Marilyn Monroe’s 100th Birthday: The Best Historical Fiction Books That Celebrate Her Life and Legacy
From secret friendships to her final hours—the best books about Marilyn Monroe's real life
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our editorial team.- These captivating novels reimagine Marilyn Monroe’s life, friendships and private struggles.
- From Ella Fitzgerald to Queen Elizabeth, several books explore Marilyn’s fascinating friends.
- Historical fiction and biographical novels offer fresh perspectives on the woman.
Today would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. An icon known for her talent, blonde hair and sensuality, Monroe was a star on screen in the 1950s and early 1960s. And since her death in 1962, authors have tried to capture her magic on the page, with countless novels and nonfiction books revealing the warm, witty and surprisingly bookish woman behind the icon. But here at Woman’s World, we’re all about historical fiction! Below, we share the top historical fiction books about Marilyn Monroe that help shine a light on who she was on and off the screen. Get ready to fall in love with Marilyn all over again!
Historical fiction books about Marilyn Monroe
From Hollywood to the Wild West, here are the best fiction books featuring Marilyn Monroe.
‘Can’t We Be Friends’ by Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight
This fun-filled novel tells the tale of Marilyn’s groundbreaking friendship with Ella Fitzgerald. Set in 1952, the novel begins with Ella and Marilyn meeting and discovering that they have more in common than meets the eye. From there the friendship blossoms and no one, not even Marilyn or Ella, could have predicted what happens next.
What readers are saying: “Intimate and sensitive, this powerful, if unlikely, friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe is portrayed beautifully in Can’t We Be Friends. This is truly a can’t-put-down read you won’t want to miss.”
‘The Starlet and the Spy’ by Ji-min Lee
Inspired by Marilyn’s four-day USO tour in Korea in February 1954, this novel tells the tale of her fictional friendship with Alice J. Kim, a Korean translator and typist for the American forces. As the two begin to work together, secrets are revealed, and Alice and Marilyn discover that their friendship might just be the key to their happiness.
What readers are saying: “Marilyn Monroe was what got me interested in the book but it was Alice that made me continue on with it and enjoy it as much as I did and I don’t know why but the end just got to my heart strings. A very intriguing and emotional read with a lot of ups and downs.”
‘Elizabeth and Marilyn’ by Julie Owen Moylan
This novel imagines what really happened between Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn. After their initial meeting, people around the world became fascinated by Marilyn and Queen Elizabeth’s interactions. Were the two women friends? Enemies? And if they weren’t friends, why did Marilyn buy a house right next door during the summer of 1956? This engrossing read explores all of that and more, imagining how Elizabeth and Marilyn bonded.
What readers are saying: “I have read many nonfiction books on both of these women and truly feel that the author did a great job of capturing the reality of both of them in this book. The parallel of their lives was very interesting and I loved how, at certain times, the story would reflect on earlier times in their lives. One of the best books I’ve read this year.”
‘Blonde Dust’ by Tatiana de Rosnay
Marilyn Monroe in a historical Western novel? Yes, please! Set at the iconic Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada, this captivating story follows Pauline, a chambermaid who discovers Mrs. Miller—a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe—dazed and disoriented in a room she’s been sent to clean. Pauline befriends the Hollywood star and helps her heal from her painful divorce from Arthur Miller. It’s a heartfelt ode to female friendship and a fresh, intimate glimpse at a side of Marilyn the world never saw.
What readers are saying: “Blonde Dust is not only a tribute to Marilyn Monroe’s humanity but also a moving story of resilience, female friendship and the power of fleeting encounters to change a life forever. Fans of historical fiction, old Hollywood and stories of women finding their voices will be captivated.”
‘When We Were Brilliant’ by Lynn Cullen
This 2025 novel dazzles from the first page. In 1952, Norma Jeane Baker dreamed up the persona of Marilyn Monroe. When she meets photographer Eve Arnold, Marilyn’s convinced they “might create something brilliant,” and begs Eve to collaborate with her. As they work together during Hollywood’s Golden Era, Marilyn becomes one of the most sought after actresses in the world and both women’s lives are changed forever.
What readers are saying: “When We Were Brilliant was a riveting experience. The background of that mid-century modern glow, the epic icons that are identifiable of that era, along with the struggles that both women face which would only later help to pave the way for the women who have come after them, really made this book a must-read experience. It was five-stars for me!”
‘Blonde’ by Joyce Carol Oates
This National Book Award finalist is one of the most revealing and intimate retellings of Marilyn Monroe’s life to date—and it’s now a Netflix film starring Ana de Armas. In it, bestselling author Joyce Carol Oates reveals how Norma Jeane Baker turned into Marilyn, how the actress lost her way and how she somehow managed to become the biggest star of all time.
What readers are saying: “There are nonfiction biographies about famous people, then there are books like Blonde, which fuse fictional narration techniques with mostly biographical details of a person’s life. While not entirely historically accurate, it is intrinsically entertaining. In fact, I would deem that Blonde is perhaps the most entertaining version of Marilyn Monroe’s life to be put to the page.”
‘The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe’ by James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones
With more than 450 million books sold, James Patterson is one of the bestselling authors of all time, and this novel, The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, turns its gaze to the dazzling Hollywood legend. In this fictionalized yet well-researched account, he takes readers along for Marilyn’s meteoric rise in Hollywood and through the final shocking weeks and hours of her life. Part crime thriller, part mystery, it’s a riveting retelling of Marilyn’s last act.
What readers are saying: “As a Marilyn fan, and reader of many biographies about her, this ranks up there with the best. It is also my first James Patterson book, but I’m certain won’t be the last. The author avoided the trap of sensationalising the parts of Marilyn’s life that some other biographers thrive on, and he documented the many intricate layers to her personality and what fuelled her decisions regarding her life both privately and publicly.”
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