donttakemybooks's review against another edition
1.0
I'm very disappointed in this one. It never came together for me in any respect. The plot was convoluted, the relationships felt forced and shallow. It felt like a draft or a sequel to a book I've never read. I wanted to get on board with the points about women in the workplace and in advertising and in culture, but it all felt shoehorned into the story. I should have quit halfway through, but I have enjoyed Liza Palmer in the past and hoped to find something redeemable somewhere in here.
brokenrecord's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good! I think I was a little more into the stuff to do with Anna’s job than the romance? Like the romance was fine, but watching her be competent and become successful was so satisfying. I liked seeing her mentor Sasha and bond with Preeti and have Helen become her mentor; all of that was really wonderful. I think I liked the initial stuff between Anna and Lincoln best, but the drama at the end was a little annoying.
Spoiler
and then start an agency with her (!!!)Spoiler
Anna’s whole “Let’s not see each other for a year and then meet up if we still want to be together!” thing was just… dumb. At least she realized that it was dumb before the year was up? Also the fact that she basically told him she loved him after knowing him for like a weekend was a little much.jemcam's review against another edition
3.0
A bit too much navel-gazing for me, but overall an enjoyable read. And the voice of the protagonist is very funny, and the way she puts things actually had me making a coworker read a paragraph out of context.
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
5.0
Book #122 Read in 2014
Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer
Anna Wyatt is in advertising. She likes to control things (work, family, personal life). Anna decides she wants to land a shower gel account and try to move up the ranks in the agency. With help from artist Sasha, Anna heads to a romance books convention to try to land the account...and a cover model for the campaign. Along the way, she meets Lincoln and that is more than she bargained for. Anna begins to take stock of her life and realizes that control doesn't always mean happiness.
This was my first book by Palmer; I liked her writing style and read others by her. This was more substantial than chick lit, which is sort of ironic since it is heavily set on romance novels and their readers. Anna is a character women can relate to and understand.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review from the Amazon Vine program.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer
Anna Wyatt is in advertising. She likes to control things (work, family, personal life). Anna decides she wants to land a shower gel account and try to move up the ranks in the agency. With help from artist Sasha, Anna heads to a romance books convention to try to land the account...and a cover model for the campaign. Along the way, she meets Lincoln and that is more than she bargained for. Anna begins to take stock of her life and realizes that control doesn't always mean happiness.
This was my first book by Palmer; I liked her writing style and read others by her. This was more substantial than chick lit, which is sort of ironic since it is heavily set on romance novels and their readers. Anna is a character women can relate to and understand.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review from the Amazon Vine program.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
lavaplant's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
julibug86's review against another edition
2.0
Liza Palmer has such an enjoyable writing style - like you are listening to that really good story-telling friend - but I just thought this novel was about 100 pages longer than was needed. She seems to keep having the same revelation - Just Be! Be your own heroine! etc. Seems like this could have wrapped up quicker. All in all, I did appreciate that the book had a career based storyline. It drives me a bit crazy when novels treat the character's career as an afterthought (even worse when they do that with women, but then the man's career is a pertinent plot point).
lindacbugg's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Parts of it I loved--the talk of reading what you love without being ashamed no matter what it is and how the main character admits to reading for how people will judge her and it's coolness factor. I loved the women empowerment message and the bonding between Anna & Sasha. But there were some plot holes that took away from the overall stars.
I guess when it comes right down to it I don't really like "chick lit" or "contemporary romance" and this was too close to both of those genres for me. Not bad just not for me.
Parts of it I loved--the talk of reading what you love without being ashamed no matter what it is and how the main character admits to reading for how people will judge her and it's coolness factor. I loved the women empowerment message and the bonding between Anna & Sasha. But there were some plot holes
Spoiler
like, just a very short period before a major romance convention the main character pitches a contest tie in for a product her company may or may not get an a ad for and the convention say yes and allows her and her partner to judge a cover model contestI guess when it comes right down to it I don't really like "chick lit" or "contemporary romance" and this was too close to both of those genres for me. Not bad just not for me.
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
5.0
http://jennsbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/girl-before-mirror-by-liza-palmer.html
michellebookaddict's review against another edition
5.0
5★♥
This book was "real" in a way that made me wish for that life. And even use the Moto, "Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero." I really liked the main character, Anna Wyatt. And absolutely loved Lincoln Mallory!!!!! (Along with all the other Romance Book Cover Models at the Romance Convention in this story). The other characters were good too, even hated the villains as I should. Everything felt "real" in a way that didn't make this a formulaic romance, in fact, the characters even made fun of those books, which I found funny.
Anna is in Advertising, and as part of her pitch, she uses a Romance Books Convention... even though she felt really guilty at first in just reading a self-help book written by a Romance Novelist, called "Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero." I bring that plot of the story up because I thought that was funny and original.
The ending stayed true to the story and didn't feel rushed, like all other typical romance books. I really liked the ending. It was messy and unplanned.
This is my second Liza Palmer book I've read and I really liked her humor in this book. Looking forward to reading others. And even rereading this book some time.
This book was "real" in a way that made me wish for that life. And even use the Moto, "Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero." I really liked the main character, Anna Wyatt. And absolutely loved Lincoln Mallory!!!!! (Along with all the other Romance Book Cover Models at the Romance Convention in this story). The other characters were good too, even hated the villains as I should. Everything felt "real" in a way that didn't make this a formulaic romance, in fact, the characters even made fun of those books, which I found funny.
Anna is in Advertising, and as part of her pitch, she uses a Romance Books Convention... even though she felt really guilty at first in just reading a self-help book written by a Romance Novelist, called "Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero." I bring that plot of the story up because I thought that was funny and original.
The ending stayed true to the story and didn't feel rushed, like all other typical romance books. I really liked the ending. It was messy and unplanned.
This is my second Liza Palmer book I've read and I really liked her humor in this book. Looking forward to reading others. And even rereading this book some time.
karak's review against another edition
3.0
I'm glad I stuck with this book, because the first 100 or so pages were AWFUL. The story picks up after that however, and is pretty good overall.