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3.5 

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

By Crystal Smith Paul
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

REESE'S BOOK CLUB MAY 2023 PICK

A multigenerational saga that traverses the glamour of old Hollywood and the seductive draw of modern-day showbiz

When Kitty Karr Tate, a White icon of the silver screen, dies and bequeaths her multimillion-dollar estate to the St. John sisters, three young, wealthy Black women, it prompts questions. Lots of questions.

A celebrity in her own right, Elise St. John would rather focus on sorting out Kitty’s affairs than deal with the press. But what she discovers in one of Kitty’s journals rocks her world harder than any other brewing scandal could—and between a cheating fiancé and the fallout from a controversial social media post, there are plenty.

The truth behind Kitty's ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the segregated South threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of the St. John sisters and those closest to them.

As Elise digs deeper into Kitty's past, she must also turn the lens upon herself, confronting the gifts and burdens of her own choices and the power that the secrets of the dead hold over the living. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is a sprawling page-turner set against the backdrop of the Hollywood machine, an insightful and nuanced look at the inheritances of family, race, and gender—and the choices some women make to break free of them.

72 Reviews

3.5
Surprised Face with Open Mouth“Miss Kitty Karr was a true icon. I enjoyed the dual pov and how there were clues sprinkled throughout that all lead to something. This book explored passing in a way I haven’t seen done before. I would have loved a lil copy of that ledger to keep track of all the folks, but it seems maybe that was the point… this life of never truly revealing yourself is a hard one to keep up with.”
Diverse charactersComplexHistorically-accurateWell-researchedThought-provokingRacismSexual assaultViolence
Thinking Face“I had a great time reading this tbh. The back and forth between the different timelines and the mystery of Kitty’s identity kept me coming back for more. I also loved the characters arcs and all the themes that were included. I can’t wait to see what Crystal comes up w for her next book 👏🏽👏🏽”
Believable charactersConversationalEasy to readComplexHistorically-accurateInformativeThought-provokingRacismSexual assault
Thinking Face“I normally do not read historical fiction. It makes me angry the majority of the time. This book caused a lot of emotions. However, it kept my attention. I was glad to see the characters mature and the fact that they were not portrayed as brainless was great. Knowing my own family history, that I grew up in that area, and I recognize some of the locations mentioned, made it easier to figure out.”
Believable charactersCharacters change and growDiverse charactersLikable charactersMulti-layered charactersRelatable charactersConciseAddictiveComplexTwisty
Thinking Face“The author did a beautiful job of weaving in history with the fictional storylines, thus making it quite relatable and eye-opening. It allowed me to learn more about what it meant for women to pass, and encourages me to do more research. While reading, I found Kitty's story to be more enthralling and exciting. Elise's story was a good addition as it allows the reader to see how slavery and jim crow continues to impact families, as well as how it shows up today. I recommend it and will reread it.”
Morally ambiguousMulti-layered charactersHistorically-accurateImmersive settingRealistic settingWell-researchedThought-provokingUnsatisfying ending
Thumbs Up“At first I was hesitant the way the author wrote - had a hard time getting into it, but then I couldn’t stopped reading. I love how she developed all the characters and while I felt like the ending started to unravel a bit too quickly I like how she wrapped it up.”
Diverse charactersLikable charactersMorally ambiguousMulti-layered characters

About Crystal Smith Paul

Crystal Smith Paul attended Spelman College and UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and received her master’s in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is her first novel.

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