Jan Brady was always jealous of her sisters on The Brady Bunch. She was smart but not as popular as they were on either the show or what counted as social media at the time. No one wanted to be perceived as a “Jan”. Happiness Included is the story of the real life actress playing Jan, but don’t expect any salacious Brady gossip from Eve.
Eve Plumb was the only Brady sister to break out of the child star stereotype. At only seventeen, she had a highly rated and popular starring roll on a controversial tv movie, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway. She then went on to continue her acting career well past all the other kids in the Brady family, and even most of the adults.
Most child star memoirs are full of angst and addiction issues. Not Happiness Included. According to Eve, her childhood was great. Surprisingly great, considering her mother’s very protective, especially in the more laissez faire 1960s, parenting style. Nothing bad happens to Eve, and that is why the book is not very engaging. It reads like watching paint dry. I was a big fan of The Brady Bunch show but not so much of this book. A disappointed 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for providing me with an advanced review copy.