Don't Believe the Hype

by Natalie Lewis

The world of fashion is supposed to be glamorous . . . isn't it?

A hilarious, authentic and big-hearted debut set behind the scenes of the glamorous and chaotic fashion industry, with its eccentric characters, towering expectations - and quite frankly ridiculous requests.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2023

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat older and wiser Frankie Marks urges us not to believe the PR fashion hype but the younger Frankie is desperate for the interns job although she is driving boyfriend James nuts with her dithering over suitable interview garb. James concedes she’s an unlikely candidate for PR and thinks this could be very funny. Why you may ask? Well, PR’s have to be nice especially to clients and Frankie is so not renowned for her people skills and is somewhat, er, forthright. However, she IS requiring a job pronto and so when a friend of a friend of a friend sends an email on her behalf to Georgina Galvin Communications (GGC) she goes for it because actually , how hard can it be???? Can Frankie nail the job and navigate the turbulent waters of fashion PR? Is she ‘on her way’?

This is a really fun book though toe curling in places! It’s a fascinating insight into the fashion world and the psychology of making people want/‘need’ that thing. I love some of the descriptions of the ridiculousness of the environment, the manic pace, the ludicrous demands, the mad chaos and craziness of clients and fashion shoots. It’s full of ironic send ups and the gossipy style it’s written in perfectly matches the theme. The characterisation is good, I like Frankie, she’s funny and who doesn’t love carbs?? I especially enjoy the droll and amusing press notes from Frankie interspersed between the narrative some of which are a hoot! The other characters also make you laugh, wince or groan! One client put me in mind of a now aged British actress who made a dramatic first appearance in an American 80’s drama, shoulder pads, big hat and all!

On occasions it definitely strays into surreal territory but I’m sure with the authors credentials it won’t be far off the mark! It’s well written making valid points but is also entertaining.

So, if you think you could be nice to bonkers people, handle anything chucked at you at 90mph, pander to food fads, dress up for parties in this season natch, air kiss, demonstrate fascination for ‘singular garments’, discuss the merits of tweed versus velour then the PR job is yours. And. Of course, I’ve never scrambled for that must have dress, shoe, boot, jacket, jumper, trouser. Obviously.

If you’re looking for an easy read written in a breezy and engaging style then this may fit the bill.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Clare Pooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such fun! A glorious romp through the world of fashion PR. It’s like spending a few hours with your funniest, most gossipy, best dressed friend. Needs to be made into a TV series.

[carissa morais · Rating 3 out of 5]

i picked up this book on a whim because 1) i needed to get away from work and 2) retail therapy. but clearly, this defeated the purpose coz i bought a book that reminded me of work?! call it a toxic trait.

thanks to uninterrupted time in the train to/from work, I finished this book in 4 days. Natalie is detailed in capturing Frankie's experiences, which i trauma bonded with --although some parts were too detailed for readers with ZERO context to the world of PR and Marketing. so I wouldn't fault some readers who got lost in the plot.

her writing style was straightforward, though some parts were an echo of the devil wears prada (i'm personally not a fan of lauren weisberger's ranty writing). parts of the plot could have been fleshed out, and some of the "bigger" supporting characters could have had more depth. i liked her office mates because the nuanced personalities brought a great dynamic to the work setting. i can confirm these are the kinds of people you'd see in the industry, and the kinds you'd either envy or hate. or both.

frankie's character development was the one that kept me turning the pages. some parts gave off andy sachs, but less annoying ("book" any sachs, not "movie" andy sachs) and more level headed. I loved the confidence she gained throughout the book.

overall, a good read if you're a PR profesh who feels "unseen" (LOL), or if you're looking for something light.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie Marks is not your typical fashion PR. But finding a job that utilises her History of Art degree has been far from easy, and she’s getting desperate. So, she applies for a job at the prestigious GGC agency, feeling certain she’ll not get the job as she knows nothing about fashion. But to the surprise of herself and all those who know her, Frankie is hired. Forced to take a crash-course in the chaotic world of fashion PR, Frankie soon realises she has a lot to learn if she’s going to succeed in her new role. But does she really want to succeed? And if so, what will she have to sacrifice along the way?

Entertaining, witty, gossipy, snarky and stylish, Don’t Believe the Hype pulls back the curtain to offer us a glimpse of what it’s really like to work in the crazy world of fashion. Debut author Natalie Lewis sets the tone perfectly, opening each chapter with a faux press release that correlates to that chapter. Perfect for reading in the sun with a glass of wine, it feels like dishing the dirt with your bestie, or reading a tell-all memoir.

Frankie is a great protagonist. She’s someone we can relate to, and starts out at GGC as a real fish out of water. After all, this job is just a brief stepping stone to help her in her ‘real’ career. But, to her surprise, she finds herself being drawn into this relentless, exhilarating, absurd and stressful world, and is no longer sure she wants to leave. But as her personal life slowly begins to fall apart from neglect, you have to wonder if it’s all worth it, and there were many times I wanted to reach into the book and shake her yet also wanted her to keep entertaining us by remaining in this strange world. The cast of background characters has been filled with some eccentric, memorable people who were an absolute joy to read. And we can’t forget the must-have conflict that is provided courtesy of Dominic Carter, the handsome but irritating character who runs a rival PR company.

Fun, lighthearted and totally readable, I highly recommend this brilliant debut.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the world of fashion PR with all its chaos and glamour. The focus of the book is on Frankie who starts off as an intern for the GGC agency. I enjoyed following her on her career path, forging a way for herself in the fashion industry. Her characterisation is good, she’s funny and she loves her carbs! She shows sheer grit and determination in order to succeed, works incredibly long hours and is extremely hard working. Her complete self-absorption in her job is a little frustrating at times as she is so engrossed in her work to the detriment of her relationship with her boyfriend, family and friends.

The latter half of the book is a little repetitive and lacked something to hook me into the story. It wasn’t easy to stay focused and I found myself skim reading just to get through to the end. The addition of another point of view, perhaps James’ or Charlotte’s, may have helped to pull the story along. It was definitely missing a side story to take the focus off Frankie and give the reader some respite, a part of me wanted some romance in there.

The writing is good and has a humorous edge. It’s an entertaining read and an eye-opening behind the scenes glimpse into the fashion industry.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted review copy.

[Ashley Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun tale of sassy girls working in fashion PR and letting it take over their lives and I was here for it. After working for years in fashion myself (design, not PR) I know all too well how the job becomes your life and before you know it your personal life is a car crash and you’re celebrating your birthday in the Far East. It’s marvellous, for a time, and then you decide if you want it be your forever job or move on. I enjoyed learning about the main character and her new found work family, where despite all the toxicity of celebs and one-upmanship, the girls had each others back.

I enjoyed this account of the mad world of PR and despite the chaos I got the distinct impression the author loved her career history in PR…the ups, downs, hysterics and the rest. I’d like to see more books from this author, I think she is fun :-)

[Nicola Quinn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 60 pages

[Daniel Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super fun! Though there were points where it felt slightly repetitive and I was getting bored. But overall I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Juniper Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit like if the devil wears prada had the worst actors ever some bits I liked but it took me a very painful month to read 😭

[Emily King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley & Hodder Books for this ARC!

Frankie wonders where her art degree will lead her but she never banked on it taking her to GGC Fashion PR agency. We get taken on the wild ride from intern to account manager with her.

It has similarities to The Devil Wears Prada but this is more of a tell all! I got sucked into the highs and lows of Frankie's life - both personal and professional. And I loved the "what the public sees Vs the reality" chapter previews in the form of "press releases".

It's a well written, easy read and I'll be keeping an eye out for Natalie Lewis in the future.

[Caroline Court · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly written by chatGPT based on daily Mail and Emily in Paris.

[Hayley (Shelflyfe)]

Thank you to Hodder Books for sending me a copy of 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞 by Natalie Lewis, that I read earlier this month with the Squadpod ladies 💜🛍
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𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (𝐏𝐑) - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬.
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Don't Believe the Hype follows Frankie Marks as she takes a job as a fashion PR at the infamous (though previously unknown to Frankie) Georgina Galvin Communications (GGC) agency.
Frankie seems an unlikely fit for the fashion industry, as she initially feels she is too academic for such a role, and that the world of fashion is a shallow one.
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𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜���𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨.
𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝.
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However, despite reservations from Frankie's boyfriend James, her friends, and her family, she soon finds herself hooked. She can't seem to get enough of the highly-pressured world that her job sucks her into.
And she herself loves the gossip, the glitz, and all the juicy celebrity culture that goes along with it.
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'𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝.' 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭. '𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐛, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠.'
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I personally found Frankie to be a bit of an unlikeable character. I wasn't sure at first whether it was the pressure to succeed, or the thrill of the chaotic and stress-filled world that encouraged Frankie to take risks with her personal life, including risking everything of her relationship with James.
However, Frankie, at times, came across as quite arrogant and gossipy/snarky about other characters. She made some decisions that I didn't like, and while I know these decisions had to happen to progress her character, I was mentally willing her not to do it!
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'𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭?' 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞. '𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬?'
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I did really enjoy the insight into the behind the scenes of the fashion world. I'm not overly interested in fashion myself as I do think it can be a very vapid and empty industry, fuelled by capitalism, but debateable whether it offers any true value to humanity.
We do live in a world where we are targeted to buy things we don't need, to somehow fill what we perceive as a hole in our lives, but we can only keep trying to fill that hole with so many material things before we realise it's actually fruitless.
I felt that the reality of PR and marketing in the book emphasised how much of a trickery it is, and how much human psychology is taken advantage of, with the idea of exclusivity and FOMO tapping into our subconscious.
But even the perception of the 'glamour' that we like to believe exists behind the scenes is all fabricated. I did genuinely laugh at Frankie's footwear modelling, and just how unglamorous this turned out to be while she was sweating, hungover, and running up and down sand dunes trying to avoid blisters!
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𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞.
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The book did remind me of Devil Wears Prada, which is probably quite an obvious comparison, but if you enjoyed that book (or movie) then I would definitely recommend that you read Don't Believe the Hype.
As Natalie Lewis herself had a career in the fashion industry, it does feel like a genuine (though fictionalised) account of what goes on behind the scenes, and overall it is a lighthearted and enjoyable bit of escapism.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie Marks, recent graduate with a degree in the history of art, is on the hunt for a job, but sadly none of the London galleries and auction houses she has applied to seem to be keen to employ her. Feeling somewhat desperate, she sends her CV to PR company GGC and unexpectedly finds herself being offered a position as an intern at one of the most prestigious fashion PR companies around - which is somewhat terrifying since she knows nothing about fashion, and really does not like people all that much.

Working for a fashion PR company is a steep learning curve, but Frankie quickly realises that there is something special about the buzz of the industry, the eccentric characters, and the madness of it all, even if it is exhausting and not at all conducive to a private life - as her long suffering boyfriend James, best friend Charlotte, and despairing parents can attest.

Frankie begins to struggle to keep all areas of her life in perspective, while riding the fashion merry-go-round. Eventually, something has to give, but can she now break herself away from a job that she is great at?

With echoes of The Devil Wears Prada, Natalie Lewis draws on her own experience in the PR world to create a delicious caper full of fun and frolics from the light, dark, and unashamedly whacky sides of fashion.

Frankie is a great character, and you find yourself getting behind her right from the beginning - even when she is being a bad girlfriend, bestie, and daughter - as she discovers that working in the world of PR is a lot more demanding that she thought. PR is the kind of job that it is impossible to explain easily, and Frankie is stumped when she tries to get across to her nearest and dearest what it is that her working life entails - and why it is so all consuming. However, Lewis does a great job of delving into the bizarre nitty gritty of the weird, wonderful, glamorous, competitive, and fast paced environment that gets under Frankie's skin. There is a lot of fascinating detail about what goes on behind the scenes in fashion PR, and although much of this sounds crazy, it rings with authenticity.

Lewis' writing is engaging, and her characters are delightful - especially the GGC gang, who are really supportive of each other (except for one who shall remain nameless). They become like a little family over the course of the story, and just like family they have their trials and tribulations to be worked through, all of which keeps you rapidly turning the pages until the inevitable drama plays out in very entertaining style. In the telling, Lewis touches on some intriguing subjects too, not least of which explores the difficulty of maintaining personal relationships when you have a career that demands so much of you - especially when to outside eyes it looks like you are having the time of your life.

This debut makes the perfect summer read. It is full of humour and heartache, and I absorbed the whole glitzy creation in one bite. Natalie Lewis is now on my radar, and I am looking forward to her second book very much.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I know Natalie says this is completely fictional and not necessarily based on her own experiences in fashion PR, but you can tell it’s a world she’s lived in. The little details that one would normally miss are impressive. But now I’ve finished it, I want to know just how much of it is true - or at least based on truth - and how much is exaggerated for entertainment. Because it is all wholly 100% believable.

The world of fashion PR in this book is manic, fast paced, crazy, difficult and sometimes insulting, but it’s also dazzling and magical and a world I am fascinated by.

It mainly reminded me of The Devil Wears Pravda, especially with how Frankie’s friends and boyfriend act around her and how they don’t understand her. It meant i was 100% on Frankie’s side. I like that she’s the Everyman. Desperate for a job linked to her degree, but having to take on an internship somewhere she’s initially reluctant about, just to have it on her CV. We’ve all been there. Or we’ve all thought about it. She’s doing her best, learning, and climbing her way up the corporate ladder.

I’ll tell you know, I am obsessed with this book. I was obsessed whilst I was reading it and I’m obsessed having finished it. It is absolutely addictive. You just want to talk to everyone about it like it’s the latest TV series. It’s just so juicy, funny, interesting, informative, entertaining, fun, loving, sad, stressful, enjoyable and gorgeous. I really didn’t want to put it down. I would have read it in one sitting if sleep hadn’t taken over.

I love how she’s shown the industry’s imperfections. It’s clearly a dog eat dog world. Whilst on the surface it’s a glamour industry full of celebrities, free clothes, parties, dinners etc. it’s clearly very hard. Not everything goes right, priorities are shifted and relationships suffer.

It shows the highs and lows of the industry. And I now want to turn my designs into a globally successful fashion line, like it’s that simple 🫤

It’s the perfect mixture of Ugly Betty + The Devil Wears Prada + Project Runway + Emily in Paris + Next Top Model + Queer Eye, all packaged up together in a deliciously addictive tale.

I wish more people wrote books about their industry. It gives you a front row (and we all know how important the FROW is) look into their world, knowing it’s based on real experiences, but with. Some pizzazz thrown in. I just want her to write more books like this please.

[Ashima Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Once a PR, always a PR. It’s part of the DNA of this business that no one ever leaves.”

Meet Frankie Marks: the world’s least likely fashion PR. She got the job by fluke, she doesn’t know the first thing about designers, she’s always hungry, and she struggles to think before she speaks. When Frankie crash-lands in the prestigious GGC agency, her friends and family can’t believe it – least of all her long-term (and long-suffering) boyfriend, James.

Frankie quickly realises she needs to use everything she’s got to survive life behind the scenes of this glamorous and chaotic industry – with its eccentric characters, towering expectations, and quite frankly ridiculous requests. But first, she needs to learn the difference between velour and velvet…

As the pressure builds and Frankie’s personal life begins to take the hit, she starts to wonder if she’ll ever manage to escape the strange world of fashion unscathed. And, for that matter, does she even want to?

Don’t Believe the Hype is a romp through the frenetic world of fashion with its insane client demands, manic photoshoots, and the steady buzz of gossip.

I loved the premise of this novel centred around a woman’s career without making romance the focus. For an outsider, this world can sound ludicrous but as someone with experience in the apparel industry I can confirm it is much closer to the truth than you think.

An absolute binge-read, with an engaging, easy-breezy style of humour, this is a peek into the grit behind the glamour and the dilemma of choosing carbs over fitting into sample sizes.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

For complete review, visit https://aquamarineflavours.wordpress....
Find me on other platforms via https://linktr.ee/AshieJayn

[Karen Huxtable · Rating 5 out of 5]

For full disclosure The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favourite films. So when I read the blurb for this book I knew it was for me.

Frankie has been searching for a job, she has a good degree and her applications to the big auction houses have been unsuccessful. So when she gets offered a role at GGC one of the big fashion PR agencies as an intern she takes it although her father does not approve. She knows little about fashion and she is basically a go-for collecting coffee, dry cleaning and anything else her colleagues ask her to do for them.

She quickly becomes enthralled in the fashion world much to the surprise and distaste of James her boyfriend and best friend Charlotte who think she is wasted there.

She begins to realise that not only does she enjoy her job but she is good at it and her journey into the world of PR begins.

This is such a fun read, I really liked Frankie she is funny, outspoken and ambitious. Her boyfriend James wants like her father, for her to get a job in the art world and he really doesn’t like it when her work becomes more than 9 -5. Their relationship starts to crumble and she becomes even more confident about her role. She takes on her first client and things really start to happen for her. She is unconventional but a natural.

The author really takes the reader on a tour of the fashion PR world, fast, frenetic and unpredictable it felt really stressful at times but also really exciting.

An entertaining book about an industry I knew little about, great characters plenty of drama in this ruthless world of fashion PR.

5 stars *****

[Jo Leevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've caught distant glimpses of the fashion world before, but Don't Believe The Hype is a full-throttle, super-charged stellar trip that brilliantly bizarre outpost of the universe – Planet Fashion.
I absolutely loved it - and Frankie's own journey as she turns from a bemused faux-pas-making outsider to a Super PR. Working in the world of fashion is definitely not good for her relationship - and she also has a best friend who tries to keep Frankie's feet on the ground - but she's soon swept off to the totally absorbing (and self-absorbed) land of fashion freebies, fashion-speak ('a shoe', 'a culotte', never the plural, darling), parties, events and outrageous celebrity demands. Papaya, peeled and thinly sliced? Check. Prawns. Small. M&S only? Check...
We also get an inkling of how the industry works, ie how they create 'a buzz' about, say, next season's boot, the way that only certain magazines are allowed to borrow a top designers' pieces for photo shoots and how it is an unmitigated disaster if an unsuitable 'sleb is spotted wearing a design destined for higher beings.
I absolutely loved the mini press releases that divide the chapters - hilarious and a whip-smart motif - and the smoke and mirrors tricks employed on fashion shoots. Well, across the board really. So, as Natalie Lewis says, Don't Believe The Hype - but definitely enjoy this non-stop ride to Planet Fashion.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Believe the Hype by Natalie Lewis is a glorious and occasionally glamorous look behind the scenes of life in the fashion industry that will have the reader in stitches and then moments later wincing in frustration at the decisions made by the main character , Frankie. Frankie Marks is an unlikely candidate for the role of intern at a fashion PR company but when the job lands in her lap she decides to run with it, at the very least it will be some practical experience on her CV when she goes in search of a " proper " job. She won't let her lack of knowledge about fashion hold her back but she does not realise the toll it will take as the demands of her mercurial boss wreaks havoc on her friendships and romantic relationship.
This is a really sharp and witty read with great characters and when I learned that the author had worked in the industry for years , that sense of authenticity and lived experience really comes through in the attention to detail. Frankie comes across as incredibly naive at times , and it was frustrating to see her make poor decisions especially at the expense of her best friend and boyfriend, but it did feel very true to what a young woman might do when faced with similar situations. The book reminded me a lot of the Devil Wears Prada, and fans of that will probably enjoy this light hearted read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher ,all opinions are my own.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book follow Frankie as she is taken on as an intern in the fashion industry. She knows nothing about fashion prior to starting the company, and so we all learn alongside her.

I want to preface this by saying I did learn a lot about fashion behind the scenes. However, do I think the plot of her book needs a complete overhaul? Yes.

I was originally drawn into this book as I love fashion, but I don’t really know much about what goes on behind the scenes, so this book sounded perfect. I will admit I was definitely imagining a Devils Wear Prada style book, with lots of drama, backstabbing, and yes a bit of selfishness.

Natalie Lewis definitely addresses some of the behind the scenes of fashion which was interesting to read about. However, what I really struggled with was the characters (if you can call them that). The main character Frankie was so unlikeable from the start, even before she got into fashion that it just put me immediately on the back foot. None of the side characters were well fleshed out all, and again all were unlikeable as the main character. I’m still not actually sure what happened in this book, but it was definitely a struggle for me to get through to the end.

Overall, this isn’t a book I’d recommend, unless you’re highly into fashion and all the intricacies around it.

[travelsalongmybookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Frankie Marks, the most unlikely candidate for fashion PR. Oh this could be funny.’

PR, and fashion PR. We all probably have an idea in our minds of what this is and who does it. Impossibly thin, existing on ryvita, wearing high end fashion and looking amazing at all times and quite posh. Best friends with Victoria Beckham.

Well think again and meet Frankie Marks!

‘I was determined to be the best badly dressed intern they had ever had.’

Frankie is an art history graduate, she wants to be swanning around galleries nodding at paintings, instead she finds herself in an alternate universe nodding about fashion, steam cleaning and sweaty armpits. Fashion PR is a life or death world and Frankie discovers she has a talent for this particular job.
The staff are a hoot, potty mouthed, beautiful and a total whirl; a little bit Devil Wears Prada crossed with Ab Fab and Bridget Jones!

‘As someone who found very few people tolerable or remotely interesting, their allure was not only perturbing to me, but increasingly compelling.’

I simply guzzled this one down, a huge slice of bookish joy! Funny, witty and just so much fun, it’s one of those books that I wish was a TV series, to dissect laugh and gossip over at work. This book is certainly eye opening and gave me a bit more of an insight into what the fashion world is really like. A fabulous debut, I’m expecting huge things for this one!

[Alessia Doni · Rating 4 out of 5]

First oh all i want thank @ and @ for the arc copy!

✨ I was looking forward to this book, which is why I literally screamed when I got the email approving the arc! And can I say the hype was justified? Yes!
Chapter after chapter a more mature and experienced Frankie accompanied me into the crazy, fast-paced,dazzling world of fashion. Throughout the book, in fact, I witnessed Frankie's professional growth as she grappled with learning her way around the fashion world, how to work as part of a team, and how to accommodate the crazy demands of clients.
was really interesting to be able to peek behind the scenes of the fashion world and see all the psychological strategy that makes people want/need a certain item.In addition, the story is full of ironic descriptions and anecdotes about the fashion world and ,given the author's experience in the industry,I can be sure that they are not far from reality!

✨So what can I say? This was a read that engaged me to the end: it is juicy,funny,interesting,educational and stressful. It is a portrait of a flawed industry that under its glittering surface ,photo shoots and fashion shows will take every ounce of your energy but will,in the end,make you addicted to it.

"Yuo will never leave.You will think you will leave,many times.But you never will."

[Rachana Hegde · Rating 2 out of 5]

so one of my reading goals was to be a little more adventurous and try books that haven't been recommended to me IRL or online..and i saw this in a charity shop. the first few chapters were actually kind of fun and good, and i thought this could be at least a 3 star read. but that feeling wore off fast after being inundated with so much fashion related jargon and facts that seemed really inane or pointless. i lost track off the sheer amount of information that is just dumped on the reader. i ended up skimming huge paragraphs and my mind kept wandering off (not a great sign) and the plot twist at the ending didn't even make that much of an impression on me since i wasn't that invested. i think this would be more enjoyable if you're really interested in fashion or work in fashion (maybe even relatable) since the author seems to know a lot of the minutiae of that world. but shoving every conceivable detail and fact into the book at the expense of plot and characterisation isn't a good move. the things that i was actually curious about and wanted to see more of in this story was the protagonist's relationship with her boyfriend, best friend and family and those were barely explored. they disapprove of her work for the most part (until they grow to accept it) and that sums it up. here's hoping the next book i take a chance on turns out to be a banger.

[angela norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Frankie Marks: the world's least likely fashion PR. She got the job by fluke, she doesn't know the first thing about designers, she's always hungry, and she struggles to think before she speaks. When Frankie crash-lands in the prestigious GGC agency, her friends and family can't believe it - least of all her long-term (and long-suffering) boyfriend, James.
Frankie quickly realises she needs to use everything she's got to survive life behind the scenes of this glamorous and chaotic industry - with its eccentric characters, towering expectations, and ridiculous requests. But first, she needs to learn the difference between velour and velvet . . .
As the pressure builds and Frankie's personal life begins to take the hit, she starts to wonder if she'll ever manage to escape the strange world of fashion unscathed. And, quite frankly, does she even want to?
I found this a great read - interesting peak into the world of fashion and PR and the stresses the job brings. I really liked Frankie as a character and couldn't wait to see how she would get on in her new job and then how it evolved. Bring on a sequel!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to preview the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be not my cup of tea.
It seemed that this felt very loosely based on “The Devil Wears Prada”. When reading, I found that there were many similarities between the main female characters from both books. Especially their backgrounds and how they felt going into it and their emotions towards the fashion industry. The timelines between some of the positive and negative events were quite similar.
However, I did like how descriptive the author was about the events that took place within Frankie’s life, and how you felt that you went through everything with her. From her rise within her workplace, to her growing working relationships with clients and external people.
She was very much in her own mind about herself and how she was perceived by others who she was working with. I did grow to dislike the character as the story went on, and I didn’t like how she handled things. She became irritating over time for how she changed over time and how that impacted people in her life.
However, the story of the fashion industry and following the people we followed alongside Frankie was entertaining to read and follow. It was interesting to see a perspective of the industry and how people work and react to the pressure, the impact that it had on the main character and her environment.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Frankie Marks lands a job at the prestigious GGC Agency no one is more surprised than she is. Especially as she didn’t even apply for the role. But she is determined to make the most of this surprise opportunity as she is in desperate need of a job and how hard can fashion PR actually be? Well, this book exposes just how hard people work behind all the glitz and glamour. How difficult it is to create ‘buzz’ around the latest piece of fashion wear. The work that goes into making sure all the right people have their ‘correct’ seats on the front row for the all-important fashion show and how short these shows actually are. Frankie finds herself drawn deeper into the crazy fashion world with all its Diva’s, unobtainable expectations, chaotic photoshoots and headline grabbing mishaps. Despite her best efforts the better she gets at her job the more her personal life and relationships suffer, although I don’t think this could be called a ‘rom com’ as the fashion business takes centre stage in this story. I would say this is a perfect summer read. Fun, light-hearted and escapist. Ideal for reading whilst lounging in the sun with a glass of vino and your best Gucci sunglasses

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe it or not, despite me being an incredibly basic bitch when it comes to fashion (leggings are just TOO comfy), I am still obsessed with the fashion world, having grown up reading fashion and lifestyle magazines way more than books. So when this dropped through my letterbox, I was pretty hyped myself - and it really was a fabulously fun read!

First of all, I absolutely loved Frankie - anybody who heads straight for the carbs among a table of salad eaters is my kind of person. Plus I kind of loved how she thought she was above it all only to become well and truly entrenched in the fashion world and all the madness that brings - and my god it does sound MAD. I definitely had a few jaw dropping moments, but mostly I loved the humour, glamour and warmth of this novel - any time an outfit was described (especially Georgina’s), I would basically sit there drooling, and I’m this close to trying to get an internship myself now…A great debut!

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about the fashion industry . Frankie knows nothing when she is taken on by a public relations company as an intern . She gets to know her workmates and to understand and become good at her job, which is detrimental to her relationships with her boyfriend and best friend . I enjoyed the first half of the book , it was interesting and there were plenty of amusing incidents and remarks. By the second half, the joke had become old and there was too much detail which dragged the plot out too much for me. I found myself skim reading just to finish the book. Frankie was ok, but the obsession with fashion details become wearing and although her boyfriend, James offered some relief by poking fun at the world of PR at the beginning of the book, this dried up as their relationship started to suffer .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review . Not the book for me, unfortunately

[Milly Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc of this book! Frankie Marks has a degree in the history of art and is searching for a job which utilises her degree. This is until she grabs a job in fashion PR, which Frankie isn’t the typical fashionista.
She is driving her boyfriend and family crazy in this new job, so how long will she stay there for?

This was such a fun book! I loved how detailed the parts into fashion PR were, and although Natalie Lewis says it’s all fiction you can tell she has worked in it as there are so many little details which you wouldn’t know about without working in PR. These little details make the book interesting and reading this made me feel like I was gossiping with my most fashionable friend with the most interesting job!

I definitely recommend for an easy hilarious read. Would also love this being made into a TV series! I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for more from Natalie Lewis!

[Lorraine Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story provides an interesting behind-the-scenes insight into the world of fashion PR, which I am sure fashion aficionados will enjoy. I suspect that most people wouldn't understand or appreciate the associated pressures which a job of this nature can have on your personal life, despite loving the job. As for the characters themselves, it is admirable how driven Frankie is, but I couldn't help feeling she was completely self-absorbed and unlikeable - I have no idea how Charlotte (her supposed best friend) tolerated all her BS and poor James should have kicked her to the curb well before she decided to leave! Whist interesting, I didn't find the book compelling - it dragged in places and I could see where it was headed pretty quickly - hence no surprises along the way. Thanks to NetGallery and Hodder Stoughton for the widget - it is greatly appreciated

[Cate Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

You really should believe all the hype you read about this hilarious inside look into the world fashion and all its foibles. The attention to detail, the cast of fashionistas and their fast-paced determination - designer-clad elbows out - to get that editorial, that photo, that cover, all feel totally authentic. And that's not surprising given Natalie Lewis' many years in fashion PR, rubbing shoulders (padded this season?) with the glitterati.
But above all, there's Frankie, the fashion newbie we soon learn to love as she navigates the crazy world of her agency and her very own celebrity client, praying she can keep hold of her boyfriend and win her parents' approval as she goes. The whirlwind around her may be superficial, but she is anything but.
And you probably won't stop laughing - or wincing!
Five stars for a novel that totally deserves to make the cover of many a magazine.