Ten Days in the Hills

More about the book

A glorious new novel from a Pulitzer Prize winner unfolds as a big, smart, bawdy tale of love and war, sex and politics, friendship and betrayal, all set against the allure of Hollywood. Inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron, the story spans ten transformative days in the Hollywood hills, beginning the morning after the 2003 Academy Awards. Max, an Oscar-winning writer/director whose fame has faded, and his lover, Elena, bask in the afterglow of the previous night’s festivities. Their intimate conversations cover movies, love, and the recently ignited war in Iraq. However, their quiet morning is soon disrupted by a parade of guests demanding attention. Among them is Max’s ex-wife, the legendary Zoe Cunningham, a dazzling half-Jamaican movie star, accompanied by her enigmatic new lover, Paul. Max’s laid-back agent, Stoney, and their daughter, Isabel, who values her independence, also arrive, along with their next-door neighbor, Cassie, who seems to know everyone’s secrets. As they share stories, watch films in Max’s opulent screening room, and engage in lively gossip, the tension rises and sparks fly. Smiley crafts an exquisitely woven narrative filled with delightful characters and her signature wit, creating a joyful, sexy, and insightful exploration of Hollywood life.