I've followed Ruth Crilly for years and I was so excited when she announced her book. Somehow this book was everything she promised, including laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the audio because Ruth has a very expressive voice and it felt like an extension of her other content. If you like irreverent, chaotic stories as well as great personality, this is definitely worth picking up.

#Netgalley

I should start by saying I have followed Ruth Crilly on here for a while and enjoyed her mix of self-deprecating humour and industry know-how (she gives great beauty recommendations).

Originally I was aware of her from watching a Channel 4 fly-on-the-wall docu series about her life as an aspiring model back in the day (the 00’s at some point). I distinctly remember her struggling to make it in Japan and was touched by her openness, and also obvious vulnerability in the face of what was quite a weird situation.

This book examines her former career as a quirky looking (not my words, I think she’s stunning), British gal in her early 20’s (already too old by some industry standards! 😯) trying to make it big after dropping out of law school, while simultaneously attempting to get out of debt as a result of several shopping sprees.

All possible lows, and I guess a few highs are detailed; I don’t know how she remembers most of this stuff as my recollections of the 00’s are fuzzy at best, but I’m guessing that nights out in The Icon (RIP) in Limerick are probably less memorable than going to modelling auditions in NYC and Paris 😅.

I really like Ruth, she’s very down to earth, and witty. I think if you’re interested in the world of fashion and modelling you’ll enjoy this.
Parts were definitely of less interest to me, but that’s always the way with a memoir!
What I especially enjoyed was the walk down pop culture memory lane that was the 00’s, as you rarely see memoirs written about that time. Definitely one for the millennials!

Worth noting too that she narrates it herself on audio, which really added to my enjoyment of the book. A nice easy listen, with some cringe moments thrown in. We’ve all been there! 😳

With many thanks to @netgalley for my copy, all opinions are my own, as always. Available to buy now!

What an incredibly evocative and nostalgic scene-setting opening! Oh, the 90s! ‘How Not To Be A Supermodel’ lays the industry bare via funny anecdotes and reminiscences from author Ruth Crilly. The audiobook narrated by the author is a good listen too.

Absolutely loved this. Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me the chance to listen to this audio version of this book.

Hilarious and very honest! Would definitely recommend

A riotous insight into frightful-sounding world of international modelling.

Ruth is almost exactly my age. Obviously clearer of skin, longer of leg and with a good turn of phrase about her, definitely a smart cookie. But I'm in no way jealous of her.

I was however fully amused and entertained by her memoir of her years in modelling - how she got there, her outlandish expectations, her small triumphs, the ridiculous things she put herself through and that were asked of her.

Brilliantly funny anecdotes, well told, and that confirmed for me my own humble place as an unrecognised everywoman who wouldn't touch this sort of world with a bargepole if you paid me in books and chocolate (my own preferred currency).

Very well narrated by Ruth herself, this was a great read/listen.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

How Not to be a Supermodel is your classic easy, Summer read. Ruth Crilly is your classic Bridget Jones of the supermodel world- she's relatable, she's funny and she really reflects what life felt like in the early noughties as a young woman! I would have loved an ending which better summed up how she got out of modelling and perhaps gave us more of an insight into her next steps in Motherhood or her career, but perhaps that is a part of her future book writing plans!

Humorous, engaging title. Narrated by the author, a perfect match for the material. Highly recommend,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic book this was! Ruth’s narration was just the icing on top of the very hilarious cake.

A wonderful insight into the life of modelling in the early noughties, showing that it definitely was not all glitz and glamour.

Having followed Ruth on social media since the beginning, it wasn’t surprising at how well written this book was. It honestly felt like sitting in a bar with a friend hearing their stories.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Audio for the ARC.

**Listened to the audio book and read along with the kindle edition too**

I have followed Ruth Crilly for years on youtube and so I have known about this look for a very long time now. Really excited to finally listen/read!

I love that Crilly narrates the audiobook herself, and she makes a point of highlighting the fact she does all the voices and accents herself! I love that! Right from the off, you know she's not taking herself too seriously.

This book is so insightful. It's incredibly honest and has a real down to earth humour too.
I also found it very nostalgic as Crilly writes about an era that I remember fondly!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'How Not To Be A Supermodel' by Ruth Crilly.

This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

An absolutely fantastic, page turning, hilarious and addictive success by Ruth!!! Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely fantastic, laugh out loud book!! An absolute must read!!! I will start by saying that this isn't my usual chosen genre but I'm an eclectic reader and happy to read most books. I must say that if you are the same as me and don't normally read non fiction then don't let that put you off and pick up your copy of this great book today.

OMG!! I absolutely LOVED this absolutely brilliant and nostalgic memoir!! An absolutely fantastic book that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. This is a memoir filled with travelling, nostalgia, modelling, drama, humour, glamour, honesty, fashion and much, much more. Honestly, words cannot describe how brilliant this book is you really do need to grab a copy and see for yourself! I can promise you will NOT regret it but remember the tissues as you will be laughing so hard your sides will hurt and you will have tears streaming down your face!! You also need to clear your schedules as you will NOT be able to put it down once you have started. I know I couldn't as every time I went to I just had to know what was going to happen next so I promised myself another chapter but the same thing happened until I ended up devouring the book in one sitting of several ours. This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations Ruth who not only did a fantastic job writing this book she also did a great job bringing this memoir to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Ruth did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as managing to convey and portray the characters emotions through her voice!!! Ruth's absolutely brilliant imagery, evocative descriptions and her amazing narration ensures the reader feels they are right next to her throughout travelling the world with her, getting frustrated, laughing along and seeing and feeling everything that she is. If you are a fan of the Bridget Jones and/or The Devil Wears Prada books and films as I am then I can guarantee you will absolutely LOVE this book as it is a brilliant combination of watching them both plus much more entertainment and drama!!! I genuinely cannot give this book the justice it deserves in words so just pick up your copy of this laugh out loud page turner and find out how good it is for yourselves!!! I really can promise you will not regret it!! This is one of those books that is very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for an addictive and hilarious read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I am really hoping that Ruth will continue into a writing career and tell us more about her fascinating lifestyle through the years!! This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. Anyway, I just adored everything about this absolutely gorgeous page turner from the first sentence to the last. Well done Laura on yet another stunner and I cannot wait until your next!!! Ruth really has managed to weave her life experiences into a fascinating, intriguing, hilarious and unputdownable memoir that will keep you hooked. I was that absorbed in the book that when I did manage to look up it took me a few moments to work out where I actually was. When I was finished I was actually gutted that I had to "unpack my suitcases" and return to dreary and rainy Wales instead of travelling with Ruth. She really does give an honest and enlightening view of her experiences in the fashion industry actually showing the reader through her incredible narrative and writing skills about the good, the bad and the ugly sides. Her determination, optimism, humanity, humour, warmth, intelligence and strength really do shine through the pages. I will warn you NOT to read this book in public as I made this mistake and actually ended up snorting with laughter at one point and spitting my tea out another time which was absolutely mortifying, but to be honest, worth it as it is just an incredible read that was worth the dirty and strange looks that I got off the people around me on them occasions! I would definitely recommend this book to absolutely anyone looking for a fascinating, intriguing, hilarious and unputdownable non fiction escapism.

Clear your schedules and get ready to take a journey back to the noughties and into the fashion and modelling industry with Ruth!!! You wont regret it and you wont be able to put it down!!

Congratulations Ruth on a fantastic, intriguing and fascinating read! I absolutely loved learning about her lifestyle and would love to read more about your journeys!

Overall an absolutely brilliant, entertaining, hilarious and fascinating travel memoir that will sweep you off with Ruth at the turn of a page!

#HowNotToBeASupermodel #RuthCrilly #BlinkPublishing #BonnierBooks #ZaffreBooks #Zaffre #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours

@RuthCrilly @BlinkPublishing @BonnierBooks @ZaffreBooks @Zaffre @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours

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This was a mildly entertaining listen although the rather light and breezy narration in quite emotionally difficult places e.g. when a woman with dementia keeps calling the author and her flatmate during their stay in NYC and heartbreakingly thinks her child will miss his high school graduation, jarred. I appreciate the author was in her early 20s at the time but as the author is now in her 40s I would have expected the narration to reflect on this as juxtaposed with the rather superficial industry she attempted to break into. It would have leant a 'human' element.

The author was also trying a bit too hard to say that she was a salt of the earth, meat and potatoes kinda gal unwilling to bend to the requirements of the industry [unlike others willing to subsist on salads, coffee, and cigarettes, the author proudly asserts she was eating a "fat man's banquet"] but this is contradicted by her earlier proclamation of her ambition to be a supermodel for which she knew the requirements were particular.

The author glosses over a lot of the dark elements of the industry of which people became more aware recently so it couldn't have been for the risk of being sued given sexual exploitation of young economically underprivileged girls is in the public domain. Instead, it was all rather breezy and lacking in substance.