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I Am The Secret WAG
Money, cars, homes, holidays, parties and all the shoes you've ever dreamed of. The life of a footballer's wife or girlfriend must be as glamorous and exciting as her other half, right? But behind the closed doors of the WAG's world, there are all the pressures as well as pleasures of success. So what is it really like?
The Secret WAG lays bare the reality of existence under the celebrity spotlight. It is about fashion and fame, sex and scandal, but, like the bestselling Secret Footballer books, is also an honest appraisal of life on and off the field of play which will change your preconceptions about footballers and their partners. It is sassy, outspoken, funny and above all, written from the heart. Meet The Secret WAG.
The Secret WAG lays bare the reality of existence under the celebrity spotlight. It is about fashion and fame, sex and scandal, but, like the bestselling Secret Footballer books, is also an honest appraisal of life on and off the field of play which will change your preconceptions about footballers and their partners. It is sassy, outspoken, funny and above all, written from the heart. Meet The Secret WAG.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2014
7 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 2, 2014
Not my normal type of book at all, in fact i wouldn't touch this with a barge pole. However i did read it and am going to give an honest review. This is a book a WAG writes about her life, so if your thinking she is going to tell you Coleen Rooney is really a bloke or that David Beckham uses the loo with the door open, then don't bother. This is a book about her days which will involve lots of shopping and bottox, but it also involves her feelings about her life and things they have to put up with while being in the public eye. It is a book which tells of her life as she see's it and how she feels. People moan about the style of writing, but it is written simply and not by a ghost writer. I didn't personally love the book but i got into the head of this lady and can empathize with having it all but so little at the same time. If your a fan of WAG's and dream of that life style it is a book you should read for a real view and not a glossy one.
June 18, 2014
I was both intrigued and excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint but it has left me with some conflicting thoughts. If you look at it less seriously and just take it for what it is, a quick and easy read for girls and women to read by the pool this Summer then on that level it works. It was definitely a fun read and told exactly what it's like to be a WAG, both the good and the bad sides of it. I have no idea who the WAG is! It's clearly someone big who had a front cover wedding, a cheating allegation in the papers and is well known enough that the press and people on the street care who she and her husband are. That said people who know her reading this book will easily work out who it is unless events have been changed or described differently there's too many unique things that are talked about to have happened to someone else! It's the perfect beach read, on holiday you want something easy to pick up which requires minimal thought, this is that book.
For me though there were too many contradictory parts that it began to grate on me. First off the Secret WAG talks a lot about how hard it was to give up her career and basically live off her husband's earnings, perhaps I'm just bitter but I didn't feel a massive amount of sympathy here. She has had an amazing life, far better than the one she'd have working! She is also basically trying to change the WAG stereotype and make the reader like or understand them more but then on the other hand goes on to highlight the negativity of the WAG world. For example the 'Queen WAGs' whose foreheads she pokes fun at yet has had a boob job and loves Botox herself. And saying she detests bragging but then spends a chapter reeling off possessions and name dropping.
I've no problem with bragging and name dropping, to be honest it's the reason I wanted to read this book. I am unashamedly a huge fan of celebrities, and always read about them in magazines and the Internet. So I love the talk of how much money she has and all the things she's done with it. I just didn't like the fact she was trying to make herself sound above other WAGs and criticising the WAGs that have become famous off the back of their husbands. For me and this is just my opinion it felt that she does love the world of WAGdom and loves the privileges being a WAG brings her and is almost trying to defend that with some of the comments she makes. People picking up this book will mostly be fans of the celebrity world and there's no reason to justify loving being a WAG. If people don't like it that's their problem.
Where I did sympathise however is in some of the negative aspects the life has brought her. For example being attacked in a club, and this was at the start of the relationship! To their home being burgled. Both are terrible events that nobody deserves and so it's not nice for someone to live through. It's also clear the love her and her husband have for each other and the fear that she has once his career inevitably ends. For WAGs that crave the limelight their husband's career ending often means theirs ending too but the Secret WAG sees it as more of a positive thing as she can start to live her own life then. And overall she does come across as a decent person, from a good and privileged background had she not met the footballer she would probably have a successful career so yes it's a shame she has had to live in his shadow but again, hard to feel a huge amount of sympathy.
Ultimately it was a fun read and I would add it to your suitcase for reading this Summer. I loved reading about the bitchiness in the Players' Lounge and about the various different types of WAGs. I used to be addicted to Footballers' Wives which at the time was a very exaggerated version of that life but over the past few years I think we've found it wasn't that far off the mark and this book is the same. There's some brilliant anecdotes about fellow WAGs and some of the things they get up to, no names mentioned though. Famous WAGs are mentioned but nothing is said we haven't heard before. Just a few small niggles prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I wanted to.
For me though there were too many contradictory parts that it began to grate on me. First off the Secret WAG talks a lot about how hard it was to give up her career and basically live off her husband's earnings, perhaps I'm just bitter but I didn't feel a massive amount of sympathy here. She has had an amazing life, far better than the one she'd have working! She is also basically trying to change the WAG stereotype and make the reader like or understand them more but then on the other hand goes on to highlight the negativity of the WAG world. For example the 'Queen WAGs' whose foreheads she pokes fun at yet has had a boob job and loves Botox herself. And saying she detests bragging but then spends a chapter reeling off possessions and name dropping.
I've no problem with bragging and name dropping, to be honest it's the reason I wanted to read this book. I am unashamedly a huge fan of celebrities, and always read about them in magazines and the Internet. So I love the talk of how much money she has and all the things she's done with it. I just didn't like the fact she was trying to make herself sound above other WAGs and criticising the WAGs that have become famous off the back of their husbands. For me and this is just my opinion it felt that she does love the world of WAGdom and loves the privileges being a WAG brings her and is almost trying to defend that with some of the comments she makes. People picking up this book will mostly be fans of the celebrity world and there's no reason to justify loving being a WAG. If people don't like it that's their problem.
Where I did sympathise however is in some of the negative aspects the life has brought her. For example being attacked in a club, and this was at the start of the relationship! To their home being burgled. Both are terrible events that nobody deserves and so it's not nice for someone to live through. It's also clear the love her and her husband have for each other and the fear that she has once his career inevitably ends. For WAGs that crave the limelight their husband's career ending often means theirs ending too but the Secret WAG sees it as more of a positive thing as she can start to live her own life then. And overall she does come across as a decent person, from a good and privileged background had she not met the footballer she would probably have a successful career so yes it's a shame she has had to live in his shadow but again, hard to feel a huge amount of sympathy.
Ultimately it was a fun read and I would add it to your suitcase for reading this Summer. I loved reading about the bitchiness in the Players' Lounge and about the various different types of WAGs. I used to be addicted to Footballers' Wives which at the time was a very exaggerated version of that life but over the past few years I think we've found it wasn't that far off the mark and this book is the same. There's some brilliant anecdotes about fellow WAGs and some of the things they get up to, no names mentioned though. Famous WAGs are mentioned but nothing is said we haven't heard before. Just a few small niggles prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I wanted to.
March 10, 2019
Oh my god that was painful
August 31, 2014
Also posted on This Chick Reads
*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Now this book is not something I would normally read. Not because it's about football and footballers' wives (wagdom) but lately I realized I'm not that crazy about memoirs, especially not those written by celebrities. I don't know about you, but I always wondered WHY do these famous people decide to write when some of them obviously have more talent in what they do than in writing. Some of them are maybe approaching the end of their careers, so after years and years of doing what they do, they need another source of income, so why not write a book e? The name would sell itself, right?
But in this case, we know zilch about who this woman is, except that she's the wife of a well known English football player. Now, I banged and banged my head, however I still couldn't come up with her name. At the end, I just let go and enjoyed the story despite not knowing the name of the author. I've heard many of these books by VIPs were written by ghostwriters, but I have a strong feeling that's not the case with this book. All it takes for you to realize that is to follow The Secret Wag on twitter and look at her tweets. You'll realize she's the brave woman who wrote this book.
The life of a WAG, seriously it never occurred to me it can be that difficult. I mean, who wouldn't want to marry a football player? Some would go for his looks, some for the money, others for the fame. But you see, there's more to that sometimes. As strange as it may appear to us, 'normals', WAGS have feelings too, they are no different than any human being and they do value love and family. I'm not a judgmental person and I really felt like the secret wag was honest in her book. There's so much about the wagdom she reveals, not so much about the football, but you get a glimpse of her every day life and every day fight trying to prove to others she's good for her man.
If I had to use only one word to describe this book I'd say RAW. I'm mostly reading fiction nowadays and reading this book was stepping out of my comfort zone. But you know what? I'm glad I read it. Sure, some parts seemed to contradict, but I really didn't mind that much. Overall, it was a great summer read which I devoured in one sitting.
If you're into celebrities, gossips, bit juicy facts about the wagdom you didn't know, then this is the book for you.
July 7, 2014
Ok so it's not my usual choice in literature.... But passing it in the supermarket once, I thought 'maybe' then followed that with 'nah'. Then I stupidly left the book I was actually reading at home and popped into tesco to grab a quick read for my break and came out with it.
Quickly, I'll admit I was actually quite intrigued as to who it would be, and got my boyfriend with his extensive knowledge of football to help me decifer the paper trail... To no avail. If I'm perfectly honest, I think that was pretty much the only thing that kept me reading.
I kept waiting for some juicy, awful catastrophe to take place, of to hear that it was oh so dramatic and horrifying to be a footballers wife, but it was actually really boring. Basically, the story goes like this.....
Chick meets rich footballer, they date, get married, she pops out a couple of kids, there's and infidelity scandal that takes a whole 4 pages that she reckons isn't true. Married bliss, lots of shopping and holidays and fad diets, blah blah, the end. Not even anything juicy on any other wags or any footballers. If you're reading it hoping for some kind of expose, you'll be sadly disappointed. If you're reading for some light entertainment, you'll probably be dissapointed too. It's like the story of how wonderful cinderellas life was after she married the prince.
Quickly, I'll admit I was actually quite intrigued as to who it would be, and got my boyfriend with his extensive knowledge of football to help me decifer the paper trail... To no avail. If I'm perfectly honest, I think that was pretty much the only thing that kept me reading.
I kept waiting for some juicy, awful catastrophe to take place, of to hear that it was oh so dramatic and horrifying to be a footballers wife, but it was actually really boring. Basically, the story goes like this.....
Chick meets rich footballer, they date, get married, she pops out a couple of kids, there's and infidelity scandal that takes a whole 4 pages that she reckons isn't true. Married bliss, lots of shopping and holidays and fad diets, blah blah, the end. Not even anything juicy on any other wags or any footballers. If you're reading it hoping for some kind of expose, you'll be sadly disappointed. If you're reading for some light entertainment, you'll probably be dissapointed too. It's like the story of how wonderful cinderellas life was after she married the prince.
July 12, 2014
Oh dear, I must have got a whole heap of chick lit reality exposè books when I got the Courtney Robertson tell all. I don't follow football (of any sort) and pay even less attention to WAGS. For a while there I wasn't even sure what the acronym stood for. However, stuck in a foreign country with no access to any other reading material left me reading this book. It was a lot of "I am so lucky, but poor little rich girl" type chapters that do nothing to endear her struggles to the person on the street. I held little sympathy for her discussions about staying thin, or having to move and live in large houses, or not having a career because she has to support her footballer... I ended up skim reading the last part of the book with the worlds tiniest violin playing in the background.
I don't know what you'd expect to achieve writing this, or even reading it, but if you're looking for anything beyond "being a wag is harder than it seems" you'll be disappointed.
I don't know what you'd expect to achieve writing this, or even reading it, but if you're looking for anything beyond "being a wag is harder than it seems" you'll be disappointed.
December 12, 2015
I actually liked this book very much!
I loved the spicy details and laughed and laughed at some moments. I'm still dying to find out who she is and hope my boyfriend can help when he reads it.
When I started this book I never wanted to become a football wife - filthy rich and famous and always in the eye of the public, never having the space to breathe. I still don't want that life. But I do like her.
I loved the spicy details and laughed and laughed at some moments. I'm still dying to find out who she is and hope my boyfriend can help when he reads it.
When I started this book I never wanted to become a football wife - filthy rich and famous and always in the eye of the public, never having the space to breathe. I still don't want that life. But I do like her.
January 30, 2018
It's easy to be critical of WAG's. It's even easier when you've read such an awful book, so devoid of content and personality that you wonder whether it is even real. But then how could someone come up with such a dull story? I will treat it as non-fiction, with a skeptical eye.
The main issue is that nothing happens. The first half is a sluggish account of how the WAG met, then married 'her man' (it's always 'my man') and the second half vaguely attempts to disclose what it's like to be a WAG. But this is why the anonymity falls down - with no knowledge of who's who, I just don't care. A wealthy man marries a spoilt, probably very attractive woman, lives in a nice house and gets indulged. The end.
This might just have worked if the narrator was interesting, but the only point of interest was discovering yet another hypocritical platitude, of which more later. She wasn't funny, and only ventured into joke territory by mentioning her bum or vagina, or imagining an 'on the dining table' conception story! Her only hobby before giving birth was her appearance, and though love for her daughter is apparent, her decision to have a baby seemed to be due in large part to boredom.
It wouldn't have been engaging, but if she'd been brutally honest about how vain she was, I could have accepted it. But the degree to which she tried to portray some sense of superiority, only to confirm the stereotype, was dispiriting. 'The real reason many don't have full-time jobs is the neediness of footballers.' Apparently women have no agency, and later on she excuses a lack of job because very few employers allow 6 week summer holidays, when her husband is off. You wonder how people married to teachers manage to sustain employment. Time and time again, it boils down to an attitude of 'it isn't perfect, but I'm not going to get such a cushy lifestyle with this little effort in any other way.'
And then there are the hypocrisies which indicate a poorly imagined character or a deluded moron. She is 'grounded', and looks down on all the vain WAGS who care only about their looks and sustaining a designer lifestyle. But she won't get photographed when she's put on weight during pregnancy, it's clear she loves her nice clothes, spends a small fortune on a wedding dress and gets a boob job. The best WAG friends are those who 'don't need stilettos, Botox, famous friends or fast cars to make them cool and attractive.' But she is 'well and truly hooked on Botox' and lists an impressive list of cars she's driven and famous events she's been to. This is aside from the poor student vibe she gives off at the start, despite having millionaire parents who have bought her a car. She hates the cliquey nature of the players' lounge, but looks down on the 'chavvy' girls. Her grounded nature doesn't stop her moaning that only other WAGS can understand some of her stresses of not looking good enough. This person surely cannot be real.
Can I have my time back please?
The main issue is that nothing happens. The first half is a sluggish account of how the WAG met, then married 'her man' (it's always 'my man') and the second half vaguely attempts to disclose what it's like to be a WAG. But this is why the anonymity falls down - with no knowledge of who's who, I just don't care. A wealthy man marries a spoilt, probably very attractive woman, lives in a nice house and gets indulged. The end.
This might just have worked if the narrator was interesting, but the only point of interest was discovering yet another hypocritical platitude, of which more later. She wasn't funny, and only ventured into joke territory by mentioning her bum or vagina, or imagining an 'on the dining table' conception story! Her only hobby before giving birth was her appearance, and though love for her daughter is apparent, her decision to have a baby seemed to be due in large part to boredom.
It wouldn't have been engaging, but if she'd been brutally honest about how vain she was, I could have accepted it. But the degree to which she tried to portray some sense of superiority, only to confirm the stereotype, was dispiriting. 'The real reason many don't have full-time jobs is the neediness of footballers.' Apparently women have no agency, and later on she excuses a lack of job because very few employers allow 6 week summer holidays, when her husband is off. You wonder how people married to teachers manage to sustain employment. Time and time again, it boils down to an attitude of 'it isn't perfect, but I'm not going to get such a cushy lifestyle with this little effort in any other way.'
And then there are the hypocrisies which indicate a poorly imagined character or a deluded moron. She is 'grounded', and looks down on all the vain WAGS who care only about their looks and sustaining a designer lifestyle. But she won't get photographed when she's put on weight during pregnancy, it's clear she loves her nice clothes, spends a small fortune on a wedding dress and gets a boob job. The best WAG friends are those who 'don't need stilettos, Botox, famous friends or fast cars to make them cool and attractive.' But she is 'well and truly hooked on Botox' and lists an impressive list of cars she's driven and famous events she's been to. This is aside from the poor student vibe she gives off at the start, despite having millionaire parents who have bought her a car. She hates the cliquey nature of the players' lounge, but looks down on the 'chavvy' girls. Her grounded nature doesn't stop her moaning that only other WAGS can understand some of her stresses of not looking good enough. This person surely cannot be real.
Can I have my time back please?
February 24, 2020
I don't follow soccer at all and don't even know the rules.
I have never seen a single soccer match on Television and certainly haven't been to one.
I wouldn't know a footballer even if he said "Boo" to me on the street.
I debated whether to read the "Secret Diary of a Footballer" and I liked it as I found that book quite revealing.
This book is quite simply written but a bit repetitive.
There isn't anything particularly revealing about footballers or their WAGS in this book that I didn't already know or even want to know.
WARNING: Some spoilers
The author keeps referring to her other half as "My Man" instead of my boyfriend, my fiance, my husband. Maybe it's just me but I found it irritating.
I am not trying to sound like some sort of academic or literary snob but the author maintains that she is the only WAG who went to university. Well she doesn't write like it. She makes fun of the other WAGS not knowing what "soporific" means .... is that the only example she gives of ALL of them not being educated? Plus while WAGS don't always come across very well they can't all be stupid.
She writes of diets no less that 3 times in 3 different chapters.
Look I get it if you are suddenly thrust into the public eye and the media and public are cruel about your appearance it can cause you to get stressed but I don't need to keep reading about her diets.
For all her university education, she spends just so much time talking about her looks, hair extensions, fake tans, lasering hairs (she calls her nipple hairs "sneaky buggers", diets, gym visits and even cosmetic surgery ... typical WAG. Her husband comes across as a bit of an a**h**e in my opinion which I don't think was her intention...or maybe it was?
Her whole life revolves around her footballer husband yet she is rarely mentioned in his book, which I read first.
I couldn't live my life like that. I would rather a non-footballer where I am on equal terms not premier league big head who seems to not be so aware of her.
I guess it's interesting to get the girl's point of view though.
I have never seen a single soccer match on Television and certainly haven't been to one.
I wouldn't know a footballer even if he said "Boo" to me on the street.
I debated whether to read the "Secret Diary of a Footballer" and I liked it as I found that book quite revealing.
This book is quite simply written but a bit repetitive.
There isn't anything particularly revealing about footballers or their WAGS in this book that I didn't already know or even want to know.
WARNING: Some spoilers
The author keeps referring to her other half as "My Man" instead of my boyfriend, my fiance, my husband. Maybe it's just me but I found it irritating.
I am not trying to sound like some sort of academic or literary snob but the author maintains that she is the only WAG who went to university. Well she doesn't write like it. She makes fun of the other WAGS not knowing what "soporific" means .... is that the only example she gives of ALL of them not being educated? Plus while WAGS don't always come across very well they can't all be stupid.
She writes of diets no less that 3 times in 3 different chapters.
Look I get it if you are suddenly thrust into the public eye and the media and public are cruel about your appearance it can cause you to get stressed but I don't need to keep reading about her diets.
For all her university education, she spends just so much time talking about her looks, hair extensions, fake tans, lasering hairs (she calls her nipple hairs "sneaky buggers", diets, gym visits and even cosmetic surgery ... typical WAG. Her husband comes across as a bit of an a**h**e in my opinion which I don't think was her intention...or maybe it was?
Her whole life revolves around her footballer husband yet she is rarely mentioned in his book, which I read first.
I couldn't live my life like that. I would rather a non-footballer where I am on equal terms not premier league big head who seems to not be so aware of her.
I guess it's interesting to get the girl's point of view though.
June 9, 2014
I received this in the post from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I had no idea this book was winging its way to me in the post, but when it arrived I thought it looked interesting but hadn’t heard of it before. I used to really love to read about celebrities and WAG’s, I remembered the previous World Cup and followed the stories of the WAGS religiously. I don’t have as much time now to keep up with celebrities as much, however I do like to read about them if I can. So I was really looking forward to sitting down with this book.
The first thing that comes to mind when I began reading this book was can the WAG really be kept a secret? Surely by revealing details about the football world and other WAGS this would identify her. I had actually been talking to the secret wag on twitter and I asked her while I was reading the book, if we would find out who she was by the end of it? To which she replied that she hoped not as she didn’t want her family and friends to know.
The more I began to read the book I realised that anyone close to her, family or friends that move in the same circles as her, would know who she was, if they read the book. There are references to things that happened directly to her family such as so many break ins to their family home and her dad attending a football game with her.
The book begins when ‘The Secret WAG’ is at university and is a ‘normal’ person. I actually really enjoyed reading this part of the story as you felt you were able to connect with her more. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with said footballer and how she adapted her life to be a footballer’s wife.
I felt for the secret WAG at times when I read the book, there is an incident in a night club toilet where some girls bully the secret WAG and attack her. I feel that this was uncalled for, they never found the girls who attacked her, but I do agree with her husband when he said they were jealous of what she had. There are points like this that bring home to you how spiteful people can be and that no one deserves that. I felt the way it was written really sucked you in and you did want to read more.
As for finding out about other WAG’s, the secret WAG has referred to them in nicknames such as Boastful WAG, Destroyed WAG and Paranoid WAG. She does talk generally about other WAGs with their names such as the scandal that came out against Wayne Rooney and how Colleen stood by him. Saying this, it was nothing new; we all knew this did come out in the papers and what her reaction was to it.
We learn a lot about The Secret WAG’s own life and adapting to become a WAG. Beauty treatments, some of which I had never heard of before and to be honest after reading about them, never want to try. Although she talks about ‘adapting’ to life as a WAG, it doesn’t seem to take long and she becomes fixated with “looking good” just as the other WAG’s do. Going to the gym for numerous sessions during the week, having her boobs enlarged. Again all these things all WAG’s do, so again this is nothing new we are reading.
My only negative was I felt that sometimes the way the book was written kept trying to make you feel sorry for her, that it is awful being a WAG, as you have little to do, and your footballing husband doesn’t want you to get a job, you’re constantly moving away from your family due to his job. To be honest, this is part of being a WAG; most people would give their left arm to have the life they do. Being able to shop and not worry about money, eating out in fancy restaurants and being able to have swanky holidays and new cars. I felt that this was a little insensitive to the readers during a time when we as a country are still recovering from the recession.
Overall I did really enjoy the book, but I like to read about celebrities. Did we learn anything new about WAGs? I did about the WAG in question but not other than that. Will this change people’s opinions on WAG’s? Personally I don’t think it will. If you become a WAG you know there are sacrifices you have to make. You sacrifice your career, have to accept being in the public eye, move away from your family for your man’s job and have to put up with the chance of your man being unfaithful. (Let’s face it; it seems that all footballers are never happy with what they have). These are some of the things that come along with being a WAG and people are not going to feel sorry for them because of that. Something I don’t understand after reading this is why WAG’s don’t divorce their footballer after the has been unfaithful, Cheryl Cole managed it, however Cheryl Cole had her own career and money before she married Ashley so maybe that’s why…
I would recommend this as a beach read or for when your man is watching the World Cup this summer, it’s not taxing and a relatively light read. It had me hooked from the beginning, and I found it a quick and easy read; this could be because I was itching to find out who the secret WAG was. I feel that this is a very honest book and an account of a life of a woman who feels she has been living in the shadow of her husband, which is a very sad thought. It has made me wonder if all WAG's feel that they cannot live out their own life feel they are constantly in the shadow and have a lonely existence.
September 5, 2020
Take from it what you want but I found it an insight into this kind of life. I have googled at various points in the book thinking surely I can find out who it is if I google this scenario.... nope, still none the wiser and it's killing me! 😆
May 10, 2017
This was one of the most boring books I have ever read.
December 13, 2021
About a 3.75 read. I did enjoy it, and it was a fun read. Very annoying I can’t figure out who this couple is!
March 13, 2025
Loved this read. Very hard to put down
June 25, 2014
I am the Secret Wag - doesn't it sound exciting? Intriguing? Juicy and gossipy? For me - very, so as soon as this book with a great pink cover arrived on my doorstep I started to read it. I used to be a real gossip sucker as a teenager, and although right now I don't have so much time/will to keep up with all the celebrities (and to be honest, I don't know who the half of them are), I still like to read about them from time to time. So my kinda book.
No surprises about the plot - it IS about a Secret WAG. I personally have no idea who she is, although I am sure those who follow Premiership and are interested in footballers and their WAGs personal lives will be able to recognize her. Well, she, or rather her husband, looks like a big fish among the footballers, they have indeed had their wedding covered by one of the magazines and were on the cover.
Our Secret WAG pose to be very modest, down - to - earth girl, promises that money and luxury and prosperity that she lives in didn't change her and that she's very thankful for this what she has. Says she doesn't want to parade with her wealth but on the other hand, she has so many designer bags that she can't count them and they spent their holidays in places that I have no idea exist or where they are. They can, of course, don't get me wrong, but there is a clash there - she doesn't want to give herself airs but the names of the places that she mentiones and the name - dropping tells something different.
There is one big minus point. I found it very annoying that the Secret WAG wants to make us feel sorry for her that she's a WAG, that's she lives as celebrity and has no privacy. Well, this is WAG's life I guess, a life where you get £250k deal with a glossy magazine, where the only thing that you worry about is that the paparazzis shouldn't see you without a make - up, where you dine in a restaurants that minority of normal people can only dream of and listing how many cars you have in a garage and that you buy a new one every 18 months, while other people are happy when they can buy a second - hand car and drive it to the end of their life don't make me feel sorry for her. Yes, I totally understand that having a lot of money doesn't mean that you live a life without problems or troubles but let's be honest, those money that our Secret WAG so belittles, help a lot.
Of course I sympathize with her. No matter who you are you don't deserve the house break - ins, no one deserves to be attacked in the club.
There is also the matter of name - dropping. On one hand our Secret WAG tells us that it doesn't matter with whom she is befriended, that the best friends she has are normal people, but on the other hand in one chapter she starts name - dropping and boasting about which celebrities she knows and which she can call her friends. And, one more thing to this, in my opinion dear Secret WAG, either you drops the names of the people AND tells us your name, or neither.
The Secret WAG tries really hard to deny opinions and stereotypes about WAGs: that they are not blonde bimbos with long legs and false eye - lashes who spends the whole days shopping. She tries to convince us that if they could, they would work, make their own careers but they have decided to follow their husbands and make it easy for them to make careers.
I have a feeling that this book is a kind of confession; it's written in a very honest way. The Secret WAG allows us a look into her private life, writes about very intimate stuff, and is very open about her desire to be a mum and how much she fought for this. The author takes us on a journey through her university years, when she meets her Footballer, the early years of their relationship, their wedding and finally they everyday life as a couple. She tells us how she was becoming a WAG, how she was adapting, how she changed from a normal girl to a WAG and how she manages her WAGdom. What I observed, becoming a WAG was not a hard work for her, she quickly became used to changing houses, clothes, her monthly pocket money which increased very fast, to beauty regime and to the laws that rule WAGdom. She says she misses her career (but let's be honest, what career? She didn't actually have time to start it) and want a job, but I think that being a WAG is her dream job. Can't imagine her now going to work every day and having only as much holidays in the year as normal people.
But. Don't get me wrong. I have highlighted only the things that I think are a little insensitive but I understand that's the way our Secret WAG lives. I have really enjoyed this book, from the beginning to the end and was hoping to spot some big name here or there. It was enjoyably written, in a very easy way and I have actually read it while my husband was watching World Cup. England v Spain... ekhm. Probably Secret WAG'S husband was not playing... I would recommend this book as your light, holiday read, I'm sure you won't regret reading it.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
No surprises about the plot - it IS about a Secret WAG. I personally have no idea who she is, although I am sure those who follow Premiership and are interested in footballers and their WAGs personal lives will be able to recognize her. Well, she, or rather her husband, looks like a big fish among the footballers, they have indeed had their wedding covered by one of the magazines and were on the cover.
Our Secret WAG pose to be very modest, down - to - earth girl, promises that money and luxury and prosperity that she lives in didn't change her and that she's very thankful for this what she has. Says she doesn't want to parade with her wealth but on the other hand, she has so many designer bags that she can't count them and they spent their holidays in places that I have no idea exist or where they are. They can, of course, don't get me wrong, but there is a clash there - she doesn't want to give herself airs but the names of the places that she mentiones and the name - dropping tells something different.
There is one big minus point. I found it very annoying that the Secret WAG wants to make us feel sorry for her that she's a WAG, that's she lives as celebrity and has no privacy. Well, this is WAG's life I guess, a life where you get £250k deal with a glossy magazine, where the only thing that you worry about is that the paparazzis shouldn't see you without a make - up, where you dine in a restaurants that minority of normal people can only dream of and listing how many cars you have in a garage and that you buy a new one every 18 months, while other people are happy when they can buy a second - hand car and drive it to the end of their life don't make me feel sorry for her. Yes, I totally understand that having a lot of money doesn't mean that you live a life without problems or troubles but let's be honest, those money that our Secret WAG so belittles, help a lot.
Of course I sympathize with her. No matter who you are you don't deserve the house break - ins, no one deserves to be attacked in the club.
There is also the matter of name - dropping. On one hand our Secret WAG tells us that it doesn't matter with whom she is befriended, that the best friends she has are normal people, but on the other hand in one chapter she starts name - dropping and boasting about which celebrities she knows and which she can call her friends. And, one more thing to this, in my opinion dear Secret WAG, either you drops the names of the people AND tells us your name, or neither.
The Secret WAG tries really hard to deny opinions and stereotypes about WAGs: that they are not blonde bimbos with long legs and false eye - lashes who spends the whole days shopping. She tries to convince us that if they could, they would work, make their own careers but they have decided to follow their husbands and make it easy for them to make careers.
I have a feeling that this book is a kind of confession; it's written in a very honest way. The Secret WAG allows us a look into her private life, writes about very intimate stuff, and is very open about her desire to be a mum and how much she fought for this. The author takes us on a journey through her university years, when she meets her Footballer, the early years of their relationship, their wedding and finally they everyday life as a couple. She tells us how she was becoming a WAG, how she was adapting, how she changed from a normal girl to a WAG and how she manages her WAGdom. What I observed, becoming a WAG was not a hard work for her, she quickly became used to changing houses, clothes, her monthly pocket money which increased very fast, to beauty regime and to the laws that rule WAGdom. She says she misses her career (but let's be honest, what career? She didn't actually have time to start it) and want a job, but I think that being a WAG is her dream job. Can't imagine her now going to work every day and having only as much holidays in the year as normal people.
But. Don't get me wrong. I have highlighted only the things that I think are a little insensitive but I understand that's the way our Secret WAG lives. I have really enjoyed this book, from the beginning to the end and was hoping to spot some big name here or there. It was enjoyably written, in a very easy way and I have actually read it while my husband was watching World Cup. England v Spain... ekhm. Probably Secret WAG'S husband was not playing... I would recommend this book as your light, holiday read, I'm sure you won't regret reading it.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
July 3, 2014
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a wag? Ever wondered how much surgical enhancement they've had? Ever wondered how they cope with the media pressure? Then you should read I am the Secret Wag. Written by 'an England footballer's wife', this book is a must for anyone attracted to the celebrity lifestyle. As it is written anonymously there is scope for free speech and honesty, something which may be compromised in the autobiographies of other wags.
I must admit to being surprised at the sauciness of some scenes-the secret wag certainly holds nothing back when it comes to disclosures about bedroom antics with her hunky footballer husband. With sex, fashion, club brawls and boob jobs, I am the Secret Wag paints a picture of wagdom not that far removed from an episode of the Footballer's Wives. If you subscribe to glossy magazines and gossip columns then I am sure you'll find this an interesting read. In fact, you may have spotted the wag in one of them- her wedding was front page of popular magazine.
On a personal level I'd hoped for a bit more about the beautiful game itself, but then I am a big football fan. I've read The Secret Footballer books and enjoyed them as an insight into the world of professional football. I am the Secret Wag is equally as candid, but definitely aimed at a female market. My life is so far removed from that described in the book that I did have a few moments where I thought 'seriously?!' but then reminded myself that for someone in the media spotlight with oodles of cash it probably wasn't as outlandish as it seemed to little old me. There were also a few moments where I felt that she contradicted herself slightly, mainly when talking about how normal she was and then following up by talking about expensive nights out at exclusive restaurants or selling her wedding to a glossy mag.
I am the Secret Wag may appeal to fans of chicklit, reality TV or those looking for an easy beach read and of course you can't help but wonder who it might be (I have very strong suspicions but am keeping schtum!). I did wonder if some parts had been exaggerated or embellished to make a more interesting story, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter if they had or not because the book isn't professing to be anything other than a fun glimpse into the life of a wag.
I am the Secret Wag is out now, published by Corgi.
I was fortunate enough to be able to ask the Secret Wag some questions exclusively for Books with Bunny. Here's what she had to say...
Do you worry that your identity will one day be revealed? Especially with regard to the more risqué aspects of the book?
I absolutely wince at the prospect of my family reading about my sexual experiences, so yes it would be an utter nightmare for my identity to be revealed in that respect! The beauty of the secret aspect is that I have been able to be 100% honest and just said it how it is. I haven't held back in the nitty gritty details that's for sure!
How did your husband feel about you talking about your sex life so openly in the book?
He is very proud of me for what I have done, and enjoyed reading the book a lot. I must admit he did go a beetroot red colour when reading the bits about our sex life! He was so overwhelmed with what I wrote about our relationship, especially my feelings towards him and the way I describe him. He maintains I have never said them to his face, so he was really touched.
Would you ever consider writing a novel?
I would love to! I have found a real passion for writing and found it very good therapy! I love losing myself to my laptop and putting down all the thoughts racing through my head. If anyone tries to talk to me when I'm in the flow of writing they get totally blanked!
Who do you think will win the World Cup?
I'm pretty certain Brazil will win. They are a really strong side and being the host country and having all those passionately supporting them will spur them on even more. The supporters become the twelth man.
Are wags really as obsessed with fashion/beauty as the media make out?
Wags LOVE fashion and beauty. We love to have the newest items out in the shops or be trying the latest beauty products, just so that we can say we have. We are very good at shopping as we're lucky to have the time and funds to do it, and when we want to. The atmosphere of competition means we're always striving to be the fittest and the best dressed.
Besides your husband, who do you think is the most attractive footballer past or present?
David Beckham is absolutely gorgeous in the flesh. His style, his hair, his charisma, he just oozes sexiness! Roque Santa Cruz who plays for Malaga is a bit of alright too. Oh and Gerard Pique is totally gorgeous also! It's alright to look, right?!
February 19, 2016
First off...I didn't choose this book... bizarrely, it was my husband who picked it up at the library, got drawn in, and decided to take it home. "Read this", he said, " it's quite interesting and you'll read it in about 3 days anyway ". He was right about one of those two things. It was definitely a quick read... but I got two thirds of the way through and was a gnat's whisker away from giving up with it out of sheer boredom. The only reason I finished it was because I was desperate to read something and didn't have anything else. I'd have been better off reading a paint catalogue.
Spoiler alert; nothing happened in the last third either. Plus there's only so often you can read about colonic irrigation and designer handbags.
I don't think I learnt anything I couldn't have learned from trashy gossip magazines.
Spoiler alert; nothing happened in the last third either. Plus there's only so often you can read about colonic irrigation and designer handbags.
I don't think I learnt anything I couldn't have learned from trashy gossip magazines.
July 19, 2018
I read I Am The Secret WAG on my flight to Barcelona and when I was in Barcelona. And of course yes I visited Barcelona football ground at a price.
I really enjoyed reading The Secret Wag with each page trying to figure out who this wag really is, but of course I did not work that out. The true story takes us through how the wag met her England football husband. The footballer also speaks out about his wife. What you can expect from reading this is finding out what it is really like to be a footballers wife with the glamour and the stress and strains of daily life. I do recommend this book for anyone who likes reading about glitz and glamour and of course football.
I really enjoyed reading The Secret Wag with each page trying to figure out who this wag really is, but of course I did not work that out. The true story takes us through how the wag met her England football husband. The footballer also speaks out about his wife. What you can expect from reading this is finding out what it is really like to be a footballers wife with the glamour and the stress and strains of daily life. I do recommend this book for anyone who likes reading about glitz and glamour and of course football.
August 5, 2014
An interesting start and the promise of an original insight into 'WAGdom' ends up becoming a tedious ramble about fast cars, designer dresses etc., topped off with protestations about how WAGs do charity work too and so shouldn't be belittled. Seems to suggest a bit of a disconnect between the book the publisher wanted written and the book the Secret WAG (who actually comes across well) wanted to write. Save your money and read a few articles about Colleen, Alex Curran etc. in the Daily Mail online for a similar effect.
January 9, 2015
Still haven't finished this yet.....stopped reading just as she started describing her bowel movements or some rubbish along those lines. This book isn't usually what I would choose and I can see now why. Was all a bit self important and borderline boasty. Again this is maybe a slightly unfair analysis given I have not finished the book... maybe one day.... maybe. Ps. I bought this out of sheer nosiness so I have no-one to blame but myself!
August 18, 2015
2 звезди и половина, давам три само заради искреността, с която е написана книгата. Разказана простичко, в нея няма да намерите тайни или скандали, ако това се очаква. Всичко е по - скоро за това как авторката се чувства в тези среди, какъв е животът й, как минават дните й на футболна съпруга, какви страхове, проблеми и сблъсъци с конкуренция или таблоидите има.
Нищо особено, аз разбрах едно - колко празен е животът по върховете специално в тази сфера :D
Нищо особено, аз разбрах едно - колко празен е животът по върховете специално в тази сфера :D
March 24, 2017
Was interested to read about the WAG perspective and learn about the lives they lead. Unfortunately this is something I now regret. The author comes across as narcissistic and self absorbed as much as she tried not to. Hundreds of pages filled with sex (their sex drives especially), designer handbags, trust issues and the horrible WAG culture which she "claims" not to be a part of. Read the book so quickly because I couldn't wait for it to be over with. Would give zero stars if I could.
July 19, 2014
I am the Secret Wag. What a total let down. Far too much information about her sex life and just herself. Was hoping for a good juicy expose!!!! Total waste of money as what she "revealed" would not come as a surprise to anyone!!
September 13, 2014
Took me long enough to finish this one, just got off for a while...
It's a fun read, lots of gossip and funny anecdotes, but thw author's anonimity, while exciting also takes a lot of it away and puts some doubt in over what's real, I think
It's a fun read, lots of gossip and funny anecdotes, but thw author's anonimity, while exciting also takes a lot of it away and puts some doubt in over what's real, I think
December 26, 2014
picked this up for a light read. it reminds me of lots of women who want to get by in life by looks alone so was an interesting read for me. I like to read about different people as in a way it's interesting
September 6, 2015
It might not be literary gold, and yes, there is a lot of bragging involved here, but I found it an enjoyable read. My favourite part was trying to guess the footballers and WAGs mentioned in the book.
August 1, 2014
managed to read 2/3 (page 226) before getting bored and giving up. exactly what I imagined but more boring. pretty much a bragging book with a few sob stories thrown in. I dont recommend!
September 30, 2014
This book is so bad that I can't continue reading it. The third of it was enough.
January 15, 2015
Life is too short to waste on drivel like this. I made it to the end of chapter three. Toe-curling nonsense.
May 29, 2017
A trashy, easy read but at the same time an interesting insight into the WAG lifestyle.
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