The main draw of Matthew Stevens’ page-turning debut novel, The Last Living Diva (Illusion Publishing, LLC, April 22, 2025) is its inspiration: Stevens’ stint as Mariah Carey’s assistant years ago during a period of the singer’s life that fans and media alike often consider controversial. While the book is a wild ride that delivers on the drama and humor (there are several laugh-aloud and wide-eyed moments), I was most compelled by the part of the story that forgoes Hollywood and its sensationalism: the arc of the protagonist, Hayden.
When we meet Hayden, he is a pop culture-obsessed 29-year-old fed up with his job at a high-profile salon in Los Angeles—and for good reasons. His boss is demanding and inconsiderate, and the salon’s clients subject him to sexual harassment. When said boss attempts to revoke his planned vacation time, Hayden quits on the spot, despite not having anything lined up.
In a twist of fate, a former client named Samantha calls Hayden to inform that her boss, the legendary diva, Alexis Shane, needs a new assistant. Though warned that the grueling schedule can border on a 24-hour commitment, Hayden is undeterred. Feeling directionless and in need of income, he is unwilling to reject the opportunity, especially one that offers proximity to his idol and the celebrity world.
Hayden’s new role proves to be challenging on a deeper level. It’s not just Alexis’ demands nor her chronic lateness that sometimes squanders professional opportunities. It’s not even just Alexis’ volatility. Her inner circle is rife with corruption and cruelty. Hayden frequently picks up the slack and endures backstabbing and sabotage. He rarely complains but holds himself and Samantha accountable multiple times.
Through it all, Hayden operates with integrity. He is meticulous, observant, and armed with receipts. When the time comes to expose the deceit of two higher-ranking assistants, who also happen to be Samantha’s sisters, Hayden works diligently to uncover the truth.
While Samantha can be interpreted as a hardworking and personable manager, her willingness to keep her sisters employed despite knowing of their incompetence and toxicity raises major concerns and red flags. It eventually catches up to her when they turn on Samantha and get her fired. Hayden’s position is also threatened by association.
Hayden is not perfect. Perhaps his reasons for wanting the job may seem superficial to some, and he allowed his career to cause the demise of his relationship. In an interview, Stevens cautions against pursuing such a job while in a serious relationship.
But he was one of the few on Alexis’s team who showed decent character, and even with the hell he went through as that assistant, it wasn’t in vain. By the novel’s end when Alexis Shane offers him a role as her new manager, it feels not only fitting, but earned. It’s easy to imagine him spearheading masterclasses on how to be a personal or executive assistant.
Early on, Hayden claims he does not know what to do with his life professionally. But as the novel unfolds, it becomes clear that he was merely in the process of discovery. Through his journey, we witness the rise of someone realizing and stepping into their calling.