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Quick answer: If you loved Jackie Collins, read Jackie Collins's Hollywood Wives, then Shirley Conran's Lace, then Jilly Cooper's Riders and Polo, and Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance and Hold the Dream and Judy Blume's Wifey. All are glamorous, gossipy novels about wealth and fame.
Jackie Collins (1937–2015) wrote glitzy novels about Hollywood, such as Hollywood Wives. These picks share the glamour.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Wives | Jackie Collins | Adult | glitz and gossip |
| Lace | Shirley Conran | Adult | glamorous saga |
| Riders | Jilly Cooper | Adult | the Rutshire start |
| Polo | Jilly Cooper | Adult | polo and scandal |
| A Woman of Substance | Barbara Taylor Bradford | Adult | rise of a tycoon |
| Hold the Dream | Barbara Taylor Bradford | Adult | the sequel |
| Wifey | Judy Blume | Adult | adult fans |
| Beaches | Iris Rainer Dart | Adult | friendship across decades |
| The Thorn Birds | Colleen McCullough | Adult | classic sagas |
| Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | readers who like music and drama |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | readers who like life stories |
| Crazy Rich Asians | Kevin Kwan | Adult | escapist comedy |
| Postcards from the Edge | Carrie Fisher | Adult | showbiz humor |
| The Other Boleyn Girl | Philippa Gregory | Adult | Tudor intrigue |
| The Last Mrs. Parrish | Liv Constantine | Adult | rich-people drama |
1. Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins
The wives of powerful men in Hollywood navigate affairs, ambition and rivalry. Glitzy, fast and gloriously over the top, it is the closest cousin to Susann's style.
Best for: glitz and gossip.
2. Lace by Shirley Conran
Four school friends reunite to find a mysterious mother. Racy and glossy.
Best for: glamorous saga.
3. Riders by Jilly Cooper
Rupert Campbell-Black and rivals compete in show jumping. Bawdy and addictive.
Best for: the Rutshire start.
4. Polo by Jilly Cooper
Rivals and lovers collide on the polo field. Fast and funny.
Best for: polo and scandal.
5. A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Emma Harte rises from servant girl to business tycoon. A long and satisfying saga.
Best for: rise of a tycoon.
6. Hold the Dream by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Emma Harte's granddaughter takes over the family empire. A natural next book.
Best for: the sequel.
7. Wifey by Judy Blume
A bored suburban wife looks for more. Blume's first adult novel, funny and frank.
Best for: adult fans.
8. Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart
Two women's friendship is tested by fame and illness. Emotional and classic.
Best for: friendship across decades.
9. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
An epic family saga set in the Australian outback. Long, romantic and dramatic.
Best for: classic sagas.
10. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The oral history of a 1970s rock band that breaks up at its peak. Told in interview format.
Best for: readers who like music and drama.
11. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A reclusive Hollywood star finally tells her life story to a young journalist. Glamorous, emotional and full of secrets.
Best for: readers who like life stories.
12. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
A professor visits Singapore and meets her boyfriend's very rich family. Glittering, gossipy and funny.
Best for: escapist comedy.
13. Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher
An actress recovers from addiction and Hollywood. Funny, sharp and semi-autobiographical.
Best for: showbiz humor.
14. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Mary Boleyn tells her story at the court of Henry VIII. Dramatic and juicy.
Best for: Tudor intrigue.
15. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
A woman schemes to take over another woman's perfect life. Glossy and devious.
Best for: rich-people drama.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Jackie Collins: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Jackie Collins. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For glamour, read Hollywood Wives. For romance, try A Woman of Substance. For wealth and scandal, pick Riders.
Related: Printable List of Jackie Collins Books · Printable List of Max Allan Collins Books
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jackie Collins?
An English novelist (1937–2015).
What is her best-known book?
Hollywood Wives.
Are her books explicit?
Yes, they are for adults.
Which book here is best for rich-people drama?
Try The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, which suits readers looking for rich-people drama.
Which book here is best for Tudor intrigue?
Try The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, which suits readers looking for Tudor intrigue.
Which book here is best for showbiz humor?
Try Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher, which suits readers looking for showbiz humor.
Which book here is best for escapist comedy?
Try Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, which suits readers looking for escapist comedy.
Which book here is best for readers who like life stories?
Try The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which suits readers looking for readers who like life stories.
Which book here is best for readers who like music and drama?
Try Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which suits readers looking for readers who like music and drama.