The Hollywood Governess

By Alexandra Weston

What’s it about?

Hollywood, 1937

Hester Carlye has no wish to look after the pampered offspring of the rich anymore, in spite of being a highly sought-after governess. But with her elderly father frail, and the roof of their rundown cottage falling in, she has no choice but to accept a dazzling new placement.

Movie star Aidan Neil is box office gold, but after the tragic death of his wife Dinah Doyle, he needs Hester’s help to raise their young daughter Erin. Aidan and Dinah were once the perfect Hollywood couple, but stars don’t shine forever…

At Aidan’s glittering Hollywood mansion, Hester finds a family struggling with their grief. Hester knows she can help little Erin, but Aidan’s torment is palpable. Brooding and reclusive, he is far from the picture-perfect hero Hester’s seen in films. There’s an edge to him that makes Hester wonder if he’s hiding a dark secret of his own….

Was the marriage between Aidan and Dinah as perfect as it appeared to be? Was Dinah’s death really a tragic accident?

When it finally comes, the truth is more shocking than Hester could ever have imagined. And she knows that if revealed, it will destroy the family she has grown to love and ruin Aidan’s Hollywood dream forever…

A sweeping new story from a talented new voice.

What I think:

I love the Golden Age of Hollywood so this was my kind of book.

Hester arrives in Hollywood to be the new governess for the daughter of one of cinema’s biggest stars.

Aidan Neil is a huge star but struggling after the death of his beautiful wife, film star Dinah Doyle.

This is a bit of a grumpy sunshine romance. Aidan is brooding and initially unfriendly. Hester is hesitant at first, but determined to help Erin. As she gets to know Aidan, she soon realises there is more to the man she works for than the movie magazines and the closely guarded film studio lets on.

As a reader, I didn’t find the revelations about Aidan and Dinah’s marriage particularly shocking. I’ve read three books recently where similar secrets were revealed – it seems to be a bit of a trend this year.

That being said, Aidan and Hester are sympathetic characters who deserve their inevitable happy ending and the journey there is a pleasant and atmospheric read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for gifting me the digital copy of The Hollywood Governess.