Life with Stella Kane

by: Linda Morganstein

Published by: Regal Crest Enterprises

Reviewed by Sara Porter

Life with Stella Kane is a witty romance between a Hollywood star and a cynical outsider who becomes lured by the celluloid world of celebrity and deception. Of course the big difference between this and most stories is that the star and the outsider are both female.

Nina Weiss, an Ivy League student works in the publicity department for her uncle’s production company–what she hopes will be just a few months of summer entertainment. What she gets instead is the offer to train up-and-coming star, Stella Kane, for her film promotions. Nina teaches Stella about classic literature and etiquette lessons, and gives her a new biography (instead of Stella’s rural background), courtesy of the publicity department. Stella then teaches the naïve student to embrace life. The two embark on a love affair that is tested when studio heads put Stella in a studio-planted romance between herself and a gay actor.

Life with Stella Kane has a sharp, witty style that despite the subject matter reminds me of one of those old screwball comedies from the ‘30s and ‘40s. Nina begins the book by saying, “I’m a lesbian. There I’ve said it–after 76 years.” There are some humorous situations, such as when Stella uses her best training from Nina to fool a wily gossip columnist and a sleazy character who wants to start the first tabloid rag.

Despite this being a romance between a Hollywood starlet and a wealthy intellectual, both characters are free from stereotypes. Despite being intelligent, Nina is not an erudite snob. Instead, she is an engaging young woman who is perceptive about others’ motives, but less assured of her own. Stella is not a scenery-chewing diva, but a vulnerable, feisty young woman caring for her deaf sister.

Stella and Nina make lovely duo in this story.

Armchair Interviews says: Nice read.