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Misfortune's Daughters
In this utterly compelling novel, two sisters born into privilege find themselves forced to make wrenching life decisions as they struggle with a troubled family legacy and the immense weight of wealth, fame, ambition, and betrayal.
Misfortune's Daughters chronicles the gripping, multigenerational saga of the wealthy Stephanopolis family. Beginning in the Golden Era of Hollywood, the beautiful and talented actress Laura Marlowe meets the young, dashing, and rich shipping magnate Nicholas Stephanopolis. After a whirlwind courtship, the two marry and move to the private Stephanopolis Island in the south of Greece. Yet heartache and tragedy soon find them and extend into the lives of their two very different but willful and ambitious daughters, Venetia and Atlanta. One is a beautiful and favored daughter who's bent on self-destruction; the other is a wallflower who buries herself in books and shies away from her privileged world. But both must confront the legacy and tragedy of the lives of their parents.
Sweeping across almost 60 years and jetting from New York to Paris, Los Angeles, and Greece, Misfortune's Daughters is an irresistible, page-turning tale that reveals the glittering life of show business and the grittiness of the journalistic profession. Drawing on her own knowledge and experience, Collins takes the reader deep inside the exclusive gates of wealth and luxury, exposing dark secrets and forbidden desires as two young women vie to break free from their family's shadow and become independent women in their own right.
Misfortune's Daughters chronicles the gripping, multigenerational saga of the wealthy Stephanopolis family. Beginning in the Golden Era of Hollywood, the beautiful and talented actress Laura Marlowe meets the young, dashing, and rich shipping magnate Nicholas Stephanopolis. After a whirlwind courtship, the two marry and move to the private Stephanopolis Island in the south of Greece. Yet heartache and tragedy soon find them and extend into the lives of their two very different but willful and ambitious daughters, Venetia and Atlanta. One is a beautiful and favored daughter who's bent on self-destruction; the other is a wallflower who buries herself in books and shies away from her privileged world. But both must confront the legacy and tragedy of the lives of their parents.
Sweeping across almost 60 years and jetting from New York to Paris, Los Angeles, and Greece, Misfortune's Daughters is an irresistible, page-turning tale that reveals the glittering life of show business and the grittiness of the journalistic profession. Drawing on her own knowledge and experience, Collins takes the reader deep inside the exclusive gates of wealth and luxury, exposing dark secrets and forbidden desires as two young women vie to break free from their family's shadow and become independent women in their own right.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 2, 2005
7 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Joan Collins
83 books97 followersJoan Henrietta Collins, OBE is a Golden Globe Award-winning English actress and bestselling author.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 11, 2017
Gripping read! engrossing,betrayal,romance,fun,exciting and an entertaining storyline with some incredible well developed characters by someone who just started her craft in writing such a great book..recommend (paperback!)
March 16, 2018
Loved it, loved it, loved it! I give this book 5 stars! I am so impressed with the authors writing style I couldn't bear to put the book down! I haven't felt this way about a book since reading books by V.C. Andrews.
It's books like these, books with this with a classy, yet honest, style of writing that really have me turning the pages. Telling without telling, so descriptive, so enchanting, enthralling, and heartbreaking. There were very few cons that I found in this book and the ones that I found were ones that I could live with. I had such strong feelings that I carried in this book from beginning to end.
I love the characters. They're old-fashioned, springy, spunky, wild, and strong. Collins does a phenomenal job of describing the world that her characters traverse with such brevity that I felt like I was right there on Nicholas' boat. The way she describes her characters, not just in image but in personality had me developing real feelings about them. When Nicholas killed Laura it was frightening to read his thinking process on how he could get away with it. His thinking was calculating, manipulative, cowardly, disgusting. It enraged me to see this monster who had chased after this innocent lamb of a woman snuff out her life in an act of rage. She had been nothing but honorable, dutiful, and faithful throughout their entire marriage and only disloyal when she realized that she had been living in an unhappy marriage. As soon they had copulated on their wedding night and he told her that she belonged to him and she would never leave him? Well, let's just say that I knew things were headed down South.
The second time when I was abhorred by Nicholas's behavior was when he gathered Atlanta and Venetia to talk about the future of his company. The way he ripped them apart was just...upsetting. Atlanta had been doing nothing but trying to please him since the day she was born and the one time she does something (unwillingly by the way) that is less than favorable in her father's eyes she's regarded as a "plastic made up whore." Like, seriously? Venetia sleeps around with half the world's most eligible bachelors, does hardcore drugs, has had two abortions, hangs around with seedy club-goers, and spends money frivolously. She's been allowed to get away with any and everything that she wants with her Father's blessing and when he finally decides to throw down the hammer it sends her spiraling into despair. But no matter how wicked Nicholas acts towards his daughters they never stop trying to vie for his affections.
I have to say that I definitely relate more to Atlanta then any other character in the book. Lucky for me, I never had a father like her, but I know what it's like to lose yourself in your school books because you feel like you're lacking and that you don't want to be seen. Once Atlanta realized what she wanted to do she gunned for what what made her happy. I thought Atlanta was going to grow up as a timid and unflattering woman, but she turned out to be a no-nonsense, go get 'em career girl. I was disappointed, however, that life got so better for her after she had plastic surgery and the only way people took her seriously was when she changed her appearance. I thought, what a vain and shallow world these people live in...to be used and judged for only what they can do for others and how much pleasure you can give to someone else.
The other thing that I didn't like was Kristobel's story. What was his purpose? I thought that his involvement in the story was that he would marry one of the sisters or that he would at least have a closer relationship with one of them. And he never even got to avenge the Major and his wife...are we just supposed to believe that just because he saved Atlanta from Fabio that it was supposed to absolve the rage and bitter feelings that he's been carrying around for over 20 years? For me, Kristobel represents the type of character that I don't like. The kind that you only create just for them to serve one particular purpose.
Lastly, what kind of made me a little upset was the fact that in the end, Venetia got everything that she wanted. She got control of the empire, her mother's lover (I don't care what he says, he loves he because she looks like Laura), she has children, and she's wealthy. I feel like besides the addiction she only struggled for a small part of her life and then everything ended up perfectly in her lap. I don't care that she was the way that she was because of her father. I feel like she should have learned more lessons that had longer lasting consequences. I feel like she should have married a man who made a good living, but good for a middle class woman living a middle class life. And the way she treated Alain was terrible. Alain kept going back for her not wanting her to fall into a pit of destruction and what did she do when he needed help? She turned her back on him? I mean, yeah, I get it, he was doing some gross and seedy stuff, but that's your husband and you stick by him for better or for worse, sick and in health. (And boy was he SICK) Even if they had to end up divorcing in the end at least stick by him and make sure he's ok...
I loved reading this book and I'll continue to read more stories by this author. I hope they're as attention-grabbing as this one. :)
It's books like these, books with this with a classy, yet honest, style of writing that really have me turning the pages. Telling without telling, so descriptive, so enchanting, enthralling, and heartbreaking. There were very few cons that I found in this book and the ones that I found were ones that I could live with. I had such strong feelings that I carried in this book from beginning to end.
I love the characters. They're old-fashioned, springy, spunky, wild, and strong. Collins does a phenomenal job of describing the world that her characters traverse with such brevity that I felt like I was right there on Nicholas' boat. The way she describes her characters, not just in image but in personality had me developing real feelings about them. When Nicholas killed Laura it was frightening to read his thinking process on how he could get away with it. His thinking was calculating, manipulative, cowardly, disgusting. It enraged me to see this monster who had chased after this innocent lamb of a woman snuff out her life in an act of rage. She had been nothing but honorable, dutiful, and faithful throughout their entire marriage and only disloyal when she realized that she had been living in an unhappy marriage. As soon they had copulated on their wedding night and he told her that she belonged to him and she would never leave him? Well, let's just say that I knew things were headed down South.
The second time when I was abhorred by Nicholas's behavior was when he gathered Atlanta and Venetia to talk about the future of his company. The way he ripped them apart was just...upsetting. Atlanta had been doing nothing but trying to please him since the day she was born and the one time she does something (unwillingly by the way) that is less than favorable in her father's eyes she's regarded as a "plastic made up whore." Like, seriously? Venetia sleeps around with half the world's most eligible bachelors, does hardcore drugs, has had two abortions, hangs around with seedy club-goers, and spends money frivolously. She's been allowed to get away with any and everything that she wants with her Father's blessing and when he finally decides to throw down the hammer it sends her spiraling into despair. But no matter how wicked Nicholas acts towards his daughters they never stop trying to vie for his affections.
I have to say that I definitely relate more to Atlanta then any other character in the book. Lucky for me, I never had a father like her, but I know what it's like to lose yourself in your school books because you feel like you're lacking and that you don't want to be seen. Once Atlanta realized what she wanted to do she gunned for what what made her happy. I thought Atlanta was going to grow up as a timid and unflattering woman, but she turned out to be a no-nonsense, go get 'em career girl. I was disappointed, however, that life got so better for her after she had plastic surgery and the only way people took her seriously was when she changed her appearance. I thought, what a vain and shallow world these people live in...to be used and judged for only what they can do for others and how much pleasure you can give to someone else.
The other thing that I didn't like was Kristobel's story. What was his purpose? I thought that his involvement in the story was that he would marry one of the sisters or that he would at least have a closer relationship with one of them. And he never even got to avenge the Major and his wife...are we just supposed to believe that just because he saved Atlanta from Fabio that it was supposed to absolve the rage and bitter feelings that he's been carrying around for over 20 years? For me, Kristobel represents the type of character that I don't like. The kind that you only create just for them to serve one particular purpose.
Lastly, what kind of made me a little upset was the fact that in the end, Venetia got everything that she wanted. She got control of the empire, her mother's lover (I don't care what he says, he loves he because she looks like Laura), she has children, and she's wealthy. I feel like besides the addiction she only struggled for a small part of her life and then everything ended up perfectly in her lap. I don't care that she was the way that she was because of her father. I feel like she should have learned more lessons that had longer lasting consequences. I feel like she should have married a man who made a good living, but good for a middle class woman living a middle class life. And the way she treated Alain was terrible. Alain kept going back for her not wanting her to fall into a pit of destruction and what did she do when he needed help? She turned her back on him? I mean, yeah, I get it, he was doing some gross and seedy stuff, but that's your husband and you stick by him for better or for worse, sick and in health. (And boy was he SICK) Even if they had to end up divorcing in the end at least stick by him and make sure he's ok...
I loved reading this book and I'll continue to read more stories by this author. I hope they're as attention-grabbing as this one. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2012
Non put downable. Read in 2 days!
January 20, 2019
What a gorgeous sunny day! Great day to swan around the pool reading some pulp fiction! This one is surprisingly good... Bought this Joan Collins novel called Misfortune's Daughters some time back and put off reading it as the last one of hers I read was really awful (The Saint Tropez Lonely Hearts Club).. .. So I am pleasantly surprised... This rates as one of her best and compares not too badly with her sister Jackie's books... Story of two poor little rich girls seeking daddy's approval while starring in soft porn movies and getting addicted to crack cocaine along the way lol seriously it is not a bad read!! It had me gripped from beginning to end. It was very tightly written, had great strong female characters, and a gripping plot!
Currently reading
August 11, 2008OK, I know this is a fluff read, but I'm totally hooked!!
September 25, 2014
Surprisingly Great & Entertaining!
June 19, 2023
I hate that feeling that Laura's death hadn't given justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2025
The beginning was good. Once the father told the daughter’s that they needed to have a son it started it get a little boring but then picked up again at the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
To be honest, I haven't read the whole book, only about a quarter. but that was enough for me to decide that it's not a book I would like to read. It's like when you find toxic food, and you decide to stop continuing after afew bites, afraid that it would hurt your body. I think this book is the same for my mind. i'ts pretty cheap, the plot is old, and it's not fun to read. so i'm stopping reading. I'm not proud to have it as my own, and I'm not even going to rate it! Of all the fast food books I read this is worst..so far!
November 11, 2008
I bought this book because I was not careful in the store and thought I had found a Jackie Collins book I hadn't read. Yeah once I started reading it I realized that writing style is just another area where Joan differs from Jackie. This was not the fun trashy to read romp I was hoping for. Ah well. I shall be more careful when picking up books in the future.
June 17, 2009
Wow I was pleasantly surprised great summer read thougt would be just another cheesy soap opera type novel but had good story behind it and Joan manages to throw some curve balls and surprises to the plot
December 27, 2012
This book was a change of pace for me since I read a lot of mysteries. It was okay, not too exciting but I can see how the author put in the effort with a few good stories that eventually tied together.
April 22, 2014
This was a quick book--another I couldn't put down. It was another one of those "lifestyles of the rich and famous". Her character Laura was similar to Grace Kelly--an actress who marries a rich tycoon, from Greece, and has two daughters who lack for nothing. I really enjoyed this one.
March 19, 2016
This book was such a chore to get through. Valley of the Dolls is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, so every now and then I pick up one of these "trashy" novels hoping for a bit of light fun. This one however was not fun. It was work. Boring work.
Read
January 2, 2010My grandmother loaned me this book and told me not to tell my mother!!
August 9, 2010
Juciy and raunchy and very reminiscent of Jackie Collins but not one of the best of this racy genre. Although I did enjoy it.
June 29, 2016
wonderful witty mindless bunkum from Joan, because sometimes a gal's brain needs a break.
March 28, 2014
Quick read, pretty good storyline
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews