Anne of Hollywood

Feb 16, 2012 Sherri Huntley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book from Goodreads and I enjoyed every second of it. It's the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor but set in modern day California. It is a fun tale told completely from Anne's perspective, Henry's mindset doesn't really factor in. The characters are all 21st first century but Wolper makes it easy to see what their role would have been in Tudor England. The book follows Anne's romance and relationships with Henry, with her older sister Mary who used to date Henry, and various pseudo...more

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Nov 14, 2012 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 3 of 5 stars

Anne Boleyn has never been anybody special, until she catches the eye of Henry Tudor, king of Hollywood’s elite “A” list. After watching her older sister, Mary, be added to a backlist of Henry’s discarded mistresses, Anne is certain she has a foolproof plan. Now she only has to keep him interested, convincing him that marriage is in his best interest, if only everyone else in Hollywood do not constantly try to knock Anne off her pedestal.

Against the backdrop of the rich and powerful, Anne must n...more

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May 26, 2012 cecilia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I still have yet to finish The Tudors with the ever-lusty Jonathan Rhys Meyer because my DVD player broke down, but with 2 seasons under my belt, I feel confident that I knew all there was to know about Anne Boleyn to dive into anne of hollywood. Unfortunately, the scandalous lives of the 16th century nobility do not mirror the scandalous lives of the Hollywood elite as well as I had expected. The characters and their motives, while present, fell a little flat, and not enough time was spent to d...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Kate rated it 1 of 5 stars

So terrible that I checked it out, started reading, started to skim it, and then returned it the very next day because I didn't want it hanging around my house. In fact, when the library's automated returns system glitched and wouldn't accept the book at first, I felt a surge of panic at the prospect of being forced to spend another day with this title hanging around.

I was tempted by this one because I'm interested in the Anne Boleyn story. I think the Anne Boleyn plot, or at least how we conce...more

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Feb 03, 2012 SOS Aloha rated it 4 of 5 stars

For her behaviour, manners, attire and tongue she excelled them all. — Lancelot de Carles

Move over Jane Austen fan fiction, here come the Tudors! Carol Wolper delivers a riveting story of a modern Tudor family in the cutthroat glamour of Hollywood. In this contemporary update, Wolper hits the mark on literal and figurative translations of courtly intrigue and corporate politics as Henry Tudor seeks to appease his lusty appetite for women and power.

Like her historical inspiration, Wolper’s Anne...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, for-review

Reading the summary, this book sounded SO good! That is probably why I was so unprepared for how boring it ended up being. The story of Anne Boleyn was so interesting and scandalous, but this book was nowhere near capturing that emotion.

The main problem I had with this book was the writing style. Almost the entire story was made up of thoughts and descriptions with very little dialogue/action going on whatsoever. This made the story seem to drag on and I found myself skimming pages at a time be...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Elizabeth Mahon rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first heard about this book, I thought, 'You have to be kidding me! Anne Boleyn in Hollywood?' Still there was something about the idea that intrigued me. Perhaps it was the fact that this mash-up didn't turn Anne into a werewolf, a vampire or a succubus! So I downloaded a sample of the book onto my NOOK, and gave it a quick read. What I read made me want to read the whole book, but I confess, I took the book out of the library instead of buying it. A girl has to economize!

The idea of tr...more When I first heard about this book, I thought, 'You have to be kidding me! Anne Boleyn in Hollywood?' Still there was something about the idea that intrigued me. Perhaps it was the fact that this mash-up didn't turn Anne into a werewolf, a vampire or a succubus! So I downloaded a sample of the book onto my NOOK, and gave it a quick read. What I read made me want to read the whole book, but I confess, I took the book out of the library instead of buying it. A girl has to economize!

The idea of translating the Tudors into contemporary Hollywood shouldn't work but it somehow does. Henry VIII in Wolper's version is Henry Tudor who owns a studio, a web-site ala The Huffington Post, as well as other interests. He's referred to as "the King" of Hollywood by various characters in the book. But Henry is not content with just being the Kingpin of Hollywood, he's seeking the Governorship of California. All of the usual suspects that most readers will be familiar with are here, Thomas Cromwell as been reinterpreted as Theresa Cromwell, Henry's right hand woman, Cardinal Wolsey is now crooked money manager Carl Wolsey, Catherine is Catherine Aragon, the daughter of a wealthy power-broker Ferdinand, she and Henry have a daughter Maren who is boarding school. As the book opens, they are wrangling not just over the divorce but over the property settlement. Catherine, obsessed with Henry, has become a devout Catholic, who pops pills to get through her day. Mary is a former model turned party girl who failed to snag Henry, so she becomes a pot-smoking hippie. All the Boleyn hopes are now pinned on Anne. See daddy Thomas Boleyn, unlike the successful courtier of Tudor Times, is an entertainment lawyer, who failed when he started his own firm. Now he creeps around the fringes of power with his face pressed against the window, trying to get in. George is a bisexual actor, who gets a job on a cop show thanks to Henry. Jane Boleyn is now Lacy, who hates Anne because George loves her so much. And then there's Jane Seymour who is now a jewelry designer and a friend of Theresa's.

The novel is written in an easy, breezy style from the points of view of various characters, mainly Anne (in the first person), Theresa, and a hanger-on Cliff Craven. Anne is a likeable narrator, who genuinely seems to love Henry for himself, not just for what he can do for her family. Theresa Cromwell feels threatened by Anne, particulary when she takes over Henry's philanthropic foundation, which was Theresa's pet project. There are two big weaknesses in this novel, the first is that Wolper fails to make the reader understand why everyone, apart from Catherine and Lacy, hates Anne so much. She doesn't really throw her weight around, everyone agrees that she is vibrant, sexy, and charismatic. Unlike the real Anne, she doesn't confront Henry with his infidelities, she seems to roll with the punches. She's a freelance writer, but unlike Lacy, she doesn't use her position as Henry's wife to snag a cushy job. Nor is she really one of those Hollywood wives who spend most of their times lunching. We don't really see Anne doing much of anything, apart from giving birth to Elizabeth, and hoping to get pregnant with a male heir for Henry. Apparently even in 2012, a daughter isn't good enough.

The other weakness in the novel is that Henry remains off-stage throughout most of the book. He's a cipher, a Howard Hughes figure but without the OCD. It's unclear how he became so rich, or powerful. After awhile, I began to lose interest in the story, or even care how Anne was going to get her comeuppance in this version of her life. Clearly, she's not going to be executed but somehow banished from her glitzy lifestyle. I've read Jackie Collins novels with more pizzazz and punch than this book which is really a shame because it's an intriguing idea.

Verdict: Only for real fans of Anne Boleyn, or readers who love reading about Hollywood. (less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Stephanie Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tudor-book-challenge-2012

This was a really fun, witty twist on the classic and tragic tale of Anne Boleyn. The author did a great job setting up a believable and easy-to-understand modern setting... Hollywood, of course, led by "the King," a billionaire businessman, Henry Tudor. Anne Boleyn is, of course, a beautiful, stylish and clever girl who catches his heart during his long divorce with his first wife Catherine Aragon. Right from the first page I was sucked into the story which immediately struck me as wildly cleve...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will be back with review! Enjoyed the book so much.

Entertaining Tinsel Town novel that moves quickly.
Enjoyed! Enjoyed! Fun read....Anne Boleyn wants to be Hollywood media mogul Henry Tudor’s queen, and she doesn’t care that her sister dated him previously (like most soap operas). Anne succeeds in her quest, but, unfortunately, some people aren’t happy about their marriage, including Henry’s first wife and his business advisor; both would love to see Anne lose her crown and throne.

Author Caro...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Kristy McRae rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was really excited about the premise of this book--a modern-day retelling of the Anne Boleyn/Henry VIII story. Sadly, I was disappointed. I couldn't find a single character that I liked or sympathized with. I kept reading, hoping that would change....but, nope. I also felt like the author was throwing profanity around just for the shock value. I'm not a prude, and "colorful" language doesn't bother me, if it seems appropriate to the context, or is used in a subtle manner. I felt like I was get...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Anna Karis Griffith rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone looking for a light chick lit read

Check out my blog for more detailed reviews and more!

PROS: This was a good "escape" book or beach read. I liked the way she had the story divided between four narrators, with three of them in third person and Anne's in first person. It was clever and it worked.

CONS: I felt like Ms. Wolper tried too hard sometimes instead of just letting the story flow naturally. The sex and drug references, while not unrealistic, felt forced and awkward. I also thought she tried too hard to draw perfect parallel...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Tami rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways, 2012

Haven't received my copy yet, just received notice I had won. 12/12/11
I received my copy last night. I have 5 wins in front of it. Hope to get a lot of reading done over the holiday breaks. 12/21/11
Started 1/7/12
finished 1/10/12

Carol Wolper re-tells the story of Anne Boleyn set in contemporary Los Angeles.
This is the blurb that in in Goodreads and pretty much sums up the book.

Bleh! The book was a quick read and had some (2) interesting characters. I really didn't care for it. Normally retelling...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Vennie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book very much. I was glad to win it, but, would have bought it if I hadn't. The book is a story of modern day Anne Boleyn,a California blond. She meets Henry Tudor, a very attractive corporate mogul. Every star and starlet in Hollywood wants to grab him for one reason or another, but, Henry only wants Anne. It's a love story with a tale from history. You have many hidden agendas, traitorous friends, a furious ex wife , and schemes abound. Anne marries Henry, and so now the challe...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases

Everyone knows the tragic, soap opera-like (though, true) story of Anne Boleyn, who seduced Henry VIII away from his wife Catherine of Aragon and convinced the monarch to break with the Catholic church -all with the promise of providing him with a son, which she never had.

Author Carol Wolper puts a twist on Anne's often-explored story by placing it in modern-day holiday, where powerful connections, seduction and Hollywood near-royalty are just are important as they once were in Tudor-era England...more Everyone knows the tragic, soap opera-like (though, true) story of Anne Boleyn, who seduced Henry VIII away from his wife Catherine of Aragon and convinced the monarch to break with the Catholic church -all with the promise of providing him with a son, which she never had.

Author Carol Wolper puts a twist on Anne's often-explored story by placing it in modern-day holiday, where powerful connections, seduction and Hollywood near-royalty are just are important as they once were in Tudor-era England. Wolper casts Anne as a rising young socialite, who uses her intelligence, charm and sex appeal to ensnare the powerful Henry Tudor, even after he's used Anne's sister and discarded her. Anne must deal with harsh Hollywood politics, backstabbing friends, a jealous ex-wife and others who would dare take Anne's place.

Anne of Hollywood is basically like a semi-Gossip Girl-like modern retelling of the Anne Boleyn story, complete with backstabbing and all kinds of juicy social politics. Wolper's version of the tale is an interesting balance of the modern and the classic, where she attempts to keep the integrity of the tale while bringing it into the 21st century. Some of the differences may bother history junkies like myself -such as Thomas Cromwell becoming Theresa Cromwell -but once I got deeper into the story, I found the changes a welcome twist that breather new life into a story I've read far too many times. Though this time, there's much more overt sex, and not as much at stake -and heads don't role. I especially enjoyed Henry's run for political office, it just fit.

There are a few things that bothered me here though, where the translation of the story just didn't work as well in modern times. First, Henry and Catherine are already divorced at the start of the novel, as divorces are much easier to attain now. This, of course, got rid of all the drama of Henry's divorce from Catherine that created much of the conflict in the original story. Anne of Hollywood is also completely devoid of religious issue which, again, makes sense in the modern context, but the religious issues that Henry and Anne dealt with changed the course of history. There's also the whole having a son thing, which was the thing that finally pushed Henry into divorcing Catherine and marrying Anne -and that ultimately led to Anne's death. Though this isn't a centerpiece in Anne of Hollywood, the book's approach to this seems a little flimsy. Instead, the book leans more on Henry's tendencies to change his mind than on his desperate need to have a son and heir.

To really enjoy Anne of Hollywood, I just had to let these items go. Once I did, the book became much easier to read and took on a life of its own. I wouldn't say that this is a book for history lovers (like me), it's more for fans of contemporary chick lit novels who could use some good political backstabbing. But still, a unique read.(less)

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Jan 27, 2012 Michael rated it 1 of 5 stars

I don't even know where to start with this book...it was just awful. I should probably point out that, as a recipient of a Goodreads giveaway, I probably would not be a normal target reader for this book. That being said, I thought this novel would take the heart of a well-known story from history and reinvent it within the confines of contemporary society...and the intro letter accompanying the book in the mail promised a "witty re-imagining," but all I got was a shallow caricature of a histor...more I don't even know where to start with this book...it was just awful. I should probably point out that, as a recipient of a Goodreads giveaway, I probably would not be a normal target reader for this book. That being said, I thought this novel would take the heart of a well-known story from history and reinvent it within the confines of contemporary society...and the intro letter accompanying the book in the mail promised a "witty re-imagining," but all I got was a shallow caricature of a historical event.
First off, we have the author's desperate attempt to remind readers that this is a story about a king. Henry Tudor, multimillionaire internet mogul, is referred to throughout the book as "The King." It was clever the first few times, but then you realize it's not going to stop. everyone is obsessed with "the king," his "court," etc...I understand Ms. Wolper was trying to juxtapose Tudor among Hollywood royalty by giving him an almost absolute celebrity status, but she tried to unofficially turn him into an actual ruling monarch. every reference to Henry and Anne's relationship was spotted with the idea that they were actual royalty with a legitimate say in what went on. furthermore, supporting characters like Cliff and Theresa were so shallow, readers only learned about them through their obsession/disdain for the couple.
Almost as much as the Royal references were the literal placements of characters, events, titles...a think I had to put the book down when i read the first chapter involving Henry's ex wife Catherine Aragon, living in her Spanish-style mansion, and her father Ferdinand. I found many other references in this book to be lust as literal; maybe it would have been just personal preference, but I would have liked a little more imagination in the use of characterizations such as this. additionally, I was exhausted by the constant bombardment of contemporary allusions and celebrity name-dropping. none of the references really contributed anything substantial to the plot, or to positive feelings I might have had about the book. I suppose a reference to Kim Kardashian's hind quarters could help set the novel in our time, because it's vaguely relevant, but it's not something I really care to read about. Nor do I want to read Anne keep saying 'it's 2012, it's 2012,' when clearly very little about this not-so-witty re-imagining strikes me as very 21st century.
If there's one thing I did like (although lack of motivation made me take longer than usual to read a 352 page book), it's that each chapter was short, and featured the point of view of a different character each time. I found it interesting that only Anne's chapters were in the first-person. I was frustrated by a lack of point-of-view from Henry; instead, i was stuck reading about everyone's blind adoration of him.

*************8POILER ALERT************

it's not until one of the very last chapters that we DO actually hear from Henry directly, but he really has nothing of importance to tell, and I don't find that it provides much insight to him, other than some morsels of advice about letting go that his father imparted to him. once again, we also witness Wolper's difficulty truly integrating Tudor into modern times, as Henry speaks as the second son, more or less alluding to his older brother's inheritance of their father's company through primogeniture, and his unexpected marriage, out of duty, to his brother's girlfriend Catherine (after his brother dies).
Equally disappointing is Anne's ending. I was under the impression, again from the accompanying letter, that Anne would get the second chance that she obviously did not get historically. I suppose she did: while Anne Boleyn was not beheaded this time around, she ended up literally where she started. Woohoo, she's feeling productive on her own! but why isn't she with Wyatt? and what happened to Cliff and Theresa? Cliff was just beginning to show some moral confidence, and I wanted Theresa to get what was coming to her...but alas, no room left for that! we were too busy reading a poor attempt at modernizing a story that could have been done well, but needed to time and way more effort to do. (less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Jeannine rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is nota book women can be proud to read! It is an Anne Bolyn story retold in modernday Hollywood. It just does not work in this current time without bringing out the feminist inside you that just wants to scream at these ridiculous women for succumbing to a man just because he has power and money! It just made me want to scream and get these women into some sort of program or detox if there is such a thing for patheticness! Anne seemed like a very intelligent woman who used that to win Henr...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Kat A rated it 3 of 5 stars

This started out slowly, got really good in the middle, and then sort of petered out to an unsatisfying finish. If you don't go for an execution, there really isn't much else that will do, really. :)

I love, love, love historical fiction and this is definitely that kind of book. Wolper takes the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and sets it in 2012 Los Angeles. I really liked the way she changes the characters, for example making Thomas Cromwell a Theresa, and changing Thomas Wyatt the poet's n...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Literary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Anne of Hollywood will immerse the reader in a lifestyle of lies, suspicion, deception, and intrigue. Almost everyone is looking out for themselves and their best interests.

Theresa manipulates and deceives every person she comes into contact with so she can get what she wants from them: information. It's amazing what this woman can do with the tiniest bit of information that she receives. It's her source of power and what turns her on.

Anne has automatically become Theresa's enemy simply because...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, from-publisher-author

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

I mean really LOVE LOVE LOVED this one! This is brilliant!

So, you probably already know the story of Anne Boleyn and the Tudors, but you have never read anything as interesting and fun as this new interpretation. Henry is re imagined as a billionaire power broker that rules Hollywood as his kingdom. Anne is the daughter of a social climbing entertainment lawyer with two siblings that are great successes. Mary had a fling with Henry years ago while she was a young m...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Denise rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-read, read-in-2012, drama, chick-lit

This book is a modern retelling of Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl which definitely had me interested in the book. However as I began to read the book I realized that it wasn't as fresh and modern as the description toted. The ways in which Wolper tries to make this story modernized fell flat to me. Having Henry Tudor be a Hollywood elite could have been a great idea if wasn't constantly being called a King in the book. I hated the Anne gave him that little pet title. I wanted Wolper to...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Mrs. Nelson's rated it 4 of 5 stars

A dishy modern take on the story of Anne Boleyn and her time in Henry VIII's court, this Anne lives in LA and is being pursued by media mogul Henry Tudor. It's a high stakes game and Anne has enemies in every corner - can she keep the interest of the powerful and fickle man she loves? Or will she lose everything? History buffs and chick lit fans will love this fun read - I know I did!
--Review by Lauren

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Feb 21, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Amy by: goodreads first-reads

Shelves: first-reads

I enjoyed reading this book it was a guilty pleasure.This book I would call an adult R rated version of Gossip girl set in Hollywood recast with the Tudors.I love Tudor history,and Gossip girl so this book was a great book for me.The author I think wrote a story that was interesting using public figures from the past but setting them in world of today's Hollywood where people are famous for being seen with the right people or for just being rich.In a lot of ways I don't think times have changed...more

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May 07, 2012 Michelle Robinson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This was such a great book! I won this book as a goodreads first read. I love how it focusses on societies obsession with fame and and glamour and just couldn't put it down! It is basically the modernized story of the infamous Anne Boleyn. The writing is intelligent and fun at the same time, and I would definitely recommend it to my girl fiends who enjoy pop-culture dramas.

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Apr 22, 2012 Suzanne rated it 2 of 5 stars

The story itself wasn't bad - a modern day retelling of the Tudor/Boleyn saga - but I found myself literally rolling my eyes every time Anne or anyone else referred to Henry as the 'King'. Readers aren't stupid -- if you're telling them it's a modernization of Henry Tudor and Anne Boleyn, we get that Henry is the 'King' figure without being beat over the head with it.

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Jan 07, 2012 Erica rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was an interesting take on Anne B's life and what it would have been like if it had occurred in the present time. I found it hard to empathize with any of the characters because they all seemed a bit vapid. I also found no redeeming qualities in Henry and couldn't understand why these beautiful women are flocking to this jerk. I did find the story interesting though and would recommend the read.

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Jan 12, 2012 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2012-challenge

I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped to. I was excited about reading a modern day setting for the life of Anne Boleyn. I didn't feel that any of the characters were likable enough for me to have a vested interest in the outcome of the book. This is probably why it took me longer than I expected to finish it. Of course, there is no suspense about the ending given the fact that this is about Henry and Anne, so I'm not sure how much that matters. What should have been a quick read was n...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

A dishy modern take on the story of Anne Boleyn and her time in Henry VIII's court, this Anne lives in LA and is being pursued by media mogul Henry Tudor. It's a high stakes game and Anne has enemies in every corner - can she keep the interest of the powerful and fickle man she loves? Or will she lose everything? History buffs and chick lit fans will love this fun read - I know I did!

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Jan 01, 2012 Shelby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: giveaways

I greatly enjoyed this book. I found the characters likeable and well developed. There were sections when the pacing became a bit slow however the character development helped move the pacing along. Having read many historical fiction novels written about the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne I thought the modern version was a really fun read. I won this book from Goodreads, thankyou!

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Feb 03, 2012 Addictive rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really don't like reading a book I know the ending to. I was hoping for a different ending, but it is Hollywood and nothing ever lasts there. The ending left you with a cliffhanger, one that the historic Henry and Anne never had. In the end, I enjoyed reading yet another version of Anne's story, but wish I could know first hand what really happened back then.

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Jan 16, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

My memory for my British history is severely lacking, so this was a new story for me:)

Anne of Hollywood is billed as a retelling of the Tudor history in modern day Hollywood. I wonder too if there may also be some ties to Jackie Collins, but having not read any of her novels - I can't say definitively.

I would bill this novel as a beach read - entertaining enough to keep with it, but not engaging enough to make you think and ponder when the reading is done.

I received a copy of this book as a Good...more

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