Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?: A Novel

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Elise St. John, a celebrity herself, faces various personal challenges throughout the book, including a cheating fiancé and a controversial social media post. How do these external pressures influence her exploration of Kitty’s past and her own self-discovery? How does she navigate the intersection of fame, personal relationships, and the pursuit of truth? Currently based in Los Angeles, Crystal works in e-commerce marketing for wellness and beauty brands, while she continues to pursue her passion for writing. Her love for staying connected to pop culture, dining, and German Shepherd dogs adds vibrancy to her life. As she works on her second novel, eagerly anticipated to be published by Holt, we can’t wait to embark on another captivating literary journey crafted by this talented author. Book Club Questions for Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? Delia Sweeney has always been unlike her older sister–fair and delicate compared to tall, statuesque Nora, whose hair is as dark as Donegal turf. In other ways too, the sisters are leagues apart. Nora is her mother’s darling, favored at every turn, and expected to marry into wealth. Delia, constantly slighted, finds a measure of happiness helping her da on the farm. The rest of the time, she reads about far-off places that seem sure to remain a fantasy. Until the day a letter arrives from America . . . Underdeveloped and/or Boring Main Characters: Elise, the older sister and our main point of view, seemed miserable in her life yet also unwilling to do anything about it until Kitty's gift which made for a chore to read. I feel like we didn't get enough about Elise, her mother, her father, or her sisters, or any of the people at the memorial. We didn't realize anyone's importance or struggles until the end and by then, it was hard to feel or empathize with anyone. Plus Elise's epiphany and desire to good by the end of this felt superficial at best and egotistical at worse with her exposition dump of newly acquired social justice knowledge felt rushed and forced.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is such an interesting story that really makes you think. It shines a spotlight on a dark area of American history. I think it will foster much discussion and learning. Many thanks to Henry Holt & Co. for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publication. I would love to see this story brought to the screen.How did the author’s narrative structure and storytelling techniques contribute to your overall engagement with the book? Did they effectively convey the intended messages or create a unique reading experience? Reflecting on the book as a whole, what do you think Crystal Smith Paul is trying to convey about the human experience, particularly in relation to family, race, and gender? How does the book prompt us to examine our own choices and the inheritances we carry? Discuss the potential for personal growth, reconciliation, and breaking free from societal constraints as depicted in the book. We mainly follow the story from the perspectives of Kitty in the past and Elise in the present. And the beginning also features Kitty’s mother, Hazel. Trigger warning of sexual assault early on in the novel.

The book explores the theme of family inheritances, both literal and metaphorical. How do the St. John sisters’ lives and identities change when they inherit Kitty Karr’s multimillion-dollar estate? How does the concept of inheritance shape their relationships with each other and the world around them? Nora insists they retreat to Summer Island in the San Juans, to the lovely old house on the water where Ruby grew up, a place filled with childhood memories of love and joy and belonging. There Ruby is also reunited with her first love and his brother. Once, the three of them had been best friends, inseparable. Until the summer that Nora had left and everyone’s hearts had been broken. . . . Kitty was Elise’s next door neighbor and two develop a special bond. And even when she learns the truth about Kitty—that she was her real grandmother—Elise never blames her for her decisions. While at the same time, Elise is frustrated with her mother and her absence during childhood. Why do you think Elise forgave Kitty but it’s harder for her to come to terms with her mother? While the storyline is one that's been overdone, it was still an interesting and intense story. The decisions that Kitty and her mom had to make, the historical aspects of this book, were thought provoking and heart breaking. The book does deliver on an interesting twist of who Kitty Karr was and why she left her inheritance to the St. John sisters, even if some of it was predictable.For Kitty, she feels she’s left with no choice. In her opinion, events in her life happen to her and she has to figure out how to move forward. What’s interesting is a character says to Elise in the present that he doesn’t believe that—there’s always a choice to be made. For fans of Evelyn Hugo and Dava Shastri's Last Day, a highly anticipated read that showcases a main character who sacrifices so much and relevant themes like motherhood, identity, and fame, but struggles to truly land on a message.

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." Sarah reveals that she was so angry when she found out Kitty is her real mother. Let’s talk about the impact of the revelation to Sarah. How did influence her own views of motherhood?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." Kitty eventually embarks on a romance with the studio head, Nathan. Do you feel they were actually in love? Why or why not? Elise St. John, a modern-day celebrity, is caught up in scandals and controversies while trying to uncover the truth about Kitty’s past. How do her personal struggles and conflicts reflect the larger themes of power, privilege, and the pursuit of authenticity? Discuss the choices Elise makes and the consequences they have on her relationships and self-discovery. Crystal Smith Paul’s debut novel Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Vanishing Half, both of which I highly recommend. Kitty Karr, not so much.