So when I think trashy novels, I think V.C. Andrews. Did anyone else read these things as a teen? ("Flowers in the Attic" was the most famous, and was turned into a movie.) They are insane... they're geared toward teenage girls but inevitably have some sort of statutory rape/incest theme... in most cases a double whammy of each. Seriously! A gothic air, lots of heated prose about "ripening buds" etc., a relation either by blood or marriage who is uncomfortably close, some torrid family secrets, and loads of mother/daughter competition usually involving, say, the mother's new husband. Wow. Needless to say, my parents had no idea what those books were like. But damn were they irresistible back in the day.
I can't believe I turned out so adjusted, actually. No wonder I spend so much time reading nonfiction now. 
I loved those. I read them when I was in a musical production of Oliver! as a kid, and I'd race off stage to read in the dressing room -- the only place I had privacy from my mother and sisters, who would have taken the books away!
I think my favorite trashy novel was Sidney Sheldon's "If Tomorrow Comes." I don't know why they haven't made it into a movie, except that maybe it's too close to the Thomas Crown Affair, which I didn't see.
A normal woman, pregnant and about to be married to a banker, gets framed and sent to prison, where she's raped by fellow inmates and loses the baby -- toughening her up. She swears revenge and becomes a badass, eventually linking up with another criminal to steal paintings in some kind of Robin Hood re-distribution scheme. Loved it. Lots of costumes and casing joints and coming up with brilliant thefts.
I didn't really go for other romances, though.
I can't bring myself to say 
I guess my favorite "trashy" novels are historical romances, that are not of the Jane Austen variety. Such as these, by Jan Cox Speas.
Then there is **trashy**
...!!
I totally read "Flowers in the Attic", too! And of course, felt extremely guilt-ridden afterwards considering the entire book was filled with things 'good, Baptist girls' would never do...or even read about! But I turned out just fine
If a trashy novel can non-fiction then it would have to be "The Washingtonienne". (I can't figure out how to hyperlink so just look it up on Amazon.) Senate staffer by day, glorified hooker by night. At least Spitzer's girl didn't blog about their experience! This girl did!
Yes, I remember when that story broke... I immediately went back and read her entire blog!
Real life can usually beat fiction for trashy, hands down!
'Bonfire of The Vanities," if that qualifies as a trashy novel.
Would Judy Blume's "Forever" qualify? I certainly wouldn't qualify it as "trashy" but I sure did feel that I was doing something wrong by reading it as an early teen. Might be interesting to go back and re-read it.
and by the way maggie, I think my stepmom had plenty of books with that lusty image on the cover, or something similar. I supposed such images are intended to be enticing but in my house it was just something to tease lynn about!
I can't help myself, I LOVE the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon-- if this link works they put a totally "trashy romance" quote in the description. (Hilarious, and yes, I'm totally embarrassed to admit I read these books). In between the romance parts its really good--- I swear!!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Outlander-...06475596&sr=8-
8
I loved the VC Andrews books when I was growing up. All that tortured teenage angst... Or was that mine? I remember reading them by the community pool during the summer.
And what about, anythign by Danelle Steele? That is pure cotton candy.
Banned in the 1940's, all of us teens couldn't wait to read Forever Amber.
Thanks for getting me hooked on Goodreads!
As far as trashy novels go. I did read all the V C Andrews growing up and they left me a little "disturbed" ....lol. I loved reading Sandra Brown and of course Anne Rice's alias, Anne Rampling Exit to Eden and Sleeping Beauty Erotica!
you're welcome! i love how four of my peeps have signed up in the past day...and counting i hope!
yeah, figured i wouldn't mention sleeping beauty. that book is just wrong!
Whoa! Look who just resurfaced with a new scandal... The Washingtonienne!
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/
200...ica_cutler.html
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