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The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine
A modern-day Gatsby tale of forbidden love, family secrets and the true price of wealth.
The story begins with a dinner party invitation. When young journalist Thomas Cleary is sent to dig up quotes for the obituary of a legendary film producer, the man's eccentric daughter offers him entree into the exclusive upper echelons of Hollywood society. A small-town boy with working-class roots, Thomas is a stranger in this opulent world of private jets and sprawling mansions.
Then he meets Matilda Duplaine.
Matilda is a beautiful and mysterious young woman who has never left the lush Bel-Air estate where she was raised. Thomas is immediately entranced by the enigmatic girl and the two begin a secret love affair. But what starts as an enchanted romance soon unravels a web of secrets and lies that could destroy their lives and the lives of everyone around them forever.
Filled with unforgettable characters and charm, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is a sparkling love letter to Los Angeles and a captivating journey beyond the golden gates of its most glamorous estates. Timeless, romantic and utterly absorbing, it is a mesmerizing and poignant exploration of life's unexpected riches.
The story begins with a dinner party invitation. When young journalist Thomas Cleary is sent to dig up quotes for the obituary of a legendary film producer, the man's eccentric daughter offers him entree into the exclusive upper echelons of Hollywood society. A small-town boy with working-class roots, Thomas is a stranger in this opulent world of private jets and sprawling mansions.
Then he meets Matilda Duplaine.
Matilda is a beautiful and mysterious young woman who has never left the lush Bel-Air estate where she was raised. Thomas is immediately entranced by the enigmatic girl and the two begin a secret love affair. But what starts as an enchanted romance soon unravels a web of secrets and lies that could destroy their lives and the lives of everyone around them forever.
Filled with unforgettable characters and charm, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is a sparkling love letter to Los Angeles and a captivating journey beyond the golden gates of its most glamorous estates. Timeless, romantic and utterly absorbing, it is a mesmerizing and poignant exploration of life's unexpected riches.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2015
50 people are currently reading
2685 people want to read
About the author
Alex Brunkhorst
5 books59 followersAlex Brunkhorst grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Childhood was spent pretty much like any other kid’s childhood. I loved playing tennis, swimming, and listening to music. And I was always a veracious reader. Nancy Drew mysteries were my early books of choice, and later I devoured everything from commercial fiction to the classics. I don’t know if it was all that reading, but I always had a super vivid imagination.
I went to an all-girls Catholic high school in Milwaukee and it was then that I met a teacher, Mr. Grandy, who first noticed my talent for writing. I did what any other high schooler would do though – I ignored his advice to pursue writing and instead studied economics at Georgetown University, determined to work on Wall Street. (I was so obsessed with that dream I had a picture of Michael Milken on my bulletin board.)
After three years working in finance, I moved to Los Angeles, a city I had only visited once, on little more than a whim. Once I got there, I decided that my lifelong dream of working in finance wasn’t agreeing with me, and I begged my way into United Talent Agency, where I started in the mailroom and then worked for the head of the TV Literary Department.
Soon after, inspired by the creativity around me in Hollywood, I finally took Mr. Grandy’s advice and began writing – a short story for an ex-boyfriend that turned into the novel The Mating Season, which was published by St. Martin’s Press. At this point I decided I needed a more “author-friendly” occupation, so I started working in high-end real estate, and I eventually founded the popular website Bungalux.com on luxury living.
The Gilded Life of Matilda Deplane was inspired by many of my friends who, unlike me, live truly gilded lives, and my crush on a boy I only saw on Sundays.
Childhood was spent pretty much like any other kid’s childhood. I loved playing tennis, swimming, and listening to music. And I was always a veracious reader. Nancy Drew mysteries were my early books of choice, and later I devoured everything from commercial fiction to the classics. I don’t know if it was all that reading, but I always had a super vivid imagination.
I went to an all-girls Catholic high school in Milwaukee and it was then that I met a teacher, Mr. Grandy, who first noticed my talent for writing. I did what any other high schooler would do though – I ignored his advice to pursue writing and instead studied economics at Georgetown University, determined to work on Wall Street. (I was so obsessed with that dream I had a picture of Michael Milken on my bulletin board.)
After three years working in finance, I moved to Los Angeles, a city I had only visited once, on little more than a whim. Once I got there, I decided that my lifelong dream of working in finance wasn’t agreeing with me, and I begged my way into United Talent Agency, where I started in the mailroom and then worked for the head of the TV Literary Department.
Soon after, inspired by the creativity around me in Hollywood, I finally took Mr. Grandy’s advice and began writing – a short story for an ex-boyfriend that turned into the novel The Mating Season, which was published by St. Martin’s Press. At this point I decided I needed a more “author-friendly” occupation, so I started working in high-end real estate, and I eventually founded the popular website Bungalux.com on luxury living.
The Gilded Life of Matilda Deplane was inspired by many of my friends who, unlike me, live truly gilded lives, and my crush on a boy I only saw on Sundays.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
September 23, 2015
A young reporter on his second chance, Thomas Cleary becomes involved with the rich and famous. David Duplaine, holds much power in the movie business and his estate is the stuff of dreams. He has secrets though, secrets the Thomas will discover and will change his life in many ways.
I think one of things I most noticed about this novel was how easy it was to read, how smoothly the prose and the plot flowed. Thomas Cleary is a very likable character and one can't help feeling sorry for Lily.The rich and secrets, a young reporter, a very unusual romance, and all together these things made for an entertaining and quick read.
ARC from NetGalley.
I think one of things I most noticed about this novel was how easy it was to read, how smoothly the prose and the plot flowed. Thomas Cleary is a very likable character and one can't help feeling sorry for Lily.The rich and secrets, a young reporter, a very unusual romance, and all together these things made for an entertaining and quick read.
ARC from NetGalley.
September 29, 2015
The description calls it a "modern day Gatsby tale ". There are rich and maybe at times manipulative and "careless people" and there are a few lavish but small dinner parties and a bigger art opening, but it really wasn't like The Great Gatsby in any meaningful way for me and I felt that the similarities that someone who wrote this description saw in this novel , are facile. Having said that upfront I enjoyed it . It reads easily and the story line moved along holding my interest.
Thomas Cleary a disgraced newspaper reporter from mid west , loses his job in New York and finds himself at the LA Times and also finds himself in the middle of the rich, Hollywood people where the stories seem to fall into his lap.
It a sort of mystery as Thomas tries to discover the pasts of the characters we meet here . It's a love story . We are taken to the lavish mansions and complicated lives of actresses , movie moguls and a young girl held captive by the mistakes of others .
This was an enjoyable story giving us a slice of the Hollywood life of the rich and famous and powerful , and the decisions that people make that impact their lives and others in irreparable ways.
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley
Thomas Cleary a disgraced newspaper reporter from mid west , loses his job in New York and finds himself at the LA Times and also finds himself in the middle of the rich, Hollywood people where the stories seem to fall into his lap.
It a sort of mystery as Thomas tries to discover the pasts of the characters we meet here . It's a love story . We are taken to the lavish mansions and complicated lives of actresses , movie moguls and a young girl held captive by the mistakes of others .
This was an enjoyable story giving us a slice of the Hollywood life of the rich and famous and powerful , and the decisions that people make that impact their lives and others in irreparable ways.
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley
January 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Part love story, part family mystery and a coming of age tale of sorts. Overall an entertaining debut.
Part love story, part family mystery and a coming of age tale of sorts. Overall an entertaining debut.
December 26, 2015
2.5 stars: If you are a huge fan of fairy tales, this is a book for you. This is a story of a beautiful damsel who is kept hidden in a mansion/estate in the tony parts of Bel-Air California, and a young poor working class lad who inadvertently discovers her. The Lad wants to save the damsel. The quandary that author Alex Brunkhorst poses, is what is the right way of saving her?
The story takes place in the extremely affluent area of Los Angeles. Because I’m not in the least familiar with the power and money of that sect, I am not the proper judge of whether this is realistic fiction. The fairy tale part for me was the premise that a twenty-year-old woman could be held captive at an estate, without anyone knowing of her existence. Even the most powerful would have difficulty hiding a person. There were other holes in the plot that were too obvious to dismiss. Yet, the author has skill in keeping the reader engaged. It’s like watching a late night Hallmark Movie and wanting to be taken away in an unrealistic love story. You just go with it.
It’s a fast read. I am not a love story fan, and yet I finished the novel. Parts were ridiculous; yet, it was entertaining and had enough plot twists to keep me interested. I’d only recommend it to those who enjoy the romance genre.
The story takes place in the extremely affluent area of Los Angeles. Because I’m not in the least familiar with the power and money of that sect, I am not the proper judge of whether this is realistic fiction. The fairy tale part for me was the premise that a twenty-year-old woman could be held captive at an estate, without anyone knowing of her existence. Even the most powerful would have difficulty hiding a person. There were other holes in the plot that were too obvious to dismiss. Yet, the author has skill in keeping the reader engaged. It’s like watching a late night Hallmark Movie and wanting to be taken away in an unrealistic love story. You just go with it.
It’s a fast read. I am not a love story fan, and yet I finished the novel. Parts were ridiculous; yet, it was entertaining and had enough plot twists to keep me interested. I’d only recommend it to those who enjoy the romance genre.
June 17, 2015
I would have given up on this in the first chapter, but I didn't have anything else to read right then...and by the time I had something else to read I was interested enough to want to find out what happened.
Let's just say none of what happened was particularly surprising, and I would have been better off spending quality time with family or furthering my career or something.
Let's just say none of what happened was particularly surprising, and I would have been better off spending quality time with family or furthering my career or something.
August 31, 2016
If you're wondering what Harlequin is up to these days, here's a recent release. Authored by L.A. real estate agent Alex Brunkhorst, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is a luxe, if somewhat circumscribed, journey through the palatial estates and environs of Hollywood's elite.
Reporter Thomas Cleary, scratching his way back up the journalism ladder after a plagiarism fiasco in Manhattan, has arrived in "the town of second chances" to rustle himself up one. Los Angeles, ever-ready to comply, lofts him into the antiques shop of Lily Goldman - daughter of the freshly-deceased Joel Goldman, legendary film producer and studio mogul. Thomas, sharp enough to determine which side of his bagel merits the schmear, crafts a tastefully-subdued memorial tribute to this lion of the entertainment industry for the Calendar section of the Times. A number of terribly exclusive doors begin to ease open, one of which accidentally leads to a mysterious young woman who appears to have been restricted to the confines of her Bel-Air manse for all of her elegantly-privileged life. The forbidden fruit drops, as it is prone to do, and rolls across the ground to his feet. Romance ensues.
As a resident of this City of Angels, I'm always interested in perspectives on our fantasy-borne metropolis. It's a land genuinely built on dreams, and not merely those Metro sold you. Immigrant, farmer, oilman, painter, athlete, architect, geologist, civil engineer - all take their place in line with the actor, the rapper, the reality star and the stuntman. Ambition, in Los Angeles, is a machine with many moving parts. And while this isn't Chandler, Didion, Dunne, or even Obst, it is nonetheless an eye to the current scene - albeit perched above a nose firmly pressed against the glass. (Access to the property is not access to the life, after all...no matter what a realtor tries to tell you.)
Brunkhorst approaches the cultural landscape with a surprising amount of innocence. Her protagonists are rubes; completely oblivious to the undercurrent and the darker shades within it. If the novel suffers from anything it is this lack of contrast. The story survives, though, purely on the fuel of its author's earnestness. It is her contention (stated in one of those brief Q & A's in the closing pages) that the isolation of the "uberwealthy" closes them off from society; that privacy is less a luxury than a relegation to loneliness. Both Thomas and his sheltered beauty, Matilda, diligently struggle to break free of the platinum prison that surrounds them - which is, of course, false in every way to the reality of this town, yet oh-so-true to its mythology.
As beach reads go - and this rises no higher on my scale - it's an angsty little summer confection.
Reporter Thomas Cleary, scratching his way back up the journalism ladder after a plagiarism fiasco in Manhattan, has arrived in "the town of second chances" to rustle himself up one. Los Angeles, ever-ready to comply, lofts him into the antiques shop of Lily Goldman - daughter of the freshly-deceased Joel Goldman, legendary film producer and studio mogul. Thomas, sharp enough to determine which side of his bagel merits the schmear, crafts a tastefully-subdued memorial tribute to this lion of the entertainment industry for the Calendar section of the Times. A number of terribly exclusive doors begin to ease open, one of which accidentally leads to a mysterious young woman who appears to have been restricted to the confines of her Bel-Air manse for all of her elegantly-privileged life. The forbidden fruit drops, as it is prone to do, and rolls across the ground to his feet. Romance ensues.
As a resident of this City of Angels, I'm always interested in perspectives on our fantasy-borne metropolis. It's a land genuinely built on dreams, and not merely those Metro sold you. Immigrant, farmer, oilman, painter, athlete, architect, geologist, civil engineer - all take their place in line with the actor, the rapper, the reality star and the stuntman. Ambition, in Los Angeles, is a machine with many moving parts. And while this isn't Chandler, Didion, Dunne, or even Obst, it is nonetheless an eye to the current scene - albeit perched above a nose firmly pressed against the glass. (Access to the property is not access to the life, after all...no matter what a realtor tries to tell you.)
Brunkhorst approaches the cultural landscape with a surprising amount of innocence. Her protagonists are rubes; completely oblivious to the undercurrent and the darker shades within it. If the novel suffers from anything it is this lack of contrast. The story survives, though, purely on the fuel of its author's earnestness. It is her contention (stated in one of those brief Q & A's in the closing pages) that the isolation of the "uberwealthy" closes them off from society; that privacy is less a luxury than a relegation to loneliness. Both Thomas and his sheltered beauty, Matilda, diligently struggle to break free of the platinum prison that surrounds them - which is, of course, false in every way to the reality of this town, yet oh-so-true to its mythology.
As beach reads go - and this rises no higher on my scale - it's an angsty little summer confection.
November 27, 2015
Thomas Cleary is a young newspaper journalist who has come to Los Angeles to start his career afresh after stumbling on some reporting for the New York Times. He’s a young man from a working class family who made it through Harvard on an athletic scholarship for running, his degree was hard fought for. He’s determined that this time things will work out.
He’s sent on a story to get quotes or any fresh information on for an obituary on a wealthy notorious film producer. He meets the film producer’s daughter, Lily, in her antiques shop and she takes him under her wing. She not only gives him an interview but invites him to a dinner where he will meet those people who her father mingled with and knew best.
He is good looking and charming in an unassuming way and he’s welcomed into this rich indulgent world. On one of the evenings of a party he gets the incorrect address and meets Matilda, a young, 19 year old woman who has never left her Bel-Air estate. He falls in love with he and they meet often but only at the estate. When the couple are discovered Thomas is banned from the home and told never to return. Lily, for reasons which are mysterious, arranges for the couple to go away for a month to a forgotten home in Hawaii that her father owned. Here Matilda starts to stretch her wings, finding people she befriends and doesn’t include Thomas.
Thomas is a good sleuth and spends lots of his time alone in Hawaii piecing together the puzzle of exactly who Matilda is and why she is being kept from society, actually hidden away. He writes an article, which he doesn’t intend to publish, which explains everything and would divulge all of the family secrets.
When they return home to LA they go their separate ways because of a misunderstanding and Thomas and the family come to an agreement.
The writing flowed well and kept me interested. The beautiful descriptions of Hawaii as well as the incredible estates of Bel-air are well described.
There are lots of interesting personalities besides Thomas and Matilda, including David, Lily’s brother, Carol and Charles close friends and a multitude of others. Thomas is my favorite character and the most believable. The circumstances that he finds himself in during different periods in the story are a puzzle which he eventually solves. Matilda’s character was the most difficult to believe, but still interesting in her sheltered innocence.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good read with a mystery that begs to be solved.
He’s sent on a story to get quotes or any fresh information on for an obituary on a wealthy notorious film producer. He meets the film producer’s daughter, Lily, in her antiques shop and she takes him under her wing. She not only gives him an interview but invites him to a dinner where he will meet those people who her father mingled with and knew best.
He is good looking and charming in an unassuming way and he’s welcomed into this rich indulgent world. On one of the evenings of a party he gets the incorrect address and meets Matilda, a young, 19 year old woman who has never left her Bel-Air estate. He falls in love with he and they meet often but only at the estate. When the couple are discovered Thomas is banned from the home and told never to return. Lily, for reasons which are mysterious, arranges for the couple to go away for a month to a forgotten home in Hawaii that her father owned. Here Matilda starts to stretch her wings, finding people she befriends and doesn’t include Thomas.
Thomas is a good sleuth and spends lots of his time alone in Hawaii piecing together the puzzle of exactly who Matilda is and why she is being kept from society, actually hidden away. He writes an article, which he doesn’t intend to publish, which explains everything and would divulge all of the family secrets.
When they return home to LA they go their separate ways because of a misunderstanding and Thomas and the family come to an agreement.
The writing flowed well and kept me interested. The beautiful descriptions of Hawaii as well as the incredible estates of Bel-air are well described.
There are lots of interesting personalities besides Thomas and Matilda, including David, Lily’s brother, Carol and Charles close friends and a multitude of others. Thomas is my favorite character and the most believable. The circumstances that he finds himself in during different periods in the story are a puzzle which he eventually solves. Matilda’s character was the most difficult to believe, but still interesting in her sheltered innocence.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good read with a mystery that begs to be solved.
October 8, 2015
This is definitely a story where one event leads to another and eventually to love, a mystery to solve and some exotic locations to visit! The hero is Thomas Cleary, a young journalist from a small town who is in awe when first invited to a dinner party which gives him unexpected access to the elite of Hollywood society. This thrusts him into a new world of Bel-Air mansions, private jets and opportunities he’d only dreamed of, including meeting the possible love of his life.
This is an exploration of hidden relationships, difficult secrets and loving adventures, love found, love lost and then potentially still there to be found again, if only….. The descriptions of locations and interactions are vivid, bringing them and the characters to dramatic life in the imagination of the reader. As more is revealed so the mystery thickens until finally all is understood and misunderstandings cause even more problems. The writing flows like a river, carrying the reader on a journey full of rubble filled rapids, sudden waterfalls and interludes of calm.
An charming, handsome and charismatic sleuth, a damsel in distress, dramatic settings and secrets all essential ingredients for this intriguing mystery.
Thanks to the publishers for providing a paperback ARC of this novel for me to read in exchange for this, my honest review.
This is an exploration of hidden relationships, difficult secrets and loving adventures, love found, love lost and then potentially still there to be found again, if only….. The descriptions of locations and interactions are vivid, bringing them and the characters to dramatic life in the imagination of the reader. As more is revealed so the mystery thickens until finally all is understood and misunderstandings cause even more problems. The writing flows like a river, carrying the reader on a journey full of rubble filled rapids, sudden waterfalls and interludes of calm.
An charming, handsome and charismatic sleuth, a damsel in distress, dramatic settings and secrets all essential ingredients for this intriguing mystery.
Thanks to the publishers for providing a paperback ARC of this novel for me to read in exchange for this, my honest review.
December 16, 2015
A fun, easy, enjoyable read.
It is nothing like The Great Gatsby, but that's not the fault of the writer or the book. It's the fault of the editor/publishing house for putting that damn sentence in the flyleaf. I don't know why they did that; it's a disservice to both the author and to the book. Because Brunkhorst is a good writer who wrote a good book. But, you put that comparison to Gatsby in and all of the sudden everyone expects something that this book was never poised to deliver.
No, Brunkhorst is no F. Scott Fitzgerald; but who among us is? This book has an interesting premise and is well-written. I give it a solid 3 stars and recommend it for anyone who wants a little escapism and/or needs an easy read when travelling home for the holidays. Or, if you're lucky enough to take a tropical vacation this time of year, it's a great beach read. Also a good gift for someone who likes a little light mystery and to lose themselves in the world of the ultra-rich.
It is nothing like The Great Gatsby, but that's not the fault of the writer or the book. It's the fault of the editor/publishing house for putting that damn sentence in the flyleaf. I don't know why they did that; it's a disservice to both the author and to the book. Because Brunkhorst is a good writer who wrote a good book. But, you put that comparison to Gatsby in and all of the sudden everyone expects something that this book was never poised to deliver.
No, Brunkhorst is no F. Scott Fitzgerald; but who among us is? This book has an interesting premise and is well-written. I give it a solid 3 stars and recommend it for anyone who wants a little escapism and/or needs an easy read when travelling home for the holidays. Or, if you're lucky enough to take a tropical vacation this time of year, it's a great beach read. Also a good gift for someone who likes a little light mystery and to lose themselves in the world of the ultra-rich.
January 7, 2016
Although, we know from the start that the happy ever after Thomas is hoping for won’t come to fruition, at least not in the way he imagines, that he is headed for a fall, we watch him learn some wonderful, but painful, and valuable lessons, and yet, this experience will set him on a new path in life, and maybe, just maybe, his love for the elusive Matilda Duplaine will conquer all in the end. One can at least hope...
This is a wonderfully written novel of contemporary fiction with a light mystery included. As long as you know going in what to expect, it is a good story, maybe a touch ambitious, but, it is an easy, fast read, that will impress you, leaving you to ponder upon the story long after you turned the final page.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read this review is full, click this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
This is a wonderfully written novel of contemporary fiction with a light mystery included. As long as you know going in what to expect, it is a good story, maybe a touch ambitious, but, it is an easy, fast read, that will impress you, leaving you to ponder upon the story long after you turned the final page.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read this review is full, click this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
September 29, 2015
3.5 Stars
Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat
It took me a while getting into The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst. There was a point in which I wasn’t sure if I was liking the book or not. One thing I was sure is that I was liking the writing and that kept me going. Luckily for me, that uncertainty didn’t last long, I can say that after the one-third mark, I got into it and was completely invested in the story.
Although set in this times the story has an old Hollywood feel. The characters have the charm of black and white movie stars, with mysterious lives full of secrets.
The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is described as a modern-day Gatsby tale. It was easy to see why some people would consider it that because there were many similarities with the classic.
Brunkhorst’s writing is fluid and has a lyric quality that kept me reading page after page. The story has enough mystery, glamour and romance to make of The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine a pleasing debut.
I’m sure The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine won’t be my last book by Alex Brunkhorst.
Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat
It took me a while getting into The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst. There was a point in which I wasn’t sure if I was liking the book or not. One thing I was sure is that I was liking the writing and that kept me going. Luckily for me, that uncertainty didn’t last long, I can say that after the one-third mark, I got into it and was completely invested in the story.
Although set in this times the story has an old Hollywood feel. The characters have the charm of black and white movie stars, with mysterious lives full of secrets.
The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is described as a modern-day Gatsby tale. It was easy to see why some people would consider it that because there were many similarities with the classic.
Brunkhorst’s writing is fluid and has a lyric quality that kept me reading page after page. The story has enough mystery, glamour and romance to make of The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine a pleasing debut.
I’m sure The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine won’t be my last book by Alex Brunkhorst.
August 7, 2015
This was a meditative read. I loved it! Hope to see it on the NY times best sellers list.
August 3, 2015
A little bit fairy tale, a touch gothic, a mystery, a love story, an enchanting debut. I loved it.
September 12, 2015
It is a real pleasure to be able to review novels like this. At first it was the unusual title and striking cover that drew me into requesting a copy from Mira UK. After reading the first few chapters I knew this was something quite special. I think this is a great debut. The writing is so lovely and poetic. It is very delicate and sensitive to the fine details of environment and characters.
It is likened to The Great Gatsby, which is one of my favorite novels of all time (so I was also interested because of that), and I agree. I do notice many echoes to the classic. Thomas Cleary is a shy, hardworking, mid-western young man who seems to stumble into a whole new world of class and wealth. But instead of being in East Egg Island, like Nick Carraway, we are in LA Hollywood. We see the never ending beauty and glitz bouncing off of Thomas’s enchanted POV, but also glimpse the dark cracks within the group that takes him in. The book doesn’t have the numbing melancholy that Gatsby has, but it is punctuated with bitter moments. Its pretty much the old- the rich are actually deeply unhappy because of things that cannot be brought. I like to indulge in messed up rich characters.
The mystery of who Matilda was and the secrets that had been buried years ago, really kept me reading at full pace. It was the sort of- reading late into the night and first thing in the morning- type. And Matilda as a character is really quite unique. A girl who has never left the confines of a luxury estate? Talk about messed up really. And Thomas himself. We begin to realize he is not the perfect gentlemanly man he himself prides in, he also has many imperfections like Nick. But both characters progress and move forward with a (sort of) happy ending (depends the way you look at it, and also don’t want to give any spoilers).
Simply special.
Thank you Cara Thompson from Mira UK for my review copy xx
It is likened to The Great Gatsby, which is one of my favorite novels of all time (so I was also interested because of that), and I agree. I do notice many echoes to the classic. Thomas Cleary is a shy, hardworking, mid-western young man who seems to stumble into a whole new world of class and wealth. But instead of being in East Egg Island, like Nick Carraway, we are in LA Hollywood. We see the never ending beauty and glitz bouncing off of Thomas’s enchanted POV, but also glimpse the dark cracks within the group that takes him in. The book doesn’t have the numbing melancholy that Gatsby has, but it is punctuated with bitter moments. Its pretty much the old- the rich are actually deeply unhappy because of things that cannot be brought. I like to indulge in messed up rich characters.
The mystery of who Matilda was and the secrets that had been buried years ago, really kept me reading at full pace. It was the sort of- reading late into the night and first thing in the morning- type. And Matilda as a character is really quite unique. A girl who has never left the confines of a luxury estate? Talk about messed up really. And Thomas himself. We begin to realize he is not the perfect gentlemanly man he himself prides in, he also has many imperfections like Nick. But both characters progress and move forward with a (sort of) happy ending (depends the way you look at it, and also don’t want to give any spoilers).
Simply special.
Thank you Cara Thompson from Mira UK for my review copy xx
July 11, 2015
The story begins when journalist Thomas Cleary is sent to get some quotes or interesting information for an obituary on a very famous / notorious film producer. Thomas talks to this film producers daughter Lily who invites him to a dinner where he can meet those who knew him best where he will be able to get the low down on this wealthy well known man.
He is welcomed into this rich indulgent world where the rich hang out with the rich and price tags are practically irrelevant . The information they give really helps him out but it won't be the last he hears from them all. Through a misunderstanding on one of the nights he was to meet some of them he turns up at the wrong house and meets Matilda.
Matilda is one of the most fascinating women he has ever met but it becomes quickly apparent that she is protected from life by those surrounding her , he just does not understand why? Being a journalist and in love with a mysterious woman becomes a dangerous combination when your job and lifestyle can be taken away from you by those who are helping you up the career ladder.
I love a story with mystery , and having a journalist on a mission to uncover secrets made this impossible to set down as I had to know the secrets behind this woman's life. It was worth the wait !
I received my copy for review through Netgalley .
He is welcomed into this rich indulgent world where the rich hang out with the rich and price tags are practically irrelevant . The information they give really helps him out but it won't be the last he hears from them all. Through a misunderstanding on one of the nights he was to meet some of them he turns up at the wrong house and meets Matilda.
Matilda is one of the most fascinating women he has ever met but it becomes quickly apparent that she is protected from life by those surrounding her , he just does not understand why? Being a journalist and in love with a mysterious woman becomes a dangerous combination when your job and lifestyle can be taken away from you by those who are helping you up the career ladder.
I love a story with mystery , and having a journalist on a mission to uncover secrets made this impossible to set down as I had to know the secrets behind this woman's life. It was worth the wait !
I received my copy for review through Netgalley .
January 11, 2016
Billed as a Gatsby-esque peek into the dirty lives of the very rich, with a mystery surrounding a young woman (Miss Duplaine) who for shadowy reasons hasn't ever left the estate where she has grown up, this sounded intriguing.
Very quickly, the author demonstrates that it would take a much more skilled writer than himself to utilize the Fitzgerald style and apply it to a modern setting. It simply doesn't--the level of isolation and removal of the very rich from the rest of the madding crowd is distinctly different now that it was in the 1920s. Almost as quickly, the characters themselves become uninteresting and flat. The crux of the plot, that a mega-rich media tycoon has kept a young woman from ever leaving the estate and from having any contact with the outside world is completely flat and unbelievable (and not just because sexual slavery doesn't enter into it). None of it makes, really, any sense whatsoever--and the final reveal as to why Matilda Duplaine has never left her home leaves one wondering if this particular story should have been left to die quietly in the cloud rather than being printed at all.
As a palate cleanser between books, fine--it's an insipid sorbet with no real fruit content, but it bridges the experience of appetizer and main course. Otherwise, hardly worth the time.
Very quickly, the author demonstrates that it would take a much more skilled writer than himself to utilize the Fitzgerald style and apply it to a modern setting. It simply doesn't--the level of isolation and removal of the very rich from the rest of the madding crowd is distinctly different now that it was in the 1920s. Almost as quickly, the characters themselves become uninteresting and flat. The crux of the plot, that a mega-rich media tycoon has kept a young woman from ever leaving the estate and from having any contact with the outside world is completely flat and unbelievable (and not just because sexual slavery doesn't enter into it). None of it makes, really, any sense whatsoever--and the final reveal as to why Matilda Duplaine has never left her home leaves one wondering if this particular story should have been left to die quietly in the cloud rather than being printed at all.
As a palate cleanser between books, fine--it's an insipid sorbet with no real fruit content, but it bridges the experience of appetizer and main course. Otherwise, hardly worth the time.
January 21, 2016
Awful. And by "Gatsby" I assume they mean "Flowers in the attic," but even that would have been readable.
January 19, 2016
not a single real person in this entire book.
January 30, 2021
Unread shelf project 2021: book 12.
I bought this book AGES ago and I think when I bought it, I thought it was going to be more of a thriller rather than a mysterious romance story.
It was definitely NOT a thriller. I’m not sure why I thought that.
It WAS a mysterious romance story. And I can definitely see some similarities between it and Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier), but Rebecca was much better written and was also far more gothic in nature. This was a combination of Gossip Girl, Rebecca, and any fairly generic boy-meets-girl story featuring a mysterious birth.
It was a good way to while away some time, but I was annoyed by the characters and the ending was also very frustrating.
I bought this book AGES ago and I think when I bought it, I thought it was going to be more of a thriller rather than a mysterious romance story.
It was definitely NOT a thriller. I’m not sure why I thought that.
It WAS a mysterious romance story. And I can definitely see some similarities between it and Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier), but Rebecca was much better written and was also far more gothic in nature. This was a combination of Gossip Girl, Rebecca, and any fairly generic boy-meets-girl story featuring a mysterious birth.
It was a good way to while away some time, but I was annoyed by the characters and the ending was also very frustrating.
March 8, 2019
This one fell flat for me. I imagined Matilda's dialogue in monotone. Didn't really come to like any of the characters, and I expected there to be more mystery. I couldn't figure out why the big secret had to be such a big secret.
July 29, 2021
I liked this! It reminded me of the old glamour days in Hollywood even though it takes place in modern times. Lovely description of the homes and lifestyles of the rich and famous, plus likeable characters and a mystery that is not apparent. A good beach read.
February 17, 2020
This book was a bit of a sugar hit---reminded me of the "princess" movies. There was just enough romance and just enough quality writing to keep me interested.
7/10
7/10
July 28, 2017
Please check out all of my reviews at http://ultraviolentlit.blogspot.ca!
This novel is being called a “modern day Gatsby tale,” and I can see how it has been inspired by Fitzgerald, mostly in tone. The story has old-fashioned sensibilities, reminiscent of Gatsby’s extravagant parties and lavish home, although the setting here is present day Bel Air. It also features a main character who enters into a wealthy world and falls in love with a woman well above his social status – and ends in heartbreak (this isn’t a spoiler, we are told from the start that the love affair doesn’t end well).
Thomas is a New York journalist who has been given a second chance in L.A. One of his first assignments is to write an obituary of a legendary film producer Joel Goldman, and he meets with Joel’s daughter Lily to get a quote for the newspaper. Lily takes an instant shine to Thomas, and introduces him to her lifestyle of the rich and famous. As he becomes close to her tight-knit group of celebrity friends, Thomas finds himself the recipient of all the best entertainment stories, rapidly advancing his career.
In awe of Lily’s exclusive world of elite socialites, Thomas feels that he has finally redeemed himself for the mistakes he made in New York. Everything is going well for him, until the evening he confuses the address of a party and ends up at the Bel Air home of producer David Duplaine. The rest of the group is at the beach house party, but there is one person at home on the estate: David’s daughter, Matilda. The twenty-year-old girl has lived a secluded life – she has had every need and desire provided for, although she has never left her father’s gated estate. Upon meeting Thomas, Matilda realizes the true price of wealth and privilege – she has missed out on the experiences of real life.
Thomas and Matilda embark on a secret, forbidden affair – until David finds out. His past, and therefore Matilda’s whole life, have been filled with secrets, mistakes and regrets. As a journalist, Thomas is desperate to put together the pieces of Matilda’s history; but as her boyfriend, he is compelled to respect her privacy. The conflict between career and personal life prove to be his undoing.
The mysteries of the storyline held my interest throughout – the novel is an easy, light read, but it is necessary to suspend disbelief to really enjoy the plot. Filled with exotic locations, luxurious homes and rich, bored, entitled people, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine reads like a fairytale with a twist. Matilda is a damsel in distress, but she doesn’t need rescuing – she needs to be set free to live her own life.
This is an unusual, almost nostalgic novel. At some points, I felt it would have been better had it actually been set in the 1920s, but the contrasts between Matilda and Thomas are more glaring in the present day. The tone of the novel, with its hint of mystery, is actually a really nice change from all the dark, psychological thrillers that are being published right now. Even though most of it is predictable, it is a nice, escapist read for the summer.
I received this novel from Mira and Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is being called a “modern day Gatsby tale,” and I can see how it has been inspired by Fitzgerald, mostly in tone. The story has old-fashioned sensibilities, reminiscent of Gatsby’s extravagant parties and lavish home, although the setting here is present day Bel Air. It also features a main character who enters into a wealthy world and falls in love with a woman well above his social status – and ends in heartbreak (this isn’t a spoiler, we are told from the start that the love affair doesn’t end well).
Thomas is a New York journalist who has been given a second chance in L.A. One of his first assignments is to write an obituary of a legendary film producer Joel Goldman, and he meets with Joel’s daughter Lily to get a quote for the newspaper. Lily takes an instant shine to Thomas, and introduces him to her lifestyle of the rich and famous. As he becomes close to her tight-knit group of celebrity friends, Thomas finds himself the recipient of all the best entertainment stories, rapidly advancing his career.
In awe of Lily’s exclusive world of elite socialites, Thomas feels that he has finally redeemed himself for the mistakes he made in New York. Everything is going well for him, until the evening he confuses the address of a party and ends up at the Bel Air home of producer David Duplaine. The rest of the group is at the beach house party, but there is one person at home on the estate: David’s daughter, Matilda. The twenty-year-old girl has lived a secluded life – she has had every need and desire provided for, although she has never left her father’s gated estate. Upon meeting Thomas, Matilda realizes the true price of wealth and privilege – she has missed out on the experiences of real life.
Thomas and Matilda embark on a secret, forbidden affair – until David finds out. His past, and therefore Matilda’s whole life, have been filled with secrets, mistakes and regrets. As a journalist, Thomas is desperate to put together the pieces of Matilda’s history; but as her boyfriend, he is compelled to respect her privacy. The conflict between career and personal life prove to be his undoing.
The mysteries of the storyline held my interest throughout – the novel is an easy, light read, but it is necessary to suspend disbelief to really enjoy the plot. Filled with exotic locations, luxurious homes and rich, bored, entitled people, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine reads like a fairytale with a twist. Matilda is a damsel in distress, but she doesn’t need rescuing – she needs to be set free to live her own life.
This is an unusual, almost nostalgic novel. At some points, I felt it would have been better had it actually been set in the 1920s, but the contrasts between Matilda and Thomas are more glaring in the present day. The tone of the novel, with its hint of mystery, is actually a really nice change from all the dark, psychological thrillers that are being published right now. Even though most of it is predictable, it is a nice, escapist read for the summer.
I received this novel from Mira and Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2016
Am I the only one who finds books around the 3-3.5 stars mark the most difficult to review?
Anyway, I'll give it a try.
This is the story of Thomas Cleary, a handsome 26 year old, Harvard graduate, who works as a reporter for the LA Times. He's going through the motions and he feels stuck. But his fortune is about to change, once he meets Lily Goldman, the daughter of a famous Hollywood producer and studios owner. There's an instant connection between them, and the fifty-something year old, Lily, takes a liking to him so she invites him to dinner in Bel Air, where he'll meet some famous and rich people. There he's introduced to the very influential Hollywood producer, David Duplaine, a famous actress and a few other well-to-do people. He feels like a fish out of water, but he likes to listen and observe. Things start moving along at work, and soon he finds himself promoted and he becomes the "it boy" in the journalism world.
Because of some sort of misunderstanding about the location of a party, he gets to meet the mysterious and very beautiful Matilda Duplaine. He falls in love instantly; he's intrigued by Matilda, as she's like no one he's ever met. So they embark on a secret relationship.Things start happening. Secrets are being discovered by Thomas. Will he betray Matilda and her family by publishing his discoveries? Read and you'll find out.
"The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine" was an easy read. It had a good flow; the writing was very matter-of-fact, not overly descriptive or sentimental. I guess that was appropriate, given that the narrator was a young man.
The story was interesting enough, the characters were relatively well developed, but unfortunately I didn't quite connect nor cared much about anyone. Even the love story between Thomas and Matilda felt stale and somewhat cold, despite its unusual circumstances. There was a lot of build up to the the first kiss and the first sexual encounter, but when it happened, it was dealt with it briefly, without any sensuality.
But regardless, this was enjoyable, without being thrilling or very exciting.
I've received this novel via NetGalley. Thanks to the publishers, Harlequin Australia, MIRA, for the opportunity to read and review.
Anyway, I'll give it a try.
This is the story of Thomas Cleary, a handsome 26 year old, Harvard graduate, who works as a reporter for the LA Times. He's going through the motions and he feels stuck. But his fortune is about to change, once he meets Lily Goldman, the daughter of a famous Hollywood producer and studios owner. There's an instant connection between them, and the fifty-something year old, Lily, takes a liking to him so she invites him to dinner in Bel Air, where he'll meet some famous and rich people. There he's introduced to the very influential Hollywood producer, David Duplaine, a famous actress and a few other well-to-do people. He feels like a fish out of water, but he likes to listen and observe. Things start moving along at work, and soon he finds himself promoted and he becomes the "it boy" in the journalism world.
Because of some sort of misunderstanding about the location of a party, he gets to meet the mysterious and very beautiful Matilda Duplaine. He falls in love instantly; he's intrigued by Matilda, as she's like no one he's ever met. So they embark on a secret relationship.Things start happening. Secrets are being discovered by Thomas. Will he betray Matilda and her family by publishing his discoveries? Read and you'll find out.
"The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine" was an easy read. It had a good flow; the writing was very matter-of-fact, not overly descriptive or sentimental. I guess that was appropriate, given that the narrator was a young man.
The story was interesting enough, the characters were relatively well developed, but unfortunately I didn't quite connect nor cared much about anyone. Even the love story between Thomas and Matilda felt stale and somewhat cold, despite its unusual circumstances. There was a lot of build up to the the first kiss and the first sexual encounter, but when it happened, it was dealt with it briefly, without any sensuality.
But regardless, this was enjoyable, without being thrilling or very exciting.
I've received this novel via NetGalley. Thanks to the publishers, Harlequin Australia, MIRA, for the opportunity to read and review.
December 1, 2015
Looking for a love story with a difference? I found that in Alex Brunkhorst’s novel, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine. It’s described as a modern-day Gatsby with hints of Daphne Du Maurier. I wouldn’t go so far as the Du Maurier – it didn’t have that gothic gloom underpinning the mystery – but it echoes Gatsby in its sparkling descriptions of wealth and opulence that in the end can’t buy happiness.
A story of excess, luxury and glamour with an element of magical realism that befits the image Hollywood, a place of dreams, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is an engaging and entertaining read. From Matilda with her odd ways and sense of entitlement to working-class writer Thomas who’s thrust into greatness, from elusive movie stars to powerful movie makers, the book is filled with interesting and captivating characters that will keep readers turning pages.
Thomas is drawn to Matilda’s innocent ways, but when she leaves the estate with him for a month in Hawaii, she changes before his eyes. Where is the child-like woman he fell in love with? It’s an interesting comment on how people change over time and how this can affect relationships. Readers will need to suspend disbelief a little but hey, anything goes in Hollywood.
A story of mystery and romance with a touch of bling, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine leaves readers wondering, hoping, and dreaming. Not a bad place to be at the end of a book.
A story of excess, luxury and glamour with an element of magical realism that befits the image Hollywood, a place of dreams, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is an engaging and entertaining read. From Matilda with her odd ways and sense of entitlement to working-class writer Thomas who’s thrust into greatness, from elusive movie stars to powerful movie makers, the book is filled with interesting and captivating characters that will keep readers turning pages.
Thomas is drawn to Matilda’s innocent ways, but when she leaves the estate with him for a month in Hawaii, she changes before his eyes. Where is the child-like woman he fell in love with? It’s an interesting comment on how people change over time and how this can affect relationships. Readers will need to suspend disbelief a little but hey, anything goes in Hollywood.
A story of mystery and romance with a touch of bling, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine leaves readers wondering, hoping, and dreaming. Not a bad place to be at the end of a book.
November 18, 2015
The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine
By
Alex Brunkhorst
What it's all about...
Thomas is a gifted writer but kind of sad and poor and recovering from a few personal losses. He meets Lily...daughter of a famous Hollywood mogul...who is now dead. Lily begins inviting him to events that he normally would not be invited to...and then he accidentally discovers Matilda. Matilda has been kept a secret for all of her life. Everything she does and everything she needs is provided by her wealthy father on his estate. Thomas falls in love with Matilda and risks everything to set her free. But does Matilda really want her freedom? And...what happens once she has it? What is the secret about Matilda's parents? Her real parents?
Why I wanted to read it...
This book sounded fascinating. Hollywood and wealth and a mystery all drew me to this book. Thomas...the sad boy who is now a sad man...what's love done to him?
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I loved the wealthy dysfunctional characters and all of their idiosyncrasies and secrets...long held secrets. Matilda was a puzzle...totally.
Why you should read it, too...
Great writing, a wonderfully mysterious secret...kept the pages turning for me. It wasn't old Hollywood but it felt like it.
June 17, 2016
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Without giving away any spoilers, this book takes you to another place, where you truly feel as though you are Thomas Cleary. A common man who suddenly one day finds everything he's looking for, but that of course comes with a catch, as does most wonderful things that life "gives us." The only complaint that I would have is that there are far too many metaphors used in the novel. Great read though. Still hoping for a sequel!
August 15, 2015
This was a pleasant read and I liked the mystery but it isn't one of those books that you just have to talk about after. I actually have very little to say about it! It was well written and I enjoyed the various locales which were quite vividly portrayed. I don't think it is a waste of time at all, it just wasn't particularly earth shattering but still worth a read!
December 11, 2015
I really thought the author was going with a Sunset Blvd./The Bad & the Beautiful vibe...which would have been cool too, but she went in a different direction that was just as enjoyable. I love classic films so anyone that watches TCM, will probably have a good time getting lost in this story. It was fun enough that I will probably read it again down the line.
December 30, 2015
A quick read that I found really enjoyable despite the fact that there were aspects of the story that stretched credulity. I sometimes wished it was a little bit deeper and darker, and delivered more on the promise of a twisty, mysterious backstory. Despite this, it was fun to read and I would recommend it for someone looking for a peek into the lives of the rich and fabulous.
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