Such a good read, had me on the verge on bubbling!
I was hooked from the first chapter. It was a brilliant holiday book, super fast paced!
Brilliant book highly reccomended.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for this arc.

This was a fast paced story that had me hooked right away. Its fun with multiple POV and dual timelines. The writing style is great and had me so engaged. Denny's life was beautiful to read.

Denny is discovered at the age of 17 after shopping with her friend. She is then thrown into the world of high fashion modeling in 1960s London. Everyone Knows her name is told in multiple POVs, all detailing Denny's rise to fame and sudden departure as the IT girl.
I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. The different POVs and dual timelines worked really well to weave a very cohesive and engaging story. Each character has a unique voice that makes it easy to differentiate which character's POV you're in. The secret isn't that difficult to flush out, and there are some heavy themes that do come up in the story but overall it was an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend. Especially if you liked the 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo.


Thanks to netgalley and avon books for an advanced copy of this book.

A glamorous, emotional dual‑timeline novel that is a heartfelt read perfect for fans of intergenerational secrets, vintage glamour, and stories about the women behind the myth.

Welcome to the swinging 60’s! This dual timeline novel is set in present day London with a filmmaker uncovering secrets about a former model from the 60’s. Like TJR (Taylor Jenkins Reid) we get dipped into the atmospheric 1960’s. Full of glamour, fashion, and domesticity. We get met with angst, real life decisions, secrets kept, and secrets revealed. All around a well rounded novel that keeps you indulged from the get go!

This was another five star read for me from Hastings and with two riveting stories unfolding in different timelines again. I loved that we were gifted with a timeline from the 1960’s, a decade of fashion and kitchenware I’m obsessed with. Denny, our fmc in the “past” chapters was thrusted into the modeling world at 17, while shes out shopping in a dress she’s re-designed. Sewing being a hobby of hers. Not enjoying the lifestyle that comes with the modeling world Denny only keeps accepting jobs to care for her mother and sick younger sister. It was impossible not to feel Denny’s pain as she navigates that world, especially during a time women weren’t looked at as more than decoration. We go on several photo shoots where she meets photographers, their assistants and other models in the business. All the chapters from this period of time are narrated 3rd person but Denny is the main focus. We also have a love story unfolding for her.
In the present we meet Roe, hired to help with an art installation documenting Denny’s short but epic career modeling. Roe’s dream is to be a documentary filmmaker and she hopes this job could help her. Enter sweet, but kinda awkward Sonny, hired to assist with the installation. There was an immediate connection between these two but I’d not label it instalove. Things between them build throughout working on the project, and a sweet but hard earned HEA is achieved in the end for them. There is a bit of a mystery of why her career was so short since her star rose so fast, and the reveal was not obvious to me so I was surprised, yet pleased. This is not a fast read. Things are unfolding within both timelines pretty quickly, but I didn’t feel rushed, if that makes sense?! There’s a lot to take in but the way author chose to reveal it all, I wasn’t confused with my old lady brain one iota.
Thanks to NetGalley for the Everyone Knows Her Name ARC. If dual timelines with multiple storylines unfolding aren’t boogaboos in your reading tastes, this is a definite recommend. My opinions are my own so take them with a grain of salt.

‘𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦’ 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘺, 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 60𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴?

I really enjoyed this book! The dual timeline of Denny in the 60s to modern day, following Roe, a filmmaker who’s looking to tell Denny’s story.

There’s an abundance of love, friendships, family and the struggles faced by each of the characters individually.

It shines a light on class difference, what it means to force yourself to fit in, and also the exploitation that took place years ago (and unfortunately, still in this day and age). The covering of trauma is done well, and how it can mould us into who we are and the decisions we make.

This is the second book I’ve read by Elaine Hastings, and she’s firmly in the ‘If she writes it, I’ll read it’ category for me.

When I saw that this was recommended for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, I just knew I had to read it.

I can say with 100% honesty that A) the above statement is true and B) it is going to be one of THE books to read this year.

Told via two different timelines, we are introduced to Denny, a global sensation model, who 5 decades later is having a huge exhibition made about her.

But as interviews progress, there are things from Denny's past that are slowly revealed.

This is a dual timeline story that is beyond emotional.

With heavy themes such as rape, it could be quite a tricky read for some people but the way Hastings presents everything is done with absolute care and attention.

Deeply emotive.

There is love within this novel and not all of it the romantic kind. I believe the main focus is actually on the strength of family and the what lengths someone might go to to provide those they love with the utmost protection.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.

I was among the very few lucky people who got to read this novel the moment it was finished and I've been really looking forward to writing this review.
Like Elaine's first novel, the dual timelines in Everyone Knows Her Name, pull you into the story and keep you reading until the early hours. Denny's voice is so well-written, we really understand the rollercoaster of emotions she went through throughout her very turbulent career. And then there's Roe, so ambitious it's sometimes blinding, but with a heart in the right place.
The love story adds another layer of intrigue to the story, making the whole novel deeply engaging.
I highly recommend this for lovers of Taylor Jenkins Reid, even though personally I find Elaine's characters much easier to connect with :) sorry TJR.

Elaine Hastings does it again! A fabulous expose of the rags to riches life of a model in the 1960s. From a dual timeline perspective. Roe is interviewing people from the model's life for an exhibition in 2024 whilst it flashes back to the model, Denny, in the 1960s and the secrets she has to keep. A brilliant story showing the treatment of young women in 1960s modelling career, the expectations they face and how they overcame these to succeed. Emotional and heartfelt. I loved this book!

First book read by this author and it was a really well written emotionally charged story,worth mentioning trigger points including rape are involved in the story

I found it a book I was invested in,the characters,their lives and enjoyed reading both about the 60’s and the present

Will read the authors previous book and look out for any future books

-This novel is told in two time periods. 1960s: The life of an emerging supermodel. Today: Her son and the woman who wants to make a documentary about her life.

Guys, this was very good! I was totally invested and both storylines and loved how they eventually converged. Elaine has a unique writing style that I just love.

If you love a mix of now and then definitely give this a read when it’s released next month and until then read her first novel When We Were Young (also great!)

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Everyone Knows Her Name is a compelling, character-driven story about identity, ambition, and the complexities of life in the public eye. Hastings explores the contrast between perception and reality with nuance and emotional depth, creating a protagonist whose journey feels both intimate and powerful. It's a thoughtful, engaging read that stays with you long after the final page.

When We Were Young was my favourite book of 2025, so when I saw Everyone Knows Her Name, I knew I’d be in safe hands with Elaine Hastings’ new book. From the first page I was immersed in the worlds of Denny and Roe and I finished the book the same day.
Told via a dual timeline, we learn about Denny’s life as a model in the Sixties, and Roe, a film maker who is looking to make a documentary about Denny, in the present day, and the secrets she uncovers along the way. The richness of the writing and the emotions invoked reading it are simply elite. A definite contender for my book of the year, again!

Sep 1966. Seventeen year old Denny grew up on a council estate, she'd never been to a salon, her clothes are second hand, painstakingly reworked by her to imitate the latest fashion styles until the day she gets spotted browsing the racks at in Biba by fashion photographer Douglas Martin. Within days she was in his studio, her hair was being styled by top Mayfair hairstylist Gerald Hadley and overnight her photo was everywhere. Her vulnerability in front of the camera was perfection and the 'Denny cut' became the latest craze and launched a modelling career that made her a household name.

Fast forward 2024 and Denny's son, Sonny meets a filmmaker Munroe whilst setting up an exhibition to celebrate his mothers work and when they discuss the possibility of a documentary she starts digging around for background material and gets whiff of a secret that's so mind-blowing she can't let it go.

Told in a dual timeline I easily got swept up in Denny's tale of girl done good, her rise to celebrity status and the characters both good and bad that she encountered on they way. This was a great read and a worthy follow up to the authors debut novel.

4.5⭐️
I could not put this book down. I could not get enough of Denny's story. Told in dual timelines. The firsf book by this author, and I ate it up. Please check tw's. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for ARC.

Wow! Elaine Hastings' second book was a corker! I was drawn straight into this book, unable to put it down and reading it in a matter of days!
The multi-PoV and dual timeline, are elements that I always love as I find they give such depth and dimension to the story. And boy, this story had depth and emotion I wasn't expecting, at all.
I immediately felt drawn to Denny and the multiple difficult situations she was put in, stuck between a rock and a hard place, you find yourself wanting to protect her.
The growing relationship between Sonny & Roe felt not only fun, but also sincere and I was cheering them on from the sidelines.

There are obvious comparisons to Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I can understand why, so if you enjoy TJR then I think I'd recommend adding this to your TBR list for the summer.
I can't wait to see what Elaine dreams up next!

I think it's probably important to mention that this book does come with trigger warnings, and whilst this may cause spoilers, if you think it may be wise for you, definitely check these out first.

Thank you to @avonbooksuk and @netgalley for offering me an advanced copy in return for my honest thoughts.

📸📚🌼 - Everyone knows her name - Elaine Hastings - 🌼📚📸

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication date - 2nd July 2026

Blurb - All’s fair in love and fame …

Denny was a normal teenager from a council estate in South London. No one knew her name, until she was discovered and thrust into the glamorous world of modelling and dazzling swinging-sixties fashion.

Overnight she became a global sensation, crowned the Face of the Decade. Her potential seemed limitless …until she left the spotlight at the height of her fame, leaving behind only questions and one final, iconic Vogue cover.

Nearly five decades later, aspiring documentary maker Roe is hired by Sonny, Denny’s son, to work on an exhibition about his mother. Roe doesn’t expect to find any answers about the ever-elusive Denny, but as she grows closer to Sonny and delves deeper into Denny’s world, she discovers a secret that could change everything.

Now, Roe must decide just how far she’s willing to go to make her own name: a documentary exposing the truth could be the big-break she’s been so desperate for… but she could also destroy Denny’s picture-perfect family, including the man she’s falling for.

My thoughts 💭- firstly a huge thankyou to @ehastingswrites @avonbooksuk for the opportunity of this early copy…… I absolutely loved!!

This book is so gripping, the dual timeline kept me wanting more and more. The setting was fab and I loved the 60’s vibes going on! I absolutely adore Denny and my heart broke for her on more than one occasion. I will keep it spoiler free but if you’re a fan of books like the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo this is for you!

#bookreview #everyoneknowshername #elainehastings #arcbooksreview

I liked the dual timelines. A riveting read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

A dual time line multiple POV novel that tells the story of Denny who because the most famous model in the world and then dropped out via Roe a documentary film maker. Roe uncovers a big secret in Denny's life, which is really the focus of this engaging read. This starts in the 1960s which were not kind to women and then moves forward. I liked Denny, liked her son Sonny, and liked Roe. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling makes for a good read

I was incredibly excited to get an ARC of this book from Elaine Hastings, her last book was such a beautiful experience for me so I definitely had high hopes for this one too.

We follow Denny, discovered at 17 and thrust into the world of modelling in London in the 1960’s. She fast becomes the face that everyone knows and then all of a sudden she disappears from the industry. Now in the present day, an exhibition opens the door for Roe, an aspiring filmmaker, to uncover what happened.

This book ticked every box of what is required to be an unputdownable book for me. I was hooked immediately, Denny is such a likeable woman and I was so invested in her journey, both vulnerable and strong, she is the epitome of a well rounded main character. The dual timelines kept my attention and cleverly built the bridge that joined the past with the present and the payoff was incredibly satisfying. Every character was well crafted, I could see this playing out in my mind so clearly as I read. I finished this book in such quick time purely because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I felt immersed in the world of 1960’s fashion and everything that goes along with it and that was balanced perfectly with the world in the present day too.

This book felt like an abundance of many emotions that were all rolled into a touching and inspiring story. I shed a few tears over these wonderful characters and loved how much I felt for them. I did manage to guess a few surprises before they happened but that actually only made the reading experience more enjoyable. Well paced, exciting, heartbreaking and fun, this book truly has it all.

My mark of a great book is wanting to read more but never wanting it to end, this book gave me that feeling and then some.

Yes, Denny was one of the first supermodels who had the trademark hair and dress, but who really knew her? The innocent and frightened teen who modeled to support her family and initially married to Tristen to ensure her family was financially secure? Who was berated by photographers to the point of falling off of a stool and sexually harassed? Who held a secret due to what she had encountered that no woman, and a 15 at that, should never go through? It is no wonder that Denny didn't want Roe to create her documentary as it brought to the surface what a scared and timid teenager had encountered in order to help others. But what Denny came to realize is that her drive to help others was her success. That she created the Dennymore clothing line that women could afford. That she had daycare at the factory so women could work. That she created the Blackmore Foundation to support those who were sexually harassed and abused. And most importantly, she was selfless as a mother to Sonny and as a sister to Tina. That she was a great wife and partner to Cole whose love for each other is a goal that all can aspire to. I feel that it opened the door for Roe and Sonny to fall in love and open themselves to each other even when they were vulnerable such as Sonny's fear of hospitals and Roe's desire to be seen by her father. This book ends so happily with all Denny loved in the same room. She deserved to be celebrated and finally she realized that everyone knew her name for the right reasons.

A wonderful read I could not put down. Yes, there were parallels with Twiggy and David Bailey, but Denny and Cole’s unique story gripped me from the very beginning. So many highs and lows for her after being discovered. As a seventeen-year-old working-class girl, it cannot have been easy to navigate this new world she found herself in. One which on the surface was filled with glamour, but in reality hid dangers and sometimes abuse at the hands of powerful men.
There were friends who supported her, but also those who were waiting for the opportunity to bring her down – and so much treachery closer to home too! I also loved the backdrop of swinging London, with its clubs and restaurants. The author has done her homework well, and achieved an authentic sixties feel to this novel.
Roe, and Denny’s son Sonny’s present-day love story, which was intertwined with Denny’s life in the 1960s, was equally compelling. When film maker Roe plans to celebrate Denny’s life with a documentary, she stumbles on something that threatens not only the whole project, but the possibiity of losing Sonny.

A big five stars from me.

Everyone Knows Her Name is a great debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Elaine Hastings.
I would like to thank Avon, the Author and Netgalley for an ARC of Everyone Knows Her Name in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Denny, a talented young woman whose passion for sewing unexpectedly launches her into the glamorous but demanding world of 1960s fashion modeling. While her beauty and creativity propel her to rapid success, Denny struggles with the pressures, expectations, and limitations placed on women during the era, enduring hardships as she works to support her mother and seriously ill younger sister.

Running alongside Denny’s story is a contemporary narrative following Roe, an aspiring documentary filmmaker hired to assist with an art installation celebrating Denny’s brief yet remarkable career. As Roe uncovers the mystery behind Denny’s sudden disappearance from the spotlight, she forms a touching connection with Sonny, a fellow assistant whose quiet kindness gradually develops into something deeper.

Elaine Hastings masterfully weaves these dual timelines together, creating a rich and immersive reading experience. The vivid 1960s setting is filled with fascinating details of fashion, photography, and social expectations, while the present-day storyline offers warmth, romance, and personal growth. The mystery at the heart of the novel unfolds at a satisfying pace, keeping readers invested without feeling rushed.

This is a beautifully crafted story of ambition, sacrifice, love, and resilience, with memorable characters and an emotional payoff that lingers long after the final page.

I finished this in a day, it’s that good. I loved the dual timeline but also the multiple POVs! I love Denny as a character, and feel for her so much after all she went through and the treatment she endured. The plot really shines a light on the culture during the 60s and attitudes to women. I think this will be really popular (and I hope it is)! I also really enjoyed the sub-plot with Sonny and Roe, it tied everything together really nicely. 🥹❤️

I loved this book! I had devoured the powerful When We Were Young, and this is set in the same universe and connected by the character Christie, who was a periphery character in that book. Again this novel is told in two timelines and from multiple POV. In the 60s we meet Denny, who stumbles into being an iconic fashion model in England, think Twiggy. She is a fish out of water in the posh world of London society and is a lot stronger and both more and less naïve than she seems. In the present day we see her child, Sonny, who also struggles to find his place in the world. He meets Reo, a filmmaker who is helping him put together a retrospective on Denny, now a retired fashion mogul. The novel switches back and forth from the 60s to today, and from England to LA.

Denny is not only an icon in fashion, but also her experiences are iconic to what women went through at the time (and continue, today). She is forced to make a lot of tough choices secondary to the whims of men. Somehow she has a great inner strength and ends up doing so much to affirm women. Her love stories, both of sister Christie (a Chrissy Hynde type rockstar), and Cole, were epic! Sonny's nepo baby mantle is an albatross, while Roe's is her fuel to succeed. All of these characters were so dimensional and human. My heart was being pulled in so many directions! This book was impossible to put down; it was so interesting and rich! Hastings has quick become a must read author for me! If you are a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid or Claire Daverly you will love this book! 4.5 stars! Thanks to Net Galley and Avon UK for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

One word - amazing! I loved Elaine Hastings first book and I love this book just as much. What a beautiful story, so different from any other book I have read, told across a dual timeline, every chapter from a different characters perspective.
Denny’s story in the sixties as she rose to fame as a model vs present day and Roe looking to make a documentary of Denny’s life, meeting her Son Sonny along the way.
This story is powerful, complex and raw, with struggles and challenges of being a woman in modelling industry in the sixties being one of the main topics weaving throughout and the impacts this had on Denny’s life.
This is now one of my favourite books for sure!