Heartbreaker: A Memoir of Judy Garland

by John Meyer

The author chronicles the life of the Hollywood superstar from his relationship and memories of her, covering her career, relationships, and struggles with both drugs and alcohol as well as life in the public eye.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir

322 pages, Hardcover

First published December 8, 1983

About the author

TeenInk books are the product of more than 300,000 student submissions sent to TeenInk magazine during the past eleven years. This nonprofit monthly publication is read by 3.5 million teens in thousands of schools nationwide. Since its inception, TeenInk (formerly The 21st Century) has published more than 25,000 students. All the pieces in this book are drawn from this wellspring of prose, poetry, art, and photography.

John Meyer, publisher of TeenInk magazine, holds an MBA and has published two successful business magazines. The Meyers have two children.

All royalties from the TeenInk books will go to The Young Authors Foundation, Inc. (publisher of TeenInk magazine) to expand reading, writing, and publishing opportunities for young adults nationwide.

Reviews

[TigerLily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Fallon Burner · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're not willing to challenge yourself over your angelic conception of this mammoth idol figure, then don't read it. Judy Garland is one of my biggest idols, and I'll admit I was uncomfortable at times reading this book. But I think it's okay to see idols as regular humans, making mistakes and living in positive and negative notes. No one is a flat hero or a flat villain. We are all 3-Dimensional. I did think the book was an interesting read, and it really zooms in on those last months of her life and gives a very full and human perception of Judy. If you only intend on ever reading one Judy biography, then I would probably not recommend this one to you. But it was my first Judy biography, and I'm not sorry I read it.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but very sad. I felt for the author, being so gullible and trusting of someone who was obviously mentally and emotionally disturbed besides being on an unbelievable amount of drugs and was an obvious alcoholic. The author became her co-dependent, but thankfully for a mercifully short period of time. Meyer tells us all of this at the beginning of his story. Judy Garland was an example not only of the controlling Hollywood moguls who used her for her talent but were also greatly responsible for her decline due to her drug usage. Such a waste of a person and a talent.

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Career vs love

I thought of myself as a voyeur as I read the book. Just Garland was a talented and tragic woman. She and the author were in love and planned to marry but her mania got in the way. I liked the book and recording very much.

[Ice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cut off from her family, fans became her enablers. I have never wanted to feel personally involved in her instability. I have always respected her work and will continue to do so. On the contrary, the CD is disappointing, as the tape recorder is closer to the piano than to her voice. Note, it's just a rehearsal. He's unfamiliar with the arrangements, her keys; she does not know the words. But occasionally when she sings it's astounding. I thought her voice was lost by that time, but she was still capable of singing. She learned a brand new song in a manner of minutes. In the last few months of her life she could still sing and learn new material quickly as she did all along.

[Graceann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please see my detailed review at Amazon.co.uk Graceann's "Heartbreaker" Review"

Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!

He was a nobody playing in piano bars in New York, and she was already a Legend, nearing the end of her life. They spent two months together fussing and fighting, and here's his book about it. I'm glad I read it, but the grain of salt I kept by the bedside table was huge.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting read. This book gives a glimpse into the theatre and illusion of fame. Garland was the biggest star of her day and yet this book shows what lay behind the concerts and fame. I really sensed that the author really wanted to help and for me this book is honest and written with respect.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I met John a couple of weeks ago, I thought I should read his book. Wow. That was some wild ride he had with Garland. I don't know how he did it...