Top Tips for Girls: Real advice from real women for real Life

Reviewed by Marie Robinson for TeensReadToo.com

This is a fun book, though its entertainment value lies more in the fun of mocking it than in taking it seriously. Though, perhaps it wasn't meant to be taken seriously. I have hesitated to write this review because of how much this book feels like a novelty.

It's a terrific concept: Full of tip after tip on the proper etiquette for how to deal with topics as varied as pets, gardening, diets, beauty, weddings, travel, etc., this book seemingly covers every possible contingency in a young woman's life. Unfortunately, most of the tips lack real substance.

The best part of this book, by far, are the introductions to each chapter which are written by author Kate Reardon. She is a terrific writer. Her stuff is funny, witty, smart, engaging. With chapter after chapter I kept wishing that she had kept going and written all of the tips herself, too.

Instead, the tips are a hodge-podge of responses that she received from readers online. Women wrote in to Reardon's website with their own personal tips on various topics, and while some are interesting, most are odd or, at worst, not helpful. "Put the sponge in your dishwasher every time you run it" as a way to keep the sponge clean is a helpful tip. "Wear a rubber kitchen glove. It will be grated before your fingers!" not so much. And do we really need a section with advice on how to deter slugs?

When I got to the section called, "How to Remember to do Kegel Exercises" I thought, really? We need four tips on this? Of course, the tip about using Neosporin to clear up pimples does make me curious to try it.

And what about this nugget: "How to Pull Clothes Over Your Head Without Ruining Your Makeup: If you need to pull clothes over your head and you've already done your makeup, put a large old pair of panties on your head so that they cover your face. They will protect your clothes and your makeup. - Gam"

Sigh.

In the introduction, Reardon writes that this book is "about collecting all those little tips and tricks that get us through life." It sounds so lovely and nostalgic. Yet, I can't help but notice at the end of the introduction, where she also writes, "The tips in this book are the opinions of people who have contributed to my website. I haven't rigorously tested them all...if you've got a better idea for any of the tips you find in this book...do please...let us all know."

I do have a better idea. Kate: next time write all of the material yourself. Or at least decide if the book is meant to be real advice of the useful variety, or a fun joke to pass around and giggle about at the office.

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