Book Review: Being Audrey Hepburn by Mitchell Kriegman

Being Audrey Hepburn by Mitchell Kriegman
Publisher: Audible Studios
Release Date: November 18, 2014
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

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.

Being Audrey Hepburn is a fairy tale of sorts. Lisbeth’s Cinderella story begins the night she tries on Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy gown from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s and is mistaken for a member of high society. From that moment, she’s swept into the world of the Rich and Famous and learns that that life in that world is very different from what you read in the tabloids and society pages.

I was swept up in Lisbeth’s fantasy world right along with her. She was living the dream life that I would have loved to have had at her age. Hanging out with the rich and famous, wearing fabulous clothes and attending elaborate parties – what more could you want? Of course, everything doesn’t stay fun as Lisbeth gets herself deeper into that world and starts to discover the truth about the people in it. And returning to her Jersey home with her alcoholic mom is always a harsh dose of what her reality really is.

I thought this book was a charming little read. It’s meant to be a young adult book but I enjoyed it and I think other adults would too, especially if you’re looking for a fun, beach type read. I listened to the audio book and thought the narrator, Suzy Jackson, did an outstanding job. Her voice for Lisbeth was spot-on for a 19 year-old girl. She was able to give all of the other characters unique voices. For some, it didn’t even sound like it was still her, the voice was so different from Lisbeth’s. Her voices for the male characters sounded like men. She’s one of the best audio book narrators I’ve listened to.

Recommended if you’re looking for something light and fun and doubly recommended if you’re an Audrey Hepburn fan.

(I received a copy of this audiobook courtesy of the publisher.)