Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond

by Eve Plumb

It’s finally time for Jan, Jan, Jan!

As Jan Brady, America’s most memorable middle child on the beloved TV sitcom, The Brady Bunch, Eve Plumb has been an enduring icon of American pop culture for over 60 years. Now in an engaging, intimate memoir, she shares the behind-the-scenes story of her colorful and impressively versatile Hollywood career and revelatory recollections of her off-camera life along the way—complete with many photos from her private archives.

Recognized world-wide as Jan Brady, the wonderfully misunderstood middle sister on television’s The Brady Bunch, actress Eve Plumb has embraced the association that seemed destined at age 10 when she was cast on The Brady Bunch. The iconic 1970s TV series has been in perpetual reruns for five decades and is well known by three generations of children and adults. Her engaging memoir reveals that her stint on The Brady Bunch was only the beginning of her TV career, a young lady with the confidence and spunk that her on-screen character often humorously lacked.

Eve Plumb’s six decades as a TV and stage actress comes across like a veritable history of the golden age of TV. Her long career began when a talent agent in her Los Angeles neighborhood suggested that the six year old audition for a national TV commercial. She was cast and many commercials followed (including Barbie commercials). Within a year, Eve was being cast in guest star roles, often multiple episodes, in the top TV series of the 60s and 70 Gunsmoke, Lassie, Family Affair, Mannix, The Big Valley, It Takes a Thief, The Virginian, and Here’s Lucy.

Following five seasons of ABCs anchor Friday night show, The Brady Bunch, and recording albums and touring nationally with The Brady Kids singing group, Eve was cast as the lead role in Dawn, Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, at age 17. A dramatic departure from the sweet Brady family, the NBC hit TV movie came with a “parental discretion” warning in the opening titles. The movie’s success sparked the highly-rated sequel with Eve The Other Side of Dawn.

Continuous guest star roles filled her young adult life as an actress on highly rated TV shows, including The Facts of Life, One Day at a Time, Fantasy Island, Love Boat, Wonder Woman, and a multi-episode sitcom called The Brady Brides, featuring Eve as a young newlywed, along with Maureen McCormick from the original series.

Eve brought her acting experience to the New York stage. Tony-winning Broadway Producer Ken Davenport cast Eve in the lead role for the Times Square debut of Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage, with a six month run. She also appeared on stage in NY and regionally in “Love, Loss and What I Wore.”

Eve’s recent television credits include A Holiday Spectacular for Hallmark, Law and SVU, Blue Bloods, Bull, Grease Live!, Crashing, a recurring role on Hulu’s The Path, and as the voice of Big Judy on Praise Petey.

Today, Eve is a talented visual artist, with thirty-five years of experience, whose oil paintings have been displayed and sold in galleries here in the U.S. and Europe. Chock-full of Brady Bunch nostalgia and the skinny on countless classic TV shows with recollections straight from the set, this is Eve Plumb as you’ve never seen her.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Gina Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for an Advance Reader Copy of Happiness Included by Eve Plumb. I really enjoyed Eve telling her story honestly, and not gossiping or badmouthing any of the co-stars or family members she mentioned. I appreciated that when she was telling her story, she told the positives of her parent's involvement in her career, taking her well being into consideration and not taking advantage of her child star status. It was refreshing to see a celebrity take responsibility for their choices in life and not making excuses. I grew up watching The Brady Bunch, so this was a happy trip down memory lane. Not going to lie, I still watch the show regularly. I do enjoy Eve's social media presence and her art work. She truly lives a happy life. I did miss seeing pictures included in the digital copy, but am hoping that they are included in the hard cover when it is published. I recommend this book 5 out of 5 stars.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for sending me an advanced copy of Happiness Included in exchange for my review!

Growing up, I'd watch the Brady Bunch on reruns and Jan Brady became my favourite so I was excited to read Eve Plumb's memoir!

While there were elements in her book I found cute, I struggled to finish it. I enjoyed hearing of her perseverance through her struggles with cancer, the everlasting bond between her Brady family, her love of animals, and her artistic painting talents - she's an adorable lady!

Unfortunately there was parts throughout that seemed to stall and repeat itself (mainly the audition process and not getting calls). To be fair, this disconnect could be from a generational gap and the inability to relate to her fully!

I feel like die hard Brady Bunch and Jan Brady fans would absolutely enjoy Eve's book - but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a story of a lovely lady who was one of the golden-haired daughters on the show. The iconic Brady Bunch's middle child ,Jan was played by the incomparable Eve Plumb. While living in NYC, I had the chance to see her perform as 'Miss Abigail.' While fans feel like we know child stars based on their television personas, autobiographies provide a glimpse into their real selves.

Eve Plumb penned #HappinessIncluded to share her story and I was granted an early copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. While identified by a line she only said once in the show, I'm not going to include as Eve is more than the catch phrase. A smart, sassy and brave cancer survivor, she portrayed Jan Brady but championed every ounce of happiness to be the best version of Eve Plumb.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm of the age where I was glued to my TV on Friday nights to watch The Brady Bunch every week. I was a year younger than the middle kids on the show but resonated with them the most. I was also the middle child of three girls so I could sometimes relate. Eve Plumb's story walks you through her life and, of course, she talks about those years but her life has so many other facets to it. Eve doesn't hide anything and shares her successes as well as some of those misses as well. I admire when celebrities write their stories and keep it real. The only thing I felt was missing was some pictures but that's just me. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most enjoyable “child star memoirs” that I’ve read! More than half the book was about Eve’s early years in commercials and having bit parts in tv shows like Big Valley. (I was inspired to go watch some of these on YouTube). The chapters about her experiences on “ The Brady Bunch” were very detailed and interesting; one could tell these were fond memories for Eve. Of course, everyone has to grow up, even child actors, so she had to enlighten readers about her later years. I commend Eve for the way in which she presented those. Unlike some other memoirs that I’ve read, she did not venture into graphic details of sexual encounters, or use vulgar language in her writing, things that really sour books for me. She didn’t portray herself or her life as perfect, but, as the title suggests, Eve has chosen to concentrate more on the positive aspects. This created a more “warm” feeling to me as a reader, as if I were sitting across from her in restaurant and listening.

* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own*

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to receive a copy of the book "Happiness Included" by Eve Plumb. I was hoping to get the chance to read this memoir. I grew up in the same time era as Eve Plumb and was a fan of the tv show "The Brady Bunch" I liked to say I was the same age as "Jan and Peter' when the show was airing. Eve Plumb writes an honest memoir of her life as a child star. She of course writes of her years on the Brady Bunch. but also writes of the other shows she has appeared. She goes on to write about her interest in art and having some success as an artist. She keeps her memoir "nice" no mudslinging in this book. I enjoyed reading her memoir and learning more about her life. I found this to be a good read. I would give this book a 4.5.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an enjoyable memoir from Eve Plumb, who played the middle child Jan in the TV series “The Brady Bunch”. But she is more than that. She writes about her life before and after that iconic show. This is no gossip, smear or tabloid stuff in this book. It is Eve, telling her story, including her bout with cancer, acting, painting, dating and her time on a community board. She discusses her relationships with her family and her marriages. I found this so refreshing. We get a peak into her life which is more than Jan Brady.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tidbits shared in this book. I thought it was informative and interesting, and I never got bored! You feel the personality of Eve Plumb shine through throughout the book. It was an easy read and kept me entertained from the first chapter. I highly recommend it to any Brady Bunch fan!

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the temporary ARC digital copy that I read and left my personal thoughts on.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not always a fan of biographies but must admit I enjoyed this one. Not overdone with gossip or whining but easy to read and kept my interest throughout. Highly recommend.