The Socialites

‘[I] absolutely loved this fictional take on some of the most legendary women of Hollywood's Golden Age! Perfect for books clubs.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley Reviewer

For fans of Fiona Davis, Kathleen Tessaro and Taylor Jenkins Reid in the most enlightening and exciting bookclub read of the year!

‘An atmospheric narrative of young women pushing boundaries and defying expectations… truly unforgettable’ Caroline Cauchi, bestselling author of Mrs Van Gogh

One ordinary school. Three extraordinary women …

In the 1920s, three young girls enter a strict, cheerless convent school in a quiet London suburb.

Six years later they leave, to change the world …

Maureen was the movie star, whose role as Tarzan’s Jane helped rewrite the rules of cinema censorship.

Sonia was the aspiring writer who became George Orwell’s wife and the guardian of his literary legacy.

And Vivien was the actress as iconic as the roles she played, from Cleopatra to Scarlett O’Hara.

Together their careers encompassed glamour and tragedy, triumph and scandal. From Bloomsbury to Hollywood, and from the cafés of Paris to the theatres of New York, this novel is a breath-taking epic spanning four decades in three unforgettable lives.

See what real readers are saying about Caroline Lamond’s writing:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Well written and told from the point of view of the characters, this is an engaging story and gives the reader a glimpse of the heady world of theatre, film and society in the time of the star studded movie era'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written and researched… a joy to read’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A highly engaging tale’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was hooked from the first page…’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Really reminded me of City of Girls, the lifestyle, the glamour but also the tenderness… Wonderful!’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A highly engaging tale’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely fantastic, unputdownable…'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A moving and at times heartbreaking story'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Sad, happy and frustrating at times this novel pulls on all emotions’

‘An enticing parallel portrait, of women endeavouring to be heard in a glittering but masculine era’ Mandy Robotham, international bestselling author

‘An extraordinary story’ Georgia Kaufmann, author of The Dressmaker of Paris

‘An engaging portrait of an indomitable woman at the heart of Golden Age Hollywood’ Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Manhattan Girls

Reviews

'A vivid and cleverly realised story of ambition, friendship, and rebellion. Lamond crafts an atmospheric narrative of young women pushing boundaries and defying expectations, delivering a beautifully compelling and truly unforgettable read.’ Caroline Cauchi, bestselling author of Mrs Van Gogh

About the author

Caroline is originally from Yorkshire and spent a year living in Paris before reading PPE at Oxford University. She trained as an actress then fell into a career in finance, going on to write various commercial fiction novels under various pseudonyms.

Caroline lives in London with her husband and two young children. When not writing, she's mostly reading, travelling and aspiring to have a life as interesting as the women she writes about.