Description

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.

Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.

Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?

In this highly anticipated conclusion to The Location Shoot and After the Red Carpet, we see how Finn, Ella, and their children fulfill their cinematic destinies.

About the author(s)

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books and has received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and more. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz when they established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice” and in 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Her website is www.patricialeavy.com. She lives in Kennebunk, Maine.

Reviews

Featured on BookTrib "Four Reads Perfect for Fall, from Cozy to Chilling"
2025 Firebird Book Award Winner in Best Literary Merit 
2025 Firebird Book Award First Place Winner in Contemporary Novel, Pop Culture Fiction, and Summer Beach Read
2025 Firebird Book Award Second Place Winner in Romance

Featured on She Reads “Books for Fans of Tessa Bailey”
Featured on BRIT & CO 13 “Swoon-Worthy” New Romance Books To Read In 2025
2025 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner in Fiction – Chick Lit
2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner


“Leavy’s prose is fluid, warm, and often poetic, capturing both the beauty of everyday moments and the emotional complexity of her characters’ inner lives . . . A gentle, heartfelt story of the messy beauty of becoming.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Leavy's writing style is steady and comfortable. There's a calmness to it that is unique, even when addressing the most complicated and legitimate fears . . . Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam. If you’ve ever questioned what ‘happily ever after’ looks like when the credits roll, or if you want characters who talk about feelings without making you cringe, then yes—read this. It’s especially good for fans of ensemble stories, gentle family sagas, or character-driven romance. I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.”Literary Titan, 5-star review

“This quick read, for fans of Tessa Bailey or Georgia Clark, will make readers smile.”—Booklist

“Patricia Leavy's Cinematic Destinies is a radiant accomplishment that confirms her status as a master of character-driven, emotionally resonant storytelling . . . Cinematic Destinies is more than the conclusion of a trilogy; it is a profound meditation on what it means to embrace life fully. Leavy provides readers with a narrative that lingers long after the final page.”—The Book ReVue, 5-star review

“. . . Leavy creates a final installment that is both whimsical and profound.”Los Angeles Wire

“With Cinematic Destinies, bestselling author and scholar Patricia Leavy brings her sweeping Red Carpet Romance trilogy to a graceful and resonant close . . . Leavy reaffirms her place as a storyteller who can make readers feel deeply while nudging them to think more expansively about the art of living.”Women’s Journal

Cinematic Destinies is a gorgeous celebration of love, art, and the true meaning of life. I absolutely loved this book! Highly recommended!”—Jessie Voigts, PhD, founder of Wandering Educators

“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale. This powerful novel is less about the magic of the movies, and more about the search for magic in our lives. Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed

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