Gill Paul

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.… (mehr)

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC.

What a perfect title considering the plot and the women.

Right from the start I could tell that both Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden were both tough women.

I never went to an Elizabeth Arden salon or used her products but do recall the infamous red front doors that she's known for. As I read further into the book, I realized that I know about Elizabeth's Blue Grass perfume and Helena's Heaven Scent perfume.

As for Helena Rubenstein, I didn't know much about her or Elizabeth Arden for that matter besides the above, which is another reason I wanted to read this book though it is fiction but I do know for a fact that the author did a lot of research by seeing things on her FB page that she posted.

I learned a lot about both women. I need to do research myself sometimes about things like this I guess. I do know that I'm not sure if I liked either one of them. They were mean-spirited sometimes and not sure if I would want to come up against these women.

Reading Progress… (mehr)

Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden dominated the beauty industry in the early 20th century and were bitter professional rivals. They copied each others products, poached employees, and planted spies in each other's companies to pass information. Either would woman would provide ample material for a novel in her own right, but this book alternates between the two, showcasing two women who had more in common than either wanted to admit. I especially appreciated the story's conclusion and learning more about these two fascinating women who created an industry.… (mehr)