Stern dishes on celebrity gossip in ‘According to a Source’

Los Angeles and to meet her famous friend Holiday Hall for drinks at Chateau Marmont. Thanks to Holiday’s connections, Ella is able to infiltrate inner circles and VIP areas without hesitation.

Although she’s good at her job, Ella lives in a constant state of anxiety that her cover will be blown and her reputation will spiral away into the abyss, along with her career.

To make matters worse, Ella’s new boss, Victoria, is a tyrant. The woman institutes a weekly point system that forces her undercover reporters to compete for the most tantalizing story. Victoria then ranks her employees based on the shock value of each bit of enticing news. Those on the bottom each week will be fired. Ella’s drive to succeed is suddenly through the roof.

Everyone in Ella’s life suffers from her need to attend every important event in town. Ella’s desire to please her boss each week slowly transforms her into someone her family barely recognizes. Her relationships suffer. Her priorities sway. And when Victoria demands an exclusive, Ella is forced to consider taking advantage of her friendship with Holiday.

“According to a Source” is a lively, fast-paced novel that takes a fascinating look at the underbelly of Hollywood reporting. Readers will experience an array of emotions, ultimately rooting for Ella to find her authentic self in a sea of fabricated lifestyles.

THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS VIA AP This cover image released by Thomas Dunne Books shows “According to a Source,” a novel by Abby Stern.