Although American audiences know her as the perfectly happy (and happily perfect) Marcia Brady television character from the 1970s The Brady Bunch series, actress Maureen McCormick writes in her memoir that her off-screen life was anything but perfect.  In fact, most of the 50 years covered in the book describe the overwhelming problems she has faced, including dangerous family secrets, chronic depression, drug abuse, promiscuity, and hoarding.

Even though her glamorous life and connections took her around the world for roles in television, film, and theater, and she gained access to exclusive parties at celebrity homes and the Playboy Mansion, McCormick writes about her inner emptiness during most of her life.  Here’s the Story doesn’t gloss over these ugly aspects.  While her fame and good looks opened many doors for her, she secretly felt shame about her dysfunctional family, showed up for work strung out on cocaine, and traded sexual favors for drugs.  Despite the ups and downs of her career and personal life, the author remains likeable throughout the book, keeping her "Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful" complaints to a minimum.

McCormick’s writing style is simple and direct.  Although not the most creative wordsmith (many of the same terms and phrases get repeated throughout the book), she makes her points clearly, without adding fluff or self-indulgent scenes as some celebrities do in their memoirs.  She writes that her mother never wanted her to write this book, and out of respect, McCormick waited until after her mother’s death to reveal the family’s story.  Fans of The Brady Bunch, celebrity watchers, recovering drug addicts, and avid readers of memoirs and biographies will be delighted that she finally gave in to her temptation to write Here’s the Story.