Family secrets. Forbidden
love. And the true price of wealth.
Thomas is a small-town boy
and when Lily invites him to a dinner party, he gains access to the exclusive
upper echelons of Hollywood society. As he enters a world of private jets and
sprawling mansions, his life and career take off beyond his wildest dreams.
Then he meets Matilda
Duplaine.
Beautiful and mysterious,
Matilda has spent her entire life within the walls of her powerful father’s
Bel-Air estate and Thomas is immediately entranced by her. But what starts as
an enchanted romance soon threatens to destroy their lives and the lives of
everyone around them.
I never understood the magic of F. Scott
Fitzgerald's popular classic 'The Great Gatsby.' I first read the book while I
was at secondary school and once again when I was at university, but the story
just didn't do much for me. So, when I saw Alex Brunkhortst's novel 'The Gilded
Life of Matilda Duplaine', which was released on the 8th of October, was
described as a modern-day Great Gatsby, I wasn't too sure whether this book
would be for me at first. However, I was definitely intrigued by the
description of the story and really wanted to give it a chance, so I did. I was
lucky enough to find a review copy of the novel in my mailbox and was curious
to see whether this book would really match 'The Great Gatsby' or whether I
would perhaps end up enjoying it a lot more than the famous classic!
Thomas Cleary is a small-town boy and
young reporter who, after a big mistake, decides to move from New York to LA,
to start over. When he is asked to write a story about the famous Joel Goldman,
who just passed away, Thomas decides to try and get a quote from Joel's daughter
Lily. A visit to her antiques shop unexpectedly leads to a dinner with several
important people in the film business, and before he knows it, Thomas has found
himself a way into the glamorous Hollywood world of these stars. His career is
suddenly on the rise again, but Thomas is warned: these kind of things always
come with a specific price. When Thomas meets the stunning and mysterious
Matilda, he knows he has to see her again, but this comes with a big risk.
Question is, is Thomas willing to risk everything he has managed to build up
again for a girl like Matilda?
Ever since I finished this novel the
story has been floating around in my mind, and I personally always think that's
a good sign, because it means the book has managed to make a lasting impression.
After the first few chapters I was already completely absorbed by 'The Gilded
Life of Matilda Duplaine', which is a wonderful mix of intrigue, romance, and
mystery. Author Alex Brunkhorst has the ability to set the scene in a fantastic
way; using the right words and descriptions to really make you feel as if
you've stepped into a completely different place and time. I loved the feel of
the 1920s Hollywood glamour and it suited the story perfectly. The author's
writing style was well-paced and I was able to get lost in it and be really
engrossed by the story.
The novel has quite a fascinating group
of characters at its core. Protagonist Thomas is trying to find a way to
rebuild his career as a reporter and he's given a fantastic opportunity when he
meets Lily Goldman. I loved the group of famous and important people Thomas
starts to belong to; each character had a mysterious touch to them and I longed
to find out each and every single one of their stories. I was also straight
away enchanted by Matilda and her life, and really wondered how everything
would eventually play out. This novel is described as a modern-day Great
Gatsby, but I personally thought it's better than the classic and much more
enjoyable. 'The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine' is an intriguing, entertaining
and enchanting read that provides the reader a look into the mysterious and
glamorous lives of a group of the Hollywood rich and famous. A read that has
made a lasting impression!
Rating:
9/10
9/10
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment