Texas), Glitter Baby (Wynette

The book description offered something of a feel-good novel within its covers, but once you read the story of Fleur Savagar, you get a completely different feel of the story.

I checked this book out at the local library with hopes that it can stand up to the level of entertainment that the other SEP books I have read and was let down. Don't get me wrong, SEP can write a good novel, but this one just did not sit with me all that well.

With similarities with the story Mommy Dearest, this book highlighted a very twisted story that intertwined some fact with fiction. A fortune craving young woman seeking support, fame and love, pushes her child to live the life she wished she had through lies and deception. The lack of actual respect these characters had for each other was a bit unsettling to me. Even the treatment the men offered the women was a little sexist, but I know that it was common at that time. The Stepfather was crude and disgusting as well as vicious. The mother was more self-serving than caring. The female protagonist was not highlighted as well as she should have been, in fact, I felt that she was more a secondary character. The male protagonist's part was minimal and not well explained when it came to his feelings. The ending was far from what I would like to have seen.

It was difficult to enjoy, but I felt I needed to get closure from the story and struggled through it. In fact, I did skim quite a bit of the story because I felt it was too winded with details that were not necessary. Not exactly an enjoyable book to read for me. If you are interested in reading a fictional book with some non-fictional characters and random facts that blur the story to an inconceivable tale... then this might be the book for you. As for me... it was not. Fortunately, SEP has plenty of other books that are more enjoyable like her Chicago Stars/Bonner Brothers series. In conclusion.... Good writing style, not so great story with this book.

I know all of you fellow Susan Elizabeth Phillips fans are gonna secretly wonder if it will be worth the extra bucks you'll have to fork over to get a copy of this hard to find out of print book. I will tell you, it really is. Dont let the thought that this is her first book deter you either. She must have been writing in the womb! Her newest novel, THIS HEART OF MINE, is just as good. If you read all her books in chronilogical order, some will be even more enjoyable since she will branch off sometimes and give prior characters their own stories. Get a copy of this if you can, then check out the store's other choices for her and buy every one you can, you will re-read every one several times if you love deep, penetrating writing like only SEP can deliver!

After skimming a couple of other reviews, I was relieved to learn this was SEP's first book. She certainly improved after this. Then again, there was no way to go but up. Having read and enjoyed her stories, this one shocked me. I couldn't understand why anyone would write about such low-life characters; but 100 pages in without the first decent character, I knew for sure I had already read 50 pages too many. So far the title character hasn't done anything truly evil, but she's only 18 and is working pretty hard at seducing her father in front of her mother. I'd better shut it quick. Thank goodness I rented it instead of buying. I'm still confused as to who would want to identify with sluts and child molesters, but to each his own. I'm done with this one.

I found this book by accident at UBS while traveling up the coast. Boy, was I lucky because it was only like... $2.00!!! I actually can't make up my mind if I like this one more than I liked "Hot Shot" again, this writing style reminded me of earlier "Judith Michael" books. Definately takes you through time from Fleur childhood to womanhood, her relationship with her mother and her lover. I enjoyed this one and I do highly recommend if you can find it buy it. Someone mentioned in a review also on here that it is a rather dated book. Well it is but if you can keep that in mind while still enjoying the depth and details of the story, you won't be dissatisfied.
Happy Reading

This a great SEP book, with all of the traditional SEP elements, including family strife, unrequited love, and deep, strong character development. You truly enter Fleur's world. The only downside to this book is that there are only about 100 pages of the book that are dedicated to the romance between Jake and Fleur.

SEP NEVER fails to impress, and it's a great book. I would love to have spent more time with Jake and Fleur. The relationship felt rushed, and auxillary to Fleur and Belinda's (Fleur's mom) story. In general, there was A LOT of story to be to be told, and I felt that all of the characters, and all of the relationships did not get their due time.

I picked this up before a cross-country flight, and found it hard to keep interested, even with hours to kill with delayed and canceled flights. I bought the book knowing it was a reissue of a 1980s title, but at least hoped it would keep my interest as a fluffy airplane novel. Wrong. Stilted dialogue, amazingly unbelievable behavior from Belinda, Fleur's mother, and creepy pedophiles kept me from having really any emotional investment in the main characters at all. I kept turning the pages, hoping it would get better. Alas, it did not. Please don't judge SEP's current output by this dated drivel. Skip it and move on.

If you like to read Danielle Steel, this book will probably appeal to you. It is filled with a cast of scarred characters. Issues of "ugly-duckling syndrome", post tramatic stress disorder, parental psychological abuse, parental abandonment,and homosexuality are just a few items dealt with by this cast. Some characters are able to overcome and others just succumb.

Even though it technically ends "Happily Ever After", I was left with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and could not wait to pick up another book to take my head out of this story.

It was a good read. Definately slow at first, but once you get into it, it's just like Susan's other works, it's soooo hard to put down! I loved all the characters in it. The story was very well written (after I thought about the book as a whole), and the ending couldn't possibly be any better than what it was. Oh Susan, you and your epilogues will never get old! I love them!

I read the revised, updated edition of this book. It is still a little dated, but a good read. I'd say pretty darn good for a first novel by an author I always enjoy. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good, light story.

This is an updated version of Glitter Baby, published in 2009. I was never able to find the 1987 version, but this one is wonderful! I couldn't put it down. A great read! Susan Elizabeth Phillips stories are the best!

Actually, I'm commenting on the fact that none of the reviews touch on the fact that this is a re-write of a book published in 1987. I read the new 2008 version and I need to go back and re-read the 1987. But, the audio version is 6 hours shorter than the original, read by the deceased and very much missed Anna Fields/Kate Fleming! So while I enjoyed the new book....Where's the Beef!
Caity

I found that this book was a little different then her others and a little disturbing. I will of course read all she has to offer, but I really like the strong women in her books. This book really gave me the creeps with her step-father chasing her, mother get some from her daughters crush, eeekk! I loved the girlfriend and the brother.

This is an excellent book. In fact, I am rereading it for the 2nd time. (Yes, that means this is my 3rd time.) The characters are wonderfully developed, and I can't wait to read more books by her. It's one of those books I will never let go of. It will stay in my collection for a long time to come.

Before she was the queen of the romantic comedy (don't miss What I Did For Love, her latest), Susan Elizabeth Phillips wrote general women's fiction. And she wrote it well. Glitter Baby is an absolutely addictive 80's glitz novel. They don't write 'em like this anymore, but this saga will make you wish they did. Indulge. Just don't start it too close to bedtime - you may not get much sleep.

what a wonderful book! the charters a well developed and complex in there own way and best of all know ones perfect. This one isn't as good as honey moon but it is close with the times in the 50's through the 80's it gets a little crazy! whatever you do SEP fans before you buy it see if the library has it! if you love it than buy it but check the library first and save thirty bucks.

Don't even try reading this book because it sucks and its disgusting.

list of CONS:

1. The mother is slut

2. The mother offers herself to the hero and he accepts her offer of having sex. She should get the award of mother of the year. Don't worry your little heads readers because he they never officially have sex.

3. This novel was so dramatic.

List of PROS:

1. The Heroine started her own life after everyone tries to screw her over.

Let me repeat myself, do not buy this book.