Such an interesting work of fiction about 2 real-life authors who blazed a trail in their writing. Neither set the goal of literary greatness but both achieved record setting blockbuster sales. Their subject - sex - had never been written about it like they did. While much of the story was fiction, the description of the male-dominated publishing industry was not. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable book that left me wanting to read books authored by the 2 Jackies.

Growing up, Valley of the Dolls was my favorite book so I jumped at the chance to read this historical fiction based on Jaqueline Susanns life, as well as Jackie Collins.

I loved everything about it. The way Gill Paul blended fiction with real life facts and events was done in such a beautiful way.

Scandalous Women follows three POVs: Jaquelinne Susann, Jackie Collins and fictional Nancy, a newcomer to the city looking to become an editor who forms relationships with both Jackie’s. It dives into the misogyny the Jackie’s dealt with releasing books that were scandalous for women to write at the time.

I never wanted the book to end. It made me laugh, cry, get angry and definitely made me want to go back and read their books. Loved it so so much.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I have read a number of Gill Paul books and enjoyed them immensely.
I remember reading Jackie Collins as a teenager and loving the raunchy scenes and fun storylines so was very much looking forward to reading this book to find out more. There was definitely interesting back story to both novelists and I liked the introduction of Nancy, the editor who tied them together.
Unfortunately I found the writing style painful to read, the three women’s voices were not distinct and all the dialogue felt very forced. The personalities of the women seemed identical, the story didn’t flow well and I really felt like I was reading an early draft that needed a lot of editing.
This won’t put me off reading other books by Gill Paul.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The second I saw this, I knew I wanted to read it - growing up Jackie Collins were my Gen X, way-too-young-to-actually-read-them intro to spicy novels and I read them for years - this was basically the most sex education I received. Jacqueline Susann, of course, brought us Valley of the Dolls, which was also a very enjoyable and precautionary book that I enjoyed in my late teens

William Morrow was kind enough to send me an advance copy and I started reading the second I downloaded it.

Told in three voices - Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and Nancy - publisher’s assistant. I was equally interested in all three voices and their stories, and read this one voraciously. My one complaint about this would be that Nancy’s cousin seemed less a full character than a tool to advance the main story and word count.

This was my second novel by the author and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Recommended.



Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks and NetGalley for the DRC

Jacqueline Susann breaks into the male-dominated publishing world with her book Valley of the Dolls, and introduces the world to the new romance genre. A year later Jackie Collins publishes her first romance novel in England. Theses two must fight there way into the publishing world and it will never be the same.

Scandalous Women takes you behind the scenes of the publishing world for women in the 1960s. What would be called sexual assault and sexual harassment today, was openly allowed and tolerated then. It was a male dominated world in that time, but three women were ready to take it on and turn it on it's ears. I was shocked to read what was allowed by male coworkers, but not surprised. As I read the story, I felt that women weren't really wanted and especially not if they were going to change how women were seen.

Both Jacqueline and Jackie were groundbreakers of their time. No one had written books so honestly from the women's perspective. And definitely not in a sexual way. These two women broke barriers and gave women a voice they never knew they could have. Whether you agreed with their subject matter, or not, they were speaking up for women when no one else dared to. I loved it.

Adding Nancy to the mix was a perfect addition. She arrives in New York City with the dream of being a publisher. Knowing she'd have to work her way to that role wasn't a problem. The problem was the male dominated field that wouldn't allow her to. Never mind that she knew her stuff. Never mind that she was able to find authors the people wanted to read. Never mind that she had all the qualifications her male counterparts had. They were allowed to cop all the feels they wanted while they trashed authors. She had to grin and bear it. Until she decides she no longer wants to. In time, Nancy's dream changes. Not only changes, but takes shape- and then takes off.

I loved watching the friendship between Jackie and Jacqueline form. I was expecting a rivalry, but what I got was an endearing friendship that grew stronger as the time passed. They supported each other and understood each other like no one else could, because they knew what the other was going through. The way Jackie helped Jacqueline when she needed it was gripping to read. These two strangers became kindred spirits who where the shoulders the other needed to lean on. I was just saddened it couldn't last longer. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a few tears fall as I finished the book.

I will say the first half of the book is better than the second half. If you're looking for a fast paced story, you won't find it here. It took almost halfway through the book for the two ladies to just briefly meet. It's a little over half way into the story before Jackie's book comes out. You're expecting a rivalry, but you get an amazing friendship form instead. It's not until more than halfway in that you start to see the tow authors interact. But, once you do, you enjoy what you're in for.

What a fun and freaking fresh premise!!! I loved the idea behind this and the execution was absolutely flawless.

This was such a fun twist on the editorial world, and I loved the JC basis of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Scandalous Women by Gil Paul, especially as a fan of Jackie Collins. The book delves into the lives of trailblazers Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and editor Nancy White as they navigate personal and professional challenges in the changing literary world of the 1960s.

Gil Paul's impeccable writing skillfully captures the essence of this era, offering readers a captivating glimpse into the dynamic literary landscape.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and William Morrow for allowing me to read and review this eARC.

The fictitious story of the friendship between authors Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, Scandalous Women explores the misogynistic culture of publishing in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

The story is told from three POVs: Jacqueline Susann (author of Valley of the Dolls, among others), Jackie Collins (author of multiple best sellers) and their fabricated friend/publisher, Nancy.

Nancy moved to NYC in her early twenties in hopes of becoming an editor but quickly finds herself in a man’s world where she is not taken seriously, not promoted and sexually harassed on a regular basis. Finding an entry level job at a publishing company, Nancy discovers Jacqueline’s manuscript for Valley of the Dolls and is taken under Jacqueline’s wing as Nancy helps her edit it into the final book. Soon after, Nancy finds Jackie’s book, The World is Full of Married Men, and reaches out to her in hopes of helping her get a US deal.

Jacqueline and Jackie made headlines for their racy, sexy books where women come out on top and I enjoyed reading the author’s take on what life was like for them back then. These were strong women who weren’t afraid to go against the grain and fight for their right to write books they knew women wanted to read despite the constant negativity they received.

I enjoyed growing with Nancy as she became more experienced in the editing and publishing field and found the friendship between the three women heart-warming and positive.

Scandalous Women is an easy read with simple writing. Though the author admits there is no proof that the two Jackies were friends in real life, it’s entertaining believing it could have been as it was written in this book.

I received the ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the early release for an honest review.

Scandalous women follows 3 women in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in the publishing world. Jacquline and jackie who are both authors and Nancy who is aspiring to be an editor in a male dominated field.

Giving a 2.5 rounding up to 3 stars. Unfortunately this book failed to keep me entertained until the very end, although there were some very interesting and hot points throughout the book it didn’t keep me engaged enough to wanting to keep reading. This would have been a DNF for me, but personally I always will finish a book

Another incredible read from this author that I would happily recommend!

Her talent for transporting and immersing you into a different time is exceptional. Three powerful narratives that intertwine perfectly. Each character is compelling in their own right and brilliant when brought together. It’s absolutely captivating. I couldn’t read it fast enough.

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I knew very little about Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins and the impact they had on the publishing world. This is a fast-paced, engaging look at both women and how they transformed the book industry.

I was pretty excited to read it but I wasn’t expecting just how good it turned out to be!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if two groundbreaking authors were friends? Scandalous Women tells the story of three women in the 1960s navigating the male centric publishing world. It’s got badass women, it’s funny, it’s witty, it’s engaging, I didn’t want to put it down! Highly recommend this book to anyone that’s a fan of stories of strong women breaking glass ceilings.

I went into this book super blind. I had no expectations, or any background knowledge about Jacqueline Susann or Jackie Collins. In this novel, Gill Paul develops dynamic characters that present the significance of facing sexism and misogyny, and those who challenge the strict norms for women in the 1960’s. The men dominating the publishing world refused to respect women writing about women’s pleasure. The ambition and resilience of both Jackies is front and center of the story.

In addition to their writing focused challenges, Susann and Collins both faced home life struggles as well.

What I liked: women supporting women; feminist leaders; nonnuclear family representation

What I wasn’t thrilled by: how much history was in the novel. Again, I went in blind. I had no expectations. During the time of the read, I wasn’t ready for a historical narrative. I thought it was done extremely well, but I wish I had saved the novel for a time when I was looking for historical.

All in all, 3 stars! Great characters, women focused, easy to read chapters. I will consider reading again in fall/winter when I’m more apt to enjoy a historical period book.

Loved this historical fiction!
It explores feminism and misogyny in the 1960s while blending historical facts in the publishing world with fiction.

Nancy, a young woman from upstate New York, comes to the city in the 6o's to work at a publishing house. After a few unproductive interviews, she lands a secretarial job at a small publisher but pushes to be on the editorial staff. What she soon finds out is that men dominate publishing and don't respect women writers, even though the greatest proportion of sales comes from women readers. Sometime actress and television personality, Jacqueline Susann, lives with her producer/lawyer husband in a residential hotel in NYC, knowing that with her history of cancer, she was living on borrowed time. Her husband made a good living but she wanted to make her new modern sex-driven novels turn into bestsellers before she died, so she could assure herself that her autistic son would have the best care for the rest of his life. A young mother, sister of actress Joan Collins, was trapped in a marriage with her bi-polar husband. When he almost hits her with an empty liquor bottle, she realizes that she must take their daughter and run for safety. Jackie Collins vows to become an author in the style of Jacqueline Susann and be able to safely provide for her family, in case her second husband's investments fall through.
Paul weaves these stories into a tale of how women could support each other in times of trouble. Though Nancy is a construct of all working women wanting to make their mark on the book trade, Jacqueline Susan and Jackie Collins were real-life trailblazers whose books shook up the ideal of cozy romances, in favor of women with ambitions of power and equal treatment-even when it came to sexual pleasure. In the age when women never went on book tours or had multiple novels on the bestseller list, Ms. Susann broke barriers by doing both. Though male critics and feminists berated Susann and Collins, their books put the focus on the changing style of women's literature, and fueled the Women's Movement.
I was very familiar with Jacqueline Susann's first book, Every Night Josephine, which was her 60's autobiography featuring her poodle. At the time I was too young to read her sensational Valley of the Dolls, and probably wouldn't have liked it because it novelized the desperate lives of actresses and celebrities, but had no poodles. Nevertheless, all women of a certain age were buying and discussing it, and it turned the publishing industry upside down. The author does a very good job of recreating this era of change and highlighting some of the pioneers who made it happen.

Spates of flat prose makes Scandalous Women a shade dull to get through, and that’s truly unfortunate. When it’s really cooking, it’s delicious to read, full of pungent remarks on both Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, the world they live in. Interestingly, it’s not the two famous authoresses who make this book so unique.

Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins were the doyennes of smut – they burst through the door already opened by Harold Robbins (knowingly name dropped during the book), daring to tell stories about women who have sex and enjoy it – and sometimes the abusive jerks who deal it out. Soaked in champagne, musk and pills, Susann’s work would define the 1970s and 1960s just as Collins’ would define the 1980s. In that era, before on demand pornography just two clicks away, “Tacky Jackie” and her exuberant British doppelganger taught generations about sex – and had teenagers and adults worldwide trying to figure out who the two women were writing veiled smut about.

Being rich and famous authors did not make either woman’s life easier. Susann had an autistic son whom she institutionalized, but was buoyed by her marriage to Irving Mansfield. Jackie was dogged by stalkers, had a horrible first marriage, and coped with accusations from the press. In Scandalous Women, they manage to meet and create a transatlantic friendship.

The impetus for that friendship? Nancy White, a collegiate virgin recently moved to Manhattan to take up a role at a publishing house. The sexism is stifling, but friendship with Susann leads to Nancy’s sexual liberation. While Nancy acts as a bridge between Jackie and Jacqueline, the two women inspire Nancy to shake off her grief, strike out to become an editor of repute, and find love. But who will step forward to love Nancy: George, the handsome, globetrotting journalist who cares but keeps her at arm’s length? Or Steven, a too-good-to-be-true type with secrets?

Of all of the stories Scandalous Women gives us, it’s that of Nancy – the publishing company spinster who goes on a Susann heroine-like odyssey for independence and romance – who’s the most compelling character. It’s easy to love Jacqueline and Jackie, too, but Nancy takes the cake. Watching her mourn her mother, cope with the drug culture of the era and figure out who she is is pretty fantastic. I was disappointed by her semi-conventional ending, but for the 1970s the choice she makes is a downright revolutionary one.

The book does a decent job of tracking Susann and Collins during the 1970s, forging a realistic relationship between them and putting on a wonderful display of girl power. Money doesn’t mean anything when you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders, after all.

Yet sometimes the book lapses into “As You Know, Bob”-isms that grate the ears and mind. The author has to explain chunks of backstory and tries to do it in a reasonable manner, but sometimes paragraphs clonk to the ground. These two women would've never allowed such dull prose to be connected to their names! Also, and I must mention this because the book is about these two particular writers notorious for their once-considered-kinky writing – the sex scenes are disappointingly vanilla and tame.

But it’s the character portraits that save Scandalous Women from mediocrity, even if those portraits are a little hazy.

I looooved the friendships in this book. It really is a book that roots for women. No matter what your stage of life is. Be another woman’s cheerleader, not competitor. I also liked how it showed how hard it was to be a woman in the workplace in the 60s and 70s. The book is about two female authors, Jaqueline Susann and Jackie Collin’s, and how they are changing up the book world. They write about women, relationships, and sex. It shocks the world. I don’t know much about these authors but I am really interested in reading their books now.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one a lot! My favorite aspect was the deeppp dive into the literary/publishing world, but it broke my heart that harassment and assault were so rampant in the workplace in the 60s/70s (similar to today, sadly......).

I'd categorize this as a juicy historical fiction, if that's even a genre?

This book was provided as an ARC by William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.

Scandalous Women follows two groundbreaking writers in the 1960s, Jackie Collins and Jaqueline Susann, and the trials and tribulations they face in the literary world through their publications of scandalous and controversial books of work. Alongside Jackie and Jacqueline, the story also follows Nancy White. The novel follows the story of the three women as they struggle succeed in a world that is against them (despite the changing times). Overall, I think this book was very well written and provides insights into the literary world in the 1960's. It's a different read, but if you're looking for a novel about the 1960's, smutty books, and themes of sexism and feminism, then this is it!