Book cover of West of Sunset

Book description

In 1937, F. Scott Fitzgerald was a troubled, uncertain man whose literary success was long behind him. In poor health, with his wife consigned to a mental asylum and his finances in ruin, he struggled to make a new start as a screenwriter in Hollywood.

The last three years of…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked West of Sunset as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I've been recommending this book to everyone since I read it. I feel like I know F. Scott Fitzgerald after reading. It captures who he is in such an intimate and convincing way, it almost feels like a magic trick. This is Fitzgerald in his last years working to pay off debt by writing bad Hollywood screen plays and trying to write his literary comeback--The Last Tycoon. He manages his health problems, tries not to drink, and tries to manage a new relationship with Sheila Graham. This book haunted me, and I'm not sure why or how O'Nan accomplished this.

I love all aspects of Los Angeles from approximately 1911 to around 1950. This doesn’t just include the actors, directors, and studios but also those working behind the scenes who made the movies come to life. This book involves the writers who composed the scenarios (the early name for screenplays) that ended up becoming the films made by the studios. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald was most famous for his novels in the 1920s, but his personal problems (a wife committed to an expensive mental hospital and a daughter to raise) caused him to have to look for work as a writer…

From Laini's list on capturing the magic of old Hollywood.

If you love West of Sunset...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like West of Sunset?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like West of Sunset.

Browse books like West of Sunset

Book cover of The Heart of the Lion: A Novel of Irving Thalberg's Hollywood
Book cover of The Girls in the Picture
Book cover of Design for Dying

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,395

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like West of Sunset, you might also like...

Book cover of In Bad Faith

In Bad Faith by Geoffrey Carter,

Nelson West, a former Chicago homicide detective, is hired by wealthy heir Lionel Bing to discreetly help “fix” scandals and legal problems for his father’s wealthy friends.

Bing, a brilliant but troubled investigator, suffers from PTSD symptoms as a result of being kidnapped and witnessing the murder of his mother…

Book cover of Your Sun Will Rise Again: Poems of Hope and Survival

Your Sun Will Rise Again by Joseph Jean Baptiste Jolicoeur,

Your Sun Will Rise Again is a powerful collection of poetic reflections on hope, resilience, and the human spirit. Written with sincerity and depth, these poems speak directly to those navigating life’s challenges, offering comfort, clarity, and quiet strength in difficult moments.

Through simple yet profound language, the book reminds…

5 book lists we think you will like!