Hollywood, CA—The movie star, the singer, the sex symbol, the so-called "dumb blonde" – all things that Marilyn Monroe is known as, and yet her story goes far beyond that. How did she build her career in Hollywood? Who was she close to—her family, her friends, her lovers—and who was really there for her? Was a successful young woman's life cut short by suicide, or is there more to the story? Most importantly, who really was Marilyn Monroe? My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me reveals the intimate details of the star's life and the environment of Hollywood and the United States at the peak of Marilyn Monroe's career.

Terry Karger, granddaughter of Metro Pictures co-founder Maxwell Karger and the daughter of Fred Karger (Marilyn's lover and vocal coach), recounts her experience with Hollywood and a young Marilyn Monroe. Coauthored by New York Times best-selling author Jay Margolis, My Maril begins with a young Terry Karger meeting Marilyn, affectionately nicknamed "Maril" by the Karger family, for the first time as her father's new girlfriend. Marilyn becomes Terry's babysitter, and she serves as a friend and sister-esque figure in the young girl's life. Terry's version of Marilyn is personal--she is kind, affectionate, smart, and mischievous, strikingly different to the way she was portrayed by the media. This book is a comprehensive account of Marilyn's entire life, as well as a behind-the-scenes glance into other prominent public figures, such as Ronald Reagan, that Terry Karger knew personally.

As author Jay Margolis states, "Fame never impressed Terry and the messages Terry wants to get across are that Marilyn Monroe was intelligent, not a dumb blonde, a woman who sought and was attracted to intelligence, and was a kind-hearted, generous soul who bought gifts for those she loved even if she was not necessarily in a financial position to buy such expensive gifts" My Maril dives deep into this side of Marilyn, revealing never-before-heard stories from Terry herself. It also includes previously unseen photos from Terry's personal collection. These photos are of Marilyn Monroe, the Karger family, and other prominent figures.