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Overview
Clementine Liu, the super-stylish fashion student behind the Bonjour Girl blog, is about to finish her first eventful year in New York City. Ready to put all the drama behind her, she’s about to embark on a prestigious exchange program — in Shanghai!Before Clementine actually sets foot in China, though, a whole bunch of problems put her impending departure in jeopardy. Despite it all, Clementine flies off to Shanghai, where she immerses herself in the new, exciting fashion world and cutthroat blogging scene. There’s also Henry, a charming classmate who’s on a mission to capture her heart, despite her New York boyfriend.Even halfway across the world, Clementine can’t escape her problems. But can she find a way to survive and thrive while staying true to herself?
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781459742314 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Dundurn Press |
| Publication date: | 11/26/2019 |
| Series: | Bonjour Girl Series , #2 |
| Pages: | 280 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.75(d) |
| Age Range: | 15 - 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
I WAKE UP to the faint ping of my phone. I forgot to put it in silent mode after a late night of school work. I get up to go fetch it from a console in the next room; I've started to follow a no-phone-at-night policy.
There's a red circle on the top right-hand corner of my Instagram icon notifying me of a new message. I bring my phone back to my bedroom — really, I should say, to the spare room of my cousin Maddie's apartment — and sit up in my bed, propping myself up with fluffy pillows. Last semester, I moved from Paris, where my mother is an opera singer and my father owns a clothing and rare books shop, to New York City to attend the Parsons School of Design. Maddie, my mother's cousin and a teacher at Parsons, offered me the spare room of her cool Williamsburg loft and promised my father she'd look out for me. At the moment, she's out of town travelling for work, so I have the place to myself.
Given the early hour, I assume the message is from my best friend, Jake, sharing a cool fashion design or a hilarious post, or Maddie sharing an inspirational quote. She just can't help doing that kind of thing. Or maybe it's my boyfriend, Jonathan, sharing some of his beautiful photography.
I open the message and find that I'm totally off base. It's an unfamiliar account belonging to an Asian man with great hair, and an amazing smile.
Hey Clementine! I'm Henry Lee, a student at the Conde Nast Center in Shanghai. I heard you'll be joining us, so I just wanted to reach out and say hello. Nice feed, BTW. You have a quirky style I really like! Are you planning to be a fashion designer? I look forward to learning more about you. See you soon!
I roll my eyes and sigh. Not everyone who attends fashion school wants to be a designer. That's so clichéd. I don't have the talent or the desire. Hasn't this guy read my profile, which says that I dream of becoming a fashion journalist? Still, the fact that he likes my style makes me smile. I guess news that I'm going to be part of the Shanghai exchange program has gotten around. I decide to scroll through Henry's account. That's what fashion students do — we check out each other's style online. Not because we're shallow, but because we're a community and find each other inspirational. My heart stops for a second when I see his account.
It's filled with pictures of stunning locally made clothes, quotes about protecting the environment, and travel photos. Judging by his impressive feed, he must travel extensively. I've read that accessing Instagram from inside China can be tricky. Over the past decade, the Chinese government has blocked Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the New York Times, and thousands of other foreign websites. A bunch of Chinese websites serve the same function instead. Henry must post on Instagram while he's out of the country. I've also heard that it's possible to visit external websites from within China by using a virtual private network, or VPN.
There's one particularly beautiful photo of Henry standing in the desert of Jaisalmer in India. He's wearing a hat and a white shirt, a pair of torn jeans, and a bold fuchsia pashmina silk scarf. Again, I'm taken by his smile, and the scenery takes my breath away.
I can't help myself. Within seconds, I find myself pulled in.
So I scroll.
And I scroll some more.
His sense of visual storytelling, something we learned about during our first semester at Parsons, is impeccable, a powerful mix of fashion, eco-consciousness, and nature shots. That's basically what all Instagram users are doing — storytelling. We're creating a persona, of sorts, and telling the world about our little corner of the universe and our vision of ourselves. Henry's writing is insightful, too. I like what I see.
This thought makes my heart flutter a beat, and within a nanosecond, I think of Jonathan. What am I doing?
I'm hit with a pang of guilt. I need to stop scrolling right now. I'm dating an amazing guy who's totally loving and kind. I shouldn't be interested in anyone else.
A ton of questions barrel through my mind. Is what I'm doing considered cheating? Is it more than just curiosity? What is it called, anyway? Is there a term for it?
I tell myself there's nothing wrong with what I'm doing, really. Henry reached out to me, and my looking through his profile is just research about the exchange program in China. Right?
Probably not. Henry is looking forward to meeting me in Shanghai. So no, it's not the same thing. I need to stop this now.
I turn off my phone. It's way too much guilt and too many questions for my foggy brain this early in the morning. I'll answer Henry's message later, after school, maybe, once I've had a chance to think about it.
We'll see what the future brings.
For now, I'll just focus on finishing my second semester in New York and then getting myself to Shanghai for the summer term without any major hiccups or drama.
And that's enough work for one day, isn't it?
Hey Henry, thanks for your message. Looking forward to Shanghai! I may need some tips about the city when I get there. I'm half-French, half-Chinese, but I've never been to Shanghai. BTW, I noticed your interest in eco-fashion.
That's awesome, it's one of the topics I like to write about on my blog, Bonjour Girl. See you soon! Take care,
Clementine
I notice that he's online. Within seconds, I receive a response. I feel my pulse quickening.
Oh hello! Great to hear from you, Clementine. I'll be happy to provide all the tips you need. I was born in Hong Kong, studied in New York, and have been living in Shanghai for a few years. It's a really cool place! And I actually read your blog already. I'm a fan of your writing and all those great interviews. Keep it up!
H.
He's a fan of my writing. He reads my blog. He likes my quirky style. He's devastatingly handsome. He's interested in protecting the environment.
The best thing to do is forget this exchange ever happened. Or at least try to forget this exchange ever happened. No, I'm definitely going to forget this exchange ever happened.
Well, I'm going to do my very best to forget it ever happened.
CHAPTER 2"HEY, CLEM. What's up with the goofy smile?" Jake asks as he sits down next to me in class. He's wearing a white hoodie, black track pants, and his funky sneakers with the silver stars.
"Huh?" I jump a little in my seat, obviously distracted. "Oh, it's nothing."
"Don't tell me it's nothing, sistah. I know you better than the inside of a Ruffles chip bag." He twirls his pencil and grins. "Are you dreaming about pretty boy again?"
"Um, I guess. Jonathan and I are having dinner tonight."
"Oh, cool. Whereabouts?"
"Some new sushi place near his apartment."
"Ooooh. How very convenient." He raises his eyebrows suggestively.
I'm crazy about Jonathan, but for some reason, this morning, I can't get Instagram Henry out of my mind. He's good-looking, there's no doubt about it, but it's more than that. It probably has something to do with my blog. It's like we both share the same goal: to use our social media platforms to raise awareness of sustainability issues in the fashion industry, and to educate the public about eco-fashion and how to be responsible consumers. It's refreshing to meet someone with a similar ideology to mine.
But I have to try to forget about Henry. I need to focus on my relationship, my fashion marketing class, and getting through this semester. We're two thirds of the way through already, and I need to maintain my focus all the way to the finish line. A fascinating course in an exciting new place awaits, and lots of people are counting on me to do well.
Our teacher enters the classroom. His name is Brian Reynolds, and he's a former Seventh Avenue marketing executive. He teaches us about the ins and outs of branding, which is critical in our industry.
Jake loves this class. He applies the concepts we learn to his own personal design project. He's creating a clothing line for people in wheelchairs, and so far, he's received lots of praise from classmates, faculty members, and Instagram users.
"So how's the collection going?" I ask him.
"It's coming along nicely. I've added a few more pieces.
Can't you tell from the dark circles under my eyes?" He does look tired, but I won't mention it. I know how sensitive he is about his usually fresh complexion.
"You're not getting enough sleep."
"I know, babycakes. But between work, school, and pursuing my dreams, it's been intense."
He looks away, avoiding my gaze. I have a feeling he's not telling me the entire story.
"Anything else bothering you?"
"Yeah, you could say that. Finances are tight. I could use some more moolah. Expenses are through the roof, and I spent the last of my scholarship money on fabrics last semester."
My heart sinks. I wish I could do something to help him out, but I'm not exactly rolling in it, either. I'm barely making ends meet with my allowance, and I'm trying to save some money for my trip to Shanghai.
"But don't worry about me, pussycat. I have ways of making ends meet and getting shit done. I'm a master manifestor," he says, still twirling his glitter pencil.
"Of course you are. You always get what you need.
You're my hero."
He looks away. For some reason, my compliment is making him uncomfortable.
I get it, though. Money problems can suck the life out of you. I saw my father go through it a few years ago, when his store in Paris ran into financial problems after the terrorist attacks. Tourism nosedived and sales slumped to zero. It was a tough time for all of us, and we were scared, but also defiant — we weren't about to let the actions of some ill-intentioned fanatics define our lives.
"How about meeting for a giant pretzel after class?" I ask Jake.
"Sorry, hon, not today. I got stuff to take care of," he says, lost in his thoughts. I can tell he's stressed. Jake rarely turns down a snack.
"Hey, guys, can I have a word before class starts?"
We look up to see Brian standing in front of us.
I'm intrigued. "Sure."
"Of course you can, sir," Jake says admiringly. Brian is so ruggedly handsome, he could be a model in a Nautica billboard ad. He's wearing a tan sports jacket, a striped crewneck T-shirt, and a bandana around his neck. The only thing missing is a sailboat.
Brian nods toward the door and we follow him out to the hallway.
"Listen, I just wanted to share some observations." We hunch forward like football players leaning in to discuss strategy as students stream by us.
"I'm only saying this because I care about you guys and I want to see you kick ass out in the real world, okay?" Jake and I nod in sync. We're getting a pep talk. It's all good.
"I was there at the awards ceremony when you won your award last semester, Jake, and when you received an honourable mention, Clementine. That was great work and well earned. But now, expectations are high, and as trailblazers, you need to lead the way. To keep impressing the Parsons faculty, you've got to push yourselves outside of your comfort zone. Try different things." He looks at us expectantly. Again, Jake and I both nod. As he describes the pressure we're under, I can almost feel it mounting.
"For example, Jake, you could broaden your project by creating samples not only for people in wheelchairs, but also for people with different types of disabilities."
Jake's face falls. I know this suggestion is unexpected, and he certainly doesn't need the extra work. But after a moment, he nods at Brian.
"And Clementine, you could try something new on Bonjour Girl. Maybe interview designers after their shows, around town, at home, from their showrooms … even film live interviews. Then you can link to their sites and those of their business partners and get a cut from any online sales they generate through your links. It's called affiliated selling — there's money in it, and the possibilities are endless."
I find myself nodding like Jake did, even though something in the back of my mind says no. This sounds too commercial, not what I had in mind when I launched my blog. I prefer to discuss social issues as they relate to the fashion industry, without a direct profit objective. How can I remain objective if I follow Brian's suggestion? Affiliated marketing sounds like crass commercialization.
"Both of you are on the cutting edge of what I teach in this class. Thinking outside the box like this is what'll take you places, I promise. And I want both of you to succeed, not only on paper, but in the real world, too. I want you to be financially successful. Does that make sense?" Brian asks. I nod. I want to show my willingness to explore new ideas, but what he's suggesting is hardly thinking outside the box. He wants to see more varied content on my site, and I guess he has a point. But all this talk of making money from sales makes me uneasy. On the bright side, it's rewarding to be singled out by a Parsons teacher who's interested in my blog and wants me to succeed. I'm just uncertain about changing the editorial direction of Bonjour Girl. I've put so much effort into creating a unique, independent voice to distinguish my content from that of other bloggers. I'm not sure I want to change it.
But what Brian is saying isn't criticism — it's encouragement, and there's a difference.
Jake and I look at each other. There's both excitement and panic in my friend's eyes. I'm sure the thought of being financially successful is appealing, but he's probably not keen about dealing with even greater pressure and workload. The lack of sleep must be getting to him. I know how driven Jake is, and I worry that Brian's comments will cause him to push himself even further when he can barely handle things now.
"Thanks for your support, and for the advice," I finally say. "I really value your opinion, Brian."
"Yeah, thanks," Jake chimes in.
"My pleasure. I call it like I see it. And I see success in your futures, so keep it up, okay?" He smiles and heads back into class.
I just wish there were more than twenty-four hours in a day. But, like Jake, I'll find a way. I always do.
"Jake, I'm having second thoughts," I say after we're back in our seats.
"What about?"
"Going to Shanghai."
"Whaddya mean? Being selected for the Condé Nast summer classes is like winning the frickin' lottery! You're going to one of the best fashion programs in the world. Are you off your rocker?"
"No, I'm just stressed out about it. It's so unfair that only I get to go when there are other talented people just as deserving. What if people think I got preferential treatment because I'm related to a Parsons teacher? What if I get bullied again? I don't think I could take it."
"Oh, stop it. Just because some asshole bullied you here in New York doesn't mean it'll happen in Shanghai. I'm sure the people are far more civilized there — not like in this crazy place."
"Right … maybe that's not the only reason I'm having doubts," I finally admit.
"What is it, then? Oh wait, I bet it has to do with lover boy."
He can see right through me. "Uh, well, maybe." I hate to admit it, but I am worried about my relationship with Jonathan. Long-distance dating can be tough. The stats say that the chances of surviving it are slim.
"What are you worried about, pumpkin?" Jake asks patiently.
But I remain silent. I can't put my feelings into words. I have mixed feelings about my boyfriend's job, which involves taking pictures of beautiful fashion models. Leaving him behind in New York is going to be tough on my spirit. And then there's the time difference. Will we survive this?
"Babe," Jake says finally, "you have adventures waiting for you in Asia. Stop wasting your precious energy worrying about some dude, okay? Besides, haven't you heard the old saying?"
"Which one?"
"If a woman hasn't met the right man by the time she's twenty-four, she may be very lucky."
"Nice try." His joke falls flat. I know Jake thinks I should focus on my future, not my boyfriend, but I just can't help it.
"What's the problem, Clemy?" he asks softly, this time without any sarcasm.
"I don't know, I'm worried he'll lose interest or something."
"Oh, geez. Do I need to remind you that he's already professed his love for you and given you a piece of family jewellery? I mean, you need to quit that shit, girl. It doesn't look good on you."
I go silent again. I know he's right. I hate feeling this way — it sucks.
"Listen, I have tickets to a Broadway show this week, a gift from my godmother. Let Uncle Jake take you out for a night on the town. Whaddya say?"
"That sounds amazing! Forget what I said. I'm over it already," I say, resolving to focus on all that's positive.
The question is, can I?
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Bonjour Shanghai"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Isabelle Laflèche.
Excerpted by permission of Dundurn Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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