Once Upon a Time in HollywoodOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood
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
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Beautiful Ruins
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoGood to know
It's a novel based on the film, and it's often surprising.
By the numbers
- 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
- #116 of the 124 historical novels we rank
- #437 of the 485 new books we rank
- #2768 of the 3,056 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
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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.













