction Writer
The Fiction Writer follows a writer hired by a handsome billionaire to write about his family history with Daphne du Maurier and finds herself drawn into a tangled web of obsession, marital secrets, and stolen manuscripts.
The once-rising literary star Olivia Fitzgerald is down on her luck. Her most recent novel—a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca—was a flop, her boyfriend of nine years just dumped her and she’s battling a bad case of writer’s block. So when her agent calls her with a high-paying ghostwriting opportunity, Olivia is all too willing to sign the NDA.
At first, the write-for-hire job seems too good to be true. All she has to do is interview Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a reclusive mega billionaire, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, who wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. But when Olivia arrives at his Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. The more Olivia digs into his grandmother’s past, the more questions she has—and before she knows it, she’s trapped in a gothic mystery of her own.
With as many twists and turns as the California coast, The Fiction Writer is a thriller that explores the boundaries of creative freedom and whose stories we have the right to tell.
The once-rising literary star Olivia Fitzgerald is down on her luck. Her most recent novel—a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca—was a flop, her boyfriend of nine years just dumped her and she’s battling a bad case of writer’s block. So when her agent calls her with a high-paying ghostwriting opportunity, Olivia is all too willing to sign the NDA.
At first, the write-for-hire job seems too good to be true. All she has to do is interview Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a reclusive mega billionaire, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, who wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. But when Olivia arrives at his Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. The more Olivia digs into his grandmother’s past, the more questions she has—and before she knows it, she’s trapped in a gothic mystery of her own.
With as many twists and turns as the California coast, The Fiction Writer is a thriller that explores the boundaries of creative freedom and whose stories we have the right to tell.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2023
184 people are currently reading
18313 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Cantor
15 books1,572 followersJillian Cantor is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of fifteen novels for teens and adults, which have been chosen for LibraryReads, Indie Next, Amazon Best of the Month, and have been translated into 15 languages. Born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, Cantor currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 732 reviews
January 2, 2024
The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor is a Contemporary Retelling of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca!
Have you ever finished a book you thought you enjoyed but can't think of a single reason why you liked it?
I've previously read and reviewed two books by Jillian Cantor In Another Time and Half Life and loved both. I didn't love this one, but the funny thing is I can't stop thinking about it.
The main character, Olivia Fitzgerald frustrates the heck out of me. Is she stupid or maybe just desperate? After a bad break up, a failed second novel, and debilitating writer's block, she is definitely desperate enough to accept a ghostwriting job for an easy $50K. Who wouldn't accept an offer like that?
The client is Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a billionaire and 'People's Sexiest Man Alive' winner twice over. When Olivia goes to L.A. to meet and interview him, it turns into a wine and dine experience between the two of them at Ash's Malibu estate overlooking the beautiful Pacific.
Ash tells Olivia he loves her book Becky, a modern retelling of Rebecca written from the perspective of the first Mrs. de Winter's ghost. Based on this, her failed second novel, he views Olivia as the Rebecca expert he's been looking for to ghostwrite his book. Really?
The Fiction Writer only gets more convoluted from there...
I remember Jillian Cantor's writing style to be descriptive, expressive, and imaginative and that's not what I found here. This story is trying too hard to be a retelling to the extent of feeling awkward and uncomfortable to read. It stems from over-the-top characterizations of both Olivia and Ash, as neither character is likable nor believable as portrayed.
The Fiction Writer, as I stated earlier, is one I keep thinking about, however, I've discovered my thoughts are less about liking it and more about not finding what I expected from this author. I was looking for the Jillian Cantor I remember from past reads when her writing style and storytelling was original, unique, and entertaining.
My final take away is The Fiction Writer is only okay.
3⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing-Park Row, and Jillian Cantor for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Have you ever finished a book you thought you enjoyed but can't think of a single reason why you liked it?
I've previously read and reviewed two books by Jillian Cantor In Another Time and Half Life and loved both. I didn't love this one, but the funny thing is I can't stop thinking about it.
The main character, Olivia Fitzgerald frustrates the heck out of me. Is she stupid or maybe just desperate? After a bad break up, a failed second novel, and debilitating writer's block, she is definitely desperate enough to accept a ghostwriting job for an easy $50K. Who wouldn't accept an offer like that?
The client is Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a billionaire and 'People's Sexiest Man Alive' winner twice over. When Olivia goes to L.A. to meet and interview him, it turns into a wine and dine experience between the two of them at Ash's Malibu estate overlooking the beautiful Pacific.
Ash tells Olivia he loves her book Becky, a modern retelling of Rebecca written from the perspective of the first Mrs. de Winter's ghost. Based on this, her failed second novel, he views Olivia as the Rebecca expert he's been looking for to ghostwrite his book. Really?
The Fiction Writer only gets more convoluted from there...
I remember Jillian Cantor's writing style to be descriptive, expressive, and imaginative and that's not what I found here. This story is trying too hard to be a retelling to the extent of feeling awkward and uncomfortable to read. It stems from over-the-top characterizations of both Olivia and Ash, as neither character is likable nor believable as portrayed.
The Fiction Writer, as I stated earlier, is one I keep thinking about, however, I've discovered my thoughts are less about liking it and more about not finding what I expected from this author. I was looking for the Jillian Cantor I remember from past reads when her writing style and storytelling was original, unique, and entertaining.
My final take away is The Fiction Writer is only okay.
3⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing-Park Row, and Jillian Cantor for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
May 31, 2024
In a Nutshell: A retelling of ‘Rebecca’ without being an outright retelling of ‘Rebecca’. Offers an interesting ode to the original, but falls flat because of various reasons. Doesn’t live up to the potential.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
😍 The first sentence made me grin widely: “Last night, I dreamt I went to Malibu again.” The perfect way to connect the plot to Rebecca while still showing the shallowness of the people in this story! 😆
😍 There are some interlude chapters from the perspective of “the wife.” I found these interesting, as they offered a much-needed backstory for a character while still leaving us guessing about her identity. This “wife” is unnamed, just how the second wife from du Maurier’s book was.
😍 The Daphne du Maurier trivia, quite a few of which took me by surprise. I never knew there were actually cases of plagiarism against du Maurier! The research on the classic author’s life and career is excellent.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 As an ode to ‘Rebecca’, this book intends well. In fact, as one character in the novel says, the connection to ‘Rebecca’ is quite meta. There is the original ‘Rebecca’, which Olivia is a huge fan of. Then there’s Olivia’s second novel ‘Becky’, which is a retelling of the classic from Rebecca’s own point of view. There is Henry’s claim that his grandmother’s journal contains her own experience, which is eerily similar to that of ‘Rebecca’. And finally, there’s the current situation of Olivia at a rich widower's house and having a crush on him when his wife had passed away under suspicious circumstances just a year before – à la ‘Rebecca’! It is a surreal experience to keep track of all the Rebecca-style arcs going on, but a part of me feels it went too far, making the plot generate feelings of déjà vu.
😐 The story stands on its own even while sinking under the burden of so many Rebecca-esque situations, with enough of novelty and twisty turns throughout. However, a few of the twists are so outrageous that I can’t understand whether to marvel at them or roll my eyes.
Bookish Nays:
🙄 Olivia is shallow, selfish, shortsighted, and stupid. Sorry. No way I can soften that blow! I don’t mind unlikeable characters as they add depth to a narrative. But unlikability is one thing; poor sketching is another. Olivia is easily among the worst-crafted main characters of recent years.
🙄 The other characters aren’t much better. Almost all of them have only one role to play, and even that role isn’t well-defined.
🙄 The repetitiveness, not just because of the multitude of ‘Rebecca’ situations, but also because of Olivia’s first person rambling that often goes on and on about the same topics. The middle section is especially boring as it keep running around the same circle.
🙄 The pace is quite slow, even frustrating at times. This, combined with the repetition, made the completion of the book feel like a huge achievement.
🙄 The miscommunication, which begins as interesting, but soon becomes farfetched and annoying.
🙄 Too much drinking. I am gong to mention over-consumption of alcohol as a negative now onwards. I am fed up of characters who subsist on alcohol and enhance their stupidity.
🙄 There is so much talk of attraction and anatomical features! (We hear eighteen times that Henry is People’s Sexiest Man Alive – Sheesh!) I can't stand characters who are so blinded by lust that all their brain power is focused only on the signals sent by their loins.
🙄 I am not a die-hard fan of the original classic, though I did like it quite a lot. This novel will be experienced differently (though not necessarily in a welcoming way) by du Maurier fans who might be looking to replicate the same high. But IMHO, Olivia is no match for Rebecca’s first-person narrator, the unnamed second Mrs. de Winters. The same applies for the duplicate versions of Maxim de Winters and Mrs. Danvers, who just don’t work as well in this book.
🙄 The ending redeemed my experience to a minor extent by not going where I was afraid it would. That said, it was still illogical. The epilogue was too rushed. More like a summation of the next year in the characters’ lives than a genuine epilogue.
All in all, I do appreciate the ambitious attempt of creating a layer-upon-layer version of Rebecca. Though convoluted, the novel does bring the tracks together somewhat neatly by the end. But the dumb and/or insipid characters, the overload of thoughts and actions connected to physical desirability, and the repetitive writing do not turn the potential promise into that memorable a reading experience.
This is my first Jillian Cantor work, and from all accounts, this seems to be her least acclaimed one. I hope my next tryst with her writing works out better.
Just in case you want to attempt this, it is better if you have already read the original classic. Else, you might not get many of the Easter eggs, and also find plenty of spoilers for the Daphne du Maurier book, which is a shame as the classic needs to be read by going in blind. I thanked my lucky stars that I had read ‘Rebecca’ earlier this year. Else, I would have been annoyed at all the spoilers.
2.25 stars.
My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Fiction Writer”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
PSA: I have no idea why this has been tagged as a ‘thriller’ on Goodreads. The publisher has marked it on NetGalley as ‘General Fiction’, which is a fairly accurate indicator of its genre. If I had expected a thriller,I would have been even more disappointed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Once-acclaimed author Olivia has been struggling with her third manuscript, ever since her second novel tanked. So when she gets a call from her agent about a ghostwriting job commissioned by a billionaire, Olivia is eager to sign the NDA and grab some much-needed moolah.
The “write-for-hire” task seems quite easy to begin with. Henry Asherwood, a “People’s Sexiest Man Alive” twice-winner and the scion of a wealthy business family, wants Olivia to read his grandmother’s journals, which apparently contain a shocking secret connecting her and Daphne du Maurier. But the more Olivia digs into the past, the more roadblocks she comes across. Soon, she finds herself living her own version of ‘Rebecca.’
The story comes to us *mostly* in Olivia’s first-person point of view.
Bookish Yays:
😍 The first sentence made me grin widely: “Last night, I dreamt I went to Malibu again.” The perfect way to connect the plot to Rebecca while still showing the shallowness of the people in this story! 😆
😍 There are some interlude chapters from the perspective of “the wife.” I found these interesting, as they offered a much-needed backstory for a character while still leaving us guessing about her identity. This “wife” is unnamed, just how the second wife from du Maurier’s book was.
😍 The Daphne du Maurier trivia, quite a few of which took me by surprise. I never knew there were actually cases of plagiarism against du Maurier! The research on the classic author’s life and career is excellent.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 As an ode to ‘Rebecca’, this book intends well. In fact, as one character in the novel says, the connection to ‘Rebecca’ is quite meta. There is the original ‘Rebecca’, which Olivia is a huge fan of. Then there’s Olivia’s second novel ‘Becky’, which is a retelling of the classic from Rebecca’s own point of view. There is Henry’s claim that his grandmother’s journal contains her own experience, which is eerily similar to that of ‘Rebecca’. And finally, there’s the current situation of Olivia at a rich widower's house and having a crush on him when his wife had passed away under suspicious circumstances just a year before – à la ‘Rebecca’! It is a surreal experience to keep track of all the Rebecca-style arcs going on, but a part of me feels it went too far, making the plot generate feelings of déjà vu.
😐 The story stands on its own even while sinking under the burden of so many Rebecca-esque situations, with enough of novelty and twisty turns throughout. However, a few of the twists are so outrageous that I can’t understand whether to marvel at them or roll my eyes.
Bookish Nays:
🙄 Olivia is shallow, selfish, shortsighted, and stupid. Sorry. No way I can soften that blow! I don’t mind unlikeable characters as they add depth to a narrative. But unlikability is one thing; poor sketching is another. Olivia is easily among the worst-crafted main characters of recent years.
🙄 The other characters aren’t much better. Almost all of them have only one role to play, and even that role isn’t well-defined.
🙄 The repetitiveness, not just because of the multitude of ‘Rebecca’ situations, but also because of Olivia’s first person rambling that often goes on and on about the same topics. The middle section is especially boring as it keep running around the same circle.
🙄 The pace is quite slow, even frustrating at times. This, combined with the repetition, made the completion of the book feel like a huge achievement.
🙄 The miscommunication, which begins as interesting, but soon becomes farfetched and annoying.
🙄 Too much drinking. I am gong to mention over-consumption of alcohol as a negative now onwards. I am fed up of characters who subsist on alcohol and enhance their stupidity.
🙄 There is so much talk of attraction and anatomical features! (We hear eighteen times that Henry is People’s Sexiest Man Alive – Sheesh!) I can't stand characters who are so blinded by lust that all their brain power is focused only on the signals sent by their loins.
🙄 I am not a die-hard fan of the original classic, though I did like it quite a lot. This novel will be experienced differently (though not necessarily in a welcoming way) by du Maurier fans who might be looking to replicate the same high. But IMHO, Olivia is no match for Rebecca’s first-person narrator, the unnamed second Mrs. de Winters. The same applies for the duplicate versions of Maxim de Winters and Mrs. Danvers, who just don’t work as well in this book.
🙄 The ending redeemed my experience to a minor extent by not going where I was afraid it would. That said, it was still illogical. The epilogue was too rushed. More like a summation of the next year in the characters’ lives than a genuine epilogue.
All in all, I do appreciate the ambitious attempt of creating a layer-upon-layer version of Rebecca. Though convoluted, the novel does bring the tracks together somewhat neatly by the end. But the dumb and/or insipid characters, the overload of thoughts and actions connected to physical desirability, and the repetitive writing do not turn the potential promise into that memorable a reading experience.
This is my first Jillian Cantor work, and from all accounts, this seems to be her least acclaimed one. I hope my next tryst with her writing works out better.
Just in case you want to attempt this, it is better if you have already read the original classic. Else, you might not get many of the Easter eggs, and also find plenty of spoilers for the Daphne du Maurier book, which is a shame as the classic needs to be read by going in blind. I thanked my lucky stars that I had read ‘Rebecca’ earlier this year. Else, I would have been annoyed at all the spoilers.
2.25 stars.
My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Fiction Writer”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
PSA: I have no idea why this has been tagged as a ‘thriller’ on Goodreads. The publisher has marked it on NetGalley as ‘General Fiction’, which is a fairly accurate indicator of its genre. If I had expected a thriller,I would have been even more disappointed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 6, 2023
3.5 STARS
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is my favorite classic gothic novel so I couldn't pass this "take" on it by Jillian Cantor!
Instead of a mansion in Cornwall, this one is set in Malibu. Last night I dreamt I went to Malibu again…
I obsessed over all the details~ guessing who the narrator was, the portrait in the bedroom, the creepy vibes in the mansion.
Does the housekeeper have a sinister voice? I couldn't help but compare the different secrets and reveals to those in the classic. Was Olivia living in her own meta escapades? Is she somehow trapped?
This was definitely slow building and had some repetition that really affected the pacing. The protag Olivia digs into the past of Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a reclusive billionaire who has hired her as a "ghost-writer." She gets in over her head more than once!
There was alot going on! A book within a book, some uncanny parallels, and jumping into some romantic subplots.
I was often frustrated (especially at Olivia), but at the same time I couldn't stop reading! I think the author missed the mark of what could have been an outstanding read. I would still recommend to fans of gothic suspense!
Thanks EW for my Arc/ OUT November 1, 2023
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is my favorite classic gothic novel so I couldn't pass this "take" on it by Jillian Cantor!
Instead of a mansion in Cornwall, this one is set in Malibu. Last night I dreamt I went to Malibu again…
I obsessed over all the details~ guessing who the narrator was, the portrait in the bedroom, the creepy vibes in the mansion.
Does the housekeeper have a sinister voice? I couldn't help but compare the different secrets and reveals to those in the classic. Was Olivia living in her own meta escapades? Is she somehow trapped?
This was definitely slow building and had some repetition that really affected the pacing. The protag Olivia digs into the past of Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a reclusive billionaire who has hired her as a "ghost-writer." She gets in over her head more than once!
There was alot going on! A book within a book, some uncanny parallels, and jumping into some romantic subplots.
I was often frustrated (especially at Olivia), but at the same time I couldn't stop reading! I think the author missed the mark of what could have been an outstanding read. I would still recommend to fans of gothic suspense!
Thanks EW for my Arc/ OUT November 1, 2023
December 16, 2023
Really fascinating premise, but it didn’t follow through.
Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca is one of my favorite books. It’s a brilliant examination of gender dynamics and female self-expression. And also a highly entertaining thriller at the same time.
The Fiction Writer is a retelling from a number of different directions. Olivia is a writer whose last book, a retelling of Rebecca from the first wife’s perspective, flopped. She takes on a ghostwriting gig for a reclusive billionaire, Ash, and finds out that his first wife died, perhaps mysteriously, and her presence is still pervasive in their Malibu mansion. AND the story that Ash wants her to write is another version of Rebecca, the one his grandmother allegedly lived through and Daphne du Maurier stole from her, he claims.
I had high hopes for this. For one thing, the idea of a retelling where the main character is fully aware of the narrative she’s reliving is a cool one.
Buuuut I think Jillian Cantor missed the point of the story she’s trying to retell.
Rebecca, to me, is about how a woman can be consumed and erased in a relationship where her husband owns her like property. Max de Winter has complete control over the narrator. Whether or not he exercises that control is irrelevant; it’s the very nature of that relationship that creates the horror. His first wife rebelled against that dynamic, and Max killed her for it.
You could absolutely recreate this thriller in a modern setting, where class and gender inequality interact to place Olivia under the thumb of Ash the billionaire and render her just as powerless as the narrator of Rebecca.
But the author didn’t. Most of Olivia’s problems arise not from a power differential between her and Ash but rather from her own decision to disregard red flags, wander into trouble, and stay there. (As a friend of mine put it: “She’s thinking with her clit.”)
And in the end, Olivia problems are solved when she realizes that there’s another man out there who’s better for her and she leaves the situationship she’s got going on with Ash. Like...huh?? How is that the lesson here? "Just find a better man"? No! This has not-all-men vibes. Putting the focus on any individual man's behavior distracts from the actual problem, which is an entire system that gives all men inherent power over women.
The whole point of the horror in Rebecca is that the narrator cannot leave this system. She gets dragged deeper and deeper into a situation where all power and identity is stripped from her, and there are no avenues out. Everyone is aligned against her. Everything works together to maintain her husband's hold over her, even in her own mind. That’s how systemic oppression works.
So while I had a fun time reading this as a run of the mill thriller, it did not do Daphne du Maurier’s work justice. If you’re going to write a book that so fully leans on a previous book, at least do some deep digging about what made the original tick.
Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca is one of my favorite books. It’s a brilliant examination of gender dynamics and female self-expression. And also a highly entertaining thriller at the same time.
The Fiction Writer is a retelling from a number of different directions. Olivia is a writer whose last book, a retelling of Rebecca from the first wife’s perspective, flopped. She takes on a ghostwriting gig for a reclusive billionaire, Ash, and finds out that his first wife died, perhaps mysteriously, and her presence is still pervasive in their Malibu mansion. AND the story that Ash wants her to write is another version of Rebecca, the one his grandmother allegedly lived through and Daphne du Maurier stole from her, he claims.
I had high hopes for this. For one thing, the idea of a retelling where the main character is fully aware of the narrative she’s reliving is a cool one.
Buuuut I think Jillian Cantor missed the point of the story she’s trying to retell.
Rebecca, to me, is about how a woman can be consumed and erased in a relationship where her husband owns her like property. Max de Winter has complete control over the narrator. Whether or not he exercises that control is irrelevant; it’s the very nature of that relationship that creates the horror. His first wife rebelled against that dynamic, and Max killed her for it.
You could absolutely recreate this thriller in a modern setting, where class and gender inequality interact to place Olivia under the thumb of Ash the billionaire and render her just as powerless as the narrator of Rebecca.
But the author didn’t. Most of Olivia’s problems arise not from a power differential between her and Ash but rather from her own decision to disregard red flags, wander into trouble, and stay there. (As a friend of mine put it: “She’s thinking with her clit.”)
And in the end, Olivia problems are solved when she realizes that there’s another man out there who’s better for her and she leaves the situationship she’s got going on with Ash. Like...huh?? How is that the lesson here? "Just find a better man"? No! This has not-all-men vibes. Putting the focus on any individual man's behavior distracts from the actual problem, which is an entire system that gives all men inherent power over women.
The whole point of the horror in Rebecca is that the narrator cannot leave this system. She gets dragged deeper and deeper into a situation where all power and identity is stripped from her, and there are no avenues out. Everyone is aligned against her. Everything works together to maintain her husband's hold over her, even in her own mind. That’s how systemic oppression works.
So while I had a fun time reading this as a run of the mill thriller, it did not do Daphne du Maurier’s work justice. If you’re going to write a book that so fully leans on a previous book, at least do some deep digging about what made the original tick.
November 28, 2023
Olivia Fitzgerald’s most recent novel—a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca—was poorly received, so, when her agent calls her with a high-paying ghostwriting opportunity, Olivia is all too willing to sign the NDA.
She has bills to pay.
Henry “Ash” Asherwood, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. He is claiming that “Rebecca” was his grandmother’s life story, and the book was plagiarized.
He has his grandmother’s journals to prove it, but they are written in French and need to be authenticated.
Could it be true? Or, does history just keep on repeating itself?
Whose stories do we have the right to tell?
The most interesting part of this book to me, was learning that Daphne Du Maurier was actually accused of plagiarism-more than once.
But, as the story progressed with Olivia spending most of her time drinking and ignoring the red flags 🚩 which are waving all around her, I found that I just didn’t care if “Rebecca” was plagiarized from Ash’s grandmother’s journals or not.
Or about anything else that was going on in Malibu.
Just 2 stars from me.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Park Row books for the gifted ARC, provided through NetGalley in exchange for a candid review.
She has bills to pay.
Henry “Ash” Asherwood, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. He is claiming that “Rebecca” was his grandmother’s life story, and the book was plagiarized.
He has his grandmother’s journals to prove it, but they are written in French and need to be authenticated.
Could it be true? Or, does history just keep on repeating itself?
Whose stories do we have the right to tell?
The most interesting part of this book to me, was learning that Daphne Du Maurier was actually accused of plagiarism-more than once.
But, as the story progressed with Olivia spending most of her time drinking and ignoring the red flags 🚩 which are waving all around her, I found that I just didn’t care if “Rebecca” was plagiarized from Ash’s grandmother’s journals or not.
Or about anything else that was going on in Malibu.
Just 2 stars from me.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Park Row books for the gifted ARC, provided through NetGalley in exchange for a candid review.
December 8, 2023
When Olivia Fitzgerald’s literary agent calls her with an offer, what she suggests is enticing. After all, Olivia’s life is anything but golden at the moment. Her long-term boyfriend has moved out, her third book was never picked up by a publisher, and her fourth is giving her a major case of writer’s block. So hearing that someone has inquired about hiring her to ghostwrite a book for the eye-watering sum of $50,000, Olivia says yes before her agent even finishes the question.
Before she knows it, Olivia has hopped on a plane and flown to the other side of the country. There she meets with the reclusive billionaire, Henry “Ash” Asherwood. Every bit as handsome as the two Sexiest Man Alive titles he’s won from People Magazine says he is, Olivia is intrigued to know what this write-to-hire gig is all about. So when he reveals that his grandmother, Emilia, just so happened to know the famed author of Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier, her interest is well and truly piqued. Especially when her soon-to-be employer mentions a well-hidden secret that relates to the two women.
A welcome distraction from her own mess back home, entering the luxurious world that Ash inhabits, and getting to know the man himself, seems almost too good to be true—at least at first. But when she starts to dig into Emilia’s past, what she finds is troubling. After all, with every fact that she uncovers, more questions seem to rise to the surface. What is the real truth that she’s being paid to write about? And now that Olivia’s immersed in both Ash’s world and Emilia’s story, will she ever get out?
Oh. My. God. Sitting here, trying to wrap my thoughts around how utterly flawless The Fiction Writer was, my mind is well and truly spinning. From its riveting musings about ownership in storytelling to the epic plot and dynamite characters, the entire book was as nigh on close to perfection as one could get. Curious about what I mean? Read on for all of the glorious details…
I have to start with the plot, of course. Taking Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and reworking it, Cantor used it as the background to a premise that totally rocked my world. Told via dual POVs and timelines through a book within a book construct, I was never quite sure what to hang my hat on and what was about to be pulled out from under my feet. So, of course, I wasn’t exactly surprised when I came across the ultimate twist. I won’t tell you which plot line I found it in, but I will say that it was jaw-dropping and shock-inducing to the extreme.
Then there were the characters. While not necessarily genuine or true-to-life, they were compelling in a way that turned me into putty in their hands. The relationships, on the other hand, felt decidedly real. And with personas that ran the gamut from sympathetic to despised, there was a bit of everything in these pages that just kept me coming back for more. Even, surprisingly enough, a little bit of romance, which left me with a smile on my face to be sure.
I can’t forget the feel of the book either. Just like the renowned novel, the setting was filled with a distinctly gothic atmosphere that simply resonated off of the page. After all, the elements were all plain as day—a creepy portrait that seemed to be watching, an isolated house (albeit a modern monstrosity), and a disapproving housekeeper. Taken all together, I was just waiting for a ghost in the wings.
At the end of the day, this clever, multi-layered plot was both fast-paced and downright addictive. And while I knew it going in, this triumph of a retelling was one mystery that I couldn’t, for the life of me, see through. I mean, packed full of underhanded lies, devilish motivations, and just a bit of spice, it was simply a resounding success. So please, run—don’t walk—to pre-order this puppy today. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Jillian Cantor, Park Row, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 28, 2023
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: drugging, infidelity, gaslighting, mention of: fatal car accident, drug overdose, death of a parent
Before she knows it, Olivia has hopped on a plane and flown to the other side of the country. There she meets with the reclusive billionaire, Henry “Ash” Asherwood. Every bit as handsome as the two Sexiest Man Alive titles he’s won from People Magazine says he is, Olivia is intrigued to know what this write-to-hire gig is all about. So when he reveals that his grandmother, Emilia, just so happened to know the famed author of Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier, her interest is well and truly piqued. Especially when her soon-to-be employer mentions a well-hidden secret that relates to the two women.
A welcome distraction from her own mess back home, entering the luxurious world that Ash inhabits, and getting to know the man himself, seems almost too good to be true—at least at first. But when she starts to dig into Emilia’s past, what she finds is troubling. After all, with every fact that she uncovers, more questions seem to rise to the surface. What is the real truth that she’s being paid to write about? And now that Olivia’s immersed in both Ash’s world and Emilia’s story, will she ever get out?
Oh. My. God. Sitting here, trying to wrap my thoughts around how utterly flawless The Fiction Writer was, my mind is well and truly spinning. From its riveting musings about ownership in storytelling to the epic plot and dynamite characters, the entire book was as nigh on close to perfection as one could get. Curious about what I mean? Read on for all of the glorious details…
I have to start with the plot, of course. Taking Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and reworking it, Cantor used it as the background to a premise that totally rocked my world. Told via dual POVs and timelines through a book within a book construct, I was never quite sure what to hang my hat on and what was about to be pulled out from under my feet. So, of course, I wasn’t exactly surprised when I came across the ultimate twist. I won’t tell you which plot line I found it in, but I will say that it was jaw-dropping and shock-inducing to the extreme.
Then there were the characters. While not necessarily genuine or true-to-life, they were compelling in a way that turned me into putty in their hands. The relationships, on the other hand, felt decidedly real. And with personas that ran the gamut from sympathetic to despised, there was a bit of everything in these pages that just kept me coming back for more. Even, surprisingly enough, a little bit of romance, which left me with a smile on my face to be sure.
I can’t forget the feel of the book either. Just like the renowned novel, the setting was filled with a distinctly gothic atmosphere that simply resonated off of the page. After all, the elements were all plain as day—a creepy portrait that seemed to be watching, an isolated house (albeit a modern monstrosity), and a disapproving housekeeper. Taken all together, I was just waiting for a ghost in the wings.
At the end of the day, this clever, multi-layered plot was both fast-paced and downright addictive. And while I knew it going in, this triumph of a retelling was one mystery that I couldn’t, for the life of me, see through. I mean, packed full of underhanded lies, devilish motivations, and just a bit of spice, it was simply a resounding success. So please, run—don’t walk—to pre-order this puppy today. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Jillian Cantor, Park Row, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 28, 2023
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: drugging, infidelity, gaslighting, mention of: fatal car accident, drug overdose, death of a parent
January 9, 2024
3 stars for really poor pacing & super slowness to engage in this thriller with more than just a nod to du Maurier’s “Rebecca”. If it hadn’t been for the Malibu setting itself, I’d likely have just DNF’d it fairly early… but then from the half-way mark or so, it really raced along & the conclusion was fairly decent. That said, I also really, really disliked the silly and way too trusting MC so much that I almost threw my iPad once or twice across the room!!😠 MEH!!!
March 3, 2024
**SPOILERS**
Boy oh boy, this was a letdown. Normally, these kind of suspenseful, "slow reveal via letters or journals" stories are right up my alley but normally the lead character isn't a monumental dummy like Olivia.
Olivia is completely dickmatized by her potential new employer and I get it, we've all been brought down by horniness at some point. But she not only ignores her gut in the face of repeated red flags (examples: he is moody and possessive toward Olivia who is a literal stranger, he physically grabs her and pulls her around multiple times, he hedges and distracts whenever she asks questions about the book he wants her to write, his claims are at best unverifiable and at worst outright lies, and oh yeah, she starts to suspect he may have killed his wife), she also ignores a variety of people who flat out tell her to get the hell away from this guy. She knowingly and willingly puts herself in actual bodily danger MORE THAN ONCE because this dude is hot.
Now I know that under other circumstances, I would be tiptoeing right up to the line of blaming the victim in an abusive relationship, but these two aren't in a relationship! This was a JOB INTERVIEW. She hasn't been paid, she hasn't signed a contract and she's under no obligation to stay in this dangerous situation where her wishes and bodily autonomy are consistently overruled and she is suspicious of all food and beverages because she was drugged the first time she drank coffee at his house. Olivia is an idiot.
She also has a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol (she spends the first half of the book consuming entire bottles of wine and champagne by herself and then disparaging herself for the inevitable hangover), but she allows Ash to push booze on her even when she tells him no. Olivia is an idiot.
After she confronts him with what she knows and suspects, he doesn't deny anything and she fully understands that he falls somewhere between an abusive narcissistic cheater and maybe a murderer. This is when she fantasizes about moving in with him. Olivia is an idiot.
Then she's given a scene that I suppose is meant to redeem her and show her strength but it falls extraordinarily flat. Olivia goes on to get everything she's ever wanted but continues to imagine that Ash pines for her, and I'm reminded of all the mediocre white men that fail up over and over again. I guess it's good to see a mediocre white woman failing up? Yay equality.
I also want to mention that the author is fascinated with people who bite their lip, especially when that person is Olivia. "I bit my lip" should be a drinking game while you read this book, but you're likely to end up blotto before you get to the last chapter. Clara also bites her lip, but not as much as Olivia. Maybe it's meant to add to Olivia's sense of naivety or maybe she's just too dumb to stop chewing on her own body. Who's to say?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my (clearly) honest review.
Boy oh boy, this was a letdown. Normally, these kind of suspenseful, "slow reveal via letters or journals" stories are right up my alley but normally the lead character isn't a monumental dummy like Olivia.
Olivia is completely dickmatized by her potential new employer and I get it, we've all been brought down by horniness at some point. But she not only ignores her gut in the face of repeated red flags (examples: he is moody and possessive toward Olivia who is a literal stranger, he physically grabs her and pulls her around multiple times, he hedges and distracts whenever she asks questions about the book he wants her to write, his claims are at best unverifiable and at worst outright lies, and oh yeah, she starts to suspect he may have killed his wife), she also ignores a variety of people who flat out tell her to get the hell away from this guy. She knowingly and willingly puts herself in actual bodily danger MORE THAN ONCE because this dude is hot.
Now I know that under other circumstances, I would be tiptoeing right up to the line of blaming the victim in an abusive relationship, but these two aren't in a relationship! This was a JOB INTERVIEW. She hasn't been paid, she hasn't signed a contract and she's under no obligation to stay in this dangerous situation where her wishes and bodily autonomy are consistently overruled and she is suspicious of all food and beverages because she was drugged the first time she drank coffee at his house. Olivia is an idiot.
She also has a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol (she spends the first half of the book consuming entire bottles of wine and champagne by herself and then disparaging herself for the inevitable hangover), but she allows Ash to push booze on her even when she tells him no. Olivia is an idiot.
After she confronts him with what she knows and suspects, he doesn't deny anything and she fully understands that he falls somewhere between an abusive narcissistic cheater and maybe a murderer. This is when she fantasizes about moving in with him. Olivia is an idiot.
Then she's given a scene that I suppose is meant to redeem her and show her strength but it falls extraordinarily flat. Olivia goes on to get everything she's ever wanted but continues to imagine that Ash pines for her, and I'm reminded of all the mediocre white men that fail up over and over again. I guess it's good to see a mediocre white woman failing up? Yay equality.
I also want to mention that the author is fascinated with people who bite their lip, especially when that person is Olivia. "I bit my lip" should be a drinking game while you read this book, but you're likely to end up blotto before you get to the last chapter. Clara also bites her lip, but not as much as Olivia. Maybe it's meant to add to Olivia's sense of naivety or maybe she's just too dumb to stop chewing on her own body. Who's to say?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my (clearly) honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“People will see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe.”
What made The Fiction Writer special for me was how it read like a book within a book about a book. It's a premise that takes inspiration from existing media in order to spin a new take to it, allowing that hint of a doubt to creep up on you on whether or not a beloved classic could actually have been someone's own story? And the lengths people would go to to make fiction into reality.
“That’s what writing fiction was, wasn’t it?
Processing your own life, answering all those questions in any way you wanted to, since fictional worlds operated with their own language and their own rules and their own timelines.
They offered their own answers.”
I mean, think about it - the protagonist, Olivia Fizgerald - a once promising author, has been assigned by a the handsome and debonair Henry 'Ash' Asherwood, 'reclusive mega-billionaire, twice-named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, and heir to the Asherwood store chain' to determine whether or not Daphne Du Maurier plagiarized his late grandmother's real-life story based on her personal journals - all the while, another manuscript is being written on the pages, as the story unfolds. Sounds intriguing, if not confusing, right? But, it was good! I liked it! 👏🏻👏🏻 It is a mystery, and you know me, I am smitten when it comes to solving them - so I liked being on the path with Olivia as she tried to piece together what was fiction and what was real behind the real truth of Ash and his mysterious wife - his wife, who very much played an integral part in the narrative.
Olivia was - interesting, I'll give her that. She was 'hardly a du Maurier expert', but personal ties to the story Rebecca, itself made it almost second nature to her to want to know how much merit there was to Ash's family claim. 'Writing was my blood, but it was also my addiction.' Often times, her flair for passion outweighed her sense of logic - which was there, mind you - but, who would be able to resist the charms of someone like Henry, 'tall, tanned, athletic, with striking curly black hair, and blue- green eyes brighter than the Pacific' A gorgeous widower with a big house on the water and one who has enough rumors circulating about his wife's mysterious death that would draw suspicion from anyone. 😅 The start of the book did a really great job setting the tone of the story - capturing the lush scenery of the aloof house nestled on the shore - the estrangement of it - the feeling that his wife's presence still haunted the premise - as if Olivia was living her own version of the classic, Rebecca.
And I was intrigued - I was curious to know how she would stumble upon the actual truths of the matter - even when I would get annoyed at Ash's obvious reluctance to help her - she was trying. She was trying to find out the truth - attempting to trace down all the possible reasons behind it and even as she discovered more loopholes than actual results, the writing helped elevate that prevailing tension and taut suspense that something is definitely amiss - you just don't know what it is yet. 😟 The supporting characters also added to this heightened haze that there is a deeper story behind it - a foreboding notion that made me fear for Olivia's life and wonder what on earth she would have to do to get out of this rather unfortunate situation.
“Something wasn’t right, something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, or whether it was just my writer brain overthinking again, working up stories that didn’t exist.”
Yeah, that's pretty much the best way to describe my feelings. For, I was still very much hooked into the story, till about 70% into the story. It was at that moment, where, unfortunately, the story starts to lose its flavor- not momentum, because we are speeding towards the finish line, but more where the story starts to fall apart between fiction and reality. ' I wasn’t sure what I believed anymore. What was true and what was lie. What was real and what was fiction.' 🥺 It's this sudden turn of events that leads to some rather abrupt decisions that don't quite live up to the mood that severely soured my mood for what could have been the possible truths behind Olivia's involvement in Ash's unique request of inviting her into his home.
For the explanation behind certain actions became a bit too far-fetched and disbelieving for me to actually assent to that train of logic. In fact, I think even Olivia was tired of trying to figure out what Ash's true motive was and she just lost all steam in uncovering the truth - so mindful of now trying to achieve her own personal gain behind her story. In turn, that made my affections for her also slightly dim as the story directed itself to a more anticlimactic ending that felt dull and lackluster in comparison to the very haunting way the story had gripped me from the start. I just felt like the author wasn't even able to tie up all the many loose ends that she had spread out that it became impossible for her to make into one. 😮💨
“In many ways this novel is extremely meta, but what is more so than a fiction writer who just wrote a retelling, writing a novel about a fiction writer...who just wrote a retelling?”
I did, however, still find the writing very satisfying and the supporting cast quite fascinating - creepily so, but they helped establish that eerie Gothic feeling that Olivia was in a dangerous situation, even if she wasn't willing to admit it. They were well-fleshed out and I appreciated how the writing was clear and managed to convey all the range of emotions that Olivia was experiencing. One passage at the party scene really stood out for me and I thought it captured very well how the culmination of her past indirectly affected her present state. So despite the less than satisfying conclusion, it's riveting start and ability to keep my attention throughout is something I don't mind acknowledging in a positive way. 👍🏻👍🏻
“People will see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe.”
What made The Fiction Writer special for me was how it read like a book within a book about a book. It's a premise that takes inspiration from existing media in order to spin a new take to it, allowing that hint of a doubt to creep up on you on whether or not a beloved classic could actually have been someone's own story? And the lengths people would go to to make fiction into reality.
“That’s what writing fiction was, wasn’t it?
Processing your own life, answering all those questions in any way you wanted to, since fictional worlds operated with their own language and their own rules and their own timelines.
They offered their own answers.”
I mean, think about it - the protagonist, Olivia Fizgerald - a once promising author, has been assigned by a the handsome and debonair Henry 'Ash' Asherwood, 'reclusive mega-billionaire, twice-named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, and heir to the Asherwood store chain' to determine whether or not Daphne Du Maurier plagiarized his late grandmother's real-life story based on her personal journals - all the while, another manuscript is being written on the pages, as the story unfolds. Sounds intriguing, if not confusing, right? But, it was good! I liked it! 👏🏻👏🏻 It is a mystery, and you know me, I am smitten when it comes to solving them - so I liked being on the path with Olivia as she tried to piece together what was fiction and what was real behind the real truth of Ash and his mysterious wife - his wife, who very much played an integral part in the narrative.
Olivia was - interesting, I'll give her that. She was 'hardly a du Maurier expert', but personal ties to the story Rebecca, itself made it almost second nature to her to want to know how much merit there was to Ash's family claim. 'Writing was my blood, but it was also my addiction.' Often times, her flair for passion outweighed her sense of logic - which was there, mind you - but, who would be able to resist the charms of someone like Henry, 'tall, tanned, athletic, with striking curly black hair, and blue- green eyes brighter than the Pacific' A gorgeous widower with a big house on the water and one who has enough rumors circulating about his wife's mysterious death that would draw suspicion from anyone. 😅 The start of the book did a really great job setting the tone of the story - capturing the lush scenery of the aloof house nestled on the shore - the estrangement of it - the feeling that his wife's presence still haunted the premise - as if Olivia was living her own version of the classic, Rebecca.
And I was intrigued - I was curious to know how she would stumble upon the actual truths of the matter - even when I would get annoyed at Ash's obvious reluctance to help her - she was trying. She was trying to find out the truth - attempting to trace down all the possible reasons behind it and even as she discovered more loopholes than actual results, the writing helped elevate that prevailing tension and taut suspense that something is definitely amiss - you just don't know what it is yet. 😟 The supporting characters also added to this heightened haze that there is a deeper story behind it - a foreboding notion that made me fear for Olivia's life and wonder what on earth she would have to do to get out of this rather unfortunate situation.
“Something wasn’t right, something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, or whether it was just my writer brain overthinking again, working up stories that didn’t exist.”
Yeah, that's pretty much the best way to describe my feelings. For, I was still very much hooked into the story, till about 70% into the story. It was at that moment, where, unfortunately, the story starts to lose its flavor- not momentum, because we are speeding towards the finish line, but more where the story starts to fall apart between fiction and reality. ' I wasn’t sure what I believed anymore. What was true and what was lie. What was real and what was fiction.' 🥺 It's this sudden turn of events that leads to some rather abrupt decisions that don't quite live up to the mood that severely soured my mood for what could have been the possible truths behind Olivia's involvement in Ash's unique request of inviting her into his home.
For the explanation behind certain actions became a bit too far-fetched and disbelieving for me to actually assent to that train of logic. In fact, I think even Olivia was tired of trying to figure out what Ash's true motive was and she just lost all steam in uncovering the truth - so mindful of now trying to achieve her own personal gain behind her story. In turn, that made my affections for her also slightly dim as the story directed itself to a more anticlimactic ending that felt dull and lackluster in comparison to the very haunting way the story had gripped me from the start. I just felt like the author wasn't even able to tie up all the many loose ends that she had spread out that it became impossible for her to make into one. 😮💨
“In many ways this novel is extremely meta, but what is more so than a fiction writer who just wrote a retelling, writing a novel about a fiction writer...who just wrote a retelling?”
I did, however, still find the writing very satisfying and the supporting cast quite fascinating - creepily so, but they helped establish that eerie Gothic feeling that Olivia was in a dangerous situation, even if she wasn't willing to admit it. They were well-fleshed out and I appreciated how the writing was clear and managed to convey all the range of emotions that Olivia was experiencing. One passage at the party scene really stood out for me and I thought it captured very well how the culmination of her past indirectly affected her present state. So despite the less than satisfying conclusion, it's riveting start and ability to keep my attention throughout is something I don't mind acknowledging in a positive way. 👍🏻👍🏻
December 19, 2023
Olivia Fitzgerald's stalled writing career leads her to take a ghostwriting job with Henry "Ash" Asherwood, a mysterious billionaire. He's drawn to her recently failed novel, Becky, based on Rebecca, and wants her to tell the story of his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier (the author of Rebecca). But at Ash's fancy Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. Is Ash telling the truth about his family's past, and can Olivia trust him?
This was an... interesting... read. Made me want to re-read Rebecca, but perhaps not this story! Olivia and Ash were incredibly annoying characters. Olivia had an amazing inability to stand up for herself, letting Ash dictate everything, resulting in some very poor decisions and judgements. About 25% in, it felt as if there was no forward progress on the book whatsoever, as Ash and Olivia just hung out in Malibu and did... nothing. Except drink and talk . And did I mention make poor decisions?
Yes, Olivia consistently drinks too much, with the book focusing constantly on her drinking and oh, did it happen to mention Ash was the "sexiest man alive?" Maybe once or twice or a hundred times. The gothic mystery wrapped in layers of meta seems like it would be intriguing, but ultimately winds up confusing, with too many layers of Rebecca and retellings and stories within stories. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row in return for an unbiased review.
This was an... interesting... read. Made me want to re-read Rebecca, but perhaps not this story! Olivia and Ash were incredibly annoying characters. Olivia had an amazing inability to stand up for herself, letting Ash dictate everything, resulting in some very poor decisions and judgements. About 25% in, it felt as if there was no forward progress on the book whatsoever, as Ash and Olivia just hung out in Malibu and did... nothing. Except drink and talk . And did I mention make poor decisions?
Yes, Olivia consistently drinks too much, with the book focusing constantly on her drinking and oh, did it happen to mention Ash was the "sexiest man alive?" Maybe once or twice or a hundred times. The gothic mystery wrapped in layers of meta seems like it would be intriguing, but ultimately winds up confusing, with too many layers of Rebecca and retellings and stories within stories. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row in return for an unbiased review.
August 10, 2024
**3.5 stars**
I have really enjoyed the last two books I've read by this author ('Half Life' and 'Beautiful Little Fools') so I went into this one with high hopes. I don't think it was as good as those ones but it was enjoyable enough. I did end up getting a bit lost sometimes as this is a fiction book that's kind of a retelling, about a fiction writer who has published a retelling and is ghostwriting a possible stolen story which also is like a retelling of someone's life... and all of the retellings are of the same story, being 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier. It just felt a bit messy sometimes. However it was a super easy read that I finished in a few hours and it was an intriguing concept.
Overall, it was an okay read.
I have really enjoyed the last two books I've read by this author ('Half Life' and 'Beautiful Little Fools') so I went into this one with high hopes. I don't think it was as good as those ones but it was enjoyable enough. I did end up getting a bit lost sometimes as this is a fiction book that's kind of a retelling, about a fiction writer who has published a retelling and is ghostwriting a possible stolen story which also is like a retelling of someone's life... and all of the retellings are of the same story, being 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier. It just felt a bit messy sometimes. However it was a super easy read that I finished in a few hours and it was an intriguing concept.
Overall, it was an okay read.
December 1, 2023
Does Charley really think Olivia will be able to write this book for billionaire and sexiest-man-alive Henry Asherwood about a secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier?
Charley called Olivia with this great idea for a book in hopes that Olivia would jump at the chance to take it since her most recent book was a flop.
Olivia was skeptical, but flew to California to meet Mr. Asherwood in his mansion.
When she got there, he was very vague about what he wanted her to write and kept stalling.
As she met with him, things went a different way than research for the book.
I didn't like Ash or trust him. Was he reliving the book Rebecca with Olivia.
Would he follow through with the story line?
Very clever story line, but THE FICTION WRITER was confusing and a bit on the slow burn side, but I couldn't stop reading because I needed to find out what really was going on and who the unidentified narrator was. 3/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Charley called Olivia with this great idea for a book in hopes that Olivia would jump at the chance to take it since her most recent book was a flop.
Olivia was skeptical, but flew to California to meet Mr. Asherwood in his mansion.
When she got there, he was very vague about what he wanted her to write and kept stalling.
As she met with him, things went a different way than research for the book.
I didn't like Ash or trust him. Was he reliving the book Rebecca with Olivia.
Would he follow through with the story line?
Very clever story line, but THE FICTION WRITER was confusing and a bit on the slow burn side, but I couldn't stop reading because I needed to find out what really was going on and who the unidentified narrator was. 3/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 15, 2023
Respectfully, Olivia is one of the dumbest main characters I’ve read in any book in recent memory. This man Ash is throwing up red flag after red flag and she’s like “he is mean to me and yells at me and he tried to drug me and maybe killed his wife but…he’s just SO hot.”
Literally NO dingle dangle is worth this!! Have some respect for yourself, Livvy!
Also the ouroboros of Rebecca retellings sent me into a coma.
Literally NO dingle dangle is worth this!! Have some respect for yourself, Livvy!
Also the ouroboros of Rebecca retellings sent me into a coma.
April 13, 2024
Admittedly, this book had reviews all over the map. But put me in the love camp! It was eerie and atmospheric and cleverly written. It was unusual and well crafted.
Are there any new stories? And to whom does a story belong? The Fiction Writer is in part a re-telling of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, which is a re-telling of Jane Eyre. Down on her luck Olivia Fitzgerald, who wrote a (failed) re-telling of Rebecca, is hired by a mysterious and very good looking charming modern day Maxim de Winter, named Henry Asherton III. Ash, who is mourning his young wife Angelica, wishes for Olivia to tell his grandmother's story, which he swears was the "original and stolen" Rebecca story. But whose story was it really, and what is happening Olivia wonders, as she falls straight into a re-creation of her own.
Are there any new stories? And to whom does a story belong? The Fiction Writer is in part a re-telling of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, which is a re-telling of Jane Eyre. Down on her luck Olivia Fitzgerald, who wrote a (failed) re-telling of Rebecca, is hired by a mysterious and very good looking charming modern day Maxim de Winter, named Henry Asherton III. Ash, who is mourning his young wife Angelica, wishes for Olivia to tell his grandmother's story, which he swears was the "original and stolen" Rebecca story. But whose story was it really, and what is happening Olivia wonders, as she falls straight into a re-creation of her own.
January 11, 2024
A convoluted (too convoluted) story revolving around different riffs on Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. I laughed out loud at the first sentence—“Last night I dreamed I went to Malibu again”—and it kind of went downhill from there. A novelist whose career is on the downslope is hired by a handsome, dashing, recently widowed billionaire (“Danger, Will Robinson, danger!”) to write his grandmother’s story, which he claims was the real-life story of Rebecca, and that beautiful gran, who died tragically young, had written it all up in her diaries, that Du Maurier, who attended school with gran as a girl, somehow stole the story and published it first. Well. Not to mention all the Rebecca echoes in the story of his own recently deceased beautiful wife. Oh, and not to mention that the novelist who’s just agreed to write a book about gran published her own riff on Rebecca, called “Becky,” telling the story from the point of view of the dead wife’s ghost. And there are a few more twists playing off Rebecca that I’m not even going to bother recording here, because it’s just all too, too, don’t you know. Silly.
May 16, 2024
First thing first!
I read Rebecca years ago and I thought it was overrated. The Hitchcock film is better.
Now on to this review...
What was the purpose of this book?
I haven't read Fiction in a month. It's been all Nonfiction for me and to think I come back to Fiction with this shit...Why was this book? Just why?
Our main character Olivia is a boring dummy and the male lead Ash is creepy and boring. Can you tell I was bored? Olivia ignored every red flag in this book. She keeps telling us Ash is handsome and charming but I saw was creepy weird behavior from this man. Olivia was thinking with her pussy....I'm not judging because we've all been there...but I am judging.
I've read another book by this author The Hours Count (3 stars) and I'll probably read more books from her but this one...it wasn't it.
I don't recommend
I read Rebecca years ago and I thought it was overrated. The Hitchcock film is better.
Now on to this review...
What was the purpose of this book?
I haven't read Fiction in a month. It's been all Nonfiction for me and to think I come back to Fiction with this shit...Why was this book? Just why?
Our main character Olivia is a boring dummy and the male lead Ash is creepy and boring. Can you tell I was bored? Olivia ignored every red flag in this book. She keeps telling us Ash is handsome and charming but I saw was creepy weird behavior from this man. Olivia was thinking with her pussy....I'm not judging because we've all been there...but I am judging.
I've read another book by this author The Hours Count (3 stars) and I'll probably read more books from her but this one...it wasn't it.
I don't recommend
November 12, 2023
The more I read, the less I liked it:
✔️Frustrating plot
✔️Red flags everywhere
✔️Clueless FMC
✔️Creep MMC
✔️Drags on and goes in circles
✔️Frustrating plot
✔️Red flags everywhere
✔️Clueless FMC
✔️Creep MMC
✔️Drags on and goes in circles
January 2, 2024
3.5⭐️
The idea of this book was really interesting to me but the execution fell a bit flat. I enjoyed it overall but not as much as I had hoped to
The idea of this book was really interesting to me but the execution fell a bit flat. I enjoyed it overall but not as much as I had hoped to
January 28, 2024
2.75 stars
Decent premise, limp execution, The Fiction Writer does function as a bingeable 'palette cleanser' between books, but if you're not inherently interested in Rebecca retelling or stories about authors, this lukewarm romance drama disguised as a mystery 'thriller' is an easy skip.
The Fiction Writer picks the least interesting elements from Rebecca to emulate; the protagonist from Daphne du Maurier's classic is extremely gullible by today's standard, but it's logical given its time period and women's upbringing back then. It's bizarre for the female protagonist living in this side of the century to be so blatantly ignorant to red flags (the constant 'this seems wrong, but I'll accept it anyway' internal monologues make it even worse). The writing is also hilariously absent of stylish flair at times, repeatingly using 'sexiest man alive' to describe the love interest (are we filling word count or what?).
The mystery features some interesting moments of circularity, but the final reveal is anticlimactic, and requires a pretty big leap in logic (the novel assumes everyone can write a full-length novel as easily as washing hands). After reading so many stories diving deep into the publishing industry in recent years, the representation in The Fiction Writer feels very surface-level and unrealistic.
I did end up reading The Fiction Writer all the way through, despite its lack of substance; partially due to its short chapters, as well as my general interest in its subject matters. But other than that I can't see this being anyone's must-read. Afterward, I realized I've read from this author previously—Beautiful Little Fools, a tepid The Great Gatsby retelling from the female characters' POV—clearly she has great concepts, but the execution is not for me.
Decent premise, limp execution, The Fiction Writer does function as a bingeable 'palette cleanser' between books, but if you're not inherently interested in Rebecca retelling or stories about authors, this lukewarm romance drama disguised as a mystery 'thriller' is an easy skip.
The Fiction Writer picks the least interesting elements from Rebecca to emulate; the protagonist from Daphne du Maurier's classic is extremely gullible by today's standard, but it's logical given its time period and women's upbringing back then. It's bizarre for the female protagonist living in this side of the century to be so blatantly ignorant to red flags (the constant 'this seems wrong, but I'll accept it anyway' internal monologues make it even worse). The writing is also hilariously absent of stylish flair at times, repeatingly using 'sexiest man alive' to describe the love interest (are we filling word count or what?).
The mystery features some interesting moments of circularity, but the final reveal is anticlimactic, and requires a pretty big leap in logic (the novel assumes everyone can write a full-length novel as easily as washing hands). After reading so many stories diving deep into the publishing industry in recent years, the representation in The Fiction Writer feels very surface-level and unrealistic.
I did end up reading The Fiction Writer all the way through, despite its lack of substance; partially due to its short chapters, as well as my general interest in its subject matters. But other than that I can't see this being anyone's must-read. Afterward, I realized I've read from this author previously—Beautiful Little Fools, a tepid The Great Gatsby retelling from the female characters' POV—clearly she has great concepts, but the execution is not for me.
February 20, 2024
Meh. It was just fine. Didn’t hate it enough to give it 2 ⭐️ but it definitely wasn’t memorable. The FMC was such an idiot and was soooo hard to root for and it got old after awhile. I love Rebecca so I was excited for this book but it was uninventive and had lots of repetitive language which told me the author wasn’t even inspired by her own story.
May 8, 2024
Here’s a fun drinking game for you:
1. Drink every time Ash is referred to as the Sexiest Man Alive.
2. Drink every time a woman (usually Olivia) bites or chews her lip.
3. Drink every time the novel acknowledges itself as meta.
And for the very brave or very stupid:
4. Drink every time something obvious happens.
1. Drink every time Ash is referred to as the Sexiest Man Alive.
2. Drink every time a woman (usually Olivia) bites or chews her lip.
3. Drink every time the novel acknowledges itself as meta.
And for the very brave or very stupid:
4. Drink every time something obvious happens.
June 17, 2023
Not to be missed!
October 2, 2023
2.5 stars - review to come, maybe.
January 23, 2024
If I had to read "sexiest man alive" one more time, I was going to use this book as kindling.
November 10, 2023
I have long been a fan of Jillian Cantor and have devoured her historical fiction religiously, but when she announced she'd be writing more of a gothic mystery this year, I was over the moon excited. Featuring a widowed billionaire who has a strange connection to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, he invites down on her luck Olivia to ghost write a book for him. Now, this wouldn't be a mystery if all was fine and dandy, so you're definitely going to want to find out what ensues when this releases November 28!
November 20, 2023
This book is a gothic rollercoaster meta mystery that will keep you up late turning pages! Jillian's last book, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS was a fantastic reimagining of THE GREAT GATSBY and THE FICTION WRITER does the same for Daphne DuMaurier's classic REBECCA. This is a totally original and wildly entertaining story and I absolutely LOVED it!
December 28, 2023
3.75 stars rounded up.
I think this was a clever novel, but it would have been easier to read if there was less parts that kinda went in the weeds about the book “Rebecca.” And about its author. I know that is a famous book, but I haven’t read it, and I felt a little lost or unclear often when this book would refer to events in Rebecca. I think the author / editor needed to ensure that someone who knew nothing about the book Rebecca could still follow along.
My second critique is that the excerpts from The Wife should have made sense a little sooner to make them feel more relevant or create more suspense.
All that said, I enjoyed the main character in this book (Olivia), as well as Noah, and his increasing relevance, and despite Olivia’s occasionally remarkably stupid choices (lol) her voice was a good one.
I think this was a clever novel, but it would have been easier to read if there was less parts that kinda went in the weeds about the book “Rebecca.” And about its author. I know that is a famous book, but I haven’t read it, and I felt a little lost or unclear often when this book would refer to events in Rebecca. I think the author / editor needed to ensure that someone who knew nothing about the book Rebecca could still follow along.
My second critique is that the excerpts from The Wife should have made sense a little sooner to make them feel more relevant or create more suspense.
All that said, I enjoyed the main character in this book (Olivia), as well as Noah, and his increasing relevance, and despite Olivia’s occasionally remarkably stupid choices (lol) her voice was a good one.
November 19, 2023
The Fiction Writer is clever and creative.
Olivia is a down on her luck writer who is contracted by Ash to tell his grandma's story. He insists that the book, Rebecca, was stolen from his grandma.
Told in present day, with flashbacks to the past via Ash's grandma's journal entries, it was a slow unraveling of the story that kept me interested all the way through.
Rebecca is one of the many classics I have never read, but of course I'm familiar with the story and have read more than one reimagining.
I thought this was an interesting spin on the classic tale. I was glued to the pages, enjoyed the story, liked the MCs, and couldn't wait to see how it all came together.
Olivia is a down on her luck writer who is contracted by Ash to tell his grandma's story. He insists that the book, Rebecca, was stolen from his grandma.
Told in present day, with flashbacks to the past via Ash's grandma's journal entries, it was a slow unraveling of the story that kept me interested all the way through.
Rebecca is one of the many classics I have never read, but of course I'm familiar with the story and have read more than one reimagining.
I thought this was an interesting spin on the classic tale. I was glued to the pages, enjoyed the story, liked the MCs, and couldn't wait to see how it all came together.
December 14, 2023
The Fiction Writer was a different direction for Jillian Cantor, but enjoyable and chilling at the same time.
The whole story was really interesting and full of various layers. It's a gothic mystery with a meta vibe. I kept guessing at who wrote the excerpts that were at the ends of some chapters and so many aspects of the story had me questioning everything I thought I might know, in regard to what was going on.
There are a lot of references to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, so if you haven't read that, beware of spoilers. (I never read it and now I don't need to, but I wasn't planning on it anyway.) Jillian made that novel sound more interesting than I was expecting it to be though.
Overall, this novel was really well done. Jillian gets kudos from me once again!
Movie casting suggestions:
The whole story was really interesting and full of various layers. It's a gothic mystery with a meta vibe. I kept guessing at who wrote the excerpts that were at the ends of some chapters and so many aspects of the story had me questioning everything I thought I might know, in regard to what was going on.
There are a lot of references to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, so if you haven't read that, beware of spoilers. (I never read it and now I don't need to, but I wasn't planning on it anyway.) Jillian made that novel sound more interesting than I was expecting it to be though.
Overall, this novel was really well done. Jillian gets kudos from me once again!
Movie casting suggestions:
Olivia: Sarah Ramos
Ash: Henry Cavill
Noah: Emory Cohen
Clara: Ashley Greene
May 31, 2023
This is a very exciting read. Cantor places the main character in a fascinating, Gothic-like setting in Malibu. Olivia is struggling to save her writing career when her agent gets her a lucrative gig with a wealthy, mysterious man. Arriving in his home, she is buffeted by fear, revulsion and strong attraction.
The story is bracketed by DuMaurier’s novel Rebecca which serves as an inspiration to several of the novel’s characters and acts as a catalyst for the central theme and the interactions between the characters.
I liked the characters. Olivia is intelligent and sympathetic. Ash is so well depicted that I could picture him and his machinations as the novel progressed. Beyond the mystery, there is also a charming underlying romance.
All in all, this novel is a winner. Cantor has created a compelling story.
Thank you Netgalley for this very enjoyable, fast paced read.
The story is bracketed by DuMaurier’s novel Rebecca which serves as an inspiration to several of the novel’s characters and acts as a catalyst for the central theme and the interactions between the characters.
I liked the characters. Olivia is intelligent and sympathetic. Ash is so well depicted that I could picture him and his machinations as the novel progressed. Beyond the mystery, there is also a charming underlying romance.
All in all, this novel is a winner. Cantor has created a compelling story.
Thank you Netgalley for this very enjoyable, fast paced read.
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