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Маленька чорна сукня, маленька біла брехня
Захоплююча історія про пошук себе, побудову кар’єри, дорослішання і пригоди у великому місті.
Гарпер Андерсон завжди вважала, що вона мала б жити у мегаполісі, а не в глухому передмісті в Північній Каліфорнії. Матчі з водного поло і нудні вечірки у дворі Бобі Маккітрікса – хіба це життя? Одного разу її запрошують на стажування в елітний журнал для тінейджерів Shift як блогерку, що пише про побачення, але є одна маленька проблема: у неї жодного досвіду в побаченнях.
Та все ж вона вирішує використати цю можливість і провести літо у Нью-Йорку, водночас наблизившись до своєї мрії стати письменницею. Гарпер готова підкоряти світ, тому наважується використати історію своєї подруги і видати її за свою, а уже під час роботи отримувати власний досвід. Літо у Гарпер буде насиченим – жахливі зустрічі з божевільним редактором, перегони за лайками, відкриття галереї в Брукліні, вихідні в Гемптонсі, та інші пригоди у великому місті.
Гарпер Андерсон завжди вважала, що вона мала б жити у мегаполісі, а не в глухому передмісті в Північній Каліфорнії. Матчі з водного поло і нудні вечірки у дворі Бобі Маккітрікса – хіба це життя? Одного разу її запрошують на стажування в елітний журнал для тінейджерів Shift як блогерку, що пише про побачення, але є одна маленька проблема: у неї жодного досвіду в побаченнях.
Та все ж вона вирішує використати цю можливість і провести літо у Нью-Йорку, водночас наблизившись до своєї мрії стати письменницею. Гарпер готова підкоряти світ, тому наважується використати історію своєї подруги і видати її за свою, а уже під час роботи отримувати власний досвід. Літо у Гарпер буде насиченим – жахливі зустрічі з божевільним редактором, перегони за лайками, відкриття галереї в Брукліні, вихідні в Гемптонсі, та інші пригоди у великому місті.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2016
78 people are currently reading
4093 people want to read
About the author
Laura Stampler
2 books109 followersLaura Stampler is a Californian turned New Yorker. After graduating from Stanford University, she became a journalist, interning—and then worked on staff—at various newspapers and magazines. Laura has written about everything from dating to social media stars to social justice issues at Time magazine, Business Insider, Huffington Post, The Nation, The New Republic, and The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably looking at pug gifs on the Internet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
August 11, 2016
This is a funny and relatable read filled with important themes and meaningful lessons. I very much enjoyed the NYC setting and the focus on friendship!
February 8, 2017
This is a biased review, because Laura is a very good friend (I mean, I may know something about the origin of the term Make-Out Bandit). However, I love Laura partially because she's so incredibly funny, and that comes through on every page. This book made me laugh out loud several times, and it would definitely be a five-star contemporary YA without the personal connection. It's SO much fun to read. The NYC setting is pitch-perfect ("this macaroni and cheese is gluten free, from Ban Bread"), the magazines are all gently and accurately skewered ("I work for deviant. and live in Brooklyn"), and the characters all feel real and three-dimensional (particularly Gigi, my queen - I am so glad that relationship worked out the way it did).
Also, Laura and I once had this conversation about Carter Bosh:
Laura: It's tough for her because she has to make a choice between a nice boy and a bad-boy blogger.
Emily: A BAD-BOY BLOGGER? That is NOT a thing.
Laura: You'll see!
I'm currently eating my hat because somehow Laura made a "bad-boy blogger" into a real thing. ... one thing I really appreciated is that there is a lot of actual discussion in this book about how mean people can be online without it feeling forced. Everything about the Shift world feels genuine, from McKayla yelling at everyone about "clickiness" to the different outfits coming into the Bosh building on the elevator ("you must be going to Shift or Iconic). The only thing I didn't totally buy was , so I'm not too mad about it.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the best character in this book:
PRINCESS FOREVER
Also, Laura and I once had this conversation about Carter Bosh:
Laura: It's tough for her because she has to make a choice between a nice boy and a bad-boy blogger.
Emily: A BAD-BOY BLOGGER? That is NOT a thing.
Laura: You'll see!
I'm currently eating my hat because somehow Laura made a "bad-boy blogger" into a real thing. ... one thing I really appreciated is that there is a lot of actual discussion in this book about how mean people can be online without it feeling forced. Everything about the Shift world feels genuine, from McKayla yelling at everyone about "clickiness" to the different outfits coming into the Bosh building on the elevator ("you must be going to Shift or Iconic). The only thing I didn't totally buy was , so I'm not too mad about it.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the best character in this book:
PRINCESS FOREVER
Read
July 8, 2016If you're a fan of chick lit and looking for a light summer read, you might want to give this a chance.
It's supposed to be YA, but felt to me very reminiscent of classic chick lit --normal girl lands an amazing internship at a Manhattan magazine, just happens to have a rich aunt who lives on Fifth Avenue and has a closet full of fabulous clothes and that rich aunt just happens to have a very cute dog walker. (Seriously, why don't these things actually happen to normal girls?) Girl learns how superficial everyone in New York/the magazine industry is. She is shocked, SHOCKED to find out that Clickbait Rules the Internet. She then comes to appreciate her dull regular life. And, of course, finds love. Think Devil Wears Prada lite with a touch of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. Or did anyone else watch the reality show Running in Heels? Just me, huh? Well, it reminded me a lot of that. The girls on that show also had to write a dating column.
My favorite part of the book was by far the female friendships, which had their dicey moments (true to life!) but came through in the end. One the less positive side, I think this would have worked better with a twenty-something protagonist. The main character is a sixteen or seventeen year-old intern who's given major responsibilities at a major magazine. This might be realistic, but I remained skeptical. At least Andy Sachs in TDWP had to fetch coffee and hang up coats when she started out.
If you're looking for a fluffy beach read and can suspend a little disbelief, give this a go!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
It's supposed to be YA, but felt to me very reminiscent of classic chick lit --normal girl lands an amazing internship at a Manhattan magazine, just happens to have a rich aunt who lives on Fifth Avenue and has a closet full of fabulous clothes and that rich aunt just happens to have a very cute dog walker. (Seriously, why don't these things actually happen to normal girls?) Girl learns how superficial everyone in New York/the magazine industry is. She is shocked, SHOCKED to find out that Clickbait Rules the Internet. She then comes to appreciate her dull regular life. And, of course, finds love. Think Devil Wears Prada lite with a touch of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. Or did anyone else watch the reality show Running in Heels? Just me, huh? Well, it reminded me a lot of that. The girls on that show also had to write a dating column.
My favorite part of the book was by far the female friendships, which had their dicey moments (true to life!) but came through in the end. One the less positive side, I think this would have worked better with a twenty-something protagonist. The main character is a sixteen or seventeen year-old intern who's given major responsibilities at a major magazine. This might be realistic, but I remained skeptical. At least Andy Sachs in TDWP had to fetch coffee and hang up coats when she started out.
If you're looking for a fluffy beach read and can suspend a little disbelief, give this a go!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
March 15, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies really surprised me. I have never read any book about what it’s like to work for a magazine, and I was immediately intrigued when I heard about it. The book is also set in New York, which I absolutely loved. The main character is filled with determination and is the ideal journalist. Everything about this book amazed me and I would consider it a must-read!
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is so unlike anything I’ve ever read. This book tells the story of Harper, a girl who is selected as an intern for the biggest teen magazine in the country. I really enjoyed reading about the behind-the-scenes aspects of working at the office and the stress to get as many clicks as possible on her articles. I found this book to be so fun and such a quick read for the summer.
I loved the New York setting in Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies. Reading about the houses and parks was really interesting for me since I have never been to New York City, but have always wanted to go. What I especially enjoyed about this setting was the descriptions of the fashion. Fashion plays a big part in this novel, and watching Harper’s closet transform was really entertaining.
Harper was a good main character overall. She has the guts to go all the way across the country to intern at a magazine and befriend some girls who are clearly more trendy than her. Harper is willing to do whatever it takes to be the best intern, and I admired her determination. Sure, there were times when Harper made some poor choices, but she always ended up redeeming herself, which I appreciated.
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is a unique story about an internship at a popular magazine in New York. The main character has a lot of determination and bravery. I would definitely recommend this book as it is such a cute read for summer.
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies really surprised me. I have never read any book about what it’s like to work for a magazine, and I was immediately intrigued when I heard about it. The book is also set in New York, which I absolutely loved. The main character is filled with determination and is the ideal journalist. Everything about this book amazed me and I would consider it a must-read!
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is so unlike anything I’ve ever read. This book tells the story of Harper, a girl who is selected as an intern for the biggest teen magazine in the country. I really enjoyed reading about the behind-the-scenes aspects of working at the office and the stress to get as many clicks as possible on her articles. I found this book to be so fun and such a quick read for the summer.
I loved the New York setting in Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies. Reading about the houses and parks was really interesting for me since I have never been to New York City, but have always wanted to go. What I especially enjoyed about this setting was the descriptions of the fashion. Fashion plays a big part in this novel, and watching Harper’s closet transform was really entertaining.
Harper was a good main character overall. She has the guts to go all the way across the country to intern at a magazine and befriend some girls who are clearly more trendy than her. Harper is willing to do whatever it takes to be the best intern, and I admired her determination. Sure, there were times when Harper made some poor choices, but she always ended up redeeming herself, which I appreciated.
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is a unique story about an internship at a popular magazine in New York. The main character has a lot of determination and bravery. I would definitely recommend this book as it is such a cute read for summer.
July 6, 2016
This book! GAH! Seriously guys, this book was THE perfect read for chilling by the pool or beach or just summer in general. It was lighthearted yet still thought out enough to keep me reading non stop (which is actually something I don't do very often since I have the attention span of a ladybug. Harper was an adorable character whom I wanted to squish hug since I very first met her. Her exploits are adorable, hilarious but still have that kernel of truth and self discovery. It really was the perfect balance of humor and reality, like getting your peanut butter and jelly juuuusssttt right.
This tale begins when our dear Harper decides to embellish her lack of dating experience with some of her friend, Kristina's raucous tales. Hilarity ensues as this lands her a dream job as a dating expert and a move to NYC. This is just funny to begin with. I know we all have had our story robbed by someone at one point or another. It is pretty hilarious in itself especially when you somehow end up in public with sed person and are able to out them for the tale telling thief they really are!!!! Sorry... got a bit carried away there. I am not one for this type of story but I am so so so very glad I took the chance on this one.
The backdrop of NYC is always an amazing treat. There is just so much to do and the city is very much a character of it's own. The fact that there was so much blogging involved was also fun to read about. Although i will have to say my favorite part was watching Harper stumble though dating advice and weed out what was "right & wrong" which is sometimes damn near impossible in dating (well, with the exception of like talking on your cell phone through the entire date or you know, drinking too much and throwing up on your dates shoes. Those are pretty clear cut no no's.) I digress. This really is a smart yet charming, feel good read for all ages. I dare you not to enjoy this one!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Black-Dresses-White-Lies/dp/1481459899/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-black-dresses-little-white-lies-laura-stampler/1122749765
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/little-black-dresses-little/id1047553511
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781481459891
Simon & Schuster: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Little-Black-Dresses-Little-White-Lies/Laura-Stampler/9781481459891
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25337536-little-black-dresses-little-white-lies
There is a chance to grab a hardcover copy of LITTLE BLACK DRESSES, LITTLE WHITE LIES to TWO (2) winners –
US only
Must be 13 or older to enter. Giveaway is US only. Giveaway ends July 26th at 11:59 PM Pacific. Book will be ordered from Amazon. Prizing courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...a Rafflecopter giveaway
Week One
July 6th – Please Feed the Bookworm – Review
July 6th – Read Now Sleep Later – Guest Post (author provided)
July 7th – Worth Reading It? – Review
July 7th – YA Book Madness – Review
July 8th – Awkwordly Emma – Review
July 8th – YA Reads – Character Interview
Week Two
July 11th – Fictional Fox – Review
July 11th – Curling Up With A Good Book – Author Interview
July 12th – Fiktshun – Review
July 12th – The Anatomy of a Bookworm – Review
July 13th – The Phantom Paragrapher – Review
July 13th – Whatever You Can Still Betray – Guest Post (author provided)
July 14th – Creatyvebooks – Review
July 14th – Latte Night Reviews – Review
July 15th – Here’s to Happy Endings – Review
July 15th – Books & Beauti – Guest Post (author provided)
Week Three
July 18th – Swoony Boys Podcast – Review (Kassiah) & Character Interview (Meg)
July 18th – Oh, For The Love Of Stories - Review
July 19th – Book Briefs – Review
July 19th – A Dream Within A Dream – Guest Post (author provided)
July 19th – All The Crannies – Review
July 20th – The Mind of a Book Dragon – Review
July 20th – Dazzled by Books – Author Interview
July 21st – Vibin With Books – Review
July 21st – The Recipe Fairy – Guest Post (author provided)
July 22nd – Books and Bindings – Review
July 22nd – Underneath the Covers – Guest Post (author provided)This review was originally posted on Please Feed the Bookworm Click here to keep reading bout my feels!
August 3, 2021
RTC...one day...maybe.
And if it doesn't, all you need to know is that this was a quick, fun read I enjoyed very much.
And if it doesn't, all you need to know is that this was a quick, fun read I enjoyed very much.
February 24, 2018
Oh man! I don't even remember what day I put this on my TBR list but I was so happy when I finally was able to get the book and read it!
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies definitely gave me the vibe of The Devil Wears Prada; however, it was way better than that book!
Harper, the MC, was amazing and completely likable. She's hardworking and is constantly under stress at work. She has to make everything just right and completely perfect or she gets fired. Seems kind of unrealistic to me because nobody's perfect and nobody can be perfect alllll of the time. HOWEVER, I just loved this book. I loved Harper so much.
This was a pretty quick and easy read. Totally fun with some interesting aspects throughout the book. Harper isn't perfect, because let's face it nobody is. She get into some fun shenanigans but then there's also some cringing moments too. I totally understand the whole pressure and deadlines at work - even though I'm a biller we do close the last week of every month. I'm at work from like 8:30am to like 1 am every day that week. WHY? Well because we need to reach a certain goal number every month and people like to dilly dally the first three weeks of every damn month and force the billers to stay extra late and actually bill all of the companys that were expecting us to bill them in the beginning or the middle of the month.
Stressful deadlines? CHECK AND MATE.
Overall, I really liked Laura's writing. I could totally see myself rereading this book whenever I get the chance. I can also see myself falling in love with another one of her books.
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies definitely gave me the vibe of The Devil Wears Prada; however, it was way better than that book!
Harper, the MC, was amazing and completely likable. She's hardworking and is constantly under stress at work. She has to make everything just right and completely perfect or she gets fired. Seems kind of unrealistic to me because nobody's perfect and nobody can be perfect alllll of the time. HOWEVER, I just loved this book. I loved Harper so much.
This was a pretty quick and easy read. Totally fun with some interesting aspects throughout the book. Harper isn't perfect, because let's face it nobody is. She get into some fun shenanigans but then there's also some cringing moments too. I totally understand the whole pressure and deadlines at work - even though I'm a biller we do close the last week of every month. I'm at work from like 8:30am to like 1 am every day that week. WHY? Well because we need to reach a certain goal number every month and people like to dilly dally the first three weeks of every damn month and force the billers to stay extra late and actually bill all of the companys that were expecting us to bill them in the beginning or the middle of the month.
Stressful deadlines? CHECK AND MATE.
Overall, I really liked Laura's writing. I could totally see myself rereading this book whenever I get the chance. I can also see myself falling in love with another one of her books.
September 27, 2017
I picked this up when it first came out and rediscovered it scanning through my e-reader this summer. The cover is just great and it turns out, so is this book. It's classic chick-lit where a small-town girl gets the internship of her dreams and moves to Manhattan. She learns about life and more importantly, men. A solid premise with a quick-witted heroine. It was predictable but I didn't mind. I liked it and would read more from this author.
My Rating: 4 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
July 22, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
I won't make any friends on your level. I'm just going to make a big bowl of cantaloupe friends... Everyone knows that cantaloupe is the ultimate filler fruit of the fruit salad. No one asks for it, it's just there. No one really craves hanging out with cantaloupe friends. It's how you make do so you don't, you know, socially starve to death.
Aunt Vee has the pained look of a woman on the second day of a juice cleanse.
I just start crying. And not cute crying. Ugly crying. The kind where your face gets red and your breathing gets all gasp-y and you realize you're precariously close to becoming a snot monster.
I'm not used to crying. At all. I go to an all boys' school and the only emotion my parents show is disapproval, so I went with my first instinct. That wasn't creepy, right?
I know I need to up my flirting game from asking cute guys what time it is and running away. Fear of rejection sends me into fight-or-flight mode, and I don't know how to stop myself from always picking flight.
You don't wait for an invitation to apologize. You just do it. As loudly as possible.
My Review:
I can no longer state, "I don't YA." I must revise one of my pat statements to, "I rarely YA." I was blissfully unaware when signing up to review Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies, that the book fell into the YA genre... oops. As I was committed to review it, I chastised myself to pay more attention, sighed heavily and then began to read one of the most delightfully humorous, clever, and insightful books I've read in ages. It was wicked funny, cleverly plotted, and smartly written. I read YA! I am stunned, and humbled, extremely pleased... but, mostly stunned... about all the above. Moreover, when I noticed that this skillfully completed tale seems to be the author's first book, my eyes telescoped from my skull like Roger Rabbit's.
But, oh, to be young and stupid again. Or young and naive. Or young, toned, and able to wear stilettos once more. But mainly, I'll just like to be young and viewing the world as a shiny and exciting place. I'm old and jaded now, but I vaguely and ever so fondly recall those bright and airy feelings of eagerness and enthusiasm. I could see my younger self in seventeen-year-old Harper, a small town girl with big aspirations. Harper was accepted for a summer internship with an iconic Manhattan media group, her dream job. But, she was assigned to cover a beat she had no experience with - dating. Harper was a klutzy wallflower, she was smart and cute, but socially and physically awkward. She hasn't dated. At all. So she embellished. Fake it to make it. I said she was smart - she embellished well. Her ambition and desire to fit in with her cool and chic co-workers led to a physical and social makeover, although this was not all to her betterment and ended up costing her dearly. Life lessons are painful and hard, that aspect of youth I certainly do not miss, even for less cellulite.
I won't make any friends on your level. I'm just going to make a big bowl of cantaloupe friends... Everyone knows that cantaloupe is the ultimate filler fruit of the fruit salad. No one asks for it, it's just there. No one really craves hanging out with cantaloupe friends. It's how you make do so you don't, you know, socially starve to death.
Aunt Vee has the pained look of a woman on the second day of a juice cleanse.
I just start crying. And not cute crying. Ugly crying. The kind where your face gets red and your breathing gets all gasp-y and you realize you're precariously close to becoming a snot monster.
I'm not used to crying. At all. I go to an all boys' school and the only emotion my parents show is disapproval, so I went with my first instinct. That wasn't creepy, right?
I know I need to up my flirting game from asking cute guys what time it is and running away. Fear of rejection sends me into fight-or-flight mode, and I don't know how to stop myself from always picking flight.
You don't wait for an invitation to apologize. You just do it. As loudly as possible.
My Review:
I can no longer state, "I don't YA." I must revise one of my pat statements to, "I rarely YA." I was blissfully unaware when signing up to review Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies, that the book fell into the YA genre... oops. As I was committed to review it, I chastised myself to pay more attention, sighed heavily and then began to read one of the most delightfully humorous, clever, and insightful books I've read in ages. It was wicked funny, cleverly plotted, and smartly written. I read YA! I am stunned, and humbled, extremely pleased... but, mostly stunned... about all the above. Moreover, when I noticed that this skillfully completed tale seems to be the author's first book, my eyes telescoped from my skull like Roger Rabbit's.
But, oh, to be young and stupid again. Or young and naive. Or young, toned, and able to wear stilettos once more. But mainly, I'll just like to be young and viewing the world as a shiny and exciting place. I'm old and jaded now, but I vaguely and ever so fondly recall those bright and airy feelings of eagerness and enthusiasm. I could see my younger self in seventeen-year-old Harper, a small town girl with big aspirations. Harper was accepted for a summer internship with an iconic Manhattan media group, her dream job. But, she was assigned to cover a beat she had no experience with - dating. Harper was a klutzy wallflower, she was smart and cute, but socially and physically awkward. She hasn't dated. At all. So she embellished. Fake it to make it. I said she was smart - she embellished well. Her ambition and desire to fit in with her cool and chic co-workers led to a physical and social makeover, although this was not all to her betterment and ended up costing her dearly. Life lessons are painful and hard, that aspect of youth I certainly do not miss, even for less cellulite.
July 25, 2017
This book came out a while ago, but I'm so behind on these, I definitely want to make an effort to crank out some reviews soon. LBDLWL is the teenage version of The Devil Wears Prada meets Buzzfeed. Parts of this book were just as stressful as the chick lit inspiration behind it: Harper gets into some seriously sticky situations, with insane pressure on her to get everything done juuuust right - or else it's the boot for her and twice the work for everyone else. Mix in a delightfully flirty and funny love interest, friendship drama, and small town woes, and you've got yourself a sure-fire good time summer read.
What I Liked: I'm honestly not big on contemporary fiction, but there are a fair few that really catch my eye and keep me locked in, and this book was one of them. While not necessarily the most #relatable as far as realistic fic goes, the shenanigans that Harper seems to revolve around are charmingly naive one second and cringe-worthy reality checks the next. While I've never worked for a hit teen magazine, I sympathized with the pressure for deadlines and meeting goals that can work their way into becoming an addiction if you do it right enough times. Shift is very much a tongue-in-cheek, Buzzfeed/Teen Vogue mash-up for the ages, and this originality definitely paid off for marketing this book to young readers of 2016. Compelling without being too campy, Stampler knows what she wants from the very start and doesn't let a dull moment creep in to ruin the laughs and solidarity feels for every character involved.
What I Disliked: This isn't really a complaint with the book, but I can't stand secondhand embarrassment. It makes me so anxious and uncomfortable! Naturally, there are parts of this book that get VERY awkward, and aren't always handled so well by our leading lady. The relationship between Harper and Ben is also not handled as well...okay, truthfully, I just didn't like him! Just stay friends, please. Trying to force the weird "but maybe..." thing is not working out for you guys. Other bits, especially the dynamic between the Shift manager and Harper, dangerously toe the line of predictable vs understandable - however, at the end of the day, the quirky mishaps and clever character creation (PRINCESS THE PUG, my god what a scene stealer) manages to stand out in an oversaturated field of high school chick lit.
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 key lime pies.
Recommended for: Moms who loved The Devil Wears Prada and young adults who loved Gossip Girl but wish it wasn't so mean.
What I Liked: I'm honestly not big on contemporary fiction, but there are a fair few that really catch my eye and keep me locked in, and this book was one of them. While not necessarily the most #relatable as far as realistic fic goes, the shenanigans that Harper seems to revolve around are charmingly naive one second and cringe-worthy reality checks the next. While I've never worked for a hit teen magazine, I sympathized with the pressure for deadlines and meeting goals that can work their way into becoming an addiction if you do it right enough times. Shift is very much a tongue-in-cheek, Buzzfeed/Teen Vogue mash-up for the ages, and this originality definitely paid off for marketing this book to young readers of 2016. Compelling without being too campy, Stampler knows what she wants from the very start and doesn't let a dull moment creep in to ruin the laughs and solidarity feels for every character involved.
What I Disliked: This isn't really a complaint with the book, but I can't stand secondhand embarrassment. It makes me so anxious and uncomfortable! Naturally, there are parts of this book that get VERY awkward, and aren't always handled so well by our leading lady. The relationship between Harper and Ben is also not handled as well...okay, truthfully, I just didn't like him! Just stay friends, please. Trying to force the weird "but maybe..." thing is not working out for you guys. Other bits, especially the dynamic between the Shift manager and Harper, dangerously toe the line of predictable vs understandable - however, at the end of the day, the quirky mishaps and clever character creation (PRINCESS THE PUG, my god what a scene stealer) manages to stand out in an oversaturated field of high school chick lit.
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 key lime pies.
Recommended for: Moms who loved The Devil Wears Prada and young adults who loved Gossip Girl but wish it wasn't so mean.
October 1, 2016
**Short end of month review**
Eh. I needed some fluff so i read this. The cover is very pretty and drew me in. I kinda liked the MC, she had her moments. She did turn a bit slutty, but i understand she needed to for her stories, but then she flips out when a guy tries to get sex from her?! Like you went up to a random guy and made out with him, what message did you think that would give?! The ending really bothered me, first, it was too quick. The major "climax" of the story was thrown in at the last moment it felt. Her friend got over the whole thing wayyy too fast, and the MC flipped on her "feelings" towards someone. Too clean of an ending.
Eh. I needed some fluff so i read this. The cover is very pretty and drew me in. I kinda liked the MC, she had her moments. She did turn a bit slutty, but i understand she needed to for her stories, but then she flips out when a guy tries to get sex from her?! Like you went up to a random guy and made out with him, what message did you think that would give?! The ending really bothered me, first, it was too quick. The major "climax" of the story was thrown in at the last moment it felt. Her friend got over the whole thing wayyy too fast, and the MC flipped on her "feelings" towards someone. Too clean of an ending.
January 14, 2019
Ok, this was actually super cute! It was a fun read, and also really quick to read, and while some things seemed a little farfetched (she's in HS and was able to apply for an internship where she would have to travel across the country to do it and she didn't even need parental permission to accept even though she's a minor) and some things were a little predictable, overall I found it to be really enjoyable read and I'm super glad that I decided to pick it up! I also loved all the references to Gossip Girl and Taylor Swift 😂
February 11, 2023
Взагалі-то, десь 3,5 ⭐ але загалом Нормально. Перша половина книги повністю пройшла повз, але далі якось стало краще. Років би 10 тому, ця книга могла б мені сподобатись, зараз же мій старечий мозок таке не сприйняв. Але читати можна, така собі книга на вихідний, щоб відпочити мізками 😉
Епілог краще було б не писати
П.с Досі залишається обкладика та любов гг до книг - чи не єдині плюси історії 😁
Епілог краще було б не писати
П.с Досі залишається обкладика та любов гг до книг - чи не єдині плюси історії 😁
July 20, 2016
3.5 stars
This was really fun!! Full length review will be up on my blog later:-)
This was really fun!! Full length review will be up on my blog later:-)
July 31, 2016
I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun, quick read and I really enjoyed the plot. I really liked Harper as a narrator and all the characters and interactions felt really real. Sometimes writers try to much to sound like teenagers, and the dialogue just sounds odd but this didn't. The dialogue felt super real. I enjoyed this a lot! Definitely reminded me of a shorter Morgan Matson book! 4 stars!
January 29, 2018
Every once in a while, I crave an easy, quick read to simply entertain me. Sometimes I pick the right book, sometimes I disappoint myself by picking a novel that's.. well.. not what I expected at all.
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is definitely the right pick!
It's funny, quirky and even has a bit of sass. I laughed, facepalmed and felt embarrassed all because of a book. I honestly had a good time reading this.
It's written in an easy, straightforward way which makes it so tempting to keep on reading. I honestly had to stop myself when it was nearing midnight and my alarm was planned to go off not even five hours later. Still, I woke up and the first thing I did? Yup, continue reading!
The thing I loved most about this book, though, is the blog-aspect of it. As I have a blog myself, it was fairly interesting to read and it made me see even more how important it is to stay true to yourself and your own voice. You have to be you when you're blogging; don't try to be someone you're not. We all need that lesson once in a while - even outside of blogging!
This honestly was a fun, mindless and heart-lifting read that I'd recommend to anyone needing exactly that!
5 / 5
Kathy
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is definitely the right pick!
It's funny, quirky and even has a bit of sass. I laughed, facepalmed and felt embarrassed all because of a book. I honestly had a good time reading this.
It's written in an easy, straightforward way which makes it so tempting to keep on reading. I honestly had to stop myself when it was nearing midnight and my alarm was planned to go off not even five hours later. Still, I woke up and the first thing I did? Yup, continue reading!
The thing I loved most about this book, though, is the blog-aspect of it. As I have a blog myself, it was fairly interesting to read and it made me see even more how important it is to stay true to yourself and your own voice. You have to be you when you're blogging; don't try to be someone you're not. We all need that lesson once in a while - even outside of blogging!
This honestly was a fun, mindless and heart-lifting read that I'd recommend to anyone needing exactly that!
5 / 5
Kathy
April 28, 2017
Great for a mindless read. Just try not to think too much into the logic. Which is typical of even the best chick-lit. Why do interns have so much prestige in a magazine company? They're supposed to be getting coffee and doing menial tasks for the higher-ups like in The Devil Wears Prada! Not writing important articles for the company. And the ending was super unbelievable too. But the story was still pretty cute and enjoyable.
June 12, 2016
full review up here!
thanks to netgalley and simon pulse for letting me read this arc!
there's only one word for a book like this: addictive. for 300 pages, I was totally engrossed in Harper's world, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. there were some parts where I wanted to strangle her, there were some parts where I wanted to be her, but all of the parts made me want more. it was like an amazing mix of the devil wears prada, 13 going on 30, mean girls, and gossip girl, all rolled into one. and I loved it.
thanks to netgalley and simon pulse for letting me read this arc!
there's only one word for a book like this: addictive. for 300 pages, I was totally engrossed in Harper's world, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. there were some parts where I wanted to strangle her, there were some parts where I wanted to be her, but all of the parts made me want more. it was like an amazing mix of the devil wears prada, 13 going on 30, mean girls, and gossip girl, all rolled into one. and I loved it.
July 25, 2016
This is ALMOST as good as The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer (almost). It's like the best rom-coms combined with lots of social media references, friendship and bark mitzvahs (they're for dogs).
Harper did get a little hard to like but she does learn a lot throughout the book. Definitely worth reading!
Harper did get a little hard to like but she does learn a lot throughout the book. Definitely worth reading!
July 7, 2016
3.5*
Cute and fluffy, but I thought the ending was wrapped up too quickly and too perfectly.
Cute and fluffy, but I thought the ending was wrapped up too quickly and too perfectly.
October 31, 2018
I’m always hesitant to start a YA book...I’ve read my share of YA disasters.... But I’ve also read some amazing ones as well! Little Black Dress Little White Lies was fresh and oh so fun! I am a HUGE sucker for anything NYC so that’s probably why this one caught my attention. Harper Anderson a 17 year old aspiring journalist from Northern California, just received the opportunity of a lifetime. A summer internship in NYC, at one of the hottest teen magazines in the country. Seriously at that age...what could be better then that?!? This book takes you on a ride through New York City through the naive experiences of Harper Anderson, who comes to realize she still has a lot to learn and so much growing up to do. I definitely recommend it, if your looking for a fun, not-too-heavy read. This YA novel did not disappoint!
4-stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4-stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 18, 2016
4 stars.
This book was one of my most anticipated reads this year, so I was super excited when I picked it up at TLA. Harper has just landed her dream job--a summer internship in NYC being a relationship blogger for a teen magazine. Only problem is, she knows nothing about relationships because she has pretty much no experience. So, she uses her friend's trials and tribulations in the love world as source material.
First, let's take a look at that cover. It's beautiful. I cannot stop staring at it! I feel like I have to mention that I loved Harper's name. I think it's used a lot in YA, but it's one of my favorites. She's fun and her thoughts are totally realistic. I also loved the setting and how much of NYC Stampler packed in. It felt like I was right there, strolling the sidewalks of the City with them. I enjoyed the Devil Wears Prada aspect of it, and Sex and the City is one of my favorite shows, so I loved the bits that were relatable there.
There were laugh out loud funny moments and super cute banter with Ben, a charming dog walker who captures Harper's heart, and some of the other interns. Harper's aunt Vee and her pug, Princess, were totally my favorite parts of this book.
Despite having a subject that could have been heavy--girl struggles to find her authentic self in a world full of phonies--this book was pretty fluffy. There were some things that I didn't love, mostly centering around the total unbelievability of it all. I'm sure there are high school students who get internships--even in NYC--but I feel like it was unrealistic for Harper to have the responsibilities that she does. If you're able to suspend belief on that front, then this book is really a lot of fun and a quick read.
A quick, fun read with relatable characters, a perfect setting, and a bit of swoon, Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is a must-read for contemporary YA fans.
--
This book was one of my most anticipated reads this year, so I was super excited when I picked it up at TLA. Harper has just landed her dream job--a summer internship in NYC being a relationship blogger for a teen magazine. Only problem is, she knows nothing about relationships because she has pretty much no experience. So, she uses her friend's trials and tribulations in the love world as source material.
First, let's take a look at that cover. It's beautiful. I cannot stop staring at it! I feel like I have to mention that I loved Harper's name. I think it's used a lot in YA, but it's one of my favorites. She's fun and her thoughts are totally realistic. I also loved the setting and how much of NYC Stampler packed in. It felt like I was right there, strolling the sidewalks of the City with them. I enjoyed the Devil Wears Prada aspect of it, and Sex and the City is one of my favorite shows, so I loved the bits that were relatable there.
There were laugh out loud funny moments and super cute banter with Ben, a charming dog walker who captures Harper's heart, and some of the other interns. Harper's aunt Vee and her pug, Princess, were totally my favorite parts of this book.
Despite having a subject that could have been heavy--girl struggles to find her authentic self in a world full of phonies--this book was pretty fluffy. There were some things that I didn't love, mostly centering around the total unbelievability of it all. I'm sure there are high school students who get internships--even in NYC--but I feel like it was unrealistic for Harper to have the responsibilities that she does. If you're able to suspend belief on that front, then this book is really a lot of fun and a quick read.
A quick, fun read with relatable characters, a perfect setting, and a bit of swoon, Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is a must-read for contemporary YA fans.
--
Read
July 20, 2016Oh, guys, this book. This book just begs to be read on a beach or by a pool or on a plane. This is the vacation book I have waited for.
Like her namesake, Harper is a writer. Unfortunately, she's the dating blogger (and intern) for the biggest, most influential teen magazine. Why unfortunately? She doesn't actually date. Not for religious reasons or anything; she's just the most awkward girl known to man.
So she fakes it. She cribs a story from her best friend and works to get everything else right: the clothes, the flirting, everything.
You can imagine, I'm sure, what ultimately happens.
And, like I said, it is a delightful journey. Harper is deeply flawed (mostly careless and selfish; never outright malicious) but also so sweet and endearing that I kept rooting for her anyway.
Recommended.
Like her namesake, Harper is a writer. Unfortunately, she's the dating blogger (and intern) for the biggest, most influential teen magazine. Why unfortunately? She doesn't actually date. Not for religious reasons or anything; she's just the most awkward girl known to man.
So she fakes it. She cribs a story from her best friend and works to get everything else right: the clothes, the flirting, everything.
You can imagine, I'm sure, what ultimately happens.
And, like I said, it is a delightful journey. Harper is deeply flawed (mostly careless and selfish; never outright malicious) but also so sweet and endearing that I kept rooting for her anyway.
Recommended.
May 12, 2016
Utterly hilarious and delightful and also very true. It's rare to see the business of becoming a writer -and a young adult - so realistically depicted. I felt as though I've met every single character in real life - for better and worse. (I'm looking at YOU, guy-who-will-remain-unnamed-to-avoid-spoilers.) As much as I adored all the characters, human and animal, it really all comes down to Harper, one of the most charming heroines whose company I've been privileged to enjoy in a long time. Smart, funny, and just starting to figure out the whole of her personality - she's someone I'd like to see more of. Stampler's world is perfectly observed, full of laugh-out-loud moments, and ultimately a heartfelt story of friendship and self-discovery. Perfect.
September 19, 2016
A fun and smart book. Perfect summer read. I read it almost two months ago and forgot to post a proper review. Now I don't know what to say about it. Oh, right! I remember not being impressed with the friends to lovers scenario. The pair didn't have that spark, in my opinion.
July 26, 2018
2.5
Once again, we have a damn near insufferable protagonist—Harper. Harper is phony and not charming. She's a liar. She's kind of fucking rude (but thinks it's quirky and OMG embarrassing!). Her life is swimming in privilege that she ignores. The "love triangle" sort of situation was predictable and aggravating. Harper is so damn oblivious to the point where it just isn't charming.
As someone who has been an editorial intern NYC multiple times, the concept of a high school high-profile magazine internship is beyond bullshit. PLUS, it was paid. Bullshit. A wealthy aunt with a Central Park apartment who hands off designer clothes? Bullshit. Parents who let their 16/17 year old daughter jet off to New York City for like two months with a few days' notice? Bullshit.
The privilege in this book was so damn annoying to read, especially as someone who's been an intern in NYC AND as someone who tried to intern in high school—that shit doesn't exist, especially not for high profile magazines. I also could NOT get over the amount of high schoolers who are apparently so well-versed in spontaneous kisses and makeouts.
Considering how insufferable Harper is, I don't get why every attractive teen in a two mile radius kisses her within ten seconds of meeting her. She also toots her own horn by including how attractive and pretty she is and is described as in every other page.
I know this is fiction...obviously. But damn, the only thing realistic about this book is how insufferable privileged young teens like Harper are!
Once again, we have a damn near insufferable protagonist—Harper. Harper is phony and not charming. She's a liar. She's kind of fucking rude (but thinks it's quirky and OMG embarrassing!). Her life is swimming in privilege that she ignores. The "love triangle" sort of situation was predictable and aggravating. Harper is so damn oblivious to the point where it just isn't charming.
As someone who has been an editorial intern NYC multiple times, the concept of a high school high-profile magazine internship is beyond bullshit. PLUS, it was paid. Bullshit. A wealthy aunt with a Central Park apartment who hands off designer clothes? Bullshit. Parents who let their 16/17 year old daughter jet off to New York City for like two months with a few days' notice? Bullshit.
The privilege in this book was so damn annoying to read, especially as someone who's been an intern in NYC AND as someone who tried to intern in high school—that shit doesn't exist, especially not for high profile magazines. I also could NOT get over the amount of high schoolers who are apparently so well-versed in spontaneous kisses and makeouts.
Considering how insufferable Harper is, I don't get why every attractive teen in a two mile radius kisses her within ten seconds of meeting her. She also toots her own horn by including how attractive and pretty she is and is described as in every other page.
I know this is fiction...obviously. But damn, the only thing realistic about this book is how insufferable privileged young teens like Harper are!
November 1, 2017
Perfect mood-lifter. It's been a while since I read a book in one sitting, and Harper's hilarious adventure just did that for me. We all need a New York crazy adventure stories once in a while. This isn't an "Omg, wow" book but more of a "no, shit, hahaha" kind of story which just is what I needed. I surely had fun.
September 30, 2018
Carpe your effing diem!
July 15, 2016
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Guys guys guys! *jumps up and down* You need this book!! Seriously, it's a must! It's so much fun! It was oh-so-enjoyable.
Harper sent in an application to be an intern at Shift magazine, but she kind of lied. You see, the position available was for the journalist to have dating experience—the good and the bad—so she could give advises to the readers. Sadly, Harper barely has any experience in this department so she gets in by lying. Moving to New York and being an intern is Harper's dream come true. In order to write great columns, she needs to experiment the dating aspects of life and so she embarks on a journey of dating, but in the process she learns about herself as well.
I was drawn to Harper's personality from the get-go. I don't know why, but I could see her as my friend, as a next door neighbor—basically, as someone real. When she moved to New York, I feared she was going to change drastically, and in a way she did, but in a positive way. I felt like being in NY lead her to discover who she really was and experience new things in her life. She got to make friends, she got to be independent for a while and see how that was like. She also had to really learn how much being responsible means, especially when being on her own.
Nothing came easy for Harper. I could feel her struggle and even relate to it when it came to coming up with blog posts. Sometimes, I get so blocked when writing a review and it's really frustrating. Reading about Harper having the same difficulties made me realize that people who work at magazines go through the same struggle, and it's possibly worse, since they also have to experiment things.
Even though Harper is a dating blogger, you'd think this book would focus a lot on guys. And while there are guys, especially one who has the spotlight, this story focus wasn't Harper's relationship. The focus was more on her experience at Shift magazine and her interactions with the other interns/friends.
THE SUPPORTING CHARACTERS (AND OTHER STUFF):
1. I loved that the story included the blogs that were being talked about and it works in the readers favor to get tips ;)
2. I also loved a few secondary characters like Aunt Vee, who's not Harper's blood-related aunt, but is Harper's mom's best friend. Aunt Vee and her fashion sense were great! Her personality was hilarious and her fashion advises had me writing down a few tips for myself.
3. And I cannot forget about Princess the pug. She's a character all on her own and after reading this book, I WANT A PUG!!
4. There's another character, Gigi, who's an intern as Harper. I wasn't so sure about her in the beginning since she didn't take a liking to Harper, but their friendship blossomed and I just loved how great these two girls meshed.
5. Another thing I loved was the author's writing. It was very eloquent! Not only that, I felt like I was in New York, walking through the streets, going to parties, and hanging out.
WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME, BUT DIDN'T COMPLETELY BOTHER ME:
The ending wasn't entirely realistic. Harper did something she shouldn't have done, and while she paid the consequences, she got a second chance. I feel like if the ending had been different, this would have been perfect for me. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Aside from the ending, the rest of the story felt very realistic.
OVERALL:
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is the perfect Young Adult story for readers who are looking for a story that has that chick-lit feel to it. It's a fun, light, hilarious, quick-read that makes you feel good and empowered to go after what you want (just don't lie to get there).
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Guys guys guys! *jumps up and down* You need this book!! Seriously, it's a must! It's so much fun! It was oh-so-enjoyable.
Harper sent in an application to be an intern at Shift magazine, but she kind of lied. You see, the position available was for the journalist to have dating experience—the good and the bad—so she could give advises to the readers. Sadly, Harper barely has any experience in this department so she gets in by lying. Moving to New York and being an intern is Harper's dream come true. In order to write great columns, she needs to experiment the dating aspects of life and so she embarks on a journey of dating, but in the process she learns about herself as well.
I was drawn to Harper's personality from the get-go. I don't know why, but I could see her as my friend, as a next door neighbor—basically, as someone real. When she moved to New York, I feared she was going to change drastically, and in a way she did, but in a positive way. I felt like being in NY lead her to discover who she really was and experience new things in her life. She got to make friends, she got to be independent for a while and see how that was like. She also had to really learn how much being responsible means, especially when being on her own.
Nothing came easy for Harper. I could feel her struggle and even relate to it when it came to coming up with blog posts. Sometimes, I get so blocked when writing a review and it's really frustrating. Reading about Harper having the same difficulties made me realize that people who work at magazines go through the same struggle, and it's possibly worse, since they also have to experiment things.
Even though Harper is a dating blogger, you'd think this book would focus a lot on guys. And while there are guys, especially one who has the spotlight, this story focus wasn't Harper's relationship. The focus was more on her experience at Shift magazine and her interactions with the other interns/friends.
THE SUPPORTING CHARACTERS (AND OTHER STUFF):
1. I loved that the story included the blogs that were being talked about and it works in the readers favor to get tips ;)
2. I also loved a few secondary characters like Aunt Vee, who's not Harper's blood-related aunt, but is Harper's mom's best friend. Aunt Vee and her fashion sense were great! Her personality was hilarious and her fashion advises had me writing down a few tips for myself.
3. And I cannot forget about Princess the pug. She's a character all on her own and after reading this book, I WANT A PUG!!
4. There's another character, Gigi, who's an intern as Harper. I wasn't so sure about her in the beginning since she didn't take a liking to Harper, but their friendship blossomed and I just loved how great these two girls meshed.
5. Another thing I loved was the author's writing. It was very eloquent! Not only that, I felt like I was in New York, walking through the streets, going to parties, and hanging out.
WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME, BUT DIDN'T COMPLETELY BOTHER ME:
The ending wasn't entirely realistic. Harper did something she shouldn't have done, and while she paid the consequences, she got a second chance. I feel like if the ending had been different, this would have been perfect for me. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Aside from the ending, the rest of the story felt very realistic.
OVERALL:
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is the perfect Young Adult story for readers who are looking for a story that has that chick-lit feel to it. It's a fun, light, hilarious, quick-read that makes you feel good and empowered to go after what you want (just don't lie to get there).
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
November 7, 2018
This was fun and entertaining overall, I just with the side characters had a bit more depth. Still, I had fun with it, it's a perfect beach read if you're looking for this kind of distracting, quick read :)
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