Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life.  Finished 2-26-2020, style, 4.25/5 stars,278 pages, pub. 2014

More than a style guide, this revolutionary book by a seasoned stylist teaches a method of conscious dressing that begins with a powerful internal change. Instead of just grabbing for whatever’s on hand, you’ll learn to set your goals for the day, determining how you want to be perceived, and then dress in a way that helps manifest those intentions. Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life reveals the true power your clothing has to affect your life, showing how this second skin impacts your job prospects, your romantic life, your income, and even your deepest sense of self. Translating his styling methods into a philosophy anyone can apply on her own, Brescia also delivers tips and tricks of the trade to help convert even the most hapless dresser into a happy and educated shopper. Because the goal is to have you not only looking great, but feeling more confident, too. From major closet overhauls to a whole new philosophy on color, this is a comprehensive manual for anyone who’s ever looked at her closet in despair.

from Goodreads

I’ve been reading quite a few books outside of my comfort zone lately.  My March 30 day challenge has to do with clothes so I’ve picked up a few books and this is the one I really liked.  George is a NYC stylist and his warm personality really came through the pages.  This is not a book filled with pictures of outfits to wear or different ways to tie a scarf, it’s about being more mindful of what you show the world every day when you step outside of the house.  This is something I’ve struggled with since I had Gage over nine years ago.  The first few years with an infant it’s acceptable to look like you’re wearing what you slept in and to not wash your hair enough, but at some point you get past that stage and live in yoga pants and that’s okay, so is every other mom at Little Gym.  Fast forward to now where I just haven’t had the time or energy to invest time in a wardrobe for a body I’m not comfortable with.  Thank goodness George doesn’t judge.

I will never be a fashion queen and I’m okay with that, but I do want to be more mindful as I go about my day and taking that extra few minutes to make sure what I’m saying with my clothes is what I’m feeling on the inside is a good thing.  George is big on you asking yourself what does this outfit say after you get dressed in the morning.  If it doesn’t say what you want then take a minute to tweak it.  He gives some checklists on what you should have in your closet and how to evaluate the clothes you already have.  He believes that every piece of clothing should be a 10, a perfect fit with colors that flatter you.  He helps with the colors (the one thing I’m doing okay with in my closet) and can coach you through the rest.  As much as I love George, if I had all 8s or 9s in my closet I would be okay with that.  But, hey, it’s good to have a goal.

I liked this book a lot and found it helpful.  It’s about clothes and the way you present yourself.  Even though the clothes worn in New York City may be different than those worn in Cleveland or Austin or Salt Lake City, the intent is the same.  A fun book for this non-fashionista.

Home Truths. Finished 2-6-19, 3.5/5 stars, fiction, 480 pages, pub. 2020

Angie Watts once had what seemed like an idyllic life: a house in a small town in the English countryside with her beloved husband Steve and their three adored children. She never could have predicted how her life would one day turn out.

When her oldest son, Liam, grows from a sweet-natured boy to a troubled teen, Angie’s world begins to crumble. Expelled from school and disappearing from home for days on end, Liam falls in with a notorious local gang. After arriving home one day to find their 5-year-old son with a syringe Liam has left lying around, Steve makes a rash decision that will have lasting repercussions on their family.

Two years later, Steve is gone, Liam is missing, and with money running out, Angie and her other two children are on the brink of eviction. Then Angie is called into the police station and informed that there’s been a murder—and Liam is a suspect. As Angie’s desperation to save her family leads her to take drastic measures, her daughter secretly devises her own plan to save the family…which could put everyone in danger.   from Goodreads

I have never read a book with such dramatic lows and dizzying highs.  For over half of the book Angie is faced with a multitude of of woes straight from the evening news.  Brutal murder, human trafficking, extreme poverty, homelessness, child disappearance, drugs, and gangs.  Through it all she has the love and unwavering support from her sister and even manages to keep her job.  Her pride stops her from seeking out the help she needs and she spirals down until all that is left is her walking down the main drag begging shops for a job while she sleeps in her van at night.

Amazingly, she walked by a man who had known her husband and justlikethat he became a knight in shining armor the likes of which I rarely read about outside of romance novels.  Now every low was countered by a high that gave me whiplash.  I know this may seem like I didn’t like the book, but that’s not true.  I liked this book and the large cast of characters and their plights.  Angie’s story showcases how fast one’s life can spin out of control. My biggest issue was that the last fourth of the book was every aspect of her life, unbelievably, turned around tenfold thanks to a man.  Angie was rescued.  I was happy for her and her family, I even shed a tear near the end, but the triumph was a turnaround of her situation, not because of her fortitude.

So, for all the issues that I had with the rescuing, I did like Angie and her family and friends.  The reality of Angie not eating all day just so her kids can have food and the hopelessness of a parent when their child falls prey to the perils of social media were gripping and emotional.  Thankfully, there were happier endings almost all the way around.  I never tired of the story and at 480 pages that’s quite a feat.  This is my first book by Susan Lewis and she drew me in with sympathetic characters and a compelling story.

I want to thank TLC Book Toursand Harper Collins for the book and the hours of enjoyment they sent my way 🙂