Finola Hughes Co-Authored ‘Soapsuds’ & Fans Have Questions

Long before social media turned daytime TV into a 24/7 discussion, Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on General Hospital (GH) trolled the soap world with a satirical novel called Soapsuds. She co-wrote it with journalist Digby Diehl back in 2005, and it certainly aged like fine wine. Read on to see why soap fans still try and figure out who’s who.

A Soap Within a Soap

If you don’t know, the book’s available on Amazon in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback. It follows a fake daytime drama called Live for Tomorrow. Satirical and very amusing, it shows a lot of backstage drama. Actually, it rivals General Hospital and other daytime soaps when it comes to TV storylines.

We’re talking about oversized egos, messy romances, power grabs, jealous actors, and enough meltdowns to fuel a decade of tabloids.

Naturally, GH fans spent years playing detective, wondering which real-life soap stars inspired which characters.

A Character Seems Familiar

Let’s take Meredith Contini. She’s a glamorous soapy vet who knows how to own a room. If Soapsuds dropped today instead of 2005, fans might immediately compare her to Laura Wright (Carly Spencer).

The character has the same larger-than-life energy. And, the same ability to make folks nervous just by raising an eyebrow.

Now, was Meredith meant to be Laura? Probably not. Good satire borrows from a dozen different people. But daytime TV always had those leading ladies who dominate storylines both on and off the screen. Actually, Meredith fits the persona perfectly.

Scandal That Feels Relatable

Then there’s Kate McPhee, the actress playing Devon Merrick on the fake soap. She gets tangled up with a married co-star. Sound familiar?

Well, it reads exactly like the kind of backstage gossip soap fans whispered about for decades. Even now, that storyline feels like a playful jab at every soap star rumor you might have heard about.

Interesting Comparisons

Probably, the most fascinating comparison might actually involve Finola Hughes. Today, she’s loved by General Hospital fans. And there’s good reason for it. Her character, Anna Devane, became everything a fan wants in a soap heroine.

Anna seems intelligent, fearless, dramatic, and somehow always mixed up in danger, romance, or international espionage. Unlike some characters who fade away, Anna stayed for generations.

And that’s what makes Soapsuds so much fun to revisit. Finola Hughes wrote the book while already living the chaotic world of daytime acting. She survived the crazy schedules, obsessive fans, and constant reinvention. In the book, she probably knew exactly who she was making fun of.

Some fans joked that Anna Devane could walk right into Soapsuds. She’s glamorous, complicated, emotional, and impossible to ignore. In a weird way, Anna is exactly the kind of persona that Hughes wrote about in her novel.

Why It Works Today 

Almost twenty years later, Soapsuds still attracts readers. While the names were invented, the personalities feel real enough that soap fans can’t help try and connect the dots. Actually, that’s the pinnacle of good satire.

There isn’t a Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), but he’s a great actor and could easily fit in any satirical book about life as an actor. After all, these days, Sonny’s described as “lonely” and looking for love. Of course, he’d be the onscreen legend who’s a vulnerable, if eccentric softie off-camera.

Reactions To The Book

Over on Amazon, readers seemed to like Finola Hughes’ creation. One person who read it said:

I was looking for a light read…This hit the spot, especially since I’m an unabashed soap watcher. I have a sneaking suspicion that this book isn’t TOTALLY fiction (wink) but either way, it had me in stitches already in the first chapter. 

Here are a few more responses from the review section:

• The producer, Daphne, had me in hysterics the way she said exactly what was on her mind. This book is pure fun and makes you wonder just how much of Kate McPhee’s life is a reflection of your favorite soap actor.
• This was a really good book. I loved it. I liked how it was both funny, and a lot of Drama.
• Finola Hughes is not only a terrific multi layered actress she is also a very witty writer with a hilarious bawdy sense of humor.
• I have a sneaking suspicion that this book isn’t TOTALLY fiction (wink) but either way, it had me in stitches already in the first chapter.

What do you think? Have you read Soapsuds? And, who do you think Meredith Contini was really based on? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.