“Yes, there‘s one thing I do want. I want to be aware of the minutes and the seconds, and to make each one count.”
The story could easily have fallen into melodrama but the author makes it so you cant sympathise with the characters. you can only observe and feel sorry for them - they are all naïve and deeply flawed. The characters are totally believable and recognizable.
https://english.shabd.in/valley-of-the-dolls-jacqueline-susann/book/10277328