Elizabeth & Marilyn - Julie Owen Moylan

Paperback 

On a cool early-autumn evening in 1956, a glittering array of stars turns out in London for a Royal Film Premiere, where they will be presented to Queen Elizabeth II--an elegant young mother and wife, gracious and self-sacrificing, who has embraced her patriotic duty despite never expecting to take the throne so soon. Cameras flash, and a crowd surges forward as a limousine pulls up. Out steps a vision in dazzling gold: the greatest star of the era, Marilyn Monroe. She's a global sensation and money-making machine for Hollywood, with curves that drive men wild and a smile that lets women know she's in on the joke.

Finally, the two most famous women in the world will come face-to-face in public for the first time. And the world is watching--unaware that Elizabeth and Marilyn have already had an accidental encounter that has changed their lives.

Inspired by the months in the summer of 1956 when Elizabeth and Marilyn lived as neighbors in nearby Windsor, British author Julie Owen Moylan imagines a meeting the two might have had in their shared garden. Born within weeks of each other, Lilibet and Norma Jeane would seem to have only their age in common. Yet beneath the glamorous costumes and jewels, both women are fighting to hold on to the men they love while trying to do their work in a man's world, battling demons their adoring public could only guess at. Until now...

Biographical Note:
Julie Owen Moylan is the critically acclaimed author of three previous novels, That Green Eyed Girl, 73 Dove Street, and Circus of Mirrors. Her writing and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications including Sunday Express, The Independent, New Welsh Review and Good Housekeeping. She has a Masters in Filmmaking and an additional degree in Creative Writing & English Literature.

Review Quotes:
"Wonderful, I loved this. Julie is a writer you can ALWAYS trust in the way she portrays women, they are believable, flawed, complex and fascinating. Their motivations, loves, the way they grapple with meaning and their callings is all sensitively done and I love the way she shows the parallels between the two women." --Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls

"A vibrant imagining of the inner lives of two iconic women in the year of their storied encounter . . . Thoroughly enjoyable." --Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

"Two women struggle with the pressures of fame, work, and marital problems while living close to each other during one eventful summer. This is a brilliant concept, and Moylan has pulled it off perfectly, capturing the voices, vulnerabilities and inner lives of two icons of the twentieth century. I couldn't put it down." --Gill Paul, author of Jackie and Maria

"Exploring the inner lives of two of the most famous people of the 20th century with tenderness and compassion, Elizabeth and Marilyn brilliantly illuminates the women behind the myths." --Carole Hailey, author of The Silence Project

"An immersive and emotionally complex portrait of two brilliant women under unimaginable pressure. Brava!" --Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman

"We think we know these iconic women, but Owen reveals them in a whole new way. Atmospheric, glamorous, and fun. A hugely enjoyable read." --Jodie Chapman, author of Another Life

"Gorgeous, glamorous and moving. Julie Owen Moylan reimagines Marilyn and Elizabeth with her trademark ability to get under the skin of complex female characters. Brilliant." --Anna Mazzola, author of The Book of Secrets

"A unique premise, perfectly executed and utterly addictive." --Louise Beech, author of This is How We Are Human

Publisher Marketing:
What really happened when Queen Elizabeth II met Marilyn Monroe? This stunning historical novel imagines the summer that bonded the world's two most famous women, both thirty years old and chafing against the façade of global celebrity.

Review Citations:

• Booklist 04/01/2026 (EAN 9798217093731, Paperback) - *Starred Review
• Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026 (EAN 9798217093731, Paperback)