Jacqueline Susann accurately be described as a highly effective sedative, a living doll." Despite the poor reviews, the book was a commercial juggernaut. On May 8, 1966, in its ninth week on the list, the book reached #1 on the "New York Times" Best Seller List, where it remained for 28 consecutive weeks. With a total of 65 weeks on the list, the book became the best selling novel of 1966. By the time of Susann's death in 1974, it had entered the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the best selling novel in publishing history, with more than 17 million copies
Brian Kelly (actor) at the time as saying that he loved the role because of its family-friendly qualities. The success of "Flipper", which was filmed in Miami and the Bahamas, led to a brief movie career, including a lead in "Around the World Under the Sea" (1966). In 1970, Kelly sought to change his image by playing the role of Robin Stone in "The Love Machine", based on the novel by Jacqueline Susann. Just prior to filming, he was involved in a motorcycle accident which left his right arm and leg paralyzed. John Phillip Law took over the role. Kelly—whom Susann had called