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Scandalous Women

A Novel of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Mad Men meets the world of publishing in international bestselling author Gill Paul's new novel about Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann, two dynamic, groundbreaking writers renowned for their scandalous and controversial novels, and the beleaguered young editorial assistant who introduces them.

1966, NYC: Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls hits the bookstores and she is desperate for a bestseller. It's steamy, it's a page-turner, but will it make the big money she needs? In London, Jackie Collins's racy The World Is Full of Married Men launches her career. But neither author is prepared for the price they will pay for being women who dare to write about sex.

Jacqueline and Jackie are lambasted by the literary establishment, deluged with hate mail, and even condemned by feminists. In public, both women shoulder the outcry with dignity; in private, they are crumbling—particularly since they have secrets they don't want splashed across the front pages.

1965, NYC: College graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house, but she could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she will encounter. While working on Valley of the Dolls, she becomes friends with Jacqueline Susann, and, after reaching out to Jackie Collins about a US deal, she is responsible for the two authors meeting.

Will the two Jackies clash as they race to top the charts? Will Nancy achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, despite all the men determined to hold her back? Three women struggle to succeed in a man's world, while desperately trying to protect those they love the most.

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    • Library Journal

      Starred review from January 1, 2025

      Paul's (A Beautiful Rival) sparkling new work of historical fiction takes listeners to 1960s New York and London, where two scandalously sexy novels have upended the publishing world. Jackie Collins has just published The World Is Full of Married Men in London, while Jacqueline Susann has published Valley of the Dolls in New York City. A year earlier, up-and-coming Manhattan editor Nancy White introduced Susann to Collins, sparking a friendship as both women vaulted to the top of the bestsellers list. Lisa Flanagan delightfully narrates with distinctive, well-tailored character voices and a dynamic delivery. Listeners will enjoy how "the Jackies" band together across the pond to make their groundbreaking books more accessible and profitable, paving the road to success for women novelists and freeing their readers to enjoy their steamy fictional escapades without guilt. VERDICT Misogyny, sexism, and gossip run rampant in Paul's retelling of this celebrated history, taking listeners back to a time when friendship trumped competition. The audiobook is fast-paced and lively, engaging and delightfully racy. Nancy and the Jackies reach for the brass ring with dignity, zest, and sublime humor.--Sharon Sherman

      Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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