Product Description

The exploits and excesses of three pill-popping showbiz heroines: Anne, the smalltown girl supposedly modelled on Grace Kelly, who captivates a millionaire but falls for an English cad; Jennifer, the beautiful Marilyn Monroe clone who possesses everything - except immortality; and Neely, the ruthless Judy Garlandesque understudy-turned-superstar. As friends - and enemies - they learn the hard way that fame, fortune, beauty and stardom don't always equal happiness. Jacqueline Susann's sensational novel staked her claim as a pop pioneer, perfectly crystallized the decadence of the 1960s - and ushered in a whole new genre of mass-market fiction.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12367 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
'Decades ahead of its time...Mesmerizing...The equation of emotional dependencies with drug addiction in one comprehensive personality disorder is, if anything, MORE CHIC TODAY' VILLAGE VOICE 'Jackie, it seemed, understood by instinct that her readers were ready for the RAW SIDE OF LOVE...for a franker sexuality and a tougher kind of story - for romance with tears AND oral sex' Michael Korda, NEW YORKER

Michael Korda, THE NEW YORKER
'Jackie, it seemed, understood by instinct that her readers were ready for the RAW SIDE OF LOVE...'

About the Author
Jacqueline Susann was an actress who won the Best Dressed Woman in Television award four times. She was the first novelist to have three consecutive books hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, transforming her into a Pucci-clad media superstar. She died in 1974.

Customer Reviews

What a way to start off the New Year!
Doesn't it seem like the best books are the ones that you've had on your wish list forever and just seemed to keep skipping over? I've had Jacqueline Susann's `VALLEY OF THE DOLLS' on my Amazon wish list for years and never got around to actually ordering it but I decided to start of the New Year with something different and this cult classic was just what the doctor ordered!

Anne, the wide-eyed girl from Lawrenceville escapes her doomed future as a housewife by moving to New York City in hopes of finding a life for herself. But no sooner than she arrives and gets settled in her new job and home does she end up on the cover of every newspaper and the talk of the town. But over the years Anne learns that the life she'd always dreamed of wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

Neely is seventeen with all the enthusiasm her little body can handle. A performer in vaudeville since childhood Neely has what it takes to be a star. She is the ultimate triple threat she dances, sings like no other and can act too! Inevitably, by the age of twenty-one Neely becomes the biggest star around; unfortunately her ego grows just as big as her rising star. And with the help of her red, yellow and green "dolls" washed down with a little scotch nothing can stop her.

Jennifer has the face and the body to go far, however all she really wants is love. But unfortunately love doesn't pay the bills. And after a few failed marriages to some of Hollywood's most prominent players Jennifer realizes that her body is her ticket to stardom. Soon she becomes Europe's biggest star... because in Europe anything goes.

I absolutely could not put this book down. Originally it was the old school style that hooked me, I felt like I was watching an old movie with the 1960's dialogue such as "Hey, what's this, a gag?" or the regular use of the words geez and golly but soon I was sucked in by the lives of Anne, Neely and Jennifer as they each rose to stardom and fell just as easily.

not chick lit
I'd always imagined this book to be chick lit (and I hate chick lit)from the past but I was really surprised. The tragedy is wise and insightful yet the book is easy to read and gripping. I found the book to be current and not at all outdated.

glamour, glitter, pills & bourbon
If you need to read a review about this book, you have missed out and should order straight away! This is THE pop culture classic of the sixties, sex, drugs and plenty of temper tantrums. There are bound to be a few people you recgonise with Judy Garland, Grace Kelly and Dean Martin among the all star cast. Jacqueline Susann was an expert of turning showbiz gossip into page turner novels. Perfect reading for the beach - just make sure you are wearing a Pucci bikini!