Being Audrey Hepburn by Mitchell Kriegman

Being Audrey Hepburn by Mitchell Kriegman

Release Date - September 16, 2014

Publisher Website - St Martin's Griffin/Raincoast
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  336 pages
My Rating - 3.5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In Being Audrey Hepburn, Clarissa Explains It All-creator, Mitchell Kriegman, tells the story of a 19-year-old girl from Jersey who finds herself thrust into the world of socialites after being seen in Audrey Hepburn’s dress from the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Lisbeth comes from a broken home in the land of tube tops, heavy eyeliner, frosted lip-gloss, juiceheads, hoop earrings and “the shore.” She has a circle of friends who have dedicated their teenage lives to relieve the world of all its alcohol one drink at a time.

Obsessed with everything Audrey Hepburn, Lisbeth is transformed when she secretly tries on Audrey’s iconic Givenchy. She becomes who she wants to be by pretending to be somebody she’s not and living among the young and privileged Manhattan elite. Soon she’s faced with choices that she would never imagine making – between who she’s become and who she once was.

In the tradition of The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, this is a coming of age story that all begins with that little black dress…

Being a fan of Hollywood, especially classic Hollywood, my interest was immediately piqued when I stumbled across this novel. While I am more of a Marilyn girl than an Audrey fanatic, I figured it was worth a try. This novel ended up being exactly what I wanted and needed it to be. A fun, humourous but somewhat heartfelt read that features a rather typical coming of age story.

Lisbeth was s delight. She has a certain cleverness, and resourcefulness that made her winsome. She has her faults, and is sometimes self absorbed, but seeing her make those mistakes is what drives the novel. Learning from them is her character growth, and because of that I felt I understood her character.

The romance in this novel is there, without it being the driving force behind the story. This is a story of finding yourself, and where you fit, and that comes first. There are romantically focused moments, but I found them quieter than expected. They play a more heavy factor towards the end, but I didn't find them overwhelming. Lisbeth's focus wasn't only boys, nor were they her top priority. They were part of her life, not her life. Fans of romance focused books may end up disappointed, but those looking for something else might be pleasantly surprised.

These types of novels are meant to be a fantasy. A 'day dream' brought to life within it's pages. It reads like a sweet romantic comedy movie, and it feels like it's meant to. There is something magical about the way Audrey Hepburn is woven into the story. The reverent way Lisbeth talks about her, to the fun way she has 'breakfast at Tiffany's'. It creates the mood and tone of the novel, and the author keeps it throughout the entire duration. The pacing is also on par with this sort of story, and adds to it's charms.

There are a few storyline threads that seem to not really go anywhere, and could have been left out all together. I kept expecting them to tie into the story, but they were mainly there as distractions. A stepping stone in Lisbeth's journey, but not ones I am sure were needed to prolong the main plots. These were minor, for me, though, and didn't take away from my relative enjoyment of the novel.

The novels message that hard work, determination, and taking some chances can result in big rewards is admirable. Combined with the notion that you can be less privileged, or have a less than perfect home life, and still follow your dreams, it creates a positive message for readers. Especially for young readers who may be in Lisbeth's situation. The path that Lisbeth embarks on is one of self discovery, and one that is much needed for her character. The growth is not dramatic, but subtle, and endearing. It made the story work, where it may not have without it.

The ending was a little too neat. It's wrapped up as perfectly as a bow on a Tiffany's box. Lisbeth's story is anything but perfect. It's a little messy, but that's what makes her wonderful. A little bit of that in the ending would have helped. It ended more like a romantic comedy movie would end, and while those are fun and it fits with the tone, the novel would have appealed to me more with a slightly less than perfect ending.

Ultimately, this is a funny, heartwarming story about finding your way, being true to yourself, and the power of the perfect little black dress. Fans of Audrey Hepburn will find it delightful, and those who enjoy a novel not entirely driven by the romance will surely be pleased.