Publisher: 30th March 2022 by Harlequin Australian, HQ & MIRA
Pages: 304 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: romance, historical adult fiction
My Rating: 4 crowns
Synopsis:
In her first novel inspired by a true story, Jane Green re-imagines the life of troubled icon Talitha Getty in this transporting story from a forgotten chapter of the Swinging '60s
From afar Talitha's life seemed perfect. In her twenties, and already a famous model and actress, she moved from London to a palace in Marrakesh, with her husband Paul Getty, the famous oil heir. There she presided over a swirling ex-pat scene filled with music, art, free love and a counterculture taking root across the world.
When Claire arrives in London from her small town, she never expects to cross paths with a woman as magnetic as Talitha Getty. Yearning for the adventure and independence, she's swept off to Marrakesh, where the two become kindred spirits. But beneath Talitha's glamourous facade lurks a darkness few can understand. As their friendship blossoms and the two grow closer, the realities of Talitha's precarious existence set off a chain of dangerous events that could alter Claire's life forever.
My Thoughts
Sister Stardust by Jane Green is a novel that certainly captures all the groovy vibes of the 1960s. It felt like being transported back in time with the gorgeous cover truly capturing all the hippy feels. Jane vividly recreates the classic ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ in this engaging novel.
‘I felt that my life would only begin if I transformed myself into the look of the moment. If only I had known how dangerous it would be.’
This is a biographical fiction story of the infamous Talitha Getty - someone I had not heard of until reading this book. Jane makes her sound so charming, exotic and glamourous, I was furiously googling and finding photos to learn more. Always a positive sign. The fictional character of Claire is your eyes and ears for all that happens in this remarkable time period. What Jane also does, is offer Claire’s journey - literally and figuratively - of what living at this time was like as she thought this to be a world she wanted to belong to and be a part of. It is, in fact, her personal growth through everything she experiences that proves the most engaging - perhaps to come full circle to find the life truly suited to you.
“She is gorgeous, just a spectacular woman. She’s got more life and fire in her than anyone I’ve met.”
Another key aspect is the locations. London and especially Morocco of the 1960s are vibrant places that literally jump off the page. The ambiance of Marrakech is wonderfully captured in all its exotic richness, as are the taxi rides and extreme partying in London in the 1960s. It did, at times, become somewhat exhausting and tiring with names being dropped left, right and centre and all the parties seeming to merge into one drunken stupor.
“Lucky us, getting to spend time in this beautiful city, welcomed by the Moroccans. I adore them, the most welcoming, wonderful people. They’ve made us so at home.”
If you are someone who is obsessed or desires a window into the swinging 60s, then this is most certainly the book for you. There is an overload of celebrities, partying, fashion, drugs and sex in this wealthy madness. Yet at its heart is a coming of age story of a girl from the English countryside who, for a time, travels to Morocco and lives the high life (pardon the pun).
‘Will she understand that those were different times? Is she able to hear the story without judgment? Will she understand what it was like to emerge from the repression of the fifties’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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