When silver screen icon Kitty Karr Tate, a white woman, 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 fiancé and fallout from a controversial social media post, there are plenty. The truth behind Kitty's ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the Jim Crow South 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 the St. John sisters and those closest to them.

A multigenerational saga that traverses the glamour of old Hollywood and the seductive draw of present-day showbiz as secrets split a family tree into Black, White, and something in between

crystal smith paul

did you hear about kitty karr?

OUT NOW

Henry Holt & Co.

MAY 2023 PICK

MAY 2023 MAIN PICK

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is a sprawling tale that explores the burdens celebrity places on women and the power that family secrets have to erode and complicate the lives of future generations.

"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 andI cannot wait to see what she does next."
—Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Carrie Soto is Back

“Kitty Karr Tate epitomizes the American Dream—a success fueled by bold ambition, ingenuity, and a healthy dose of breathtaking beauty. She is the heroine to whom any reader can seamlessly direct their imagination. In this sweeping and dazzling debut, I was ushered behind the velvet rope guarding the pristine glamour of Old Hollywood and whispered the wildly complex secrets hidden by larger-than-life on-screen personas. Nothing is as it seems, and indeed the truth was infinitely more intriguing than the façade. 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

"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

"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 co-author of The Personal Librarian

"A compelling odyssey into the consequences our choices can have across history and generations, the psychic toll and 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, co-author of We Are Not Like Them

“Many thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Crystal Smith Paul's Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? Anyone out there saying sagas won't sell or sagas are a thing of the past hasn't read Ms. Paul's book. It's one of the best books I've read this year, and I'm already impatient for her next book. A brilliant cast of characters, a story that kept me enthralled. A writing voice that is enjoyable and engrossing. A timely, important novel.”
- Kaye Barley, Reviewer

“I didn't expect to love this as much as I did. Crystal Smith Paul's character development and journey reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait for others to read this in May 2023”
- Liz Dombrowski, Reviewer

“Sometimes I feel very lucky as a reader/reviewer, and this is certainly one of those moments. This is an extraordinary, well-written book about”passing.” I have enjoyed other novels about this subject, but this is so nuanced and sophisticated that it surpassed my expectations…”
- Natalie Lukas, Reviewer

"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 - Glowing Starred Review, February 15th Issue

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

“Many thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Crystal Smith Paul's Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? Anyone out there saying sagas won't sell or sagas are a thing of the past hasn't read Ms. Paul's book. It's one of the best books I've read this year, and I'm already impatient for her next book. A brilliant cast of characters, a story that kept me enthralled. A writing voice that is enjoyable and engrossing. A timely, important novel.”
- Kaye Barley, Reviewer