Member Reviews
A humorous, behind-the-scenes peek into the world of fashion PR, an industry I am completely unfamiliar with. It was amusing and at times educational, and although awfully similar to The Devil Wears Prada it was still a worthwhile and enjoyable read.
I am not a follower of fashion but this hilarious book had me in stitches with laughter. I didn't want to put it down it was that good. If you want a good clean book then this is for you. 5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC
I know nothing about PR so when I saw this book I was intrigued.
Frankie enters the world of PR as an intern after unsuccessfully applying for many, MANY roles more suited to her degree. She is delighted to get the chance to intern at a successful agency but is completely out of her depth….at first.
This book tells the story of how Frankie’s life develops as she becomes enveloped in her chosen way of life. PR seems to be the start and end of her, which means something has to give in response……
I read this book in one sitting on a flight. I felt immersed in Frankie’s world and really enjoyed learning more.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.
"Don't Believe the Hype" is a non-fiction book that explores the world of celebrity journalism and how it shapes our perceptions of public figures. The book delves into the behind-the-scenes workings of tabloid media and questions the ethics of their reporting. The author, Natalie Lewis, draws on her experience as a former gossip writer to offer insights into the industry and its impact on society. Overall, the book aims to encourage readers to question the narratives presented by celebrity journalism and consider the potential harm it can cause.
The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, and no significant gaps between words. Some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.
This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
3.5/5.
Funny, fast, paced and insightful…not at all what I expected. Thought the world of a fashion PA would be far more glam and this sounds like hard work! Thoroughly enjoyable and easy to read and would make such a great film.
I loved this story . I learnt loads about the fashion industry. Starting as an unpaid intern Frankie climbs the ladder. You get funny stories .It pushed friendships and relationships. Some great twists and not the ending you expect . I really enjoyed it.
After having no success in getting a job within her field, Frankie manages to get a internship at a Fashion PR company. The book follows Frankie’s journey through the rise and falls throughout her career. I Liked how it showed the struggles of PR and the affects it has on personal life and relationships.
I however felt it was too much like The devil wears prada which did put me off quite a bit. I get that Frankie as a character was self-absorbed and shallow which put me off further from enjoying it . Some of the content as well could of been cut to make it shorter as I felt some of it wasn’t relevant or didn’t really help the story further.
Loved this! A romp through the world of a reluctant fashion PR! Funny, well written, decidedly normal protagonist who enters the world of fashion PR somewhat reluctantly but ends up loving it! Really enjoyed the descriptions of London and celeb-adjacent life!
First oh all i want thank @ and @ for the arc copy!
✨ I was looking forward to this book, which is why I literally screamed when I got the email approving the arc! And can I say the hype was justified? Yes!
Chapter after chapter a more mature and experienced Frankie accompanied me into the crazy, fast-paced,dazzling world of fashion. Throughout the book, in fact, I witnessed Frankie's professional growth as she grappled with learning her way around the fashion world, how to work as part of a team, and how to accommodate the crazy demands of clients.
was really interesting to be able to peek behind the scenes of the fashion world and see all the psychological strategy that makes people want/need a certain item.In addition, the story is full of ironic descriptions and anecdotes about the fashion world and ,given the author's experience in the industry,I can be sure that they are not far from reality!
✨So what can I say? This was a read that engaged me to the end: it is juicy,funny,interesting,educational and stressful. It is a portrait of a flawed industry that under its glittering surface ,photo shoots and fashion shows will take every ounce of your energy but will,in the end,make you addicted to it.
"Yuo will never leave.You will think you will leave,many times.But you never will."
I am sure that for many readers Don't Believe the Hype by Natalie Lewis is indeed a glorious romp. Not, sadly, for me. This is a matter of personal taste I think, and not an objective position.
Don't Believe the Hype by Natalie Lewis is a glorious and occasionally glamorous look behind the scenes of life in the fashion industry that will have the reader in stitches and then moments later wincing in frustration at the decisions made by the main character , Frankie. Frankie Marks is an unlikely candidate for the role of intern at a fashion PR company but when the job lands in her lap she decides to run with it, at the very least it will be some practical experience on her CV when she goes in search of a " proper " job. She won't let her lack of knowledge about fashion hold her back but she does not realise the toll it will take as the demands of her mercurial boss wreaks havoc on her friendships and romantic relationship.
This is a really sharp and witty read with great characters and when I learned that the author had worked in the industry for years , that sense of authenticity and lived experience really comes through in the attention to detail. Frankie comes across as incredibly naive at times , and it was frustrating to see her make poor decisions especially at the expense of her best friend and boyfriend, but it did feel very true to what a young woman might do when faced with similar situations. The book reminded me a lot of the Devil Wears Prada, and fans of that will probably enjoy this light hearted read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher ,all opinions are my own.
I found this book somewhat shallow. It's set in the world of fashion, but reads more like a magazine release than a story. Frankie has a jib in a world that she un unfamiliar with and struggles to keep everything together.. She doesnt really come across as believable.
It's a light read, and I'm glad to have tried it out, but found the constant Press releases a bit intrusive.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.
You really should believe all the hype you read about this hilarious inside look into the world fashion and all its foibles. The attention to detail, the cast of fashionistas and their fast-paced determination - designer-clad elbows out - to get that editorial, that photo, that cover, all feel totally authentic. And that's not surprising given Natalie Lewis' many years in fashion PR, rubbing shoulders (padded this season?) with the glitterati.
But above all, there's Frankie, the fashion newbie we soon learn to love as she navigates the crazy world of her agency and her very own celebrity client, praying she can keep hold of her boyfriend and win her parents' approval as she goes. The whirlwind around her may be superficial, but she is anything but.
And you probably won't stop laughing - or wincing!
Five stars for a novel that totally deserves to make the cover of many a magazine.
Frankie works fashion PR- and it's become her life. This is reminiscent of Devil Wears Prada for sure but it's also a hoot. I'll bet I'm not the only one who tried to figure out who the various characters and fashion houses were. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, A light read.
This is unoriginal - almost a copy of The Devil Wears Prada at the beginning, and a re-hash of other things that I have seen on screen featuring the fashion industry. It was quite amusing, but really I was horrified that highly educated people live their lives in this shallow, expensive world when sustainability, climate change and world poverty are uppermost in people's lives at the moment.
I received a free copy of, Don't Believe the Hype, by Natalie Lewis, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Frankie works in PR. Something she never really planned on doing but here she is. Frankie gets to meet a lot of people and do a lot of press release. This is a quirky book, but a nice read over all.
Frankie is a great character, fresh air in a world where appearances is what matter. This is a very entertaining story, I laughed and rooted for Frankie.
Good storytelling, lots of humour, well developed characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Sorry, this was a DNF for me. I never usually do this, but I'm super busy right now, and it was the wrong time for me to start it. I tried to finish this book, but once it got to 50% and the cheating... I couldn't continue. I know a lot of people would love this book. It's just not to my taste. I've never cared for fashion and although it was exactly like The Devil wears Prada, it didn't hold my interest.
I can only predict that something happens and Frankie is sorry, has learned her lessons etc. but I'm looking for something different in my books. I can see why it's women's fiction only. :)
The writing was easy to read however and I can see many people enjoying this insight into the fashion world.
2.5 stars
Unfortunately I didn’t get on with this book, it was very disjointed and I felt it was trying too hard to be lighthearted but was just bogged down with lots of disjointed events and descriptions. I did not finish it
Very thankful for the review copy. I have loved some books from this publishing house, however this one didn't work for me. Fashion/PR is not my thing. I thought it might be funny but seriously I didn't get it.
Starts with a prologue, talking about a boot and it goes on and on. There's no chapter break and the frequent press releases kind of annoyed me.
The blurb says that "Frankie got the job by fluke, she doesn't know the first thing about designers…" but we don't see it happening. I could not connect with the writing style or Frankie. Too much telling and I didn't know what was going on. And, sadly, I didn't want to know. Didn't finish. Sorry.