Did You Hear About Kitty Karr: A Novel

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When white silver screen icon Kitty Karr Tate dies and bequeaths her multimillion-dollar estate to the three Black St. John sisters, it prompts questions. A celebrity in her own right, Elise St. John would rather focus on sorting out Kitty's affairs than deal with the press. But what she discovers in one of Kitty's journals rocks her world harder than any other brewing scandal could-and between a cheating fianc and fallout from a controversial social media post, there are plenty. And if this isn't enough, her Vogue shoot has been complicated by the arrival of Jasper, a handsome and knowing photographer who may offer the Elise a chance at her most authentic pose yet-if she can defy her publicist, plan Kitty's memorial, and figure out how she really feels under the harsh gaze of the paparazzi, the public-and her mother. The discovery that her longtime neighbor and mentor was her grandmother, a Black woman who had been passing for white for over sixty years, threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of her sisters and those closest to them. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr is a sprawling tale that explores the celebrity machine, the burdens of being Black, the privileges gained by fading to white, and the power that family secrets have to erode and complicate the lives of future generations.

Reviews

"Did You Hear About Kitty Karr is an intoxicating and seductive debut, drawing you into an underground Hollywood world that is as glamorous as it is dangerous. Kitty Karr is an iconoclastic, complicated, and fascinating woman, whose legacy is as relevant as ever today. Crystal Smith Paul is a thrilling new voice in fiction and I cannot wait to see what she does next."
--Taylor Jenkins Reid, bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Carrie Soto Is Back

"Propulsive and entertaining, with broad historical relevance and critical cultural significance, this is the uniquely American story we all need to read--it holds a piece of all of us. I absolutely loved it and will be looking forward to more from Crystal Smith Paul."
--Jayne Allen, bestselling author of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted

"An engrossing saga, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr explores the heartbreaking sacrifices that one woman must make in order to succeed in the Golden Age of Hollywood--and the way in which her difficult choices echo throughout later generations. Crystal Smith Paul's debut about family, celebrity, and racism--both historic and modern--captivates."
--Marie Benedict, bestselling author of The Mitford Affair and coauthor of The Personal Librarian

"The witty and sensational Did You Hear About Kitty Karr marks Crystal Smith Paul as a brilliant new talent to watch."
--Kalisha Buckhanon, bestselling author of Speaking of Summer and Running to Fall

"A compelling odyssey into the consequences our choices can have across history and generations, the moral complexities of those choices, and the devastating secrets hidden behind even the most glamorous and opulent of lives and the most 'pristine' family trees. An immensely entertaining debut."
--Christine Pride, coauthor of We Are Not Like Them

"Paul's debut is a riveting, often heartbreaking tale that explores race, privilege, and celebrity in America through the eyes of a one-of-a-kind character. Readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Piper Huguley will be enthralled."
--Booklist, starred review

"Paul's sprawling multigenerational debut hits the ground running with a peek at the complicated family life of an iconic, privacy-seeking clan of Hollywood stars: the St. Johns. . . . With a plot worthy of a miniseries, an extensive cast, and a historical sweep, Paul succeeds in entertaining as well as enlightening."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Paul's novel highlights the burden and loss of racism by focusing on the color line and passing."
--Library Journal

"The characters and the twists and turns of their lives kept me turning the pages to the end. This is one that readers will be talking about for a long time. I loved every page."
--Victoria Christopher Murray, bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian and author of more than 30 novels

Author Bio

Crystal Smith Paul has led an eclectic career as a writer, editor, and paralegal for the Department of Justice. She attended Spelman College and UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, and received her master's in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands, while spending her nights and weekends writing creatively and staying on top of pop culture.