Valley of the DollsValley of the Dolls
Score Classic
What it's about
Three young women come to New York in the 1940s looking for fame: Anne, a proper New Englander; Neely, a talented teenage vaudeville performer; and Jennifer, a showgirl whose beauty is her only asset. Over twenty years, show business makes and breaks them, and all three come to depend on 'dolls', the pills that help them sleep, wake up and survive.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling novels ever and spent 28 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's trashy, glamorous and darker than its reputation.
You'll love it if you liked
Theatre
Auntie Mame
Play It as It LaysGood to know
It deals with addiction, suicide and sex. It was a scandal in 1966.
By the numbers
- Readers21 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 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
- #224 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #535 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1865 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of ReposeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Valley of the Dolls worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling novels ever and spent 28 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,865 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Valley of the Dolls about?
Three young women come to New York in the 1940s looking for fame: Anne, a proper New Englander; Neely, a talented teenage vaudeville performer; and Jennifer, a showgirl whose beauty is her only asset. Over twenty years, show business makes and breaks them, and all three come to depend on 'dolls', the pills that help them sleep, wake up and survive.
How long does it take to read Valley of the Dolls?
About 12 hours (480 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Valley of the Dolls?
If you liked it, try Theatre by Somerset Maugham, Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis or Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion.