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The Bette Davis Club
The morning of her niece’s wedding, Margo Just drinks a double martini and contemplates the many mistakes she’s made in her fifty-odd years of life. Spending three decades in love with a wonderful but unattainable man is pretty high up on her list of missteps, as is a long line of unsuccessful love affairs accompanied by a seemingly endless supply of delicious cocktails.
When the young bride flees—taking with her a family heirloom and leaving behind six hundred bewildered guests—her mother offers Margo fifty grand to retrieve her spoiled brat of a daughter and the invaluable property she stole. So, together with the bride’s jilted and justifiably crabby fiancé, Margo sets out in a borrowed 1955 red MG on a cross-country chase. Along the way, none of what she discovers will be quite what she expected. But it might be exactly what she’s been seeking all along.
From acclaimed humor writer Jane Lotter comes this madcap, laugh-out-loud adventure, The Bette Davis Club.
Revised edition: This edition of The Bette Davis Club includes editorial revisions.
When the young bride flees—taking with her a family heirloom and leaving behind six hundred bewildered guests—her mother offers Margo fifty grand to retrieve her spoiled brat of a daughter and the invaluable property she stole. So, together with the bride’s jilted and justifiably crabby fiancé, Margo sets out in a borrowed 1955 red MG on a cross-country chase. Along the way, none of what she discovers will be quite what she expected. But it might be exactly what she’s been seeking all along.
From acclaimed humor writer Jane Lotter comes this madcap, laugh-out-loud adventure, The Bette Davis Club.
Revised edition: This edition of The Bette Davis Club includes editorial revisions.
337 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2015
3032 people are currently reading
7694 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lotter
1 book50 followersJane Lotter was a Seattle-based writer and humorist whose work has appeared in national publications. Her hilarious column, Jane Explains, ran in the Seattle Sun, winning several awards, including one from the Society of Professional Journalists. Jane’s only novel, The Bette Davis Club, won first place in the Mainstream category in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,373 reviews
December 8, 2015
The foreword of this book is so touching. I just have to comment on it and hope somewhere up there, the author is seeing that, yes, her book is in print and hopefully gets a wide readership. Also while looking on Twitter to reach out to the daughter, I came upon a link to the obituary that the author wrote herself. If you have the time, search for the author's name and read it. It was touching as well.
Now to the book. I loved this book!! It's premise had me on page one and kept me entertained until the very end. It was a great story and I loved all the nuances and reminders to Hollywood's past. Also the reminders to America's past. The story touched on so many subjects and dealt with them in such a great manner. It was amazing.
This is a book I could read over and over again. It went very fast, had so many good moments and several hilarious ones. I really just wanted to hang out with the main characters and go on their journey with them. Well, except for their encounters with Boone. Ha!!
I without a doubt recommend this book and am sad that there will not be any others by this author. RIP Jane Lotter, you left us a great gift!
Huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing for bringing this book to the world and along with Net Galley providing me with a free e-galley so that I could spend a few moments with the author and read her book and give you an honest review.
Now to the book. I loved this book!! It's premise had me on page one and kept me entertained until the very end. It was a great story and I loved all the nuances and reminders to Hollywood's past. Also the reminders to America's past. The story touched on so many subjects and dealt with them in such a great manner. It was amazing.
This is a book I could read over and over again. It went very fast, had so many good moments and several hilarious ones. I really just wanted to hang out with the main characters and go on their journey with them. Well, except for their encounters with Boone. Ha!!
I without a doubt recommend this book and am sad that there will not be any others by this author. RIP Jane Lotter, you left us a great gift!
Huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing for bringing this book to the world and along with Net Galley providing me with a free e-galley so that I could spend a few moments with the author and read her book and give you an honest review.
January 29, 2016
actual rating: 2,5 stars
Reading story narrated by a woman who's over 50 years old was out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to do it anyway. Branching out, spreading my horizonts, that's what I was thinking about.
I knew that, what I was about to read was a comedy, but if you ask me what was it that I expected from this book, I wouldn't know what to tell you.
The story follows Margo, a fifty-something years old woman who finds herself at her niece's wedding. Everything would be great if there wasn't just one problem: the bride is missing. She ran away, and Margo's sister is asking her to find her. Margo wouldn't accept that request usually, but 50 000 dollars deal is hard to decline.
On her roadtrip, she won't be alone. Tully, the groom, is going with her to try to convince the love of his life to change her mind.
Let me just starting this review by telling you what I liked:
The writing style. The story is written in present tense and it pulls you in immediately. Good sense of humor can't hurt either. Even though the story itself is not so good, the writing style is what keeps you reading and, believe it or not, I actually had good time reading it (most of the time).
The Title. It has a meaning and it is awesome (I'm a proud member of The Bette Davis Club myself).
Sidestory, or should I say, Morgo's past. That part of the novel is what is actually worth reading. I think that story is really good, it can make you feel and, honestly, if the writer decided to write only that story, the novel would be better.
Now, let me tell you what I didn't like:
Characters. Not only did some of them had stupid names, but they were also… stupid. There is only one character (Dotty) that I can say was intelligent enough, but no one else.
They got themselves in bizzare situations, had no idea how to handle them, weren't thinking whatsoever and honestly, if they had only little intelligence, the problem would be solved really quickly and this would be a short story.
One character even says for himself that pople are telling him he has high IQ and I was all like…. NO, YOU DON'T!
They also have no dignity or self esteem.
I really hated most of the scenes in this book. They were unnecessary, stupid and just made me roll my eyes instead of wondering what will happen and rooting for main characters.
That being said, I think I should stop now because there is really nothing good I could say, and since I am huge Bambi fan, I know what Thumper's father told him and I listen to his advice…
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you Lake Union Publishing.
Reading story narrated by a woman who's over 50 years old was out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to do it anyway. Branching out, spreading my horizonts, that's what I was thinking about.
I knew that, what I was about to read was a comedy, but if you ask me what was it that I expected from this book, I wouldn't know what to tell you.
The story follows Margo, a fifty-something years old woman who finds herself at her niece's wedding. Everything would be great if there wasn't just one problem: the bride is missing. She ran away, and Margo's sister is asking her to find her. Margo wouldn't accept that request usually, but 50 000 dollars deal is hard to decline.
On her roadtrip, she won't be alone. Tully, the groom, is going with her to try to convince the love of his life to change her mind.
Let me just starting this review by telling you what I liked:
The writing style. The story is written in present tense and it pulls you in immediately. Good sense of humor can't hurt either. Even though the story itself is not so good, the writing style is what keeps you reading and, believe it or not, I actually had good time reading it (most of the time).
The Title. It has a meaning and it is awesome (I'm a proud member of The Bette Davis Club myself).
Sidestory, or should I say, Morgo's past. That part of the novel is what is actually worth reading. I think that story is really good, it can make you feel and, honestly, if the writer decided to write only that story, the novel would be better.
Now, let me tell you what I didn't like:
Characters. Not only did some of them had stupid names, but they were also… stupid. There is only one character (Dotty) that I can say was intelligent enough, but no one else.
They got themselves in bizzare situations, had no idea how to handle them, weren't thinking whatsoever and honestly, if they had only little intelligence, the problem would be solved really quickly and this would be a short story.
One character even says for himself that pople are telling him he has high IQ and I was all like…. NO, YOU DON'T!
They also have no dignity or self esteem.
I really hated most of the scenes in this book. They were unnecessary, stupid and just made me roll my eyes instead of wondering what will happen and rooting for main characters.
That being said, I think I should stop now because there is really nothing good I could say, and since I am huge Bambi fan, I know what Thumper's father told him and I listen to his advice…
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you Lake Union Publishing.
January 4, 2016
Please note that since Goodreads does not allow for half stars that I gave this book 2.5 stars and rounded it up to a 3 on this site.
So here's the thing. I feel like a shit person for this but I did not like this book. I feel terrible about it because the foreword written by the author's daughter is touching and moving. And I really wish, sincerely wish that I had liked this book. The author passed away right before this book was published and the family was overjoyed at it being picked up by Lake Union Publishing since it was the author's fondest wish to be a published author.
The main character of this book is Margo Just. Invited to her niece's wedding by her somewhat estranged half sister, Margo is reeling with the fact that she is out of money and options. Margo's sister Charlotte comes to her in a panic the day of the wedding by asking her to track down her daughter who just fled the wedding. Apparently Margo's niece has stolen something important, and Charlotte is hoping that Margo can talk her into coming back and marrying the groom. With Charlotte offering $50,000 to Margo (which can help her out a lot) Margo takes her late father's car and the jilted bridegroom on the road trip to find her niece.
What can I say. This book had very little depth when we got to the main character of Margo or her sister, niece, the bridegroom named Tully, and Margo's best friend/older sister type for several decades Dottie. I feel like from beginning to end the whole book felt rushed. I didn't get Margo at all, and she was not that interesting. And excuse my language, at times she was an ass.
The main issue is that we have present day hijinks ensuing while Margo is also reminiscing about her past. The two time-lines don't line up very well at all and frankly it would have made more sense for the book to be flipped around. We had to read about things in dribs and drabs and you don't get what happened with Margo's father and her mother, and Charlotte' mother until almost the end of the book. You don't find out why Margo has not married until the very end of the book. Heck you don't get what the heck possessed the groom to be to even be interested in getting married to Margo's niece until the very end of the book. Frankly younger Margo was more interesting than the present day version intent on tracking down her niece.
The writing was on the side of tedious. I think a lot could have been cut away from the book to make it work. This was written like what I would consider a romantic comedy in the 1930s starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel, however the main character is not charismatic like Rosalind at all. There was one scene where Margo admits she is an alcoholic at an AA meeting and man oh man, I wanted to shake her. She was insufferable and rude. And seriously that was her throughout most of the book.
The ending comes and everything works out in the end. Heck we even have Margo having her happily ever after though you wonder how in the world did we get from point A to point B by the end.
So here's the thing. I feel like a shit person for this but I did not like this book. I feel terrible about it because the foreword written by the author's daughter is touching and moving. And I really wish, sincerely wish that I had liked this book. The author passed away right before this book was published and the family was overjoyed at it being picked up by Lake Union Publishing since it was the author's fondest wish to be a published author.
The main character of this book is Margo Just. Invited to her niece's wedding by her somewhat estranged half sister, Margo is reeling with the fact that she is out of money and options. Margo's sister Charlotte comes to her in a panic the day of the wedding by asking her to track down her daughter who just fled the wedding. Apparently Margo's niece has stolen something important, and Charlotte is hoping that Margo can talk her into coming back and marrying the groom. With Charlotte offering $50,000 to Margo (which can help her out a lot) Margo takes her late father's car and the jilted bridegroom on the road trip to find her niece.
What can I say. This book had very little depth when we got to the main character of Margo or her sister, niece, the bridegroom named Tully, and Margo's best friend/older sister type for several decades Dottie. I feel like from beginning to end the whole book felt rushed. I didn't get Margo at all, and she was not that interesting. And excuse my language, at times she was an ass.
The main issue is that we have present day hijinks ensuing while Margo is also reminiscing about her past. The two time-lines don't line up very well at all and frankly it would have made more sense for the book to be flipped around. We had to read about things in dribs and drabs and you don't get what happened with Margo's father and her mother, and Charlotte' mother until almost the end of the book. You don't find out why Margo has not married until the very end of the book. Heck you don't get what the heck possessed the groom to be to even be interested in getting married to Margo's niece until the very end of the book. Frankly younger Margo was more interesting than the present day version intent on tracking down her niece.
The writing was on the side of tedious. I think a lot could have been cut away from the book to make it work. This was written like what I would consider a romantic comedy in the 1930s starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel, however the main character is not charismatic like Rosalind at all. There was one scene where Margo admits she is an alcoholic at an AA meeting and man oh man, I wanted to shake her. She was insufferable and rude. And seriously that was her throughout most of the book.
The ending comes and everything works out in the end. Heck we even have Margo having her happily ever after though you wonder how in the world did we get from point A to point B by the end.
December 17, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! To me, it was a book that appealed to my love of old movies, all things California (old Hollywood, in particular) and books that won't let me put them down! This book has personality and lots and lots of action!
First the characters. Margo is a hoot! She's a boozing 50-something looking for something - of course, she doesn't know exactly what. She's down on her luck because she fell for a man that she could never have, yet could not let go. Her friends are hilarious and I completely fell for Dottie! You'll love her! Now, on to Finn. He's the love of Margo's life and she still pines for him. Enough said....Tully is amazing. A well formed character. I could see he and Margo driving from coast to coast! There are more eccentric characters. I could go on and on, but I'll leave that to the next reader.
Now the story. Margo's sister wants her to retrieve her daughter and some valuable items that Georgia (the daughter) took from her when Georgia fled her wedding. And that leads us on a wild goose chase across America that I will not soon forget.
I laughed and I cried in this book and I believe other readers will too. It's a great book that has been re-edited and published posthumously by her daughter. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this astonishing book. It's become one of my favorites!
First the characters. Margo is a hoot! She's a boozing 50-something looking for something - of course, she doesn't know exactly what. She's down on her luck because she fell for a man that she could never have, yet could not let go. Her friends are hilarious and I completely fell for Dottie! You'll love her! Now, on to Finn. He's the love of Margo's life and she still pines for him. Enough said....Tully is amazing. A well formed character. I could see he and Margo driving from coast to coast! There are more eccentric characters. I could go on and on, but I'll leave that to the next reader.
Now the story. Margo's sister wants her to retrieve her daughter and some valuable items that Georgia (the daughter) took from her when Georgia fled her wedding. And that leads us on a wild goose chase across America that I will not soon forget.
I laughed and I cried in this book and I believe other readers will too. It's a great book that has been re-edited and published posthumously by her daughter. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this astonishing book. It's become one of my favorites!
January 22, 2016
A “road trip” book for the “over forty” set. So much fun!
The Hollywood elite.
A runaway bride.
A vintage sports car.
A cross country romp.
A flawed heroine.
A damaged hero.
Not one, but two, mysterious manuscripts.
A maniacal bad guy.
A lesbian dance competition.
A tragic love affair.
The voice of reason in the form of an always-rational best friend.
A failing business,
And the chance at a multi-million dollar payoff at the end of it all.
What more could you possibly want in a quick, fun read on a Sunday afternoon?
Margo leaves behind her floundering business in New York City to attend her niece’s wedding in sunny Los Angeles. After helping herself to a dress and shoes from her half-sister’s closet and more than a couple of drinks from the open bar she is summoned into the house and told that the bride is no where to be found. Margo is charged with the task of hunting her down and bringing her back. At her disposal is her father’s classic red MG and, since Margo does not drive, the jilted groom as her chauffeur and the promise of a big payoff if she returns with the bride … oh … and more importantly it seems, some of the items she has liberated from the house before departing.
So begins a cross-country romp, most of it along the infamous Route 66.
I liked this book a great deal. It’s the perfect escape on a wintry afternoon when you have time to suspend reality for a little while and live vicariously through Margo’s well-intentioned yet often near disastrous escapades.
This is an enjoyable, light, fun read that is very well written. So sad to know the author has passed away. I think I would have certainly enjoyed other books written by Ms. Lotter. In reading an article about Ms. Lotter it was obvious that she managed to maintain her sense of humor right to the end and died with grace and dignity. Much like her book’s heroine, she seemed to do things in her own time and on her own terms.
I received this book at no charge from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Hollywood elite.
A runaway bride.
A vintage sports car.
A cross country romp.
A flawed heroine.
A damaged hero.
Not one, but two, mysterious manuscripts.
A maniacal bad guy.
A lesbian dance competition.
A tragic love affair.
The voice of reason in the form of an always-rational best friend.
A failing business,
And the chance at a multi-million dollar payoff at the end of it all.
What more could you possibly want in a quick, fun read on a Sunday afternoon?
Margo leaves behind her floundering business in New York City to attend her niece’s wedding in sunny Los Angeles. After helping herself to a dress and shoes from her half-sister’s closet and more than a couple of drinks from the open bar she is summoned into the house and told that the bride is no where to be found. Margo is charged with the task of hunting her down and bringing her back. At her disposal is her father’s classic red MG and, since Margo does not drive, the jilted groom as her chauffeur and the promise of a big payoff if she returns with the bride … oh … and more importantly it seems, some of the items she has liberated from the house before departing.
So begins a cross-country romp, most of it along the infamous Route 66.
I liked this book a great deal. It’s the perfect escape on a wintry afternoon when you have time to suspend reality for a little while and live vicariously through Margo’s well-intentioned yet often near disastrous escapades.
This is an enjoyable, light, fun read that is very well written. So sad to know the author has passed away. I think I would have certainly enjoyed other books written by Ms. Lotter. In reading an article about Ms. Lotter it was obvious that she managed to maintain her sense of humor right to the end and died with grace and dignity. Much like her book’s heroine, she seemed to do things in her own time and on her own terms.
I received this book at no charge from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this light cozy caper of two people that are thrust together into a Tinseltown adventure. Against both of their better judgements they set out toward Palm Springs in a classic, convertible MG with the thought of catching up to a flibertijibbit, runaway bride. Imaginative and ever changing characters mixed with a sturdy plot, made this a fun read.
December 20, 2015
The Bette Davis Club is the debut, and sadly the only, book by Jane Lotter. In a touching preface, Lotter's daughter describes her mother as a devoted fan of classic movies and this book as, in part, an homage to them. Lotter self-published this book but died before it was brought out by a publishing house.
The book is a delightful "screwball comedy" type adventure of the It Happened One Night (the 1934 classic of this kind which one Oscars for the film and both its leading actors). Margo Just (wonder if the first name is a tip of the hat to the Bette Davis character in All About Eve) is a 50+ owner of an architectural salvage business that is rapidly failing. She lives in New York City but is attending her niece's wedding in Los Angeles. Margo's half-sister, Charlotte, is in the movie business. When the niece runs off jilting her (much older) groom, Charlotte offers Margo $60,000 to find her and bring her back. Soon, Margo is on the road with the jilted groom, Tully.
Their adventures en route form the main part of the book, with a backstory of Margo's deceased father, a successful television writers and another of Margo's romance with the unattainable Finn.
The writing is witty and the story is lively and fun. There are some touching moments along the way but Margo, a middle-aged woman who has in many ways given up on herself and on love, is Lotter's biggest achievement.
I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me this story. I had a lot of fun reading it. I'm sorry there won't be any more like it from Lotter but I'm grateful to have had this one.
The book is a delightful "screwball comedy" type adventure of the It Happened One Night (the 1934 classic of this kind which one Oscars for the film and both its leading actors). Margo Just (wonder if the first name is a tip of the hat to the Bette Davis character in All About Eve) is a 50+ owner of an architectural salvage business that is rapidly failing. She lives in New York City but is attending her niece's wedding in Los Angeles. Margo's half-sister, Charlotte, is in the movie business. When the niece runs off jilting her (much older) groom, Charlotte offers Margo $60,000 to find her and bring her back. Soon, Margo is on the road with the jilted groom, Tully.
Their adventures en route form the main part of the book, with a backstory of Margo's deceased father, a successful television writers and another of Margo's romance with the unattainable Finn.
The writing is witty and the story is lively and fun. There are some touching moments along the way but Margo, a middle-aged woman who has in many ways given up on herself and on love, is Lotter's biggest achievement.
I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me this story. I had a lot of fun reading it. I'm sorry there won't be any more like it from Lotter but I'm grateful to have had this one.
February 10, 2017
I really love this book. The story is about Margo the middle aged woman who has the misfortune life. Apart from her lonely childhood, she has fallen in love with the wrong men for all her life. Until one day in order to find her niece Georgia who runaway from her wedding, she take the road trip with her niece’s jilted fiancé. Because Margo hates flying she take the trip use her deceased father vintage MG car. Margo always lose track of Georgia but what she find instead is a great experience. I love how the plot turn into so many interesting story. Its well written too which easily to read. I love almost of the characters. Its very enjoyable read.
January 17, 2016
What a piece of trite garbage, and no amount of emotional manipulation in the forward changes that.
January 19, 2022
Really enjoyed this one. Fab rom-com road trip with some snort-out-loud scenes. Plus, more lesbians than expected. A breath of fresh air.
April 8, 2016
This is a modern day tribute to the classic screwball comedies of the 30s and 40s--Irene Dunne, Rosalind Russell, Jean Arthur, Myrna Loy could all easily be cast as the heroine of this book. Tully you could substitute for Walter Pidgeon or William Powell or Jimmy Stewart. The evil older sister could be Paulette Goddard or Norma Shearer or Gail Patrick. And I guess Bonita Granville or Anne Blyth or heck Shirley Temple for the troublemaking niece. It's not just the title and overarching theme in the book, but a love of old movies pervades the book and I think a comic triumph.
There were plenty of implausible situations, but in the realm of screwball comedy, totally acceptable. Many many funny lines and this author had a way with words. I chuckled through pretty much this entire book--and it was sweet. I don't think a huge spoiler to say that even all the evil characters redeemed themselves in the end and I liked a novel from an older woman's point of view.
Margo is a 50-something woman, with a failing business in NY, attending her cruel half-sister's daughter's wedding, because hey! free vacation. The bride to be steals a few valuables and jilts the groom at the altar. Margo is offered a business-saving amount of money to track down her wayward niece and retrieve the items. Accompanied by the groom in a classic MG (my mom's favorite car), they go in chase/are chased after and happen to stumble upon through old movie related locales/events: The Dinah Shore Tournament, Mommie Dearest clothing store, trip down Cary Grant Memory Lane, a lot on Orson Welles, Colleen Moore's ridiculously amazing Doll House, to an old movie star collectible store.
I go to every old movie themed places by me (go to the Ava Gardner museum in Smithfield, NC if you want a slice of Americana/film) so I loved this book. But I think even people not into movies of the 30s and 40s would like this book. I looked up this author to see if there were more of her books to read and was very sad (and moved) by her self-penned obituary. Shame, but this is a worthy book to cement a legacy on.
There were plenty of implausible situations, but in the realm of screwball comedy, totally acceptable. Many many funny lines and this author had a way with words. I chuckled through pretty much this entire book--and it was sweet. I don't think a huge spoiler to say that even all the evil characters redeemed themselves in the end and I liked a novel from an older woman's point of view.
Margo is a 50-something woman, with a failing business in NY, attending her cruel half-sister's daughter's wedding, because hey! free vacation. The bride to be steals a few valuables and jilts the groom at the altar. Margo is offered a business-saving amount of money to track down her wayward niece and retrieve the items. Accompanied by the groom in a classic MG (my mom's favorite car), they go in chase/are chased after and happen to stumble upon through old movie related locales/events: The Dinah Shore Tournament, Mommie Dearest clothing store, trip down Cary Grant Memory Lane, a lot on Orson Welles, Colleen Moore's ridiculously amazing Doll House, to an old movie star collectible store.
I go to every old movie themed places by me (go to the Ava Gardner museum in Smithfield, NC if you want a slice of Americana/film) so I loved this book. But I think even people not into movies of the 30s and 40s would like this book. I looked up this author to see if there were more of her books to read and was very sad (and moved) by her self-penned obituary. Shame, but this is a worthy book to cement a legacy on.
June 18, 2016
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I'll start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was nuts in the best possible way, Margo was a funny and charming MC for the most part and the book as a whole was just hilarious. I loved that the MC was a single woman in her 50s very much enjoying life, although she still had the problems typical of any chick-lit book (struggling for money, a crappy family situation and a disastrous love life). Why then the kind-of-low rating? Well, while the story was interesting and really funny, it was also very irregular. It would mix funny, over-the-top situations with scenes dealing with issues as alcoholism and drug use in a more serious manner, and the way the author would jump from the former straight into the latter didn't work for me at all, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the way the more serious issues are dealt with either. The other reason that made me lower my rating was the end: it was far to clichéd for my liking, and to be honest it didn't make much sense.
It still makes for a light summer read if you're in the mood for that :)
I'll start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was nuts in the best possible way, Margo was a funny and charming MC for the most part and the book as a whole was just hilarious. I loved that the MC was a single woman in her 50s very much enjoying life, although she still had the problems typical of any chick-lit book (struggling for money, a crappy family situation and a disastrous love life). Why then the kind-of-low rating? Well, while the story was interesting and really funny, it was also very irregular. It would mix funny, over-the-top situations with scenes dealing with issues as alcoholism and drug use in a more serious manner, and the way the author would jump from the former straight into the latter didn't work for me at all, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the way the more serious issues are dealt with either. The other reason that made me lower my rating was the end: it was far to clichéd for my liking, and to be honest it didn't make much sense.
It still makes for a light summer read if you're in the mood for that :)
March 5, 2017
Let me just say I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book and what started out as a wacky search for a run away bride turned into a wonderful, deep, introspective story of a woman who finally figures out who is and what she really wants.
Margo Just is the daughter of a famous Hollywood screen writer, alas she was born on the wrong side of the bed covers as the English would say. When she is 8 she moves in with her father, his wife and daughter following the accidental death of her mother. This is not a good situation and when her father dies two years later she is packed off to an aunt in England and then a boarding school. She and her half-sister were never close, even after she returned to the US. As an adult she uses alcohol to avoid the reality she doesn't want to face.
She attends her niece's wedding, which is more than I can say for the bride. And bob's your uncle she and the jilted groom are off on a cross county road trip in a vintage MG tracking the 'runaway bride'. Throughout the trip we learn the details of Margo's life, and Margo comes to grip with who she is, what she wants out of life and what is really important.
It is told brilliantly, cleverly and filled with funny dialog.
I would recommend this to any one who is middle aged. As another reviewer said, she couldn't relate to many of the themes.
Margo Just is the daughter of a famous Hollywood screen writer, alas she was born on the wrong side of the bed covers as the English would say. When she is 8 she moves in with her father, his wife and daughter following the accidental death of her mother. This is not a good situation and when her father dies two years later she is packed off to an aunt in England and then a boarding school. She and her half-sister were never close, even after she returned to the US. As an adult she uses alcohol to avoid the reality she doesn't want to face.
She attends her niece's wedding, which is more than I can say for the bride. And bob's your uncle she and the jilted groom are off on a cross county road trip in a vintage MG tracking the 'runaway bride'. Throughout the trip we learn the details of Margo's life, and Margo comes to grip with who she is, what she wants out of life and what is really important.
It is told brilliantly, cleverly and filled with funny dialog.
I would recommend this to any one who is middle aged. As another reviewer said, she couldn't relate to many of the themes.
December 18, 2015
I don't usually read what I call midlife crisis fiction. But the premise intrigued me and Margo drew me in -- I actually read this in pretty much one sitting! This is why despite some things I didn't like as much, this book gets an extra star. Extremely well written, pretty true to real life (obviously not completely cause it IS chic-lit!) and I was engrossed all the way to the end. Plus, the humor is wonderful and Margo's breakdown near the end is downright legendary. If you want humor, romance, drama and some deep ponderings read this book!
March 25, 2019
Excellent!
The Foreward performed by Ms. Lotter's daughter (Tessa) made this book especially meaningful for me. Thank You for sharing your homage to her with us. :)
The Foreward performed by Ms. Lotter's daughter (Tessa) made this book especially meaningful for me. Thank You for sharing your homage to her with us. :)
January 18, 2016
This is such a delightful book. No, it's not War and Peace, which should be the kind of novel that earns five stars. It's better. It's infinitely readable. Such bright and frequently endearing characters. To use a term from the book, it really is a screwball comedy, but without the cringe-worthy aspects of that genre. While the many aspects of the story are tied up with a bow, it is not predictable. It made me quite happy.
The touching forward was written by the author's daughter. The author herself, Jane Lotter, died a few years ago. It was a huge loss to her family and friends. I'd like to have known her. You would too. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seat...
The touching forward was written by the author's daughter. The author herself, Jane Lotter, died a few years ago. It was a huge loss to her family and friends. I'd like to have known her. You would too. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seat...
August 19, 2016
3.5 כוכבים
30 שנים מרגו חייה בצל אהבתה הגדולה לפין. היא פגשה אותו כשהייתה בת 19 והוא בן 39. הם היו החברים הטובים ביותר ואז משהו קרה (שהוא בגדר ספויילר עצבני והרסני ) ומרגו נוטשת את פין בחופה.
היום. בגיל 50, מרגו לבד, מרוששת, שתיינית כרונית של ג'ין והיא מגיעה להוליווד לחתונה של אחייניתה ג'ורג'יה. אבל החתונה לא מתקיימת, ואחותה למחצה, שרלוט, מבקשת את עזרתה באיתור הבת הסוררת.
למסע מצטרף טאלי, החתן הנטוש. במכונית ספורט משנות החמישים, רכב לאספנים בלבד ללא חגורות בטיחות ושאינו עובר 80 קמש, הם יוצאים לפאלם ספרינגס ומשם לשיקגו ולניו יורק.
במסע מתגלים פרטים על חייה של מרגו שאמה התאבדה, על יחסיה עם אביה ועם אחותה למחצה שרלוט. על חיו של טאלי וגם על חברות וידידות.
הספר נוגע ללב אבל יש בו קטעים פשוט מיותרים מבחינת העלילה שהיה ניתן לחסוך לקורא ולהתרכז בעיקר ולא במרדף אחרי ג'ורג'יה.
30 שנים מרגו חייה בצל אהבתה הגדולה לפין. היא פגשה אותו כשהייתה בת 19 והוא בן 39. הם היו החברים הטובים ביותר ואז משהו קרה (שהוא בגדר ספויילר עצבני והרסני ) ומרגו נוטשת את פין בחופה.
היום. בגיל 50, מרגו לבד, מרוששת, שתיינית כרונית של ג'ין והיא מגיעה להוליווד לחתונה של אחייניתה ג'ורג'יה. אבל החתונה לא מתקיימת, ואחותה למחצה, שרלוט, מבקשת את עזרתה באיתור הבת הסוררת.
למסע מצטרף טאלי, החתן הנטוש. במכונית ספורט משנות החמישים, רכב לאספנים בלבד ללא חגורות בטיחות ושאינו עובר 80 קמש, הם יוצאים לפאלם ספרינגס ומשם לשיקגו ולניו יורק.
במסע מתגלים פרטים על חייה של מרגו שאמה התאבדה, על יחסיה עם אביה ועם אחותה למחצה שרלוט. על חיו של טאלי וגם על חברות וידידות.
הספר נוגע ללב אבל יש בו קטעים פשוט מיותרים מבחינת העלילה שהיה ניתן לחסוך לקורא ולהתרכז בעיקר ולא במרדף אחרי ג'ורג'יה.
March 21, 2016
A rare did-not-finish.
Despite the appealing title for a big Bette Davis fan, and the appeal of the book description, the writing never engaged me. I didn't like or care about any of the characters, or how the plot would proceed. I quit around page 50.
Despite the appealing title for a big Bette Davis fan, and the appeal of the book description, the writing never engaged me. I didn't like or care about any of the characters, or how the plot would proceed. I quit around page 50.
June 19, 2020
Fun little quirky rom com trip across the country where you never quite know what will happen next. Almost a 3.5 stars for me.
January 6, 2016
Reading books can be a hit or miss proposition. Lately, I have read several books that I wasn't overly fond of. Add this to the stress of this time of year, and I was getting burnt out. I needed a fun book to remind me that reading is supposed to be entertaining. I found that book when I got approved to read The Bette Davis Club from NetGalley. It is fun, fast-paced, and fabulous!
The fun begins as Margo attends the wedding of her nineteen year-old niece, Georgia, to a much older, nerdy fellow named Tully. Margo's movie producer, half-sister, Charlotte, is in a panic because the bride has gone missing (and taken several valuable items with her). Charlotte hires Margo to bring Georgia (and the stolen items) back to Malibu. Margo won't fly in a plane and she doesn't drive, so Tully accompanies her, first to Palm Springs, and then across the country in pursuit of the runaway bride. The chase is on!
The story moves quickly from one locale to another. It's a long road trip, but it never gets boring. The people Margo and Tully meet along the way include lesbian dance competitors, entitled party girls, and mobsters, all after their own version of a dream. When you think you've figured out what was really taken from Charlotte, there's a new twist to the story, a new angle, that keeps you wanting to read further. I loved it!
The fabulous part is in all the wonderful details, from the classic cherry red MG car they drive in, to the couture fashion Margo "borrows" from her sister. This is a universe that is all about style. It is also about trying to tell the difference between style and substance (a tricky thing to do in Hollywood). Which is more important? Do you want to linger in the dream, or work with the reality?
The terribly tragedy of this book is that the superb author, Jane Lotter, passed away in 2013. What a glorious storyteller! Oh, the further books she could written, the tales she could have told! I hope her family revels in the fact that this one and only book Jane Lotter created is a marvelous tale. And it is not just a fluffy piece of literature. This book has a great balance between screwball comedy and sober introspection. When life's expectations clash with reality, do you face it or do you cling to the illusion? This is a book that I hope many people will read. Perhaps a deal with Hollywood can be reached? This would make a marvelous movie!
The fun begins as Margo attends the wedding of her nineteen year-old niece, Georgia, to a much older, nerdy fellow named Tully. Margo's movie producer, half-sister, Charlotte, is in a panic because the bride has gone missing (and taken several valuable items with her). Charlotte hires Margo to bring Georgia (and the stolen items) back to Malibu. Margo won't fly in a plane and she doesn't drive, so Tully accompanies her, first to Palm Springs, and then across the country in pursuit of the runaway bride. The chase is on!
The story moves quickly from one locale to another. It's a long road trip, but it never gets boring. The people Margo and Tully meet along the way include lesbian dance competitors, entitled party girls, and mobsters, all after their own version of a dream. When you think you've figured out what was really taken from Charlotte, there's a new twist to the story, a new angle, that keeps you wanting to read further. I loved it!
The fabulous part is in all the wonderful details, from the classic cherry red MG car they drive in, to the couture fashion Margo "borrows" from her sister. This is a universe that is all about style. It is also about trying to tell the difference between style and substance (a tricky thing to do in Hollywood). Which is more important? Do you want to linger in the dream, or work with the reality?
The terribly tragedy of this book is that the superb author, Jane Lotter, passed away in 2013. What a glorious storyteller! Oh, the further books she could written, the tales she could have told! I hope her family revels in the fact that this one and only book Jane Lotter created is a marvelous tale. And it is not just a fluffy piece of literature. This book has a great balance between screwball comedy and sober introspection. When life's expectations clash with reality, do you face it or do you cling to the illusion? This is a book that I hope many people will read. Perhaps a deal with Hollywood can be reached? This would make a marvelous movie!
May 15, 2022
I am so glad I bumped into this book. I needed a book with the word “club” in the title and I found this one. It sounded like a fun read and indeed it was.
The book opens with a note from the author’s daughter, where she recount to the reader her mother’s publishing journey. Apparently Jane Lotter died right after self publishing The Bette Davis Club, and later on a publishing company reached out to the family and published the book. I wish she lived long enough to receive that phone call and to hold her book in her hands!
The premises is simple: On the morning of her niece’s wedding, Margo gets cornered by her sister: the bride run away with family heirloom, and she offers to pay her a huge sum of money (money that Margo needs desperately) to go retrieve her daughter and what she stole. Margo and the groom-to-be hop on a 1955 red MG and go on a mission. They gather clues and encounter very interesting people on their way. During the adventure Margo is forced to reflect on her past relationships, especially the one with a man that couldn’t love her back.
The mystery is not only fun and intriguing, the characters are great and the book takes you to so many places, not only physically when Margo and Tully end up into this unexpected road trip, but emotionally too! Margo comes alive page after page, as all starts making sense with her and the mystery. A great fun book that I highly recommend! The romance was also very cute.
The book opens with a note from the author’s daughter, where she recount to the reader her mother’s publishing journey. Apparently Jane Lotter died right after self publishing The Bette Davis Club, and later on a publishing company reached out to the family and published the book. I wish she lived long enough to receive that phone call and to hold her book in her hands!
The premises is simple: On the morning of her niece’s wedding, Margo gets cornered by her sister: the bride run away with family heirloom, and she offers to pay her a huge sum of money (money that Margo needs desperately) to go retrieve her daughter and what she stole. Margo and the groom-to-be hop on a 1955 red MG and go on a mission. They gather clues and encounter very interesting people on their way. During the adventure Margo is forced to reflect on her past relationships, especially the one with a man that couldn’t love her back.
The mystery is not only fun and intriguing, the characters are great and the book takes you to so many places, not only physically when Margo and Tully end up into this unexpected road trip, but emotionally too! Margo comes alive page after page, as all starts making sense with her and the mystery. A great fun book that I highly recommend! The romance was also very cute.
December 30, 2022
Margo is in her 50s, had a sad childhood, is bumping along in her halfway life, and then this non-wedding sets into motion a series of madcap events. It starts with the jilted bridegroom joining her in for a trip to Palm Springs in a vintage MG chasing the runaway bride. Since the MG is really precious and tiny (and no seatbelts) she and Tully decide to take old Route 66 rather than the freeway.
The roadtrip wasn't as interesting as what happens when they finally get back to New York, although the fight scene in Chicago was really well done, and there's a ton of dark humor in this book.
Margo's ultimate realization, and the revelation of her backstory with Finn, the unattainable forever-love, is worth the ride. Many interesting characters, interesting backdrop (architectural preservation as metaphor), and very satisfying ending. A very good read.
The roadtrip wasn't as interesting as what happens when they finally get back to New York, although the fight scene in Chicago was really well done, and there's a ton of dark humor in this book.
Margo's ultimate realization, and the revelation of her backstory with Finn, the unattainable forever-love, is worth the ride. Many interesting characters, interesting backdrop (architectural preservation as metaphor), and very satisfying ending. A very good read.
August 24, 2013
I couldn't remember why I'd bought this book, but then it came to me. It was mentioned in a NYT article about a woman who'd written her own obituary. That made me feel bad about my urge to trash it, but, OTOH, she's dead and presumably her feelings can't be hurt. Besides, I paid perfectly good money for a self-published book that, but for the NYT story, no one would have bought, so her estate is presumably better off.
I suppose it's not a terrible book. But it is a bad one. Clearly written with a movie adaptation in mind--presumably a date movie adaptation since the classic MG's character is as well-developed as the protagonist. Plus lots of product placement for shoes and dresses.
Skip it.
I suppose it's not a terrible book. But it is a bad one. Clearly written with a movie adaptation in mind--presumably a date movie adaptation since the classic MG's character is as well-developed as the protagonist. Plus lots of product placement for shoes and dresses.
Skip it.
February 1, 2017
If you read this as a silly, madcap adventure, reminiscent of a 1930's romantic comedy, and don't think too much about the plot, this is an enjoyable, light read. Unfortunately, I didn't start reading it that way until I was about halfway through and ready to give up because the plot was so ridiculous.
Aside from the implausible plot, another problem with the book is some major plot points were revealed in fits and starts, with a full explanation not given until 3/4 of the way through the book, which just didn't make sense (i.e. they were not plot twists). For example, the entire book I could not figure out what "The Bette Davis Club" is; when it was finally revealed at basically the end of the book I didn't even care anymore. Possibly the Bette Davis Club is part of pop culture and I am just in the clueless minority, but as far as I am concerned the author invented this term. I also did not understand Margo's alcoholism. It seemed like this was kind of thrown in just so the author could write particular scenes that I know she thought were quite clever and funny (.
Aside from the implausible plot, another problem with the book is some major plot points were revealed in fits and starts, with a full explanation not given until 3/4 of the way through the book, which just didn't make sense (i.e. they were not plot twists). For example, the entire book I could not figure out what "The Bette Davis Club" is; when it was finally revealed at basically the end of the book I didn't even care anymore. Possibly the Bette Davis Club is part of pop culture and I am just in the clueless minority, but as far as I am concerned the author invented this term. I also did not understand Margo's alcoholism. It seemed like this was kind of thrown in just so the author could write particular scenes that I know she thought were quite clever and funny (.
February 28, 2016
Fun read
Fun, easy, light, weekend read. Good story, it kept my interest. Fun characters. This would be a good book to take on vacation.
Fun, easy, light, weekend read. Good story, it kept my interest. Fun characters. This would be a good book to take on vacation.
July 27, 2018
Margo gets suckered into an interesting road trip when her half-sister agrees to pay the broke Margo $50K to retrieve her runaway-bride daughter. Accompanied by the would-be groom, they set off towards Palm Springs in a classic car that was once owned by Margo's father. The road trip allows Margo time to reminisce about her father and the groom she once left at the alter, all while getting to know Tully (the groom) and herself better.
This book had a lot going on! Not only was it an adventure trying to track down the runaway bride, who managed to cross the entire country before they can catch up with them, but it was also an adventure in self-discovery for Margo. She's in her 50's and she comes to realize that in many ways, she's wasted her life comparing every man to the one she stood up at the altar when she was 19. She also comes to accept that she is an alcoholic and her family is more messed up than she realized.
This book had a lot going on! Not only was it an adventure trying to track down the runaway bride, who managed to cross the entire country before they can catch up with them, but it was also an adventure in self-discovery for Margo. She's in her 50's and she comes to realize that in many ways, she's wasted her life comparing every man to the one she stood up at the altar when she was 19. She also comes to accept that she is an alcoholic and her family is more messed up than she realized.
September 25, 2024
I truly enjoyed this posthumously published book. The main character is a middle-aged woman battling demons. Her backstory unfolds as the main story plays out. I truly enjoyed the audio version and cheered for the main character all the way.
February 21, 2021
Too light and fluffy for me. It's well written and a fun journey, but my current reading mood says I need something a bit more mysterious. Abandoned!
January 17, 2016
The Bette Davis Club was written by Jane Lotter. It is her only novel and she self-published it shortly before her death. However, after her death, her daughter was approached by a publisher and it was republished by them. Jane simply loved writing and did it for the sheer joy of it. She insisted her children read good literature, heard good storytelling, and watched classic movies. The joys she shared with her children show up in her book. This insight into the author makes the book much more enjoyable. I did find it a little difficult getting into the book and accepting the unusual flippant way she wrote. It seems that nothing is important to the main character and that she just moves through life as best she can. However, once I got into the rhythm of the book, the main character, Margo, takes on a different light. The book turned out to be completely delightful and so funny.
Margo Just has come to California to Georgia’s (her niece) wedding. She hasn’t had much to do with her half-sister, Charlotte, or Georgia for years; but Margo is broke and needs some help. What Charlotte will do, she doesn’t know; but she is here anyway. While waiting for the wedding to begin, Margo strikes up a conversation with Malcolm Belvedere, the most powerful head of a movie studio here in Hollywood. He happens to also be the “step-dad” of the groom although he and Tully’s mother never married. While they are talking, Margo is summoned by Charlotte. It seems Georgia has run away and left Tully at the altar. To avoid publicity, Charlotte is willing to pay Margo to find Georgia and bring her home along with the “things” she took. Charlotte is sending Margo to Palm Springs where a bridesmaid told her Georgia was going. Since Margo won’t fly, Charlotte is willing to let her use their Father’s red MG. However, since Margo doesn’t have a license, Tully is going with her as the driver. While they are getting their luggage strapped to the car, wedding guests think it is the get-away car and decorate it for the bride and groom. Finally, Tully and Margo are in the car, dressed in their wedding finery, and headed off to Palm Springs in a decorated “honeymoon” car. The fun has just begun as they frantically try to find Georgia before she moves on. Their search takes them from Palm Springs to Chicago to New York City on all the back roads of Route 66 with exciting and funny adventures all along the way.
The book just pulls you into it and you nearly die laughing at the situations Margo gets herself into. Jane Lotter definitely had a unique way of telling a story. Her love of the classics shines through too.
Margo Just has come to California to Georgia’s (her niece) wedding. She hasn’t had much to do with her half-sister, Charlotte, or Georgia for years; but Margo is broke and needs some help. What Charlotte will do, she doesn’t know; but she is here anyway. While waiting for the wedding to begin, Margo strikes up a conversation with Malcolm Belvedere, the most powerful head of a movie studio here in Hollywood. He happens to also be the “step-dad” of the groom although he and Tully’s mother never married. While they are talking, Margo is summoned by Charlotte. It seems Georgia has run away and left Tully at the altar. To avoid publicity, Charlotte is willing to pay Margo to find Georgia and bring her home along with the “things” she took. Charlotte is sending Margo to Palm Springs where a bridesmaid told her Georgia was going. Since Margo won’t fly, Charlotte is willing to let her use their Father’s red MG. However, since Margo doesn’t have a license, Tully is going with her as the driver. While they are getting their luggage strapped to the car, wedding guests think it is the get-away car and decorate it for the bride and groom. Finally, Tully and Margo are in the car, dressed in their wedding finery, and headed off to Palm Springs in a decorated “honeymoon” car. The fun has just begun as they frantically try to find Georgia before she moves on. Their search takes them from Palm Springs to Chicago to New York City on all the back roads of Route 66 with exciting and funny adventures all along the way.
The book just pulls you into it and you nearly die laughing at the situations Margo gets herself into. Jane Lotter definitely had a unique way of telling a story. Her love of the classics shines through too.
Read
December 11, 2015Thank you to NetGalley.com and to the publisher for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Because of Tom Hatten and the Channel 5 (LA) Sunday Family Film, I fell in love with classic movies. And like Margo Just, I idolized that time period in cinematic history – especially Cary Grant films. Since I had such an immediate connection to the main character, I thoroughly enjoyed The Bette Davis Club and devoured it in about 2 days. The plot is that from a screwball comedy of the ‘50s set in today’s crazy world.
Ms. Lotter wrote a terrific story, and I wish she was still around to provide even more tales. Her daughter wrote a beautiful foreward at the beginning of this book which set such an inviting tone for the readers.
What I loved: The sheer madcap plot – the characters – the twists and turns – everything…..
What I didn’t love: I wasn’t in love with Georgia or any of her friends but they still provided so much to the plot that they needed to be there..
What I learned: Sometimes, a the long way is far better than any kind of short cut
Overall Grade: A-
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