kiwiknitter's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pikabeereads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
samstillreading's review
4.0
How to be Perfect isn’t the title of a self-help book, but rather a novel that is cheeky satire of the whole wellness online influencer movement. You know what I’m talking about – green smoothies, detoxes, forgiveness and endless energy captured in flawless Instagram pics with an inspirational quote. They seem unachievable in your life of rat running and lunch at the desk with whatever you could put together, but there’s an essence of hope that it could be you if you just got it together. In this day and age, who hasn’t clicked on a title that promises to make you happy, healthier and have more time? In this novel, Elle Campbell has taken those wishes and capitalised on it with a blog behind a paywall, social media perfectionist envy and an exclusive, expensive retreat to make the best you.
It’s a smart move and you can’t help but be intrigued by her mind for business. It’s even smarter when you learn of her background (which you will know if you’ve read The Mummy Bloggers – I haven’t, but I felt this novel gave me more than adequate background). Elle’s a fallen blogger who capitalised on fake illness to become a superstar. After being brought down by her rival Abi at a blogger awards nights, she disappeared from screens. But in the background she was plotting and planning. Now she’s using Abi’s daughter to capitalise on her natural cosmetics line and has her ex-husband and children living with Abi. (Elle and Abi just happen to share an ex-husband). Abi is livid, as the chaotic farm lifestyle is wearing away at her current relationship and upcoming wedding. Can Abi get to the bottom of what Elle is doing without ruining her own life?
Throw into the mix Frances, a harried mum whose only solace is Elle’s posts and potions. She’s stretched the family finances beyond their limits to buy the exotic ingredients for Elle’s smoothies and just knows that the answer to all her troubles is a week at Elle’s retreat. But Frances is hiding from her own demons and meeting Elle might cure that, just not in the way she thinks…
How to be Perfect is a fun read with a lot of chaos that makes the book even more amusing. It does cover quite a few serious issues beyond the glossy filtered surface though. Abi is a blogging guru in her own right, but her family life is frenzied. Abi is a character that moves like a bulldozer with no subtlety whatsoever (she gets the best sweary lines in the book) but she fails in looking into the fine detail of the lives of her loved ones. Her heart is in the right place, but it comes out of her mouth as %^&*$^. Throughout the novel, she grows and realises that slowing down is okay. Elle is a character that I am mixed on. I have to admire her business brain and tenacity to get what she wants, but she (like Abi) loses focus on what is truly important. She’s scheming and conniving, but honest with herself about it. When greeted with someone who plays like her, but dirtier, is when she falls apart. Like the other characters, she’s missing out on what’s important to focus on money and clicks. Frances is an excellent contrast to the others, being Mrs Average and the recipient of Abi and Elle’s online images. Her devotion to Elle’s every word begs the question, what are the responsibilities of online influencers? Should things be glossed over (or blatantly lied about) in the pursuit of a particular image? What is social media perfection doing to the self-esteem of those who are reading?
While raising these heavy questions, and looking at other issues like violence and online nudity, How to be Perfect is still a story full of satire and wit. It’s often laugh out loud funny and never fails to be entertaining. I can’t be certain that we’ve seen the last of Elle but I know whatever she does next will not fall into the shadows.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://www.samstillreading.wordpress.com
It’s a smart move and you can’t help but be intrigued by her mind for business. It’s even smarter when you learn of her background (which you will know if you’ve read The Mummy Bloggers – I haven’t, but I felt this novel gave me more than adequate background). Elle’s a fallen blogger who capitalised on fake illness to become a superstar. After being brought down by her rival Abi at a blogger awards nights, she disappeared from screens. But in the background she was plotting and planning. Now she’s using Abi’s daughter to capitalise on her natural cosmetics line and has her ex-husband and children living with Abi. (Elle and Abi just happen to share an ex-husband). Abi is livid, as the chaotic farm lifestyle is wearing away at her current relationship and upcoming wedding. Can Abi get to the bottom of what Elle is doing without ruining her own life?
Throw into the mix Frances, a harried mum whose only solace is Elle’s posts and potions. She’s stretched the family finances beyond their limits to buy the exotic ingredients for Elle’s smoothies and just knows that the answer to all her troubles is a week at Elle’s retreat. But Frances is hiding from her own demons and meeting Elle might cure that, just not in the way she thinks…
How to be Perfect is a fun read with a lot of chaos that makes the book even more amusing. It does cover quite a few serious issues beyond the glossy filtered surface though. Abi is a blogging guru in her own right, but her family life is frenzied. Abi is a character that moves like a bulldozer with no subtlety whatsoever (she gets the best sweary lines in the book) but she fails in looking into the fine detail of the lives of her loved ones. Her heart is in the right place, but it comes out of her mouth as %^&*$^. Throughout the novel, she grows and realises that slowing down is okay. Elle is a character that I am mixed on. I have to admire her business brain and tenacity to get what she wants, but she (like Abi) loses focus on what is truly important. She’s scheming and conniving, but honest with herself about it. When greeted with someone who plays like her, but dirtier, is when she falls apart. Like the other characters, she’s missing out on what’s important to focus on money and clicks. Frances is an excellent contrast to the others, being Mrs Average and the recipient of Abi and Elle’s online images. Her devotion to Elle’s every word begs the question, what are the responsibilities of online influencers? Should things be glossed over (or blatantly lied about) in the pursuit of a particular image? What is social media perfection doing to the self-esteem of those who are reading?
While raising these heavy questions, and looking at other issues like violence and online nudity, How to be Perfect is still a story full of satire and wit. It’s often laugh out loud funny and never fails to be entertaining. I can’t be certain that we’ve seen the last of Elle but I know whatever she does next will not fall into the shadows.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://www.samstillreading.wordpress.com
areadinggal's review
Another one hits the DNF stacks.
I did not like this book one bit. None of the characters are relatable and they all seem to be living in a dystopian ideal.
Maybe, if I read the prequel to this, I might get it, but i didn't, so there you go.
I like bloggers and reading blogs, but detest books about bloggers detailing their life and how fake everything they say is. As far as books about bloggers go, this one is just blah.
I did not like this book one bit. None of the characters are relatable and they all seem to be living in a dystopian ideal.
Maybe, if I read the prequel to this, I might get it, but i didn't, so there you go.
I like bloggers and reading blogs, but detest books about bloggers detailing their life and how fake everything they say is. As far as books about bloggers go, this one is just blah.
thebookendreviews's review
3.0
I quite liked this one. A look at how we only show what we want you to see on social media and that not everything is as perfect and shiny as you may think. I think this will be quite relatable to many with the comparisons to those in the limelight via social media.
The chapters were short and snappy, which I loved. And I enjoyed reading from the perspective of all three women via alternating chapters. It was a fun read, although it did cover some serious points too.
The writing flowed well from start to finish, and the twist towards the end was enjoyable to read.
The chapters were short and snappy, which I loved. And I enjoyed reading from the perspective of all three women via alternating chapters. It was a fun read, although it did cover some serious points too.
The writing flowed well from start to finish, and the twist towards the end was enjoyable to read.
charlotte_booksandbargains's review
4.0
I didn't realise this was a sequel but enjoyed it none the less even without reading the first book! I expected this to be a bit of a fluffy romance book (which I do love anyway) but it was so much more! The book really takes a hard look at the world we currently live in and demonstrates that you cant always believe what you see online
I really enjoyed reading the book but found the ending a little weak, I just felt like after such a build up of things throughout the book it was over too quickly and thats what stopped me giving this a 5 Star review
Thank you to Legend Press for sending me this book as part of your blog tour
I really enjoyed reading the book but found the ending a little weak, I just felt like after such a build up of things throughout the book it was over too quickly and thats what stopped me giving this a 5 Star review
Thank you to Legend Press for sending me this book as part of your blog tour
julesg's review
3.0
What a bunch of unlikable characters?! Rarely have I read a book with such privileged women that I definitely don't want to get to know in real life, but whose story I couldn't put down. I needed to find out what they'd do next.
katiereadsthings's review
4.0
How To Be Perfect is the follow up to Holly Wainwright's The Mummy Bloggers. The story picks up after the final of the blogger awards with the return of Elle, who has re-established herself as a lifestyle blogger at a luxurious retreat in Byron Bay with a focus on wellness (or “Elle-ness”). Her return to social media is shrouded in mystery – where has she been? Who is her mysterious new benefactor and the father of her new baby? Also back is Abi, who is trying to deal with an ex-husband who may or may not be starting a cult in her garden shed, a teenage daughter going viral for all the wrong reasons and a fiancée who seems to have had enough. We also meet Frances, a new mother with a colicky newborn and an anxiety-inducing mothers’ group. All Frances wants is a life as perfect as Elle’s, even if it means taking out a bank loan to pay for the ingredients that Elle insists on including in your daily green smoothie.
This book was even more ridiculous than the first, but I enjoyed every page. I loved reading about Elle again - she’s totally over the top and completely awful, but damn she knows how to get what she wants. Wainwright turns her satirical eye this time to the “wellness” industry, with a comment on the lengths that some people will go to to increase their following. Frances’ storyline in particular questions the motivations of public figures in this industry– in promoting a lifestyle that is not attainable to the average person, what responsibility do they have to their followers? I thought the way that Wainwright commented on a real life social issue in a lighthearted way was clever, engaging and insightful. While clearly exaggerated, the characters still feel real, and the events in the book are completely believable. This book will make you laugh, question how addicted to social media you are, and probably make you want to eat a doughnut.
I recommend this one if you’re looking for an enjoyable, entertaining summer read, or if you’ve ever questioned how real those seemingly perfect online accounts actually are!
This book was even more ridiculous than the first, but I enjoyed every page. I loved reading about Elle again - she’s totally over the top and completely awful, but damn she knows how to get what she wants. Wainwright turns her satirical eye this time to the “wellness” industry, with a comment on the lengths that some people will go to to increase their following. Frances’ storyline in particular questions the motivations of public figures in this industry– in promoting a lifestyle that is not attainable to the average person, what responsibility do they have to their followers? I thought the way that Wainwright commented on a real life social issue in a lighthearted way was clever, engaging and insightful. While clearly exaggerated, the characters still feel real, and the events in the book are completely believable. This book will make you laugh, question how addicted to social media you are, and probably make you want to eat a doughnut.
I recommend this one if you’re looking for an enjoyable, entertaining summer read, or if you’ve ever questioned how real those seemingly perfect online accounts actually are!
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