A Starlet's Secret to a Sensational Afterlife
JACKET COVER ART © 2023 BY COREY BRICKLEY
A budding starlet and her handsome-but-moody co-star go from bitter enemies to reluctant partners when they get tangled up in the disappearance of a beautiful young actress in 1930s Hollywood.
Eighteen-year-old Henrietta arrives in Los Angeles in 1934 with dreams of trading her boring life for stardom.
She’s determined to make it as an actress, despite her family’s doubts and rumors of would-be starlets gone missing. And by the skin of her teeth, she pulls it off! A serendipitous job offer arrives and Henrietta finds herself on a whirlwind publicity tour for a major film role—with a vexingly unpleasant actor tapped by the studio to be her fake boyfriend.
But fierce Henrietta has more in common with brooding Declan than she realizes. They both have gifts that they are hiding, for fear of being labeled strange: he is immune to injury and she can speak to ghosts. Together, they might be the only people in Hollywood who can do something about these poor missing girls. And in doing so . . . they might just fall in love for real.
This whip smart, seductive caper by the author of Murder for the Modern Girl has the perfect combination of romance, vengeance, and a hint of the supernatural, set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Hand to fans of These Violent Delights and My Lady Jane.
A STARLET’S SECRET TO A SENSATIONAL AFTERLIFE
by Kendall Kulper
Publisher: Holiday House
Release Date: May 23, 2023
ISBN 9780823453610
praise for a starlet’s secret to a sensational afterlife
“Henny is the sister of Murder for the Modern Girl’s Ruby, but this novel stands completely on its own; Henny follows in Ruby’s footsteps as another confident, savvy heroine in a glamorous dress navigating a world full of powerful, Weinstein-esque men chewing up hopeful young women and spitting them out. Henny and Declan’s sharp, funny banter and earnest chemistry provide the heart and spine throughout the gruesome mysteries and supernatural thrills of another superb novel from Kulper.” -The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Full of high-stakes tension, this exploration of what happens when powerful men don’t get what they want will resonate with ongoing conversations about women’s vulnerability in the entertainment industry. Refreshingly, Henny is no damsel in distress, and the simmering enemies-to-lovers romance with Declan, whose hard exterior disguises a heart of gold, is rewarding… An atmospheric page-turner with real-world resonance.” - Kirkus
“Kulper delivers an action-packed mystery replete with witty dialogue and buoyed by an ardent, slow-burn romance that enthralls while spotlighting Hollywood’s long history of abusing, commodifying, and discarding women.” -Publisher’s Weekly
A Junior Library Guild Gold Star Selection!
“Kulper returns with another gripping mystery novel that also features romance and action among the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood. Readers will find familiar themes of harassment in Hollywood, hearkening to modern-day issues such as the #MeToo movement. The mystery component keeps the pages turning as the two main characters grow closer and work toward a resolution.” -Booklist
“Told in alternating chapters, this fast-paced mystery twists and turns, providing snippets of real 1934 history to bring the story to life. While savvy readers will see through most of the red herrings, the snappy dialogue and a humdinger of a final plot twist offer a satisfying read. Most characters are cued white. Best friend Pep Perez is Latino. VERDICT An exciting addition to any high school mystery or historical fiction collection.” -School Library Journal