Secrets of the Model Dorm

by Amanda Kerlin, Phil Oh

Scouted from her southern farming community and sent to Manhattan to train as a model, eighteen-year-old Heather Johnston finds herself in a cramped dormitory with other models and is rapidly disenchanted by the harsh realities of eating disorders, drugs, and high-stakes competition. 100,000 first printing.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Young Adult, Fashion

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Review originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

There are days when I enjoy getting absorbed entirely into the wonderful worlds created in fantasy or sci-fi novels; and then there are the days when I look forward to something that's a little more girly and easy to read. I had one of those days when I read this particular novel so it suited my needs at that moment in time.

The book is written by a former model, Amanda Kerlin, so you can be assured that there is some semblance of reality in the interesting portrait she paints for us throughout the story. I duly applaud the time and effort she took to write this book, which is basically just her story with occasional bits of fabrication here and there, I'm sure.

What I liked about it was that it was rife with the glamorous parts of being a model (getting to shoot important campaigns, rubbing elbows with famous people, easy entrances into a lot of places), as well as being populated with an interesting variety of characters. It's also a major plus for me that the whole story was set in New York City, where I currently work and play.

It's also nice how Amanda takes the rose-colored glasses off when it comes to the world of modeling and shows us a seemingly real, grimmer portrait of the real life of a model. I say "seemingly" because although the situations in the book may be true, I can't honestly say what goes on in a model dorm in the real world. This seems to be a pretty accurate account though, so it was also interesting for me to see that.

I finished this the same day I started it because it was just such an easy read. Though enjoyable and demonstrating an interesting, decisive perspective into the world of modeling, I found that this book was just average for me.

[Kricket · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, what a suckfest! Look how late I am adding it to goodreads. I was embarrassed to have read it.

This is the Devil Wears Prada except with models, and the writer pens at a 5th grade level- even with a co-writer! She has nothing intelligent to say even though she could have made a powerful case against the modeling industry. I was hoping it would be akin to "Pledged" by Alexandra Robbins. Alas.

Although I will admit that I found the metamucil/vodka cocktails kind of funny. But more sad.

[Ellen]

If you like "Top Model," you should read this; its episodic structure and entrance-and-exit characters are similar, and of course, there is a lot of drama and drunkenness. (Just don't ask me to make a Metamuciltini.)

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was truly an awful book. The protagonist was so terrible, I didn’t root for her, not once. She had bad things to say about everyone. Russians, old people, overweight people, people with accents, Mormons. She gets mad at a roommate who “squeals” on an underage roommate having sex with much older men. She has a flat personality throughout and many stories are left unresolved. She says her Mormon roommate was told by her church to use her model looks to marry a good Mormon man. There is a scene where the protagonist goes to a shoot and gets huffy because she wants to talk about art and the photographer wants her to be quiet and do her job. Of course he does. That’s what you’re getting paid for. But she makes it all about not being appreciated for her MIND.

I get depravity and debauchery. I’m not a sensitive flower who can’t read about drug use or clubbing. But the writing was tepid and boring. I’d give the book away except I hate to think of burdening someone else with having to read this book.

[Lorra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I've ever read.

[Maya Schollum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow in the middle but overall a good book. Gives model gossip girl vibes, quite enjoyed.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book a long time ago and have read it a few times. Its a simple read but I love this book! one of my go to re-reads if I have nothing else to read!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed something trashy to read when I went to the hot pool spa in Wairewa and this book was perfect. The cover was a little to trash for me, but the contents were perfect for not really needing to pay attention to anything. Girl who modelled locally comes to NY because she gets signed by some agency and lives in like a room with 3 other girls. My favourite part of the book was her talking about the cycle of girls that were always moving in and moving out quickly because they were either successful or couldn’t make it. The perm girls were kind of boring and I didn’t really care about them. Most of the girls moved on because they became successful and it kind of sucked that the girls stuck in the room were there because they didn’t work as hard and in turn made fun of the girls that succeeded. In the end, the protag magically gets a college scholarship and has to decide if she wants to continue to fail at modelling (because she never shows up to her go-sees!) or proceed with her education. After a whole book on how she wants to succeed at model, she sure drops it fast to attend her scholarship interview! And of course, she gets it. The whole book was a lot of work for nothing. And don’t you love it when you are reading some characters and you are like, ohmigod, so and so is totally going to be ! And then it’s not, but the book would have been so much better if what you thought should have happen actually did. This book had that too.

Grade: C-

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sembra stupido ma...

Da quando ho finito di leggere questo libretto, guardo le modelle sulle riviste con un altro occhio.

Sfruttate, costrette a pelle e ossa, in stato di abbandono, molte non realizzano più di un servizio fotografico. Poche sono quelle che ce la fanno.

E' un duro lavoro, quello verso perfezi ... (continue)

Da quando ho finito di leggere questo libretto, guardo le modelle sulle riviste con un altro occhio.

Sfruttate, costrette a pelle e ossa, in stato di abbandono, molte non realizzano più di un servizio fotografico. Poche sono quelle che ce la fanno.

E' un duro lavoro, quello verso perfezione.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives you a glimpse of what the modeling industry is like. Models are not respected and treated poorly by everyone. You may think that models have the life but once you learn what they really go through I think you will change your mind. I related to this book because I dabbled with modeling once upon a time

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that was fun to read but almost forgettable. For example I can't remember how it ended and I only finished it like 2 days ago. It was a quick fun read though and an interesting peek into the life of a struggling model. Heather was a neat character and I liked how she didn't fit the bill of a typical bimbo model type.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

when reading the jacket of the book, i expected a funny, intriguing story and found it to be neither. i wanted a light, summer read, and got a long story that's ending didn't seem to come quite fast enough.

[Kourtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally finished! Which speaks volumes about this vapid tale of someone living out their glory days again. I really hope things got better for her afterwards because this book wasn't anything to crow about...

[Alena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be a juicy, guilty-pleasure book. It wasn't.

[Whitney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time. Read like the watered-down exploits of Paris, Nicole and Lindsay in US Weekly. No new secrets here.

[Kelly1142 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summer read - a behind the scenes look at the New York fashion model scene, heavy on the trashiness!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a great summertime read. There was high-fashion, girl's cattiness, love gone wrong, and thinly veiled references to real people. What more can you ask for?

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fluff book. Good for the summertime

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great beach read. Nothing ground breaking or anything, but if you are interested in the fashion industry the author, a former model and she delivers a tale that is half cautionary, half pure fun.

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book was awful. I read it while on a trip and was hating the fact that I had no other reads with me. Bummer!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book because I know how true it really is...

[Tori]

2007

[Charlene]

It was a fun book...nothing to write home about - but still, I was intrigued enough to stay in a bubble bath through half of it!!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cheesy, cute story about life in a model dorm. Exactly what you would expect!

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly silly silly book.