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A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up
An artful and contemplative tribute to the late actor famed for his role as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210 .
Best known for playing loner rebel Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210 , Luke Perry was fifty-two years old when he died of a stroke in 2019. There have been other deaths of 90’s stars, but this one hit different. Gen X was reminded of their own inescapable mortality, and robbed of an exciting career resurgence for one of their most cherished icons—with recent roles in the hit series Riverdale and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood bringing him renewed attention and acclaim. Only upon his death, as stories poured out online about his authenticity and kindness, did it become clear how little was known about the exceedingly humble actor and how deeply he impacted popular culture.
In A Good Bad Boy , Margaret Wappler attempts to understand who Perry was and why he was unique among his Hollywood peers. To do so, she uses an inventive hybrid narrative. She speaks with dozens who knew Perry personally and professionally. They share insightful how he kept connected to his Ohio upbringing; nearly blew his 90210 audition; tried to shed his heartthrob image by joining the HBO prison drama Oz ; and in the last year of his life, sought to set up two of his newly divorced friends. (After his death, the pair bonded in their grief and eventually married.) Amid these original interviews and exhaustive archival research, Wappler weaves poignant vignettes of memoir in which she serves as an avatar to show how Perry shaped a generation’s views on masculinity, privilege and the ideal of “cool.”
Timed to the fifth anniversary of Perry’s death, A Good Bad Boy is a profound and entertaining examination of what it means to be an artist and an adult.
Best known for playing loner rebel Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210 , Luke Perry was fifty-two years old when he died of a stroke in 2019. There have been other deaths of 90’s stars, but this one hit different. Gen X was reminded of their own inescapable mortality, and robbed of an exciting career resurgence for one of their most cherished icons—with recent roles in the hit series Riverdale and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood bringing him renewed attention and acclaim. Only upon his death, as stories poured out online about his authenticity and kindness, did it become clear how little was known about the exceedingly humble actor and how deeply he impacted popular culture.
In A Good Bad Boy , Margaret Wappler attempts to understand who Perry was and why he was unique among his Hollywood peers. To do so, she uses an inventive hybrid narrative. She speaks with dozens who knew Perry personally and professionally. They share insightful how he kept connected to his Ohio upbringing; nearly blew his 90210 audition; tried to shed his heartthrob image by joining the HBO prison drama Oz ; and in the last year of his life, sought to set up two of his newly divorced friends. (After his death, the pair bonded in their grief and eventually married.) Amid these original interviews and exhaustive archival research, Wappler weaves poignant vignettes of memoir in which she serves as an avatar to show how Perry shaped a generation’s views on masculinity, privilege and the ideal of “cool.”
Timed to the fifth anniversary of Perry’s death, A Good Bad Boy is a profound and entertaining examination of what it means to be an artist and an adult.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
About the author
Margaret Wappler
7 books121 followersI’m a writer based in Los Angeles. I’ve written about the arts and pop culture for the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, New York Times, Elle, Cosmo, the Believer, Village Voice and several other publications. My debut novel, Neon Green, came out July 2016 from Unnamed Press. I’m also a regular panelist on Pop Rocket, a weekly pop culture podcast from Maximum Fun.
I was on staff at the Los Angeles Times for seven years, covering music, books, film and TV. Before that I worked as the books and food editor at Newcity, a Chicago alt weekly. I also ran the books and fiction section of Venus, a magazine dedicated to covering women in music. My fiction and essays have appeared in Black Clock, Public Fiction, Joyland Retro, Yes Is the Answer: And Other Prog Rock Tales, and Here She Comes Now.
Goodreads folks might recognize me from several interviews I've conducted for Goodreads' newsletters with authors I admire, including Zadie Smith, Tom Wolfe, Mark Haddon, and Barbara Ehrenreich.
In addition to writing, I teach fiction and nonfiction at Writing Workshops Los Angeles. I also critique and edit manuscripts, and lead private writing workshops.
I was on staff at the Los Angeles Times for seven years, covering music, books, film and TV. Before that I worked as the books and food editor at Newcity, a Chicago alt weekly. I also ran the books and fiction section of Venus, a magazine dedicated to covering women in music. My fiction and essays have appeared in Black Clock, Public Fiction, Joyland Retro, Yes Is the Answer: And Other Prog Rock Tales, and Here She Comes Now.
Goodreads folks might recognize me from several interviews I've conducted for Goodreads' newsletters with authors I admire, including Zadie Smith, Tom Wolfe, Mark Haddon, and Barbara Ehrenreich.
In addition to writing, I teach fiction and nonfiction at Writing Workshops Los Angeles. I also critique and edit manuscripts, and lead private writing workshops.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 7, 2024
Of course I had a crush on Luke Perry’s iconic character Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210. I mean, I used to be a warm-blooded preteen when I first saw the troubled brooding rich “bad boy” with the heart of gold, a white t-shirt and a pompadour, and a full forehead of furrows that gave me very unrealistic expectations for how sixteen-year-old teenagers should look and act. And that former teen girl in me was definitely not about to miss Perry’s biography.
And I’m not even ashamed that I knew almost exactly every detail of Dylan scenes from the first three seasons or so that the book mentioned — those first seasons that were so endearingly sincere and not yet soap opera of the rich and famous. (Out of his other roles, I’ve seen a couple of movies and that’s it).
Margaret Wappler is clearly a fan, and she shows Luke Perry as an unequivocally good man who’s made a positive impact on a variety of people he came in contact with; a down-to-earth guy not corrupted by fame; a professional taking his job seriously; a colleague friendly and respectful to everyone on set; a dear friend always ready to give support to those who needed it. Gone way too soon from this world, just at 52 from a stroke, he left a big empty space in the hearts of those close to him.
I think I would have genuinely loved having Luke Perry as a friend.
But it’s not just a book about Luke Perry. I should have been clued in by the second part of the title —“How a Generation Grew Up”. Well, not quite a story of a generation, really, but one person - Margaret Wappler herself, with chapters on Perry alternating with Wappler’s memoir (or at least memoir-like story), with no connection to Perry other than she watched the show when she was a teen, and little there of interest to me. And the addition of this memoir just did not hold my interest, leaving me thinking that these pages could have been instead spent on a deeper dive into Perry’s life as this book, even though respectful to Perry, often seemed much too superficial, and in the end I learned more about Wappler than about Perry — which wasn’t what I was expecting. (But maybe there was not that much material there, given that Wappler mentions that Perry’s family and his 90210 colleagues declined participation in this book — and therefore maybe it needed padding to be more than a long magazine piece).
That titular generation growing up — yeah, that was pretty much Wappler describing her life which really is a stretch to apply to more than that one specific person.
2.5 stars. More Perry biography and less Wappler memoir, please. It’s wasn’t a good mix. That was my feeling at the end.
(But I do appreciate the instant identification with the ONLY correct way to peel a banana, Luke Perry and I fully agree here:
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
“His sorrows are many, but it’s much cuter to be sad driving around in a Porsche than in a broken-down Chevy.”
And I’m not even ashamed that I knew almost exactly every detail of Dylan scenes from the first three seasons or so that the book mentioned — those first seasons that were so endearingly sincere and not yet soap opera of the rich and famous. (Out of his other roles, I’ve seen a couple of movies and that’s it).
“The squeaky-clean Midwestern twins, Brandon and Brenda (played by Jason Priestley, a Canadian actor cast at the eleventh hour, and Shannen Doherty, a child actress who’d gone edgy with Heathers), needed a dark counterpoint. Enter Dylan McKay, whose antecedents included Judd Nelson, Matt Dillon, and James Dean. And before them, all the tortured poets who’d tried to catch ecstasy through adventure and verse: Rimbaud, Lord Byron, Bukowski. Dylan was a pocket version of those larger-than-life types, scaled down for high school.”
Margaret Wappler is clearly a fan, and she shows Luke Perry as an unequivocally good man who’s made a positive impact on a variety of people he came in contact with; a down-to-earth guy not corrupted by fame; a professional taking his job seriously; a colleague friendly and respectful to everyone on set; a dear friend always ready to give support to those who needed it. Gone way too soon from this world, just at 52 from a stroke, he left a big empty space in the hearts of those close to him.
I think I would have genuinely loved having Luke Perry as a friend.
There was “never a diva move” from Luke, Fontana says. “I don’t think he was capable of it.”
But it’s not just a book about Luke Perry. I should have been clued in by the second part of the title —“How a Generation Grew Up”. Well, not quite a story of a generation, really, but one person - Margaret Wappler herself, with chapters on Perry alternating with Wappler’s memoir (or at least memoir-like story), with no connection to Perry other than she watched the show when she was a teen, and little there of interest to me. And the addition of this memoir just did not hold my interest, leaving me thinking that these pages could have been instead spent on a deeper dive into Perry’s life as this book, even though respectful to Perry, often seemed much too superficial, and in the end I learned more about Wappler than about Perry — which wasn’t what I was expecting. (But maybe there was not that much material there, given that Wappler mentions that Perry’s family and his 90210 colleagues declined participation in this book — and therefore maybe it needed padding to be more than a long magazine piece).
That titular generation growing up — yeah, that was pretty much Wappler describing her life which really is a stretch to apply to more than that one specific person.
2.5 stars. More Perry biography and less Wappler memoir, please. It’s wasn’t a good mix. That was my feeling at the end.
(But I do appreciate the instant identification with the ONLY correct way to peel a banana, Luke Perry and I fully agree here:
“And for God’s sake, don’t peel a banana from the stem. When Ari and her sister Camrey Bagley Fox, who also appeared in the film (plus two of their younger siblings), prepped breakfast in one scene, Luke caught them denuding the fruit in this most upsetting manner. Do as the monkeys do, he told them, and start from the other end with a small pinch. A decade later, Bagley says, “every time I eat a banana, I think, ‘Luke Perry,’ and I can’t open one by the stem anymore.”
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
April 3, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the parts about Luke Perry but I feel she could have skipped the personal parts about herself. She should have just concentrated on his story.
March 16, 2024
This was an interesting read. As a fan of Beverly Hills 90210 and the character Luke Perry played as Dylan McKay, I loved learning more about those aspects showcased in the book.
I found the way this book was written to be unique in the sense that the chapters in the book were split between a biography about Luke and a memoir of the author. This is something that I wasn’t expecting going in.
It was really nice to gain more insight on what goes on behind the scenes as well as the audition process. Especially, specifically for what his experiences were during his time in Hollywood.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and fans of Luke Perry should be excited to dive into.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this copy for review.
I found the way this book was written to be unique in the sense that the chapters in the book were split between a biography about Luke and a memoir of the author. This is something that I wasn’t expecting going in.
It was really nice to gain more insight on what goes on behind the scenes as well as the audition process. Especially, specifically for what his experiences were during his time in Hollywood.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and fans of Luke Perry should be excited to dive into.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this copy for review.
January 18, 2024
I’d like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been a fan of 90210 since it premiered in 1990 when I was 9 years old and immediately was Team Dylan so I was excited to read this. It had some interesting tidbits but I may have missed the part that explained that it was part memoir by the author, so with that being said, I wish there had been more info on Luke. Overall still a decent read.
March 26, 2024
This was interesting, but it was different from what I expected. The story was written in alternation POVs and timelines. One was a memoir of sorts of the author growing up while 90210 was on TV and the other perspective was a biography about Luke Perry. A interesting concept to combine a memoir and a biography of sorts.I did enjoy the behind the scenes insight into Luke's auditions, etc, but I wanted more biography and less memoir.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 9, 2024
I found the way this book was written to be quite odd, as practically ever other chapter were these chapters that had zero to do with Luke Perry. I literally skipped them and read only about Luke!
March 13, 2024
Can you believe that it has been 5 years since Luke Perry suffered a stroke and died? So young. This book tells stories about Luke as he was know by his friends and co-workers on 90210 through Riverdale.
As a younger Gen-Xer, I adored this book. I loved hearing about the story of how 90210 started, progressed, etc. I was sitting on my couch watching it back when I was in middle school and early high school. This book brought me back. I also did not know anything about Luke’s career after 90210, so that was all new and interesting to me. (I am not a big TV watcher.)
The chapter about Luke alternated with the author’s own story of growing up in the time of 90210. I was not put off by this back-and-forth, but it might not work for all readers. But, if you were in middle/high school back in the 1990s, you will likely connect with all of the book.
March 6, 2024
Simon and Schuster provided an early galley for review.
By the Fall of 1990 when 90210 debuted, I was already in my mid-twenties and married. My high school (and college days) were well behind me. Still, my wife and I both found this show entertaining and tuned in weekly. Perry was just one of the many acting draws in the cast. And in 2017 when Riverdale debuted, I was also right on board (even though I was well into my fifth decade). What can I say? I have a Peter Pan syndrome.
I enjoyed looking into Perry's life and learning details I had not previously known. I savored details about auditions and behind the scenes exploits from various television and movie sets. The focus on moments from episodes gave me a longing to revisit shows I have not watched in several decades.
And though not as many people of the industry or Luke's family were interviewed for this book, those that did share their memories ended up painting the picture of a well-liked, hard-working, and supportive individual. I came away with a better understanding of who he was from those who interacted with him in all walks of life.
What makes this book different, though, is Wappler's supplementing of his biographical journey with slices from her own life (tacked on to the end of each chapter). It is a little jarring at first, throwing the rhythm a bit. However, it soon settles in well enough and provides the supportive "...and How a Generation Grew Up" part of the book's tagline. I did notice, though, that quite often a chapter is more about her life than it was about Perry. Some readers might see this as padding a book; a thicker tome always has a perceived increased value.
By the Fall of 1990 when 90210 debuted, I was already in my mid-twenties and married. My high school (and college days) were well behind me. Still, my wife and I both found this show entertaining and tuned in weekly. Perry was just one of the many acting draws in the cast. And in 2017 when Riverdale debuted, I was also right on board (even though I was well into my fifth decade). What can I say? I have a Peter Pan syndrome.
I enjoyed looking into Perry's life and learning details I had not previously known. I savored details about auditions and behind the scenes exploits from various television and movie sets. The focus on moments from episodes gave me a longing to revisit shows I have not watched in several decades.
And though not as many people of the industry or Luke's family were interviewed for this book, those that did share their memories ended up painting the picture of a well-liked, hard-working, and supportive individual. I came away with a better understanding of who he was from those who interacted with him in all walks of life.
What makes this book different, though, is Wappler's supplementing of his biographical journey with slices from her own life (tacked on to the end of each chapter). It is a little jarring at first, throwing the rhythm a bit. However, it soon settles in well enough and provides the supportive "...and How a Generation Grew Up" part of the book's tagline. I did notice, though, that quite often a chapter is more about her life than it was about Perry. Some readers might see this as padding a book; a thicker tome always has a perceived increased value.
March 7, 2024
90210 was something I was able to share with my tween daughters. Of course, like everyone else, Dylan was my favorite. I watched Luke Perry mature and "seem" like someone we could all like. Many times, in Hollywood, people are not who they seem. I don't think this is the case here. I remember reading a book by the late Leslie Jordan, and he also said Luke was a nice guy (and good looking to boot.)
That mid-west work ethic shines through (my family is from Ohio, so I know all about this.)
I learned things about Luke and the show that I hadn't known. I loved reading the anecdotes others said about him, the honesty about some of the conflict on the sets, etc.
I am certain I would've liked being Luke Perry's friend.
That said, this novel was unique as the chapters are split being about Luke, and about the author. Initially, I thought there would be more weaving of that time, but the chapters about the author were memoir like, and I think this will throw some readers off.
I skipped through some of the "memoir" portions but savored all the rest. I also would've loved to see photos added to the book, which is normal for a "biography."
Thank you to Simon & Schuster as well as NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
That mid-west work ethic shines through (my family is from Ohio, so I know all about this.)
I learned things about Luke and the show that I hadn't known. I loved reading the anecdotes others said about him, the honesty about some of the conflict on the sets, etc.
I am certain I would've liked being Luke Perry's friend.
That said, this novel was unique as the chapters are split being about Luke, and about the author. Initially, I thought there would be more weaving of that time, but the chapters about the author were memoir like, and I think this will throw some readers off.
I skipped through some of the "memoir" portions but savored all the rest. I also would've loved to see photos added to the book, which is normal for a "biography."
Thank you to Simon & Schuster as well as NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 14, 2024
Who edited this book? Would the appropriate answer be NO ONE? I skipped all the parts the author thinks we want to read about her life. Her diary sections would have been better suited for a blog, but even then no one knows who she is so no one would care so why put it in the book. Even with reading just the interesting parts, the book sadly fell flat for me with the exception of just a few good parts.
April 14, 2024
A novel about the actor Luke Perry. Which was why I picked it. I was a huge fan of 90210 and of Luke Perry’s work. Wow, this was a bit disappointing and boring. Seriously, it took days to read. I didn’t realize until the end of the book but she didn’t have any personal information about him from his immediate family. Which now I feel bad reading this because they never approved this book. And since his death was recent I believe they should have some imput.
The author wrote about his life and fame, but also discussed her own life. Which again now makes sense since she didn’t know him personally. I enjoyed the interviews of the individuals that worked with Luke. He was highly regarded as an actor and as a human being. He was kind and considerate to so many people. I just didn’t care for her personal information but I understand why she did it. At times, her story is confusing and at times she came off unlikeable.
Overall, I wish I never picked this book. I feel so bad about it. Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
The author wrote about his life and fame, but also discussed her own life. Which again now makes sense since she didn’t know him personally. I enjoyed the interviews of the individuals that worked with Luke. He was highly regarded as an actor and as a human being. He was kind and considerate to so many people. I just didn’t care for her personal information but I understand why she did it. At times, her story is confusing and at times she came off unlikeable.
Overall, I wish I never picked this book. I feel so bad about it. Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
April 3, 2024
i loved the melding of margaret's story with how luke grew up and learned the ropes (always his own way) in hollywood. this is one of those pleasant reads that makes you feel like you are getting to know the man behind the persona. everyone knows dylan mckay. few people knew luke perry; and even with the help of this book; i feel like he maintains the privacy he always held close; the author respectfully shies away from his family life etc and focuses on who people remembered, quotes from interviews where he described the man he wanted to be, the man he was. it all blends well without being salacious or dark.
i never knew luke lived near leslie jordan for years, i thought that was fun; and i had forgotten (who knows how) about how he owned pot bellied pigs. i also never knew that he did a play version of When Harry Met Sally with Alyson Hannigan, and a stint as Brad Majors in a rendition of RHPS - man, I wish I had seen that!! there was a beautiful story at the end where a longtime fan got to meet luke, and i teared up reading it. (the fan was santina muha, who played sky in hulu's dollface) by all accounts, luke was a man who meant what he said, said what he meant, and just wanted to "do the work". that work brought so much, to so many; including myself. i highly recommend this book.
i never knew luke lived near leslie jordan for years, i thought that was fun; and i had forgotten (who knows how) about how he owned pot bellied pigs. i also never knew that he did a play version of When Harry Met Sally with Alyson Hannigan, and a stint as Brad Majors in a rendition of RHPS - man, I wish I had seen that!! there was a beautiful story at the end where a longtime fan got to meet luke, and i teared up reading it. (the fan was santina muha, who played sky in hulu's dollface) by all accounts, luke was a man who meant what he said, said what he meant, and just wanted to "do the work". that work brought so much, to so many; including myself. i highly recommend this book.
March 23, 2024
I loved reading about Luke and what a good person he was. I just didn’t care for the inserts from the author. I wasn’t understanding why it was in there except that she was a fan as well. But all in all it was a good read. It appealed to my Team Dylan side.
March 17, 2024
5 years ago, Gen X lost one of its iconic actors, Luke Perry. Luke became famous for playing Dylan on Beverly Hills 90210, becoming a teen idol in that breakout role. But when he died at the age of 52 from a stroke, many of us were taken aback, mourning for a man that represented so much about the 90s. He wasn't just Dylan, most recently taking on a father role in the popular series Riverdale, along with other dramatic roles in film and TV. His impact came not only through the roles he performed in, as his friends, family and co-stars will tell you, Luke Perry was just a genuinely good person. Author Margaret Wappler takes us back to his beginnings in Ohio and weaves her own story of growing up along with Luke's. Her story of childhood, the teen years and adulthood mesh with Luke's in a way that many readers of a certain age will see themselves reflected in.
For those of us who watched 90210 in the 90s as teens, we got the full spectrum of teenage stereotypes. Were you a Kelly, Brenda, Brandon or Dylan? Who would you want to date? While the “good guy/girl” was the right choice, that "bad boy/girl" was always a temptation. And the character of Dylan was that "bad boy". But if you looked deeper at the character, Perry was able to perfectly toe the line of raging rebel and sad boy, making a mark on the viewers who absolutely fell in love with him. Even after 90210, his roles challenged the viewer, making him an actor you couldn't take your eyes off of. His death was too soon for many of us, but we have his portrayals of so many characters to remind us about his talent, pop culture impact, and kindness.
For those of us who watched 90210 in the 90s as teens, we got the full spectrum of teenage stereotypes. Were you a Kelly, Brenda, Brandon or Dylan? Who would you want to date? While the “good guy/girl” was the right choice, that "bad boy/girl" was always a temptation. And the character of Dylan was that "bad boy". But if you looked deeper at the character, Perry was able to perfectly toe the line of raging rebel and sad boy, making a mark on the viewers who absolutely fell in love with him. Even after 90210, his roles challenged the viewer, making him an actor you couldn't take your eyes off of. His death was too soon for many of us, but we have his portrayals of so many characters to remind us about his talent, pop culture impact, and kindness.
March 24, 2024
Loved it! Took me back to my Teenage years. Highly Recommend!
April 2, 2024
Thanks so much @simonbooks #SimonBooksBuddy for the free finished copy of this one💖.
✨What it is about:
A tribute to the late actor Luke Perry, famed for his role as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210.✨
💭My thoughts:
Dylan McKay was one of the “it” characters on tv in the 90s, and as soon as I noticed this book was coming out, I knew I wanted to read it. I remember running to turn on the tv when 90210 was on, and almost never missing an episode. Oddly enough, I never really kept up with Luke after the series was done, but when his death was announced, it truly was sad for me.
I absolutely loved reading about Luke and his beginnings, as well as all the different anecdotes shared by people who knew him throughout his life. Despite the fact that his family, and the main cast members of 90210 did not agree to contribute to the book, the author managed to capture and share the true essence of who Luke was as both an actor, and a human being. I’m pretty sure his family is happy with the outcome of this book. It almost felt like the she was writing a love letter revealing the special, humble, and kind human Luke Perry really was, one of the few in an industry where this doesn’t seem to be the norm.
At the same time the author was sharing about Luke, she tried to weave in her own story as well, a memoir of sorts, portraying the impact Luke had on her generation. However, I don’t know if the way this was done will resonate with everyone. While both topics (Luke and her story) were done well individually, I’m not totally sure the blending of both was seamlessly done throughout, and will definitely throw people off, because it did me. I found that at many points the back and forth was not as smooth or woven in enough with Luke’s story, and it felt a little rough. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read for me as a Luke Perry fan, because there was a lot of information, and behind the scenes details about Luke that were quite interesting to learn bout.
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
🕘 Celebrity biographies
🕘 Memoirs
🕘 90210
🕘 Acting + behind the scenes details
⚠️CW: Mentions of divorce, stroke and death.
✨What it is about:
A tribute to the late actor Luke Perry, famed for his role as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210.✨
💭My thoughts:
Dylan McKay was one of the “it” characters on tv in the 90s, and as soon as I noticed this book was coming out, I knew I wanted to read it. I remember running to turn on the tv when 90210 was on, and almost never missing an episode. Oddly enough, I never really kept up with Luke after the series was done, but when his death was announced, it truly was sad for me.
I absolutely loved reading about Luke and his beginnings, as well as all the different anecdotes shared by people who knew him throughout his life. Despite the fact that his family, and the main cast members of 90210 did not agree to contribute to the book, the author managed to capture and share the true essence of who Luke was as both an actor, and a human being. I’m pretty sure his family is happy with the outcome of this book. It almost felt like the she was writing a love letter revealing the special, humble, and kind human Luke Perry really was, one of the few in an industry where this doesn’t seem to be the norm.
At the same time the author was sharing about Luke, she tried to weave in her own story as well, a memoir of sorts, portraying the impact Luke had on her generation. However, I don’t know if the way this was done will resonate with everyone. While both topics (Luke and her story) were done well individually, I’m not totally sure the blending of both was seamlessly done throughout, and will definitely throw people off, because it did me. I found that at many points the back and forth was not as smooth or woven in enough with Luke’s story, and it felt a little rough. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read for me as a Luke Perry fan, because there was a lot of information, and behind the scenes details about Luke that were quite interesting to learn bout.
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
🕘 Celebrity biographies
🕘 Memoirs
🕘 90210
🕘 Acting + behind the scenes details
⚠️CW: Mentions of divorce, stroke and death.
March 26, 2024
An interesting read but the format and style didn’t work for me. The author chose to alternate chapters about Luke Perry’s life (the A Good Bad Boy section of the title) with snippets of her memoir written in 3rd person journal format (and how a generation grew up section of the title). It was very off putting - picture reading a chapter about Luke living in NY, working on soap operas and then moving back to LA to land 90210 eventually. And then turn the page and get a diary snippet of a 14 year old and her boyfriend and friend drama. Then it’s back to Aaron Spelling in LA, ending with him meeting Luke. Switch to a diary entry about the authors first day of high school. And so on. Even though it eventually does reference 90210 in the diary entries, it just didn’t flow well and never felt cohesive.
The sections about Luke were really interesting, but also a bit disjointed. It jumps around from his personal life to random plots from 90210 and back.
The writing could be choppy with chapters sometimes added in somewhat randomly - for example in the midst of a section about Luke’s time on Oz, Chapter 34 randomly has the author asking Darren Starr if he ever thought about having Luke on SATC. It’s a few sentences long and then Chapter 35 picks back up with his time on Oz.
Where it shines is in the personal interviews with his cast, crew and friends. When Espinoza talks about joining the show, his time working with Luke and running into him after the show you get a great look at the kind of guy Luke was. I loved the interviews the author conducted herself and thought it really showcased Luke the person vs Luke the famous actor.
Thanks @simonbooks for the gifted copy.
The sections about Luke were really interesting, but also a bit disjointed. It jumps around from his personal life to random plots from 90210 and back.
The writing could be choppy with chapters sometimes added in somewhat randomly - for example in the midst of a section about Luke’s time on Oz, Chapter 34 randomly has the author asking Darren Starr if he ever thought about having Luke on SATC. It’s a few sentences long and then Chapter 35 picks back up with his time on Oz.
Where it shines is in the personal interviews with his cast, crew and friends. When Espinoza talks about joining the show, his time working with Luke and running into him after the show you get a great look at the kind of guy Luke was. I loved the interviews the author conducted herself and thought it really showcased Luke the person vs Luke the famous actor.
Thanks @simonbooks for the gifted copy.
April 10, 2024
As a person who grew up watching Beverly Hills 90210 in the 90s, having every possible poster on the wall, the cover was simply calling me. I adored Dylan McKay, and later enjoyed his character in Riverdale as Fred Andrews. However, I felt a bit like the cover was clickbait.
‘A Good Bad Boy’ by Margaret Wappler offers a blend of the author’s personal journey, from struggles of being a teenager, and a girl, a woman, to losing a parent, intertwined with the life of Luke Perry and his career. It delves into the depths of their experiences, providing a glimpse into their lives that may resonate with readers on a profound level.
With that being said, I didn’t grow up in the USA so I can’t speak for my generation growing up here, so my experiences were a bit different. Other than being a girl, who went through ups and downs during her teen years like everyone else, or a fan of a popular TV show, I don’t have anything in common with the author.
Listen, I won’t be too harsh but completely transparent. Every book possesses its unique charm and appeal. It is often the unexpected elements that have the power to surprise us the most. Therefore, I encourage you to approach this one with an open mind. It is important to note that this book is not a biography of Luke Perry, but rather a story that delves into the life and experiences of the author.
I would have appreciated additional trigger warnings such as losing a parent, cancer, talk of suicide, etc.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐕 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲?
P.S. I received a free copy as a part of a Simon’s Buddy Read. #SimonBooksBuddy
‘A Good Bad Boy’ by Margaret Wappler offers a blend of the author’s personal journey, from struggles of being a teenager, and a girl, a woman, to losing a parent, intertwined with the life of Luke Perry and his career. It delves into the depths of their experiences, providing a glimpse into their lives that may resonate with readers on a profound level.
With that being said, I didn’t grow up in the USA so I can’t speak for my generation growing up here, so my experiences were a bit different. Other than being a girl, who went through ups and downs during her teen years like everyone else, or a fan of a popular TV show, I don’t have anything in common with the author.
Listen, I won’t be too harsh but completely transparent. Every book possesses its unique charm and appeal. It is often the unexpected elements that have the power to surprise us the most. Therefore, I encourage you to approach this one with an open mind. It is important to note that this book is not a biography of Luke Perry, but rather a story that delves into the life and experiences of the author.
I would have appreciated additional trigger warnings such as losing a parent, cancer, talk of suicide, etc.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐕 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲?
P.S. I received a free copy as a part of a Simon’s Buddy Read. #SimonBooksBuddy
April 7, 2024
Interesting book setup - a biography of Luke Perry juxtaposed the author’s own teenage years/drama/home life. Not sure it entirely worked —- I enjoyed the Luke Perry sections more than the memoir sections. To be clear, I actually think the author could write a standalone memoir and it would be excellent, I just don’t know how well it worked here. I loved Luke Perry in 90210, so it was fun to look back at this time in his life/career and see how his childhood and friendships shaped him and his view on Hollywood/acting.
April 5, 2024
I wanted to love this book as much as I loved Luke Perry, and I did love the chapters about Luke Perry, but I did not care about the author’s life, which had nothing to do with Luke Perry, except that she watched 90210 in high school.
March 13, 2024
4.75 ⭐️ Must listen/read for any Luke Perry fan.
Read
March 25, 2024As a huge 90210 fan, I loved learning more about Luke Perry. I would have loved even more stories!
This book is also part memoir for the author.
This book is also part memoir for the author.
April 1, 2024
Shout out to Simon & Schuster and the Author for the Advance Reader Copy! For a generation 90210 was the thing to have on tv, and that is why I was excited to get my hands on this book, I enjoyed the chapters from Luke Perry's POV, but the author memoir/journal entries hits kinda jarringly, if this had been handled with more transitional grace I would have rated this higher.
April 2, 2024
Not what I thought it was going to be. It wasn't my favorite read.
March 8, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Please be aware, as I wasn't, that this is a "hybrid" biography/author memoir. Chapters alternate between Perry's life and the author writing about her Gen X life, loosely tying in her enjoyment of Beverly Hills 90210 at the beginning of her life journey. I felt if the author wanted to tell her Gen X survival story, she should have gotten a 2-book deal and separated the content. The mixing of her story and Perry's didn't work for me.
I was in college when 90210 premiered and watched a few episodes but never really got into the show. I casually followed the actors via Entertainment Tonight and People and Us magazines. I remember all the young ladies my age and younger going ga ga for Luke Perry as the next James Dean. Hell, the show's producers leaned heavily into this and both Luke and Jason Priestly had that 1950's haircut. Since I was only casually interested in 90210, I thought I'd learn a lot with this book.
In fact, I didn't. Unless you're a super fan of the show, you won't know what the author is talking about. She assumes readers watched all the seasons and all the episodes, and I was confused at vague references. Now, one could argue that I shouldn't have picked up this book because I wasn't a huge fan, but I do enjoy celebrity biographies and memoirs. For example, I haven't seen some of Cary Grant's movies, but I've read several biographies, and the movies are given brief descriptions and backstory to help understand the narrative a little better.
Throughout the book, because of the alternating chapters, I felt like I was reading a magazine article per chapter. Like the author interviewed one person about Perry, wrote an article using quotes from the interview and that's it, and went in chronological order of Perry's life. There didn't seem to be a flowing narrative combining several people's recollections of Perry and weaving a true biography. I felt like the author only skimmed the surface of Perry's life because she was so invested in telling her own story, too.
Perry was an underrated actor, much like 1970's teen heartthrob David Cassidy, shoehorned into the perception that they were "idols" and would only appeal to the younger demographic. He had real talent, and from time to time was offered roles to show off his skills as an actor. He comes off as a genuinely nice guy and his death at such a young age, when he was experiencing a career renaissance, was unfortunate.
Please be aware, as I wasn't, that this is a "hybrid" biography/author memoir. Chapters alternate between Perry's life and the author writing about her Gen X life, loosely tying in her enjoyment of Beverly Hills 90210 at the beginning of her life journey. I felt if the author wanted to tell her Gen X survival story, she should have gotten a 2-book deal and separated the content. The mixing of her story and Perry's didn't work for me.
I was in college when 90210 premiered and watched a few episodes but never really got into the show. I casually followed the actors via Entertainment Tonight and People and Us magazines. I remember all the young ladies my age and younger going ga ga for Luke Perry as the next James Dean. Hell, the show's producers leaned heavily into this and both Luke and Jason Priestly had that 1950's haircut. Since I was only casually interested in 90210, I thought I'd learn a lot with this book.
In fact, I didn't. Unless you're a super fan of the show, you won't know what the author is talking about. She assumes readers watched all the seasons and all the episodes, and I was confused at vague references. Now, one could argue that I shouldn't have picked up this book because I wasn't a huge fan, but I do enjoy celebrity biographies and memoirs. For example, I haven't seen some of Cary Grant's movies, but I've read several biographies, and the movies are given brief descriptions and backstory to help understand the narrative a little better.
Throughout the book, because of the alternating chapters, I felt like I was reading a magazine article per chapter. Like the author interviewed one person about Perry, wrote an article using quotes from the interview and that's it, and went in chronological order of Perry's life. There didn't seem to be a flowing narrative combining several people's recollections of Perry and weaving a true biography. I felt like the author only skimmed the surface of Perry's life because she was so invested in telling her own story, too.
Perry was an underrated actor, much like 1970's teen heartthrob David Cassidy, shoehorned into the perception that they were "idols" and would only appeal to the younger demographic. He had real talent, and from time to time was offered roles to show off his skills as an actor. He comes off as a genuinely nice guy and his death at such a young age, when he was experiencing a career renaissance, was unfortunate.
March 23, 2024
“Reflecting on it years later, Muha says, ‘I don’t know how he did it, but he surpassed him: Luke Perry is even better than Dylan McKay.’”
Dylan or Brandon? #IYKYK. I was Brandon all the way…it was the eyes for me. 😍
3.5 stars! This book was timed to release around the fifth anniversary of Perry’s death from a stroke in 2019 at the age of fifty two. He was a 90’s bad boy legend and, from the sound of it, one of the most humble and kind men in Hollywood.
A Good Bad Boy was written in the most unique way, with every other chapter being about the author herself. The portions about Luke are from her own memories and experiences and those of his friends and loved ones.
I never followed him much after 90210, which was a staple in my formative years. But this book really dives deep into his character, his love of friends and family, and his selfless mannerisms and I now feel like I wish I had.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
Dylan or Brandon? #IYKYK. I was Brandon all the way…it was the eyes for me. 😍
3.5 stars! This book was timed to release around the fifth anniversary of Perry’s death from a stroke in 2019 at the age of fifty two. He was a 90’s bad boy legend and, from the sound of it, one of the most humble and kind men in Hollywood.
A Good Bad Boy was written in the most unique way, with every other chapter being about the author herself. The portions about Luke are from her own memories and experiences and those of his friends and loved ones.
I never followed him much after 90210, which was a staple in my formative years. But this book really dives deep into his character, his love of friends and family, and his selfless mannerisms and I now feel like I wish I had.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
March 26, 2024
I DNF’d this book. I loved the portions I read about Luke BUT I do not understand the authors decision to insert her own memoir in with a book that is supposed to be about Luke Perry. I made it to Chapter 10 hoping his portion would overtake her memoir and when that didn’t happen I DNF.
This review is not to necessarily to say the book was bad but that I think it was misrepresented. Luke is on the cover. The title reflects Luke. I didn’t want to know her own story.
If you decide to read this book or listen to the narration be aware of what you are purchasing.
This review is not to necessarily to say the book was bad but that I think it was misrepresented. Luke is on the cover. The title reflects Luke. I didn’t want to know her own story.
If you decide to read this book or listen to the narration be aware of what you are purchasing.
March 26, 2024
As a big fan of Luke Perry and Beverly Hills 90210, I was disappointed that this book wasn’t totally about him. For whatever reason, every couple of chapters or so, the story was autobiographical. The author may be a nice person but I had zero interest in her life. Eventually, I just started skipping those chapters. The chapters regarding Luke seemed very surface level and nothing new. Pictures would’ve upped my rating some! A disappointment.
March 25, 2024
I was a fan of Beverly Hills, 90210 but lost sight of Luke Perry until Riverdale. Like the author, his sudden death hit me surprisingly hard. I enjoyed reading about the behind the scenes stories and anecdotes from people. He seemed to be a really nice guy and makes his death at such an early age even more sad. I didn’t find the sections about the author to be all that interesting.
Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 26, 2024
I'm rounding this up from 2.5 stars. The portions of the book that consist of a powerfully concise & straightforward biography of Luke Perry & his impact on pop culture made for a first rate read. The rest of the book -- a (fictional?) memoir about the author -- did absolutely nothing for me. I basically have half a book regarding what I asked for...I simply wasn't interested in the rest. I was hoping for more academic/sociological analysis.
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