I was too young when I secretly read my mother's copy of Valley of the Dolls. I had no idea that "dolls" referred to pills. The 1966 book's explicit sexual escapades of its female characters were foreign to me. Its author, Jacqueline Susann, was making appearances on every talk show. It was clear that this book, which was panned by the critics, was revolutionary, becoming the best-selling novel of the year. Jackie Collins, a British writer, followed in Susann's footsteps writing books aimed at female readers and centered around the entertainment industry. In Scandalous Women, author Gill Paul has fictionalized the lives of these two women. While the book is based on fact, Paul introduced fictional characters to enhance and connect the two authors' stories.
If you were a fan of Jacqueline Susann or Jackie Collins, this book is a must-read. It is a quick, fun, nostalgic journey back to the 1960s and 1970s, depicting the challenging period when female authors had to deal with the male-dominated world of publishers and the media. Nancy, one of the main fictional characters, is a young, ambitious woman striving to become a book editor and faces discrimination and inappropriate treatment along the way. She embodies the strength and resilience of the women found in books by Susann and Collins. It was so nice to have these two trailblazing women, both gone too soon, revived in this enjoyable book.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction.
Publication Date: August 13, 2024.
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