In this classical mix of fact and fiction, Caroline Lamond, cleverly introduces the reader to the early lives of three well-known Hollywood legends, Maureen O'Sullivan, Sonia Brownell and Vivian Leigh.

Each of these women is a legend in their own right:
O'Sullivan's (apparently) racy role in the early Tarzan films, had a lasting impact on censorship rules in Hollywood
Brownell safeguarded and helped to build the legacy of Orwell as we know it today
Leigh was truly one of the early icons of Hollywood, and known for her relationships, as much as her performances on screen.

We meet each woman as a young girl, and even then, they stand out for their strength and determination. Yet, no one could imagine the tribulations they would face in the years to come as they faced the world media.

The Socialites is an epic tale of endurance, where historical fiction and fact combine to create a compelling story.

The Socialites is a masterful fictional retelling of the lives of three women whose careers left an indelible mark on history. Set against the backdrop of a strict convent school in 1920s London, this captivating book follows Maureen, Sonia, and Vivian—three young girls who form a bond during their formative years in an oppressive environment, later stepping into lives filled with glamour, heartbreak, and extraordinary achievements.

Maureen O'Sullivan rose to fame as Tarzan’s Jane, breaking cinematic boundaries and redefining censorship rules in Hollywood. Sonia Brownell, who became George Orwell’s wife, played a pivotal role in safeguarding his literary legacy. And Vivian Leigh, whose spellbinding performances in Gone With the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire solidified her as an icon of the silver screen, navigated a life filled with triumphs and personal struggles, including her tumultuous marriage to Sir Laurence Olivier.

The book captures the glitz and scandal of Hollywood, the intellectual fervour of Bloomsbury, and the vibrancy of Parisian cafés and New York stages, spanning four decades and weaving together the trials and tribulations of these three fascinating women. While their careers were marked by success, their lives were shadowed by lies, infidelities, alcoholism, and tragedy, painting a vivid picture of the sacrifices and complexities of fame.

Blurring the line between fact and fiction, the narrative offers readers an intimate glimpse into the lives of these women, exploring the dynamics of their friendships and the pressures they faced as they navigated personal and professional worlds.

With its rich storytelling and evocative prose, The Socialites is a compelling epic that will resonate with fans of historical fiction, biographies, and stories of resilience in the face of adversity. This captivating reimagining ensures that the legacies of these three extraordinary women continue to inspire and intrigue.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

An interesting take on a mix of fact and fiction around the lives of three eminent women. Can be difficult to follow at times.

Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for the copy 💕

For me I just don't think it was really my type of book that I'd enjoy, but I did give it a go and for the most part it was good enough for me to keep going. I really liked reading about the different dramas the women had in their lives as well as how it showed the reader their lives from childhood onwards.

The Socialites is an ambitious historical novel that brings to life the intertwined fates of three remarkable women whose careers spanned across the worlds of cinema, literature, and theater. Set against the backdrop of 1920s London, the story follows Maureen, Sonia, and Vivien, who leave the strict confines of a convent school and go on to change the course of history in their respective fields.

Maureen, the film star whose portrayal of Tarzan’s Jane redefined cinema, Sonia, George Orwell’s wife and literary executor, and Vivien, the legendary actress known for roles like Cleopatra and Scarlett O'Hara, are all fascinating figures. Wilson does an excellent job of capturing the complexities of their lives—of glamour and tragedy, success and scandal—without resorting to mere celebrity gossip.

The novel offers a sweeping view of their careers, from the intellectual circles of Bloomsbury to the glitz of Hollywood and the bohemian cafés of Paris. The pacing is mostly engaging, though at times, the sheer breadth of the narrative can feel overwhelming. Still, Wilson’s prose is vivid and evocative, transporting the reader across continents and decades.

While the book is deeply rooted in historical events, it doesn’t shy away from portraying the personal and often tumultuous lives of its protagonists. The intersections of their careers with pivotal moments in history—cinema censorship, political upheaval, and wartime challenges—add layers of depth to their stories.

The Socialites is a captivating read for those interested in the dramatic lives of women who left a lasting legacy in their fields. Wilson’s portrayal of these complex, flawed, and extraordinary women is both heartfelt and unflinching. The book earns a solid 4/5 for its ambition, depth, and narrative scope. It’s a breathtaking epic that successfully blends history, personality, and drama into one unforgettable read.

Such an interesting, entertaining read, and I really had so much fun with it. I found all three stories to be very fascinating, and the writing made it so easy to read; whenever I picked it up, I really couldn't put it down. It felt a little disjointed and confusing at times, but it was always easy enough to slip back into the story and fully enjoy it. I do think there was so much to tell that it makes the pacing feel a little weird at times, as if we're rushing through certain things just so we can get to others. Overall, I really loved diving into these three women's stories and watching how each of them carved their paths in ways that were so similar, yet so incredibly different; and as someone who is very interested in both literature and cinema/theater, it was a really interesting insight on those world as well, especially with Maureen and Vivien, whose stories I found myself gravitating towards more.

This novel follows the story of three women, Maureen, Vivian, and Sonia. Truth be told, this book was simply okay. The beginning of the story was the most compelling part. I enjoyed Vivian and Maureen’s silly school girl antics, but once they were grown their stories were just okay. I wouldn’t tell someone to not check it out, but I would tell them to not expect anything crazy and compelling.

Wow. What a great read. Three strong women who just happened to be at convention school together. Whilst I’d obviously heard of Vivienne Leigh and Gone with the Wind the rest of her story was new to me. Beautifully written.

The story follows the lives of three girls, who meet at a strict convent school & we follow them through to their adulthood, following four decades.
They are all different but so similar.
We learn of their experiences, struggles
success & fame.

I feel it was sometimes difficult, to connect the characters, due to three P.OV's.
The reader gets fully emmersed in one story, for it to then, quickly move onto the next persons story, in the next chapter.
The connection between them all comes together in the end, leaving the reader wanting more.

Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Socialites by Caroline Lamond is a treat for any fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood, inspired as it is by the lives of actresses Vivien Leigh and Maureen O' Sullivan as well as Sonia Brownwell who was the second wife of novelist George Orwell. When the author learned that these three women attended the same school for several years it became a jumping off point for her to follow them over the course of their lives and careers from girlhood through career successes and personal triumphs and tragedies. Well written and with fascinating source material to work with, it is no surprise that I very much enjoyed reading about these women. From boarding school pranks to Hollywood glamour and scandal the author certainly kept my attention and I enjoyed the writing style very much indeed. I found that Vivien's and Maureen's chapters held my interest more that Sonia's did and at first I thought it was because I knew a little about them before picking up the book, but as I read on I realised it was because the friendship between them and their similar careers meant that their stories were more intertwined while the chapters from Sonia's perspective almost felt like a detour from the main story and that disconnect meant that I was always eager to get back to the other perspectives. It is a shame because there is no doubt that Sonia had an interesting life of her own but it just did not fit quite as neatly into the overall narrative of the book. All that being said I think the author had a great idea and executed it well and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to readers who enjoyed books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, or in picking up another book by this author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. Kinda bored about the continuous stories about Hollywood but this one was quite good. Was pretty well written.

In 1922, three young girls are students at a catholic convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton, London, Vivian Hartley, Maureen O’Sullivan and Sonia Brownell.

The narrative is about the lives of actresses Vivien Leigh and Maureen O'Sullivan and Sonia Orwell an aspiring writer and the widow of George. Their childhood friendship, what happened to them after they left the convent school and one of them was expelled, and it covers their careers as budding actresses, getting a movie contract in Hollywood, their successes and disappointments, what it was like the be famous and the pressure put on older screen sirens, marriages and infidelity, their struggles with fame and fortune, tragedy and loss.

You really get a sense of what it’s like to be an actress in Hollywood, of course I have watched Gone with the Wind and yet I didn’t know a lot about Vivien Leigh and Maureen O’ Sullivan was Irish and starred in the early Tarzan movies and preformed with Laurence Oliver and Greta Garbo. Sonia was the second wife of George Orwell, she was born in Calcutta, and she worked as an assistant to Cyril Connolly who started the magazine Horizon and that's how she met her husband.

I received a copy of The Socialites from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for an honest review. Caroline Lamond writes about three women who all went to the same convent school as children and became famous in their own right and the ups and down of their lives.

I really enjoyed the first three quarters of the historical fiction book, but found my concentration and enthusiasm was waning by the last quarter of the novel and I think the issue was it was simply too long. Set in London, Hollywood, Paris and New York and I really enjoyed reading about Vivien Leigh and her life and four stars from me and loved Ms. Lamond's previous book Well Behaved Women.

Thanks to OneMore Chapter for my ARC

We follow the lives of three girls at a Catholic boarding school. Two of them became famous actresses in Hollywood and on the London stage, while the third mingled with notable literary and art circles in London. The book provides thoroughly enjoyable insights into their lives and fame, revealing connections I didn't know existed. I have found this to be a very interesting read and have enjoyed following the girls on their journeys. My f
favourite part of the book has to be the letters.
#BookReview #Hollywood #LondonStage #CatholicBoardingSchool #LiteraryLife #ArtCircles #FascinatingRead #ARC #OneMoreChapter #Letters

A compelling, fascinating look into the lives of two iconic actresses and the wife of George Orwell. This book is mainly about the lives and tragedies of Vivien Leigh and Maureen O'Sullivan. Vivien Leigh eventually married Sir Laurence Olivier, Maureen O'Sullivan Married John Farrow, and Sonia married George Orwell.

Maureen, Vivian (the original spelling of her name), and Sonia meet in a harsh convent school in England and become good friends, or so it would seem. Remember that this is a fictional retelling of their lives.

This book deals with the trials and tribulations of two up-and-coming actresses: one who goes on to win an Oscar for Gone With the Wind and the other who makes a career out of playing Jane in the Tarzan series.

Their lives were filled with lies, booze infidelities, and tragedies.

It is a captivating read, though a little boring in places. It will pull you in, especially if you like books about strong and famous women.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher One More Chapter, the author, and NetGalley.

The Socialites is about three girls in a very strict convent school in the outskirts of London. These three girls share their teenage years, and the story follows them through adulthood. These three girls, become the women we know as Hollywood legends: Maureen O'Sullivan, Vivian Leigh, and Sonia Orwell. Caroline Lamond fantastic writing brought these women to life and left me research more about their stories!

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter!

Set in the 1920s, Maureen O'Sullivan, Vivian Leigh, and Sonia Orwell all attend the same strict convent school. The girls dream of a normal kife and the possibilities that could open up for them when they have graduated. Maureen becomes a movie star, Sonia becomes a writer and marries George Orwell, and becomes an actress playing iconic roles.

The story is written around a time period where sexism was widespread for women. The story is based on Vivian Leigh, Maureen O'Sullivan and Sonia Orwell. They met when they were at a strict convent school. This is a captivating look at their struggles to achieve fame. It wasn't always easy to keep their name in the spotlight.

The story is told from Vivian, Maureen and Sonia's perspectives. I reading the parts about Sonia Orwell as I didn't know much about her.

Published 1st January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #CarolineLanond for my ARC of TheSocialities inn exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful adventure this was! I still am in awe of the fact that these characters are based off of actual people and how serendipitous it felt that the three girls went to school together.

The phrasing and writing is this book was second to none ('unblemished as a conscience after a confession') and the writing style was so moreish and addictive to read. I loved how much effort and care was put into setting the scene of the boarding school and capturing the essence of these characters most significant time together (as they spent most of their later adulthood apart with only a couple of reunions here and there). In particular, I really loved the scene where it felt like the girls discovered boys for the first time at boarding school. It felt so childlike and innocent but equally so funny from an adult's perspective but that attention to detail specifically added so much realism and texture to the boarding school experience that was being painted. Another moment that felt super nostalgic and accurate to being a kid was when the boy looks at Viv and everyone starts teasing her and saying 'he truly loves you. You will kiss him and have babies together'. This simple view of life and funny hyperbole felt like the perfect snapshot of growing up.

Lamond's ability to write context into the world building was so enjoyable to read and done so effortlessly. For instance, I thought it was so interesting how she showed the racial climate of the time by mentioning the Jim Crow laws on segregation in the context of the film awards. This unique application was such a good way of showing a sign of the times and racial discrimination that occurred whilst still feeling incredibly relevant to the characters and their lives.

Viv and Maureen's upbringing was so interesting to read and felt like they came from such different backgrounds but somehow still encountered shades of similar turmoil and struggle later on in life. Watching Maureen mature and outgrow Ireland into the limelight was really fun to read it felt like such a gradual coming of age that was marked by this whirlwind adventure of her discovering her new life in America. Her relationship with John was fascinating and also so entertaining. to read because it was written so well. The deterioration of their relationship was written wonderfully and I felt so much heart break and tragedy for how poorly Maureen was treated by John. Despite this, Maureen's ability to survive and her toughness despite all the suffering sent her way was so inspiring to read.

I also really enjoyed reading Viv's character, she is undeniably charming and confident and such a strong force of nature that her perspective was so much fun to dive into.

My main criticism was Sonia's character, I didn't feel as attached to her narrative as I did to Viv and Maureen's. I suspect that my disconnect from her character may have been because we hear of Viv in Maureen's POV and vice versa but Sonia felt quite separate from them both. Also, in the pacing, I found the time jump from part two to three a bit confusing and abrupt. The pacing overall though did feel a little slow. I also found the parallels between Maureen and Viv's lives with them both being actresses and all the infidelity woven into everyone's timeline a little confusing and I sometimes felt I got them muddled up. The birth of Michael also felt remarkable short and almost rushed in the plot. I also think the third person's perspective restricted how well I felt I got to know the characters. It would've been nice to get under their skin a little more as they all did live pretty interesting and fast paced lives. The letter writing was a really nice touch to push the narrative in a refreshing format, so I enjoyed that.

Reminiscent of 'Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' and was equal parts glamorous and devastating. This book covered wide variety of themes ranging from love, fame and motherhood to sisterhood and tragedy. There was also such a multidimensional portrait of loss that really captured every element from losing loved ones to the loss of dreams and expectations.

This is interesting historical fiction based on the lives of three real women- Vivian Leigh Maureen Sullivan and Sonia Orwell-who meet as teens at school. It follows their journeys both personal and professional through the tumult of the years. Because it's telling three stories none of them are as in depth as you might like but it's a good conceit under the circumstances. This sent me off to look for more info not only on the women but also on those in their orbits. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A fascinating true story about the lives of 3 friends in a Catholic boarding school . 2 became famous actresses in Hollywood and the London stage, the 3rd mixed in famous literary and art circles in London. Thoroughly enjoyable reading of their lives and fame, making connections I didn't know existed.

A historical fiction novel following along Maureen O'Sullivan, Vivien Leigh, and Sonia Orwell' lives after all three women attended the same strict convent school in London in the 1920s.

Such an interesting, entertaining read, and I really had so much fun with it. I found all three stories to be very fascinating, and the writing made it so easy to read; whenever I picked it up, I really couldn't put it down. It felt a little disjointed and confusing at times, but it was always easy enough to slip back into the story and fully enjoy it. I do think there was so much to tell that it makes the pacing feel a little weird at times, as if we're rushing through certain things just so we can get to others. Overall, I really loved diving into these three women's stories and watching how each of them carved their paths in ways that were so similar, yet so incredibly different; and as someone who is very interested in both literature and cinema/theater, it was a really interesting insight on those world as well, especially with Maureen and Vivien, whose stories I found myself gravitating towards more.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.