The Stylist

Narrator Emma Fenney expertly switches between the voice of young, wide-eyed Amber Green as she navigates her first weeks as assistant to a famous stylist and the voices of the disinterested L.A. set who are her clientele. Caring for a micro pig and pretending to be a famous movie producer become routine for Amber, whose voice is full of calm determination and kindness. It's hard work styling for the Hollywood awards parties, and even Amber imbibes, which results in a drunken rendition of Daft Punk's song "Get Lucky" that is sure to have listeners laughing. Male voices are subtle but well done in this fast-paced novel, which focuses on the female fashion set and a dash of love drama. A.L.C. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Starred review from August 1, 2018

Amber Green works at Smith's, an upscale London boutique. When stylist to the stars Mona Armstrong comes in for a private showing, a mishap on Amber's part, seen as a genius idea by Mona, results in Amber's going to work as Mona's assistant during awards season. While working with a film crew, jetting between London and Los Angeles, toting suitcases full of designer clothes, meeting a lovable micro-pig, and more, Amber learns if she has what it takes to keep up in the world of fashion. Fashion editor Nixon (HELLO! magazine) pulls from real-life experience to create a work guaranteed to turn heads quicker than the paparazzi can snap a pic. With relatable characters, humor, romance (times two), and enough gossip to fill Page Six, this novel will keep readers riveted. VERDICT This first title in a projected series is on par with Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada and Sophie Kinsella's "Shopaholic" series. Perfect for those seeking a peek at the world of celebrity fashion; savvy readers will enjoy guessing after which stars the characters are modeled.--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2018
Unfortunately saddled with a name reminiscent of a traffic light, Amber Green longs to work in the fashion industry, but when stylist-to-the-stars Mona Armstrong sweeps into her life, she gets far more than she bargained for.Working as a window dresser in a high-end London shop, Amber is just starting her career, and she depends on ultrathin, ultraexperienced Kiki, aka The Stick, for guidance. So when Amber accidentally leaves mismatched shoes on the mannequins, which surprisingly delights Mona Armstrong, The Stick is rightfully outraged that newbie Amber lands the job helping Mona style Jennifer Astley (an elegant A-list movie star) and Beau Belle (the latest "screen siren") for the Golden Globes. Once in LA, however, Amber is in way over her head, as Mona descends into pill-popping, alcohol-swigging neglect of her clients. Drawing upon her wealth of experience in the fashion magazine industry, including a decade as editor-in-chief for Hello! magazine, Nixon has crafted a debut novel prime for filming. From gorgeous designer dresses for glamorous-yet-high-maintenance celebrity clients to the sheer toil of making those celebrities shine, not to mention the seamy underside of tabloid gossip, Nixon handily rigs the stage with possible obstacles in Amber's path to success. Within moments of her first visit, hippie-Barbie Beau Belle has bamboozled naïve Amber into lying to Beau's fiance and babysitting her micropig, Pinky. From there, Amber realizes she must use her own wits to survive and keep Mona's business afloat. Meanwhile, Amber's own interests have been piqued by not only Rob, a handsome filmmaker working on a reality TV show about Mona, but also Liam, a dashing actor. If anyone can handle the chaos of awards season, it's Amber. And a lot of free pink champagne will help, too.Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will adore this volume of fashionista lit.

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September 1, 2018
Though Amber Green (yes, like the traffic light) is less fashionable than her coworkers, an accident involving window dressing lands her a job as assistant to American celebrity stylist Mona Armstrong, whose London-based reality show is headed stateside for awards season. Soon Amber is a fish out of artisanal water, babysitting a starlet's micro-pig and offering the Valentino gown to the wrong actress, all while wearing clothes totally unsuitable for summer in Los Angeles. Despite the fact that Amber never seems to get it right, Mona gives her more and more to do, and Amber begins to suspect that something is a bit off. Hello! editor-in-chief Nixon's debut hits all the right British chick-lit notes: a young woman hilariously failing at navigating the lifestyles of the rich and fabulous, plus a good-looking, sensible man whose lack of definitive action confuses, paving the way for a devilishly handsome unsuitable one. Add to all that best-friend drama, money problems, lots of fashion, and the promise of a sequel. Give this to readers looking for a fast-paced, dishy read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)