Hello world! Gretchen Bonaduce came onto the scene in the mid-00s, starring in Breaking Bonaduce, a VH1 reality show with her former Partridge Family star husband Danny Bonaduce.
Soon after the show ended they divorced and Surviving Agent Orange focuses on the rest of the story: her eighteen year marriage to Danny and all that entailed―addiction, infidelity, and the chaos of celebrity, as well as their divorce and her life as a single mother. Musician, reality star, and mother of two, Gretchen's story takes a fun and funny look at a life in and around the spotlight.
Soon after the show ended they divorced and Surviving Agent Orange focuses on the rest of the story: her eighteen year marriage to Danny and all that entailed―addiction, infidelity, and the chaos of celebrity, as well as their divorce and her life as a single mother. Musician, reality star, and mother of two, Gretchen's story takes a fun and funny look at a life in and around the spotlight.
“I love this book, and could not put it down. Gretchen Bonaduce is one of the coolest chicks I know. A terrific mother and an even better friend, her life is been fascinating and crazy at the same time. There are many life lessons in her story. To top it off, it is written in a conversational and relatable way.”
―Jackie Kallen, Author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Between the Ropes
"What a fantastic read. I laughed out loud on so many pages…and then on others, all I wanted to do was reach out and give [Gretchen] a hug. I love the truth…the ‘no holds barred’ of it all. It is light in the heaviest of ways and I am honored to know and love the writer. I can’t wait to read it again!"
―Marie Currie, artist, singer, songwriter, and actress
"I'll never forget the first time I met Gretchen Bonaduce. I went to the Gower Street Fair where I knew she was playing. I don't normally seek out singers or actresses but she, I was not going to miss. I saw her on the Dr. Phil show and was so taken by her inner strength to stand her ground even when Dr. Phil tried to sway her to give her marriage another chance. I loved her immediately and respected her deeply. Little did I know that we would become as close as sisters and she has helped me through good times, and bad. Gretchen is force to be reckoned with. She is love, she is talented and strong. I am so proud to call her my sister and having written an auto-biography myself, I know the guts it took for her to write this. Now she can add another category to her vast resume. Hell of a writer!"
―Cherie Currie, author of Neon Angel, lead singer for The Runaways
"Gretchen's story is a "must read" for anyone surviving a marital breakup with anyone, famous or otherwise. I know Gretchen personally, and she is one of the kindest, loving and honest person I know. Surviving Danny with grace and dignity - not many could do. This is NOT a trashy Hollywood tell all, but rather a glimpse into her side of Danny's story. Loved the book and love Gretchen."
―Geri Jewell, actress from The Facts of Life
"With wit, charm, and grace, Gretchen Bonaduce documents an unconventional courtship and marriage in her debut “tell-some” memoir. She is the rock star in this tome figuratively and literally who stood by a former child star in the throes of an escalating addiction. Inevitably, along the way and on shaky ground, she learns about love and loyalty and finally, when to walk away. With a forward by America’s Next Top Model’s Adrianne Curry (who was married to “a Brady” while Gretchen was married to “a Partridge״), the story and message are clear. The greatest gifts can result from even the most turbulent times: lifelong friendships, love, self-respect, independence, a heightened sense of humor and family bonds. You’ll cackle, you’ll cry and you’ll say “that’s insane!” while reading―yet it all really happened. Gretchen survived “Agent Orange” and she lived to laugh about it. YOU will too.
―Shira Weiss, former Huffington Post writer and reality blogger
"Here’s the thing about Grechen Bonaduce: She’s a real person who’s lived a surreal life. I watched every minute of Breaking Bonaduce when it exploded on to the reality TV scene, and I’ve never seen a show come close to being as raw or real―before or since. As a reality TV editorial writer and podcast host, I was riveted by Gretchen’s account of what went on behind the scenes of filming that show, and the decisions that led her into marrying and eventually divorcing Danny. But Gretchen’s memoir isn’t just about her marriage; it’s about being a woman. She’s a child who’s lost a parent, a sister, wife, friend, and single mother reinventing herself with every breath she takes. Reading her memoir is like sitting down with a good girlfriend and playing a kick ass game of “Never Have I Ever”―except in Gretchen’s case, she most likely HAS! Warm, funny, vulnerable, and 100% relatable in its emotional impact, Surviving Agent Orange is a must-read for all of us who are just trying to figure it out, and learning to let go along the way."
―Erin Martin, Writer and host of the Pink Shade With Erin Martin podcast
"Being on TV Shows from the same time one can acquire a strange familial association. The Brady Bunch and Partridge Family are like television cousins. I've known Danny Bonaduce since we were children and while never close friends, our paths have crossed many times over the years. I've always liked the guy and enjoyed doing his radio shows and other projects we were paired up to do. When he married Gretchen after just one date, I figured she must be insane but that was sort of fitting. Over the years, I would see her, casually, and we would chat and that label of mental illness just didn't fit the picture. She was smart, she was wise, she was funny, she was a great Mom and this marriage was lasting! She was not some crazy person or some gold digger (believe me, the only gold Danny had to dig was acquired after her wise input and hard work in his life and career). In recent years I have come to know Gretchen and she has become a very valued friend. I have marveled at how someone can be so perfectly feminine while having the capacity to completely kick ass when she needs to. Her strength comes from a keen sense of ethics, fair play and the golden rule. Gretchen proves that all those things we learned when we were little really do work. She's made of The right stuff. Throw that into a crazy mixture of sex, drugs, rock and roll and total chaos and you have a fascinating story. I am so glad she is sharing her story with us all. May she inspire others to find their own inner strength. I'm sure that is one of her main reasons for writing this―to help others; because, yes, she really IS that nice!"
―Susan Olsen, actress from The Brady Bunch
―Jackie Kallen, Author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Between the Ropes
"What a fantastic read. I laughed out loud on so many pages…and then on others, all I wanted to do was reach out and give [Gretchen] a hug. I love the truth…the ‘no holds barred’ of it all. It is light in the heaviest of ways and I am honored to know and love the writer. I can’t wait to read it again!"
―Marie Currie, artist, singer, songwriter, and actress
"I'll never forget the first time I met Gretchen Bonaduce. I went to the Gower Street Fair where I knew she was playing. I don't normally seek out singers or actresses but she, I was not going to miss. I saw her on the Dr. Phil show and was so taken by her inner strength to stand her ground even when Dr. Phil tried to sway her to give her marriage another chance. I loved her immediately and respected her deeply. Little did I know that we would become as close as sisters and she has helped me through good times, and bad. Gretchen is force to be reckoned with. She is love, she is talented and strong. I am so proud to call her my sister and having written an auto-biography myself, I know the guts it took for her to write this. Now she can add another category to her vast resume. Hell of a writer!"
―Cherie Currie, author of Neon Angel, lead singer for The Runaways
"Gretchen's story is a "must read" for anyone surviving a marital breakup with anyone, famous or otherwise. I know Gretchen personally, and she is one of the kindest, loving and honest person I know. Surviving Danny with grace and dignity - not many could do. This is NOT a trashy Hollywood tell all, but rather a glimpse into her side of Danny's story. Loved the book and love Gretchen."
―Geri Jewell, actress from The Facts of Life
"With wit, charm, and grace, Gretchen Bonaduce documents an unconventional courtship and marriage in her debut “tell-some” memoir. She is the rock star in this tome figuratively and literally who stood by a former child star in the throes of an escalating addiction. Inevitably, along the way and on shaky ground, she learns about love and loyalty and finally, when to walk away. With a forward by America’s Next Top Model’s Adrianne Curry (who was married to “a Brady” while Gretchen was married to “a Partridge״), the story and message are clear. The greatest gifts can result from even the most turbulent times: lifelong friendships, love, self-respect, independence, a heightened sense of humor and family bonds. You’ll cackle, you’ll cry and you’ll say “that’s insane!” while reading―yet it all really happened. Gretchen survived “Agent Orange” and she lived to laugh about it. YOU will too.
―Shira Weiss, former Huffington Post writer and reality blogger
"Here’s the thing about Grechen Bonaduce: She’s a real person who’s lived a surreal life. I watched every minute of Breaking Bonaduce when it exploded on to the reality TV scene, and I’ve never seen a show come close to being as raw or real―before or since. As a reality TV editorial writer and podcast host, I was riveted by Gretchen’s account of what went on behind the scenes of filming that show, and the decisions that led her into marrying and eventually divorcing Danny. But Gretchen’s memoir isn’t just about her marriage; it’s about being a woman. She’s a child who’s lost a parent, a sister, wife, friend, and single mother reinventing herself with every breath she takes. Reading her memoir is like sitting down with a good girlfriend and playing a kick ass game of “Never Have I Ever”―except in Gretchen’s case, she most likely HAS! Warm, funny, vulnerable, and 100% relatable in its emotional impact, Surviving Agent Orange is a must-read for all of us who are just trying to figure it out, and learning to let go along the way."
―Erin Martin, Writer and host of the Pink Shade With Erin Martin podcast
"Being on TV Shows from the same time one can acquire a strange familial association. The Brady Bunch and Partridge Family are like television cousins. I've known Danny Bonaduce since we were children and while never close friends, our paths have crossed many times over the years. I've always liked the guy and enjoyed doing his radio shows and other projects we were paired up to do. When he married Gretchen after just one date, I figured she must be insane but that was sort of fitting. Over the years, I would see her, casually, and we would chat and that label of mental illness just didn't fit the picture. She was smart, she was wise, she was funny, she was a great Mom and this marriage was lasting! She was not some crazy person or some gold digger (believe me, the only gold Danny had to dig was acquired after her wise input and hard work in his life and career). In recent years I have come to know Gretchen and she has become a very valued friend. I have marveled at how someone can be so perfectly feminine while having the capacity to completely kick ass when she needs to. Her strength comes from a keen sense of ethics, fair play and the golden rule. Gretchen proves that all those things we learned when we were little really do work. She's made of The right stuff. Throw that into a crazy mixture of sex, drugs, rock and roll and total chaos and you have a fascinating story. I am so glad she is sharing her story with us all. May she inspire others to find their own inner strength. I'm sure that is one of her main reasons for writing this―to help others; because, yes, she really IS that nice!"
―Susan Olsen, actress from The Brady Bunch
About the Author
With talent, tenacity, and charisma, Gretchen Bonaduce has proven time and again that she can overcome adversity and make her dreams come true. Her first associate producer credit came from the 2003 NBC show Life Moments. That same year, she was picked to shoot a pilot for the soap network with daytime soap star Lisa Rinna.
Learning she had a knack for producing shows, she then when on to Executive Produce two seasons of the Vh1 hit show, Breaking Bonaduce in 2005/2006.
Not only did she executive produce on the show, but she also appeared as a cast member alongside her then husband Danny Bonaduce and their two children. The series showed her positive attitude and strength, while trying to balance a family with a chaotic marriage.
Learning she had a knack for producing shows, she then when on to Executive Produce two seasons of the Vh1 hit show, Breaking Bonaduce in 2005/2006.
Not only did she executive produce on the show, but she also appeared as a cast member alongside her then husband Danny Bonaduce and their two children. The series showed her positive attitude and strength, while trying to balance a family with a chaotic marriage.
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