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The Fashion Committee
What if one contest could change the course of your entire life?
Charlie Dean is a style-obsessed girl who eats, sleeps, and breathes fashion.
John Thomas-Smith is a boy who forges metal sculptures in his garage and couldn’t care less about clothes.
Both are gunning for a scholarship to the private art high school that could make all their dreams come true. And whoever wins the fashion competition will win the scholarship.
Charlie Dean is a style-obsessed girl who eats, sleeps, and breathes fashion.
John Thomas-Smith is a boy who forges metal sculptures in his garage and couldn’t care less about clothes.
Both are gunning for a scholarship to the private art high school that could make all their dreams come true. And whoever wins the fashion competition will win the scholarship.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2017
28 people are currently reading
1204 people want to read
About the author
Susan Juby
20 books314 followers(from her website)
I was raised in Smithers, BC, Canada and lived there until I moved to Toronto at age 20. I had a brief and unsuccessful career as a fashion design student and, after I worked at a series of low paying jobs, such as server, record store employee, etc., I began a degree in English Literature at University of Toronto, which I finished at the University of British Columbia. After graduating I became an editor at a self-help/how-to book publishing company based in Vancouver. Later, I did a master’s degree in publishing.
When I was a kid I wrote fiction but gave it up for a life of crime. Okay, that’s not true, but I did get seriously sidetracked. That time in my life is the subject of my memoir, "Nice Recovery". When I was twenty, until I got myself together and when I was about 26 I started writing, in the morning before work, first on the bus, then in a coffee shop. This writing became my first novel, "Alice, I Think", which was published by Thistledown Press in 2000.
When I first started writing my intention was to write a book about a teenager who doesn't fit in, but doesn't allow that fact to crush her. The Alice MacLeod series is my homage to oddballs. I wanted to create a character who has the courage and integrity to find her own way and define herself independently of other people. I've always admired people who can do that.
After finishing three books about Alice and her family, I decided that my goal is to write every kind of book I love to read. I’ve always loved horse books. I was a lunatic for horses when I was younger. I owned several horses over the years (for a time when I was quite young I was convinced I was a horse, but let's keep that between us) and I became obsessed with an equestrian sport called dressage. I quit riding when I left home to go to college, but part of me always thought I could have been a "contender". (In retrospect, I'm not sure why I would have thought that.) Anyway, I got a nice pay day when Alice, I Think was made into a TV series, and the first thing I did was rush out a buy a horse and start working on a book about two young dressage riders. The story was initially about two girls, but soon I fell in love with a secondary character, a boy named Alex, and the book became mainly about him. That one is called "Another Kind of Cowboy".
I’m also a maniac for detective novels, which led to "Getting the Girl", a comedy about an inept detective and a high school conspiracy he is determined to stop. Book number six is my memoir. I developed a bit of a substance abuse problem when I was thirteen and I ended up getting clean and sober when I was twenty. Nice Recovery is about that time. The book includes information for people with addiction problems and interviews with amazing young people in recovery. My love for satire and the End Is Nigh novels led me to write "Bright’s Light", which is that rarest of things: a funny dystopian novel about young dunderheads in the last fun place on earth and the alien who wants to save them.
"Home to Woefield", as it’s known in the U.S. and "The Woefield Poultry Collective" as it’s known in Canada, is a comedy about a young woman from Brooklyn who inherits a derelict farm on Vancouver Island. It’s the first of my novels published specifically for adults, though I’d say at least half the readers of my other books have been adults. I hope all my readers will like it. (It does contain quite a bit of swearing. Just be forewarned!) I’ve always wanted to be self-sustaining and able to grow my own food. All I lack is land and skill. The sequel, "Republic of Dirt", is scheduled to be published January 2015 by HarperCollins.
My next teen novel is called "The Truth Commission". It will be published March 2015 by Penguin Canada and Viking U.S. The story is about a group of teens who attend an art high school who start a truth-telling club with consequences both dire and funny.
In addition to my writing, I teach creative writ
I was raised in Smithers, BC, Canada and lived there until I moved to Toronto at age 20. I had a brief and unsuccessful career as a fashion design student and, after I worked at a series of low paying jobs, such as server, record store employee, etc., I began a degree in English Literature at University of Toronto, which I finished at the University of British Columbia. After graduating I became an editor at a self-help/how-to book publishing company based in Vancouver. Later, I did a master’s degree in publishing.
When I was a kid I wrote fiction but gave it up for a life of crime. Okay, that’s not true, but I did get seriously sidetracked. That time in my life is the subject of my memoir, "Nice Recovery". When I was twenty, until I got myself together and when I was about 26 I started writing, in the morning before work, first on the bus, then in a coffee shop. This writing became my first novel, "Alice, I Think", which was published by Thistledown Press in 2000.
When I first started writing my intention was to write a book about a teenager who doesn't fit in, but doesn't allow that fact to crush her. The Alice MacLeod series is my homage to oddballs. I wanted to create a character who has the courage and integrity to find her own way and define herself independently of other people. I've always admired people who can do that.
After finishing three books about Alice and her family, I decided that my goal is to write every kind of book I love to read. I’ve always loved horse books. I was a lunatic for horses when I was younger. I owned several horses over the years (for a time when I was quite young I was convinced I was a horse, but let's keep that between us) and I became obsessed with an equestrian sport called dressage. I quit riding when I left home to go to college, but part of me always thought I could have been a "contender". (In retrospect, I'm not sure why I would have thought that.) Anyway, I got a nice pay day when Alice, I Think was made into a TV series, and the first thing I did was rush out a buy a horse and start working on a book about two young dressage riders. The story was initially about two girls, but soon I fell in love with a secondary character, a boy named Alex, and the book became mainly about him. That one is called "Another Kind of Cowboy".
I’m also a maniac for detective novels, which led to "Getting the Girl", a comedy about an inept detective and a high school conspiracy he is determined to stop. Book number six is my memoir. I developed a bit of a substance abuse problem when I was thirteen and I ended up getting clean and sober when I was twenty. Nice Recovery is about that time. The book includes information for people with addiction problems and interviews with amazing young people in recovery. My love for satire and the End Is Nigh novels led me to write "Bright’s Light", which is that rarest of things: a funny dystopian novel about young dunderheads in the last fun place on earth and the alien who wants to save them.
"Home to Woefield", as it’s known in the U.S. and "The Woefield Poultry Collective" as it’s known in Canada, is a comedy about a young woman from Brooklyn who inherits a derelict farm on Vancouver Island. It’s the first of my novels published specifically for adults, though I’d say at least half the readers of my other books have been adults. I hope all my readers will like it. (It does contain quite a bit of swearing. Just be forewarned!) I’ve always wanted to be self-sustaining and able to grow my own food. All I lack is land and skill. The sequel, "Republic of Dirt", is scheduled to be published January 2015 by HarperCollins.
My next teen novel is called "The Truth Commission". It will be published March 2015 by Penguin Canada and Viking U.S. The story is about a group of teens who attend an art high school who start a truth-telling club with consequences both dire and funny.
In addition to my writing, I teach creative writ
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April 13, 2017
Susan Juby is a joy. Her ability to blend humor with gut-wrenching emotion is one in a million. Another winner by one of my all time favorite authors.
May 29, 2018
“It was beginning to occur to me that I was a little too in love with stereotypes and preconceptions.”
The Fashion Committee was much better than I had anticipated. I am not the biggest fan of light contemporary but this had a wonderful balance.
Trigger Warning: Drug addiction and domestic violence.
This book started off as your typical, light contemporary novel. It was exactly what I was expecting and that was fine. However, part-way through the story the characters were revealed more and more and their backstory started coming out. They were dealing with drug addicted parents, self-esteem issues and poverty. It went deeper than I had anticipated but not so deep that when you are finished with the book you feel completely drained and depressed.
This book is a dual perspective of two people trying to get into an arts school by winning a fashion show. Our first perspective is from Charlie (short for Charlene) is a very eccentric character. She is very passionate, borderline obsessed with fashion. She is constantly trying to build herself up and gear up for her life in the fashion world. This, of course, means she is learning very questionable French from Google Language. She dropped a lot of random French through-out the book and the funny thing was is that I didn't find it distracting. Her fit her oddball character and her desperation for fitting into the fashion world. Making a name for herself. I thought Charlie was wonderful and I liked that she really wasn't a mean person at all. Competitive, yes - mean, no.
The other character along on this journey is John. He's got the bad boy vibe going - though he doesn't come from a stereotypical broken home. He has loving supportive grandparents that would do anything for him. However, he still has a chip on his shoulder. He's resentful, selfish, and a bit of a jerk. I have no idea how the author made me like this character but she did. John just seemed authentic. He's young and makes rash and selfish decisions - that makes sense to me. He's not a horrible person - just someone trying to figure themselves out and making some poor decisions along the way. I didn't find him as complex or interesting of a character as Charlie but it was still interesting watching his part of the story unfold.
The side characters were mostly great in this one. I was drawn to Mischa the most and my heart ached many times for that woman. She just seemed so lost and broken and I wanted it all to be ok for her in the end. I felt her character was very well-written - even if a few times Mischa and Charlie were in some more unrealistic situations.
The last thing that I adored about this book is that it's Canadian. I didn't notice that when I first picked it up but there are many references to Canada, so you pick up on that the author must be from there pretty quickly. I mean, is it wrong to get happy over a Tim Horton's reference or two?
Fun book that has some more mature themes than it first presents itself. I guess this probably falls somewhere between light contemporary and realistic contemporary but the author made it work. I recommend checking this out if it sounds appealing at all.
The Fashion Committee was much better than I had anticipated. I am not the biggest fan of light contemporary but this had a wonderful balance.
Trigger Warning: Drug addiction and domestic violence.
This book started off as your typical, light contemporary novel. It was exactly what I was expecting and that was fine. However, part-way through the story the characters were revealed more and more and their backstory started coming out. They were dealing with drug addicted parents, self-esteem issues and poverty. It went deeper than I had anticipated but not so deep that when you are finished with the book you feel completely drained and depressed.
This book is a dual perspective of two people trying to get into an arts school by winning a fashion show. Our first perspective is from Charlie (short for Charlene) is a very eccentric character. She is very passionate, borderline obsessed with fashion. She is constantly trying to build herself up and gear up for her life in the fashion world. This, of course, means she is learning very questionable French from Google Language. She dropped a lot of random French through-out the book and the funny thing was is that I didn't find it distracting. Her fit her oddball character and her desperation for fitting into the fashion world. Making a name for herself. I thought Charlie was wonderful and I liked that she really wasn't a mean person at all. Competitive, yes - mean, no.
The other character along on this journey is John. He's got the bad boy vibe going - though he doesn't come from a stereotypical broken home. He has loving supportive grandparents that would do anything for him. However, he still has a chip on his shoulder. He's resentful, selfish, and a bit of a jerk. I have no idea how the author made me like this character but she did. John just seemed authentic. He's young and makes rash and selfish decisions - that makes sense to me. He's not a horrible person - just someone trying to figure themselves out and making some poor decisions along the way. I didn't find him as complex or interesting of a character as Charlie but it was still interesting watching his part of the story unfold.
The side characters were mostly great in this one. I was drawn to Mischa the most and my heart ached many times for that woman. She just seemed so lost and broken and I wanted it all to be ok for her in the end. I felt her character was very well-written - even if a few times Mischa and Charlie were in some more unrealistic situations.
The last thing that I adored about this book is that it's Canadian. I didn't notice that when I first picked it up but there are many references to Canada, so you pick up on that the author must be from there pretty quickly. I mean, is it wrong to get happy over a Tim Horton's reference or two?
Fun book that has some more mature themes than it first presents itself. I guess this probably falls somewhere between light contemporary and realistic contemporary but the author made it work. I recommend checking this out if it sounds appealing at all.
July 15, 2017
I think this would have been a better book without John's perspective. It diluted Charlie's much stronger story.
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May 23, 2017I wasn't sure about The Fashion Committee at first. It's told in a journal format, narrated by two characters who are competing for a scholarship to a fashion school.
The female narrator, Charlie, was a bit of an oddball. She writes her entries in Franglish (English sprinkled with somewhat questionable French) and her prose had a stilted sort of quality. At first I thought her narration might drive me nuts, but its soon became clear that she's a kid who's had a hard life, and I realized that all her put-ons - the overly formal way of speaking, the Google-translated French, the costume-y clothes she sews herself - are her armor against the unpredictabilty of her world.
The male narrator is John. He's not really a fashion designer, more of a metalwork artist, but is entering because he really needs the scholarship. He's in a sort of friend triangle with another girl and a guy. She's in love with John and Guy #2 is in love with her. The competition was fun and Project Runway-inspired, which I loved. And I thought the characters and plot were quirky in a good way, meaning that what would typically happen in a YA book ... didn't.
This one won't be for everyone, but if you love Project Runway and stories on the quirkier side, you should definitely give this one a try!
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Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
The FTC would like you to know that the publisher provided me a free advance copy of this book, that free books can be enjoyable or not, and other readers may disagree with my opinion.
The female narrator, Charlie, was a bit of an oddball. She writes her entries in Franglish (English sprinkled with somewhat questionable French) and her prose had a stilted sort of quality. At first I thought her narration might drive me nuts, but its soon became clear that she's a kid who's had a hard life, and I realized that all her put-ons - the overly formal way of speaking, the Google-translated French, the costume-y clothes she sews herself - are her armor against the unpredictabilty of her world.
The male narrator is John. He's not really a fashion designer, more of a metalwork artist, but is entering because he really needs the scholarship. He's in a sort of friend triangle with another girl and a guy. She's in love with John and Guy #2 is in love with her. The competition was fun and Project Runway-inspired, which I loved. And I thought the characters and plot were quirky in a good way, meaning that what would typically happen in a YA book ... didn't.
This one won't be for everyone, but if you love Project Runway and stories on the quirkier side, you should definitely give this one a try!
Please follow me on Instagram!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
The FTC would like you to know that the publisher provided me a free advance copy of this book, that free books can be enjoyable or not, and other readers may disagree with my opinion.
July 12, 2017
4.5 Stars. This was a bright shining star of a surprise!! I wasn't expecting to love it so much, but the characters in this book crawled into my heart.
This book took me by complete surprise!! I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into it, but it became this fun, entertaining, happy little daffodil of a book for me.
First, we have Charlie Dean. She's--- well, she's odd and driven and lives for fashion. When I first started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to like Charlie and I kind of understood why she didn't have many (or any) friends. But after a while, her quirks and optimism grew on me. Also, she's brutally honest and it's hard for me to fault someone for that kind of honesty.
I really liked Charlie's backstory and her relationship with her addict father. She wasn't angry at him like a lot of kids would be in that situation. She had clarity and vision that was beyond her years, and I think that's when I really started rooting for her.
Next, there was John-- he was flawed for sure. He's not into fashion, but wants to go to Green Pastures Art School for metal work. I liked him despite his negativity and weaknesses. I didn't always agree with his actions, but he had redeemable qualities that made up for them.
What I wanted more of: FASHION. So yes, this is a book about a fashion show, and we DO get descriptions of what goes down the runway-- but I wanted outfits throughout. There is some description of Charlie Dean's suits that she always wore, but after a while I got bored with those. If she's so fashionable, why is she always wearing the same thing?
The ending also didn't blow me away. This book felt a little like a Cinderella story and I didn't get my fairy tale ending.
OVERALL: The perfect book for a Project Runway junkie like myself. It's the story of teens competing for a fashion school scholarship and what they're willing to do to win. It somehow took 2 unlikable characters and made them people you want to succeed. Definitely recommend!
My Blog:
This book took me by complete surprise!! I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into it, but it became this fun, entertaining, happy little daffodil of a book for me.
First, we have Charlie Dean. She's--- well, she's odd and driven and lives for fashion. When I first started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to like Charlie and I kind of understood why she didn't have many (or any) friends. But after a while, her quirks and optimism grew on me. Also, she's brutally honest and it's hard for me to fault someone for that kind of honesty.
I really liked Charlie's backstory and her relationship with her addict father. She wasn't angry at him like a lot of kids would be in that situation. She had clarity and vision that was beyond her years, and I think that's when I really started rooting for her.
Next, there was John-- he was flawed for sure. He's not into fashion, but wants to go to Green Pastures Art School for metal work. I liked him despite his negativity and weaknesses. I didn't always agree with his actions, but he had redeemable qualities that made up for them.
What I wanted more of: FASHION. So yes, this is a book about a fashion show, and we DO get descriptions of what goes down the runway-- but I wanted outfits throughout. There is some description of Charlie Dean's suits that she always wore, but after a while I got bored with those. If she's so fashionable, why is she always wearing the same thing?
The ending also didn't blow me away. This book felt a little like a Cinderella story and I didn't get my fairy tale ending.
OVERALL: The perfect book for a Project Runway junkie like myself. It's the story of teens competing for a fashion school scholarship and what they're willing to do to win. It somehow took 2 unlikable characters and made them people you want to succeed. Definitely recommend!
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March 9, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
The Fashion Committee is a story about a fashion competition that had so much potential. The concept is so original, but I found the main characters to be annoying and unrealistic. I also didn’t enjoy the excessive use of random French words and the main character’s habit of referring to herself in the third person. I’m a bit disappointed with this one, but I would still recommend it to those with a strong interest in fashion.
This book has a super unique concept that really interested me. Basically, there is a high-stakes fashion competition, and the winner receives free admission into an elite arts school. Of the two main characters, one is fashion obsessed and the other has no interest in the fashion industry. I found these two contrasting voices so enjoyable to read, since both candidates for the scholarship have such different motives. This book does an excellent job of demonstrating the fashion design process, and even contains some amazing drawings!
One of my issues with this book is the way the main characters acted. First of all, there’s Charlie. She honestly sounded more like an old woman than a teenager to me, and I just couldn’t relate to her. John was better, but his character really bothered me. I get that the scholarship is his only shot at getting into his dream school, but I didn’t like the way he posed as a fashion student. I would have been fine with it if he did all the fashion work himself, but he actually gets someone else to help him out. His dishonesty annoyed me, and I found it hard to root for him.
Another aspect of this story that I didn’t enjoy so much is the way it’s written. Charlie is trying hard to learn French since it is the language that her favourite designers speak, so she throws some French vocabulary into her sentences. I found this to be fun and quirky at first, but after a while, seeing French words in every other sentence got distracting and annoying. Also, when Charlie is writing in her journal, she often refers to herself in the third person. This confused me for a while, since she kept switching from first to third person.
The Fashion Committee is a book about a high-stakes fashion competition that I wish I could have loved. The main characters annoyed me, and the constant French vocabulary thrown in got old. However, if you are really interested in fashion, you would enjoy this book.
The Fashion Committee is a story about a fashion competition that had so much potential. The concept is so original, but I found the main characters to be annoying and unrealistic. I also didn’t enjoy the excessive use of random French words and the main character’s habit of referring to herself in the third person. I’m a bit disappointed with this one, but I would still recommend it to those with a strong interest in fashion.
This book has a super unique concept that really interested me. Basically, there is a high-stakes fashion competition, and the winner receives free admission into an elite arts school. Of the two main characters, one is fashion obsessed and the other has no interest in the fashion industry. I found these two contrasting voices so enjoyable to read, since both candidates for the scholarship have such different motives. This book does an excellent job of demonstrating the fashion design process, and even contains some amazing drawings!
One of my issues with this book is the way the main characters acted. First of all, there’s Charlie. She honestly sounded more like an old woman than a teenager to me, and I just couldn’t relate to her. John was better, but his character really bothered me. I get that the scholarship is his only shot at getting into his dream school, but I didn’t like the way he posed as a fashion student. I would have been fine with it if he did all the fashion work himself, but he actually gets someone else to help him out. His dishonesty annoyed me, and I found it hard to root for him.
Another aspect of this story that I didn’t enjoy so much is the way it’s written. Charlie is trying hard to learn French since it is the language that her favourite designers speak, so she throws some French vocabulary into her sentences. I found this to be fun and quirky at first, but after a while, seeing French words in every other sentence got distracting and annoying. Also, when Charlie is writing in her journal, she often refers to herself in the third person. This confused me for a while, since she kept switching from first to third person.
The Fashion Committee is a book about a high-stakes fashion competition that I wish I could have loved. The main characters annoyed me, and the constant French vocabulary thrown in got old. However, if you are really interested in fashion, you would enjoy this book.
April 26, 2017
A delight from start to finish. Trademark Juby -- all breezy and light sounding, full of dark depths, because life isn't all peaches and cream. Funny but mostly I teared up from heartbreak - there's a lot here. Addiction and resilience, issues of culture and class, all tied up in sequins and lace and a real respect for fashion. Easter egg love - the school is the one from her last book, which I read last year (?). I love too that all my expectations were wrong - it's not a romance. John's girlfriend is not a terrible person. There were several moment where I thought I knew what would happen, because tropes, and I was wrong every time. Magnifique!
The cover, however, should be taken out at dawn and shot. It is 100% terrible (in a French accent, a la Charlie Dean) and does the book 0 favors. Awful. Someone failed to understand either this book or the ideal audience.
The cover, however, should be taken out at dawn and shot. It is 100% terrible (in a French accent, a la Charlie Dean) and does the book 0 favors. Awful. Someone failed to understand either this book or the ideal audience.
November 12, 2017
Well, that was a huge waste.
The writing was a bit, well, over-detailed. When I say over-detailed I mean, it's all over the place. (I'll give an example--The character is doing something and then, it adds a backstory, then back to the character again complaining an issue.)The story itself just lost its pacing sometimes when it comes to objectives.
I didn't get to go along well with the characters. They were all forgettable. This book does lack some deep character development which is quite a shock.
Tsk tsk, John. What kind of guy is he, who already has a girlfriend, manages to take a slight interest towards another girl? Like, REALLY?
He's also smart and stupid enough to make a crazy decision to join a fashion competition for a scholarship even though he decided in the end, he wasn't interested at all!
What happened to the interactions between Charlie and John? I thought I had expected more "getting to know each other thing between them"?I even expected them both as a love-hate couple which is bull****.
Overall, this book is okay. But then, it lacks the heart and enjoyment to continue to read it any further.
September 16, 2017
The Fashion Committee is a deceptively lighthearted, entertaining, and uplifting contemporary YA novel that celebrates art and creativity while at the same time touching upon a number of serious issues, such as absent parents, drug abuse, bullying, and socio-economic inequalities.
The characters in The Fashion Committee are complex and flawed but likable and relatable. Also, I appreciate the casually diverse representation of race, sexuality, and ability.
The fast-paced and intriguing plot of The Fashion Committee is narrated through the fashion diaries of two very different characters, Charlie Dean and John Thomas-Smith, whose voices and stories are unique and entertaining. However, I am not too convinced by the pretext for such a format: who in their right mind would put so much personal, fashion-unrelated information in a fashion diary that might be read by the judges of the fashion competition?
At the beginning, I was put off by Charlie's exaggerated optimism (or is she just being insincere because her fashion diary might be read by a judge???). Also, some of the scenes throughout the novel are undeniably cheesy . However, the characters really grew on me and by the end I cared about them a great deal.
Overall, I was really involved in the story and was pleasantly surprised by the very unexpected, realistic, and satisfying ending. Also, I developed a brand new appreciation for fashion as a form of art :)
The characters in The Fashion Committee are complex and flawed but likable and relatable. Also, I appreciate the casually diverse representation of race, sexuality, and ability.
The fast-paced and intriguing plot of The Fashion Committee is narrated through the fashion diaries of two very different characters, Charlie Dean and John Thomas-Smith, whose voices and stories are unique and entertaining. However, I am not too convinced by the pretext for such a format: who in their right mind would put so much personal, fashion-unrelated information in a fashion diary that might be read by the judges of the fashion competition?
At the beginning, I was put off by Charlie's exaggerated optimism (or is she just being insincere because her fashion diary might be read by a judge???). Also, some of the scenes throughout the novel are undeniably cheesy . However, the characters really grew on me and by the end I cared about them a great deal.
Overall, I was really involved in the story and was pleasantly surprised by the very unexpected, realistic, and satisfying ending. Also, I developed a brand new appreciation for fashion as a form of art :)
February 8, 2017
I'm two for two with loving Susan Juby. Like The Truth Commission, this book takes a dishy, lighthearted concept and peoples it with characters facing some seriously hard shit in seriously believable ways. I thought Charlie Dean was going to be a fashionista bubblehead, but instead she's a goddamn survivor whose journey through some of the worst things life can throw at you is made bearable by her belief in the power of self-presentation. This book never looks down on its characters or on the world of fashion; instead it tells a deeply human, often funny, sometimes sad story that avoids cliches and ends up being genuinely inspiring, weirdly illuminating, and super entertaining.
June 7, 2017
I was positively suprised about the serious social issues (drug addiction, domnestic violence) and how untypical the ending was. John got what he deserved. Charlie was a bit too extreme for my taste - trop exagerée with all her French and in third-person speaking but somehow I still liked her anyway. Final note: I expected a lot more drawings and stuff to explain things because I'm no expert in fashion terms and was often lost with all the jargon.
June 23, 2018
Loved! It's not five stars just because I wasn't as into the boy's story as I was into the girl's (Charlie's). But overall I thought it was really special!
July 3, 2018
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I love books with multiple POV characters particularly when those characters are only briskly involved in the others' lives. Charlie Dean and John Thomas-Smith are entering the same fashion scholarship competition, and they attend the same school. Their lives barely intersect but it allows the book to give varied views of events. Charlie loves fashion, John doesn't much care for it. Charlie has a rough life but strives to be better at all times. John's life isn't ideal but he lets his anger get the best of him.
The book is written in a journal format from the two different characters. This work fantastically with the little extras. I loved the "Here's an Idea" openers for Charlie's chapters with cute little ideas about approaching fashion and life. The scattered fashion drawings were also an excellent addition. I really loved seeing Charlie's dress and John's headpiece sketched out. It was much better than just having a description written.
The book, while it primarily focuses on fashion design, also handles some heavier topics. Charlie comes from addicts and deals with the daily struggles of drugs and addiction in her home life. I particularly like how there's no real clean cut to this storyline. There isn't a magical happy cure for addiction. There are times that are good, and times that are bad. There's also several scenes depicting domestic violence.
This book really had every opportunity to focus on romance and while there are definitely hints I'm glad it focused on the competition and family instead. Juby writes scenes that twisted my stomach in knots, and scenes that made me giggle. There were times the book was so intense I had to put it down for a second. I didn't want to see things go badly for the protagonists. I wanted to cheer them on, I wanted to see them win. Every misstep was incredibly painful to read.
I don't usually like books that don't have a satisfying tied up ending, but it works here. The characters aren't very likeable overall, but I still wanted them to win. I still supported them. Juby has written a wonderful novel and juggles multiple plotlines with ease. I loved exploring the world of fashion, a world I'm incredibly unfamiliar with, and the darker plots added some much-needed drama. It won't be for everyone, but definitely something I can see keeping a younger audience engrossed.
I love books with multiple POV characters particularly when those characters are only briskly involved in the others' lives. Charlie Dean and John Thomas-Smith are entering the same fashion scholarship competition, and they attend the same school. Their lives barely intersect but it allows the book to give varied views of events. Charlie loves fashion, John doesn't much care for it. Charlie has a rough life but strives to be better at all times. John's life isn't ideal but he lets his anger get the best of him.
The book is written in a journal format from the two different characters. This work fantastically with the little extras. I loved the "Here's an Idea" openers for Charlie's chapters with cute little ideas about approaching fashion and life. The scattered fashion drawings were also an excellent addition. I really loved seeing Charlie's dress and John's headpiece sketched out. It was much better than just having a description written.
The book, while it primarily focuses on fashion design, also handles some heavier topics. Charlie comes from addicts and deals with the daily struggles of drugs and addiction in her home life. I particularly like how there's no real clean cut to this storyline. There isn't a magical happy cure for addiction. There are times that are good, and times that are bad. There's also several scenes depicting domestic violence.
This book really had every opportunity to focus on romance and while there are definitely hints I'm glad it focused on the competition and family instead. Juby writes scenes that twisted my stomach in knots, and scenes that made me giggle. There were times the book was so intense I had to put it down for a second. I didn't want to see things go badly for the protagonists. I wanted to cheer them on, I wanted to see them win. Every misstep was incredibly painful to read.
I don't usually like books that don't have a satisfying tied up ending, but it works here. The characters aren't very likeable overall, but I still wanted them to win. I still supported them. Juby has written a wonderful novel and juggles multiple plotlines with ease. I loved exploring the world of fashion, a world I'm incredibly unfamiliar with, and the darker plots added some much-needed drama. It won't be for everyone, but definitely something I can see keeping a younger audience engrossed.
June 12, 2018
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
DNF @ 65 pages
Unfortunately, Susan Juby's The Fashion Committee was an extreme disappointment. Perhaps my twelve-year-old self would have enjoyed a story like this, but I rather felt... displeased and sad with its outcome. Given that I had read Juby's work in the past (and felt iffy about it), I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. It's definitely out of my comfort zone as it focuses on the fashion industry and students getting scholarships or whatnot. Once I began reading it, I quickly decided that it was not the kind of book for me and that perhaps middle-grade readers would prefer it. The only good perk about thsi entire story is that it was written in a journal format, which is a fresh way to conquer writing a novel and making your story be heard.
While the story did focus on some darker themes such as domestic violence, I found it to have too many details and it was just all over the place. I wasn't able to pay attention to the plot (and I have a pretty good attention span). I decided to pick it up because it looked to be a light read, but, in fact, it was just boring and disappointing. After 60 pages, I just decided to put it down because I know I would've given it a low rating even if I continued reading.
This book was not my cup of tea. I had to DNF it or else I would've gone mad, and unfortunately, this was a bad read for me. *shrugs*
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
DNF @ 65 pages
Unfortunately, Susan Juby's The Fashion Committee was an extreme disappointment. Perhaps my twelve-year-old self would have enjoyed a story like this, but I rather felt... displeased and sad with its outcome. Given that I had read Juby's work in the past (and felt iffy about it), I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. It's definitely out of my comfort zone as it focuses on the fashion industry and students getting scholarships or whatnot. Once I began reading it, I quickly decided that it was not the kind of book for me and that perhaps middle-grade readers would prefer it. The only good perk about thsi entire story is that it was written in a journal format, which is a fresh way to conquer writing a novel and making your story be heard.
While the story did focus on some darker themes such as domestic violence, I found it to have too many details and it was just all over the place. I wasn't able to pay attention to the plot (and I have a pretty good attention span). I decided to pick it up because it looked to be a light read, but, in fact, it was just boring and disappointing. After 60 pages, I just decided to put it down because I know I would've given it a low rating even if I continued reading.
This book was not my cup of tea. I had to DNF it or else I would've gone mad, and unfortunately, this was a bad read for me. *shrugs*
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
January 29, 2018
2 1/2 stars
The characters weren't very likeable, the journal format felt forced and problematic, and it got ridiculous at times, but it also reminded me a little of Project Runway for the above reasons, and I really likeProject Runway. Longer review to come.
The characters weren't very likeable, the journal format felt forced and problematic, and it got ridiculous at times, but it also reminded me a little of Project Runway for the above reasons, and I really likeProject Runway. Longer review to come.
March 11, 2019
AMAZING BOOK!!!!! It made me laugh, cry, angry, worried, and many other emotions. This book puts you through everything.
June 13, 2020
It was a fine book but I did not like the ending.
August 13, 2018
I loved this story, of two high school students – one fashion-obsessed, the other completely ignorant of and also contemptuous of fashion – who get involved in a fashion competition. Each is so human & so believable & so sympathetic & so brave, in completely different ways. I also found myself laughing out loud on approximately every other page (& occasionally almost tearing up a bit). A perfect book!
Read
March 17, 2017Alert! Super-fun realistic YA! Teens with authentic, passionate hobbies! A delightful lack of a driving romantic plot line! Alert alert!
July 9, 2017
This book was a delight to read. A YA novel about a fashion competition that focuses on two teenagers (one male, one female) trying to win. Alternating between their lives, it was a fun book to read with some surprisingly heavier themes, allowing the characters to go through more than what initially appears.
July 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this. I had all kinds of preconceived notions of what it would be about and how it would go, and almost all of them were upended. Of the two narrators, Charlie was my favourite by a mile—she stole my heart and broke it too. This is so much like the author’s previous book, The Woefield Poultry Collective, in that it’s quirky and funny, but actually about some pretty serious, dark stuff like addiction and domestic abuse/stalking. Don’t let that scare you off, though; it’s beautifully balanced and will leave you feeling uplifted but not in an unrealistic way. If you like good YA dramedy you will like this.
September 11, 2017
This book has confused the hell out of me. I could have given it three plus stars or been just as comfortable giving it one star (went with two out of indecision). Part of the reason that I didn’t really like The Fashion Committee was because of my expectations for it. I got the book as a gift and didn’t read what is about, other than inside the dust jacket, or any reviews; I just picked up the book and started reading. After reading the inside blurb, I was really looking forward to seeing how these two got together since they were both going at the fashion competition with the same goal, but coming from completely different places (I’d just finished a book I really didn’t like and was in the mood for a good romantic comedy with what I thought would be some good back and forth between the two main characters.). And, as I got further into the book and Charlie and John had had about two and a half minutes of interaction, I kept wondering, until about halfway in and I had a, “Wait, what?!” moment, and realized that that train was never leaving the station.
I’m going to put the rest of my review in a spoiler, otherwise I’d have to spend too long putting a bunch of things in spoilers and I’m pretty sure the review would be impossible to understand. As I said, part of the reason I didn’t like this book was due to my expectations, but the majority of it was because Juby employed what I’d call a gotcha with one character and, this was what really did the book in for me, because the other one becomes a wholly unlikeable asshole. I do have to say that Juby’s writing style is great, she really made the two POVs completely different and the humor and snark was just awesome. I know this may not make a lot of sense, but I liked this book a lot more than any other book I haven’t liked because of this. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to make me really like it.
Would I recommend this book? If you love fashion and don’t care about the two main characters then, yes (or, as Charlie would say; Oui!). The writing style was different than most books I read and there’s no doubt that Juby is a talented writer. However, with all of the things I didn’t like about this book, I’m not sure that I’ll be reading anything else by her.
I’m going to put the rest of my review in a spoiler, otherwise I’d have to spend too long putting a bunch of things in spoilers and I’m pretty sure the review would be impossible to understand. As I said, part of the reason I didn’t like this book was due to my expectations, but the majority of it was because Juby employed what I’d call a gotcha with one character and, this was what really did the book in for me, because the other one becomes a wholly unlikeable asshole. I do have to say that Juby’s writing style is great, she really made the two POVs completely different and the humor and snark was just awesome. I know this may not make a lot of sense, but I liked this book a lot more than any other book I haven’t liked because of this. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to make me really like it.
Would I recommend this book? If you love fashion and don’t care about the two main characters then, yes (or, as Charlie would say; Oui!). The writing style was different than most books I read and there’s no doubt that Juby is a talented writer. However, with all of the things I didn’t like about this book, I’m not sure that I’ll be reading anything else by her.
July 21, 2017
I received an ARC of this book as part of Penguin's First in Line program.
So this book was... much different than I was expecting. With the cover and the synopsis, I was expecting a fluffy YA novel, not a romance, but some good rivalry and fashion-related hijinks. Instead, I got a discussion of classism and how it is to live with drug addict parent(s).
Besides the plot, neither of the main characters were particularly likeable. They were both pretentious, in different ways. John was pretentious in how he thought fashionable people were stupid, and Charlie was pretentious in how she thought fashion people were better than unfashionable people. John was a terrible person, both cheating in the competition and cheating on his girlfriend. Charlie was annoying.
Honestly, I think my biggest issue with this book was that it was just too realistic. And while some people may like that, I use fiction as a way to escape the world. If I wanted the story told here, I would just read the news.
So this book was... much different than I was expecting. With the cover and the synopsis, I was expecting a fluffy YA novel, not a romance, but some good rivalry and fashion-related hijinks. Instead, I got a discussion of classism and how it is to live with drug addict parent(s).
Besides the plot, neither of the main characters were particularly likeable. They were both pretentious, in different ways. John was pretentious in how he thought fashionable people were stupid, and Charlie was pretentious in how she thought fashion people were better than unfashionable people. John was a terrible person, both cheating in the competition and cheating on his girlfriend. Charlie was annoying.
Honestly, I think my biggest issue with this book was that it was just too realistic. And while some people may like that, I use fiction as a way to escape the world. If I wanted the story told here, I would just read the news.
May 22, 2017
I didn’t expect anything much for The Fashion Committee. But what can I say? J’adore! Because a story that I once thought will revolve around fashion and clothes are so much more than that. I got that impression because of the cover. I don’t think it fits the story no matter how cute it is. Anyway, it deals with deeper issues that some teens are going through. It is not your usual YA book so don’t expect any romance and cutesy scenario, it is not one of those. But that just adds to the appeal of the story. It is brave to deal with issues such as having a drug addict parents, domestic violence and even poverty. It is an awesome read and I will sure be checking out other Susan Juby books. The characters are fun, and so is the plot. It is also well-written and unexpected in a lot of ways that you don’t mind if it’s not what you’ve imagined. An empowering and feel-good read that is perfect for people who loves fashion. Contemporary YA readers will surely enjoy it, as well as relate to it.
Read the full review on my blog https://desrandomthoughts.blog/2017/0...
Thank you!
Read the full review on my blog https://desrandomthoughts.blog/2017/0...
Thank you!
May 18, 2017
Outstanding! Juby's strengths are character, voice and the ability to turn the expected on its head and those elements are here in force. Two gifted artistic teens enter a scholarship competition for a place at a private school. In their required diaries, both record their artistic journey while revealing so much more about themselves, their lives and their discoveries.
Juby has a sharp observant eye for the foibles of teens and culture that always makes me laugh but her true skill is gifting readers with a penetrating look at the vulnerable human heart within her characters.
This novel is funny, moving, insightful, thought-provoking and completely entertaining!
Juby has a sharp observant eye for the foibles of teens and culture that always makes me laugh but her true skill is gifting readers with a penetrating look at the vulnerable human heart within her characters.
This novel is funny, moving, insightful, thought-provoking and completely entertaining!
January 7, 2018
This is a super cute little story with some very dark undertones. And, risking spoiler-wrath, but there is no forced romance or love triangle. I love Charlie, she's a character for the ages. I would literally read a series about Charlie.
So glad I picked this up. Longer review to come.
So glad I picked this up. Longer review to come.
August 6, 2018
06/08/18
Full review can be found here.
Full review can be found here.
March 13, 2018
Um...not the target audience, as I'm not YA or interested in fashion. And yet, engaging and delightful. wished I was at the fashion show.
July 28, 2017
Please note: I received an advance reader's copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
When I first received this book from the Penguin Random House First In Line program, I thought it looked like a kind of cute, light romance. With a name like The Fashion Committee, I wasn't expecting anything deep. So I was surprised when I read this. The light tone is in stark contrast to the harsh reality of one of the characters. I really enjoyed this book, as I think it said a lot about art, following your passions, and not letting your circumstances determine your future.
What I Liked:
Characters:
The novel is written as a he said/she said book. Each chapter's POV alternates between Charlie Dean, the fashion obsessed teen, and John Thomas-Smith, who enters the competition as a backdoor way of getting into the elite Green Pastures high school of fine arts.
I loved Charlie. Behind her seemingly superficial love of clothes lies a teen with a horrific home life. Fashion is her escape, so she doesn't have to face the fact that her dad is a drug addict. Charlie uses a lot of French words (thanks to Google translate!), that she hopes will make her sound more sophisticated. I loved her determination to create an oasis in her bedroom where she could let her imagination soar.
She is also dead set on becoming a clothing designer. She has a focus that leaves no time for friends or a love life. But maybe that cute girl who is a fellow competitor (and a major flirt) will nudge Charlie into making room for a romance? I was rooting for Charlie to have some happiness.
Mischa is the new, very young girlfriend of Charlie's dad (they met in rehab). She is really trying to stay clean and sober, but she is a very damaged person due to an abusive ex-boyfriend. Mischa becomes Charlie's model, and inspiration, for the competition. It was beautiful to have Mischa see that other people saw her as a valuable person.
Story:
I love novels with competitions in them. Even though I know nothing about fashion, the author does a wonderful job educating the reader about fashion theory and all the thinking that goes into creating clothes. I think the competition, itself, was amazing, and showed lots of teens who are exploring their passions. I also liked that Charlie had some pretty serious competition in the contest. I hate it when it is a forgone conclusion that the main character will win. You really don't know who the winner will be until the very end.
This book has a lot to say about creating art, whether it be as a fashion designer, a painter, or someone who welds metal into cool sculptures. There are so many ways to express yourself. But it seems the truly important thing is not the end product, but the creative process, itself.
I also appreciate that there isn't a manufactured romance between Charlie and John. They rarely interact with each other and have their own story lines.
What I Didn't Like:
Characters:
I really don't care for John. Since his story makes up half of the book, this is a huge problem for me. I just think he is a terrible person on so many levels. First of all, he enters the competition as a backdoor way into Green Pasture's metals program. He figures he can bluff his way through the competition, and after he wins he will just transfer over to the other program. This is so insulting to the other contestants, for whom fashion is their lives.
John is also awful to his girlfriend. He is easily flattered by the attention of a rich girl who already attends Green Pastures, and he lets her help him in the contest. Cheater!!! The only reason for John's character is to contrast his life with Charlie's. I guess his purpose in the book is to show how Charlie shows true guts by overcoming real hardships. He is a whiny pretty boy by comparison.
Overall, I think this book is worth reading for Charlie's character, alone. She has an amazing resilience that will make you cheer, and break your heart.
When I first received this book from the Penguin Random House First In Line program, I thought it looked like a kind of cute, light romance. With a name like The Fashion Committee, I wasn't expecting anything deep. So I was surprised when I read this. The light tone is in stark contrast to the harsh reality of one of the characters. I really enjoyed this book, as I think it said a lot about art, following your passions, and not letting your circumstances determine your future.
What I Liked:
Characters:
The novel is written as a he said/she said book. Each chapter's POV alternates between Charlie Dean, the fashion obsessed teen, and John Thomas-Smith, who enters the competition as a backdoor way of getting into the elite Green Pastures high school of fine arts.
I loved Charlie. Behind her seemingly superficial love of clothes lies a teen with a horrific home life. Fashion is her escape, so she doesn't have to face the fact that her dad is a drug addict. Charlie uses a lot of French words (thanks to Google translate!), that she hopes will make her sound more sophisticated. I loved her determination to create an oasis in her bedroom where she could let her imagination soar.
She is also dead set on becoming a clothing designer. She has a focus that leaves no time for friends or a love life. But maybe that cute girl who is a fellow competitor (and a major flirt) will nudge Charlie into making room for a romance? I was rooting for Charlie to have some happiness.
Mischa is the new, very young girlfriend of Charlie's dad (they met in rehab). She is really trying to stay clean and sober, but she is a very damaged person due to an abusive ex-boyfriend. Mischa becomes Charlie's model, and inspiration, for the competition. It was beautiful to have Mischa see that other people saw her as a valuable person.
Story:
I love novels with competitions in them. Even though I know nothing about fashion, the author does a wonderful job educating the reader about fashion theory and all the thinking that goes into creating clothes. I think the competition, itself, was amazing, and showed lots of teens who are exploring their passions. I also liked that Charlie had some pretty serious competition in the contest. I hate it when it is a forgone conclusion that the main character will win. You really don't know who the winner will be until the very end.
This book has a lot to say about creating art, whether it be as a fashion designer, a painter, or someone who welds metal into cool sculptures. There are so many ways to express yourself. But it seems the truly important thing is not the end product, but the creative process, itself.
I also appreciate that there isn't a manufactured romance between Charlie and John. They rarely interact with each other and have their own story lines.
What I Didn't Like:
Characters:
I really don't care for John. Since his story makes up half of the book, this is a huge problem for me. I just think he is a terrible person on so many levels. First of all, he enters the competition as a backdoor way into Green Pasture's metals program. He figures he can bluff his way through the competition, and after he wins he will just transfer over to the other program. This is so insulting to the other contestants, for whom fashion is their lives.
John is also awful to his girlfriend. He is easily flattered by the attention of a rich girl who already attends Green Pastures, and he lets her help him in the contest. Cheater!!! The only reason for John's character is to contrast his life with Charlie's. I guess his purpose in the book is to show how Charlie shows true guts by overcoming real hardships. He is a whiny pretty boy by comparison.
Overall, I think this book is worth reading for Charlie's character, alone. She has an amazing resilience that will make you cheer, and break your heart.
November 12, 2017
The TV show Project Runway is a guilty pleasure of mine, so it's probably fitting that I would find this book a guilty pleasure as well. A handful of things annoyed me about this book, but I still kept reading, because I wanted to know--who will win the fashion show ultimately receive a scholarship for a year for art school at Green Pasture Academy of Art and Applied Design??
Each contestant had to keep a journal or croquis (sketch book of their designs), as part of the scholarship, so the book reads as a written diary from two completely opposite designers, Charlie Dean and John Thomas-Smith. Major gripe #1 and #2: Charlie Dean talks about herself in the 3rd person and also uses French words to highlight her pretentious arty-farty self. But, I could definitely tell her point of view!
John Thomas-Smith, should not have been considered in the running. More of a metal design guy, he needed a way to get into Green Pasture's, and the fashion show was the art scholarship competition for that year. It was his only way in.
Both Charlie Dean and John come from very harsh backgrounds, and both will have "make it work," moments.
The strength and weakness of this book is that you kinda have to like fashion to make it through to the end. And the end is pretty exciting, if you can find enough interest to keep reading.
Why wasn't everyone wearing cotehardie coats to every dance and occasion? Of course, the people who take part in medieval fairs and so forth might do so, but this wasn't recreation or mimicry. The was reinvention. The coat dress was as timeless as simplicity itself.
I am strong. And I am stylish beyond all measure.
Allow me to leave you with a final thought:
So are you.
Each contestant had to keep a journal or croquis (sketch book of their designs), as part of the scholarship, so the book reads as a written diary from two completely opposite designers, Charlie Dean and John Thomas-Smith. Major gripe #1 and #2: Charlie Dean talks about herself in the 3rd person and also uses French words to highlight her pretentious arty-farty self. But, I could definitely tell her point of view!
John Thomas-Smith, should not have been considered in the running. More of a metal design guy, he needed a way to get into Green Pasture's, and the fashion show was the art scholarship competition for that year. It was his only way in.
Both Charlie Dean and John come from very harsh backgrounds, and both will have "make it work," moments.
The strength and weakness of this book is that you kinda have to like fashion to make it through to the end. And the end is pretty exciting, if you can find enough interest to keep reading.
Why wasn't everyone wearing cotehardie coats to every dance and occasion? Of course, the people who take part in medieval fairs and so forth might do so, but this wasn't recreation or mimicry. The was reinvention. The coat dress was as timeless as simplicity itself.
I am strong. And I am stylish beyond all measure.
Allow me to leave you with a final thought:
So are you.
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