The Original

by Priya Parmar

This stunning novel plunges into the tumultuous life of screen icon Katharine Hepburn, a star whose fierce independence, passionate spirit, and fluid sexuality shattered Hollywood’s rules and redefined what it meant to be a woman in film.

“A riveting and unputdownable journey through fame, rebellion, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline

Katharine Hepburn won more Oscars than any actor in history—and yet her most memorable role is the one she carved for herself.

When young Katharine Hepburn loses her beloved brother, she makes two she will become famous, and she will never let anyone hurt her again. Leaving home at twenty-one to pursue a career on Broadway, Kate is talent-spotted, screen-tested, and lured to Los Angeles, accompanied by her lover, Laura.

Hollywood in the early 1930s is a town full of secrets. Everyone comes with a story. When Kate arrives in California to launch her film career, she leaves behind her East Coast marriage and icy patrician family to live and love on her own terms. Despite her confrontational manner and unusual beauty, she is scooped into the studio system and launched as a star—but stars must play by the rules and Kate, brilliant, bisexual, and fiercely independent, refuses to conform.

Surrounded by a legendary circle of intimates, including the powerful David and Irene Selznick, charming and romantically conflicted actor Cary Grant, ambitious director John Ford, and millionaire tycoon Howard Hughes, Kate navigates a web of sex, ambition, loyalty, and betrayal. All of them strive for success while struggling to outrun their own secrets. As Kate’s career ascends, she faces an agonizing be the star everyone wants her to be, or risk everything to become the woman she always was.

The author of New York Times Notable Book Vanessa and Her Sister has created a propulsive, emotionally charged novel exploring the cost of fame. With sharp prose and unforgettable characters, The Original is a story of love, aspiration, and the price of living authentically in a world that demands you become someone else.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult Fiction, Biography Memoir, LGBT, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Priya Parmar is the author of the novels Exit the Actress and Vanessa and Her Sister, a New York Times Notable Book, as well as co-author of the musical Sylvia (London Old Vic) nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Original Musical. Her forthcoming novel, The Original, will be published by Ballantine in April 2026. She lives with her family and four rescue dogs.

Reviews

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

very facinating and informative story. I have to say these stories about the early stars of Hollywood will really make you go woah with excitement. At the same time you will also get an insight at their private lives and some of the personal tragedies they suffered before they were stars or even after their rise to fame and it will make you realize that they are regularl people as well.

Two of the main focuses on this novel are Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. I have to say that before reading this book I only knew maybe a few details about their lives and careers. However, after reading this book I have to say I have a new appreciation of the knowledge that I have learned about their struggles to achieving greatness.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

While other Kate Hepburn fans will likely adore this book, the historical fiction tale about the iconic actress was not for me. I found the writing style jarring and wished for more about her later life.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is an engaging novel of Katharine Hepburn’s rise and fall and hard-fought reascencion as a young actress in the Hollywood of the 30s and 40s. It’s thoroughly researched and largely sticks to the facts of her life, making well-informed guesses in some of the areas where the truth isn’t known.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Original
By: Priya Parmar
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Publisher: Ballantine Books
I have always loved old Hollywood movies and the stars of a bygone era. This book explores the trailblazer of Katherine Hepburn.
She came to Hollywood not like other starlets. Her hair was short, she wore trousers and she was unapologetic. Her upbringing was difficult and she lost her brother.
The 1930’ s in Hollywood and the likes of powerful men like David Selznick, Howard Hughes and Cary Grant just to name a few, where part of her world. Sex, likes, ambition and situations that made stars do unspeakable things.
She went on to prove she did IT in HER OWN TERMS and lasted in the movies for many years beyond what so many can do. Loved the historical fiction novel.
Thank you Ballantine Books for the advanced copy and MB Communications for having me on tour.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love stories about old Hollywood but this one just didn’t happen for me. I could not get past the writing style of all tell and no show. I gave up

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “The Original,” Priya Parmar takes on the daunting challenge of breathing fresh life into one of the most scrutinized figures in American film history, Katharine Hepburn. Remarkably, she succeeds not by attempting a conventional cradle-to-stardom biography, but by constructing a vivid fictional mosaic of the actress’s formative years in 1930s Hollywood. The result is an engrossing and emotionally perceptive novel that feels less concerned with documenting famous events than with uncovering the anxieties, wounds, and resilience beneath Hepburn’s famously armored persona.

What makes the novel so compelling is Parmar’s decision to approach Kate indirectly. Rather than remaining fixed within Hepburn’s consciousness, the narrative moves fluidly among a remarkable ensemble of figures orbiting her life. Many of them—Cary Grant, Howard Hughes, Randolph Scott, George Cukor, and Irene Mayer Selznick among them—are fascinating enough to command novels of their own. Through their observations, loyalties, rivalries, and desires, Parmar gradually reveals Hepburn herself. The effect is kaleidoscopic: Kate emerges not as a static icon but as a complicated woman still inventing herself while the Hollywood machinery attempts to invent her first.

Parmar brilliantly captures the suffocating atmosphere of the old studio system, a world in which stars were owned, managed, packaged, and often emotionally manipulated by the studios that profited from them. Public image mattered above all else. Personas were manufactured, scandals suppressed, and private lives distorted into marketable myths. Within that system, Hepburn’s early career becomes especially dramatic because her setbacks arise not merely from personal mistakes but from bad luck, studio mismanagement, and changing public tastes. Parmar charts how close Hepburn came to professional collapse before reinventing herself into the sharp-tongued, fiercely intelligent figure audiences ultimately embraced. The novel’s emotional power lies in that persistence—the sense that Kate survives not because the system protects her, but because she stubbornly refuses to surrender to it.

The book gains much of its momentum from Parmar’s skillful handling of multiple interconnecting storylines. Hepburn’s childhood trauma surrounding her beloved brother’s suicide shadows her throughout the novel. Parmar also explores her mysterious illness and risky surgery that leaves her unable to bear children, her romantic relationships with women, and her intimate friendships with figures such as Irene Selznick and George Cukor. Meanwhile, the surrounding cast receives equally compelling treatment. Cary Grant’s devastating discovery that his supposedly dead mother is alive in a mental institution becomes one of the novel’s most affecting episodes, while Howard Hughes’s dangerous aviation exploits inject excitement and unpredictability into the narrative. The deteriorating marriage of Irene and David Selznick adds another layer of emotional tension.

What is most impressive is Parmar’s restraint. With so many glamorous and volatile personalities in play, the novel could easily have dissolved into gossip or anecdotal excess. Instead, Parmar treats her characters with empathy and nuance, maintaining emotional coherence even as the narrative shifts among perspectives. The structure—brief, punchy sections often centered on different characters—keeps the novel energetic and cinematic. Even when Hepburn is not directly present, the surrounding stories deepen our understanding of the world shaping her.

If the novel has a weakness, it is its abrupt ending. Parmar concludes with Hepburn’s triumph in “The Philadelphia Story,” leaving unexplored the later decades in which she fully transformed into the legendary screen presence now immortalized in film history. Readers may feel deprived of witnessing that final evolution. Parmar compensates somewhat with a closing section summarizing the later lives of many characters, but this lacks the emotional richness of the preceding narrative.

Even so, “The Original” is an absorbing and sophisticated portrait of ambition, reinvention, and survival within Hollywood’s golden age. Rather than demystifying Katharine Hepburn, Parmar accomplishes something more difficult: she restores complexity and vulnerability to a figure long hardened into legend.

[Chy]

Not a fan of the writing style.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is historical fiction at its finest!

What do you mean I get such well researched histories of 1930s Hollywood while also getting such beautiful writing?

I have never come across a style of writing like this before. It is so introspective and analytical, yet still distant. As a reader, you experience these intricate characters’ deepest emotions through the people around them and through their behaviour. You never get an inside perspective, yet somehow you understand everything.

I have a soft spot for Cary Grant, and I did get giddy every time he appeared on the page, even if it was only in passing. But there were so many characters I loved reading about. I especially loved that none of them were discarded as the story progressed. Even Tom remains present throughout.

Trust this book and let it take you back in time. I enjoyed reading it so much that I kept forcing myself to slow down so it would last longer.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating historical fiction book that looks into the life of starlet Katharine Hepburn and the golden age of Old Hollywood. Written in short, journal like entries, it bounces back and forth through different periods of Katharine's life and those most influential in it. This makes for a quick read, as the book covers years of her career.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Kate Hepburn fan, I adored this book. Short, crisp sentences that made you hear her voice. I liked the focus on her early years and Old Hollywood.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with the writing style. I found it to be jarring, disconnected and hard to follow.

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's always been a lot of speculation about Katharine Hepburn's sexuality, but this book just throws that out and is like, "Yeah, Kate and Laura? Lovers in the nighttime." No big reveal, nothing really put on it, just presented as fact. I even checked to make sure I hadn't missed where it was confirmed (it never has been, it's all just based on her... well, her obvious not-straightness in every interaction). I enjoyed that aspect, and overall it was a pretty great story. I assume the reason it's a novel and not a straight biography is because the author was like, "Yeah I'm not doing the 'close friends' crap."

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know anything about Katharine Hepburn before reading this but was immediately drawn into this story. The author takes you on a journey into Kate’s trials, tribulations, and secrets of being a star in 1930s Hollywood. Not only is Kate’s story so interesting but the writing itself is just phenomenal. I love the author’s use of personification and descriptions. Truly felt like I was watching an old Hollywood film in my head as I was reading this book. Don’t skip out on this book! 😍

[Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stylish, surefooted, and sharp, this novel walks a fine line between literary and stage writing. The present tense makes the fascinating cast of characters and the Hollywood golden era leap to life. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

[Lauren Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful book about queer Hollywood and the people who made it the golden age of cinema. I found it fascinating and entertaining.

[Joann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I always had great admiration for Katharine Hepburn as an actress, I knew very little of her life. This book focuses on an early part of her life and brought in many famous names. The writing was confusing at times and began to get repetitive by the end.

[Barbara Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's partly a guessing game, but I found this enjoyable and hope there are sequel(s). Fascinating lady.

[Bookreporter.com Historical Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel as if I have just watched a really good movie --- one in which myriad scenes of varying length and intensity jostle for space in my short-term memory and gradually distill into more permanent impressions.

Yes, there’s a lot going on in that sentence, but it reflects in a nutshell what it’s like to travel through THE ORIGINAL, Priya Parmar’s kaleidoscopic novel about the iconic Hollywood star Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003). Parmar makes it abundantly clear that her work is one of fiction. Her telescopic (and occasionally magnified) view is one of a career as it might have unfolded, especially in Hepburn’s formative years, when she was just another East Coast hopeful trying to find a niche among Hollywood’s elite.

But the book is also imagined on the strength of meticulous research, cross-referencing, interviewing, fact-checking, and some very insightful dot-connecting. It might be more accurate to call it modern historical fiction.

Parmar’s prose style fits the brief to a T. There are no chronological shopping lists of steps on the way to fame, no plodding past-tense reflections on paths not taken, or even much in the way of philosophical meditations on the art-of-the-art of acting. Instead, we are whisked into a present-tense immediacy that connects first page to last.

Without ever seeming to trivialize or shortchange the elusive depth of the Katharine Hepburn she strives to reveal, Parmar glides powerfully through her life, losses, successes and relationships with an irresistible stream-of-consciousness that harmonizes amazingly well with the curated image Hepburn herself cultivated to protect her fragile privacy.

Through nine chapters covering 1921 to 1939, THE ORIGINAL plays out in numerous scenes, the contents of which (as with a typical film script) are sparsely identified by locations, names, dates or events. Sometimes they connect in sequence, and other times they don’t; life does not unfold in straight lines either. This format also allows for dramatic jump cuts and sudden changes from one scene to another, which can startle the viewer/reader into seeing things from a different angle.

In spite of her driving momentum throughout the book, Parmar provides many brief pauses to paint compelling word pictures of Hepburn in a variety of professional and imaginary private contexts, along with some of the big-name Hollywood personalities who flowed in and out of her career (not always graciously) --- Cary Grant; his partner, Randolph Scott; director George Cukor; the Selznicks, especially producer David O. and his long-underappreciated wife, Irene; and the mercurial Howard Hughes, to mention only a few.

The total story skillfully alights on more truth than fiction, but it connects seemingly disparate events with imaginative speculation about what went on behind closed doors in Hollywood, especially as social mores and political influences changed in the years leading up to WWII.

Like many other famed screen stars, Hepburn cycled in and out of fashion, partly due to inappropriate or blatantly incompetent casting, and her own or agents’ choices in how she was marketed. While many facts are documented, Parmar sympathetically probes behind the professional veneer to explore how both successes and failures impacted Hepburn’s relationships with friends, family and lovers (of which there were many).

Hepburn won four Academy Awards over her long career, but THE ORIGINAL gives them only passing mention; no more is needed. Similarly, her films are not dissected or commented on either, because they too belong to a well-documented and easily accessible history.

What Parmar does so well here is to reveal through one major actress’s real and imagined lives how women fought to break away from the abuses of a profession in which they were commodified and intellectually infantilized for the better part of a century. Katharine Hepburn was among those who learned how to boldly and bravely claim agency and ownership of their talent. And that always will be true.

Reviewed by Pauline Finch

[Cheryl Schlesinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled through this one! Fictional biographical story of Katharine Hepburn. Thought this would be interesting for its history of the golden age of Hollywood and interesting to read about an actress whose later films I liked and was an iconic figure. The only thing I knew of Hepburn was her longtime love of Spencer Tracy and his not divorcing his wife in spite of living 23 years with Hepburn up to his death. However the book ends before Kate meets Tracy and takes place mainly in the decade of the 1930’s. The author’s note at the end gives a brief summary of different character's lives following WWII and into the decades that follow.
The book, written in narrative style with minimal character conversations, made the reading a bit wearisome. Beginning at the start of her childhood the book revealed a father who was a surgeon with an ego to match, a mother who was very progressive working side by side with Sanger for women’s rights to birth control, an older brother Tom who was Kate’s childhood partner and favorite sibling, whose life and death affected Kate throughout her entire life. The family was very unconventional for the time period where sex was openly discussed, nudity was allowed freely, and life habits were dictated by their physician father such as daily ice cold showers & excelling in sports.
The majority of the book focuses on Kate’s bisexuality and her many sexual relationships to include her marriage to a childhood friend while living and sleeping with a woman friend, her affair with her agent, her romantic relationship with Howard Hughes and her many casual sexual encounters with both males & females. The other focus of the book was Kate’s desire to be renowned for her acting and her rise, fall, and rise again to stardom.
Cary Grant plays a huge role in this book coming from Bristol, England to NYC and his rise to stardom in Hollywood, his living for many years with his “greatest love” Randolph Scott with whom he lived for years in “their” house in domestic bliss in spite of his first (of five) marriages. Although rumored about for years of Grant’s homosexuality and well known to his closest friends (Hepburn, Howard Hughes) the impact of these rumors did not affect Grant’s stardom as rumors of Kate’s sexual orientation almost ruined Hepburn’s. The number of Hollywood stars, directors and producers who were homosexual and bisexual, the promiscuity, the affairs, alcoholism and how the heads of movie companies of RKO, MGM, Paramount (Louis B. Mayor, David O Selznick) hid those secrets and manipulated the stars to be portrayed as wholesome to the public was unbelievable. But no different than how our perceptions are manipulated today. Hollywood and the movie business seems to always have been and remains today a place of secrets, lies, decadence. So for some, this book may be extremely interesting to read about how their favorite stars truly lived but for me I started the book thinking the content would be a historical representation of old Hollywood. And sadly it was just that with a history I have little to no interest in knowing! It became a tedious task to finish the book.

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy.

Priya Parmar’s novel focuses on Katharine Hepburn, but it’s not a conventional fictional biography. First, ‘Kate’ is only one of the characters, if the principal one. Really, she is the centre around which the whirlpool of ‘Golden Age’ Hollywood circles.
Many of the recognized names in the motion picture capital of the English-speaking world during the 1930s put in an appearance, including George Cukor, David and Irene Selznick, Louis B. Mayer (Irene’s father) and eccentric billionaire aviator Howard Hughes. Some, such as her colleague British immigrant Archie Leach, who transformed into the debonair romantic lead Cary Grant, happily get more coverage, possibly because his own public persona and private life were as far apart as hers. Kate’s ‘companion,’ allegedly (and probably) her lover, the neurotic heiress Laura Harding, doesn’t come across as well as Cary’s ‘husband’ of many years, actor Randolph Scott is much more stable and less attention-seeking, perhaps because he had to abide by the double standard that governed the motion picture business at the time. Until widespread Depression suffering strengthened both public approbation of the seeming debauchery, and enforcement of film censorship laws, the ‘stars,’ male and female, famous and unknown, young and old, pretty much lived as they wanted to. The Hollywood machinery protected them. Katharine Hepburn, perhaps because of her indomitable persona, refused to hide behind any screen, even that of her hapless and sadly devoted businessman husband. She remade herself to represent traditional historic stoicism and bravery, and climbed back up the ladder, even after the failure of several films that were spurned only because she was in them.

I suspect that readers will align themselves in ‘love/hate’ camps. The unusual structure will ensure that few are left indifferent. There are no true chapters, just a few paragraphs, occasionally a few pages, under a new sub-heading. Each change of subject and point of view is indicated by the name of an individual character. The name of a location and a switch to the first person plural (‘We found this…’) announces a collective response, in the nature of ‘New York society disapproved.’ It’s imaginative, but, especially as the length of the sections dwindles toward the end, I can see where it would become annoying to some. For me, it keeps the pace rolling and fills in the interlocking pieces without need for ‘off the page’ contextualization. The only place where I really wanted more background concerns the singular experience of her life and the explanation implied for all her choices: the terrible tragedy of her beloved brother’s death, with which the book opens. And then there is ‘the original,’ Kate herself. As drawn here, there is both much to admire and much to dislike. I really didn’t like Kate Hepburn, whose commitment to being her own true self was less impressive in view of the arrogance, phoniness and indifference to others that were its costs.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Original” is a novel about Katharine Hepburn by Priya Parmar. It’s always very difficult to write about someone who has written an autobiography (“Me” in 1991) and has had very many books written about them. How does one put a new spin on a subject that has been under a microscope and analyzed by so many? Ms. Parmar decided to put her own twist on Hepburn’s story and, to be honest, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I think if I’d read Ms. Parmar’s previous book (“Vanessa and Her Sister”) or read reviews of that book before I started this one, I might have had a better idea of Ms. Parmar’s stylistic choices and flow. Let me start off by saying what I think worked - Katharine Hepburn is a very interesting woman; she was different from other actresses of the 1930s and couldn’t be pegged into one category. So, choosing her was a very smart choice. I also liked learning more about the “supporting” players in this book - Cary Grant, Irene Mayer Selznick, and Randolph Scott. Where this book fell a bit for me is that, to be honest, I don’t care about the sexual lives of any of these people (or, to be honest, most people). I also expected this book to be more like a Marie Benedict type of historical fiction book - instead, Ms. Parmar presented the story as a collection of what felt like journal entries - people were introduced abruptly at times, without background given, and even “Los Angeles” has entries. Some of Ms. Parmar’s statements seemed a bit confusing, multiple times, I had to break away from the story in order to consult sources to see if I misremembered something or if it was fictionally true (a Hays Code reference, time period around Flo Ziegfeld’s death). This wasn’t a bad book, but for me it was so different from what I expected that it’s difficult for me to separate what I thought I was going to read versus what I ended up reading. If you know Katharine Hepburn’s life story well, I don’t know that you’ll get anything more out of this book. If you want to know more about Ms. Hepburn’s life, do remember that this is a fictional book somewhat based upon a real person and some liberties have been taken - do read the Author's Note for further information on this. This book wasn’t my cup of tea due to the writing style, but I can see people enjoying it. I'd probably give this book a 2.5 overall rating - I found it "meh," so I'll give it three stars on Goodreads.

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your standard, dusty Hollywood biography. Priya Parmar treats Katharine Hepburn’s arrival in 1930s Los Angeles not as a list of credits, but as a collision between a rigid East Coast inheritance and a studio system that demanded total performance. The central conflict isn't just about whether she gets the Oscar; it’s the friction of a woman trying to keep her bisexuality and her marriage-of-convenience private while the industry tries to strip-mine her soul for PR.

Hepburn grows by leaning into her own contradictions, moving from a defiant outsider to a woman who understands that staying "original" requires a specific kind of armor. Hepburn matures by confronting her own inconsistencies, transitioning from a defiant outsider to a lady who recognizes that remaining "original" necessitates a certain type of armor. The supporting ensemble, which includes a conflicted Cary Grant and the obsessive Howard Hughes, is more than just cameos.

Parmar's literary style is keen and analytical, cutting through the typical "Golden Age" romanticism. She employs archive sources to create a tale that feels urgent and lived-in, rather than researched. I admire the intellectual distance here; she does not beg you to like Hepburn, but rather asks you to watch her work. The tone is austere and unsentimental, with an emphasis on the mechanics of ambition and the quiet loneliness of being the only person in the room who refuses to play the game.

The frenzied rush of early Hollywood and a particular, cold atmosphere of wealth are captured in the novel. It is not so much a rags-to-riches tale as it is a character study of power. If one criticism can be offered, it is that the pacing sometimes reflects the neurotic, frenzied energy of the time, leaving some readers wanting a break. That restlessness, yet, is precisely what distinguishes the novel. Because Hepburn herself never found a comfortable rhythm, it refuses to do so.

We all devote a large amount of effort to manage how we are seen at work or in our social groups. Reading this makes you wonder what you've hidden away just to keep your own life functioning properly. It serves as a reminder that being an original requires a daily, often costly, commitment to yourself.

[Kristina O’Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Allison & Busby for sending me an advance copy of The Original to read and review before its release date. The story of Katharine Hepburn is not one I was previously familiar with before reading this book (although I of course knew of her!), and I love that I was able to go into it without knowing many of the facts - it allowed me to become totally immersed in this story.

The cadence of this book is different from any I’ve read. With short, clipped sentences and tight chapters, it simultaneously made the book feel like a quick read, but at times it did feel like it was dragging a bit as well. Sometimes I found myself wishing for a bit more imagery or symbolism, but as I reflect on the reading experience, I realize that the cadence fits Katharine’s personality - and I feel this was likely a conscious decision to keep the reader in her headspace. If this was intentional - bravo to Priya Parmar - it was brilliant.

I loved the multiple perspectives of this story, all told in the third person, from the perspective of a narrator whose identity is left to the reader to decide. With many different characters in this tale of both private and very public lives, it took a little time to get a grasp on who was who, but by the midway point, I found myself in a position to cheer for the ones I learned to love, and to scowl at the ones making poor choices around and for those in their lives. I developed a particular fondness for Howard Hughes and appreciated Hepburn’s strong personality as a woman in the 1930’s. Had she lived long enough, I think she would have been quite the figure in the women’s movement of this century.

An eye-opening read, transporting the reader to the world of Hollywood and riches in the golden age. I enjoyed this read and am grateful for the opportunity to read it early.

[Juana Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a minute to get used to Priya Parmar’s unique literary style and once I did I was hooked. Parmar’s tight,clipped sentences and short paragraphs captures Katharine Hepburn perfectly. The author wrote the story her own unapologetic way the way Hepburn unapologetically trailblazed her way through 1930s Hollywood.

The book isn’t about the entire life of Katharine Hepburn. It does quickly touch on some of her child hood but it mostly focuses on the 1930s showcasing her strong personality, determination and authenticity. Hepburn did what she believed in and did not “sell out” to Hollywood. Now I love learning about people so I was absolutely absorbed in the writing.

I became more and more mesmerized with Katharine Hepburn as I read the book. While it is categorized as historical fiction as the author took liberties in changing certain elements to fit the story and of course creating conversations/dialogues it is for the most part accurate. There were so many secrets and lifestyles that were hidden at the time so Parmar took creative liberties on what probably or could have happened. It is told in multiple POV from the influential people in her life—including Cary Grant. So the reader also got a peak into their lives as well which again was unique when reading sort of a “biography.” Parmar’s writing made me want to learn even more about her so I researched her and some of the impactful people in her life that were mentioned especially Howard Hughes. I am looking forward to reading more from the author.

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, Hollywood’s Golden Age and books similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Four stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Priya Parmar and Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting fictional take on legendary actor, Katharine Hepburn. Reading it made me think of the ethics of writing a fictional account of a real person, beloved by many. On the one hand, it was somewhat refreshing to have the author refer to Hepburn's bisexuality as a given and no big deal. And certainly, Cary Grant's sexuality was more well-known, and as the author says in her end notes, Hepburn's relationship with Laura Harding remains an open question.

The novel is written in vignettes in third person in shifting points of view--Hepburn's, Grant's, Harding's, various colleagues and lovers, and from time to time, Hollywood itself. The writing style was very different, shifting from reportorial to highly personal (and downright intimate accounts), and swooping out to write as though Hollywood is an entity of its own. I can kinda get what she was trying for.

Granted, this is a novel, but absent footnotes and established sources, I found myself Googling a great deal to find my footing on what was true, what was fiction, what was speculation about the people in this book. I kept my "reader's saltshaker" with me as Hepburn came off as a narcissistic user who invited her intimates and rejected them as she needed them. Granted, she herself was manipulated a great deal by the studios, directors, agents, publicists and handlers, and that's very apparent in the pages of this book. Indeed, it opens with "We don't take cowards here." I came away feeling that Katharine Hepburn was even more of an enigma than I felt she was after reading (I'm sure sanitized) biographies. The only people who truly came off as decent people were her (ex)husband Luddy and Irene Selznick. The book made it clear that there was a lot of sorrow in Kate's life, with the loss of relatives to suicide, but the waters of her family of origin were rather muddy with all of this swooping in and out. Often, while reading this book, I wondered how Kate herself would have reacted to this treatment. I think she would have had some choice words about it.

This is NOT the book to read for a definitive conception of Katharine Hepburn, but it certainly does give an interesting view of how Hollywood (and the larger publicity & fame machine) can chew a person up and spit her out. It only covers a narrow time period, the 1930s. If nothing else, it motivates me to (re)watch a number of her movies, especially "Sylvia Scarlett" to see what all the fuss was about.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fact based fictional account of a relatively short period of time of Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn. There is a brief history of her childhood and the tragic death of her elder brother which massively impacted the rest of her life. However, the vast majority of the book is based in the 1930’s. Chapters are short and this is not just about Katharine’s life but also her family, friends and people she worked with. Most notably Cary Grant, Howard Hughes and David and Irene Selznick. Written in 11 acts from multiple POV’s it’s almost like reading a stage play.

Briefly, brought up in a family that always portrayed a stiff upper lip this is the image that Katharine carried with her throughout her life. Whilst racked with self doubt at time she portrayed herself as arrogant and independent. Should anyone dare to get too close to her a barrier came up and her interest in that person began to wane. Her early marriage had to be kept a secret and her husband was very compliant with this. However, not all her lovers were so discreet.

Whilst Katharine maintained her independent persona she seemed to inspire loyalty and affection from those she became close to. The tragic outcome of an illness when she was at home with her family was quite heartbreaking and another reason for the wall of self protection she seemed to build up around herself. I’m of an age where I remember a lot of her early films, I used to binge watch black-and-white and early colour movies as a child. She has always been a fascination for me and I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s only a small shot of a small period of her life, but an entertaining one nonetheless. Very enjoyable read.

[Ash Mello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading “The Originals” was like stepping into the vibrant world of Katharine Hepburn, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the author’s incredible talent. Her writing is truly a gift—each word feels carefully chosen, painting a vivid picture of Hepburn’s life that’s both captivating and intimate.
I found myself completely immersed in Hepburn’s tumultuous journey. The author masterfully captures her fierce independence and rebellious spirit, making me feel every emotional high and low she experienced. The way she delves into Hepburn’s relationships, especially with her lover Laura…adds layers of depth that really resonated with me. It’s as if you can feel Hepburn’s struggles and triumphs right alongside her.
I was particularly struck by the author’s skill in bringing 1930s Los Angeles to life. The vibrant descriptions made me feel like I was walking the streets with Hepburn, surrounded by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Her ability to create such a rich sense of place is truly impressive, and it made the story all the more engaging.
What really touched me, though, was how the author explores themes of authenticity and self-discovery. Hepburn’s battle to remain true to herself in a world that constantly tried to box her in is something I think many of us can relate to. The author’s insights into this struggle are both poignant and inspiring, leaving me reflecting on my own journey long after I turned the last page.
Overall, “The Originals” is not just a book; it’s an experience that beautifully honors a woman who lived life on her own terms. The author’s talent shines through every page, making this a story I’ll cherish and share with friends for years to come

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked by the first sentence: “We don’t take cowards here.” And I kept turning pages, propelled by the short clips from different viewpoints, the charged energy of the story, the delicious setting in Hollywood’s golden age, and some of my favorite actors as main characters. Kate Hepburn. Cary Grant. And the novel ends with one of my favorite movies, The Philadelphia Story, which marked Hepburn’s return to prominence.

Kate comes alive, beginning with her tomboy childhood and the horrendous loss of a beloved brother.

Priya Parmar’s story is framed on history but filled out with imagining the lives lived behind the studio controlled facade, the secret lovers who would have scandalized the ticket box public, and the more acceptable public affairs. Grant and Randolph Scott. Grant and his first wife, Virginia Cherrill. Kate and heiress and ex-star Laura Harding. Kate and Howard Hughes. And what operation did Kate undergo before she disappeared for ten months?

The audience do not want to be dared. They want to be comforted, excited to an extent, naturally–but not like this, not in a way that makes them feel ashamed. from The Original

She was mesmerizing, unlike anyone else. Feted or villainized, lionized or forgotten, she withstood it all and prevailed to become the icon we love today.

The greatest mystery is the human heart. The Original offers a satisfying imagining.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable historical fiction read about Katharine Hepburn covering the years leading up to the 1939 release of The Philadelphia Story, which as used in this book is a paean to her beginnings.

Using an omnipresent narrator, this “biographical” novel tells Katharine’s story. Daughter of a prominent physician and suffragette mother, Hepburn most defining childhood moment was the death of her beloved brother Tom. The book moves forward 10 years or so after that to 1932 and Hepburn’s arrival in Hollywood. At this point the novel moves to vignettes of famous people in her life: Irene Selznick, Leland Howard, Cary Grant and others. Here the omniscient narrator gives us moments that show her character, the ups and downs in the career and how these friends supported her as risked all to set aside Hollywood’s vision for a female star.

This is marvelous book. It takes on a story of a woman pioneering her way to be authentic, love as she sees fit, and be true to her beliefs. The book’s structure lends itself to almost appearing to be a tell all (and Hepburn had plenty to tell if she wanted). The prose is crisp and engaging. You feel the old Hollywood vibe coming through.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s perfect for lovers of historical fiction - any historical fiction - or historical fiction of a Hollywood’s Golden Era.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this wonderful ARC.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow did Kate Hepburn live a crazy life. For some reason it’s difficult for me to fathom that a woman living in the 1930s could live such a “scandalous” life and be unbothered by anyone’s opinion about it. The Original covers her life in the 1930s when she was transforming herself into a Hollywood star. I was stunned by how much she experienced in this decade and how many unhinged relationships she had.

Kate was an enigma. I admired her in so many ways and was repulsed by much of her behavior and treatment of others. I couldn’t figure out why so many had such an unhealthy obsession with her. What was it about her that made people do crazy things?

It took me awhile to get into a reading rhythm with this book. The narration is third person but is blended with direct conversations from the characters. The focus also changes constantly between Kate, Cary Grant, Howard Hughes, and many others including a general view from “Los Angeles”. While the book is engaging and the writing is skillful, the format made for slow reading. It often felt like the narrator was keeping secrets from me.

The history of Hollywood with manufactured backstories for the actors to make them palatable for the general public and the Hay’s Code was really interesting. I enjoyed Cary Grant’s story most out of everyone. It feels like each character could have their own very lengthy biography.

I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.