The Loveliest Woman in America does not quite fulfill the potential of the story on which it is based. Rosamond Gaston does not truly come to life even though the author, her granddaughter, utilizes the diaries of her heretofore-unknown grandmother.

Readers might expect the story of a rich girl being discovered onboard a ship, then becoming a star, abandoning her stardom to run away to a cannery, then going back onstage only to kill herself eleven years later (whew, let’s take a breath here) would be full of titillating tidbits and salacious gossip. Unfortunately, the surface is barely scratched concerning many of these aspects. The awkward addition of the author’s musings on her own life only muddles the story even further.

Gaston must be given credit, however, for making many passages fascinating, those involving the movers and shakers (Eleanor Roosevelt and David Selznick, to name a few) come quickly to mind.

Although not brilliant, The Loveliest Woman in America overall is a decidedly good read. It even makes readers wonder about the tragic life of Rosamond long after they finish the book. While not quite a classic, it is still worthy of your money and time.