Review – Bonjour Girl by Isabelle Laflèche #Fashion #fiction #bullying @isalafleche #Netgalley
Synopsis
Dating, fashion, and drama: Clementine never has a dull day at the Parsons School of Design.
When Clementine Liu arrives in New York City to study at the Parsons School of Design, she knows that she’s found
her place. It isn’t long before she meets her fashionista soulmate, the loud and charismatic Jake, and Jonathan, a dreamy fashion photographer who turns her world upside down.
Between schoolwork and glitzy fashion shows, Clementine launches a blog, Bonjour Girl, and her wit, originality, and flair quickly catapult the site to cult status. Unfortunately, this comes with a price: Clementine is faced with online abuse and public humiliation. In the midst of all the drama, she finds out that a classmate is not what she seems, and Clementine has to find a way to save both her reputation and Jake’s fashion collection.
Review
I have mixed feelings about this book. The underlying story (or at least what I think is the story) about cyber bullying and chasing your dreams was good. We know that bullying is rampant in our country and this shows how one person fought back. Clementine also had a dream that she followed which is a good message for anyone – if you have a dream or passion, follow it and figure out how to make it work.
What I wasn’t as keen about – all the fashion references. Yes it is a book about the fashion industry so it is to be expected, but this seemed over the top for my personal preferences.
I suspect that Clementine is about 19 or so in this book, but she acted younger at times but perhaps it is a cultural thing? She is supposed to be from France and at times she came off that way but not as much as I would have expected. Jake is a bit over the top and after awhile it became annoying. I did like that Clementine found an ally in an unlikely place and it took some time.
We give this 3 paws up
About the Author
Isabelle Laflèche worked for more than 10 years as an attorney in New York City, Montreal, and Toronto before pursuing her passion for writing. Her debut novel, J’adore New York, is an international bestseller, and her series of J’adore novels are enjoyed by readers worldwide. She has lived in New York and Toronto, and currently lives in Montreal.