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Chloe by Design #1-4
Chloe by Design: Making the Cut
16-year-old Chloe has always loved everything to do with fashion. Clothes, accessories, styling, designing – she knows it all.?And when she finds out a new reality series for aspiring teenage designers?is holding auditions in her town, she's?desperate to win a spot on the show. Chloe knows this is her chance to finally get her designs noticed. But before Chloe can realize her dreams, she has to survive the competition.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
96 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Gurevich
40 books124 followersMargaret Gurevich's award-winning Chloe by Design series was billed as a “Project Runway for Teens,” and received praise from School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist, and Kirkus. She is also the author of books in Penguin Workshop’s Who Was series. Her middle grade novel, Ain’t It Funny (Penguin Workshop, October 2024), has been named a PJ Our Way pick. Her new novel, Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah (Penguin Workshop March 2026), received positive reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly. When not writing, Margaret enjoys hiking, spending time with her family and cat, reading, and streaming too many shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
January 12, 2022
Listen up, boys and girl! Nebuďte ako ja, ktorá mala túto sériu doma DVA ROKY, ktoré trvalo, kým som ju zobrala do rúk, a potom prečítala 10 dielov za jeden deň.
Zamilovala som sa. 10 dielov. Za jeden deň. Akože, každý má tak 90-100 strán, ale myslím, že krát 10 to stále o niečom svedčí.
Hlavná hrdinka Chloe je nádejná módna dizajnérka, ktorá sa prihlási do reality show o dizajnovaní oblečenia, kde musí v každej epizóde splniť nejaký challenge, ohromiť porotu, prekonať súťažiacich. A všetky tie šaty, o ktorých sa v texte hovorí, sú tam ilustrované. Takže keď súťažiaci dostanú úlohu vytvoriť šaty z lepiacej pásky, je tam ilustrácia. Keď majú súťažiaci urobiť "cupcake-inspired headpiece", sú tam ilustrácie. Aasddfgh. Normálne som nad každou jednou pauzla a šla si ju prezrieť.
Prečítala som celú sériu a autorka nestratí nápady až do konca. Po štyroch častiach o reality show sú štyri časti o stáži v dizajnérskej firme, kde sa Chloe musí popasovať s tým, že robí na diazajnoch niekoho iného, a potom nasledujú štyri časti o tom, ako sa Chloe rozhodne nadizajnovať plesové šaty pre celú ich triedu, a tak za ňou jej spolužiačky chodia s často bizarnými požiadavkami o tom, čo si predstavujú.
Dokonalé, perfektné, originálne, pútavé, tisíc hviezdičiek.
Je príliš neskoro, aby som zmenila kariéru a stala sa módnou dizajnérkou ako Chloe?
Zamilovala som sa. 10 dielov. Za jeden deň. Akože, každý má tak 90-100 strán, ale myslím, že krát 10 to stále o niečom svedčí.
Hlavná hrdinka Chloe je nádejná módna dizajnérka, ktorá sa prihlási do reality show o dizajnovaní oblečenia, kde musí v každej epizóde splniť nejaký challenge, ohromiť porotu, prekonať súťažiacich. A všetky tie šaty, o ktorých sa v texte hovorí, sú tam ilustrované. Takže keď súťažiaci dostanú úlohu vytvoriť šaty z lepiacej pásky, je tam ilustrácia. Keď majú súťažiaci urobiť "cupcake-inspired headpiece", sú tam ilustrácie. Aasddfgh. Normálne som nad každou jednou pauzla a šla si ju prezrieť.
Prečítala som celú sériu a autorka nestratí nápady až do konca. Po štyroch častiach o reality show sú štyri časti o stáži v dizajnérskej firme, kde sa Chloe musí popasovať s tým, že robí na diazajnoch niekoho iného, a potom nasledujú štyri časti o tom, ako sa Chloe rozhodne nadizajnovať plesové šaty pre celú ich triedu, a tak za ňou jej spolužiačky chodia s často bizarnými požiadavkami o tom, čo si predstavujú.
Dokonalé, perfektné, originálne, pútavé, tisíc hviezdičiek.
Je príliš neskoro, aby som zmenila kariéru a stala sa módnou dizajnérkou ako Chloe?
April 24, 2024
Yes indeed, the main protagonist (and first person narrator) of Margaret Gurevich' first four stories of her middle grade Chloe by Design series (titled Making the Cut) is sweetly likeable, personable and hugely into fashion sixteen year old Santa Cruz, California native Chloe Montgomery and whom I also along with Chloe's not at all into clothes best friend Alexis (Alex) would definitely consider as being totally kindred spirits, with Making the Cut very nicely and wonderfully demonstrating that I as a reader do not have to be into fashion and into sewing to enjoy and appreciate Gurevich's presented storyline for Making the Cut (and which Alex being not at all into clothing, but rather blasé and even a bit of a tomboy regarding what she enjoys wearing, but still Chloe's best friend, very much supportive of Chloe's love of fashion and always ready to offer advice, encouragement and even design suggestions also really nicely underscores). And yes, Chloe by Design features teenaged characters, but just to state that both Margaret Gurevich's writing style and equally so her featured thematics and contents are definitely and in my humble opinion much more middle grade than young adult in feel and scope, with Making the Cut including Design Diva, The First Cut, Unravelling and Design Destiny, all of which are approximately ninety-five pages in length, are also of course available by themselves (as chapter books) but certainly do make a lot of sense in an omnibus, that books five to twelve of the Chloe by Design series are also available as omnibuses, as Measuring Up and as Balancing Act (and that I am after having read and enjoyed Making the Cut now planning on reading the entire series).
Now in Making the Cut, with Chloe Montgomery determined to become a clothes designer and that she definitely knows she wants and desires a career in the fashion industry, she of course is shown as reacting with exhilaration (but also and understandably with a bit of fear) when her favourite television show, when Design Diva, announces a new fashion themed series that will focus on teenagers competing and offering as first prize an internship in New York City with a major fashion designer. Encouraged by her parents, by Alex (see above) and also the owner of a local fabric store, Chloe works hard to create three original designs, succeeds in getting a spot on the show, but is constantly wavering between confidence and timidity. However, I do have to admit that while my inner child absolutely appreciates and really majorly textually adores Making the Cut and how immediately and totally supportive almost everyone is regarding Chloe's entry into the Design Diva for teens competition, except hometown (local) rival, Nina LeFleur, my older adult self does indeed find how Chloe has no issues at all with her family, that both the mother and also the father immediately, completely and pretty much all encompassingly support Chloe regarding entering that TV competition a bit too on the surface and a bit too facile and problem free, and yes, that Nina as the main villain of Making the Cut is rather overly stereotypical and also kind of feels tacked on so to speak, not all that smoothly incorporated into the text proper and almost as though Margaret Gurevich kind of has added the Nina character into Making the Cut because there obviously "must" be a villain present (and that LeFleur as Nina's surname artificially oozes arrogance and fashion snobbery).
But the above having been said, since Making the Cut is obviously aimed at (as previously already alluded to) middle grade readers, and since my inner child clearly and majorly enjoys (and even kind of prefers) having Chloe not encounter too many deep and problematic issues regarding her family, her life at school and is able to compete in the Design Diva competition with no huge preliminary issues and with no objections and obstacles cast at her regarding trying out for the show (and with Gurevich focusing in Making the Cut mainly on descriptions of Chloe’s designs, how she imagines them and how Chloe then fares in each stage of the Design Diva competition and also overcomes her jitters and lack of confidence), my personal rating for Making the Cut will be solidly four stars and with Brooke Hagel's accompanying artwork of Chloe's clothing designs being both a lovely mirror of Margaret Gurevich's words and also a bit of an appreciated and detailed visual expansion. But truly, even my inner child does find the Nina LeFleur character rather annoying, even a bit unnecessary (and as such certainly not an in any way a very interesting and well conceptualised, nuanced and developed villain emanating from Margaret Gurevich's pen) and that my inner child therefore would not be able and could not be able to consider a five star rating for Making the Cut (but well, while my older adult reading self would in fact be rating Making the Cut with a rather low three stars, I am going to listen to my inner child and will be going with four stars for Making the Cut and very much appreciating a fun and engaging and not too problem heavy reading experience).
Now in Making the Cut, with Chloe Montgomery determined to become a clothes designer and that she definitely knows she wants and desires a career in the fashion industry, she of course is shown as reacting with exhilaration (but also and understandably with a bit of fear) when her favourite television show, when Design Diva, announces a new fashion themed series that will focus on teenagers competing and offering as first prize an internship in New York City with a major fashion designer. Encouraged by her parents, by Alex (see above) and also the owner of a local fabric store, Chloe works hard to create three original designs, succeeds in getting a spot on the show, but is constantly wavering between confidence and timidity. However, I do have to admit that while my inner child absolutely appreciates and really majorly textually adores Making the Cut and how immediately and totally supportive almost everyone is regarding Chloe's entry into the Design Diva for teens competition, except hometown (local) rival, Nina LeFleur, my older adult self does indeed find how Chloe has no issues at all with her family, that both the mother and also the father immediately, completely and pretty much all encompassingly support Chloe regarding entering that TV competition a bit too on the surface and a bit too facile and problem free, and yes, that Nina as the main villain of Making the Cut is rather overly stereotypical and also kind of feels tacked on so to speak, not all that smoothly incorporated into the text proper and almost as though Margaret Gurevich kind of has added the Nina character into Making the Cut because there obviously "must" be a villain present (and that LeFleur as Nina's surname artificially oozes arrogance and fashion snobbery).
But the above having been said, since Making the Cut is obviously aimed at (as previously already alluded to) middle grade readers, and since my inner child clearly and majorly enjoys (and even kind of prefers) having Chloe not encounter too many deep and problematic issues regarding her family, her life at school and is able to compete in the Design Diva competition with no huge preliminary issues and with no objections and obstacles cast at her regarding trying out for the show (and with Gurevich focusing in Making the Cut mainly on descriptions of Chloe’s designs, how she imagines them and how Chloe then fares in each stage of the Design Diva competition and also overcomes her jitters and lack of confidence), my personal rating for Making the Cut will be solidly four stars and with Brooke Hagel's accompanying artwork of Chloe's clothing designs being both a lovely mirror of Margaret Gurevich's words and also a bit of an appreciated and detailed visual expansion. But truly, even my inner child does find the Nina LeFleur character rather annoying, even a bit unnecessary (and as such certainly not an in any way a very interesting and well conceptualised, nuanced and developed villain emanating from Margaret Gurevich's pen) and that my inner child therefore would not be able and could not be able to consider a five star rating for Making the Cut (but well, while my older adult reading self would in fact be rating Making the Cut with a rather low three stars, I am going to listen to my inner child and will be going with four stars for Making the Cut and very much appreciating a fun and engaging and not too problem heavy reading experience).
June 8, 2015
I'll admit that when I saw this at the library it was the cover that stood out. The way it was placed on the shelf was showing the cover off. Then I read the back and it reminded me of Project Runway, which I used to love watching.
I could not put this book down. I loved both the story and Chloe. It was like going behind the scenes of Project Runway. Chloe even went to Mood in New York City.
But the illustrations of Chloe's designs are amazing. I just sat and stared at them even though I wanted to read more. I loved the Toys 'R' Us Cotton Candy design the best. I think that skirt is my favourite.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this but considering I read it in one day I think it's obvious that I really did. I can't wait to see what happens to Chloe in the next book and the beautiful designs too.
I could not put this book down. I loved both the story and Chloe. It was like going behind the scenes of Project Runway. Chloe even went to Mood in New York City.
But the illustrations of Chloe's designs are amazing. I just sat and stared at them even though I wanted to read more. I loved the Toys 'R' Us Cotton Candy design the best. I think that skirt is my favourite.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this but considering I read it in one day I think it's obvious that I really did. I can't wait to see what happens to Chloe in the next book and the beautiful designs too.
June 24, 2015
This was an adorable book that centered around a girl named Chloe Montgomery who was obsessed with fashion. She liked creating her own designs and bringing them to life and the show Design Diva (exactly like Project Runway) was her inspiration. I only gave this book 3 stars because although it was very entertaining, I feel like it lacked drama (I can't believe I just said that). However, when I watch fashion Runway I like feeling the stress and tension of the contestants through the screen as I'm also competing with them. With this book, I feel like the animosity between the contestants was lacking and that would have made the book infinitely more exciting. I know this book had great potential because I seriously couldn't put it down. I was so addicted to the idea of teenagers being given the opportunity to compete in Teen Design Diva and so I was really invested in the story and each chapter wanting to know what the next challenge would be and who would be eliminated. However, the story was too smooth and I felt like it needed a conflict to be resolved in the end. Still a very enjoyable read though, especially with the beautiful illustrations to really help capture the designs. This book can definitely pull you out of a reading slump!
April 21, 2014
Let me start off with: Can Chloe please design an outfit for me?
This book is truly unique. Not only an engaging and fun story with a level headed, strong main character, but the illustrations are exquisite. I want to buy a hard copy of this book and use it as a coffee table book.
Each outfit Chloe and the others design, is illustrated in the book. The sketches are beautifully done, and the clothes are amazing. I would wear almost every single one of them. This makes the book different, and engages you even more into the story. I'm not sure why, because usually I don't need pictures to immerse myself in a book, but with this one I felt an even deeper connection.
About the text: I loved this book. Chloe is a great role model, and in the book she behaves maturely and with good judgement, but also how a real person her age would act. It's not preachy or overdone. I liked the adult characters around Chloe, and also her friends.
a really really good book! Great story but the sketches put it over the top!
This book is truly unique. Not only an engaging and fun story with a level headed, strong main character, but the illustrations are exquisite. I want to buy a hard copy of this book and use it as a coffee table book.
Each outfit Chloe and the others design, is illustrated in the book. The sketches are beautifully done, and the clothes are amazing. I would wear almost every single one of them. This makes the book different, and engages you even more into the story. I'm not sure why, because usually I don't need pictures to immerse myself in a book, but with this one I felt an even deeper connection.
About the text: I loved this book. Chloe is a great role model, and in the book she behaves maturely and with good judgement, but also how a real person her age would act. It's not preachy or overdone. I liked the adult characters around Chloe, and also her friends.
a really really good book! Great story but the sketches put it over the top!
April 12, 2015
Loved the illustrations! It is a fun book for teens that are aspiring to be fashion designers. The story was too predictable though.
October 27, 2014
The rating and following review are from my eleven year old daughter. As of yet I have not read the book. "this book rocks there's no word 2 discribe it the book is out of this world"
May 15, 2018
I loved this book so much that its my favorite book all year! This book is really similar to the April Sinclair books because its about a girl who really wants something.
November 20, 2019
loved this book it was filled with action and suspense
January 6, 2024
[3.5]
wow that ending was very rushed i felt like i was being pushed out the door are you alright margaret gurevich did someone threaten you to make the deadline sooner? anyway i liked the simplicity of this book it obviously had some corny moments and felt VERY YA but the fresh topic of fashion/designing helped ease that. shoutout to derek literally the coolest character in this book i genuinely loved his designs. jealous of all of these little people that have the creativity to make things like this perhaps in another life…
wow that ending was very rushed i felt like i was being pushed out the door are you alright margaret gurevich did someone threaten you to make the deadline sooner? anyway i liked the simplicity of this book it obviously had some corny moments and felt VERY YA but the fresh topic of fashion/designing helped ease that. shoutout to derek literally the coolest character in this book i genuinely loved his designs. jealous of all of these little people that have the creativity to make things like this perhaps in another life…
January 4, 2015
Making the Cut is a realistic fiction novel about Chloe Montgomery, a 16-year old girl who loves everything fashion. Designing clothes, wearing them, and most of all, watching a Project Runway-esque TV show called Designer Diva. When she finds out that auditions for a teen Designer Diva are being held in her town, she is desperate to be in the show. She auditions by designing and creating three original garments, and gets in. Throughout the competition, she faces challenges such as cheating contestants (a stolen seam ripper), disqualifications (only some cheaters get caught), and boys (Chloe has a crush on the son of one of the judges).
This was a mediocre book. I enjoyed the beautiful watercolour sketches of Chloe's designs that were sprinkled throughout the book. Also, almost all the characters (mainly Chloe herself) were very realistic, (though they all seemed to have perfect lives). But it definitely wasn't very creative or original. It had a 'mean girl', crushes, and a extremely cliché ending (she wins the contest).
This is probably the book equivalent to a 'chick flick'. It is good for light reading, but isn't a really good book overall. I partly chose to read it because at the time, I was making a skirt at the time. I recommend it for ages ten to sixteen.
This was a mediocre book. I enjoyed the beautiful watercolour sketches of Chloe's designs that were sprinkled throughout the book. Also, almost all the characters (mainly Chloe herself) were very realistic, (though they all seemed to have perfect lives). But it definitely wasn't very creative or original. It had a 'mean girl', crushes, and a extremely cliché ending (she wins the contest).
This is probably the book equivalent to a 'chick flick'. It is good for light reading, but isn't a really good book overall. I partly chose to read it because at the time, I was making a skirt at the time. I recommend it for ages ten to sixteen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2015
I loved this book the images in the book of the designs helped to see what the outfits actually turned out to be. And chloe was nervous at first but she improves through the book and I loved how when I was reading I could see chloe blossom into the fashion designer she would be. And what I loved was how whatever challenge got in her way she had a way to fight from the middle and go to the top, and end up winning the whole thing. I did not like Nina from the beginning because she was so snobby and rude to Nina and I am happy that Chloe beat her because Nina did not deserve it.
I highly recommend this series to anyone adults of kids cause its's fashion and if you love fashion or ever wondered what it would be like to be a contestant on a fashion tv show then pick this book up! The photography and illustrations make me or anyone as a reader feel like we are seeing everything through Chloe's eyes. The outfits are so amazing you just want to rip them out of the book and frame them.
I highly recommend this series to anyone adults of kids cause its's fashion and if you love fashion or ever wondered what it would be like to be a contestant on a fashion tv show then pick this book up! The photography and illustrations make me or anyone as a reader feel like we are seeing everything through Chloe's eyes. The outfits are so amazing you just want to rip them out of the book and frame them.
November 24, 2015
Beware: Spoilers ahead.
If I'm being honest, during the first 50 pages of this book I was constantly rolling my eyes. It was SO cliche, Chloe seemed like a naive ditz, and it kind of seemed like it was written by a twelve year old. Luckily, it got a lot better. The illustrations were amazing. I really loved how they would describe an outfit and then show a picture of it. Once Chloe made it onto Teen Design Diva, everything got 1000 times better. Everything was explained in more detail, she wasn't constantly whining about how much Nina sucked, and I thought a lot of things were realistic-ish. I wish the ending hadn't, well, ended so quickly. It's like, "Okay! You win! The end." I do know that I will be looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel though.
If I'm being honest, during the first 50 pages of this book I was constantly rolling my eyes. It was SO cliche, Chloe seemed like a naive ditz, and it kind of seemed like it was written by a twelve year old. Luckily, it got a lot better. The illustrations were amazing. I really loved how they would describe an outfit and then show a picture of it. Once Chloe made it onto Teen Design Diva, everything got 1000 times better. Everything was explained in more detail, she wasn't constantly whining about how much Nina sucked, and I thought a lot of things were realistic-ish. I wish the ending hadn't, well, ended so quickly. It's like, "Okay! You win! The end." I do know that I will be looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2017
This book was an AMAZING BOOK! I love Project Runway and this book is so much like it. Chloe is a fashion designer and she loves the show called Design Diva (a show just like Project Runway) and they made a teen version and she gets in to the show. I think her design ideas are very good. It is a series called Chloe by Design. I really liked the first book so I might read the whole series.
March 15, 2016
loved it
October 26, 2021
16-year-old Chloe has always loved everything to do with fashion. Clothes, accessories, styling, designing – she knows it all. And when she finds out a new reality series for aspiring teenage designers is holding auditions in her town, she's desperate to win a spot on the show.So she Auditions her confidence level is not at all high. With her best friend Alex, Mom, and Dad By her side she feels she can do it. Her best friend Alex gives her nicknames like courageous Chloe(CC) or confident Chloe (cc) also many others with the CC.
In the book the author points out little faces people make like Nina giving Chloe bad looks from the side or Nina sticking out her tongue when they were in kindergarten. Like on one page she said “ Nina and her little mini Nina's are coming". The author also keep saying the exact motion Alex kept doing while Chloe was working on her fashion outfits for the competion. She also points out a lot of specific outfits that people where wearing. She also made some comments that her Mom was saying like " When do we get to see those designs".
In the book the author points out little faces people make like Nina giving Chloe bad looks from the side or Nina sticking out her tongue when they were in kindergarten. Like on one page she said “ Nina and her little mini Nina's are coming". The author also keep saying the exact motion Alex kept doing while Chloe was working on her fashion outfits for the competion. She also points out a lot of specific outfits that people where wearing. She also made some comments that her Mom was saying like " When do we get to see those designs".
May 15, 2018
I love this book because it had so much suspense if Chloe would get to go to New York. This book would be perfect for anyone who loves fashion or just a good story. If you like the series by Laura Friedman you would like this series. This book is about a girl named Chloe and she loves fashion. There was a spot on her favorite TV show that she went to auditions for. And, if you read the book you will find out if she makes it in or not.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2018
Loved it
April 9, 2020
4.5!
I had originally read this book in the fifth grade. Now reading it almost five years later its still amazing. I loved reading about all the fashion so good!
I had originally read this book in the fifth grade. Now reading it almost five years later its still amazing. I loved reading about all the fashion so good!
November 14, 2023
I remember reading this back when I was in school and I absolutely adored it then. It's good to know that I still absolutely adore it now at my fossil age of 22!
July 14, 2018
Awesome, best fashion book ever! Highly recommend
February 14, 2015
Chloe has always designed clothes—-it’s her passion, and her favorite show is Project Runway—-excuse me, Design Divas. When she hears they are doing a teen version, she just has to try out, even though her arch-nemesis Nina is also trying out. Chloe throws her whole concentration behind creating projects for the first and second auditions, and the illustrations throughout the book show both her many concepts and her final designs. She has some ups and downs, but does make it to the show and then must survive multiple challenges and a little backstabbing. Will she win the internship? And what about that cute guy Jake that she met at an arts fair? What’s he doing in New York?
I’m a big Project Runway fan, so I enjoyed this, and thought it was well-packaged and presented. The color illustrations really help with visualizing the fashions, which are really the point of the book (more of the models could be women of color, though-—an opportunity lost, there). A lot of time is spend describing what Chloe is making, and how, and what the other designers make. There’s not a whole lot of character development, though I liked Chloe’s family background in rodeo, which is unusual. There’s minimal drama during the show, which is rather like a stripped-down Project Runway; the worst the archnemesis does is steal a seam ripper, and Chloe finds another one so it was no big deal. The design challenges are creative, and would be fun to see on the real show. There’s not much detail about what it’s really like to be on a reality show, both in terms of the day to day happenings and in terms of people in the real world reacting-—the emphasis here is on the clothes. Speaking of which, I’ve watched fashion design shows for many years (did you know you can stream Project Runway Australia on YouTube?), and I wasn’t impressed with the designs. Everything looked cute and sleek, but not particularly creative—-nothing I haven’t seen a million times before. I did enjoy the book though-—nice to have something light after the horror show I read yesterday!
I’m a big Project Runway fan, so I enjoyed this, and thought it was well-packaged and presented. The color illustrations really help with visualizing the fashions, which are really the point of the book (more of the models could be women of color, though-—an opportunity lost, there). A lot of time is spend describing what Chloe is making, and how, and what the other designers make. There’s not a whole lot of character development, though I liked Chloe’s family background in rodeo, which is unusual. There’s minimal drama during the show, which is rather like a stripped-down Project Runway; the worst the archnemesis does is steal a seam ripper, and Chloe finds another one so it was no big deal. The design challenges are creative, and would be fun to see on the real show. There’s not much detail about what it’s really like to be on a reality show, both in terms of the day to day happenings and in terms of people in the real world reacting-—the emphasis here is on the clothes. Speaking of which, I’ve watched fashion design shows for many years (did you know you can stream Project Runway Australia on YouTube?), and I wasn’t impressed with the designs. Everything looked cute and sleek, but not particularly creative—-nothing I haven’t seen a million times before. I did enjoy the book though-—nice to have something light after the horror show I read yesterday!
June 18, 2014
(ARC Given by NetGalley)
I have to confess I liked the designs a lot more than I liked the story, but I suspect that was because of problems with pacing. Chloe was endearing and passionate and so I was, obviously, rooting for her to win, so my few issues with this book came not from the characters but rather how it was organized.
It's possible that this book would have worked better if split into two, allowing for the first part to be Chloe preparing for the competition, and the second being the competition itself -- instead, whatever little conflicts there were, they had to be diminished because the "big payoff" was still to come. Plus, the competition section felt incredibly rushed through, with multiple challenges happening on top of each other, characters being shipped off in hordes and with flimsy excuses to reach as quickly as possible to the top three - even if the book is 400 pages long and a good chunk of it was dedicated to the competition.
Plus, Nina, who was the closest thing to a villain, was barely a villain -- the worst thing she did was steal a hemline cutter -- and it was so very easily replaced that it wasn't even a challenge. There were was no conflict, no drama other than the main character stressing constantly with "Can I make this". She doesn't change, she doesn't grow that much. And that is a huge pity because Chloe is likeable, has a good relationship with her mother and her friends and the rest of her family.
Still, maybe the next book will come out and we'll see Chloe at her internship and the book will feel less rushed.
I have to confess I liked the designs a lot more than I liked the story, but I suspect that was because of problems with pacing. Chloe was endearing and passionate and so I was, obviously, rooting for her to win, so my few issues with this book came not from the characters but rather how it was organized.
It's possible that this book would have worked better if split into two, allowing for the first part to be Chloe preparing for the competition, and the second being the competition itself -- instead, whatever little conflicts there were, they had to be diminished because the "big payoff" was still to come. Plus, the competition section felt incredibly rushed through, with multiple challenges happening on top of each other, characters being shipped off in hordes and with flimsy excuses to reach as quickly as possible to the top three - even if the book is 400 pages long and a good chunk of it was dedicated to the competition.
Plus, Nina, who was the closest thing to a villain, was barely a villain -- the worst thing she did was steal a hemline cutter -- and it was so very easily replaced that it wasn't even a challenge. There were was no conflict, no drama other than the main character stressing constantly with "Can I make this". She doesn't change, she doesn't grow that much. And that is a huge pity because Chloe is likeable, has a good relationship with her mother and her friends and the rest of her family.
Still, maybe the next book will come out and we'll see Chloe at her internship and the book will feel less rushed.
October 8, 2017
My rating: 2/5 stars
I was really looking forward to reading this novel because it seemed like a book different to others, with its cool illustrations and storyline, and once I started reading I found I why.
A few pages into the book I came to realise that I really, really disliked the main character. She was an over-confident, stupid, incredibly selfish and childish person who tried to be humble and down to earth (but to me that just made her cringe-worthy) and tried to impress everyone she came upon, only to end up as a charity case of some sort, that she openly accepted, which to me was totally unacceptable!
The unpleasantness of the protagonist’s personality bled through to the narration which further ruined the story for me. What made it worse, was that the author tried to get the reader to sympathise for the main character, by adding poverty into her background. But an unfortunate circumstance like poverty and an irritable character just do not mix and it didn’t bode well with me. Another downer for me was that the plot was really lacking in suspense and drama, because the reader already knew what was going to happen, because honestly, the events of the book were very cliché.
The only thing about the book that I did like, were the illustrations and that was only because they kind of made sense to me, rather than the fashion terms that were used quite often throughout the book to describe different designs.
So basically, if you’re not into fashion and designing and all that jazz (which I’m not), then this book is seriously not meant for you.
Shreema
I was really looking forward to reading this novel because it seemed like a book different to others, with its cool illustrations and storyline, and once I started reading I found I why.
A few pages into the book I came to realise that I really, really disliked the main character. She was an over-confident, stupid, incredibly selfish and childish person who tried to be humble and down to earth (but to me that just made her cringe-worthy) and tried to impress everyone she came upon, only to end up as a charity case of some sort, that she openly accepted, which to me was totally unacceptable!
The unpleasantness of the protagonist’s personality bled through to the narration which further ruined the story for me. What made it worse, was that the author tried to get the reader to sympathise for the main character, by adding poverty into her background. But an unfortunate circumstance like poverty and an irritable character just do not mix and it didn’t bode well with me. Another downer for me was that the plot was really lacking in suspense and drama, because the reader already knew what was going to happen, because honestly, the events of the book were very cliché.
The only thing about the book that I did like, were the illustrations and that was only because they kind of made sense to me, rather than the fashion terms that were used quite often throughout the book to describe different designs.
So basically, if you’re not into fashion and designing and all that jazz (which I’m not), then this book is seriously not meant for you.
Shreema
July 8, 2014
This book is perfect for fans of the TV shows Project Runway and Styled To Rock, basically anyone with a love of fashion design and creating different looks.
It focuses on a 16 year old girl Chloe who finds out her favourite show Design Diva is going to be having its own teen version. We follow her as she tries to win a place on the show alongside her high school rival.
Where this book really comes alive is the artwork, its one thing to read descriptions of Chloe's designs but to actually be able to see them takes it to the next level and it really is a beautiful touch. The storyline does still stand well on its own but the pictures are fabulous.
It focuses on a 16 year old girl Chloe who finds out her favourite show Design Diva is going to be having its own teen version. We follow her as she tries to win a place on the show alongside her high school rival.
Where this book really comes alive is the artwork, its one thing to read descriptions of Chloe's designs but to actually be able to see them takes it to the next level and it really is a beautiful touch. The storyline does still stand well on its own but the pictures are fabulous.
March 1, 2016
3.75/4 stars
It's hard for me to rate this considering it's meant for a younger audience. While I think Chloe definitely acted young for her age, I know that was mainly to appeal to middle schoolers. Regardless, it was a very fun, adorable book! I think there could've been more conflict and maybe some more character development, but overall, it was well-paced and its neat writing really kept me flipping the pages.
It's hard for me to rate this considering it's meant for a younger audience. While I think Chloe definitely acted young for her age, I know that was mainly to appeal to middle schoolers. Regardless, it was a very fun, adorable book! I think there could've been more conflict and maybe some more character development, but overall, it was well-paced and its neat writing really kept me flipping the pages.
February 12, 2016
UPDATE 2/12/16: It's been quite a few months since I read this, but it's still on my mind. Changing from 4.5 to 5 stars.
4.5 stars
I really liked this book! It was different from what I usually read, but I still really liked it. The only thing was, it was kind of predictable. But anyway, I really liked it!
Clean rating: 100% clean.
4.5 stars
I really liked this book! It was different from what I usually read, but I still really liked it. The only thing was, it was kind of predictable. But anyway, I really liked it!
Clean rating: 100% clean.
November 13, 2015
A teen Project Runwa// I mean Design Diva.
A charming, talented, middle class girl.
A former friend who will cheat and steal to win.
A cute boy whose mother happened to win the adult version of the show.
This sweet book has a strong female character and some fun fashion ideas. I know of at least 50 girls and a few boys who will want to read this book.
A charming, talented, middle class girl.
A former friend who will cheat and steal to win.
A cute boy whose mother happened to win the adult version of the show.
This sweet book has a strong female character and some fun fashion ideas. I know of at least 50 girls and a few boys who will want to read this book.
April 1, 2018
I read most books as ebooks, but this one just HAS to be read as a paper book- I loved the design of the book altogether, and especially liked the sketches that were included of the designs that were made in the competition! :)
December 8, 2014
I so love this book!!
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