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Cover of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin TarantinoOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood
New · Fiction, Adventure, Historical Fiction

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

by Quentin Tarantino
2021 · 400 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 10 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Quentin Tarantino's first novel, based on his film: washed-up TV actor Rick Dalton, his stunt double Cliff Booth, who might have gotten away with murder, and Sharon Tate, chasing a movie-star dream.

Why it's worth reading

It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It's hilarious and brutal by turns.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's a novel based on the film, and it's often surprising.

By the numbers

57.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers19 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller40 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)

Reads as

Adventurous, Moving

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 47 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood worth reading?

Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It ranks #2,768 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 57.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood about?

Quentin Tarantino's first novel, based on his film: washed-up TV actor Rick Dalton, his stunt double Cliff Booth, who might have gotten away with murder, and Sharon Tate, chasing a movie-star dream.

How long does it take to read Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?

About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?

If you liked it, try The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon, Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.