Tara Hanks | Author of 'The Mmm Girl' and 'Wicked Baby'

'The Mmm Girl', Reviewed

Reviews and reader comments for The Mmm Girl are archived here

What The Critics Said

"The Mmm Girl shows Marilyn Monroe as rational and strong, though also fighting the sadness inside her...the real person, created and affected by the actual details of her life...Tara Hanks beautifully conveys Marilyn's feelings of loneliness and being an outsider...her writing is enjoyable and leaves room for the imagination...the last pages of the novel are simple, sad and heartbreaking" - Magical Marilyn - read more

"A captivating, gripping piece of literature...The Mmm Girl will have you hooked from the first chapter...jam-packed with emotion...Marilyn's life was short but this book will stay with you for much longer..." - Kemptown Rag - read more

"Wonderful...so close to Marilyn's life that you almost believe you are reading her own memoir...a real gem"

Michelle Morgan, author of Marilyn Monroe, Private And Undisclosed - read more

"With her enchanting novel, The Mmm Girl, Tara Hanks has placed herself in Marilyn's dinky stillettos to give her the voice that she was so often denied in life ...in her bright, colourful style, Hanks retells Marilyn's story with tender empathy and imaginative flair"

Mad About Marilyn - read more

“You actually feel it’s Marilyn’s thoughts and words you are reading. You can almost hear her voice in your head…instead of being too explicit or provocative it’s just right, very sensual but sensitive to the reader’s taste at the same time.”

Immortal Marilyn - read more

“When reading The Mmm Girl, one can not help but realize that all previous attempts never quite got it – that elusive something special that made Monroe so incredibly unique…it takes not only talent but heart to tell the story right. Tara Hanks has both.”

David Marshall, author of The DD Group - click here

"A brilliant, believable read...a weird and wonderful look into Marilyn Monroe's life, from her childhood in foster homes and orphanages to her many marriages and relationships and her eventual death...inspiring and entertaining."

The Bookbag - read more

Reader Reviews

I loved The Mmm Girl so much that I don't even have a favorite part...What I liked most was that I really felt like I was there...Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book. I expect I will be forever carrying it around in my purse. It's what I do with my favorites. -- Alex, USA

I have never before had much empathy for Marilyn Monroe, but I was totally absorbed, and not just by the stories and songs (now going around in my head), but by the bigger picture - the creative drive, the ambition that pushes us on and on, the tragedy of being lonely when surrounded by people who love you. -- Laura, UK

The Mmm Girl is enthralling - leave me alone, I must finish it tonight! -- Andrea, UK

I just want to say how touched I was by The Mmm Girl...a refreshing book that through it's writing and careful research, brings Marilyn back to life in the most human of ways. -- Carrie, UK

I didn't want it to end...you showed the human Marilyn...everyone should read The Mmm Girl, even if they aren't fans - especially if they only know the public Marilyn. -- Katri, Finland

I just have to say that I truly, madly, deeply adore this book…you have captured Marilyn perfectly. She's almost exactly as I've imagined her and I think that's why I love The Mmm Girl so much, because it 'serves my imagination' so well. -- Tiina, Finland

What a pleasure to read a book, albeit fictional, that captures the 'essence' of Marilyn so well, and treats her life and memory with love and respect. -- Alan, UK

Like peering into Marilyn's mind… none of us know her innermost thoughts, but I think this is pretty much how she must have felt. It actually seems like Marilyn is speaking just to the reader…her life is handled with such respect…you have a real gift for writing, so tender and full of passion. -- Rebecca, UK

I've always admired Tara's knowledge about Marilyn, and the accuracy of The Mmm Girl did not surprise me... a very personal perspective on Marilyn’s life. -- Marloes, Holland

There was such sensitivity to the way you handled Marilyn, her everyday life, daily activities, her struggles; she was written in such a sweet, soft manner. I felt like I was with her through it all, her marriages, divorces, and fame… it was insightful and soulful…I was right alongside Marilyn and there isn’t a book out there that has done that yet. -- Erica, USA

I loved The Mmm Girl - it was very moving and tender, and I couldn't put it down! -- Grace, UK

Most women would love to have been Marilyn, but few would have actually wanted to walk in Norma's heels...it amazes me how easily your writing flows off the page and into the black and white film playing in my head. -- Alex,NYC

The words you've chosen sound honest and true to who Marilyn was as opposed to perception...your writing is astonishing. -- Elka, USA

I'm reading The Mmm Girl again. A terrific book...it touches my heart. -- Joey, USA