Such good smut: Help me identify this 70s steamy romance novel
July 24, 2014 6:18 PM Subscribe
Written in the 70s or early 80s, four women moving through adulthood. Much sex, maybe some drugs, and some troublesome men.
Or at least I thought this book was steamy as kid.
As a kid, I would sneak into my parents' library and read my mom's romance novels. Most of them were likely from the 70s or early 80s. Many were Harlequins, but the one I'm trying to remember wasn't.
The book ressembles Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. (I looked at the other Jacqueline Susann novels and it doesn't fit what I remember).
Here is what little I remember: It was a story about four (or maybe three?) women. The focus would switch from one character to the next. Some of them were described as beautiful, but one of them was described as average. They knew each other somehow (I vaguely remember that perhaps they graduated from the same school). The setting, as far as I can remember, is urban and the themes are about women moving from young adulthood to adulthood.
Other tidbit I remember is this: one of the characters is disappointed the first time she has sex (and is presented as wondering what the big deal is all about). She thought it would be out of this world and found it boring. If I remember correctly, she eventually falls in love and gets to experience passionate sex.
My mom doesn't remember the book.
Or at least I thought this book was steamy as kid.
As a kid, I would sneak into my parents' library and read my mom's romance novels. Most of them were likely from the 70s or early 80s. Many were Harlequins, but the one I'm trying to remember wasn't.
The book ressembles Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. (I looked at the other Jacqueline Susann novels and it doesn't fit what I remember).
Here is what little I remember: It was a story about four (or maybe three?) women. The focus would switch from one character to the next. Some of them were described as beautiful, but one of them was described as average. They knew each other somehow (I vaguely remember that perhaps they graduated from the same school). The setting, as far as I can remember, is urban and the themes are about women moving from young adulthood to adulthood.
Other tidbit I remember is this: one of the characters is disappointed the first time she has sex (and is presented as wondering what the big deal is all about). She thought it would be out of this world and found it boring. If I remember correctly, she eventually falls in love and gets to experience passionate sex.
My mom doesn't remember the book.
Seconding The Women's Room -- feels like it fits your description.
posted by prettypretty at 6:35 PM on July 24, 2014
posted by prettypretty at 6:35 PM on July 24, 2014
Best answer: It sounds a lot like Satisfaction by Rae Lawrence, except for the much sex. But the rest is spot on.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 6:35 PM on July 24, 2014
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 6:35 PM on July 24, 2014
It's not Lace, is it? (You would probably remember the line "Which one of you bitches is my mother?")
posted by Madamina at 6:53 PM on July 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Madamina at 6:53 PM on July 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
Thirding The Women's Room.
posted by MexicanYenta at 7:22 PM on July 24, 2014
posted by MexicanYenta at 7:22 PM on July 24, 2014
I immediately thought "Lace". For sure.
posted by bquarters at 8:23 PM on July 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bquarters at 8:23 PM on July 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Women's Room is considered a feminist classic and was marketed as a mainstream novel at time of publication.
Lace has always been considered a trashy "shopping and fucking" novel.
posted by brujita at 11:35 PM on July 24, 2014
Lace has always been considered a trashy "shopping and fucking" novel.
posted by brujita at 11:35 PM on July 24, 2014
I don't see how a mom who read romance novels would have Women's Room on her shelf. I don't think Women's Room is like Valley of the Dolls.
It sounds like a Sydney Sheldon novel to me.
posted by cda at 4:34 AM on July 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
It sounds like a Sydney Sheldon novel to me.
posted by cda at 4:34 AM on July 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I thought Lace as well. (what a piece of trash that was!)
Other fun trash was Scruples by Judith Krantz.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:43 AM on July 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Other fun trash was Scruples by Judith Krantz.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:43 AM on July 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'll have to find copies and look at the books, but Satisfaction comes closest in its description.
And yes, my mom was a feminist who also read romance novels, as am I.
posted by Milau at 5:46 AM on July 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
And yes, my mom was a feminist who also read romance novels, as am I.
posted by Milau at 5:46 AM on July 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Group_(novel)
Could it be Mary McCarthy's The Group?
posted by younggreenanne at 5:46 AM on July 25, 2014
Could it be Mary McCarthy's The Group?
posted by younggreenanne at 5:46 AM on July 25, 2014
Her mother could have had both, but they had very different front covers and descriptions on their backs.
posted by brujita at 6:29 AM on July 25, 2014
posted by brujita at 6:29 AM on July 25, 2014
Are you sure it's was the 1970's? Because that's almost exactly Nothing Lasts Forever by Sidney Sheldon. The characters were: Paige, Kat and Honey.
posted by 26.2 at 8:51 AM on July 25, 2014
posted by 26.2 at 8:51 AM on July 25, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by raisingsand at 6:28 PM on July 24, 2014