Author: Lauren Weisberger
ISBN: 978-0-00-830367-9
RRP: $29.99
Publication Date: 5th June 2018
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
So, I had heard of The Devil Wears Prada but I have not read the book or watched the movie. It’s generally not my genre. When Life Gives You Lululemons is the 3rd in the series and from a quick Goodreads glance seems to be the highest rated.
Emily Charlton is an in-demand image consultant who is called away from a New Years Eve party to deal with a celebrity publicity nightmare, in another city. She drops everything to fly cross country and go into damage control. Unfortunately she was called by the agent and the actual celebrity has been approached by someone else. Emily loses another celebrity client to a much younger rival with her finger on the social-media pulse.
A string of client losses sees Emily take a hit to her confidence and hide out in the suburbs with her best friend Miriam, a place she never thought she would spend any prolonged amount of time.
I went into this one with a pretty open mind and not much in the way of expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. The entire premise of this story is so far out of the realm of anything I would experience in my life that it was like a fairytale. Weisberger is certainly up with the celebrity current affairs and she’s not afraid to name drop and litter her narrative with celebrity scandals that you may remember from the headlines, though always quite vague and brief.
There are a few universal themes of friendship, parenthood and the loss of your sense of self with big changes in life.
Miriam is a mother of three, newly SAHM in the suburbs after a high-powered legal career in the city. She made the choice so she had more time to spend at home with her children but we can see that she’s missing her work and floundering a little in this new life she’s made. She loves her children and spending the extra time with them but is losing that sense of self that is apart from her roles of wife and mother.
Life in Greenwich really seems to me like life in a different world. SAHM’s who fill their days with exercise classes, coffee catch-ups and early cocktails. A suburb rife with gossip and crazy behaviour.
Karolina is married to a senator and wealthy in her own right thanks to a lucrative career as a model, until her world crumbles around her following a questionable DUI charge that made headlines.
Miriam and Emily approach Karolina to offer support and the three build on their connections to forge a friendship, and offer their expertise to help Karolina recover from the very public dumping by her husband.
When Life Gives You Lululemons is a story that I really enjoyed. I think it’s one that you can enjoy as a light and amusing fun read, or you can look at it in a lot more depth and explore all the issues going on that tell a terrible story of the world we live in. The wit was razor-sharp, and it certainly had pointy edges that cut sometimes.
I enjoyed a lot of things about this one and I actually loved all three main characters, even though they wee painfully irritating at times. I loved the way each of the characters grew throughout the story and came out the other side completely different people.
Weisberger paints a disturbing picture of suburbia and the things that money and influence can buy, but also the fickle nature of ‘mum friends’ and the importance of those deep and true friendships that we couldn’t survive without. A story rife with deplorable behaviour, a couple of predictable twists and some surprises.
Witty, sarcastic and a reminder that wealth doesn’t necessarily bring happiness or buy good sense or decency. Definitely worth a read.
Lauren Wesberger can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and their website.
When Life Gives You Lululemons is published by Harper Collins and is available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Harper Collins 30 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members will be reading When Life Gives You Lululemons so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia and Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read ‘When Life Gives You Lululemons’.
The book takes us back to a character fans of The Devil Wears Prada, already know – Emily Charlton and – briefly – Miranda Priestly. Set a number of years later it also introduces new characters in Miriam and Karolina. The relationship between Emily, Miriam and Karolina comes together over Karolina’s husbands desire to divorce her for a newer – and more ‘First Lady’ suitable – model.
This is a ripping story – great believable characters living in a world that most of us will never experience (millionaires row, high fashion magazines, PR, former international models), funny asides and intrigue. I LOVED it.
Highly recommended!
This book was a very contemporary novel – at least in terms of its setting and feel – by the author of “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Karolina is the wife of a senator who has been publicly shamed by being caught while driving under the influence. But there’s a lot more to this story than initially meets the eye. Luckily she’s got two besties- a lawyer-turned-full-time homemaker, Miriam and media queen, Emily to hold her back.
Em has had extensive experience working with the likes of Miranda Priestly so no job will faze her, although babies could very well be her kryptonite. But that’s another story to be found within these pages. ..
This book is a well-written and fun one for fans of Sex In The City and The Devil Wears Prada.
This book is technically the third in the Devil Wear Prada Series however it can be read as a standalone book. Though most people have seen the movie and would recognise the main Character in this book is Emily who was the other assistant played by Emily Blunt.
This book is a three person point of few book and I loved all the characters. There is Emily, Miriam and Karolina who we follow after drama goes down at the start of the book.
This book is a good chick lit which is a very fun and fast read.
I would highly recommend this book and plan to force all my friends to read it.
I found the book a little hard to read at the start as it bounced from character to character. Once I got into it though and the characters really developed, I found it hard to put down.
It’s a great story, with current references, that really draws you in. I loved that it was about women looking out for each other who achieved results by working together.
It’s definitely a book I’ll share with friends as I think they’ll enjoy the modern references and the female empowerment.
When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger is right up my ally for light hearted, witty and sarcastic reading.
This was a real favourite for me to read, I could really relate as I love all celebrity news and gossip. The story shows what can happen when you dont keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to career. It shows the depth and meaning of friendships, and it shows that not all that appears on the surface, is really what is going on underneath.
Three women who come together for very different reasons, look after each other and come out on top.
As all reviews pretty much state, it is very hard to put this book down, and I read it within a week.
Thankis to B&L for the chance to read and review this book.
A very modern story with modern issues and a great swing on things. Join Emily, Mirium and Karolina as they fight their modern day battles,
Emily works on keeping peoples images, stars images, positive, fixing the mistakes and fo-pars they make to have a positive spin on them. But her business is not going as well as it once was, seems she’s being overtaken by a young, social other person. Her hysband has overseas commitments and they make that work… dont they.
Mirium quit working her very long weeks as a lawyer to become the stay at home mum. With 3 children born close together this was a challenge she was up for. But something in life is missing, she isnt getting the buzz she used to and is her husband cheating? He seems to no longer have interest in her!
Karolina lives in the public eye, the wife of a US senator and potential president candidate. Her life comes tumbling down when she is arrested for a DUI while travelling with her son (his son) and his mates. but how was she drunk when she’d only had half a glass of wine some hours before? No breath test or blood test despite her begging. Something was fishy here. Its times like this, when the walls come tumbling down that you need your friends, the real ones, by your side. Can Emily and her person skills and Mirium and her legal skills get Karolina her life back?
Not a bad read, thanks for the opportunity.
This was an awesome book to read. Not only was it a great story line (one that grabs you from the get go) but is cleverly written and ensures you cant put the book down.
This was an easy to read, able to be read in a few days and outlines the story a woman whose husband wants to trade his wife in for a younger model. Its full of ups and downs and curves which keeps you well entertained and wanting to find out ‘What happens next’.
A fun and light read guaranteed to bring a smile to you lips.
This is a modern day book about love, hate , deceipt and rejection. What we do for a
Little attention and to stay afloat in today’s modern world.
It was a funny book at times and portrayed modern day families and their problems.
I enjoyed reading this book although not my select genre.
Congratulations Lauren Weisberger on a successful book.
I loved this book far more than I expected to. Thanks Harper Collins and Beauty and Lace for the chance to read it.
While I knew it was by the same author as Devil Wears Prada I didn’t realise that this book was part of the series. Now I want to go back and read the others.
I enjoyed all the characters but I related more with Miriam the Mum who is trying to juggle being a Mum but also being herself (and being a wife).
I enjoyed the storyline and the elements of New York celebrity life that are so far removed from my life it was an escape.
I really recommend this book for a great weekend read.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins for gifting me this book to read.
What a wonderful fun read.
If you were wondering what happened to Emily from the Devil wears Prada then this is it.
Emily Charlton was an assistant to legendary fashion editor Miranda Priestly in New York.
Now she is married to Miles and works as a stylist and image consultant to the stars.
Miriam is married to Paul a mum to three kids and Emily’s oldest friend.
Karolina is married to Graham a senator with presidential ambitions and he’s just publicly dumped her. Karolina is friends with Miriam.
The three girls get together to help get back Karolina’s reputation and her son.
Here begins the fun.
Every chapter has a title of the name of the woman you are reading about. This means that you are following each of the girls stories as you read through the book.
Lauren Weisberger has shown each of the girls weaknesses and also their strengths and shows what happens when life gives you lemons.
The story of each of the girls is full of twists and turns and some laughs along the way.
When Life Gives You Lululemons is a story of friendship, love, loyalty and choices.
Such an entertaining book that you just don’t want to put down. It will have you laughing, cringing and maybe even an acknowledgement of having done some of those things.
An amazing read and one I can’t wait to see as a chick flick.