Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book about or set in Hollywood.

What does it mean to be "set in Hollywood"? Does it have to be about the movies, or is any book in the Los Angeles area acceptable? Does The Guncle qualify? it was set in Palm Springs, but the main is an actor, and he does fly down to LA at one point, so I think it works? Could we read books set in Bollywood or Nollywood?

I think this will be a case for each reader to decide.

One of my favorite movies is L.A. Confidential and this may be just the push I need to finally read the book.



Listopia list is Here: A book about or set in Hollywood

I know "celebrity memoire" is a separate category, but if people like memoires, a memoire of someone in "Hollywood" would work too.

Dubhease wrote: "I know "celebrity memoire" is a separate category, but if people like memoires, a memoire of someone in "Hollywood" would work too."


Yes, you could read two celebrity memoirs, one for that category and one for this category.

I am going to read All the Stars in the Heavens

I think I'll go with either Siren Queen or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Both would work for other categories, too, so I might just read them both!

Adventures in the Screen Trade has been on my TBR list for quite awhile. Looking forward to reading it for this prompt.

I'm probably going to read Will They or Won't They when it comes out, but another one on my shelves that would work and hasn't been mentioned yet is A Touch of Stardust.

This one so far is my favorite category. This past year I've come to read a lot of Hollywood themed books. It's going to be difficult to choose something that's not a memoir because I want to stay away from that one since it's already a topic anyway. Looking forward to this one.

Would highly recommend How to Fake It in Hollywood, read it this year and loved it.

Hollywood romances are one of my favorite subgenres so I'm excited

How to Fake It in Hollywood looks great, thank you!

Is anyone else here in the Around the Year in 52 Books challenge as well? Some of the prompts that ended up in Popsugar were put forward as possibilities for ATY but not voted in. This Hollywood one and "started as fanfiction" are the ones I've noticed so far.

Lailah wrote: "How to Fake It in Hollywood looks great, thank you!

Is anyone else here in the Around the Year in 52 Books challenge as well? Some of the prompts that ended up in Popsugar were put forward as poss..."

The Hollywood sign is 100 years old in 2023. That's why it was suggested in ATY. That may be why PS thought it was a great prompt.

I was thinking about a Michael J Fox memoir for ATY, and it will fit here as well. Maybe Lucky Man.

For those who have read Anon Pls. (Deuxmoi), does it fit the prompt? I know that it's about celebrity gossip and pop culture, but not sure whether it is actually talking about Hollywood. Thanks!

Women vs Hollywood: The Fall and Rise of Women in Film

I'm looking toward this one. Even though I'm reading it for class, sort of, it's one that I won't entirely finish. I'm only using it for excerpts for my school paper so it's not like I'm technically reading it right now.

I can end up reading this one for next year.

I love mysteries and found a new series. I will be reading Frames by Loren D. Estleman

I have had Kay Francis: I Can't Wait to Be Forgotten on my TBR for some time, having read a good review of it, but sadly it will have to be Kindle as it costs too much in book form in the UK.

Does anyone know where The Princess Bride was filmed? I have As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, which I figure fits thematically, but it would also be nice if it fit geographically!

Jen wrote: "I think I'll go with either Siren Queen or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Both would work for other categories, too, so I might just read them both!"

OOH, both of these are on my TBR and I am highly anticipating them. Probably will choose one of these!

Ron wrote: "This one so far is my favorite category. This past year I've come to read a lot of Hollywood themed books. It's going to be difficult to choose something that's not a memoir because I want to stay ..."

Ron, have you read The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick? I really enjoyed it.

Joanna wrote: "Does anyone know where The Princess Bride was filmed? I have As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, which I figure fits thematically, but it would a..."

According to Wikipedia, the Princess Bride was filmed in England.

I think some of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe detective series books are set in Hollywood, at least in part. The Long Goodbye and The Big Sleep.

Evelyn Hugo, Family Album by Danielle Steel, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. If you're into True Crime, you can ready anything about Sharon Tate, The Black Dahlia, Hot Toddy (Thelma Todd),

I can recommend two memoirs I recently read:

Brat: An '80s Story by Andrew McCarthy. He actually talked a lot about behind the scenes in Hollywood. And it's a quick read, too.

Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life by Juliana Marguiles. Not as much behind the scenes of her time on E.R. but her early life was interesting!

I would also highly recommend She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.

Milena wrote: "Ron, have you read The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick? I really enjoyed it

No I haven't. Thanks for the rec.

Dedra wrote: Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life by Juliana Marguiles. Not as much behind the scenes of her time on E.R. but her early life was interesting!

I would also highly recommend She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

Yeah, with the Sunshine Girl book I was a bit disappointed there wasn't much on ER but I still loved the book and it definitely warrants a reread at some point.

I also enjoyed She Said. Read it a year ago and I keep wanting to reread it again but haven't found the time.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Does anyone know where The Princess Bride was filmed? I have As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, which I figure fits thematically,..."

Boo! Thanks for the info though.

Built to Last is a romance about a home improvemnt/makeover show with two former child stars. It's not set in Hollywood, it's set in Michigan, but it's about the making of a tv show so I feel like it could count. I read it this year and really loved it so I def recommend!

I'm not really excited about this prompt, but I'm going to try Stories I Only Tell My Friends.

Ellen wrote: "Built to Last is a romance about a home improvemnt/makeover show with two former child stars. It's not set in Hollywood, it's set in Michigan, but it's about the making of a tv show..."

I also really enjoyed Built to Last!

I had a couple of celebrity memoirs I was interested in, so I'll read Michael J. Fox's Lucky Man for this prompt.

I have Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe on Kindle, and I try to prioritize goal books and books I already own for Popsugar, so I think that will be my pick for this.

I started this this year and didn’t get far for some reason. I guess 2023 will be my year. The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont

I just bought Blue Movie by Terry Southern - on sale today on Kindle - purportedly the "hilarious, erotic adventures" of a director based upon Stanley Kubrick - thanks, to the reader who suggested it through their PopSugar list. Also, looking for my vintage copy of Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger.

Meg wrote: "I started this this year and didn’t get far for some reason. I guess 2023 will be my year. The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont"

Now requested from my library. Thanks.

As an alternative to movie making Hollywood, I’m going to read one of Michael Connolly’s Bosch series. The early ones are set in LAPD Hollywood Division. You can check on the wiki page where Harry Bosch is based for each book. Anyone into crime, these are great.

Jenna wrote: "Would highly recommend How to Fake It in Hollywood, read it this year and loved it.

Hollywood romances are one of my favorite subgenres so I'm excited"



Oh I'm always up for some fake dating! AND the hero is recently divorced!! I will pencil this one in for the "divorce" category because I don't know what I'll read for that yet.

Karen wrote: "I just bought Blue Movie by Terry Southern - on sale today on Kindle - purportedly the "hilarious, erotic adventures" of a director based upon Stanley Kubrick - thanks, ..."



LOL that was me, I added that one to the list (but I see someone else voted for it also)! It looked ... quirky. Let us know how it is!!!

A couple great options I can recommend:

Martin Turnbull, The Garden on Sunset: A Novel of Golden-Era Hollywood Usually FREE on Amazon

Stuart M. Kaminsky,Bullet for a Star His Toby Peters series is set in Hollywood

Donis Casey,The Wrong Girl

Some Hollywood romance books...if you're looking of something lighter...

- Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre
- The Love Act by Zara Bell

- Method by Kate Stewart

Joanna wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Does anyone know where The Princess Bride was filmed? I have As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, which I figu..."


Joanna even though it doesn't fit the Hollywood category, it does fit the celebrity memoir prompt, and I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobook! Cary Elwes narrates, and other actors from The Princess Bride read their parts as well, and it was just an amazingly wonderful read.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo hands down!!

Im going to read The Elephant to Hollywood by Michael Caine.

Dedra ~ A Book Wanderer wrote: "I can recommend two memoirs I recently read:

I would also highly recommend She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey."

Thanks! This might be the one I go with.

Kelly wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Does anyone know where The Princess Bride was filmed?

Thanks for the tip! I have it in hard copy, but that sounds fantastic - I may have to get an audio and listen to it.

My book club had planned to read Finding Me this year, so that was going to be my celebrity memoir, but I guess I may have to do some list rearranging!

The Boys in the Mailroom has been on my TBR forever, so I think I'll use that one.

Joanna wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Does anyone know where The Princess Bride was filmed?

Thanks for the tip! I have it in hard copy, but that sounds fantastic - I may..."


I had bought a physical copy last year and never got around to reading it, and I am so happy I went with the audiobook instead!

Astrid wrote: "For those who have read Anon Pls. (Deuxmoi), does it fit the prompt? I know that it's about celebrity gossip and pop culture, but not sure whether it is actually talking about Hollywood. Thanks!"

ooh great idea!! I'm slotting this in for me.... I'm obsessed with her IG account.

I'll be reading Station Eleven for this prompt.

Laura wrote: "I'll be reading Station Eleven for this prompt."

Oh nice! This is certainly one of my favorites.

Ron, really? That's great to hear. I picked it up a few weeks ago from a sale table at my library. Made me think of World Made by Hand book series by James H. Kunstler based on its synopsis.