Face Value

by Kathleen Baird-Murray

Small-town reporter Kate Miller has never been a fashion do--until now.

Kate Miller is no beauty expert. The rookie reporter from small-town England can't walk properly in a pair of heels and doesn't know the first thing about waxing. But then she receives an incredible phone call. Darling magazine in New York wantsher to be their new beauty editor! So what if she has no idea whether gray eyeshadow is the new black kohl? Suddenly Kate?along with her deep-discount clothes and hopelessly dated hair?is in the Big Apple, being swept away by the world of fashion. But she better find a way to put a positive spin on plastic surgery for the big yearly supplement or she?ll lose everything including the hotshot plastic surgeon-to-the-stars who thinks Kate's beauty is way more than skin deep.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Kathleen Baird-Murray writes articles, scripts and books.

Her journalism is mostly centred on the subject of beauty. She was Acting Beauty and Health Director at British Vogue and was formerly Beauty and Health Director at Tatler magazine. In the past she has written for the Sunday Times Style magazine, the Saturday Telegraph, the Observer Magazine, Elle and was Beauty and Health Editor for Marie Claire Australia.

Her published books include: Face Value, a novel published in the US by Berkley, and a non-fiction book on beauty called How to Be Beautiful, The Thinking Woman’s Guide (Vermilion).

She is currently working on a second novel set in London and Malibu. She has a monthly column in the Financial Times (Life and Arts) and continues to write for Vogue.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

(#10 read) Slow to start but halfway through it gets much better

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Face Value Kathleen Baird-Murray

Sharp and witty whilst at the same time fun and entertaining. A journey into the world of journalism and plastic surgery where people are not always quite what they at first appear to be. And then there is the question of plastic surgery itself, is the enhancement a good thing, or would we all end up looking the same? A well written book, I enjoyed reading it very much.

I received a copy of Face Value free as a Goodreads first-read giveaway. Thank you so much to the author and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me awhile to really get into this book. It could be because I just got done reading the whole Twilight Sage..lol. I usually read books in a few days and this one just took me forever! But I finally finished it last night and I have to say I did enjoy it once I was able to sit down and really read it. The main character is funny and always seems to get herself into something, which reminds me of the Shopaholic series and I LOVE those.

[Corene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Local reporter in a small Engish town is inexplicably tapped to be a beauty editor at a major New York magazine. This light-weight novel does get meatier after the narrator writes a tell-all plastic surgery article and receives a comeuppance.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, but not great. Like a lot of novels, it was fairly predictable. But, it was light and made some good points along the way without being difficult to read.

[Lisa Massaad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that I love beauty magazines and work with Plastic Surgeons in my job, I really enjoyed this book, not to mention the "Devil Wears Prada" insiders look at the beauty magazine world. Tough for me to put this one down.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble with this book. The story line was good just didn't like the way it was written. I had trouble getting into it. I may try again at a later date. I did try reading it 1 week before my due date so that could have played a part too.

[Raluca Sandu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just finished this book. I didn't really know what to expect, but I enjoyed it, it was funny and the events unexpected.

I have received this book via Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a tough book to crack open. It was so closed off for the first half or so that it was impossible to connect with any of the characters. Then it became slightly interesting, and much better for the final quarter. By then, however, I just wanted to finish the book.

[Montanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars. Not a bad read, really difficult to get into at first. But if you can push yourself through the many dull points of the book, it's an alright story.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK, I read it, I got through it, that is about all I can say.

[Kelly Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard book to get into at first but overall a good read into the world of beauty

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. One woman's journey of discovery into what really matters in life with a few wrong turns along the way. I liked her more a t the end of the book than in the earlier parts.

[Denise Tecce · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up. Horrible.

[Jessica Chapman]

Definitely worth the $1.00 I spent on it. An enjoyable, non-thought provoking, easy read.