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Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond
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 reads 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.
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 reads 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.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 30, 2026
I grew up on the Brady Bunch, which debuted in 1969, when I was five. Though I was Cindy’s age, Jan was my favorite Brady. I identified with her iconic line, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” which seemed like a metaphor for my life. Imagine my disappointment reading in HAPPINESS INCLUDED that Eve Plumb hated being associated with the line. As an adult, Eve felt being reminded of that iconic line was mocking, rather than the respect for how her delivery of those three words encompassed so much meaning.
In HAPPINESS INCLUDED, Eve acknowledges her privilege of growing up with loving parents and having escaped the traps many child actors encountered—exploitation, sexual abuse, substances. Though being free from mistreatment shouldn’t be a privilege, Eve came of age before most protections were in place.
For readers, the downside of Eve’s un-fraught childhood is that HAPPINESS INCLUDED lacks the dramatic flair of other former child actors. Of course, she’s far better off and I’m glad for her.
Eve shows vignettes from her life, rather than telling them. Between my memories of her acting life and her descriptive writing, Eve transported me to the sets of her life.
I enjoyed HAPPINESS INCLUDED very much.
In HAPPINESS INCLUDED, Eve acknowledges her privilege of growing up with loving parents and having escaped the traps many child actors encountered—exploitation, sexual abuse, substances. Though being free from mistreatment shouldn’t be a privilege, Eve came of age before most protections were in place.
For readers, the downside of Eve’s un-fraught childhood is that HAPPINESS INCLUDED lacks the dramatic flair of other former child actors. Of course, she’s far better off and I’m glad for her.
Eve shows vignettes from her life, rather than telling them. Between my memories of her acting life and her descriptive writing, Eve transported me to the sets of her life.
I enjoyed HAPPINESS INCLUDED very much.
May 2, 2026
As a long time fan of The Brady Bunch and all of its incarnations since, I was excited to read another memoir from one of the kids. In terms of overall writing style, Eve sticks to chronological events for the most part so the flow is pretty easy to follow. I enjoyed reading about all the Brady related projects the most but there really isn’t much insight or deep dive into those projects or her relationships with her co-stars. I did enjoy learning about Eve’s career after The Brady Bunch ended. I had actually watched and enjoyed her other series Fudge-A-Mania back in the day so was happy to revisit that. Eve does a great job talking about how she’s managed her career over the years and also how she’s reinvented herself as a painter and now an entrepreneur as well. This was a great memoir of a successful transition from being a child actor to an adult actor.
Thank you to NetGalley and Citadel for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Citadel for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can’t resist a little guilty-pleasure reading when it comes to the Bradys!
Unlike Barry Williams’ book, which is the definitive read on all things Brady Bunch, and Maureen McCormick’s darker memoir that recounted all of her personal troubles, Eve Plumb’s book does not include many revelations about the Bradys and is much lighter in tone. The Brady fan is not going to find much new here, headline writers are not going to find much gossip to hype, and while Eve has experienced her share of challenges, she never seems to let any of it get her down.
The result here is something of a gentle tale of a life well-lived, that just happens to be written by someone you grew up watching on TV.
Eve gamely shows up for most of the Brady reunions, and doesn’t seem to fret about being typecast or a subject of nostalgia. While she’s always seemed to me to be the most grounded and poised of the Brady kid actors, she can also come across as guarded, reserved and somewhat aloof. That can sometimes seem like she’s dismissive or hostile toward the show, her fans, or her past.
But after reading the book, her persona seems more the result of a natural reticence, a desire to keep private things private, and not be as public a person as you’d think someone in her profession might desire to be. The book, then, is her effort to open up about her story, her way.
It’s a mix of personal and professional, describing her childhood, her family, her auditions, her work. Her Brady stories are mostly similar to those others have already told. And before you know it, the series is over and she’s on to other roles and other jobs. The Bradys come calling every so often with reunion specials and series, but otherwise her story is not unlike that of any working actress - guest spots and brief series and commercials and theater roles and whatever it takes to keep practicing her craft and making a living, while also taking up art and exploring other creative outlets.
On the personal side, apart from a couple of disturbing descriptions of attempted sexual assault, which she managed to escape, she doesn’t appear to have many dark secrets to expose. It took her a little longer to find herself as an adult, after missing out on a “normal” childhood, but she seems to have come through it okay in the end.
Among the few Brady-related things I learned was that she admits to tensions and hard feelings that tainted her friendship with Maureen McCormick back in the 1980’s, but then never suggests that things were ever patched up. So she doesn’t exactly dispel the longstanding rumor that they don’t particularly get along on a personal level, though they seem to manage to keep it professional when the Bradys bring them together. And while she acknowledges that the Bradys were not exactly high art, she appears very protective of the show and those who were in it - she doesn’t care for the parodies, has never seen the 90’s movies, and don’t ever say “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” to her face because she does not find it funny.
While she ends up sharing more of herself than she’s probably used to, I couldn’t help but feel she remains somewhat reserved and guarded in the book. She tells about things that happened, but doesn’t often dig very deep to explore how she felt about them. She expresses occasional opinions but doesn’t display a lot of emotion. She describes having a “code of silence” with her TV siblings to not talk bad or publicly share personal things about each other, which is admirable, but it just reinforces the idea that she’s holding back - not only about others, but about herself.
Overall, though, she appears happy and I’m happy for her. The book may not knock your socks off, because it’s not a tell-all with juicy gossip. It’s more like just reading the pleasant reminiscences of an acquaintance. One who happened to spend a good part of her adolescence on screen, on a show that somehow continues to live on.
As for her TV family - are they all great friends after all these years? Not necessarily. Do they hate each other? Not at all. “We don't spend a lot of time together and we don't share many points of view,” Eve acknowledges, “but we are still bonded and will continue to be. I'm pretty sure of it.” In an industry full of scandals and salaciousness, it’s both fitting and satisfying for a “Brady” story to have a wholesome ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Kensington Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book for review, ahead of its release on April 28th.
Unlike Barry Williams’ book, which is the definitive read on all things Brady Bunch, and Maureen McCormick’s darker memoir that recounted all of her personal troubles, Eve Plumb’s book does not include many revelations about the Bradys and is much lighter in tone. The Brady fan is not going to find much new here, headline writers are not going to find much gossip to hype, and while Eve has experienced her share of challenges, she never seems to let any of it get her down.
The result here is something of a gentle tale of a life well-lived, that just happens to be written by someone you grew up watching on TV.
Eve gamely shows up for most of the Brady reunions, and doesn’t seem to fret about being typecast or a subject of nostalgia. While she’s always seemed to me to be the most grounded and poised of the Brady kid actors, she can also come across as guarded, reserved and somewhat aloof. That can sometimes seem like she’s dismissive or hostile toward the show, her fans, or her past.
But after reading the book, her persona seems more the result of a natural reticence, a desire to keep private things private, and not be as public a person as you’d think someone in her profession might desire to be. The book, then, is her effort to open up about her story, her way.
It’s a mix of personal and professional, describing her childhood, her family, her auditions, her work. Her Brady stories are mostly similar to those others have already told. And before you know it, the series is over and she’s on to other roles and other jobs. The Bradys come calling every so often with reunion specials and series, but otherwise her story is not unlike that of any working actress - guest spots and brief series and commercials and theater roles and whatever it takes to keep practicing her craft and making a living, while also taking up art and exploring other creative outlets.
On the personal side, apart from a couple of disturbing descriptions of attempted sexual assault, which she managed to escape, she doesn’t appear to have many dark secrets to expose. It took her a little longer to find herself as an adult, after missing out on a “normal” childhood, but she seems to have come through it okay in the end.
Among the few Brady-related things I learned was that she admits to tensions and hard feelings that tainted her friendship with Maureen McCormick back in the 1980’s, but then never suggests that things were ever patched up. So she doesn’t exactly dispel the longstanding rumor that they don’t particularly get along on a personal level, though they seem to manage to keep it professional when the Bradys bring them together. And while she acknowledges that the Bradys were not exactly high art, she appears very protective of the show and those who were in it - she doesn’t care for the parodies, has never seen the 90’s movies, and don’t ever say “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” to her face because she does not find it funny.
While she ends up sharing more of herself than she’s probably used to, I couldn’t help but feel she remains somewhat reserved and guarded in the book. She tells about things that happened, but doesn’t often dig very deep to explore how she felt about them. She expresses occasional opinions but doesn’t display a lot of emotion. She describes having a “code of silence” with her TV siblings to not talk bad or publicly share personal things about each other, which is admirable, but it just reinforces the idea that she’s holding back - not only about others, but about herself.
Overall, though, she appears happy and I’m happy for her. The book may not knock your socks off, because it’s not a tell-all with juicy gossip. It’s more like just reading the pleasant reminiscences of an acquaintance. One who happened to spend a good part of her adolescence on screen, on a show that somehow continues to live on.
As for her TV family - are they all great friends after all these years? Not necessarily. Do they hate each other? Not at all. “We don't spend a lot of time together and we don't share many points of view,” Eve acknowledges, “but we are still bonded and will continue to be. I'm pretty sure of it.” In an industry full of scandals and salaciousness, it’s both fitting and satisfying for a “Brady” story to have a wholesome ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Kensington Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book for review, ahead of its release on April 28th.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 ⭐️
I must confess that as a 14 year old I bought Barry Williams’s memoir and devoured it on a plane ride. So it probably isn’t crazy to think that I found out about Eve Plumb’s memoir yesterday, requested this book on NetGalley yesterday, was approved today, and read it this evening. Am I a die-hard Brady Bunch fan? Probably not, but I did spend at least 200 hours of my life watching every episode multiple times.
I am like many who had placed judgment on Eve for being resentful of her Jan “Middle Child” Brady typecast existence. After all, shouldn’t she be swimming in residuals every time the nine-box theme song plays, which would make up for “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”? No, actually. They only got residuals for the first ten replays. I did learn in this memoir what put such a bad taste in Eve’s mouth about Jan Brady, and that was an early 1990s Saturday Night Live parody of her.
Eve had a pretty traditional childhood. It seems like her mother suffered from depression, but her parents were supportive of her acting and tried to give her as much normalcy as possible. The Brady Bunch set had focused professionals in Robert Reed, Ann B. Davis, and Florence Henderson at the helm, and they taught the child actors excellent habits and role modeled a great work ethic. Yes, Eve struggled acting steadily after The Brady Bunch, but all of the Brady child actors did. In this memoir, she discusses that and the other high and low points she has encountered.
This isn’t a salacious memoir. If you want the tea, definitely read Barry Williams’s memoir GROWING UP BRADY. Eve definitely has a no-nonsense vibe about her - both in her personal and professional life.
Early on in the book, a couple points were repeated (not sure if it’s an editing thing that will be fixed by the actual publication), and I was disappointed there weren’t pictures (again, maybe the final copy will have?). As much as I felt that Eve had made peace with Jan Brady by the end of the book, there’s a COVID special the cast did where she said she didn’t want to play Jan and played a different role instead. This was in the last few pages of the memoir, so it felt like she hadn’t made peace with it. And my last quibble is that the ending was rather abrupt; where other authors will wind down a memoir with the last few pages, this one had one paragraph. This is a quick read, and die-hard fans will enjoy her sensible perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes April 28, 2026.
I must confess that as a 14 year old I bought Barry Williams’s memoir and devoured it on a plane ride. So it probably isn’t crazy to think that I found out about Eve Plumb’s memoir yesterday, requested this book on NetGalley yesterday, was approved today, and read it this evening. Am I a die-hard Brady Bunch fan? Probably not, but I did spend at least 200 hours of my life watching every episode multiple times.
I am like many who had placed judgment on Eve for being resentful of her Jan “Middle Child” Brady typecast existence. After all, shouldn’t she be swimming in residuals every time the nine-box theme song plays, which would make up for “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”? No, actually. They only got residuals for the first ten replays. I did learn in this memoir what put such a bad taste in Eve’s mouth about Jan Brady, and that was an early 1990s Saturday Night Live parody of her.
Eve had a pretty traditional childhood. It seems like her mother suffered from depression, but her parents were supportive of her acting and tried to give her as much normalcy as possible. The Brady Bunch set had focused professionals in Robert Reed, Ann B. Davis, and Florence Henderson at the helm, and they taught the child actors excellent habits and role modeled a great work ethic. Yes, Eve struggled acting steadily after The Brady Bunch, but all of the Brady child actors did. In this memoir, she discusses that and the other high and low points she has encountered.
This isn’t a salacious memoir. If you want the tea, definitely read Barry Williams’s memoir GROWING UP BRADY. Eve definitely has a no-nonsense vibe about her - both in her personal and professional life.
Early on in the book, a couple points were repeated (not sure if it’s an editing thing that will be fixed by the actual publication), and I was disappointed there weren’t pictures (again, maybe the final copy will have?). As much as I felt that Eve had made peace with Jan Brady by the end of the book, there’s a COVID special the cast did where she said she didn’t want to play Jan and played a different role instead. This was in the last few pages of the memoir, so it felt like she hadn’t made peace with it. And my last quibble is that the ending was rather abrupt; where other authors will wind down a memoir with the last few pages, this one had one paragraph. This is a quick read, and die-hard fans will enjoy her sensible perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes April 28, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Growing up, Friday night was my favorite TV night, with a lineup that included The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family. I was the same age as the youngest Brady kids, so of course I found that show particularly interesting. The Brady Bunch was an elementary school water cooler show -- we liked Jan and Marcia's groovy outfits, and debated whether Peter or Greg was cuter.
I love retro nostalgia, and have enjoyed reading previous Brady biographies by Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick, so of course I looked forward to Eve Plumb's book too.
This is a wonderful biography - a bit quieter and more introspective, but so thoughtful and well written. I particularly enjoyed reading Eve's memories of The Brady Bunch. They included passages like:
"In season 3 we were granted the go-ahead to increase the miles between the Stage 5 set and a remote location. The show was going to the Grand Canyon as the Brady family vacation. We were thrilled at the chance for a real adventure! It was my first time at the Grand Canyon. We arrived the evening before the first day of filming, and the dark abyss of the canyon at night, and the splay of brilliant stars like a dome from horizon to horizon, was both scary and breathtaking." (ebook location 1383).
Eve has a lifelong close friendship with Christopher Knight ("Peter"), the other Brady middle child. She shares sweet memories of Florence Henderson (kind, bubbly, warm), Ann B. Davis (a consummate professional), and Robert Reed (who was like a second father to the Brady kids - even taking them all on a trip to London).
I didn't know much about Eve's personal background and found the stories about her parents interesting - especially her father's work in the music industry. (He signed The Monkees as a recording act!)
There is no nightmare descent in this celebrity bio -- except for some typical teenage rebellion, Eve seems centered and happy ... especially focusing on her art.
I enjoyed Happiness Included and recommend this book to other readers who grew up with The Brady Bunch. There were no photos included in the advanced reading copy, but I am assuming there must be pictures in the finished print/Kindle editions.
I love retro nostalgia, and have enjoyed reading previous Brady biographies by Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick, so of course I looked forward to Eve Plumb's book too.
This is a wonderful biography - a bit quieter and more introspective, but so thoughtful and well written. I particularly enjoyed reading Eve's memories of The Brady Bunch. They included passages like:
"In season 3 we were granted the go-ahead to increase the miles between the Stage 5 set and a remote location. The show was going to the Grand Canyon as the Brady family vacation. We were thrilled at the chance for a real adventure! It was my first time at the Grand Canyon. We arrived the evening before the first day of filming, and the dark abyss of the canyon at night, and the splay of brilliant stars like a dome from horizon to horizon, was both scary and breathtaking." (ebook location 1383).
Eve has a lifelong close friendship with Christopher Knight ("Peter"), the other Brady middle child. She shares sweet memories of Florence Henderson (kind, bubbly, warm), Ann B. Davis (a consummate professional), and Robert Reed (who was like a second father to the Brady kids - even taking them all on a trip to London).
I didn't know much about Eve's personal background and found the stories about her parents interesting - especially her father's work in the music industry. (He signed The Monkees as a recording act!)
There is no nightmare descent in this celebrity bio -- except for some typical teenage rebellion, Eve seems centered and happy ... especially focusing on her art.
I enjoyed Happiness Included and recommend this book to other readers who grew up with The Brady Bunch. There were no photos included in the advanced reading copy, but I am assuming there must be pictures in the finished print/Kindle editions.
February 27, 2026
Eve Plumb offers proof in her memoir that not all child actors end up all messed up. She didn't end up messed up at all, except for a short period in her first marriage when she went off the rails a bit. That was not something exclusive to child actors, though, but something many have experienced when they have a nice peaceful marriage at a young age, with a nice peaceful home and even a horse, but then start to wonder is that all there is?
Since Ms. Plumb was an "oops" baby, her mother appeared to have some difficulty adjusting to a surprise child, but the author does not spend any time bashing her parents. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy the acting career of their youngest, and definitely did not see her as the family breadwinner, as sadly sometimes happens with child actors. No, her father, a musician turned record producer and executive, saved every penny Ms. Plumb made for her to have when she became an adult. Her mother happily provided her with advice, transportation and protection during auditions and acting jobs. Plus, hair brushing.
Eve Plumb's most famous acting role was of course Jan Brady in the Brady Bunch, a sitcom that refuses to die, even though the series was cancelled back in the 1970s, after five years. The actress sees her TV family as yet another happy family, and has nothing bad to say about her TV siblings, parents and Ann B. Davis. They all got along fine and still had contact after the series and sequels ended. It was interesting to read that when first starting the series as an 11-year-old, Ms. Plumb's main concern was the show would not be dealing with any important social issues, such as the Vietnam War and women's rights.
What happened in her life after the Brady Bunch may bore some fans of the show, but the author does a good job walking the reader through the years of a child actress turned adult actress, painter and business woman. All in all, it is a well-written memoir that moves along at a good pace. Moreover, it is an intelligent one where the actress takes full responsibility for her life, and shows no self-pity about anything.
(Note: I received an free e-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
Since Ms. Plumb was an "oops" baby, her mother appeared to have some difficulty adjusting to a surprise child, but the author does not spend any time bashing her parents. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy the acting career of their youngest, and definitely did not see her as the family breadwinner, as sadly sometimes happens with child actors. No, her father, a musician turned record producer and executive, saved every penny Ms. Plumb made for her to have when she became an adult. Her mother happily provided her with advice, transportation and protection during auditions and acting jobs. Plus, hair brushing.
Eve Plumb's most famous acting role was of course Jan Brady in the Brady Bunch, a sitcom that refuses to die, even though the series was cancelled back in the 1970s, after five years. The actress sees her TV family as yet another happy family, and has nothing bad to say about her TV siblings, parents and Ann B. Davis. They all got along fine and still had contact after the series and sequels ended. It was interesting to read that when first starting the series as an 11-year-old, Ms. Plumb's main concern was the show would not be dealing with any important social issues, such as the Vietnam War and women's rights.
What happened in her life after the Brady Bunch may bore some fans of the show, but the author does a good job walking the reader through the years of a child actress turned adult actress, painter and business woman. All in all, it is a well-written memoir that moves along at a good pace. Moreover, it is an intelligent one where the actress takes full responsibility for her life, and shows no self-pity about anything.
(Note: I received an free e-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I grew up in the sixties and seventies and loved watching The Brady Bunch. Eve Plumb played the middle sister, Jan. Probably the most popular "sister" was the oldest one Marcia (played by Maureen McCormick) as she had a kittenish beauty while she blossomed into a high school teenager. I read her memoir so many years ago and can't remember much other than she came from a troubled household. There was none of that here. In a way, that's so refreshing! Eve tells the story of parents who saved every penny she earned from her acting career in an account solely for her future use. I loved reading about the audition processes she experienced as a child and her acting stints on beloved shows such as "Family Affair" and "Lassie" as well as commercials. "The Brady Bunch" was her first series, a series that is beloved by so many who grew up in my era, and it still plays on reruns until this day. It was shocking to hear that the actors only made money off the show for like a decade and they don't get residuals now. In fact, as the book begins she answers the most asked "Brady" questions to get them out of the way. Of course Eve takes you inside the Brady experience as they filmed on the Paramount lot/stages, but that only lasted 5 seasons and she had more of a life to get through after that. At first she was hired for some TV movies of the week like "Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway" in 1976 (looking forward to watching this on YouTube).
Eve discusses her life living both in California and New York City, her long and varied career in acting, her two marriages, love of dogs, and her side career as an artist. Look up her paintings online...they are beautiful! There were no photos included in my advance reader copy, but perhaps there will be in the final published book. This was a warm and nostalgic experience to read, and I learned so much about Eve's life and career that I never knew.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing / Citadel for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eve Plumb has lived an extraordinary life. Though her presence in popular culture is substantial and enduring, for some reason she has always seemed to be indifferent to her celebrity status, which was a major reason why I was interested in her book. Eve is arguably the most talented and versatile of the "Bunch," but the least seen and scrutinized.
I was hoping her memoirs might shine some light and reveal more of the personality that has fascinated people throughout the years and the book does that for the most part. It was refreshing to know that her parents were not the monster stage parents that so many other child stars suffered and that their support is what has probably grounded her so successfully in her adulthood. Her writing is light and easy to read and understand, with plenty of anecdotal memories of a very busy life as a working child in Hollywood as well as a now happy and grateful artistic woman. The story leaves a vivid impression that growing up on studio sound stages in the 1970s was about as idyllic a childhood as anyone could ask for. There are no villainous co-workers or complaints of note in Eve's story besides the bikinis she was forced to wear for the Brady Bunch Hawaiian episodes.
Which makes one wonder if she still might be holding out on us a bit. She writes about her rebellious teenage years but only as a brief list of outlawry. Her mother's alcoholism is summarily included as well but not explored. We also find out the reasonable explanation for the much-rumored=about temporary rift between her older screen-sibling, Maureen McCormick. But Eve still chooses to largely keep much of herself to herself. There are many mentions throughout the book about how her privacy is extremely important, a point that becomes obvious as one reads along. It's a fascinating peek into an intriguing and unusual life that still satisfies even if it remains short on insight.
I was hoping her memoirs might shine some light and reveal more of the personality that has fascinated people throughout the years and the book does that for the most part. It was refreshing to know that her parents were not the monster stage parents that so many other child stars suffered and that their support is what has probably grounded her so successfully in her adulthood. Her writing is light and easy to read and understand, with plenty of anecdotal memories of a very busy life as a working child in Hollywood as well as a now happy and grateful artistic woman. The story leaves a vivid impression that growing up on studio sound stages in the 1970s was about as idyllic a childhood as anyone could ask for. There are no villainous co-workers or complaints of note in Eve's story besides the bikinis she was forced to wear for the Brady Bunch Hawaiian episodes.
Which makes one wonder if she still might be holding out on us a bit. She writes about her rebellious teenage years but only as a brief list of outlawry. Her mother's alcoholism is summarily included as well but not explored. We also find out the reasonable explanation for the much-rumored=about temporary rift between her older screen-sibling, Maureen McCormick. But Eve still chooses to largely keep much of herself to herself. There are many mentions throughout the book about how her privacy is extremely important, a point that becomes obvious as one reads along. It's a fascinating peek into an intriguing and unusual life that still satisfies even if it remains short on insight.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond is a memoir by Eve Plumb, best known for portraying Jan Brady on the television series The Brady Bunch. This book traces her life from childhood through her acting career and later creative pursuits. Plumb describes her early entry into the entertainment industry, including auditions, commercials and the process that led to her casting on The Brady Bunch. She explains the production of the show, her experiences working with fellow cast members and the impact the series had on her public identity. The memoir also addresses the challenges of being closely associated with a well-known role and the limitations it created in securing later acting work.
Beyond her television career, Plumb outlines her efforts to expand into other areas including stage acting and visual art. She discusses her training, exhibitions and the development of her painting practice. The book also touches on aspects of her personal life including relationships and decisions that influenced her career path. Throughout the memoir, Plumb situates her experiences within the broader context of the entertainment industry, describing changes over time and the realities of maintaining a long-term career in the public eye.
I wasn't a fan of this show but like reading bios/autobios. I didn't know a lot about Plumb so it was interesting to learn more about her, her family and her career. And it was fun to learn more about the celebrities she'd worked with. I liked the writing style ... it was at a high level with not a lot of fluff and detail. There are apparently many pictures from her private archives in the book ... I read an advanced copy and there were none (it would have been nice to see them).
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2026/04...
Beyond her television career, Plumb outlines her efforts to expand into other areas including stage acting and visual art. She discusses her training, exhibitions and the development of her painting practice. The book also touches on aspects of her personal life including relationships and decisions that influenced her career path. Throughout the memoir, Plumb situates her experiences within the broader context of the entertainment industry, describing changes over time and the realities of maintaining a long-term career in the public eye.
I wasn't a fan of this show but like reading bios/autobios. I didn't know a lot about Plumb so it was interesting to learn more about her, her family and her career. And it was fun to learn more about the celebrities she'd worked with. I liked the writing style ... it was at a high level with not a lot of fluff and detail. There are apparently many pictures from her private archives in the book ... I read an advanced copy and there were none (it would have been nice to see them).
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2026/04...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Boomers, Gen X, and maybe even Millennials might want to pick up the latest memoir from a Brady Bunch kid. Eve Plumb played Jan Brady on the much-syndicated family show that first aired in the early 1970s. Eve Plumb has finally written a memoir about her life as a child TV star and the transition to adult roles, as well as her work as a visual artist.
I do have to say that this nostalgia trip was a great read for Gen X me, who loved seeing a big family like ours on TV. Plumb’s upbringing was a little unconventional, so it was wild reading about some of the things her parents did for or with her. She never had any sort of formal acting training when she was a kid (something she remedied when she was an adult.)
The reason I couldn’t give this book five stars was because as I followed along with Plumb’s retelling of her life, there wasn’t much depth. It felt more like a school book report from a child who says, “And then I did this, and then I did this.” I’m not saying the stories weren’t interesting, but Eve never really dug deep down about things. She talks about The Brady Bunch and mentions that Robert Reed, who played the dad, Mike Brady, took the families on vacation. But as she mentions her trips here and there, there aren’t too many specific stories, just surface level observations. In a way, it almost seems like Plumb really didn’t want to write this book. It feels very much like Melissa Sue Anderson’s memoir of many years ago, talking about Little House on the Prairie with great detachment.
I would still recommend this book for Brady Bunch fans, as Eve Plumb’s memory of that time is very nostalgic. But don’t expect a lot of deep thoughts.
Boomers, Gen X, and maybe even Millennials might want to pick up the latest memoir from a Brady Bunch kid. Eve Plumb played Jan Brady on the much-syndicated family show that first aired in the early 1970s. Eve Plumb has finally written a memoir about her life as a child TV star and the transition to adult roles, as well as her work as a visual artist.
I do have to say that this nostalgia trip was a great read for Gen X me, who loved seeing a big family like ours on TV. Plumb’s upbringing was a little unconventional, so it was wild reading about some of the things her parents did for or with her. She never had any sort of formal acting training when she was a kid (something she remedied when she was an adult.)
The reason I couldn’t give this book five stars was because as I followed along with Plumb’s retelling of her life, there wasn’t much depth. It felt more like a school book report from a child who says, “And then I did this, and then I did this.” I’m not saying the stories weren’t interesting, but Eve never really dug deep down about things. She talks about The Brady Bunch and mentions that Robert Reed, who played the dad, Mike Brady, took the families on vacation. But as she mentions her trips here and there, there aren’t too many specific stories, just surface level observations. In a way, it almost seems like Plumb really didn’t want to write this book. It feels very much like Melissa Sue Anderson’s memoir of many years ago, talking about Little House on the Prairie with great detachment.
I would still recommend this book for Brady Bunch fans, as Eve Plumb’s memory of that time is very nostalgic. But don’t expect a lot of deep thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced copy of this book.
I teetered between 4 and 5 stars but towards the end decided on 5 stars after reading about her fight against Breast Cancer (which she and her Brady Bunch costars were able to keep quiet for years).
I was so happy to see this book was coming out. I really enjoyed Eve Plumb's writing. I am a long time Brady bunch fan; with that said I love
how she reflected on her whole life and the Brady Bunch was only a small part of the book (I especially appreciated this as I have also read the books from costars Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick). I love how her love of Laguna Beach as a Child tied into a return to make this her home in her adult years and how she became an advocate for keeping the original Laguna Beach in tact. I also enjoyed her story of how she met her husband. her interactions with the actors of Family Affair (and why she feels her story ended up differently than theirs) and her story of making the movie: Dawn; A portrait of a Teenage Runaway which was a big change from her Brady Bunch days. I also enjoyed hearing about how she and her Brady Bunch Costars paths would coincide through the years. Reading this story reminded me of sitting down for coffee with an old friend who is reflecting on their life. If you are looking for a sense of Nostalgia or enjoy reading of people reflecting upon their lives, I would highly recommend this read.
I teetered between 4 and 5 stars but towards the end decided on 5 stars after reading about her fight against Breast Cancer (which she and her Brady Bunch costars were able to keep quiet for years).
I was so happy to see this book was coming out. I really enjoyed Eve Plumb's writing. I am a long time Brady bunch fan; with that said I love
how she reflected on her whole life and the Brady Bunch was only a small part of the book (I especially appreciated this as I have also read the books from costars Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick). I love how her love of Laguna Beach as a Child tied into a return to make this her home in her adult years and how she became an advocate for keeping the original Laguna Beach in tact. I also enjoyed her story of how she met her husband. her interactions with the actors of Family Affair (and why she feels her story ended up differently than theirs) and her story of making the movie: Dawn; A portrait of a Teenage Runaway which was a big change from her Brady Bunch days. I also enjoyed hearing about how she and her Brady Bunch Costars paths would coincide through the years. Reading this story reminded me of sitting down for coffee with an old friend who is reflecting on their life. If you are looking for a sense of Nostalgia or enjoy reading of people reflecting upon their lives, I would highly recommend this read.
May 7, 2026
I learned a lot about the production of family sitcoms. She had better parents in that they did not touch the money that she earned. They put it in a savings account for college expenses. She stayed close to her parents and older sister, June, throughout their lives.
I thought that she got shortchanged on her grade school and junior high school education. Most of her education was done during the breaks during shooting. She never got in-depth teaching. And that she never had the free time many children have, which results in no childhood or close school friends. Getting married too soon, and she began smoking and drinking with her stage friends as sort of compensation for the childhood that she lost. It made me think that maybe children should not have the time-consuming challenge of being a child actor.
To me, she revealed a little too much about herself and others in the cast. Sadly, she did not have the support when she needed it in her life. A lot of times, she was on her own without recommendations and comfort
It also made me aware of how formulaic more series are. This book also revealed that there was no glass in the house windows. of the house, no corrective lenses in the glasses that people wore, and they were warned not to eat some of the foods because of pest spray on them. The children's hair was dyed to match their parents' hair. There is a lovely tribute to Florence Henderson, who played
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
I watched the Brady Bunch as a kid and then rewatched the reruns in high school. Of all the characters, Jan was always my favorite. She just seemed so sweet and down-to-earth and that is how her portrayer Eve Plumb comes across as well. She has a strong work-ethic and has kept a positive attitude throughout her life, even during challenging times. Eve began acting at age six when she appeared in her first commercial and was cast on The Brady Bunch when she was ten. The forward to her book was written by fellow Brady Kid, Christopher Knight (Peter), and I was so happy to learn that the two of them were friends when they appeared on the show together and are still friends now.
Eve Plumb has an engaging writing style and I had fun reading the stories she told about her life and her career. I also liked the behind-the-scenes information about acting and auditioning as a child, teen, and adult. In a couple of the stories, it seemed like some things were left unsaid but I think it's because she really didn't want to speak negatively about anyone else. I really enjoyed getting to know the woman behind one of my favorite tv characters better. Fans of the actress of or The Brady Bunch will also like this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from Kensington Books and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
I watched the Brady Bunch as a kid and then rewatched the reruns in high school. Of all the characters, Jan was always my favorite. She just seemed so sweet and down-to-earth and that is how her portrayer Eve Plumb comes across as well. She has a strong work-ethic and has kept a positive attitude throughout her life, even during challenging times. Eve began acting at age six when she appeared in her first commercial and was cast on The Brady Bunch when she was ten. The forward to her book was written by fellow Brady Kid, Christopher Knight (Peter), and I was so happy to learn that the two of them were friends when they appeared on the show together and are still friends now.
Eve Plumb has an engaging writing style and I had fun reading the stories she told about her life and her career. I also liked the behind-the-scenes information about acting and auditioning as a child, teen, and adult. In a couple of the stories, it seemed like some things were left unsaid but I think it's because she really didn't want to speak negatively about anyone else. I really enjoyed getting to know the woman behind one of my favorite tv characters better. Fans of the actress of or The Brady Bunch will also like this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from Kensington Books and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
April 30, 2026
Jan Brady was always jealous of her sisters on The Brady Bunch. She was smart but not as popular as they were on either the show or what counted as social media at the time. No one wanted to be perceived as a “Jan”. Happiness Included is the story of the real life actress playing Jan, but don’t expect any salacious Brady gossip from Eve.
Eve Plumb was the only Brady sister to break out of the child star stereotype. At only seventeen, she had a highly rated and popular starring roll on a controversial tv movie, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway. She then went on to continue her acting career well past all the other kids in the Brady family, and even most of the adults.
Most child star memoirs are full of angst and addiction issues. Not Happiness Included. According to Eve, her childhood was great. Surprisingly great, considering her mother’s very protective, especially in the more laissez faire 1960s, parenting style. Nothing bad happens to Eve, and that is why the book is not very engaging. It reads like watching paint dry. I was a big fan of The Brady Bunch show but not so much of this book. A disappointed 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for providing me with an advanced review copy.
Eve Plumb was the only Brady sister to break out of the child star stereotype. At only seventeen, she had a highly rated and popular starring roll on a controversial tv movie, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway. She then went on to continue her acting career well past all the other kids in the Brady family, and even most of the adults.
Most child star memoirs are full of angst and addiction issues. Not Happiness Included. According to Eve, her childhood was great. Surprisingly great, considering her mother’s very protective, especially in the more laissez faire 1960s, parenting style. Nothing bad happens to Eve, and that is why the book is not very engaging. It reads like watching paint dry. I was a big fan of The Brady Bunch show but not so much of this book. A disappointed 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for providing me with an advanced review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars. Having been born in the 70’s, I grew up a huge Brady Bunch fan (from the time I was 3 years old, according to stories from my mom!), so I was interested in hearing about the life of Eve Plumb, who played the role of the middle daughter, Jan, on the show. She begins the story of her life by talking about her childhood and family life and her pathway into acting. I found it fascinating that while she acted so well, she never had acting lessons before starting out. Eve describes the relationships she had and still maintains with several actors and actresses over the years and how the Brady Bunch tv family felt like a real family. She also delves into her personal life from family vacations as a child, to her journey into discovering who she is after being a child actor and the transition into adulthood, to romantic relationships, to her experience with breast cancer. She’s honest and open about her experiences and seems quite happy with who she has become. It’s an interesting story with a little bit about many aspects of her life.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ve always loved The Brady Bunch – from watching reruns growing up, to A Very Brady Christmas reunion movie, and even the parody movies later on. So, it was a treat to read a memoir from another member of the Brady family.
I had also read Maureen McCormick’s (Marcia) memoir years ago, so it was interesting to get another perspective on life behind the scenes. I was surprised to learn just how successful Eve Plumb was a child actress – she speaks about it so matter-of-factly, it was simply her job, and she was able to consistently deliver exactly what directors and producers needed, which kept her in demand.
For me, the strongest parts of the memoir, and the parts I was most interested in, were the Brady Bunch years – hearing about her relationships with her castmates and watching the show grow into such an iconic piece of television history.
Outside of that, I did find the rest of the memoir a bit on the dryer side, but who am I to judge a person’s life. Overall, I’m glad I read it. It’s a thoughtful, interesting look at one of TV’s most recognizable faces and the legacy of the show that made her a household name.
I had also read Maureen McCormick’s (Marcia) memoir years ago, so it was interesting to get another perspective on life behind the scenes. I was surprised to learn just how successful Eve Plumb was a child actress – she speaks about it so matter-of-factly, it was simply her job, and she was able to consistently deliver exactly what directors and producers needed, which kept her in demand.
For me, the strongest parts of the memoir, and the parts I was most interested in, were the Brady Bunch years – hearing about her relationships with her castmates and watching the show grow into such an iconic piece of television history.
Outside of that, I did find the rest of the memoir a bit on the dryer side, but who am I to judge a person’s life. Overall, I’m glad I read it. It’s a thoughtful, interesting look at one of TV’s most recognizable faces and the legacy of the show that made her a household name.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I was a Brady Bunch fan, and still can sing the theme song word for word. I had read the autobiographies of Barry Williams and Maureen McCormack, so picking up Eve Plumb's book seemed like a no brainer. My choice was a no brainer, the book was well written and thoughtful.It is not a tell all, or a complaint filled diatribe about the abuse of child actors. It is a thoughtful, serious look at one woman's life, a woman who we only tend to think of as Jan Brady. Eve Plumb is much more than that. She is a writer, an artist, an actress, and a real person. If you only think of her as the "middle child" who wailed, Marcia, Marcia , Marcia, the pick up this book and read about the person behind the famous name. I would have loved some pictures from her youth , family ( both real and reel) and now, but otherwise, I really enjoyed this book.
April 29, 2026
I literally devoured this book in a matter of hours. So enjoyable! Eve did a great job recounting the awkward growing pains of being a child actor of the 1970s and the residual crossover to adulthood in the unforgiving limelight of Hollywood. While nearly everyone (myself included) keeps her image solidified in memories as the unforgettable, but identifiable, poster child for THE middle kid, Eve embraces and accepts the public consciousness for her beloved Jan, and sets her on a shelf for the reader to reminisce while the real Eve Plumb carries on discovering her authentic self - all while making mistakes, pointing out failures, acknowledging that the offers dry up, and asking us all kindly to please stop with the “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” comments. Sorry darling, but it’s one of the most endearing quotes in television history. Be proud of that is all I can say for advice. Otherwise, this is a fun read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eve Plumb was always one of my favorites on the Brady Bunch since I'm a middle child. She wasn't, but she played one on the show. This was an pleasant read, reminiscing about the Brady Bunch and other tv shows during the 1970s when I grew up. I remembered quite a few of the episodes that she mentions. Eve also goes into what it was like to be a child actor working with adults most of the time. She also talks about her family life and how stardom and growing up on tv affected her.
This book was a good break from some of the heavy news going on right now. Eve has a nice candid style and tells quite a few funny stories about growing up as a child actor and being overly sheltered by her parents. This is a light and fun memoir, not too heavy a book, but she does go into some important topics. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This book was a good break from some of the heavy news going on right now. Eve has a nice candid style and tells quite a few funny stories about growing up as a child actor and being overly sheltered by her parents. This is a light and fun memoir, not too heavy a book, but she does go into some important topics. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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*
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kensington Publishing provided an early galley for review.
I grew up watching The Brady Bunch on first-run followed by many years via reruns. It was one of those shows that provided great comfort (to the point where I pretty much knew every episode beat by beat).
First off, how cool was it that her TV brother Christopher Knight provided the foreward? That simple thing tells me so much about their bond.
What I really enjoyed was Plumb's inside view of the Hollywood sets during the 60's when she got her start. From her accounts, I really felt like I was experiencing the things she did. Of course, the stories about the iconic show were always appreciated as was hearing about how the cast interacted off-camera.
Fans of a certain age will enjoy this memoir.
I grew up watching The Brady Bunch on first-run followed by many years via reruns. It was one of those shows that provided great comfort (to the point where I pretty much knew every episode beat by beat).
First off, how cool was it that her TV brother Christopher Knight provided the foreward? That simple thing tells me so much about their bond.
What I really enjoyed was Plumb's inside view of the Hollywood sets during the 60's when she got her start. From her accounts, I really felt like I was experiencing the things she did. Of course, the stories about the iconic show were always appreciated as was hearing about how the cast interacted off-camera.
Fans of a certain age will enjoy this memoir.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You won't find angst, abusive parents, or gossipy tales of dissolution in "Happiness Included." Instead Eve Plumb focusses largely on the mechanics of TV production and the positive elements of being a child celebrity and segueing into adulthood. Which is not to say it's all sunshine and lollipops: She addresses her parents' overprotectiveness and her mother's alcoholism, at the same time giving them credit for helping her become the content, well-rounded person she is today. Although the writing is workmanlike, a real sense of who Eve is comes through—and that person is one it's worth spending time with.
Thank you, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Here's the story of a lovely lady ... Eve Plumb, aka Jan Brady. What a joy to reminisce with the original Jan Brady about one of my favorite childhood tv shows, The Brady Bunch, as well as to learn about what happened to her after the Brady lights dimmed. From her start in show business at an early age to her learning to deal with life after Brady to discovering her passion for art to finding the love of her life, every word of this book captured and kept my attention as if I were visiting with an old friend. In this easy-to-read and follow text, Eve shows us that there is life beyond Brady - a life with struggles and successes like everyone else. Thank you to NetGalley and Citadel for making this ARC available for us to read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eve Plumb doesn’t get down and dirty here, which is refreshing, but she does a lovely job of sharing behind the scenes info about her journey from childhood through adulthood in Hollywood. If you grew up in the seventies, the Brady Bunch -- in all its California sunniness and silliness -- was a Friday night ritual (even as I watched from a Bronx living room). She speaks honestly and kindly about her cast mates, and those she has met along the way with just one or two deservedly unfavorable references, and rather than disparaging a role that came to define her she moves on with her life story through adulthood and a new, successful career. Mostly for fans, but I absorbed this in one sitting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a child, I loved watching The Brady Bunch as reruns, so I was very excited to read Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond by Eve Plumb. Eve shares many stories about her Brady Bunch days but also shares about her life pre and post BB. I appreciated how she shared information about the show and relationships with her BB castmates, but it wasn't too many details to get lost in. I really enjoyed reading about her career as an artist and time doing live theatre. If you enjoyed watching The Brady Bunch, you will enjoy this book.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Citadel and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Citadel and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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