Seeing as it's the month of inspiration here at Trashionista, I thought it would be great to check out some inspirational titles - especially this one, The Making of Mia. Author Ilana Fox's second novel, Spotlight, will be hitting the shelves in April 2010, and I'm looking forward to it as Mia is one of my favourites!Plain, dowdy and overweight aspiring journalist Joanne Hill has dreamed of being the editor of a glossy magazine since she was young. At her posh boarding school, which she attends due to a scholarship, Jo is surrounded by rich, thin and beautiful girls who make her everyday life a misery. Driven by her love for magazines, Jo tries to block out the bullying by reading and snacking, transporting her into a world where she's beautiful, successful and able to wear the best clothes and makeup.
Jo already has her future mapped out - go to university, get a degree, go to journalism college, and take over the magazine world. But her plan doesn't exactly work out, and when Jo doesn't get the grades she needs to get into uni, she finds herself back home on her London council estate, wondering what to do next.
It isn't long before Jo gets a new job in a local cafe. But with her seemingly continuous bout of bad luck, that doesn't go well, either. However, thanks to Amelia, Jo's only friend from boarding school, she soon finds herself a job in Hampshire at a pub, where she meets the lovely manager (and aspiring writer), William. Determined to shed some of her weight, Jo begins running each morning, and pretty soon, fellow runner William offers to train with her. Heart still set on becoming a magazine journalist, she's determined to realise her dream.
And at a party with Amelia, it seems as though Jo just might just have a lead - become a secretary at one of the magazines. Heading off to a London recruitment agency, Jo is ready...that is, until she's turned down because of her weight.
Upset yet still determined, Jo's on a mission to lose her weight, and when she returns to the agency, she's almost unrecognisable. Armed with her hopes and notebooks full of feature ideas, Jo leaves Hampshire and William behind for London.
Placed on the admin team at top magazine Gloss, Jo is ecstatic, and tries not to let the gossip and bitchiness of the other secretaries put her down. And soon, much to everyone's surprise, Jo is chosen from the secretarial pool to be the new PA to Gloss editor Joshua, if only for one reason...
Overworked, Jo remains on form in her new role, waiting until the time is right to showcase her ideas for loss to Joshua. However, that doesn't go to plan, either. Jo's ideas are ignored, jealous coworkers turn on her, and she think her talents are wasted...that is, until she meets Gloss jounalist Lucy. Lucy suggests freelancing for the magazine under a different name...and it works.
'Olivia Windsor', the new freelancer 'from New York', is taking Gloss by storm. Jo's ideas are adored, her bank balance is rapidly growing, and nobody suspects a thing. The downside? Jo's hours of work are starting to catch up with her, she's losing concentration and making small mistakes.
And one mistake is about to cost her the job...
Humiliated and fired, Jo heads out fo the Gloss building and doesn't look back. But still as determined as she was back in school, she vows to gain a future in the magazine business. And she'll get her revenge on Joshua, however long it takes.
Even if she has to become a whole new person...
The Making of Mia is an utterly brilliant read that I simply couldn't put down. Joanne's determination is inspiring, and she keeps aiming for her dream even though everything seems to go wrong for her in the beginning. Jo undertakes a makeover that isn't exactly simple, but it's about to make her dreams come true. I won't continue with the plot as it could ruin the rest of the book - so much happens to Jo and it's great to see her luck get better. The making of Mia is a wonderful, heart-warming and addictive read. I loved this book so much the first time that I read it again, and as previously mentioned, can't wait for Ilana Fox' next offering!
Rating: 5/5
