More Than Love: An Intimate Portrait of My Mother, Natalie Wood

by Natasha Gregson Wagner

Beautifully told, this an emotionally powerful tale of a daughter coming to terms with her grief, as well as a riveting portrait of a famous mother and a vanished Hollywood. Natasha addresses questions of her mother's death to clear her stepdad's name.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, History, Audiobook, Womens

481 pages, Library Binding

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Natasha Gregson Wagner is an American actress. She is the daughter of British film producer Richard Gregson and American actress Natalie Wood. She is married to actor Barry Watson. They have a daughter, Clover Clementyne Watson.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library Overdrive audiobook...read by Natasha Greyson Wagner
9 hrs. and 42 minutes

Natasha shares about years of troubling times....
a story of love, grief, fear, faith, perseverance, truth, and healing.

Natasha makes it easier for all of us to open up our hearts to our own pains and that of others.

A deeply beautifully written emotional memoir!

[Vonda]

I loved Natalie Wood and wanted to be her when I was younger. This story, written by her daughter, didn't disappoint. Natalie was a beloved daughter, wife and mother. This book showed her as a real person, the beautiful soul she was. It also puts to rest the rumors that Robert Wagner killed his wife. Wonderfully written, this was a pleasant read.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully told story of what it was like to grow up as the daughter of Hollywood royalty, with the twist of losing her mom, Natalie Wood, when she was only 11 and her mom 41. Natasha Gregson Wagner shares what it was like having her beautiful mom until she was 11, and then trying to cope ever after. How she managed with two dads, her bio dad, and her daddy Wagner, who she lived with and grew up with.


This book is a love letter to Natalie and an excellent memoir at the same time. Well done and recommend. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Natasha Gregson Wagner, and Scribner .

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha lost her mother, actress Natalie Wood, when she was 11 years old, and her sister Courtney was just 7. After Wood drowned in a boating accident, the sisters were raised by Robert Wagner, Courtney’s dad and Natasha’s stepfather. She discusses her memories of growing up with (and without) her beloved mom, mentioning that her aunt has tried to have the case reopened, accusing Robert Wagner of murdering her mother when they were on the boat. She comes across as a strong woman in her own right, enduring a cheating husband and the addiction of her beloved sister. She is overjoyed to become a mom at 41, and I liked how she described her motherhood: “The Japanese have a method of repairing broken pottery called kintsugi. Instead of trying to disguise…cracks, they highlight them with a special gold glue that makes the repaired piece more beautiful than the original….I had been a motherless daughter since age eleven. I was broken… [and my baby] Clover was my golden glue.”

[KBookblogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️When i was a little girl i watched the film version of Westside Story. I loved pretty Maria played by Natalie Wood. I was even more intrigued by her because my mother told me Natalie had died in a tragic boating accident and that her death had always been a mystery. So naturally when i discovered this audiobook i knew i had to listen to it. This book was so much more than i thought it would be though. It’s a beautiful memoir which highlights the love between mother and daughter, a moving and touching biography - all the more emotional because it is narrated by Natasha Wagner (Natalie’s daughter). This book resonated with me so much and had me in tears on more than one occasion. I could empathize with Natasha because i too lost my mother when i was young. Her story is heartbreaking and her retelling of their private lives is brutally honest. I enjoyed other aspects of this book too - for example hearing about Hollywood in the 70’s and 80’s - the likes of James Dean and much later on, a young Robert Downey Jr... not to mention all the glamorous locations in LA. A must read/listen and 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me ♥️

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natasha Gregson Wagner was only eleven years old when her mother, the beautiful and talented actress Natalie Wood, drowned in a boating accident off the coast of Catalina Island. In this memoir, Natasha pays tribute to her mother as she also writes about coming to terms with her grief over the loss.

Her mother’s loss was devastating to the family. Then rumors began to spread which cast doubt on the cause of death. Natasha poignantly describes how painful it was to try and deal with her mother’s loss while living in the public spotlight.

This is an emotional and powerful coming of age story that is beautifully told as Natasha, after more than thirty years, finally finds peace and is able to move forward.

At the same time, she sheds light on the life of the real Natalie Wood who was a devoted daughter, mother, wife, and friend as well as a vivacious, funny, caring, and warm woman.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and author Natasha Gregson Wagner for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this memoir.

[Jennifer Lafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were many surprises in this book but the one I keep going back to is the generosity of Natasha Gregson Wagner in sharing such intimate memories and feelings with us. I've read a couple of books about Natalie Wood but this one is especially powerful, beautiful, and personal because it was written by her own daughter who clearly adored her. This couldn't have been an easy story for her to tell and at times I didn't feel I was worthy to hear it, being just another fan. It's a real privilege to learn about this amazing woman from the perspective of someone who was so close to her. I also appreciated Natasha's candor. This was no sugar-coated tribute. It could be startlingly honest in revealing her mother's imperfections while at the same time deepening my admiration for Natalie Wood. Another surprise was in how helpful the book was to me on a personal level. Some of the things Natasha has struggled with like separation anxiety are challenges for many us and it's comforting to hear about how she was able to deal with these things. What a wonderful gift!

[SundayAtDusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie Wood's oldest daughter tells the story of her mother, their relationship, and her life after her mother's death. It's an intelligent, well-written memoir that deals with not only losing a mother as a child, but also with having a famous mother whose life and death affected family, friends, acquaintances, and a whole lot of strangers. One of the saddest aspects of the story was how Natasha Gregson Wagner always feared, as a young child, that her mother would one day go somewhere and never come back home. She even carried out obsessive rituals to ensure her mother's safe return.

In addition, since there were no witnesses to Natalie Wood's drowning, Ms. Wagner has had to deal with her death being reinvestigated; and having her beloved stepfather Robert Wagner accused by others of knowing exactly what happened; as well as even accused of killing his wife. The author explains in the memoir how she could not possibly believe such a thing, and offers evidence that those who have tried to make Mr. Wagner guilty are only out for money, or revenge because he no longer gave them money. Maybe Natalie Wood was the only one who could have explained what happened, maybe not. Regardless, after going somewhere, she never came back home, just as her oldest daughter always feared would happen one day.

(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the author or publisher.)

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Won 🏆 off the publisher via Instagram giveaway ✨, all my opinions are my own:) Came with a small candle 🕯and a perfume.. gave the perfume to my mom since I don't wear that stuff *
-----
A wonderful tribute to her mother and the author's life before/after. I wanted to hug everyone.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender portrayal of Natasha's love for her mother, Natalie Wood. Further, it shows the love she has for her half-sisters Katie and Courtney, her birth father Richard Gregson, and her stepfather Robert Wagner.

Most people know that the family endured tragedy and its aftermath that occurred on Nov 29, 1981, when Natalie Wood drowned near Catalina Island. The ironic thing is that Natasha had always feared that something would happen to Natalie, and this time she was right.

Natasha also provides a compelling argument that there was no foul play involved when Natalie died. In a love story such as Natasha provides, this is more than expected.

I learned much about this extended family through reading this memoir. While some people have felt Natalie controlling, Natasha only sees her mother with the eyes of love.

What did surprise me was the ugly description of Natalie's sister, Lana.

A very compelling view of a family's life, mostly good, but sometimes not.

4 stars

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book was very much a portrait of Natalie Wood and her interactions with her daughters. However it veered off into to talking about ms gregeson wagners life. It should state that on the front cover, I bought a portrait of Natalie Wood, not ms gregson!!! Ugh!!!

[Stacy Bernas · Rating 1 out of 5]

In this poorly written memoir, Natasha Gregson-Wagner unsurprisingly makes yet another desperate, but not-so-convincing attempt to once and for all clear her stepfather, actor Robert John Wagner, of any suspicion of his involvement in her mom, actress Natalie Wood's "accidental" death.

Well, to put it simply, I'm not buying it. I'm afraid, Ms Gregson-Wagner has fallen victim to confirmation bias, only seeing what she wanted to see. She constantly praises Mr Wagner for being an exceptionally wonderful parent, yet, there's no real proof of that either, despite her claims. And she cannot really know what happened between her parents behind closed doors, as she was still a very young child, often left in her nanny's care.

There's also many needlessly excessive private details about Ms. Gregson's love life & romantic relationships, so the book is really much more about her, than about her mother. The author also makes a point to show her aunt, Natalie's sister Lana Wood, in a very unflattering light. And the reason for this is quite simple. You see, Lana Wood didn't believe Robert Wagner's questionable version of events leading to her sister's untimely demise, so Ms. Gregson-Wagner took her revenge on her aunt via this text, bashing her mercilessly, despite the fact that her aunt, who recently lost her only daughter, Ms Gregson-Wagner's cousin, is now homeless. Again, to me, such bitterness was very much uncalled for, especially given the timing.

All in all the book felt sticky, gossipy and voyeuristic, which, coupled with its very amateurish writing left an unpleasant impression. And when it comes to a certain individual's supposed innocence - Ms. Gregson-Wagner failed to convince me.

[Lana Revok · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a parent in such a horrific manner at such a tender young age. And though I am 100% convinced that Robert Wagner was the cause of Natalie Wood’s untimely death (don’t take my word, do your own research) I was very curious to hear Natasha’s point of view.

Obviously the years after Wood’s death were hard on them but I was appalled to learn that Robert Wagner frequently left them alone to go galavanting around the world with his girlfriend and future wife Jill St. John (whom he started dating less than three months after Wood died). To make matters worse he would quickly walk out of Natasha’s therapy sessions when she would try to communicate her loneliness and grief over the loss of her mother to him, leaving it to her psychiatrist to give her a ride home. You really start to get a sense of the brainwashing when Natasha is told by family friends to not bother Wagner with her pain and grief because his is twice as bad. Mind you, she is still a child while all this is going on! I was quite disturbed by these revelations but even more disturbed by the fact that she’s still promoting this guy as a great father forty years later. Granted, no one would want to believe that their father and/or stepfather could be capable of something so violent and evil but cases don’t get reopened because of tabloid stories. Her level of denial left me feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

On a lighter note, I did enjoy reading the stories about her relationship with her mother. It was fun to peek in on the non-celebrity side of Wood’s life and what she was like at home away from the cameras.

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a sad memoir, as the author was old enough to remember her mother but young enough (11) that she longs for more time and feels a sense of loss for not having her mother to share more of her life. Natasha's mother, Natalie Wood, drowned on a boat at the age of 43. For a while I was wondering if she was going to discuss the fact that her step-father has at times been a person of interest in the case, but she does eventually get to that. I was touched by how much love Natasha has for the people that have been instrumental in her life. If it wasnt for her mother's death I think she would have grown up in a loving family without too much trauma. The book is well-written, but I will deduct 1 star because at times it felt like it was a 'look at who I know' story, but otherwise interesting.

[Meg Ulmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir seems to be written as a rebuttal to the reopening of the investigation into Natalie Wood's mysterious death. I don't believe that the author ever truly reveals herself to the reader or even to herself. The point here seems to be to tamp down any suspicion that Wood's death was anything but an accidental drowning. The background information about the Wagner-Wood families is interesting but fairly shallow in its delivery. I honestly can't recommend it.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. First off, I wanted to read this book for several reasons: I am a movie lover--especially movies made before 1950; Natalie Wood has always been one of my very favorite actresses; like the author, Natasha Gregson Wagner (Natalie's daughter), I was also a motherless child. Believe me--it's not a club you want to join. Unlike me, Natasha grew up in a world filled with movies and celebrities. Her mother and two dads (her biological father, Richard Gregson, and her step dad, Robert Wagner) lavished her with love. As a youngster, she suffered from severe separation anxiety whenever her mother was away. It's hard to tell whether, it was a child's insecurity or a premonition of what was to come, but either way, Natasha had a deep-rooted fear. Imagine when the unthinkable happened when she was just 11 years old. Now terrified that other people she loved would be torn away from her, she grew up in a constant state of anxiety. I totally understand the feeling and I was rooting for her. She tells her mother's story frankly and explains how Natalie Wood supported her eccentric family from the time she was a little girl. She talks about her two dads and the important roles they both played in her life. She reminisces about the sweet moments she shared with her mother, but she is also quite candid about the drinking and other issues that went on in their home. She speculates on how her life might have been different if her mother had lived. Natasha did a fine job bringing her mother to life and sharing her own story. I was glad to see that she eventually found her way and was blessed with a little girl of her own. Although there is much about Natalie Wood we will never know for sure, I truly believe without any doubt she would be very proud of her daughter who always seemed to put one foot in front of the other and move forward despite the difficulties she faced.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Written Autobiography

Natasha Gregson Wagner is Natalie Wood’s daughter who was eleven when her mom died. She addresses her mother’s death but does not believe her father killed her. She states that her aunt Lana has been troubled from time to time and suffers from money troubles as does Dennis, the ship’s mate who is also claiming Robert Wagner killed her. This book is much more than Natalie Wood’s death. It is a life of a woman who traces her roots back to grandparents who immigrated from Russia. Natasha was Natalie’s real name before it was changed by the movie studio. Her mother began pushing her daughter into show business and Natalie had knack for it. Her father became ill and Natalie was the breadwinner. Later Natalie marries young to get out of the house. When the marriage didn’t work out, they divorced and Natasha was born of the second marriage. Natasha grows up with two dads and loses mom young. This is an honest account of her life without mom a sister with problems and finding love. I think it’s very nice.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully examines the relationship of Natasha to her mother, Natalie Wood, in life and death. It also addresses the highly publicized circumstances surrounding Natalie Wood’s untimely death. Natasha’s words are an ode to her mother, but also a salve to anyone who navigates life as a motherless daughter. To navigate life simultaneously searching for and running from a lost loved one is something Natasha very accurately portrays. The journey of grief is humanely profound - blessing and a curse, yet a remarkable gift. This book is deeply moving. Read it.

[Kim Perisin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wagner is so out of touch with reality. She seems childlike to this day still in mourning over the loss of her mother and never getting over it or moves past it. I’m glad that RJ is the great person he is, just like his Hart to Hart character. Wagner seems like a spoiled child who has no clue how to function in reality.

[Deedee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book seemed kind of long - was hoping for more about Natalie Wood....

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the sixties, it would have been next to impossible to have not heard of Natalie Wood. She was one of the top female movie stars of the day. Between watching her movies at the theater and at home on TV when they were played on The Late Show, I was a big fan. She has been the subject of many books and magazine articles over my lifetime, and her suspicious death in 1981, only added to the mystery. More Than Love is written by her eldest child, a daughter, who was conceived during her short marraige to Richard Gregson, the man she married during the 3 years that she was divorced from Robert Wagner, whom she eventually remarried. Natasha Gregson Wagner tells an unusual story about her own life as well as that of her mother. She had a very unusual life, as is typical of children of very famous stars. As Natalie's first child, she is both blessed and cursed. Her story is an interesting one, and she has successfully written a book that tells it in an honest and heartbreaking way. She covers every aspect of her life, and her assessment of what really happened to her mother. I highly recommend this book, and would like to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for the opportunity to preview this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion of this book.

The book's title says it all. Natasha Gregson Wagner is an intensely private person who rarely talked about her mom, Natalie Wood, even when there were officially-sanctioned documentaries about the movie star's life. The fact that she finally felt at peace enough with her mom's death to write a book about her says a lot.

Natasha was very close to her mother. Too close, some would say. She grew up always wanting her mother at her side, had severe anxiety every time her mother left her, and then had the unthinkable happen to her. Having lost my own champion, my father, die when I was a child, I have an inkling to what Gregson Wagner went through. But I didn't have to deal with the unscrupulous press and a vindictive aunt continually dredging up a parent's death.

Years of therapy, good and bad relationships, and becoming a mother led to this book being written. It's heartfelt, and well written. It dragged a little in the middle, when Natasha herself was trying to find herself as an adult, so I can't give it a full five stars, but it is a solid 4.5.

read more of my book reviews at www.bargain-sleuth.com

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook

I’m a lifelong fan of Natalie Wood, from Miracle on 34th Street to West Side Story to sneaking into the R-rates The Last Marries Couple in America I loved watching her on the big and small screen. Her death was the first famous person’s that knocked me to my knees in grief, as if a close friend had died.

MORE THAN LOVE: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF MY MOTHER NATALIE WOOD, written and narrated by her daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner gave me insight into her life and death I’d never had before. I loved every minute of it. At first Natasha’s voice sounded strange, unlike the narration of other audiobooks. After a few minutes, I fell almost as much in love with Natasha and her quirky voice as I did her mom, my idol Natalie Wood.

If you love Natalie Wood or want family insight into her life, from a daughter’s perspective MORE THAN LOVE: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF MY MOTHER NATALIE WOOD is a must listen/read.

[Cat Leonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Natalie Wood was a magnificent actress. It was very disappointing to read this highly anticipated book and discover it is more of a self absorbed memoir of her daughter than an honest biography of Natalie Wood. I try very hard not to leave negative reviews for books, but the hype for this one is so misleading I feel that somebody needs to say it.
If you want to know all about Natasha Gregson Wagner, then this is the book for you.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this private, detailed view of Natalie's life through her daughter's eyes. It cleared up for me the disturbing rumors about her death, and confirmed for me that she was a great lady who died tragically in an accident. She left us much too soon, and her daughters have felt the pain of her absence their entire lives. I have always admired her and feel closer to her spirit now. A must read for every fan.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Natalie Wood. I love to watch her old movies...what a star! I am fascinated and intrigued by her life and this book is lovely. It is so detailed and is really a touching love story, well written by a much-loved, and loving, daughter. This is a must read for all fans, and those who will become fans.

[Annie Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, warm and intimate memoir of a daughter's life with a mother who was more than just "Mom:, she was also Natalie Wood, famous actress who died too young in a tragic accident. Very well written, I found it hard to put down once I'd started it.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part one was the type of celebrity biography that I enjoy. part two was less interesting. I do appreciate that the author did not shy away from the multiple re-openings of the investigation of her mother's death.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daughter’s heartfelt memoir about her famous mom who was tragically and suddenly taken from her at eleven years old.
More to say....to be continued. 💕

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written memoir by Natalie Wood's daughter. I really appreciate her clarifying the facts surrounding the drowning of her mother and how her death affected her.