Fashionistas

Rating:
Summary: A light and quick summer read
Review: The Red Dress Ink series can be hit or miss with it's titles. Luckily, "Fashionistas" is one of the better entries. Like so many chick lit novels, the heroine works in publishing at a shiny fashion magazine.

Our heroine is Vig. Vig is selected by an inner group of coworkers to join in the plot to rid themselves of vile editor-in-chief Jane. If they can make Jane look like a total fool over an artist's eye-raising exhibit, Jane will be out the door and possibly replaced by new editor Marguerite.

Vig joins in the plan and goes to work to convince the events editor Alex to feature the artist's work. But getting to speak to Alex is harder than arranging an audience with the Pope. The real fun starts when an ancient rivalry between Jane and Marguerite is revealed.

Will Vig breach Alex's guard-dog like assistant? Will Jane crack before Marguerite gets her revenge for a long-ago deportation?

Vig's adventures unfold in a brisk fashion that carries the reader along for the ride. I started this book one morning when I woke up before the alarm. I meant to only read the first few chapters. I ended up polishing the entire book off and had to rush to get to work on time.

For anyone looking for a strong and breezy Red Dress Ink read perfect for the beach, subway or rainy afternoon, pick up "Fashionistas".

Rating:
Summary: Better than expected; I didn't want it to end
Review: I picked this book up just to have some easy reading on the subway. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much! The writing is better than average for this type of book; it is funny and touching in unexpected places. Not bad for a light summer read. I look forward to Ms. Messina's next book.

Yes, some of the book's characters are just caricatures, but when you work in a cutthroat office environment, some of your coworkers come off as caricatures of themselves anyway. The author includes many insightful, offhand comments, which reveal much about the characters if you are paying attention. I can think of several awful books in this genre that don't even do that much.

Rating:
Summary: Good for light, summer reading, but hardly a great book
Review: This is a tell-all book, from an insider's point of view, fashioned as a novel (to protect both the innocent and the very guilty, one presumes). As social satire, "Fashionistas" has hardly any of the bite of the "The Nanny Diaries", which is a more popular example of this new sub-genre of tell-all, where bright, young women try to make it in New York City. In the case of "Fashionistas", the heroine tries to navigate the shark-infested waters of the fashion magazine business.

The author can't be faulted when it comes to painting an accurate picture for the reader of day-to-day life inside a glossy monthly magazine. In this department, Messina definitely knows her stuff. As a writer, though, I feel she is much less successful. Many of the conversations between Vig and others are circular and needlessly repetitive. I think I know why Messina chose this style. This kind of round-robin conversation, like in the classic "Who's on First" skit, is supposed to be comedic and amusing. Well, once or twice may be funny, but by the tenth time you want to throw the book against the wall.

As a character, Vig is likeable enough but I couldn't really get close enough to her to root for her. Her co-worker Delia is interesting, but many of the other supporting players in this story come across like caricatures. They aren't really drawn with depth. Also, I hated Alex, Vig's love interest. The way he acted before they got involved put me off him. I found him to be pretty unrealistic too.

Happily, the book does get better after the first few chapters. You can almost feel Messina growing as a writer as the book progresses. I only wish she had gone back and re-worked the first thirty pages.

If you're going to the beach or have a long bus, plane or train ride to endure, then this isn't a bad choice to pass the time with.

Rating:
Summary: Wait for it to come on sale
Review: This read was "ok". I don't know why I was expecting a little bit more from this book, but I wasn't that impressed with it.

Rating:
Summary: A little different
Review: Fun and a well worth the read. As a Brit, I've read a lot of the British "chick book" writers, and have been reluctant to try any of the US writers. However Lynn Messina is good. I hope her next book comes out soon.

Rating:
Summary: completely empty-headed book
Review: I was expecting this book to be witty and and entertaining -- a fun, light read along the lines of "Bridgette Jone's Diary," or "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing." In fairness, I do have to admit the I only read half of "Fashionistas." I couldn't force myself to go any further. The characters, including the protagonist, are cardboard cutouts. There is no exploration of their inner life or their motivations. I kept hoping that characters' motivation to get rid of their boss would be better defined. In this case, when you scratch the surface, there's just more surface.

All this would be fine if the book were a juicy, gossipy read like "Sex and the City." But even on that basic level, the book fails. I just didn't find the characters or their actions compelling and there was none of the clever word play that I was wanting.

As someone who reads every issue of "Elle," "Vogue," and "InStyle," the moment they hit the newsstand, I was looking forward to reading a book set in the world of my beloved glossy mags. This book left me dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Not great
Review: I think the lack of character development is a major problem with this book. You don't end up caring about anyone, not even Vig. The plot is rather asinine, and I ended up skimming through just to see how it ended.

Rating:
Summary: fun and funny
Review: I've read a few Red Dress Ink books already and while they can be good for easy entertainment I was starting to get bored with the same types of stories. I haven't picked one up in a while and I almost didn't buy this one, but I'm so glad I did! It's fun and funny and smart. I love the way it's told in little scenes and I love the characters - Vig, the main character, is keen but not catty. She just tells it like it is. And her friend Maya, with her quest to get noticed in the many offices she freelances in, is hilarious. The love angle is kept to a minimum, but I liked it that way - the courtship is short and sweet. ...All in all a fun and satisfying read.

Rating:
Summary: Quick, Fun, Predictable
Review: This book moved very quickly as a result of the 3 page chapters. This one had a lot of potential- the lack of any character development left me bored by the end, though. The writing was as shallow as many of the characters. What started out as fun and highly engaging ended up predictable and unmemorable.

Rating:
Summary: A Bit Up and Down -- But A Fun Read.
Review: The Red Dress Inc. line of female driven literature has produced the uneven but all in all, clever book by Lynn Messina. "Fashionistas" is a look inside the world of fashion magazine publishing and the main character of Vig Morgan sets the scene. The work place is where you find the positives in this book. I really enjoyed the interoffice banter and interaction. That's the heart of this story. I didn't feel a strong connection with any of the outside stories or characters.

The love interest wasn't very interesting at all. I really didn't care if they got together - and in a way, I keep waiting for another character to show up and be the MAIN male interest. Never happened. H

owever, I wouldn't say this book is bad ---- just a bit uneven and not the BEST Red Dress Inc. book out there.