50 Must-Read 50 Beta
← The Must-Read 50
Cover of Scruples by Judith KrantzScruples
Classic · Fiction, Classics, Mystery

Scruples

by Judith Krantz
1978 · 574 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 14 hours to read · about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Billy Ikehorn, a plain, lonely girl from Boston, transforms herself, marries a much older billionaire, and is widowed with a fortune. She opens Scruples, the most luxurious boutique in Beverly Hills, with the help of a gorgeous photographer and a brilliant young designer. As the store succeeds, love, money and Hollywood ambitions collide.

Why it's worth reading

It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It defined the glamorous 'shopping and sex' bestseller of the 1970s and 80s.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's long and full of designer labels and explicit sex.

By the numbers

55.8Must-Read Score
  • Readers15 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller35 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (4 weeks at #1)One of the ten best-selling books of 1978 (Publishers Weekly)

Reads as

Gripping, Moving

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

If you like this, read next

Cover of Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierRebecca
RebeccaDaphne du Maurier
Cover of An American Tragedy by Theodore DreiserAn American Tragedy
An American TragedyTheodore Dreiser
Cover of My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du MaurierMy Cousin Rachel
My Cousin RachelDaphne du Maurier
Cover of The Woman in White by Wilkie CollinsThe Woman in White
The Woman in WhiteWilkie Collins
Cover of Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du MaurierFrenchman's Creek
Frenchman's CreekDaphne du Maurier
Cover of The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. CainThe Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings TwiceJames M. Cain

Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is Scruples worth reading?

Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,686 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 55.8 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Scruples about?

Billy Ikehorn, a plain, lonely girl from Boston, transforms herself, marries a much older billionaire, and is widowed with a fortune. She opens Scruples, the most luxurious boutique in Beverly Hills, with the help of a gorgeous photographer and a brilliant young designer. As the store succeeds, love, money and Hollywood ambitions collide.

How long does it take to read Scruples?

About 14 hours (574 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Scruples?

If you liked it, try Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann, Zoya by Danielle Steel or The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough.