1966:In London, Jackie Collins's racy The World is Full of Married Men hits bookshops and launches her career. In New York, Jacqueline Susann's debut novel Valley of the Dolls is published, and she's desperate for it to be a bestseller. But both are about to discover the price they will pay for being women who dare to write about sex.
Meanwhile, college graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house. But Nancy could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she is about to encounter.
When Nancy introduces the two Jackies, she fears they will become rivals in their race to top the charts. As she strives to achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, can all three women succeed despite the men determined to hold them back?
What did I think?
Gill Paul has done it again! Gill Paul's beautiful writing creates a vivid multidimensional picture of Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, bringing them to life on the page. I was completely blown away by Scandalous Women and I loved every single perfectly written word.
The story is told from three different points of view; that of Jacqueline Susann, Jackie Collins and Nancy White. Nancy could be a talented editor in a publishing house if she was a man but this is the 1960s so she is passed over for promotion, despite being the best person for the job. Author Jacqueline Susann is known for being difficult and demanding, so Nancy is given the job of looking after her and the pair become friends.
I love the way that Nancy is the link that connects the two Jackies as they are all women who are struggling to make their name in a man's world. I am completely in awe of Gill Paul's ability to create character voices that are so individual and unique that I felt as if they were actually talking to me and telling me their story.
Of course I am aware of Jackie Collins but I am embarrassed to say that I had never heard of Jacqueline Susann before reading Scandalous Women, but she deserves full credit for paving the way for female authors to take the publishing world by storm. I really want to read Valley of the Dolls and some Jackie Collins novels now.
This magnificent novel is absolutely breathtaking and completely unmissable. Scandalous Women is an imaginative and entertaining glimpse into the lives of three talented women in the 1960s whose lights refuse to be hidden under a bushel. A very highly recommended read and I can't wait to see whose life Gill Paul decides to recreate next.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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Thanks for the blog tour support x
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