Helen Ellis, author of American Housewife, shares her raunchy, retro and ridiculous reading recommendations, from Jackie Collins to Judy Blume, Shirley Conran to Fay Weldon.

Why every woman needs a classic trashy book club

Princess Daisy (1980) by Judith Krantz

Wifey (1978) by Judy Blume

The Carpetbaggers (1961) by Harold Robbins

Lace (1982) by Shirley Conran

The World is Full of Married Men (1968) by Jackie Collins

The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1985) by Dominick Dunne

The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1983) by Fay Weldon

Valley of the Dolls (1966) by Jacqueline Susann

The Thorn Birds (1977) by Colleen McCullough

Scruples (1978) by Judith Krantz

Plus 10 raunchy, retro and ridiculous novels to get you started, as chosen by American Housewife author Helen Ellis.

Raunchy, retro and ridiculous: why every woman needs a classic trashy book club