Vanessa's Fashion Face-Off

Confidentially Yours #2

by Jo Whittemore

Perfect for fans of The Cupcake Diaries and The Babysitters Club, this new series is about four best friends who are confidentially yours when writing their middle school newspaper's advice column. Vanessa Jackson has style to spare and an amazing ability to rock any look. She's always had a flair for fashion, and dreams of being a designer one day. She's loving middle school, and being on the newspaper staff with her two best friends is a blast. Vanessa knows her fashion advice is always on point for the group's popular advice column. But then she meets her new neighbor, Katie Kestler. Katie is cute, super-stylish, and just moved from glamorous LA. When Katie ends up attending the same middle school, suddenly it seems like Katie's everywhere, and not in a good way. But when an advice-off competition threatens Vanessa's spot on the column, she's determined to take Katie down.

Genres: Middle Grade

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2016

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was hard on the first book, this series thankfully improves once our basics are established and the characters are given a little more room to breathe. While this book, like its predecessor, suffers from the same sort of Very Important Lesson syndrome, the aspirations of Vanessa in particular and the positive message proves more engaging than the first and ends up being a better experience on a whole.

Still not really weighty enough for the type of importance one might expect from the middle grade stuff, but still solid for that reader looking for the lighter fare.

[Talia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is just great! Each book is told from the perspective of a different main character, so we get to see the same middle school through the eyes of three very different best friends.

To begin with, I ALWAYS wanted to be an advice columnist. With the advice column as the backdrop of this series, I feel like I'm living vicariously through Heather, Brooke, and Vanessa. I personally love their friendships with each other (and the supporting cast) and think they read as authentic and amusing. There are a lot of great funny moments that I can't help but smile at while reading. I'm a sucker for good friendships, humor, and character development, so this is a win all around.

This book tackled Vanessa, and her struggle of always wanting to be the 'go-to girl' for her friends and classmates. When a new girl moves in across the street and seems to be just like Vanessa, only better, Vanessa worries she'll never be good enough. Her fears escalate to the point where she becomes bitter and mean to the new girl, and she has to find a way to stay true to herself while also accepting she won't always be the best. Will there be enough room for the two of them?

[Gouett's 5'S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book is “Confidentially yours Vanessa's Fashion Face-Off”. The author is Jo Whitemore and the genre is Realistic Fiction. This book has a lot of drama in it. The main characters are Vanessa Jackson and Katie Kestler.

Vanessa Jackson has a passion for fashion and dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer. Vanessa loves going to a school where she’s popular and where her bff’s are. Vanessa meets her new neighbor Katie Kestler who also has a passion for fashion and may give Vanessa some competition. When Katie goes to Vanessa's school Katie is everywhere that’s not in a good way. But when an advice off competition threatens Vanessa's spot on column and she will do anything to beat Katie. Who will win?

I loved this book because it has a good message “Never change who you are” because in the book Vanessa tried to change her self to be like Katie because everyone loved Katie and she had a better chance of winning than Vanessa and this is also my reason why people school read this book mostly girls because I know a lot of girls can relate to this book with all the drama.

[Nunu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't learn much fashion tips
moral:don't assume stuff all the time

[Carter Bornemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book in the series, love the design ideas!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanessa is a fashion-savvy young woman who you love from the first chapter. When a stylish new neighbor moves in, Vanessa has met her match. With the help of her friends, she has to learn an important lesson about true grace - which comes from more than clothes, shoes, and makeup.

I really enjoyed the humor, honestly, and characters. Whittemore's style is fun and light, but this book has a lot of heart. This is another strong entry in the Confidentially Yours series, and there's plenty to enjoy for both kids and adults.

[Deena Lipomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanessa knows clothing design, but when a new girl with a professional fashion website moves to town and threatens V's advice column in the school paper, Vanessa must compose herself and rely on her friends for help to bring out her inner beauty in the face of adversity. This second book in the CY series that stars the funny, clumsy, and creative member of the best friend trio is a charming hit. Fans of the author's other novels won't be disappointed. Bring on book three!

[Tammy Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. This is a middle grade book about a young girl who is really into fashion who meets her new neighbor who is also into fashion. The story is very engaging and seems to be true to how middle school girls behave. Very enjoyable.