Wendy Lawless Book order (chronological)

A stunning memoir recounts an actress's unconventional and heartbreaking childhood with her unstable, alcoholic, and suicidal mother, revealing the unusual strength that helped her rise above it all. By seventeen, Wendy Lawless recognized her mother, Georgann Rea, was far from typical, yet she yearned for a normal maternal figure. Georgann, a glamorous figure who donned a mink coat and smoked from a cigarette holder, was indifferent to traditional motherhood, having had numerous affairs and a disdain for children and pets. With the chilling beauty of a Hitchcock heroine, she embodied both allure and emotional coldness. In this evocative and darkly humorous narrative, Wendy explores the tumultuous upbringing she shared with her younger sister, navigating life under the shadow of their neglectful mother. Georgann, reminiscent of a real-life Holly Golightly, constantly reinvented herself, moving from trailer parks to penthouses, while battling mental health crises. As Wendy strives to conceal their family's dysfunction from the outside world, the memoir depicts a childhood spent in the luxurious yet tumultuous settings of The Dakota and London townhouses. Ultimately, the sisters face a poignant choice: pursue their own lives or remain bound to their mother's chaotic existence.