Run, Darling

by Karen Essex

Three Sisters. One War. A Harrowing Escape.

Before the Sexual Revolution, reality TV, and social media, there lived the Gabors, a family of beguiling glamour icons with a global following.

For decades, the gorgeous trio of Zsa Zsa, Eva, and Magda, with their Auntie Mame mother, dominated gossip columns, TV and movie screens, talk shows, and tabloids with their talent, clever quips, branded beauty products—and utter disregard for society’s rules.

While we many remember their whipped blonde hair, jewelry and gowns, multiple marriages, and the word, ‘dahlink,’ sprinkled like sugar into every sentence, few knew of this Jewish family’s shocking secrets, painful pasts, and harrowing journey from Nazi-dominated Europe to America and from obscurity to celebrity.

Run, Darling is that untold story.

Genres: Historical Fiction

467 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2025

About the author

I'm the author of RUN, DARLING, KLEOPATRA, PHARAOH, LEONARDO'S SWANS, STEALING ATHENA, DRACULA IN LOVE, AND BETTIE PAGE: LIFE OF A PINUP LEGEND--All featuring iconic women—powerful women that seduced the world. I am an active screenwriter and an award-winning journalist, dividing my time between Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Europe, where I soak in the atmosphere while writing historical fiction.

Follow me on Substack; History. Sex. Power. https://karenessex.substack.com/subsc...

Or join our chat group on Goodreads, Ask Karen Essex. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5...
I love hearing from you, Gentle Readers.

Reviews

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book about the three Gabor sisters, Zsa Zsa, Magda, and Eva, and their parents. It's based off their real lives and It was completely fascinating. It's about their lives in Europe and how they escaped the Nazis to move to America. I didn't really know anything about their pasts and it was so interesting. The things these sisters went through during and after WWI was just so interesting. I absolutely loved reading this book. I'd highly recommend it for historical fiction lovers. 


Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! When I was a younger person, I remember being very enthralled with the Gabor sisters. This was before the internet so I wasn’t able to research them and look for pictures and all the things we can do now. Sadly I kind of forgot about them. I saw a rating on this book and knew I had to read it and man it didn’t disappoint! If you have any interest in the Gabors, you will be enthralled with it. It begins in Hungary with middle sister Zsa Zsa as a young teen, and we see so much and so many changes in the family as we get to know each sister- Magda and Eva - and mother and father - Jolie and Vilmos Gabor. It’s an exciting, daring and at times a sad ride. And just like is often said, the truth is stranger than fiction. And this is based on truth. We follow them through love, the war and trying to get the USA. We also get to see some of old Hollywood as Eva tries to start her acting career. There is SO MUCH, you just have to read it and savor each chapter. The book ends at the end of WW II.


I do know a lot of their fame comes after the end of this book. I would love to read more about them and will look for more books both fiction and nonfiction to satisfy my curiosity. I’m also going to see if I can find Green Acres and some old movies with them in it to watch. They really are fascinating!


For more sensitive readers, you must know that these ladies lead at times scandalous lives, sometimes just for survival, but these things are discussed, not in depth, but often enough. Sex is a major part of their lives. There aren’t descriptive scenes or anything that made me personally uncomfortable.

[Sylvia Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Run, Darling,” a captivating historical fiction novel by Karen Essex, published on June 18, 2025, recounts the untold story of the Gabor sisters’ escape from Nazi-occupied Europe to the United States and their rise to fame.

I’ve always been fascinated by the Gabor sisters, despite limited knowledge about their lives. Their glamorous persona and exceptional acting abilities captivated me.

“Run, Darling” provided me with new insights into these remarkable women. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an enriching reading experience. I was immediately drawn to its captivating narrative and found myself engrossed until late into the night. The compelling storytelling compelled me to resume reading the following morning, eager to continue my journey into their lives.

Beyond her literary accomplishments, Karen Essex is a celebrated journalist and screenwriter. Her work has appeared on Netflix and has collaborated with esteemed filmmakers like James Cameron, Fox Studios, Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount, and Fox TV. A native of New Orleans, Essex has also lived in London, Paris, and Los Angeles.

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gabor's were quite a fascinating family and I had no idea what they all endured and went through before, during and after the war. Three girls all trying to appease their mother, yet wanting their own dreams they were quite the "unholy" trio. Often they were very similar and yet very different, and it was so fascinating to read the different paths each one took during WWII, yet often they made some very similar choices. Zsa Zsa was daddy's little tomboy and her mother did everything to try to turn her into the growing woman she was. Magda was the older wise one and often tried to talk sense into the others and Eva the youngest often looked up to her two sisters but had her own dreams of stardom in America even though their mother had this role picked for Zsa Zsa. Jolie was a hurricane herself, not one to be reconned with and often what she said, went. Believing they were safe from the horror that was unfolding across Europe, Jolie often told her girls they were crazy for being scared about the war and what was being broadcasted. In her mind, they were untouchable and eventually it was her daughters that had to have the final say in their lives and saving themselves. There was so much to this novel, and each woman's story was told. I was quite shocked at how much was true and the kind of lives they did lead, and how they were able to survive and make it to America. I really enjoyed this novel and learned a lot about the Gabors and a few things I didn't know about WWII. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the your invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gabor sisters were more from my mother’s generation, but I do recall watching Eva play the glamorous Lisa, who is displaced on a farm, on reruns of 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝐴𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑠. I always got Eva and her sister Zsa Zsa, who was also an actress, confused with each other, but I was unaware that there was another sister, Magda.

While the book reads like a fascinating and dramatic novel, Karen Essex does an excellent job giving us insight into the sisters’ background. The narrative is so engaging that it's hard to put down. From growing up in Hungary at the rise of Hitler’s regime to their domineering mother planning each one of their paths for them, it is a stark reminder of what this Jewish family had to do in order to survive.

Although Eva and Zsa Zsa would go on to be globally famous movie stars and sex symbols, not many knew what this family had endured and their secrets. This is their untold story, a tale of survival and rise to fame.


If you aren’t familiar with the Gabor sisters, I encourage you to read this book first, and then look them up. This is what glamour and style icons were long before the internet and reality TV.


Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @karenessex for the #gifted book.

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance the cover just grabs your attention it’s gorgeous!! While reading I found myself googling to look at photos of the Gabor sisters.

Run, Darling gives up a peek into the fascinating lives of the Gabor family. The Gabors were Jewish and in the early 1930s Budapest I was amaze as that their father insisted making the family turn to Catholicism to try to evade the Nazi, It shows us how they escaped the Nazi-occupied Europe and then to the United States. It’s amazing what lengths the sisters went to survive World War Two, marriages and hiding. We also get to see some Hollywood as Eva tries to start her Hollywood career. Their determination and strength is shown and they lived a very exciting life. Some might say scandalous they were not the ditzy blondes they were portrayed but they used what they could to their benefits!

[Tammy Snead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember hearing the Gabor sisters on TV when I was a young child. I remember being enamored by Zsa Zsa because I liked her name 🥰. I only knew the Gabor sisters for their glitz, and their glamorous Hollywood lives. This book tells us more of their heartbreaking escape from Nazi-controlled Europe, their struggles to survive, and the fierce bond that carried them all the way to stardom in America.

It is a very real story of survival, family, and resilience. Zsa Zsa, Eva, and Magda weren’t just celebrities—they were survivors who rebuilt their lives with courage and style. The Gabor sisters weren’t just Hollywood icons—they were survivors who escaped Nazi Europe and rebuilt their lives with courage, sass, and sparkle.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up loving Zsa Zsa’s sparkle, knew about Eva, but had no idea there was a third Gabor sister—Magda! This historical fiction dives into their origin story around WWII, showing how the sisters used beauty, wit, and determination to chase their dreams.

The bond between them (and their whirlwind of a mother, Jolie) was fascinating—sometimes messy, sometimes fierce, but always rooted in family. Each sister’s journey was unique yet intertwined, and I was hooked learning what they endured to reach America. Glamorous, gritty, and eye-opening—this book is a must if you love family drama with a historical twist.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved watching Zsa Zsa Gabor growing up. She was on episodes of some of my favorite shows like Gilligan’s Island and The Love Boat. She had such flair and style.

While I knew Zsa Zsa had a sister, Eva, that was an actress, I had no clue that there was a third sister, Magda.

I didn’t know their origin story of how they got to America so I loved reading this historical fiction book based on the three sisters focusing on their time set mostly right before and during WWII.

These women knew what it took to meet their own goals. They used their beauty, charm, and cunning devices to get what they wanted.

This book showcases the connection they had as sisters and the devotion they held toward family. They each made their way to America in a time where it was difficult to leave Europe at all.

These were fearless and sensual ladies with a mom that was something else too.

I learned so much and appreciate these women after reading this book.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fascinating look at the early life of the Gabor sisters in Budapest and their departure during the war, fleeing the Nazis and the Communists who were taking over Hungary. At times, heartbreaking,their story is one of survival and courage. I love the way this novel is written following each of their journeys to freedom. Their love of family is evident in every page and I found their resilience to be quite inspiring.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The names Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor were familiar to me but I only knew a little bit about their acting roles. I didn’t know anything about their life before they came to America and their escape from the Nazi occupation prior to reading this book. Their family history was fascinating and although this book was on the thicker side I devoured it. The sisters were strong and determined and their deep bond touched my heart. Incredible historical fiction!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed that this was a novel about the Gabor sisters, I appreciated that this was a historical fiction book that uses the real story. I enjoyed how good the characters were written and enjoyed that they felt like the real people. It had a strong writing style and worked in this time-period. Karen Essex was able to create something that I was wanting and enjoyed getting to read the untold story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up watching classic sitcoms like Green Acres (RIP classic Nick-at-Nite!), & remember thinking Eva Gabor was gorgeous & hilarious. But I had no idea she & her sisters (not to mention their formidable mama) were the pre-internet equivalent of the Kardashians! After reading this novel, I rather think this unholy, fiercely loyal trio would have (& likely did) run circles around the reality "stars" of today.

Run, Darling by Karen Essex is a fascinating slice of history. I *thought* I knew Eva, was aware of Zsa Zsa, & had no idea Magda existed: and their formidable mother Jolie? She was a "momager" decades before the term was invented. The Gabors were Jewish, & in early 1930s Budapest their father insisted on conversion to Catholicism in an ultimately futile bid to evade the Nazi scourge of antisemitism.

What these sisters endured to survive WW2 is nothing short of astounding. Zsa Zsa married a prominent Turkish diplomat, eventually leaving him in a bid to get to America via IRAQ, alone. Magda married an impoverished (alleged?) Polish count, &
spent most of the war years dodging Nazis, deep in resistance work alongside lover Carlos Garrido, the Portuguese ambassador to Hungary (credited as Righteous Among Nations for saving 1,000 Jews). And Eva, desperate to become an actress, was the first sister to make it to Los Angeles via her carefully picked 1st husband.

The Gabors were survivors all, and Essex pays tribute to their grit & determination in her unflinching portrayal of their dizzily messy lives. I was left in awe at their capacity for survival, & in turns heartbroken at what they endured - particularly Eva in her obsession to succeed in a pre-#metoo, studio system Hollywood. Far from the caricatures of ditzy blondes, the Gabors knew what they had & strove to use it to their benefit. Run, Darling is an illuminating portrait of fierce survivors ahead of their time who lived big, bold lives chasing their dreams.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run, Darling is such a wild, fascinating read.
I’m a big fan of historical fiction, and this one has the perfect mix of glam, drama, and everything the Gabor sisters went through while escaping Europe.
It was intense, gripping, emotional, and hard to put down. A tough but unforgettable story.

[Mary Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run, Darling by Karen Essex has everything I want in a novel—dash, fascinating characters, history, sex, and intrigue. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in fast and keeps you reading far too late into the night. The tension never lets up, and the characters feel vivid and alive.

Smart, seductive, and utterly compelling. I loved this book.

[Lorelei Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. I used to watch Green Acres when I was a child. Eva played the new farmer's wife in the show.

This book is about the early life of the Gabor sisters up to shortly after the end of World War II. I learned a lot about them from this book. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea that they were Jewish and had to leave Europe because of the Nazis. Their family was torn apart because some family members did not want to believe that they were in danger. There are lots of interesting details about their daily lives, careers, husbands, lovers, family, etc. The book really stresses their glamour, fears, resilience and adaptability along with the financial ups and downs that they faced.

If you like reading historical stories or biographies about show business people you will likely enjoy reading this.

I received a free advance reviewer copy of Run, Darling. The opinion that I express is my own.