Randal

** spoiler alert ** I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was very different from what I generally read, being a book about Paris fashions and the reporters who cover them. Betts' has written an insightful memoir of her early life, effectively showing her journey, warts and all. The author begins showing a privileged, if somewhat broken childhood. After college, she finds herself confused and unsure of what to do next. A move to Paris follows, where everything is not as she imagined it would be. Betts' discovers the hidden underbelly of Paris, from dealing with an incomprehensible bureaucracy to perverted citizens. What opportunities are found, the author makes the most of. Through working very hard and perseverance, she climbs to a successful career in fashion reporting. After making it, she finds that the summit is not all that it appeared to be. A move back to the States follows, with even greater responsibilities in the fashion industry. Finally, Betts finds what she had been searching for, that being a family of her own.  Betts' had some very insightful discoveries about herself. One of my favorites was, "At the office I recognized a pattern from my own family - namely, that of seeking approval by overachieving....I wanted to make my unhappy parents proud. And maybe, irrationally, I believed that my success would make them happy."
There are many more insights like this throughout the book, along with many laugh out loud moments. You will find yourself transported to a world that you never imagined.  I highly recommend it!