Can't We Be Friends

A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe

By: Eliza Knight, Denny S. Bryce

Narrated by: Karen Chilton, Caroline Hewitt

Award-winning author Denny S. Bryce and USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight collaborate on a brilliant novel that uncovers the boundary-breaking, genuine friendship between Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz, and iconic movie star Marilyn Monroe.

One woman was recognized as the premiere singer of her era with perfect pitch and tireless ambition.

One woman was the most glamorous star in Hollywood, a sex symbol who took the world by storm.

And their friendship was fast and firm…

1952: Ella Fitzgerald is a renowned jazz singer whose only roadblock to longevity is society’s attitude toward women and race. Marilyn Monroe’s star is rising despite ongoing battles with movie studio bigwigs and boyfriends. When she needs help with her singing, she wants only the best—and the best is the brilliant Ella Fitzgerald. But Ella isn’t a singing teacher and declines—then the two women meet, and to everyone’s surprise but their own, they become fast friends.

On the surface, what could they have in common? Yet each was underestimated by the men in their lives—husbands, managers, hangers-on. And both were determined to gain. Each fought for professional independence and personal agency in a time when women were expected to surrender control to those same men.

This novel reveals and celebrates their surprising bond over a decade and serves as a poignant reminder of how true friendship can cross differences to bolster and sustain us through haunting heartbreak and wild success.

©2024 Eliza Knight and Denny S. Bryce (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Fascinating Glimpse

The narrators nailed it! I very much felt transported to Ella and Marilyn’s world. And I love these author collaborations, keep them coming. Eliza and Denny are the perfect pair for this story. Well done.

Loved this reading

I loved every bit of this audiobook. Both the readers did a phenomenal job and the book was amazing too

I loved this

Depressing and relatable. I had already decided Marilyn and I have the same personality type from a podcast I listened to but that’s both flattering and scary! I see her & I feel her.. sometimes we want love so bad and it’s just not achievable.. I too have questioned how someone can love so hard to only stop others from loving me. Is it we attract the type of man that does this to a woman or is it our personality that makes it go that way. Also we want to badly to achieve perfection for the love but that in itself causes anxiety and depression. Poor Marylin.. I wonder if we could have been friends or if we would have been so much alike we wouldn’t have clicked.. regardless I think we all need a strong friend like Fitzgerald.. the story of her friendship (even if it was fictional) is a admirable.

Ella and Marilyn

This story of two big stars and their friendship in the 1950’s and 60’s is clearly told and well-performed by each reader. It is a great story that makes all too clear the male bias against women, and women working outside the home, but further the absolute white bias against blacks, celebrities or not. Many thanks to the authors and narrators to bringing this to light.

What a fun listen

2 of my favorite women and the story of an unlikely friendship. Entertaining and heartwarming, I enjoyed the book very much.