Letters To Mom And Dad And Things That Happened Along The Way

by Lucee Santini

Growing up, Zoe always thought being a fashion model was the most glamorous job in the world, until 1993, when she ends up in a models' hotel in Athens, Greece. At 21, she thinks she has it all figured out. Not so! Follow Zoe’s journey through the comical situations she finds herself in, from her overprotective landlord’s list of rules, her improvised dance club “performance,” and her attempt to go to Milan with only $50 in her pocket.

Throughout her bumpy ride into the wonderful world of modeling, she writes her parent’s letters as a journal of her experiences. While being exposed to a world of glamor and lies, she finds herself realizing how insecure she really is, despite her beauty. But it really all starts when she moves to the United States at eight-years-old to chase what her father called "The American Dream."

Genres: Romance

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2013

About the author

Lucee Santini was born in London, England to an English mother and a Greek father. Later, they moved to the United States where she spent sixteen years in Phoenix, Arizona. When she was 24, she moved to Miami Beach, Florida with just a free ticket and a friend's apartment to crash at. After a brief modeling career in Miami Beach, she worked the night clubs and then became a makeup artist. Later she met her husband who is from the South of France and they now reside in Deerfield Beach with their son Henri and another on the way. She has always had a passion for writing and has excelled in it through the years, graduating from FAU with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe's life is always a bit different than those around her. From elementary school on through adulthood, she was always on the edge of normal looking in. The book is snapshot of Zoe's life from the time that she moved to a new country as a child (and glimpses of life before this, too) on through young adulthood as she is building a growing modeling career. Walking through this phase of Zoe's life presents amusing and thoughtful scenarios which make the reader feel as though they are along for the ride, pulling for her success and growing confidence. The story presents an interesting view into what it takes to break into the modeling industry that most outsiders never realize. Zoe's relationship with her family and her parents is complex and amusing, as well. Funny and endearing- great read, and I want to hear more!

[Stephanie Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed that this book was not just a collection of letters. The writer included elaboration to the letters. It made the book very cohesive and not just a random collection of letters. She allows you to visualize how hard she worked to excel in modeling but also showed you that modeling is not all glamour.

[Abbe Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining. Left me with wanting more.

[Misty Polihronakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I couldn't identify with the modeling career, I certainly identified with being from a family of Greek descent. I'm jealous that Zoe was able to spend so much time in Greece with her Yiayia and wish my parents had sent me over to stay with relatives as well when my sister and I were younger. The best line in the book, which seems to have caught the attention of others as well, followed the baptism experience in the Greek Orthodox Church, where Zoe says: “I walked away confused and smelling like a Greek salad.”

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was odd, It felt like I was reading part of someones diary. Not the whole diary, just a section. It started out giving the read of childhood back ground and then not enough current affairs to really build a bond with the main character. It was very short, maybe more feeling could have been had if it had been longer.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this life reminiscence. It is hard to look back and be brutally honest about life, but that's exactly what the author does in this book. Life is exciting, fun and also hard. I loved the way the author brought all sides of the story together to take the reader on a great adventure called life.

[Natalie Alder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A model's memoire

I suppose she had an interesting life but it does not make an amazing or engaging story. At times the sequence seemed to jump around.

[Ayala Saar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very interesting. It has lots of humor and insight. Flowing and good writing. I greatly enjoyed the book.