The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

 The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger-360 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Andrea "Andy" Sachs is an aspiring journalist fresh out of college. She takes a job as Miranda Priestly's (the fashion editor) assistant at Runway magazine to get some experience and hopefully be on the fast track to a good job, preferably at The New Yorker. Andy got way more than she bargained for. Miranda is the most demanding, most cruel and indifferent boss a person could ever have. She calls at all hours and seems never to sleep. Every little detail seems like an emergency and Miranda is never polite with anyone. Andy does learn a lot about fashion, but she also ends up alienating herself from her friends, boyfriend, and family. I've previously seen the movie, but this was my first time reading the book. I enjoyed reading the book. It's a pretty good book, overall. 

Makeup by Michelle Phan

pp. 240

Michelle Phan rose to fame making YouTube makeup tutorials, and besides becoming an online sensation, she's spent the last few years proving herself to be a shrewd businesswoman. This book not only details fashion and beauty tips, but manners and advice on how to create a business plan.

Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff by Robert Paul Weston

Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff by Robert Paul Weston - 206 pages

Puggly has been chosen as the new prince of Spud based on his fashion sense.  All the kingdoms are obsessed with fashion.  Princess Francesca doesn't fit in her kingdom as she is more concerned with comfort that fashion.  When they meet after both being insulted at Francesca's father's ball, they decide to teach everyone a lesson about how stupid following fashion trends is.
I can't really say if I liked this book or not.  I thought the idea behind it was interesting, however I didn't care for the execution.  The book is written in rhymed verse with several changes in fonts, type size, and shades of black.  It was very distracting and in my opinion took away from the story.

Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair

Cloaked in Malice: A Vintage Magic Mystery by Annette Blair - 294 pages

Maddie is caught up in her strangest mystery yet.  Paisley, a young woman has come to her for help figuring out who she is.  Turns out the people who raised her aren't her parents.  Turns out that she's been kept isolated on an island and brainwashed most of her life.  Turns out that the FBI have been keeping an eye on her and her island for years.  And to top it off, she's the spitting image of Maddie's centenarian neighbor Dolly who has just decided to fly off to France without any warning.  What exactly is going on?
This is the fifth Vintage Magic mystery and definitely the strangest.  While it was revealed to many of characters who Paisley is early on, the mystery of the island and the people on it continued until nearly the very end.  The book included spies, dog cemeteries, and clowns - definitely an odd mix.

Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair

Skirting the Grave: A Vintage Magic Mystery by Annette Blair - 277 pages

Maddie goes to the train station to pick up her new intern Isobel only to find that she's dead, so she is very shocked to have her arrive at her home late that night.  Turns out it was her cousin who had been killed.  But who went to such lengths to imply it was one of the twins who died?  And who is still trying to kill Isobel?  It's up to Maddie and her gift of psychmetry to figure it all out.
This is the fourth book in the Vintage Magic series.  I thought this one was a little obvious who the villain was from early on.  However, it was still an enjoyable read.

Larceny and Lace: A Vintage Magic Mystery by Annette Blair

Larceny and Lace: A Vintage Magic Mystery by Annette Blair - 288 pages
(Book 2)

Maddie is in a race to get her shop ready for its grand opening in less than two weeks.  That's before someone breaks into the shop and steals a skeleton hidden in the storage room.  And before someone sets fire to the theater across the street threatening her building's safety also.  And before she gets caught up in another murder mystery to solve.
I'm really enjoying this mystery series about a vintage fashion designer / shop owner that solves mysteries through psychometry.  Another great entry in the series.

A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair

A Veiled Deception: A Vintage Magic Mystery by Annette Blair - 246 pages

Maddie is visiting home from New York to help plan her younger sister's wedding.  On her first night home at the engagement party, Maddie finds her sister's fiancee's ex murdered with her sister's wedding veil.  Now it is up to Maddie to protect her sister by finding the real murderer.
I've read most of Annette Blair's paranormal romances and enjoyed them.  This is completely different from those.  I think I liked this book better.  I'm definitely looking forward the reading the other books in the series.

Workin' It: RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style, by RuPaul

Workin' It: RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style, by RuPaul, 192 pages

Have I mentioned that I love RuPaul?  I thought that Season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race would be ending and I would need a Ru-fix.  This book was light and fun, and quick to read.  It's a combination of style advice, confidence boosting, and tons of photos of Ru.  Many of the outfits were featured on Season 2 of Drag Race, but some were new to me, like his Rubama portrait, where he is both Barack and Michelle... and looks strikingly similar.  While I found the parts about how drag queens put on their wigs and makeup to be interesting, I also found the parts about being true to yourself heartfelt.

Drag Race fans will know that I was wrong, and we still have another dose of Ru coming our way.  Sharon Needles for the win!