The EveryGirl's Guide to Life

by Maria Menounos

"One stop shopping! Maria shows us girls how to successfully juggle it all while looking fabulous. I love her lazy woman workout and yummy recipes!" —Kim Kardashian "[Maria] is a beautiful, hard working lady who has a will and way to make things work for herself! She has some great tips that are easy to apply and help make your life better" —Heidi Klum Access Hollywood host Maria Menounos shares her own experiences and a set of hard-learned practical tips that every girl can apply to achieve her own successful, healthy life. Whether it’s getting organized, getting professional, finding romance, keeping that tummy flat, rocking the perfect style, or beyond, Maria has the tips you need to become the woman you want to be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Health, Lifestyle, Adult

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Maria Menounos is a Greek-American actress, journalist, and television presenter known in America for her appearances as a correspondent for Today and Access Hollywood, and abroad for co-hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece.

Reviews

[Bel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know a lot about Maria Menounos but decided to give this a try. Most of the so called advice are nothing more than common sense household tips that probably you've all heard before. Others are simply laughable. Some of the tips she offers to readers are:

-Buffing your nails makes them look great
-Sleep helps you recover from a cold
-Don't drink sugary sodas or else you will gain weight
-Dress conservatively for a job interview
-Don't date a man for his money
-Be green ("I drive a hybrid car!" and "I recycle!")

This book should have been named Maria's Show and Tell book because all the tips are based on what she does and uses, and it's not applicable for others. For example, the makeup tips are all about what products works for Maria and how she puts on makeup. There are even appendices with her original diet and workout plan, and you wonder how this will benefit the "EveryGirl." The only workout I got out of this book was from rolling my eyes.

The lessons are thinly veiled attempts to tell another anecdote about her accomplishments or girly type answers to serious problems (ie. change your hairstyle if you are depressed).

After this I found the author annoying and condescending and recommend this as a book to be passed over.

[Jill Kemerer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Tons of great pictures, easy-to-read short chapters, and practical advice. Maria certainly made me want to get organized! I loved the sample workout, the organizational tips, and other basic advice.

My only issue is her lack of awareness on the I'm-just-an-everygirl topic. I would say that calling herself an "everygirl" is a stretch. Yes, she understands the value of a dollar and exemplifies the DIY mentality, but when she talks about budgeting and then shows picture after picture of her DIY renovated mansion--there is a disconnect. Many people would really have to stretch their budget just to afford a few of the IKEA closet pieces she recommends, let alone purchase organizers for their entire house.

I guess what I'm getting at, is if she's an everygirl--I'll take it! It's not my everygirl reality, but that's okay too! It's fun to dream!

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw an interview of the author on Betheney Frankel's old talk show and Maria was mentioning that she had been 40 lbs heavier at one time in her life and could eat half a pizza no problem. When I was younger I could do the same thing. Then she mentioned that she gave hints about how to start slowly changing your eating habits - one piece less, add a salad - sounded good. I read the introduction and this book was written for young people to grandparents. Well, it's mostly geared toward young people. My 19 year old daughter would probably like this in about 5 years.

So a lot of good hints from diet, organizing your clothes, business, chores, balancing work and home life, how to save money, how to work out effectively. Lots of great ideas but I feel for a younger person - 22 to 45 seems right.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give it a 2.5. There was some good information and suggestions in here, and I appreciate her conversational writing style. However, when you have a home spa, screening room, and staff, I kind of feel that you just moneyed yourself out of the "everygirl" category.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Maria Menounos really pulled it off - all in one self-help book and superb advice on organizing, decorating, finances, emotional support, dealing with people, career, make up, exercise, healthy eating and clothing. (Not in that order)

I really enjoyed every chapter, even if I know that I could never be bothered spending 25 minutes a day on make up for example, but it is good to know how, in case I wanted to.

I picked up a lot of great tips and got inspired to do better in many areas of my life meaning that this book did as intended.

The pictures are great, too, I read it on my Kindle keyboard, so they were B&W but I was inspired enough to go through them again on my iPad and I never bother reading e-books on my iPad, so that is also a plus.

Definitely a five star self-help book I would recommend to every woman in her twenties or thirties.

[Holly Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book would be perfect for a girl 16 to maybe 28. I think I am just too old for it. Most of the information in The EveryGirls Guide to Life seemed like stuff that is pretty obvious to me now, but might have been helpful when I was younger. Also Maria Menounos used the book to brag about her achievements over and over again, which isn't what I thought the book was supposed to be about. Some of her advice is also a little too preachy, not like a suggestion or giving the reader several good options. It was more like "this is the way to do it, there is no other way." And this was about dumb stuff, like you shouldn't buy a TV, you should buy a projector! If I hadn't already returned the book to the library, I would give you some direct quotes.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, it's a CUTE book, don't get me wrong, but there's not much in here that we haven't heard before. It also grated on me how she kept putting in things like, "as you'll read later," like she was hoping to bait people through the book or something, and the "OMG PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS" for Pantene and Dermalogica. I know celebs have to stand by their own promo stuff, but in a book it just comes off a little too puppeted.
I really liked the section on organizing/renovating, though, and she has a great workout routine in the health section that's totally living-room friendly. Beyond that, though, nothing really jumped out to me like "oh my GOSH that's genius." Definitely not a must-read.

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, okay, I saw this book on the news and thought it would be interesting and I read some valid tips and pointers for things like applying makeup and organizing your closet, but I have a hard time getting tips from someone whose closet it literally as big as my bedroom. Interesting read and some of her tips are very usable but most of the "tips" were for people who are rich, skinny and famous.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was a 'self-help' book, but it was more of a 'lifestyle' book. The first part is about organizing your home which read more like a home improvment book. And the part where she talked about make-up and hair sounded like something from a beauty magazine. The Health and Fitness section was pretty interesting, about how she lost 40 lbs and kept it off by eating smaller portions and exercise. It had some good advice, but when I think of 'self-help' its more on how to improve your outlook on life and be more positive, etc. I didn't feel like this had that. It sounds like she spends so much time working and organizing her house, that I'm wondering when she has time to have fun. She seems pretty happy, so she must sneak it in there somewhere. I was also a little bothered about how she kept calling this guy Keven her 'partner' but would never say if he was her hubby, boyfriend, etc. She'll share that she washes her hair like twice a week and wears thongs, but won't share her relationship status? Weird.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit I had high hopes for this book, not so much as a source of life advice I never had considered before, but as a fun and easy piece to bring to mind some of he highlights of good advice encountered before. Though in many ways this book did do just that (hence my giving it a solid three stars), the author seems to have lost touch with the reality that is life for most of us: seriously, I doubt there are that many careers out there where success depends upon the model of car you choose to drive or name brand of bag you carry. She really showed how distant she is from a class such as the one I live in when she refers to some of the clothing stores she shops at to save money, which happen to be the very same stores I consider to be above the top end of my price range. Perhaps it's from living in Hollywood too long, but I believe our 'EveryGirl' poster girl proves that at least I am not like every girl she knows, though I doubt I'm here without company!

[Julee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this easy, breezy read. Maria writes in a charming and accessible way, imparting useful tips and advice that young(ish) women will find valuable. There is nothing earth-shattering or provocative here, just good and sound info she shares from her own experiences. Her bits of advice are simple to incorporate into your daily routine to get more organized. She talks about everything from the importance of home ownership to makeup tricks - she's not a professional in any of those areas, but this isn't designed to be an expert's guide. My favorite part was the fact that she styled all of the pictures herself then had her friend take the photos - that was a nice personal touch.

If you're looking for a non-intimidating "self-help" book that's not heavily self help, try this one. It's a cute, light non-fiction that's a little treat, perfect for the summer.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than worth reading. Great advice for any woman but especially good advice for the single woman getting out in the world and taking care of herself. I read 96% of the book. I skipped through the chapter about makeup and hair. It is all good advice but having a different skin type and hair type I took what I thought I could use from it. I completely skipped the routine part of the exercises. I have gone to a trainer before and I go to a gym on and off and know what works for me. Reading this bok made me not only like Maria more but it made me completely respect her. I am going to heed her advice and apply it where I can to my own situations.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book sounded interesting and would be a good gift for a few young women I knew. Before I gifted it to anyone, I wanted to read it first to see if the information would be useful. Needless to say, after reading this book I decided not to give it as a gift. This book didn't have anything special or new, just how Maria Menounos lives her life. I didn't find any unique tips or tricks, just a lot of the author's ideas and information about her life. Pretty boring book; not horrible, but nothing special.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, much like many self help books does come off a little (to me) like... really??? someone needs to tell you this. But, that being said, I really appreciate Maria's attention to the "every girl" the person who can't afford expensive undies, makeup and what not. She give price concious options and actually uses Ikea furniture :) it's refreshing to see someone so humble and down to earth about the price of things and the access to resources in today's world Kuddos !

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tips and information in this book are simplistic (boyfriends like girls that let them watch sports) or for the wealthy (steam showers and screening rooms for everyone!). I think Maria looked at the world and decided women were lacking common sense so she wrote some basic things down to help the Everygirl. If you are a Maria Menounos fan definitely give this book a read, you'll appreciate all the horn tooting she does.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Laughably horrible.

Self-aggrandizing in the extreme and utterly lacking in any sort of subtlety, thoughtfulness, or humanity. I put this right up there with Danielle Steel's book of poetry titled "Love" for sheer humor's sake.

Were she performing cliche femininity the way Stephen Colbert performs cliche conservatism, this would be a five-star parody romp. As is, though... yikes.

[Lynne M · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not a completely terrible book. In fact, Maria does offer some useful bits of advice in parts, however, she relates it to a life which the majority of people don't have, and certainly not "the every girl" to whom the book is geared towards.

Most women I know don't own so much makeup that they need advice on how to organize it.

WAY too much of the book consists of how to effectively do your hair, make-up, skin and nails. I understand that this is based on the career Maria has in entertainment, but the problem is most working "every girls" don't have hours (or, especially if they are just starting out in a career) the monetary resources to spend on these things.

The book is more useful when she discusses networking for a career and deeper issues such a relationships, grief, and loss, but I found the majority of the book (since it focused more on aesthetics than anything else) to be shallow.

The celebrity endorsements of her book (which seem to be common with Maria, since I read her other book on exercise, which was better) were also kind of annoying.

[Erianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Majority of the book was common sense or really just topics that I’ve already known about or apply to my life already. This would be more for someone who is in their teens or early 20’s and hasn’t lived on their own yet or must learn to live sensibly.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

[Chy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good.

[Maria Miaoulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s a TV host, actress, spokesperson and journalist. She can renovate a home and enhance a property’s value just as easily as she can organize any space, including your car. She produces films by day and interviews celebrities on the red carpet by night. More often than not, she does her own hair and makeup for star-studded events to boot.


She pushes boundaries as she ascends the ladder of success, but still remains the most grounded person in her industry. She travels the globe, keeps fit and healthy and helps take care of her loving Greek family. And the shocking twist is that she does all of the above (and then some) with very little outside help. Now she’s revealing the secrets that allow her to do it all.


Meet Maria Menounos, considered Superwoman by many, but just a self-proclaimed EveryGirl if you ask her. In addition to all of the above, she’s now an author, too. In her book “The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life,” Menounos walks us through her hectic, but efficiently organized life showing how women can have it all - better, faster and cheaper - while still living a happy life. She offers advice on everything from work and relationships, to health, beauty and more while consulting leading industry experts to make your life easier.


But wait, you’re probably saying. Maria Menounos is a superstar. What can she possibly know about the struggles ordinary women face? Trust me, this successful businesswoman is completely self-made and an absolute sweetheart. I had the great pleasure of interviewing her for TheCelebrityCafe, and she is just as down-to-earth and personable as she comes across in the book. It was like talking to the girl next door, which is exactly how Maria started out in life.


In the book, Menounos shares her journey to fame, beginning with her humble upbringing in Boston. As a kid, she helped out her working-class immigrant parents as a janitor cleaning nightclubs on weekends. In college, she gained forty pounds eating the unhealthy, processed foods that were previously unknown to her since she was raised on the Mediterranean diet. She moved out to LA to pursue her career goals, much to her father’s disapproval – in fact, he didn’t speak to her for a year because of it - but Menounos pushed forward despite this devastating blow.


As she was getting started in the industry, disorganization, poor health habits and long working hours landed her in the hospital to get treated for exhaustion and malnutrition. After several repeat occurrences, Menounos decided something had to give. There was no looking back after this point.


As you can see, she’s not that different from us. She’s just put in the time and effort to create a system that gives her better control of her life based on the real key to happiness – organization. And in “The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life” she lays it all out on paper so we can implement her advice to our own situations.


In a mere 300 pages, Menounos presents a how-to guide of lists, recipes, tips, mottos, philosophies and demonstrations that will help you get your life in order. Dread packing? Check out Maria’s Travel Checklist. Have trouble locating important information? Let Maria show you how to develop your own black book.


That’s just the tip of the iceberg folks! This book is a must-have for anyone looking to succeed in life, especially when time and money are short. I mean, if stars like Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum and Kathie Lee Gifford are raving about Menounos’ insights, it’s worth looking into, no?


No matter what your age or situation, the fact remains: you won’t go far in life if you don’t have a strong foundation. And with this book, Maria shows us how to make that possible.

[lovelyandliterate · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I never finished reading this book cover to cover. I started off that way, but got through a few chapters and then started jumping around to things that apply to my life now. This is a beautiful book (the photographs are amazing) and Maria writes in a wonderfully conversational style but not everything applies to my life now.

“The Everygirl’s Guide to Life” by Maria Menounos is a great, down-to-earth guide to everything a modern girl might encounter in life. From decorating and organizing your home to losing weight, Maria covers it all. While not everything applies to me right now (I’m heading to college, not buying a house), I can see myself referencing this book repeatedly in the upcoming years. I’m already rereading the travel section in preparation for my trip in a few weeks – and I’ve been following her skincare tips to clear up my zit situation.

In the end, I would give this book 4/5 stars. It’s not a book I’d recommend you sit down and read cover-to-cover but it is a great reference. I’d definitely give it as a gift for any girl entering the real world, whether she’s graduating from high school, college or graduate school!

[Myriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really impressed with this book. Most "Guides to Life" are dumb and filled with useless information like, "Don't text while drunk." Instead, Maria does this awesome thing where she assumes everyone who is reading her book is smart, driven, and capable. She handles a lot of different things in her life, and tells us how we can handle and do it all as well. She never says there is only one way of doing something, but shares her experiences and details how we can accomplish the goals we want to achieve and how we can have a more organized and successful life. Seriously, a lot of what I read in this book follows the Church's counsel on provident living.

Maria Menounos is legit. And I love her for it.

[Destinyhunt12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts I found very informative and helpful. I also liked how she talked about empowering yourself through self sufficiency. Which seems obvious but I have read books that promote the opposite, (for example that women shouldn't learn to change a tire. as long as she is pretty, she should always be able to find a helpful man.)

However her personal stories, were a tad self aggrandizing. Little blurbs about how many celebrities she has met and mostly stories of how she has always been in the right and none about her personal growth as a successful woman in Hollywood. However if I remember right she did get hired on to entertainment tonight super young so her writing a book on her journey does make sense. She does have some valid stuff to say it's just surrounded in fluff.

[Minna · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers have mentioned, not the most original guide out there. But I did get several good ideas, and was entertained. I think Maria Menounos is super cute and I appreciate her honesty in telling the reader what works for her (which is really what guides are about, aren't they?).
I especially appreciated Maria's makeup and skincare picks, as I have similar skin and skin tone. Obviously they are not for everyone, but that's the nature of the beast. This book had some bits and pieces that were probably not INTENDED to be funny, but because I love a good laugh, I had to at least give this book three stars :-)

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book because the author was on the Today show several months ago when I turned it on for a few seconds. I must have been inspired by something she said to want to read the book. Overall, it wasn't at all what I was expecting. Yes, it is entertaining and helpful to some degree, but too much on makeup, traveling, dressing right, maybe for someone who isn't exactly a stay-at-home mom maybe. Her attitude is great though, and I admire how she came from such humble beginnings. Unfortunately, I can't really recommend it though.... it may be I'm just in a different stage in life.

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some excellent tips that I thought would be very useful for me. I loved the idea of a garden box for vegetables and simple organization tips for your home. Overall the book is great for anyone if you need help with traveling or getting your home organized. It gives you good advice on both of these topics. There were a couple of sections in the book that I didnt need (like renovating a home)but others would find beneficial. Overall it was a great read and there are many ideas here that can help save money and get your life in order easily.

[Victoria George · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, to be fair, I did not read this book cover to cover. But the sections I have read so far have been wonderful. This is a book you don't read all at once, but you read when you need advice. Menounos' Guide to Life is probably the most helpful book I've read, especially as a 22-year-old just starting out. From organization to weight loss to redecorating, almost anything you could think of to begin your life is in this book. I have a feeling I will continuously be coming back to use this whenever I need some realistic advice!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring story of an amazing self-made modern gal who immigrated from Greece and spoke no English until age 13. Maria passes on tons of beauty tips, as well as organization ideas, her incredible weight loss experience, and loads of very practical advice she received from all sorts of celebraties she's encountered during her impressive TV career! Fun to peruse and keep for inspiration and ideas. She also has several video clips online that demo lots of the topics illustrated in the book.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for personal-development books and I found this one to be very helpful. It was not a drag to go through, probably because Maria put in really nice photo and the layout is very much like a magazine's, easy to digest. If you love the idea of improving yourself in terms of organizing your stuff and looking good and being fit and are always on the lookout for tips, this book is a must-read.