In Climbing in Heels, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas Revisits Her Deal-Making Days In 1980s Hollywood (Exclusive)

Elaine Goldsmith Thomas’ debut novel is inspired by her years in showbiz

By

and

Published on June 18, 2024 10:00AM EDT

Elaine Goldsmith Climbing in Heels — Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas Climbing in Heels. Photo:
Christopher Patey, staircase@vio rahadian/Getty Images; illustration of woman by Peyton Stark

Ever wondered what it was like infiltrating the good ol' boys’ club of Hollywood in the 1980s? Elaine Goldsmith Thomas’ debut novel, Climbing in Heels has all the dirt — and more.

Climbing in Heels is “a fictional tale of the rise of three secretaries at the hottest agency in 1980's Hollywood, giving you a glimpse into the boys-will-be-boys club and the women who wanted a seat at a table where they were expected to serve,” says the book's synopsis.

Set in Los Angeles, the novel follows three ambitious women: Beanie Rosen, the fast-talking and even faster-thinking Valley girl who knows where she wants to go and doesn’t care if she doesn’t look the part. There's also Mercedes Baxter, who learned early on how to leverage the monied friends of her monied friends' parents until she found a foothold in Hollywood. And then there's Ella Gaddy, a sexy, free-spirit, anti-debutante from a white-glove Kentucky home who shakes up any room she walks into.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"It's the story of friendship, betrayal, survival, standing up when they pass you by and saying I won't go when they want you gone," the synopsis continues. "And it's also a story about how some of those women became very much like the monsters who trained them."

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Goldsmith-Thomas is a seasoned Hollywood talent agent, producer and more. Throughout her career, she has worked with Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage and Madonna, among other celebrities.

She has also collaborated with Jennifer Lopez on movies like Hustlers and Second Act. Lopez, 54, hails the upcoming novel as "smart, sexy and entertaining."

Climbing in Heels will hit bookstores on April 29, 2025 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.