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Table of Contents
About The Book
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in this sweeping dual-timeline novel about old Hollywood secrets and a second chance romance that refuses to stay buried.
When Margot DuBois returns to her late grandmother’s house, she plans to sell it quickly and retreat to the safe, predictable life she’s built, far removed from the writing career that once defined her…and the failure that followed. But in the attic, she finds eight unlabeled cassette tapes. With no way to play them, she turns to the one person she swore she’d never need again—Leo, her first love and first epic heartbreak. He agrees to help on one condition: he gets to listen, too. The voice on the tapes belongs to comedy legend Vivian Stone. Why did she record these and how did Margot’s grandmother get them?
As Vivian’s story unfolds, it traces a dazzling rise through old Hollywood, a forbidden love with the industry’s leading man, and a career fueled by ambition in a misogynistic studio system. But behind the glamour lies a truth she never escaped: a single choice that changed everything. As Margot and Leo are pulled deeper into Vivian’s past, they’re forced to confront their own. Because some stories aren’t meant to stay hidden. And some loves deserve a second chance.
For fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Fiona Davis, The One and Only Vivian Stone is a story about the ways our pasts make us who we are and how it’s never too late to start over.
"Intriguing, sparkling with wit, and suspenseful in all the right places." —Abby Jimenez
When Margot DuBois returns to her late grandmother’s house, she plans to sell it quickly and retreat to the safe, predictable life she’s built, far removed from the writing career that once defined her…and the failure that followed. But in the attic, she finds eight unlabeled cassette tapes. With no way to play them, she turns to the one person she swore she’d never need again—Leo, her first love and first epic heartbreak. He agrees to help on one condition: he gets to listen, too. The voice on the tapes belongs to comedy legend Vivian Stone. Why did she record these and how did Margot’s grandmother get them?
As Vivian’s story unfolds, it traces a dazzling rise through old Hollywood, a forbidden love with the industry’s leading man, and a career fueled by ambition in a misogynistic studio system. But behind the glamour lies a truth she never escaped: a single choice that changed everything. As Margot and Leo are pulled deeper into Vivian’s past, they’re forced to confront their own. Because some stories aren’t meant to stay hidden. And some loves deserve a second chance.
For fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Fiona Davis, The One and Only Vivian Stone is a story about the ways our pasts make us who we are and how it’s never too late to start over.
"Intriguing, sparkling with wit, and suspenseful in all the right places." —Abby Jimenez
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (July 22, 2025)
- Length: 368 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668074848
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Raves and Reviews
“O’Connor brings a rich world to life through Vivian’s distinct voice, along with vivid descriptions of the characters and the era’s fashions...Recommend to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.”
– Library Journal
“O'Connor bursts onto the scene with her compelling debut, a captivating blend of romance and mystery that will keep readers eagerly turning pages.”
– Booklist
"Vivian Stone is intriguing, sparkling with wit, and suspenseful in all the right places."
– - Abby Jimenez, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer
"Gorgeously written, and with the kind of pacing that makes reading it as easy as breathing, this took me on an emotional journey that echoed for weeks afterward. I inhaled it in less than a day and can't wait to see what Melissa O'Connor does next."
– —Shaylin Gandhi, author of When We Had Forever
"Captivating and enthralling, O’Connor charms in this sparkling debut. With all the humor of I Love Lucy combined with the dark side of Old Hollywood, THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE is an absolute gem."
– —Alexandra Kiley, author of Kilt Trip
"A perfect read for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Lessons in Chemistry. I was completely transported to the glitz and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Melissa O’Connor is a rising star and I am a fan for life!"
– —Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love
"I invite any reader to step inside the world of THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE, but be warned: you'll have a hard time stepping back out. O'Connor's epic and gripping debut puts us at the center of the ripped-from-the-1950s-headlines life of Vivian Stone, from her origins as a struggling actress facing impossible choices to her coronation as America's Sweetheart. This book has everything I could want in a sweeping novel—drama, friendship, love, humor, and a deep dedication to telling stories that show full, complex people pursuing their dreams with their hearts wide open. I loved this book!"
– —Sarah T. Dubb, author of BIRDING WITH BENEFITS
"Immersive, vivid, and wistfully nostalgic, THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE is a poignantly beautiful story of the span of connection. Like THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO before it, this book transports readers back to the best and worst parts of Hollywood's golden era."
– —Neely Tubati Alexander, author of LOVE BUZZ and IN A NOT SO PERFECT WORLD
"Melissa O'Connor brings the charming Vivian Stone to life with her beautiful writing and insightful characterization. Take a journey through past and present as you get lost in the glamour and pitfalls of old Hollywood, where romance, heartbreak, secrets, and The One and Only Vivian Stone herself, will sweep you off your feet."
– —Nisha J. Tuli, international bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen
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Book Cover Image (jpg): The One and Only Vivian Stone
eBook 9781668074848
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