PLUS you can read an excerpt at the end of the interview!

Hi, Eliza! When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve always had a love of stories. Even as a child, before I could write, I was making little books with paper and sewing them together with yarn. I had my first story published in a charity anthology when I was in third grade. I studied journalism in college for two years before realizing my heart wasn’t in reporting, but creating. I wrote stories for fun, as gifts for family and friends. I’ve always had an overactive imagination, a love of words, a love for exploring stories and people. For me, storytelling and writing are as natural as breathing.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Your latest novel, Lost in the Summer of ’69, is out June 9^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Mothers and Daughters, Music, Road-Trip

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a nostalgic read that takes them on an epic road trip, filled with memory-making, music and self-discovery. Eleanor, Leanne and Nora not only discover who they were meant to be, but who each other are. It is a novel of mother and daughter bonding. A summer adventure that they won’t forget, and that will forever change who they are.

Where did the inspiration for Lost in the Summer of ’69 come from?

There were so many ideas filtering through my head that inspired Lost in the Summer of ’69, and after a walk-and-plot with a writer pal of mine, the pieces started to fall into place. Following my novel, Confessions of a Grammar Queen, I knew I wanted to write another book that took place in the 60’s, so I started to do some exploratory research about what happened in that decade of change. I came across the summer of 1969, which was filled with not only music festivals, but other changes in the country, including the first year Yale allowed women to matriculate. I’ve always been fascinated by women’s stories, mothers and daughters, ways we change and empower each other, and I knew I needed to write a generational story. There’s also a thread of exploring stories together and how reading can spark conversation, so you’ll see that in a number of ways. Every novel I write has a little piece of me in it, and that year, there were some personal things going on in my life as well that sparked inspiration and the need to explore—my father-in-law’s battle with Alzheimer’s and my daughter going off to college. As the ideas snowballed, so too did the urgency to write this story.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I really loved writing all of the characters! It was fun to explore what living in the ‘60s in different generations was like, and to explore what each of the women in the story was experiencing and how those experiences would change her. I would have to say some of my favorite scenes were the bonding moments. There’s one that involves changing a tire that I had a lot of fun with, and another one where Eleanor and Leanne are on stage together.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Yes! The biggest challenge while writing the story was not coming up with the story, scenes or characters but the actual physical writing. I have carpal tunnel, and while I was writing this book, I had another book due at the same time, which required more writing than my wrists can handle. So, I turned to dictation to get the first draft written. Let’s just say, I am not good at dictation, lol. It took me probably three times as long to edit this book than any other for that reason. BUT, it did save my wrists in the end, so no regrets! I will say, I likely won’t be using dictation again any time soon.

What’s next for you?

Next up is my August release, Tradwife, under my pen name, Michelle Brandon. But next for Eliza, I’m working on two books. One is a gothic historical, disaster story mashup, and another is a women’s fiction story of self-discovery. I can’t say much more about those two right now, but I’m very excited for them!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I’m currently reading a wonderful book called A Heartbeat at My Feet by Kristin Judd which releases in August. It is a very heartwarming read that also happens to be an adventure and self-discovery book about a woman who takes a once in a lifetime trip to Italy where she ends up rescuing a dog. Another book I loved was Isola by Allegra Goodman which showcases the depths of humanity and survival when an orphaned noblewoman in the 16^th century is abandoned on a wild island. A book I can’t wait to read is The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian, which looks like a fabulously scandalous historical fiction.   

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Will you be picking up Lost in the Summer of ’69? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Eliza Knight, Author of ‘Lost in the Summer of ’69’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Eliza Knight’s Confessions of a Grammar Queen, which is out June 10th 2025.

Bernadette Swift, a young copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, is determined to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry. But first she needs to take the next step up that ladder with a promotion that her boorish and sexist boss wants to thwart. Seeking a base of support, Bernadette joins a feminist women’s book club at the New York Public Library, and soon, she’s inspiring her fellow members to challenge the male gatekeepers and decades of ingrained sexism in their workplaces and pursue their personal and professional dreams.

And that is precisely what Bernedette does on a daily basis: keeps her eye on the prize―equality for women in the workplace, and a promotion―while fending off the ire of her boss and the sabotaging efforts of a jealous coworker. With the support of her book club buddies and a certain charismatic editor at Lenox & Park who has completely fallen for her, maybe, just maybe, Bernadette will prove able to claim victory for herself and the young women coming after her.

“I’m thinking about joining a new book club. It’s just for women, reading female empowering books.” Bernadette leaned over the desk, whispering, “Interested?”

“You bet I am! Will we be reading the Kinsey Reports?” Melanie gave a feigned look of shock.

Bernadette, however, was genuinely shocked, and she struggled to keep her face from showing it. She’d never heard anyone speak about the Kinsey Reports before and knew of them herself only after seeing a brief article about them in the newspaper. Was reading one of them an option for a book club?

“Sexual Behavior in the Human Female,” Melanie whispered behind her hand as she glanced toward the door, which opened for another round of employees. “I’ve been wanting to read it, but I’ve been too nervous to get it from the bookstore.”

Bernadette waited for the elevator to close behind those who’d just arrived, then asked, “Did you read the first report: Sexual Behavior in the Human Male?”

Melanie rolled her eyes. “Who needs to read that? We get a daily sample just walking down the street.”

Bernadette couldn’t help the snort that escaped her. “To be honest, I haven’t read either of them. Maybe we should suggest them to the club. I’ll let you know the day and time.”

Bernadette hurried outside to the small park beside the building. As she sat on the bench, the heat of summer was whisked away by a zephyr that rustled the leaves in the park. She opened her waxed-paper-wrapped sandwich. Today was simple fare: aged cheddar and tomato, with a leaf of lettuce to separate the soggy tomato from the bread.

As she chewed, she contemplated what had happened that morning.

Even with the Equal Pay Act passed earlier in the year, she’d heard rumors that some of her male colleagues were making two-thirds more than she was. If she asked for a raise, Wall wasn’t likely to give it—even though he was quick to give her more work. He’d think she was demanding and ungrateful. She wouldn’t put it past him to pay her less just to spite her. New York was expensive, and as it was, she had a hard time living on her salary. In fact, she was supplementing it by tutoring some of the children in her building and editing papers for university students.

And she didn’t live lavishly. Her small apartment was more of a couple of boxes taped together. When her parents had come to visit for the first time, they’d been horrified she’d be willing to live in such cramped quarters when they had a perfectly good farmhouse in Maryland.

They’d spent the whole trip reminding her she was always welcome to come back home. Her mother had assured her she’d soon find a husband if she just moved back. That her veterinarian father knew plenty of young animal doctors looking for wives. And that was the path some of her fellow graduates had taken, while others decided to pursue careers like Bernadette.

But Bernadette wasn’t going to succeed by getting married even if being unmarried complicated things. In fact, marriage itself was orthogonal to her career aspirations of becoming a CEO. At least in her own mind.

With a few extra minutes and her sandwich scarfed down, Bernadette purchased three pairs of stockings—all pink, two for herself and one for Melanie—then walked past the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue.

It was her favorite place in the city. From the majestic stone lions standing sentry at the bottom of the front steps to the endless shelves full of books inside. Books had always brought her solace, so the library was her metaphorical comfortable chair at the heart of Manhattan.

Comfort: from Latin confortare, also meaning to strengthen. So essentially, the library made her stronger. Who could argue with that?

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Confessions of a Grammar Queen’ by Eliza Knight appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Get ready to look forward to some great fiction book releases in 2025! We’ve rounded up just a few fiction books releasing between January and June from thrillers and historical fiction, to stories of friendship and family, and more. With releases from Megan Collins, Scott Turow, Kate Alice Marshall, Jojo Moyes, Elle Cosimano, Stephen Graham Jones, Alex North, Fredrik Backman, Maggie Stiefvater, and many more, plus those making their debut.

Read on to discover new books hitting shelves in the first half of the year and be sure to check out our other 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Fantasy & Sci-Fi and Young Adult lists.

JANUARY 2025 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Old Soul by Susan Barker

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The Historian meets Under the Skin in this searingly provocative literary horror novel about one woman’s determination to stay alive at any terrifying cost.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

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From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

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Two former serial killers trying to keep their past buried realize that old habits die hard in this “wildly original, razor-sharp thriller” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark).

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson

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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Dead Girl in 2A and The New Neighbor comes a chilling new thriller that forces the question: are murderers always the bad guys?

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

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A billionaire is primed to announce the succession plan for his company to his family at a lavish reunion, but at least one person won’t make it through the week alive. . . Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder. 

Head Cases by John McMahon

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Head Cases follows an enigmatic group of FBI agents as they hunt down a murderer seeking his own justice in this electrifying―and commercial―series debut.

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

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Weaving the women’s stories across multiple timelines, We Rip the World Apart reveals the ways that simple choices, made in the heat of the moment and with the best of intentions, can have deep and lasting repercussions―especially when people stay silent.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins in this electric, voice-driven debut novel about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

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She has his wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature “taut, emotionally charged, and propulsive” (Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author) prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

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A moving story about two very different sisters, and a love letter to childhood, growing up, and the power of imagination—from the bestselling author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space.

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow

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New from the author of Presumed Innocent, the #1 bestseller that redefined the legal thriller and is the basis for Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever.

The Crash by Freida McFadden

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A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

FEBRUARY 2025 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

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A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret―and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

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A young girl must face a life-altering decision after awakening her sister’s ghost, navigating truths about love, friendship, and power as the Civil War looms.

Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham

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This stunning debut novel set in the fascinating world of Cold War Soviet ballet follows the fates of twin sisters whose bond is competitive, complicated, but never broken.

The Garden by Nick Newman

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An eerie, hypnotic, darkly beautiful novel about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world and how their lives unravel when their sanctum is breached, for fans of Piranesi and The Testaments.

The Lamb by Lucy Rose

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From an incendiary new talent, a contemporary queer folktale about a mother and daughter living in the woods, for fans of Angela Carter, Margaret Atwood, and Julia Armfield.

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

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A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

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The #1 New York Times bestselling author, whose books so many love, brings us a fresh, contemporary story of a woman and her unruly blended family.

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

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She found the literary voices that would inspire the world…. The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

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An exclusive thriller writer’s retreat hosted on a private island turns lethal when one of the authors is found murdered.

The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn

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An immersive historical drama about a young mother who starts a new life with her son in New York after faking their deaths on the Titanic—the U.S. debut of acclaimed British novelist Frances Quinn.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

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A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter’s wedding.

Isola by Allegra Goodman

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A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this breathtaking saga, an epic story of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam

MARCH 2025 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley

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New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Susanna Kearsley explores romance, court alliances, and the limits of one’s duty in this rich story of an honorable man in service to a treacherous king, and the mission that brings him to love and his true calling.

Broken Country by Clare Hall

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A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

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Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead

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From the national bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour comes a chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

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Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

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From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave―the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

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A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

Count My Lies by Sophie Stava

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A read-in-one-night suspense thriller narrated by a compulsive liar whose little white lies allow her to enter into the life and comfort of a wealthy married couple who are harboring much darker secrets themselves. For the millions of us still chasing those gone girls, this is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley, and Laura Dave.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

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A chilling historical horror novel set in the American west in 1912 following a Lutheran priest who transcribes the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.

Retreat by Krysten Ritter

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A beautiful con artist insinuates herself into a wealthy socialite’s life . . . with deadly consequences, in this serpentine thriller about identity and obsession, from actress, director and bestselling author Krysten Ritter.

Dissolution by Nicholas Binge

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A woman dives into her husband’s memories to uncover a decades-old feud threatening reality itself in this staggering technothriller from the bestselling author of Ascension.

Early Thirties by Josh Duboff

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A hilarious and painfully relatable debut novel about two thirtysomething best friends’ messy search for connection and love in New York, perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle, Gabrielle Zevin, and Dolly Alderton.

APRIL 2025 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

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The Paris Apartment meets A Simple Favor in an unputdownable thriller about a honeymoon gone horribly wrong.

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

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Sharp Objects meets I Have Some Questions for You in this haunting novel—inspired by a true story—about a crime writer who risks everything as she investigates the mystery of two deaths, decades apart, at a crumbling Vermont orphanage.

Passion Project by London Sperry

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A compassionate and hopeful romantic comedy, Passion Project is a reminder that love is waiting for us to let it in.

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

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A woman learns the astonishing truth of her family’s ties to a vanished American Kingdom in this riveting new novel from the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author of Take My Hand.

Bad Nature by Ariel Courage

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Armed with a terminal diagnosis, a grudge, and a rental car, Hester sets out to fulfill her lifelong dream of killing her father in this brilliantly subversive and bleakly funny debut novel.

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon

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One Day meets a contemporary Bridgerton in this high-drama, escapist wonder of a love story, Paige Toon’s best yet.

A Town with Half the Lights On by Page Getz

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For readers of J. Ryan Stradal and The Music of Bees (with a dash of FX’s The Bear) comes a quirky and refreshing epistolary novel about family of culture-shocked Brooklynites transplanted to Goodnight, Kansas and their fight for their unexpected lifeline: the legendary May Day Diner.

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

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One family. Four generations. A secret son. A devastating addiction. A Texas family is met with losses and surprises of inheritance, but they’re unable to shake the pull back toward each other in this big-hearted family saga perfect for readers of Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo.

Bearer of Bad News by Elisabeth Dini

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A sharply funny and moving debut in which a young woman accepts a job that takes her though the Italian Dolomites and into an international mystery far greater—and more personal—than she could have ever expected.

The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker

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In this spellbinding and provocative novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Miracles, a young mother is struck by sudden and puzzling psychological symptoms that illuminate the mysterious dimensions of the human mind—and of love.

The Murder Show by Matt Goldman

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The Murder Show is a pulse-racing novel about secrets, old friends, and how the past never leaves us by New York Times bestselling and Emmy Award winning author Matt Goldman.

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

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Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

MAY 2025 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Austen At Sea by Natalie Jenner

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Two pairs of siblings, devotees of Jane Austen, find their lives transformed by a visit to England and Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother and keeper of a long-suppressed, secret legacy.

All the Mothers by Domenica Ruta

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From New York Times bestselling author Domenica Ruta comes a heartfelt, hilarious novel about a single mom reimagining what the perfect family can look like.

Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

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A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

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Three middle-aged best friends turn to murder in order to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies…but are unaware that their husbands have a devious plan of their own, in this darkly funny debut—perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

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Mexican Gothic meets The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in Christina Li’s haunting novel about the secrets that lie in wait in the crumbling mansion of a former Hollywood starlet, and the intertwined fates of the two Chinese American families fighting to inherit it.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

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What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost? Combining the magic of Under the Whispering Door with the high-stakes culinary world of Sweetbitter, Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a synesthetic adventure through food and grief.

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers

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Two women haunted by their sisters’ unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.

Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang

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From the author of Natural Beauty, set in the fiercely competitive art world, a novel about an obsessive friendship upended by a cutting-edge technology purported to enhance empathy and connection

My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

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In this spellbinding historical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea and The Wind Knows My Name, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.

The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North

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With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us The Man Made of Smoke. In turn emotional, introspective, and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.

Slaying You by Michelle Gagnon

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A wildly funny thriller about reluctant partners who hit the danger jackpot when they discover that a serial killer is on their heels . . . again.

The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

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The next gripping, atmospheric horror novel from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden, set in a deteriorated, half-sunken freighter ship off the coast of Galveston, TX.

JUNE 2025 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

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From #1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Jewell, an author “at the very top of her game” (Lucy Foley)—three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

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#1 New York Times bestselling novelist Maggie Stiefvater dazzles in this mesmerizing portrait of an irresistible heroine, an unlikely romance, and a hotel—and a world—in peril.

A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle

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A beautifully inventive, tender novel—the author’s first to be published in the U.S.—following two lives as they almost intersect over three heartbreaking yet euphoric decades

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Amazing Grace Adams comes a wryly resonant and deeply moving family dramedy investigating the question so many of us have asked ourselves: do my parents have a favorite?

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

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Kristin Harmel, the New York Times bestselling author who “is the best there is at sweeping historical drama” (Kelly Harms, author of The Seven Day Switch), returns with an electrifying new novel about two jewel thieves, a priceless bracelet that disappears in 1940s Paris, and a quest for answers in a decades-old murder.

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

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Scream meets The Guest List in this wickedly compelling and compulsively page-turning thriller of friendship and murder from the author of The Lost Village, Camilla Sten.

Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight

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There are no female publishing CEOs in 1960’s New York. And that is exactly what savvy, ambitious Bernadette Swift plans to change.

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens

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This is a story of the rich and the very poor. This is a story of an illegal auction with dire consequences. This is a story of murders past and present. This is a story of intertwined relationships and the silent ripples they leave behind, where love becomes a guiding force, revealing the lengths one will go to protect those they cherish.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

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A blistering literary suspense novel about a ghostwriter who is hired to write the last book for her estranged father and finds herself investigating the brutal murder of both his siblings in the summer of 1975.

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

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A hilarious and heartfelt novel about how loves and lives are never truly lost, for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh

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#1 NYT-bestselling YA author Renee Ahdieh’s adult debut novel, about a young lawyer who gets pulled in to manage a crisis with her firm’s biggest client, a family whose Korean beauty brand is worth a billion dollars, pitched as Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession.

What releases are you looking forward to? Any other recommendations for us? Tell us in the comments below!

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Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight’s Can’t We Be Friends, which is available from March 5th 2024.

One woman was recognized as the premiere singer of her era with perfect pitch and tireless ambition. One woman was the most glamorous star in Hollywood, a sex symbol who took the world by storm. And their friendship was fast and firm…

1952: Ella Fitzgerald is a renowned jazz singer whose only roadblock to longevity is society’s attitude toward women and race. Marilyn Monroe’s star is rising despite ongoing battles with movie studio bigwigs and boyfriends. When she needs help with her singing, she wants only the best—and the best is the brilliant Ella Fitzgerald. But Ella isn’t a singing teacher and declines—then the two women meet, and to everyone’s surprise but their own, they become fast friends.

On the surface, what could they have in common? Yet each was underestimated by the men in their lives—husbands, managers, hangers-on. And both were determined to gain. Each fought for professional independence and personal agency in a time when women were expected to surrender control to those same men.

This novel reveals and celebrates their surprising bond over a decade and serves as a poignant reminder of how true friendship can cross differences to bolster and sustain us through haunting heartbreak and wild success.

EXCERPT

My cousin gives me one of her sideways glances—which is damn hard to do when she’s not facing me. Even with her back turned, I can feel her withering glare. “Ms. is writing a huge spread in the August issue about Marilyn.”

Her hand drops to her side. “I’m not going to harm your precious flowers.” She grabs the sliding door handle and jerks it so roughly that I fear she’ll pull it out of the grooves. “The reporter will be here any moment.”

My stomach is in knots. “Don’t act as if it’s news that I dislike talking to reporters. I’ve never liked them.”

“I thought you wouldn’t mind as much this time,” she says.

“I am what I do, Georgiana. I sing. Drilling me about anything more than that is unnecessary. How I feel or felt about Marilyn is my business.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” Georgiana grumbles. “Gloria Steinem isn’t someone to play around with, Ella. I mean, she is the new generation. It wouldn’t hurt for you to have your name appear in a magazine read by these young people.”

I know she will not give in, but I refuse to give up.

“The magazine may or may not last.” She glances over her shoulder. “That’s what Norman said, but what you say about Marilyn will be remembered.”

“When did you talk to Norman?”

“The other day. He heard about the article and mentioned it.”

Norman Granz had been my manager for decades and now lives in Switzerland, but he still keeps tabs on me. “Yes, you’d better. In case I can’t come up with something to say.”

Georgiana rolls her eyes. “Don’t be like that, Ella.”

“Some things I can’t help.”

I watch her walk away, open the sliding door, and step inside the house, and then I start thinking about Marilyn and how we met: the highs and the lows.

Imagine you are in a race, driving a Jaguar at Le Mans, the Grand Prix of Speed and Endurance. To stay ahead of the pack, you turn corners fearlessly, accelerating on the curves, pedal to the metal, and a flat-out sprint on the straightaway. The past can’t catch up when you move that fast. When you are on the go because you know if you stop, you lose.

I don’t stop. Marilyn didn’t want to stop moving, either. Like me, she tried to leave the past on the fairway and the pain in her rearview. Like me, she wanted to keep beating back the memories we shared of lost mothers, evil stepfathers, orphanages, and early marriages that go bad so fast that you think they were a dream.

I never wanted to remember the past. It is a struggle to let go of such a large part of yourself. When I met Marilyn, I was somewhere between the past and present. I was the Queen of Jazz, and she was the Queen of the Silver Screen, but like any successful entertainer, the girl we show outside vastly differs from the girl behind closed doors.

There was no reason for us to have met anywhere other than at the usual spots where the chosen of Hollywood and the music scene gathered—nightclubs, award shows, smoky back rooms where we let down our hair.

But that was not the scene for us. Our meeting was not an accident or a publicity stunt; it was because of a song.

It wasn’t roses and valentines at first. Not for me. I was too busy hanging on to a long-gone love and hiding my failure behind as many live performances or studio sessions as my manager could book. Still, somehow Marilyn found a way in. And I’m not easy. But that girl. Determination should’ve been her nickname. For I swear, she was something else. Reminded me of me. And I think, vice versa, until things, well, until things went haywire.

The doorbell rings. Georgiana opens the sliding glass door.

“She’s here. Do you want me to stay?”

I shove my hand into my skirt pocket and remove a pack of gum. “No, I’m fine. I know what I’m going to say. You tell that reporter she can come on out. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

From Can’t We Be Friends by Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight. Copyright © 2024 by Denny S. Bryce LLC and Eliza Knight. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.  

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How did Adele Astaire first come to your attention, and what inspired you to want to write about her?

Several years ago, when I was doing the research for The Mayfair Bookshop, I discovered a letter from Nancy Mitford to one of her sisters, chatting about how she’d had lunch with a delightful woman named Delly. I thought I knew all of Nancy’s friends, but Delly wasn’t familiar to me. So, I did a research dive—and guess who it was, none other than Adele Astaire, sister to Fred Astaire. At the time, she was the more famous of the two, having made her start in the US Vaudeville circuit and then Broadway in NYC, she was lured to the stage in the West End of London where she promptly became fast friends with socialites, royalty, literary phenoms and more. As often times happens, her name and fame faded into obscurity. I enjoyed so much digging into her life and weaving a story, that I hope you will all delight in as much as I did!

What did the research process involve? 

There are a number of layers of research that goes into writing a book. First, you want to learn everything there is to learn about the person you’re writing about. But you also want to learn everything you can about their friends, their family, the era that they lived in, the places they lived, and what sort of current events were going on at the time. You want to know everything about what they did for fun, what they did for work. What did they eat and drink? What clothes did they wear? What sort of lingo did they use? For Adele, I read biographies about her and her brother. I read Fred’s memoir. I read a book written by Fred Astaire’s son-in-law. I read about jazz music, theater, and the people they called friends. But what was the most fun for me, was the two days I was able to spend at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University’s library. They hold the Adele Astaire Collection, which is filled with letters, receipts, scrapbooks, diaries, newspaper articles and reviews, a costume from the Vaudeville days, and so much more. I was lucky to get the two days with them, given it was in the midst of Covid and they hadn’t been open for nearly the whole year I was writing the book. My research there shifted a lot of scenes in the book, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to go there.

What was the most surprising thing you came across in your research?

There were a number of things that surprised me while researching, like that Adele went through a pair of dancing shoes a week, and that in the early days, her hair was styled to look like a bob but actually came down to her waist. But I think the most fun fact I discovered during my research was that when her and Fred decided they wanted to buy a Rolls Royce—and to have the only one in NYC—instead of using their savings, they just picked up an extra gig of dancing at a night club for 6 weeks after their daily theater performances. They made nearly $30,000 doing so and bought themselves a new car.

Did you draw on any real figures when creating the character of Violet?

Yes! In fact, Violet was a character inspired by Daisy Violet Rose Wood, a music hall singer from Hoxton—which is a neighborhood on the East Side of London. Though she was born about two decades before my fictional Violet Wood, in 1877, and she was famous on stage about a decade before my story takes place. She was one of nine children. (In my original draft, Violet was one of six.) Six of Daisy Wood’s siblings were also performers like her. Due to family circumstances, and marriage, she retired from theater, but only for a short time until their financial circumstances urged her back on stage. She was offered a position as a performer in NYC with some of her sisters, which was received well. And they continued to perform on and off together through the 1930s and 1940s.

Can you speak to the relevance of Adele’s story today?

No matter the generation, I think we are drawn to stories about women who persevered. And Adele was a perfect example of not only persevering and thriving, but of surviving. She started from nothing, and had plenty of setbacks, but continued to push and push. Most of the time, she was ready to show the world her funny side, which wasn’t just a character, it was the very essence of her. She was vibrant, clever, silly and insanely talented. But she also loved fiercely, whether it was her brother, mother, husband, friends or dance itself, she was a force that couldn’t be ignored.

When I think of Adele, I am full of admiration for how much she accomplished in her life, and that is one of the things I wanted to share with the world, this wildly exciting person who is an excellent example of finding, and living, your truth, your passion. Someone who faced fear, put on a brave face and marched forward.

Additionally, and on a not so bright side, is the darker side of the performing world. Much has changed, but much has not. In Adele’s time, women were not always respected for their artistic talents, but seen as playthings. They were beholden to a male authority figure within their particular showbiz field who might expect certain favors, even demand it, because they think it’s their right to take advantage of a woman, or to barter sex for roles. That is still unfortunately something we’re hearing about today. It is an ugly relevance, but one that needs to be addressed.

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