Propulsive and entertaining, with broad historical relevance and critical cultural significance, this is the uniquely American story we all need to read―it holds a piece of all of us. I absolutely loved it and will be looking forward to more from Crystal Smith Paul." With a Master’s degree in Journalism from New York University, Crystal has made her mark in the digital media landscape, with her writing featured in esteemed publications such as Salon, Jezebel, and The Huffington Post. Her insightful storytelling sheds light on the deep-rooted impact of racial violence and its ability to fracture families, as well as the intricacies of colorism within family relationships. Hidden behind the glitz and glamour of 1950s Hollywood were real lives (and heartbreaking, necessary, lies).

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is an intoxicating and seductive debut, drawing you into an underground Hollywood world that is as glamorous as it is dangerous. Kitty Karr is an iconoclastic, complicated, and fascinating woman, whose legacy is as relevant as ever today. Crystal Smith Paul is a thrilling new voice in fiction and I cannot wait to see what she does next.” Crystal Smith Paul’s debut novel Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Vanishing Half, both of which I highly recommend. Kitty Karr, not so much. Reading Paulette Jiles' revenge western Chenneville, it's easy to remember she's a poet. She plays ... For Kitty, she feels she’s left with no choice. In her opinion, events in her life happen to her and she has to figure out how to move forward. What’s interesting is a character says to Elise in the present that he doesn’t believe that—there’s always a choice to be made. How did both Mary and Lillian change once they took on their new names? What are some of the key differences between Kitty and Emma and how they approach passing?

A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. We mainly follow the story from the perspectives of Kitty in the past and Elise in the present. And the beginning also features Kitty’s mother, Hazel. Trigger warning of sexual assault early on in the novel.

One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit. The novel is told through different timelines and perspectives—mainly Kitty in the past and Elise in the present. Did you like the use of multiple timelines? Were you more engaged with one timeline over the other?Although I found the premise utterly intriguing and the writing to be bingeable, I struggled with the overall execution of this book, which left it feeling like a very average read with a lot to say but an inability to actually do so. Throughout the book, characters are confronted with choices that have far-reaching consequences. Reflect on the characters’ choices and their motivations. What do these choices reveal about their desires, fears, and personal growth? How do these choices contribute to the overarching themes of breaking free from societal expectations? While Elise thinks it’s time for the public to know the truth—Sarah doesn’t agree. Do you think Kitty wanted the world to know as well? Delia Sweeney has always been unlike her older sister–fair and delicate compared to tall, statuesque Nora, whose hair is as dark as Donegal turf. In other ways too, the sisters are leagues apart. Nora is her mother’s darling, favored at every turn, and expected to marry into wealth. Delia, constantly slighted, finds a measure of happiness helping her da on the farm. The rest of the time, she reads about far-off places that seem sure to remain a fantasy. Until the day a letter arrives from America . . . Kitty eventually embarks on a romance with the studio head, Nathan. Do you feel they were actually in love? Why or why not?