This book is writtem by Assistant to Bette Davis Kathryn Sermark who was with her a long time. It gives a intermate look at Bette through Kathryn's eyes and the focus is more of her later years.
It does leave out some details we have come to know and never critciises Bette and oddly doesn't mention her Son, only her Daughter in passing and of the book she wrote about Bette.
It does give a different view point than other books and doesn't rehash the same things eg 'The perceived feud with Joan Crawford'.

All told this is a very enjoyable book and for fans of Bette, like myself, a must read.

After watching Ryan Murphey's Feud about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, it was great to read a book about the starlette written by someone who actually knew her. It's also a great book to read after you've read Davis' own autobiographies. It gives us a different side of the star and is an engaging read. I felt I learned so much more about her from this book than others I've read about her in the past.

For people of a certain age, the name Bette Davis is synonymous with Mommy Dearest, the movie that cemented Miss Davis's reputation as an unyielding, bad-tempered, and even violent diva. This reputation was cemented by a book written by Roy Moseley--who makes an appearance in this book. Though the claims of Mommy Dearest have long been proven to be hyperbole and the motivations behind the Moseley book hinted at in this book, Bette Davis's reputation has never truly recovered.

Kathryn (who changed the spelling of the her first name at Davis's insistence) Sermak, Davis's last assistant, shows us the controlling side of Davis's personality, but softens it with more personal anecdotes. This book is a must for fans of Davis or the golden age of Hollywood.

I enjoyed this book! It wasn't negative towards Bette Davis although it did show her "quirks".

I confess I knew nothing about Bette Davis except what I'd seen of her in old movies but I always enjoy books about 'behind the scenes' celebrities. This was no exception. The writing is good and feels authentic. It's obvious the author had great affection for Miss D but she didn't hold back on telling some of Bette Davis's less attractive traits. She showed her as human - both the good and the bad, the star quality and the vulnerability.

I enjoyed this book a lot and by the end, felt I knew a great deal about Bette Davis. And though she wasn't always especially likable, her personality felt real and I DID like her.

Written by her companion of 10 years, this is an honest look at the last years of Bette Davis, screen star and personality. A strong, complex woman, aging was not in her vocabulary, and she showed her class over and over, dealing with her daughter's expose of family life and multiple acting roles near the end of her life.

Katherine Sermak wrote a lovely tribute to her former employer Bette Davis. You can tell that she loved and respected her very much, even more so than Miss Davis's own daughter. Katherine appeared to be very patient with the revered movie star, even allowing her to persuade her in changing the spelling of her own name..Miss. Davis was like Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady transforming Eliza Doolittle into a proper lady as she did with Katherine. If you are seeking juicy Hollywood tidbits to be revealed, this book isn't for you. However, if you enjoy reading a nice memoir than this book is exactly what you are seeking.

After having loved "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" and watching "Feud" on TV, I was very excited to get the chance to read this book. I have always loved that movie and the ensuing "feud" behind the scenes.

This book was perhaps one of the more interesting memoirs that I have read written by someone who knew the star and spent time with them.

I loved the technique and style that was used in writing this book and certainly enjoyed reading it. A person could tell that the author truly felt a lot for the star. And, of course, seeing the personal side of Bette Davis, a true coup.

Thanks to Hatchett Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This book was a pleasure to read. I loved Miss Davis' movies, but my very favorite thing about her wasn't the movies, it was the interviews she gave. I dearly loved her sense of humor. The best ones were when she was on The Late Show, with Johnny Carson. Those two together were hysterical! I was hesitant about reading this book at first because I usually don't read stories about show biz personalities that I love. I prefer not to find out the bad, and just continue thinking good thoughts....It's why I've never read anything about Carson! Ms. Sermak did a stand up job on this book. I think it captured both some bad with lots of good. I don't think I could have been around Miss Davis for long, as her perfecting standards would drive me batty! I could have had a few drinks with her, smoked a lot of cigarettes and had some good laughs though. I'm surprised by how much I came appreciate Ms. Sermak, and I wanted to know more about her. I laughed, cried and at times got angry while reading, but the last 25 or so pages in the Paris hospital were so sad that it took awhile to get through it. When she apologized to the Doctor for dying in his care and hospital, I completely lost it. Who does that? I can't recommend this book highly enough. To be able to get just a small glimpse into Miss. Davis' final years made this a very special read. My thanks to Hatchette Book's and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this arc.

I was never fortunate to meet Miss Davis in person, but I’ve seen quite a few of her films, and after having read this beautiful story by Kathryn Sermak, I feel as though I got to know the real legend, Bette Davis. Oh my, this book was amazing!

It was so refreshing to read how Miss D came to hire Kathryn. And even though Kathryn was a bit green when she was first hired, Miss D, in her typical fashion, groomed and guided Kathryn to become the woman she is. Their working arrangement was a bit rocky in the beginning, as Miss Davis could be overly dramatic and quite overbearing. It took all Kathryn had to get to learn Miss Davis. What people often mistake when they see their favorite Hollywood actors is that to work for them is quite different than what you see up on screen. However, that wasn’t Kathryn’s problem. Miss Davis began molding Kathryn from an era in which she came up. I believe Miss Davis was seventy-three when she began working for her. Kathryn was in her early twenties. There was a huge age difference, but the lessons that Miss Davis taught her were golden.

I loved the stories she recounted about their trips to Paris and London, while Miss Davis was working on films. The arguments and disagreements the two of them had. But what really stood out for me was the love the two of them shared for one another. I remember when Bede Hyman, Miss Davis’s daughter, wrote a book about her famous mother. I’m glad I never read her book because this book is the true impression of what I believed to be Bette Davis. In fact, if you ask me, I feel Kathryn was more of a real daughter to Miss Davis than Bede. I can’t begin to imagine how painful it must have been for Miss Davis to read the words her daughter had to say about her. After you read about Miss Davis’s learning of her daughter’s ultimate betrayal, you’ll feel the pain. I know I certainly did. Not to mention, her daughter didn’t even give the respect to her mother to tell her that she wrote it. Miss Davis had to learn this through her closest confidantes, Kathryn, and Harold.

I love memoirs and this was well written and so heartfelt. What I truly loved about the way Kathryn attacked this book is that she told what needed to be said instead of going for the jugular vein and sucking all the dollars she could to tell a story about Bette Davis. This story felt honest and sincere and I’m positive Miss Davis would be proud of Kathryn’s real words. At least Kathryn received Miss Davis’s blessing on writing her story, which is more than I can say for how her own daughter treated her before she passed. But, I’ll say this, at least she betrayed her mother while she was here to see it, unlike Miss Davis’s archrival, Joan Crawford’s daughter did with Mommie Dearest. I’m not saying that parents are perfect because they aren’t, but to deliberately write untruths about your famous mother to make money off those lies and to try and destroy her reputation is downright cruel and vicious. Thank you, Kathryn, for setting the record straight. I truly believed her words. It touched me in ways I will never forget. The ending was hard for me to read. I kept thinking about my own mother and how I’ll one day have to deal with her death. My God, that was so touching the way Kathryn handled Miss D’s death. I sat a cried my heart out trying to read the words through my tear-filled eyes. Wow, what an incredible woman Bette Davis was.

Mello & June gives Miss D and Me five star-studded Oscars. What an award-winning performance. I absolutely fell in love with this story. Miss D and Me goes on sale, Tuesday, September 12, 2017. If you’re a memoir fan, I highly recommend you read this. You will not be able to put this book down. I hated when I had to, but I quickly picked it up as soon as I was done with work. Kathryn, what an incredible life you’ve led, and you can rest easy knowing you did right by a legendary woman and actress, Miss Bette Davis. Thank you for sharing your story with us!

I really found it difficult to put this book down and read it in 2 days. It is written by Bette Davis's personal assistant Kathryn Sermak and gives a great understanding on what her job entailed to work for such a famous film actress. At first they are definitely on employer/employee terms, but as the years roll on, they become confidants and good friends. Kathryn tells of her previous work and how she landed the job to assist this world renowned star. She tells of the sometimes difficult moments when Bette would be domineering and even went as far as changing the spelling of Kathryn's name because she thought it was better. She taught her the finer skills of fashion and how to conduct herself in front of celebrities and even Presidents. She was taught etiquette one on one and even the correct way to eat! This books takes you along through sad and happy times and shows how this young inexperienced girl handled everything that came with working for such a celebrity. Kathryn did everything for Bette including arranging her appointments, being her travel companion and even doing her makeup. She helped her with learning her lines for a movie and kept the photographers at bay when Bette wanted her privacy. Definitely a book worth reading if you want a good honest insight into this famous film actresses life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Kathryn Sermak about her years working with the legendary Bette Davis. During that time they became as close as family and Bette Davis mentored the young author in many customs and manners. Sermak went on to become Davis's personal assistant and best friend. Later, Davis went through some serious health problems and it was Sermak by her side helping her all through the long recovery.

She took such good care of Miss Davis that she was eventually able to return to acting briefly at a fairly advanced age. The book shares many stories of their times together traveling and working on movie sets, or preparing for work in different locations. Ms. Sermak also spent quite a lot of time with Miss Davis working on a couple of prior books that Miss Davis had written. They have published afterward with both of them as coauthors, and I look forward to reading some of them. This book had some great insights into the role of a personal assistant to a busy film star of that era with exacting standards and what that entailed.

I was provided with an advance reading copy of the book for my review by NetGalley, Hachette Books, and the author.

A lovely look at Bette Davis last ten years through the eyes of her friend and companion Katherine Sermak. Bette Davis was a tough, smart, talented survivor and this book shows all those qualities and more. A wonderful read.

Miss D and Me by Kathryn Sermak is the story of the last years of Bette Davis' life through the eyes of her personal assistant and confidant. Bette Davis is a legendary woman - known for strong roles and personalities on and off the screen. She is no different in this book.

You can tell that Sermak truly cared for Miss D (as she calls her) and was unwavering in her support and loyalty to her; although she did not always deserve it. Miss D came across as very intense, critical, lonely, and manipulative. I dont think that is what was intended necessarily from the book but that was the way I took much of it.

I know that Sermak was grateful for all she learned and for how she was able to grow as a person during her time with Miss D but there are things I could not get over. The treatment by Miss D of Kaths mother was just appalling, the making her change the spelling of her name, the constant criticism and hot/cold nature, i just dont think I would have lasted.

This is not a negative review, it is an interesting book. It just left me angry at times and sad at others.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the life of Bette Davis. I love the old movies and old Hollywood stars. It was a different time back then. I think what made this book so interesting is that it was written by someone who knew her best during the last years of her life. Bette Davis was truly a Hollywood legend.

I read this book in one sitting. Could not put it down. The Author has a wonderful style of writing that draws the reader into every page. Exceptional story of the real Bette Davis and give you a look into the real woman.
Wonderful read.

Miss D and Me tells the story of an aging Bette Davis written by employee and companion Kathryn Semak. It is a tale of mentorship, hopeless aging and vibrant youth. Semak allows the reader to meet Davis at a time in her life where she became more and more irrelevant in a world that once adored her. The story is fascinating, inspirational and sad.

Read it for the glimpse into the life of the legend. The relationship between Semak and Davis reveal the many facets of Davis.

I recommend this book

The book

5 stars

This book is so engrossing that I read it in one sitting.

This is a wonderful account of Miss Davis’ last years with Catherine “Kathryn” Sermak. It is written with love, tenderness and some frustration at living with an exacting and perfectionist character like Bette Davis. Though their years together are vividly described in this book, the highlight is their four day automobile journey through the countryside of France on their way to Paris. During the journey they have moved beyond their employer and employee relationship and moved firmly into friendship.

Kathryn was there for Miss Davis’ remarkable comeback in movies, her dreadful stroke and her trying to come to terms with the horrifying book that her daughter Bede wrote about her.

This book is well written and I applaud Kathryn Sermak for telling her story. I only knew Miss Davis from her movies like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? I admired her acting ability, but never really knew her as a person. I didn’t accept much that was written in the papers about her in those days, and I still don’t. I only know that she was a remarkable actress and I admired her for that. The way she wrote about Miss Davis’ death and what she did for her was so vividly described and the tenderness that she showed to Miss Davis was almost heartbreaking. Beautifully written!!

I believe Ms. Sermak wrote an inspiring tribute to Miss Davis and that fact that it took thirty years to write it only adds to the book’s power.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hatchett Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read.