Jacqueline Susann

Valley of the Dolls

a novel

Valley of the dolls

clara

Melanie Harvie

i loved every minute of this book, every page felt urgent and deeply relatable. the emotional beats were luminous and as-large-as-life

mallorie 🦌

At a time when women were destined to become housewives, Jacqueline Susann let us dream. Anne, Neely, and Jennifer become best friends as struggling young women in New York City trying to make their mark. Eventually, they climb their way to the top of the entertainment industry only to find that there’s no place left to go but down, into the Valley of the Dolls.

Lindy

A fellow lesbian once assessed this book as "the most hetero novel ever written."

Personally, I feel that novel isn't quite the right word; I'd consider it more along the lines of a 450 page People magazine.

The story of three women and their struggle to make it in the entertainment industry. Upon making it to the top, the sad realization sets in that they have no place to go but down.

Rosa

a bit slow to start but once it really got into it, it was easy to understand why it had been so popular -- though it didn't go exactly as i expected. i thought there was going to be more total devastation

Katherine 

Kitschy and fun read about three ladies struggling in the make-it-or-break it world of the entertainment industry. Even though the book was written awhile ago it translates nicely into the modern culture.

five stars for entertaining value, one star for literary merit :-)

cora rolfes 

impeccable fiction except i’m gonna peck at it 


lots of f-slur, and purely white cast 

however i enjoyed it and it’s like an updated gatsby but centered on hollywood? idk it was good i loved it.

Alex

** spoiler alert **
           The last 100 pages partially ruined how good this book was. Like wtf happened with Neely and then not giving her perspective? It feels super rushed after Jennifer passed away and then comes back. Anne’s introduction to the dolls feels forced. Alas

maggie

i couldnt even bring myself to finish this just bc of how soapy and melodramatic it all was. sure, i guess that's what makes this book such a classic since it reflects the language or the era in which it was written but it also lacked a lot of substance to me so :/

Valley of the Dolls

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