Chloe by Design: Balancing Act by Margaret Gurevich and Brooke Hagel (Children's, 9 years +, 10/10E)

 September 2015, Capstone Young Readers, 384 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley 

Content: competition, life issues, humour

Summary from Capstone Young Readers

16-year-old Chloe Montgomery beat out the competition to win Teen Design Diva, but she already has another challenge to face — tackling her internship. After winning the first season of the fashion reality show, Chloe is ready to start her job with a famous designer, Stefan Meyers, in New York City. But with an old crush and new challenges to contend with, Chloe discovers that fast-paced fashion industry isn’t for the faint of heart. Will she be able to make it work, or will the balancing act prove to be too much for this budding designer? 

Nayu's thoughts

Somehow I'd managed to think I'd reviewed Chloe's tale, which I hadn't. I love tales where characters chase their dreams, which for Chloe evolved around fashion. She gets to see a variety of departments in a fashion house, as well as a variety of characters. Her fellow interns are competitive, some with a bit of a mean streak, but by working hard and being good Chloe is rewarded with amazing opportunities. 

I like how modest she is, how she doesn't always think her ideas are good, but how she ends up being the one pointed out as having potential. Life isn't straight forward, but Chloe meets each problem face on and, sometimes with much needed friendly advice, she conquers them. This is a feel good book which everyone, regardless of how into fashion you are, will enjoy. 

 See more of Brooke's fantastic work on her website.

Available to buy in the USA now, out November 2015 for UK so available to pre-order in most bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles. 

Suggested read

For more stories about the fashion industry try the first in one of my favourite fashion series, Threads by Sophia Bennett (Children's, 11 years +, 10E/10E)