“Valley of the Dolls – a cult classic” reads the front cover of this book of tragic proportions, After watching the film I thought I’d take a look at the novel – regrets? None at all. If you are the type of person who enjoys reading something that comes to a happy ending with all the strings tied; a book that you can just close the back cover to without questions lingering in your head, then this is definitely not one for you. However, if you’re not looking for happiness or romance to fantasise about, rather a more grittier novel of depression and disappointment then this is a book that I would recommend, and that it certainly is.

It’s based around three glamorous stars who make it big in the city of New York. Anne Welles, a beautiful girl who’s regarded as “pure class” is the first we meet. She was brought up in a small town, one of which she loathes and escapes from to live in the city of her dreams. However, she’s bound to the chains of this town – Lawrenceville – that were wrapped tightly around her during her upbringing. Mothers can sometimes be more trouble than they’re worth, and for Anne, her mother definitely is. She’d been taught that no man was capable of love, not the love Anne was looking for anyway. She goes searching and finds herself caught up with a few men in the city, but there would only ever be one for her. Inside the deepest and darkest parts of her mind, we venture – love, sex and life from the small-town girl’s  perspective then… Fame.

While in New York, Anne meets her first ever girlfriend: Ethel Agnes O’Neil, Neely O’hara. Neely is the second girl that we follow through the duration. She’s the youngest of the three and she’s the girl in this book with the talent, the real voice. She was helped to fame by her best friend Anne and quickly shot to the top after appearing in a Helen Lawson Broadway hit – Helen’s also a huge star who we get to know a little of too, aka Ironsides. But with Fame, there’s always a dark side to the glamour. The struggles, suicide attempts and addiction are what keeps the audience gripped to read on about this character. She’s described as a “cobra” and this is due to the fact of her successes – the arrogance of being a star. Although she may be strong, all she’s looking for is a man to love her – but, is that really possible with an ego her size?

We are introduced to Jennifer North a little later compared to the other girls in this book, but when we finally are it’s a stunning moment. Jennifer’s beauty is what defines her, she’s under the same agency as Neely when she appears in the club El’ Morocco with the love interest of Anne’s. Everyone stares when Jennifer enters a room, this is what makes her a star: her body. She’s the type of woman who remains 19 for 10 years, and that she does. However, she’s looking for what both Anne and Neely are looking for, that love and affection a woman needs. She is a loyal woman, and we learn this throughout the story, her story – she’s true to herself and honestly so sweet. I often found there was no bad bone in her body, no spite. She learns during her time in New York, then Europe, as a star that you can either “love, or be loved.” It’s sad, but it’s their reality.

The three women share a flat for some time then all go their separate ways, they get jobs and go out to live their lives. We follow them every step of the way. We read on as they slowly, one by one, give into the “dolls” – the pills that bring them crashing down. This novel will leave you empty and hollow inside. Get ready for the tears that you will try to keep at bay – unsuccessfully. It’s the relationship between the girls that really got me going, personally. It’s well worth a read and at 460 pages it’s enough to keep you going. This 60’s novel is one that I will keep very close to my heart for many years to come.

Rating:  9.5/10