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Are You Lonesome Tonight
Presents an account of the author's turbulent twenty-four-year affair with Elvis Presley and reveals their secret relationship
322 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 13, 2015
I'm only half way through this book and I am struggling. It is an easy read but I just can't bring myself to believe any of it. I've read some of the reviews and I'm just baffled that THIS book has so many good reviews. All I can say is WOW. For a struggling mother of three then four children, she sure got out a lot. I'm also shocked anyone would believe any of this considering Elvis didn't want to be intimate with Priscilla after she had his child. Why on earth would he be intimate with a woman who had three children by the age of 16 with some other man? That is just not logical to me.
September 1, 2024
I was 14yrs old when i first read this. I believed in this book & I cried like a baby every time I read it...but then as an adult I realised it was a work of complete fantasy...
First, Lucy De Barbin. The first outright lie is when the Louisiana native writes that she first met Elvis in the spring of 1953 when Elvis, with his band, played a gig in her hometown. She writes they instantly fell in love, but she was married at the time and Elvis did not want to do anything to harm that marriage. It is a known fact that Elvis did not graduate from Humes High School until June 1953 and did not have a band until he joined up with Scotty Moore and Bill Black in the Sun Studio in the summer of 1954.
Next, in De Barbin's fictional account of their romance, she came to Memphis in the fall of 1953 to do a modeling show at the Memphis Zoo. By now, she wrote, Elvis was making his way to becoming a star and she, a married woman, didn't want to chance ruining his future.
Thus, she never told Elvis she would be in Memphis. She wrote that after the modeling gig, she was nervous, so she went and rented a horse and was riding up this mountain in Memphis when she heard another horse rapidly overtaking her. She looked over her shoulder and, lo and behold, there was Lancelot, her supposed pet name for Elvis, riding alongside her.They rode to the top of the mountain and lay in the flowers, spending the night there making love and looking down on the twinkling lights of the city. When I read that passage, I almost fell out of my chair laughing! First, the only place you could rent horses in 1953 in Memphis was at the Fairgrounds (now Libertyland), and even then, those horses were not allowed off the Fairgrounds.
Second, a mountain in Memphis?! Maybe her ghost writer looked at a map of Memphis and saw the major street, Mount Moriah, and figured it was a mountain. Or maybe he saw the Orange Mound area just south of the Fairgrounds and figured that was a mountain? Regardless, Memphis is, has been, and forever will be (until the next Ice Age, perhaps), as flat as a pancake. The nearest mountains to Memphis would be the Ozarks in Arkansas, some three hours to the northwest. And flowers blooming on the mountain top in the fall? Must have been Arctic roses?
Nine months later, daughter Desiree is born. That would put her birth somewhere about June 1954 -- still a month before "That's All Right Mama" was recorded and anyone knew there was anyone named Elvis Presley. She kept it a secret from him, she says, again so it wouldn't ruin his career -- in June 1954. Her last meeting was when she heard he was opening in Las Vegas in 1969. She went to his hotel and bumped into him in the lobby, and he generously reached into his pocket and gave her a $1000 bill for spending money.
Anyone who ever knew Elvis, or was close to him, know Elvis never carried cash in his pockets. Even when he needed a nickel (in those days) to get a Coke out of a machine, one of the guys had to dip into his own pocket to buy the boss a Coke. The part I liked most was when the two De Barbins appeared on a national TV talk show and someone called in to ask Lucy the color of her eyes and the color of Desiree's eyes. "Mine are brown; Desiree's are green," she answered. "Well," the caller replied, "I am a registered nurse who knows something about genetics. You say you have brown eyes. Elvis' eyes were blue. It is impossible for brown and blue to have a green-eyed daughter." "Errr," Lucy stuttered. "I said they were green, but if you look closely you can see they are blue." A change of colors right there on live TV.
First, Lucy De Barbin. The first outright lie is when the Louisiana native writes that she first met Elvis in the spring of 1953 when Elvis, with his band, played a gig in her hometown. She writes they instantly fell in love, but she was married at the time and Elvis did not want to do anything to harm that marriage. It is a known fact that Elvis did not graduate from Humes High School until June 1953 and did not have a band until he joined up with Scotty Moore and Bill Black in the Sun Studio in the summer of 1954.
Next, in De Barbin's fictional account of their romance, she came to Memphis in the fall of 1953 to do a modeling show at the Memphis Zoo. By now, she wrote, Elvis was making his way to becoming a star and she, a married woman, didn't want to chance ruining his future.
Thus, she never told Elvis she would be in Memphis. She wrote that after the modeling gig, she was nervous, so she went and rented a horse and was riding up this mountain in Memphis when she heard another horse rapidly overtaking her. She looked over her shoulder and, lo and behold, there was Lancelot, her supposed pet name for Elvis, riding alongside her.They rode to the top of the mountain and lay in the flowers, spending the night there making love and looking down on the twinkling lights of the city. When I read that passage, I almost fell out of my chair laughing! First, the only place you could rent horses in 1953 in Memphis was at the Fairgrounds (now Libertyland), and even then, those horses were not allowed off the Fairgrounds.
Second, a mountain in Memphis?! Maybe her ghost writer looked at a map of Memphis and saw the major street, Mount Moriah, and figured it was a mountain. Or maybe he saw the Orange Mound area just south of the Fairgrounds and figured that was a mountain? Regardless, Memphis is, has been, and forever will be (until the next Ice Age, perhaps), as flat as a pancake. The nearest mountains to Memphis would be the Ozarks in Arkansas, some three hours to the northwest. And flowers blooming on the mountain top in the fall? Must have been Arctic roses?
Nine months later, daughter Desiree is born. That would put her birth somewhere about June 1954 -- still a month before "That's All Right Mama" was recorded and anyone knew there was anyone named Elvis Presley. She kept it a secret from him, she says, again so it wouldn't ruin his career -- in June 1954. Her last meeting was when she heard he was opening in Las Vegas in 1969. She went to his hotel and bumped into him in the lobby, and he generously reached into his pocket and gave her a $1000 bill for spending money.
Anyone who ever knew Elvis, or was close to him, know Elvis never carried cash in his pockets. Even when he needed a nickel (in those days) to get a Coke out of a machine, one of the guys had to dip into his own pocket to buy the boss a Coke. The part I liked most was when the two De Barbins appeared on a national TV talk show and someone called in to ask Lucy the color of her eyes and the color of Desiree's eyes. "Mine are brown; Desiree's are green," she answered. "Well," the caller replied, "I am a registered nurse who knows something about genetics. You say you have brown eyes. Elvis' eyes were blue. It is impossible for brown and blue to have a green-eyed daughter." "Errr," Lucy stuttered. "I said they were green, but if you look closely you can see they are blue." A change of colors right there on live TV.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2010
I tend to believe that Lucy did meet and have an affair with Elvis because there is a lot of evidence to that effect. It gets quite gray when she meets him again and doesn't tell him about her child. She does know a lot about him and I think that the dates of the meetings were accurate. I would hate to say that the book is a load of hooey because I think that Desiree' does look a lot like Elvis and Lucy and even Elvis' cousin knew he had a girlfriend named Lucy that he visited. Lucy knew a tremendous amount about the Parker, and things that the general public didn't know.
March 14, 2011
Suspicious Minds
While never really an Elvis fan I saw this book at a library book sale and was intrigued. I found the first half of the book believable and looking at Desiree’s photos do see the possibility that she can be the King’s daughter.
Partially, I understand Lucy’s secrecy since times were different in the late 50’s – early 60’s and scandal could break an artist, but after the 10-year hiatus some of her actions seem unbelievable. She loves him, dreams about him, genuinely cares about him as a person, he’s the father of her 4th child, and then she acts so nonchalant when he calls and wants to see her? Also, I found it hard to believe husband #2, while aloof in the marriage, didn’t really question the roses, phone calls, mysterious travel when she did go, etc. If the soul mate bond were there I find it hard to understand why Lucy couldn’t tell Elvis the truth about Desiree and her life in general. It always seems the women behind the rock man are always found when needed.
Since this book was written in 1987, I haven’t found much online to follow up on this claim and I find that interesting.
While never really an Elvis fan I saw this book at a library book sale and was intrigued. I found the first half of the book believable and looking at Desiree’s photos do see the possibility that she can be the King’s daughter.
Partially, I understand Lucy’s secrecy since times were different in the late 50’s – early 60’s and scandal could break an artist, but after the 10-year hiatus some of her actions seem unbelievable. She loves him, dreams about him, genuinely cares about him as a person, he’s the father of her 4th child, and then she acts so nonchalant when he calls and wants to see her? Also, I found it hard to believe husband #2, while aloof in the marriage, didn’t really question the roses, phone calls, mysterious travel when she did go, etc. If the soul mate bond were there I find it hard to understand why Lucy couldn’t tell Elvis the truth about Desiree and her life in general. It always seems the women behind the rock man are always found when needed.
Since this book was written in 1987, I haven’t found much online to follow up on this claim and I find that interesting.
July 5, 2008
I'm not sure how this book even got published!
April 4, 2008
What a load of hooey. I'd say it's just as likely she bore an alien's love child as Elvis Presley's. Don't waste your time.
October 12, 2012
Very believable
June 3, 2018
This was the worst book I've ever read about Elvis Presley. You could say it's more about De Barbin, the author who claims to have had an over 20 year affair with him, but really, if Elvis wasn't involved, we probably wouldn't think twice about reading this. Lucy De Barbin claims she met Elvis in the 50's and had romantic meetings with him over the years and one of those meetings produced a baby girl of which she never told Elvis. Where to start with this...this book made me really angry the more I read it. I will grant that it's possible De Barbin could have met with Elvis when he was first starting out. They may have even spent a night together. But to have been with the most famous singer in the world, numerous times over a more than 20 year time frame and not have any evidence other than your own word is just too much to accept. The author wants us to believe that every offer of money, no matter how desperate or destitute she was, was refused. Any gift was pushed away or lost. Many times the author speaks of "El Lancelot", her pet name for Elvis, sending flowers with a card yet none of these are reproduced in the book. One card offered is signed El Lancelot and there is a picture of that. Many pictures of Elvis signature are available to look at on line now. I suppose this was not a worry in 1990 when the book was published. You don't have to be a handwriting expert to see that the writing on the card is nothing like the signature of Elvis.
The author also tells us of a poem that Elvis wrote for her. The co-author, who cut a deal with the National Enquirer to serialize the book, tells us that the estate of Presley controls all his letters and wouldn't allow the poem to be published. If Elvis gave the poem to De Barbin it's her's to do with as she wishes. It wouldn't take much of a lawyer to win that case. It's lazy excuses like these that really do this book in.
But the worst part of all this is De Barbin would also have us believe she was the main influence in songs Presley chose to record, some of them the biggest of his career. Choices he made or didn't make in his life were also because of her. And yet she has nothing nor a single person who can back up her claims other than anecdotal stories from her own daughters and sister such as, I over heard one end of a phone call or I had a feeling about such and such...
The real irony here is throughout the story De Barbin professes her love and caring for Elvis, never wanting to take advantage of him or use him in any way. After supposedly keeping their "love child" in the dark about the true identity of her father, after the man dies she finds she still can't talk to her daughter about it, so she writes a book about it and tells the whole world??? Exposing her daughter to the risks she always sought to protect her from?? Really? Really....
The start of the book is a heartbreaking story of child abuse perpetrated upon the author by adults and if it's true, which I tend to think it might be, I give all of my sympathy to De Barbin. Elvis Presley must have seemed like a dream and knight in shining armor to a scared young girl so long ago. Those dreams of a prince charming probably helped keep her alive, but over time they morphed into something that turns the stomach, in the form of a book that tries to use the memory of the 20th century's most beloved performer for financial gain and recognition that is not due. The only thing sadder than Elvis' life is making money from it like this...
The author also tells us of a poem that Elvis wrote for her. The co-author, who cut a deal with the National Enquirer to serialize the book, tells us that the estate of Presley controls all his letters and wouldn't allow the poem to be published. If Elvis gave the poem to De Barbin it's her's to do with as she wishes. It wouldn't take much of a lawyer to win that case. It's lazy excuses like these that really do this book in.
But the worst part of all this is De Barbin would also have us believe she was the main influence in songs Presley chose to record, some of them the biggest of his career. Choices he made or didn't make in his life were also because of her. And yet she has nothing nor a single person who can back up her claims other than anecdotal stories from her own daughters and sister such as, I over heard one end of a phone call or I had a feeling about such and such...
The real irony here is throughout the story De Barbin professes her love and caring for Elvis, never wanting to take advantage of him or use him in any way. After supposedly keeping their "love child" in the dark about the true identity of her father, after the man dies she finds she still can't talk to her daughter about it, so she writes a book about it and tells the whole world??? Exposing her daughter to the risks she always sought to protect her from?? Really? Really....
The start of the book is a heartbreaking story of child abuse perpetrated upon the author by adults and if it's true, which I tend to think it might be, I give all of my sympathy to De Barbin. Elvis Presley must have seemed like a dream and knight in shining armor to a scared young girl so long ago. Those dreams of a prince charming probably helped keep her alive, but over time they morphed into something that turns the stomach, in the form of a book that tries to use the memory of the 20th century's most beloved performer for financial gain and recognition that is not due. The only thing sadder than Elvis' life is making money from it like this...
July 18, 2023
A really bad fanfiction between a celebrity and the writer.
.5/5
a reader's guide to books and reviews | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | LiveJournal
.5/5
a reader's guide to books and reviews | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | LiveJournal
February 14, 2013
i dont know what to believe. but this book made me cry.
October 16, 2014
I picked this book up full of doubt. I finished it pretty convinced. Recently I have been reading a few books on Elvis (old and new). This one seems to fill in some gaps, so I would say Ms de Barbin's claims could mostly be true. Desirée does certainly look very much like Elvis. He certainly out it about a lot! So it stands to reason there must be a few children out there. I did feel that at times the book was a bit too romance novely. But, I can understand why Lucy made the hard choices that she did. I have also read many negative reviews of the book, which make false claims about this book. Unlike the critics, I have just read my copy and their accusations are wildly untrue. If mother and daughter were after fame and notoriety, this book did not give it to them. I have been searching all over the internet for more information about them and pretty much turned up nothing. There were very few pictures and a couple old video clips from the time of the books release. Then one more recent interview clip, where their stories didn't deviate from what I just read. All of which tells me that they are truthful. I hope both Lucy and Desirée are leading happy and fulfilling lives and have made peace with their past.
March 24, 2012
The story it's self is very good. It hooked me in right away and I don't want to put it down, but I question the truth in it. Although there are many facts that coincide with her story, some times it seems a little too much. Sometimes her responses to situations or thought processes irritate me to no end, Like I'm reading a teen novel, but then I have to remember that she was young and it was a different time. I'm almost done, but am still not quite sold on it all. Need to do some digging around on the web and try to find out if DNA testing was ever done.
August 6, 2014
It is up to the reader to decide whether you believe this woman's account or not. Nonetheless, it is a great read. Captivating, really. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. You don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this book. It is a story of young love...entertaining, dramatic, sappy at times. Just filled with emotions.
June 1, 2015
Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. How does one live through what Lucy lived through? I was a huge Elvis fan and Lucy shows me a side that I never knew. There are so many things I want to mention but it would give everything away.
April 26, 2016
Great book I read it years ago and wanted to read it again. Tracked down a copy off Amazon. Just as good as I remember really makes you wonder if it's true or not. Would really recommend it to anyone who is an Elvis fan and a romantic.
October 2, 2025
Pure and utter nonsense! Just..no.
June 11, 2019
This is the version by the French lady he met while on active duty in Europe. Written in 1987, it is an accounting of Lucy De Barbin's meeting and having a triste with Elvis. According to this work, she is the love of his life and he hers. Ms. De Barbin's life is the main focus of the book--and her relationship with Elvis, of course. Reading this book actually filled in some of the "missing gaps" in the prior read I posted a day or two ago, "Letters from Elvis: Shocking Revelations to His Secret Confidante" by Gary Lindberg. In that book, an unidentified female dives in and out of Elvis' life. Maybe Lucy is that mystery woman.
Reading somewhat like a Danielle Steele romance novel, her co-writer Dary Matera does a great job at letting Lucy tell her version of the events that chronicle their lives until Elvis dies. What Dary brings to the story is validation of her version by citing personal accounts of family, friends and business associates, news stories, etc.
There is very little to say without giving huge chunks of the story away, which is one of unrequited love, hidden truths, deep longing and at least two very sad people who wished their lives would have followed different paths.
After a bit, the story gets very repetitive with pleas and postponements and coming together then moving apart with many of the same words repeated time after time, in the end with a lot of "shoulda, woulda, coulda" for all the second-guessing that went on. The book is laid out chronologically and is well-written by both parties. Take 20 pages of similar dialogue away to tighten up the book a bit--the feelings would still be there--and I'd have given it 5 stars.
Reading somewhat like a Danielle Steele romance novel, her co-writer Dary Matera does a great job at letting Lucy tell her version of the events that chronicle their lives until Elvis dies. What Dary brings to the story is validation of her version by citing personal accounts of family, friends and business associates, news stories, etc.
There is very little to say without giving huge chunks of the story away, which is one of unrequited love, hidden truths, deep longing and at least two very sad people who wished their lives would have followed different paths.
After a bit, the story gets very repetitive with pleas and postponements and coming together then moving apart with many of the same words repeated time after time, in the end with a lot of "shoulda, woulda, coulda" for all the second-guessing that went on. The book is laid out chronologically and is well-written by both parties. Take 20 pages of similar dialogue away to tighten up the book a bit--the feelings would still be there--and I'd have given it 5 stars.
March 19, 2018
Started out quite interesting, although the writing was mediocre. The more it went on the more I got fed up w/ these people. The phrase, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions," comes to mind. Everyone drowning in bullshit & no one taking responsibility for their own damn lives. Incessant pleading about it not being the the right time, & how it would effect others, & the tired crap about protecting the children. Give me a break. Decisions made under the guise of protecting others that in fact have having everything do with the person making the decision & nothing to do w/ the person(s) they claim they love & want to protect. Nonsense. In the end everyone got hurt...profoundly. People were robbed of relationships & the ability to make decisions about their own damn lives. By the time finished the damn thing I could not have been more irritated. I feel bad for the kids, b/c this mess is just not okay. Other than the kids though, these people are ridiculous.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone except the most ardent Elvis fans that want to devour every possible scrap of the man's life. They'll want to read it, but beyond that group, I have to say no. I flirted w/ a 1-star rating even, b/c I am so annoyed by these people. B/c there is some story here, & I can't say the book altogether is trash, I couldn't bring myself to go below a 2-star rating, despite my concluding distaste for everyone except the kids of these messes masquerading as parents & grown-ups.
People suck.
April 17, 2023
Review after book club...
This book is hard to rate. It was interesting to learn of the rise and fall of Elvis. I had to wonder if fame was all he thought it would be. Quite obviously, not. Everyone seems to hit bottom, so why do so many want it? The history of him was worth reading the book for.
Lucy... I find parts of the story hard to believe. I wish the Presley people would let DNA testing be done to prove or disprove.
Interesting, too how the meeting about this book was the day after Lisa Marie died.
This book is hard to rate. It was interesting to learn of the rise and fall of Elvis. I had to wonder if fame was all he thought it would be. Quite obviously, not. Everyone seems to hit bottom, so why do so many want it? The history of him was worth reading the book for.
Lucy... I find parts of the story hard to believe. I wish the Presley people would let DNA testing be done to prove or disprove.
Interesting, too how the meeting about this book was the day after Lisa Marie died.
August 3, 2025
Enjoyed it. Second time to read it. I believe it could have really happened. I appreciate Dary’s backup researched details of how the events could have happened. I appreciate that it is Lucy’s life story, and Elvis’s life story as she knew it. It seems she worked her whole life to keep the true identity of Desiree hidden.
September 1, 2024
Overwrought fanfic.
February 10, 2017
Since I've read his former wife's books, I'm of the mind this tale might possibly be true. Each reader will have to decide for themselves. It's a really interesting story that opens up other avenues of Presley's life outside of his families biased knowledge.
August 17, 2012
Even if this wasn't true, it was one heck of a story.
October 11, 2016
i never knew there exist a certain Lucy de Barbin in Elvis life....but looking to Desiree,she indeed like a female version of Elvis.Poor child. She almost fall in love with her own dad!
February 10, 2019
A moving story about a woman's love. Naturally the truth of the story will be questioned, but true or not, the story is still beautiful.
March 31, 2017
Nice little yarn but I doubt any of it is true.
October 14, 2018
This is the most depressing book--fiction or non-fiction--that I have ever read!
February 6, 2019
Is it true?? I'm thinking yes. Good read.
December 1, 2019
I read this book in 2 days and wow it was hard to put it down! Loved it 💕
June 8, 2021
I'm not sure I believe this happened.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews