The Fashion Committee Tour and Giveaway- Review & Book Looks

Hey everyone!!  I'm proud to be part of THE FASHION COMMITTEE by Susan Juby Blog Tour.  Books and Fashion are my 2 faves ever, so when they are combined, I am basically one HAPPY chick.  This book comes out TOMORROW (5/22/17), so lookout for it because it's fun!!

Note: I was provided a copy of The Fashion Committee by Penguin Teen as a #PRHPartner to read and spotlight this book.

Book Summary:

"The Fashion Committee is another winner by one of my all time favorite authors."--Meg Cabot, New York Times bestselling author of the The Princess Diaries and Mediator series.

Charlie Dean is a style-obsessed girl who eats, sleeps, and breathes fashion. John Thomas-Smith is a boy who forges metal sculptures in his garage and couldn't care less about clothes. Both are gunning for a scholarship to the private art high school that could make all their dreams come true. Whoever wins the fashion competition will win the scholarship--and only one can win. 

Told in the alternating voices of Charlie's and John's journals, this hilarious and poignant YA novel perfectly captures what it's like to have an artistic drive so fierce that nothing--not your dad's girlfriend's drug-addicted ex-boyfriend, a soul-crushing job at Salad Stop, or being charged with a teensy bit of kidnapping--can stand in your way. 

With black and white art custom-created by fashion and beauty illustrator Soleil Ignacio, the book is a collector's item, perfect for anyone with a passion for fashion.

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Book Depository

This book took me by complete surprise!!  I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into it, but it became this fun, entertaining, happy little daffodil of a book for me.

First, we have Charlie Dean.  She's--- well, she's odd and driven and lives for fashion.  When I first started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to like Charlie and I kind of understood why she didn't have many (or any) friends.  But after a while, her quirks and optimism grew on me.  Also, she's brutally honest and it's hard for me to fault someone for that kind of honesty.

I really liked Charlie's backstory and her relationship with her addict father.  She wasn't angry at him like a lot of kids would be in that situation.  She had clarity and vision that was beyond her years, and I think that's when I really started rooting for her.

Next, there was John-- he was flawed for sure.  He's not into fashion, but wants to go to Green Pastures Art School for metal work.  I liked him despite his negativity and weaknesses.  I didn't always agree with his actions, but he had redeemable qualities that made up for them.

What I wanted more of:  FASHION.  So yes, this is a book about a fashion show, and we DO get descriptions of what goes down the runway-- but I wanted outfits throughout.  There is some description of Charlie Dean's suits that she always wore, but after a while I got bored with those.  If she's so fashionable, why is she always wearing the same thing?

The ending also didn't blow me away.  This book felt a little like a Cinderella story and I didn't get my fairy tale ending.

OVERALL: The perfect book for a Project Runway junkie like myself.  It's the story of teens competing for a fashion school scholarship and what they're willing to do to win.  It somehow took 2 unlikable characters and made them people you want to succeed.  Definitely recommend!

My Rating: 4.5/5

• I was originally going to do looks from the book-- but since there weren't that many, I decided to do a Book Look based on the cover.

• Here's a Book Look for Charlie Dean's character.  She likes to wear suits because she likes to dress for her destiny.  I totally picture her making Chanel inspired designs and pencil skirts with asymmetrical hems.

• Finally, this Book Look is for John Thomas-Smith.  It's my vision for his runway design for ten-year-old Esther.  His sportswear-meets-welding art was cool to envision.

Week One:

May 22 – Pink Polka Dot Books – Review & Book Look 

May 23 – The Fandom 

May 24 – Love Is Not A Triangle

May 25 – Here’s to Happy Endings – Review   

May 26 – Andi’s ABCs – Favorite Etsy Fashion Illustrations

Week Two:

May 29 – Swoony Boys Podcast – Dreamcast 

May 30 – Paper Trail YA – Review + Setlist

May 31 – The YA Book Traveler

June 1 – The Hardcover Lover – TBT: Fashion Crafting in High School

June 2 – YA Romantics – Review + Fashion Quiz

• Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of The Fashion Committee by Susan Juby (ARV: $16.99 each). 

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 22, 2017 and 12:00 AM on June 5, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 7, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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