Another Side of Paradise audiobook

This is my own book and first historical novel. I want you to know why I wrote it. I am a lifelong admirer of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work, and he is a major character in the book. But of equal importance is a woman you may not know: Sheilah Graham. She was a high-spirited Englishwoman who fell in love with Scott in Hollywood, long after dear Zelda had fallen ill and was living in a sanitarium. Where Scott’s story may be familiar, few readers know about Sheilah, who literally re-invented herself. She was smart, resourceful, brashly independent, generous, kind, loving, gorgeous and complex, much like a Fitzgerald heroine. Along with Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, Sheilah was one of three imposing gossip columnists who in the 1930s could make or break a film career. She was also Jewish, and since I am, too, when I discovered this fact about Sheilah, I knew I HAD to tell her story, which is of the you-can’t-make-this-up variety. Except it’s true. If you like romance that doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending, but a roller-coaster of drama and controversy, this book is for you.To prepare to write this book, I did extensive research, devouring the many memoirs Sheilah wrote about her remarkable life as well as books that referenced her (many!) and interviews she gave. Of course, I also read her newspaper columns. The latter had a soft touch, compared to those Mean Girls, Hedda and Louella. As interesting as a real person may be, no one leads their life in a plot, so as a writer I took some liberties of adding to and subtracting from Sheilah's story, while always building on a skeleton of hard truth. This book is, after all, a novel. I hope it's one you love, and I thank you for reading it.

Sheilah Graham was a popular gossip columnist covering Hollywood stars in the late 1930’s. She moved to America and assumed a new name to hide her poverty-stricken background. At the same time, F. Scott Fitzgerald was working in California developing movie scripts while struggling to write his next novel. His wife, Zelda, was away at a psychiatric hospital and he was fighting to stay sober. Sheilah and Fitzgerald met at a party an embark on a tumultuous love affair. She understood his shortcomings and insecurities while accepting that he would not divorce his ill wife. He provided her with security and resources to enhance her career. They become a couple and their relationship continued through some tough times and both were forced to disclose some deep secrets. I found this historical fiction novel by Sally Koslow fascinating and did not want the book to end. The book is presented from Sheila's point of view and the dialogue brings you back in time. ”Another Side Of Paradise” is about an exciting love affair that develops into a complex relationship between two talented people. This was the first book that I read by the author, and it will not be my last.

When I was a child on a trip to the mountains of North Carolina, I remember being told that Zelda Fitzgerald was admitted to a sanitorium in the area, and there was some other mystery that surrounded her and her time there; and for whatever reason, because of that early experience, I have been interested in Zelda ever since. She is pretty darn intriguing after all. In my 11th grade English class, taught by someone who ardently admired Fitzgerald, I read The Great Gatsby for the first time, and I was as enthralled as most everyone else with that novel, and still I thought of Zelda. Another Side of Paradise is not Zelda’s story, however. It is Sheilah Graham’s story. Sheilah is the mistress of Fitzgerald while Zelda is institutionalized in Asheville, North Carolina.Graham is born to Jewish Ukrainian parents. Her father dies when she’s an infant, and her mother is forced to give Sheilah to an orphanage. By the time Fitzgerald meets her, Graham could not be further removed from her challenging early life. Sheilah enters Fitzgerald’s world when he is floundering work-wise and drinking more than ever. She inspires him to some success, as his muse, and the book covers their three years together. Sally Koslow meticulously researched Sheilah Graham’s life. She brings the life and times of these high profile “characters” to life with all the glitz, glamour, and unfortunately for Fitzgerald, drinking one would expect of the time. The story is smoothly written and completely absorbing. I thought Graham’s perspective was interesting, and I found her formidable in order to go head-to-head with Fitzgerald and work to get his life back on track in the short time she spent with him. I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

Being a long time fan of the 1920’s and 30’s, as well as to F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, I’ve read my share of stories on this infamous couple. However it was my first getting a glimpse into the life and relationship of Sheila Graham. I wanted to not like her, as I was feeling for Zelda while she was away at an asylum, but Sheila was the kind, strong woman that Fitzgerald needed at that time and I could see why he fell for her.This novel swept me away to the glitz and glamor of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and I really loved the writing of Sally Koslow. We get to see such a complex character as Sheila, through her story of poverty, riches, and scandal.A perfect summer read, and fans of this era!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!!

I just knew I needed to read this book when I saw it and I was lucky to get the chance to listen to the audiobook. I watched a movie about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham years ago with Gregory Peck in the title role. Can't remember much about it, but I was thrilled to get to read a book about the couple.F. Scott Fitzgerald is forever linked with his wife Zelda, but the last years of his life were he involved with gossip columnist Sheilah Graham. It was not an easy romance, especially for Sheilah who discovered that Scott was a very nice man, as long as he did not drink. But, now and then he would go on a bender and he turned into a very nasty version of himself. I had before I read this book just finished a book about Ernest Hemingway and I can tell you. They may be great writers, but they were hell to live with. As for the book, it's marvelous, read it or listen to it. I enjoyed it immensely and I loved getting to know more about Sheilah Graham, how she pretty much invented herself. And who doesn't love an epic love story?

Many thanks to Harper Books for my free copy of ANOTHER SIDE OF PARADISE by Sally Koslow - all opinions are my own.I love F. Scott Fitzgerald, so I immediately jumped at the chance to read this book! The writing is beautiful, descriptive, vivid, and picturesque. I absolutely adored it.The story centers on gossip columnist Sheilah Graham and her longtime, on again, off again, love affair with F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in 1930s Hollywood, during a time when Fitzgerald’s career is being drowned away by booze, the story starts with Graham’s disbelief that Scott has just passed away and from there, goes back and forth between the past and present. We learn that Sheilah was born into a poor Jewish family, then placed into an orphanage when her mother could not care for her. We go through her years of marriage, career, and through the ups and downs of her relationship with Fitzgerald.This was such a wonderful read as I was swept up in the golden age of Hollywood. There are multiple characters that are all well developed and I was completely captivated by Graham and Fitzgerald’s relationship. It was so fascinating to learn the complex nature of Fitzgerald and his final years. Writers and artists always interest me in historical fiction, so this was the perfect book! It is obvious that Koslow performed a tremendous amount of research which is the cornerstone of any well written historical fiction novel. I’ve read a couple of books based on the effervescent Zelda Fitzgerald, so it was lovely to learn about the dazzling Sheilah Graham.

Did you know that F. Scott Fitzgerald died in the home of Sheilah Graham, the famed gossip columnist? Until recently, I hadn't known this and when I stumbled across the tidbit I thought, someone should write a book about her! Well, someone did. It comes out in May and is fantastic. I loved the bright and interesting Sheilah, and their complex relationship, and the vulnerabilities shown in Fitzgerald. We meet him after he's lost his luster and take projects to get by. The contrast of his struggle versus Sheilah's is fascinating. This was a terrific read and I predict it will be huge when it comes out!

I really enjoyed this book! You can really tell that the author spent a lot of time on research for this novel. I love anything that has to do with the “Golden Age” and this book had such excellent scenes including all the old Hollywood crowd. I’m also a big fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels (The Great Gatsby is my favorite!) but I have to admit that I didn’t know much about the author himself. I knew of the famous Zelda Fitzgerald of course but I didn’t know anything about Sheilah Graham. Sheilah Graham was one of my major journalists in Hollywood during the 1930s and was very influential in the popularity of movies. I think it’s admirable how she pulled herself up out of bad past to become such a successful woman. The characters are so fantastic in this book. The author goes into vivid detail when describing them and their personalities that the reader really gets multiple multifaceted characters instead of just seeing two main characters. This isn’t easy when there are so many to develop but Koslow did an excellent job. I also think she did a great job of describing Graham and Fitzgerald’s relationship. It wasn’t all happy times for the couple and the reader even gets insight into the Graham’s struggle with how much she loves Fitzgerald and how much she can hate him at times. Overall, I loved this book and the story. I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction and especially those that have a love for the Golden Age.

I've definitely been on a historical fiction kick these days and I am LOVING it. This one is all Hollywood romance, scandal, glitz and glamour, and if you know anything about The Great Gatsby - you need to read this!We all know the infamous F. Scott Fitzgerald of Gatsby fame. But what I did not know, was the scandal and rumors that swirled around this creative force! Rumors of a possible relationship with his rival, Ernest Hemingway, drunken escapades and severe alcoholism, and his wife Zelda, committed to a psychiatric hospital as her husband carries on a torrid affair with beautiful gossip columnist, Sheilah Graham. This is that story. Sally Koslow has taken Sheliah's memoirs, interviews, and letters and constructed the story of her childhood of poverty and sadness, to her eventual rise (so similar to Jay Gatsby's!) to fame and recognition, and the imagined story of her scandalous love affair with Fitzgerald.You want to dislike Sheliah - after all, she's shacking up with a married man! But you just can't help but admire her and see her strength, determination to stand out and on her own, and the love she has for Fitzgerald. He is lost and drunk, and on the verge of a ruined career - so bad, that people begin to think he had died! Sheliah is hardworking and passionate, and helps him reignite his career just before his painful and eventual death.I love the glitz and glitter that comes along with the stories of this time period. The 20's and 30's seemed so magical, and you can't help but fall in love with the affairs, the gossip, and the celebrity of it all. The story is glamorous and exciting, as Sheliah rubs elbows with icons such as Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, and James Cagney. You are transported back to this golden era through Sally's writing - you can feel the excitement and change in the air and hear the jazz music and the flappers dancing, as you are dropped right into the midst of this tumultuous and passionate love story.

My Review of "Another Side of Paradise" by Sally KoslowI loved everything about "Another Side of Paradise" by Sally Koslow.  I appreciate that  Sally Koslow  has done extensive research, and writes so vividly  with great description the colorful cast of characters and various timelines. This novel is fiction based on famous characters. I was captivated and intrigued by this fascinating novel.The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.   A great deal of the timeline in this novel is the "Golden Age of Hollywood", and describes Sheilah Graham, born Lily Shield, as a gossip columnist, and writer.The author portrays  the Hollywood scene, the writers, and  the producers,  in such an engaging and enthralling way.A young Jewish Lily Shield is brought up mostly in an orphanage in England. She marries young, and changes her name to Sheilah Graham. Sheila Graham holds deep secrets that torment her. Sheilah comes to America, where her career takes hold. During this Golden Age of Hollywood, Sheilah  meets  F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of "The Great Gatsby" and "Another Side of Paradise". Fitzgerald is writing screenplays, as his career as an author is declining. Sheilah's is starting to rise in her career.Sheilah and Fitzgerald begin an unusual relationship with highs and lows, and twists and turns. The author gives us an intimate view of their romantic and intense relationship. I felt addicted to this story, and couldn't put the book down. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers that appreciate fiction with a historical background.

This gorgeous novel tells the story of Sheilah Graham and her love affair with F. Scott Fitzgerald. I was completely unfamiliar with this captivating piece of history, and I am so grateful to have received an early copy of this book. It is flawlessly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully crafted. I highly recommend!

I am utterly enchanted, captivated, enthralled and delirious reading Sally Koslow's impeccably written story of the romance between Sheilah Graham and F Scott Fitzgerald. I've read the books each wrote, and much that's been written about each of them―and even appeared in one of the film incarnations of The Great Gatsby, an experience that inspired me to explore even more about the world of Fitzgerald. Sally Koslow has woven a story so familiar to me, yet so fresh, personal and intimate I savored each exquisite word, appreciating her insights and discovering a few more things I didn't know. I highly recommend Another Side of Paradise .

I read this book knowing nothing about Sheilah Graham and little about F. Scott FitzGerald. But I learned so much in this meticulously-researched novel and came away feeling like I'd gotten an intimate look into their lives. The most fascinating part for me was the transformation and rise of Sheilah, certainly a rags-to-riches, or at least a rags-to-Hollywood story. Fans of F. Scott FitzGerald may have heard much about his legendary romance with Zelda. But the tale is not finished until they know about Sheilah as well. Excellent piece of historical fiction from this author and I look forward to reading more of hers in the future.

Fascinating romp with Fitzgerald through the eyes of his mistress, Sheilah Graham. This novel provided an addictive escape into the golden age of Hollywood and gave me entry to Fitzgerald's life through an entirely new lens. Loved it.

Another Side of Paradise is a book that will enthrall readers from the very first page, a book that is utterly absorbing and entertaining. I started this book knowing a little about F. Scott Fitzgerald, and nothing about Sheilah Graham and their romance. When they meet, Sheilah has pulled herself out of a hardscrabble life in the slums of London, and has embarked on a career as a gossip columnist in Hollywood; Scott’s greatest achievements are behind him. I found Sheila’s life story especially compelling, filled with so many hardships. Their relationship is told with gritty detail, poignant moments, and leaving the reader with no doubt in their love. I loved the old, nostalgic Hollywood feel of this book. This book is written with wit and charm, with compassion and realism, with heart and a great sense of history.

Sally Koslow's foray into historical fiction was a real treat. ANOTHER SIDE OF PARADISE is a well-crafted and fascinating tale about a woman I couldn't help but root for. In fact, from the beginning of her story I wished I could sit Sheilah Graham down and talk her out of falling for the infamous drinker, Scott F. Fitzgerald. Though we all know how his story ended, through her eyes we meet a different Scott, and come to a new understanding about not only his fading star, but her own rising one, and the ever-changing life in Hollywood. Koslow's tell-tale unique and lovely metaphors, and touches of emotional insight, are sprinkled throughout, and enrich this engaging novel.

Koslow has long been a favorite writer of mine and her latest takes on the scandalous affair between F. Scott Fitzgerald and gossip columnist Sheilah Graham. Spanning 1930s Hollywood to London, this book is dark yet exhilarating, emotional yet fun. Do not miss!

I was familiar with F Scott Fitzgerald due to required college reading and was aware of his marriage to Zelda thanks to a book that I read by Lee Smith but had never read anything about Fitzgerald's affair with Sheilah Graham. Thanks to the amount of research that the author did to write this book, both Sheilah and Fitzgerald came alive for me. I loved this book.Sheilah is a famous gossip columnist in the 30s who has totally changed herself from the poor Jewish girl who grew up in a orphanage. As she is digging up secrets on movie stars of the day, she is scrupulously hiding her own secrets. When she meets Scott at a party, she is instantly drawn to him. He had been a popular novelist back int he 20s (The great Gatsby) but alcohol and poor reviews of his later novels have brought him to Hollywood to try to be a script writer. He seems to feel that he is still very popular in literary circles even as he's being turned down by producers in Hollywood. The love affair between Scott (who is still married to Zelda) and Sheilah is both glorious and tumultuous. Their lives with each other made this a fantastic book that I couldn't put down.Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.