I thought this was going to be a page turning can't get enough book, but I guess maybe being a Millennial this was not the book for me? Maybe not the target audience?

Overall it was alright.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Scandalous Women” by Gill Paul is a fabulous book about two extraordinary women Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins. Gill Paul gives us a fictionalized story of these remarkable women who broke the ceiling in the world of publishing by their fight against sexism and their creation of a genre of books dealing with graphic sexuality from a female perspective. The story speaks to their fight for recognition in a male dominated industry while dealing with both personal & professional tragedies. I really enjoyed how the author describes the determination and resilience of both women as they fought their way to the top of the bestseller charts. While reading this book it is hard to remember this is a work of fiction as it’s clear that Collins and Susann paved the way for future generations of female authors. If you enjoy books about the shifting social mores the 60s, including all the glamour, excess and glitz of the times you will love this book as much as I did.

Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The author's newest historical novel, set initially in the 1960s, brings to vivid life writers Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, and the sexy books they created for women hungering for novels they really wanted to read. Their impact on the publishing interest is immense, and we see them courageously battle pervasive sexism and personal challenges including cancer, a severely autistic child who had to be institutionalized, a violent first husband who committed suicide, and heavy use of booze and pills.

Paul's compelling book had me racing through the pages, devouring chapters that alternate between the two Jackies and the fictional young editorial assistant Nancy who champions them. The prose flows, the narrative grips, the characters are so compassionately written that you can't help but cheer for them. A triumph!

Two women who had the "balls" to write the steamy, sexy novels in the 1960's. Far ahead of their time. they faced many difficult situations not only in the workplace but from the critics who couldn't believe that women would actually write books such as these. Behind the scenes we see what their private lives were all about and despite their success, how they faced what they lived with. Ms. Gill has given us another excellent book. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Scandalous Women by Gill Paul is the story of real-life novelists Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, and the fictitious editor Nancy White. The chapters rotate among the women, and the novel begins in the early stages of the women's careers. Despite much of the story and characters being a creation of the author, I found the voices authentic and the story line fascinating. It was especially illuminating - and disturbing - to learn of the extensive sexism these women experienced in many different situations, including the workplace. It was very difficult for these women to get ahead, but they persisted, and eventually were accepted for who they were.

I am a huge fan of Gill Paul and have read nearly all of her novels, so I was super excited to read this one. I was not disappointed! I love her style and her unique subjects. Thank you to Ms. Paul, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance e-reader copy of this book!

Thank you to William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I have read almost all of Gill Paul's books and really enjoyed them. There have been a few that were just So-so for but over all I really enjoy her writing and writing style. I was really excited to get an ARC of this book when I saw it on NetGalley.

This book follows 3 women: Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and fictitious Nancy White as they navigate the publishing world in the 1960's.

I enjoyed this book but it wasn't one of my favorites by this author. I will recommend it to people though.

I must remind you, readers, that this book is mostly fiction. If you want more of the truth, make sure you read the notes at the end of the book. I did a bit of research myself, as I like to do with biographical/historical/fiction, and while I am disappointed at the one thing I found, everything else is spot on.

This was a fabulous novel. I could not for the life of me, put it down and finished it in one big gulp! Gill Paul is one of my favorite biographical/historical/fiction writers, and this novel just puts her one more notch toward my all-time favorite of this genre.

It not only showcased Jacqueline's trouble trying to get Valley of the Dolls published, but it also showed just how far women truly have gone in the publishing world of today and how bad it was for women of that era who wanted to become editors.

*This ARC was supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley. Thank you all.

I have loved Gill Paul’s previous “biographical” novels, that often depict famous strong women of different eras, which the author is able to bring to life with her vivid prose. She works her magic again with her latest novel “Scandalous Women,” which focuses on Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, as well as a fictional woman, Nancy White, struggling to make a name for herself in the male dominated world of publishing.

Gill Paul vividly recreates the vibrant colors of 1960’s and 1970’s fashion as well as the drug and alcohol infused celebrity night club scene. The author also recounts the struggles both the two authors and working women in general faced in a male dominated world, including ridicule, discrimination and sexual assault.

The story is told through the alternating POVs of Jacqueline Susann, Jackie Collins and the fictional Nancy White, who works for Jacqueline Susann’s publisher. Nancy offers to work with Jacqueline on the revisions to her first novel “Valley of the Dolls,” and soon becomes friends with the author. Later she encourages her publisher to buy the US rights to Jackie Collins’ first novel, “The World is Full of Married Men,” and befriends Jackie as well, drawing strength and inspiration from both authors, and ultimately brings the two authors together where at least in fiction, the two famous writers become best friends.

Many biographical novels are interesting and informative but “Scandalous Women” was also enthralling, partly due to the exciting time period covered and partly due to the dynamic, trail blazing personalities of the characters. I highly recommend this novel to historical fiction fans, particularly those who appreciate strong female leads forging new trails for others to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Having loved the work of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann, I was beyond thrilled at the opportunity to read their own life stories. There is no one more equipped to do so than Gill Paul!
An amazing novel!

A novel about two incredible trailblazing authors- sign me up!!!!! I couldn't download Scandalous Women, by Gil Pail, onto my ereader fast enough! And wow, I was not disappointed. Paul created a fictional character to serve as the editor to both Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann, and told the story through their 3 alternating POVs. I loved hearing their different personalities leap off the pages. An absolute delight! Highly recommend!!!!

I grew up with Jackie Collins books in the house, and she was one the first romance authors I ever read. I loved this fictional account of her relationship with Valley of the Dolls author, Jaqueline Susan. I think both women would be pleased with how Gil Paul portrays them. This was a fun read and I especially enjoyed the look into the publishing industry back then. Spoiler alert: nothing has changed. Normally I find multipov stories annoying, especially if it’s more than two, but Paul did a great job with braiding them all together and it kept the momentum going. Great read! I’ll be checking out some of her other historical fiction books.

I’ve been reading Gill Paul’s books for a while and so enjoy the stories of the women she focuses on. Having recently watched the first episode of Capote vs. The Swans I was craving a book set during that timeframe of 1960s/1979s. And what a tale Scandalous Women was.

I’ve never read Valley of the Dolls or any of Jackie Collins books but they’ve always interested me. Jacqueline Susann and Jackie were pioneers of their genre which makes for an interesting tale in of itself. Scandalous Women provides a fictional account of these. authors lives as well as their overlap as best selling authors.

I loved every minute of this story. From toggling between each author’s life to the fictional woman who worked for both and provided an inside peek to the publishing world of that time. Side note - it was not pretty nor comfortable and extremely sexist.

If your looking for a slice of historical fictional featuring two real life talented women than this may be the book for you. It certainly was for me! Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow Books for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an unexpected delight. Gill has combined, and fictionalized, the lives of 2 great female authors, Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann. They were pioneers who opened up the publishing industry to a genre of novel, touting sexuality as opposed to romance.

Though they were never close friends, the novel brings them together with Nancy White, the young, naive editor who works with both. I remember the sensation the books caused and the fun of reading these sensational novels.

I especially enjoyed the social history depicting women in the workplace. Of course, I recall the unfair treatment I received in the workplace or in trying to rent my first apartment. I enjoyed the interplay of the women and I liked the skill Gill used in creating a strong focus on the main characters. I often find novels overcrowded and blurry with too many names.

I highly recommend this novel as a delightful foray into a historical era and tge women who swam upstream and changed the publishing industry. Thank you Netgalley for this great piece of modern historical fiction.

Fabulous! Gill Paul writing about "Scandalous Women" authors Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins is an evocative delight. It's a novel based in the 60's but very relevant today. Two bold literary women who broke the glass ceiling of their time and were bold to write about sex in their novels. Fame didn't come without personal sacrifices and brutal public backlash.
Nancy White is a young college graduate who finds herself dealing with the political storm and industry sexism as she navigates her career at a Manhattan publishing house.
This historical fiction novel is based in the New York and London during the 1960's and is a blast to read. The money, glamour, and shifting feminist opinions are thought provoking.
I loved Gill Paul's books because she writes historical fiction about fierce, brilliant women who have changed the landscape of their chosen industries, If you loved Beautiful Rivals by Gill Paul, you'll love this novel too. If you haven't read Gill Paul, NOW is the time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of the novel. I plan to purchase a copy for my home library as well.

This was a pretty good historical fiction novel. However, at times it failed to keep my interest. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've enjoyed several Gill Paul books to date, and this was another solid choice. I was not familiar with any details about the two authors featured, only having known Jackie Collins by name and Susann not at all.

The book immediately hooked me and moved quickly to keep my interest. It was not hard to differentiate between the authors even though they had similar names.

I appreciated that real life happened as part of the story, not all happy endings and wild successes - although the ending with Jacqueline's illness was depressing (can't get around that, it's part of life) and Nancy's personal relationship's ending popped out of nowhere.

It gave a bit of a Mad Men feel, being absorbed in the publishing world in NYC and the treatment of women in the 60s and 70s.

In the captivating novel "Scandalous Women" by Gill Paul, we are transported back to 1960s New York and London, where two bold authors, Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, challenge societal norms with their daring and sexually explicit novels, "Valley of the Dolls" and "The World Is Full of Married Men." Both women face a barrage of criticism and condemnation from the literary establishment, feminists, and even hate mail. Despite the public outcry, they remain steadfast in their pursuit of success and recognition in a male-dominated industry. Behind the scenes, however, they grapple with personal struggles and secrets that threaten to unravel their carefully constructed lives. Nancy White, a young college graduate, finds herself in the midst of this literary storm as she joins a Manhattan publishing house. She becomes an ally to both authors, navigating the rampant sexism within the industry while striving to achieve her own ambitions in a world determined to keep her down. As the two Jackies race to the top of the bestseller charts, they face personal and professional challenges that test their resilience and determination. The story delves into the sacrifices they make, the relationships they form, and the lengths they go to protect those they love. "Scandalous Women" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on the struggles faced by women in the literary world and beyond. It celebrates the tenacity and courage of those who dared to break barriers and pave the way for future generations. Gill Paul's vivid storytelling and attention to historical detail bring this era to life, immersing readers in the glamour, excess, and shifting social mores of the 1960s.

This was a fun read about the imagined friendship between Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins. The book goes back and forth between the two women, showing how alike and different they were. Tying the two women together is an editor named Nancy, frustrated with the Mad Men attitudes at various jobs. Add a handsome documentarian, a strung-out singer, and the sixties; you pretty much have the plot of a Susann novel.

One nitpick: Jacqueline Susann goes on tour and details a visit she made to Johnny Carson's show taping in Burbank. This would've been impossible since Carson was still doing the Tonight Show in New York City and didn't move the show to Burbank until the 1970s. Is it possible for this to be revised before the pub date?