When newly widowed Claire finds her box of memories from the 1960s, she recalls a magical and tragic time that had changed her forever. She decides to share her story with her daughter. In 1966, having viewed herself as a sheltered “country mouse” raised in Dorset, Claire escapes her difficult homelife and moves to London hoping to reinvent herself. London had emerged from the dark, post-war period and was filled with a young generation wearing wild, colorful mod clothing listening to fabulous music from new bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Claire gets involved in the local music scene and finds herself whisked away to Marrakesh, Morocco. Her new group of friends bring her to the palatial home of Paul Getty, son of American oil magnate J. Paul Getty, and his wife Talitha, and enclave of musicians, models and fashion designers. The couple embraces Claire (now called Cece) and exposes her to a glamorous and decadent lifestyle that is both alluring and dangerous.
While Sister Stardust is author Jane Green’s twenty-first novel, it is her first work of historical fiction. And what a great era to write about. Green includes many famous, real-life people into Claire’s fictional story including the fascinating Talitha Getty. I was fully immersed in this book, which showed a period of major change in society with the emergence of the sexual revolution and a counterculture filled with free-thinking and drugs. The book brings together the fun as well as the dark side of the Swinging Sixties. Green truly captured its spirit. Whether you lived through this period or not, I recommend this dazzling trip back in time. And you'll find yourself singing Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Marrakesh Express".
Many thanks to Hanover Square Press | Harlequin Trade Publishing | Harper Collins for the opportunity to read Sister Stardust in advance of its publication.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction.
Publication Date: April 5, 2022.
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