The Hollywood Governess is a compelling historical romance set against the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood. Hester’s character is strong and relatable, and the dynamic between her and the brooding, grief-stricken Aidan is intriguing, with plenty of emotional tension. The setting is vivid, and the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Hollywood of the time adds depth to the story. While the romance is heartfelt, the plot sometimes feels a bit predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. Nonetheless, it’s a captivating read with a well-executed atmosphere and a twist that will keep you hooked. A solid and enjoyable historical romance.

Lovely story with realistic characters and an engaging storyline with a little bit of intrigue!
Really enjoyed reading this. Took some as the opening was a little bit slow

Hollywood 1937. Aiden Neil's wife was found dead in a swimming, she was only 30 years old. Mourning the loss with him is his 7 year old, Erin. He is a star of the silver screen as was his wife Dinah Doyle. The secrets behind her death are not known, but speculation runs rampant by the Hollywood reporters and gossip mongers. Needing a governess for his daughter, he hires Hester Carlyle, a governess with good credentials who happens to live in England. Bringing her over from England, Hester makes the perfect governess. However, she has problems of her own, including a horrendous scar on both her face and down one of her arms. Judged by people when they see her causes her lack of security and trepidation. This is a story of love and lives up to the saying "you can't tell a book by its cover." Well written and definitely highly recommended. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1930’s Hollywood, the story of Aidan and Dinah a perfect couple who were beloved to be rock solid.
When the wife has an unexpected accident, Aidan need help raising her daughter, Erin, that’s when Hester Carlyle appears, to take care of the girl, only to find out the truth about the couple.
Compelling story about secrets and love.

Beautifully written story of the Golden Age of Hollywood. A historical fiction story with romance, grief, fame, and secrets. Couldn't put it down!

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.

I read this as a readalong on Instagram for the publisher. This was such an entertaining read, I was so happy to be swept along to 1930s Hollywood along with Hester. She finds herself leaving Yorkshire and taking a job in LA to support her ailing father and her family back home. The life she is dropped into could not be more of a contracts as she finds herself as the English Nanny to Erin daughter of Hollywood a-lister Aidan Neil. What follows is an exploration of the ways of Hollywood through Hesters eyes with prejudice, forbidden love, strait forward talking and self discovery. I really loved this book, it was such an entertaining read

This was an entertaining read and a great debut novel. Hester was easy to love from the very beginning. The writing was engaging and it was exciting to take a peek behind the scenes in the film industry of Hollywood. Even though there were no big surprises, it held my attention until the last pages.

Following her mother’s death and with a father injured in WWI, Hester Carlyle’s work as governess is the only way to keep her family afloat, even if this work means she’s had to alter her own dreams.

It’s 1937 when Hester receives a lucrative governess position. She is hesitant to take the position, since it will take her far from her family in Britain to live in California, to work for a Hollywood celebrity. Hester will have the difficult task of caring for young Erin, soon after her mother’s tragic death, and dealing with the grieving husband, Hollywood celebrity Aidan. A secondary story follows a disgruntled, recently fired screenwriter.

I enjoyed many aspects of the story, and especially the glimpses into the early days of Hollywood and the pressure to maintain a perfect façade for fans. It was especially interesting to observe this world through the eyes of a British nanny who has no interest in the movie industry, and whose own insecurities cause her discomfort in a world based on physical beauty.

Less interesting were elements of the story line that pulled me out of 1937 and felt much more contemporary. Proclaiming ”Love is love” or railing against the bigotry of 1930s Hollywood moguls who didn’t willingly accept their actors to live an openly gay lifestyle felt out of place, and dragged me out of an otherwise well-constructed period story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

The book was based in Hollywood in 1930’s about a forbidden love. The book goes into challenging loss and crushing secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will recommend to other. If you want a book that will stick with you, you found it

Hester, a Padgett governess, takes a job in Los Angeles to save her family home. Will the scars of her past, both physical and emotional, change the course of her life, and the Hollywood movie star widower and his daughter?

The Hollywood Governess is a fantastic romantic historical fiction; if I could rate it more highly I would! I absolutely fell in love with the characters, especially the daughter of the male main character.

Storyline wise, I found it superb. As a fan of historical fiction, I felt as though I was transported to the glitz and (not so!) glamour of early Hollywood with every page.

I really hope more historical romance books are written by this author as I would read them in a heartbeat!

The golden age of Hollywood is perfectly presented in this lovely story which takes us right into the heart of the movie industry. In the 1930s, Hollywood was a place of secrets and with the heads of studios calling all the shots every actor was under a strict contractual obligation. Into this glittering world comes Hester Carlyle, a sensible Yorkshire governess, who has been employed by the handsome actor Aidan Neil to look after his 7 year old daughter, Erin. Erin's actress mother has died in tragic circumstances and Hester is employed to bring some stability into the child's life. What then follows is a lovely story which looks in detail into the life of the charismatic but troubled Aidan Neil and as the secrets surrounding his marriage to the beautiful Dinah Doyle are revealed, so we discover more about the man behind the celluloid image.

Beautifully recreating old Hollywood with all its glitz and glamour this is a story to treasure. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, especially Hester, who has insecurities of her own but who is determined to do the best she can for Erin and Aidan. The Hollywood backdrop during the golden age of movies is inspired and whilst this is a fictional recreation of Tinseltown it emphasises the power and control of the movie companies. There's a lovely warmth to the story and I think the author has captured the essence of the era well, even to dropping in the names of a few famous actors.

With a hint of forbidden secrets and with a heartwarming love story at its core, The Hollywood Governess is a commendable debut novel from an exciting new historical fiction writer.

This is a perfect historical romance! I love the characters and the complex relationships. I love Erin’s attitude to life!
The plot is brilliant. It’s easy to read as it moves along smoothly and it contains enough surprises to stay interesting.
I love the atmosphere of the 30s Hollywood and I especially love the romance that feels real and original enough to not get boring or unbelievable.
All in all, a brilliant romantic story with serious bits mixed in! I loved every word!

*Copy received from publisher via NetGalley

was really looking forward to this. I’m fascinated by Hollywood. I was also looking forward to the experience of a character with scarring. I enjoyed the first few chapters and then just felt lost. The book is very highly detailed. The writing style is too wordy and I couldn’t keep track of what was happening.

I took part in the readalong for the book on August 31 2024.

I sadly just felt pulled out of the story. I couldn’t concentrate on it and the book wasn’t for me. DNF.

Thanks to Alexandra Weston and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Overall 4,5*

As a debut novelist in this genre, Alexandra Weston has written a beautiful story about Hollywood and all of its glamour and the pit falls too. I enjoyed the romance and loved being transported back to an era where there were basically no phones and very few planes and where everything took so much longer to happen. It flows easily and reminded me in parts of Jane Eyre which was no bad thing for me as it is my favourite book!! There were sections that I worked out early on however that didn't detract from the story. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the e-copy to review.

This was the perfect combination of family life, romance, and Hollywood intrigue in the late 1930s. I loved Hester and her approach to life and how she helps Erin cope with grief. While the romance sneaks up on Hester and Aidan, it was still well developed and heartwarming. I also enjoyed the look at the movie industry at that time and the various intricacies that went into the making of movies considering social mores. The mystery of what happened to Dinah was fascinating. I enjoyed everything about this book and look forward to more by this author.

Like the "wizard of Oz", this book pulls back the curtains on how movie studios are the puppeteers and controllers of their big screen names and how little glamour it really is. The Hollywood Governess is a historical fiction novel that uses the glam of Hollywood to create a story about grief and love and life from the eyes of an English Governess who takes a job in California as the woman who will help raise little Erin after her mother dies.

But Hester doesn't just come to give structure to Erin's day, she finds herself taking on the emotional inner torment that the famous Aidan Neil holds deep inside of him. Somehow she finds herself pulled into not just being a balm in little Erin's life but also her new boss.

Told with Hollywood as it's backdrop, there are secrets from all of the characters that unfold. Grief and self pain also find a spot in the way the characters are created.

It was a historical fiction "lite" where the reader won't have to dig into a 700 page wordy HF novel. Totally enjoyable and so grateful to Boldwood books for letting me join this read along!

This was a vivid story of emotions and longing in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Weston did a great job of blending just enough mystery to keep me turning pages while trying to figure out what really happened before the novel's story began that haunts the characters. Add to this tension of a forbidden romance and the insecurities of feeling Othered in the hyper created world of Hollywood and you have a great weekend read.

I read “The Hollywood Governess” by Alexandra Weston. I enjoyed the book. There were unexpected twists & turns along with personal issues, romance, and a peek into the world of Hollywood in the 1930’s! The characters and setting were well developed and made for a very good book.

This was my first book by Alexandra Weston, but I will look for other books by her.

I rated THE HOLLYWOOD GOVERNESS 4/5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in 1930’s Hollywood, Alexandra Weston paints a vivid picture of the glamour and complicated dynamics. The brilliant writing creates the sense of time and place beautifully, it captivates and dazzles on every page!

I was rooting for the completely endearing Hester the whole way! We see her struggles with her scars, both on the inside and out, as she tries to reconcile her traumatic past. Her family depend on her financially and her latest posting catapults her into the wealthy world of Hollywood working for a family dealing with grief. She soon realises the golden facade hides much beneath its shiny surface.

Enter Aiden who is charm personified. He’s charismatic, kind but often brooding and Hester senses a sadness in him. He is very protective of the sweet and adorable Erin who is a ray of sunshine bursting off the pages. I really enjoyed spending time with these characters.

Historical romance fans rejoice as you are in for a treat with this stunning read filled with heartbreak, forbidden love, angst and ultimately love. I adored their interactions as they really get to know each other and support one another. They can be their true selves and open up to each other which was great to see.

The Hollywood Governess is an absorbing and entertaining story where feelings are hidden, mystery and surprises pervade, and twists are guaranteed. Such an enjoyable read!

With thanks to @NetGalley for the review copy.