Fashion Jungle is a cutthroat look at the world of fashion! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat with suspense, drama and romance. I'm incredibly blown away by and can't wait to read it all over again. I could NOT put this book down once I started it, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I even ugly cried at one point. Such a tragic and beautifully woven tales of love, loss and lies. This is my top recommended book of 2020 so far, and it'll be hard to beat! Such a powerhouse duo of talented writers, I'm still reeling even days later. **Fair warning: It could contain some triggers for some (it did for me), so just be aware going in.

Wow, this is quite a powerful read. Fashion Jungle by Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken left me breathless at times, and like Joey from friends, I wanted to put the book into the freezer during the unsettling parts. The world of fashion is a wild roller coaster ride, replete with in-house secrets, scandals, and super talented women.

This book focuses on four women: Brittany, Zoe, Everlee and Danica. They were discovered as teenagers and became the best of friends, as well as very successful models. They met many people along their journey and more than a few chipped away at their trust, integrity and quest for happiness. Furthermore, Danica's needless and tragic death forever changed them and the men in their lives.

Fashion Jungle is quite a page turner. I am typically not a romantic suspense fan, but this book was so well-written that I could not put it down. This story is chock full of intrigue, unique relationships, and three characters that I loved getting to know. The authors poured passion into their writing and as a result, their characters are well-developed and full of intensity. If you are in the mood for a suspenseful romance with a lot of heart and emotion, then this book is for you.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This was way better then i thought it would be. Great read. Love the fact tou get 4 different point of views

Fashion Jungle was definitely a bit different from what Rachel has written in the past, but it was equally as good. The book was enjoyable, and easy to read. Had some great twists that kept my interest. I am excited to see what comes next!

"Strap on your stilettos, it’s about to get wild."

Wild read, indeed. This story involves strong women, who have a special bond created by navigating the intense world of fashion. I really appreciated how determined and committed they are to each other and also to their priorities, even if it's hard at times. This book delivers all the right things - suspense, romance, and intrigue. It's real and raw and overwhelmingly powerful. I was left breathless after reading the last word, and the events gave me chills in the best way. This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a while. Highly recommend!

I have read a ton of Rachel’s books and was excited to start this one. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. The book hooks you from the very beginning. I don’t want to go into to much detail because I don’t want to give anything away but the friendship these women have with each other and their journey through the whole book was amazing. I liked how there was an overall theme but that each character had their own storyline as well. There were a few twists that I saw coming but then once it would happen something else I was not expecting would pop up and my jaw would drop. My only problem in the beginning of the book was keep everyone straight. There were a lot of character that were introduced at once so it took me a couple of chapters to remember who that character was in relation to everyone else. This will be a book that I reread over and over again.

Rachel Van Dyken is one of my all time favorite authors and I can remember seeing Kathy Ireland on TV and in magazines! Needless to say I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Fashion Jungle and these wonderful ladies did not disappoint!
As I began this novel I was immediately pulled in by the story of 4 young girls trying to make it in the fashion industry. I loved how they bonded, becoming more than best friends but sisters. When one of them goes missing it changes all their lives forever .
It was very eye opening to see what happens behind the lights, cameras and runways. Everything is not always as it appears in pictures or commercial.

This story is filled with suspense, drama, friendship and facing your fears. Kathy and Rachel truly delivered a masterful book that will leave you stunned and cheering at the end!

I highly recommend this book and praise Rachel Van Dyken and Kathy Ireland for an intense and highly thought provoking book!

I honestly am at a loss for words for this review. I don't even know where to really start.

This is a MUST read!

When the book first started, I was confused. It was a good confusion though.

The prologue has you wondering who was with Danica. Was it her friends? Was it other models that were jealous? Or was it someone else?

It sets the book up perfectly. But, I wouldn't expect anything less from Rachel Van Dyken.

I love how we get chapters from each of the main characters. Dane, Zoe, Brittany, and Everlee. They each have their secrets and the secrets all do come out.

Dane is the keeper of all secrets. He knows all about everyone. He also is the protector of the girls. He does run the underground. He's on a mission to get the truth behind his sister's death.

But, is he evil? Is it evil if you do bad things to get the bad guys caught?

Dane is completely in the gray area between good and bad, hero or villain.

I love the mystery and suspense. I loved not being able to figure it all out before it was fully revealed.

Reading this book was like putting a puzzle together and you don't know exactly what the picture is until those final pieces come together.

Now I'm curious about what parts are true and based on true events...

I received an advanced copy via Netgalley.

These two ladies did an awesome job with this book. It reminded me of the devil's wears Prada and pretty little liars. 4 perspectives woven to tell a tale. You almost get thrown in to this world and in all honesty you don't want to stop until you finish. Be prepared for a rough day after staying up late to finish.

I had no idea what to expect with Fashion Jungle. In all honesty I thought it was gonna be a chick lit book and I’m not a fan of those.

I was so wrong.

The fashion world is definitely not boring. That’s for sure. There was definitely uncomfortable parts but life has those, so why shouldn’t this? Suspense, romance and friendship were the cornerstones of this book.

This book had me reading so fast, and I don’t remember the last book that had me doing this. I definitely recommend Fashion Jungle.

This was written from multiple POVs that gave you a glimpse into behind the scenes of this intriguing world. The crazy part is, I’d bet my life that most of these things actually did happen in the fashion world. It IS a jungle after all.

When I finished FASHION JUNGLE, I sat there thinking holy guacamole was that ever a mind-blowing book. We've all heard about what a cut-throat industry the fashion world is …. but this book was so much more insightful into the daily lives of models. The sacrifices, the lies, the drugs, the fakeness, and just about anything else you could think of including a death. Part of what made this story so amazing is we got to follow the journey of four steadfast friends and the sisterhood that bonded them together empowering them to support one another.

The four women in this book Zoe, Danica, Brittany, and Everlee met each other when they were 14. Fresh faces arriving to the dream world of modeling with stars in their eyes and ready to become the next big name in modeling. Fashion Jungle begins years later with these four friends preparing for “fashion week.” Fashion week by itself is a very busy time preparing the new line of clothing for exhibition, getting your models lined up, as well as any last-minute snafu that may arise.

But let’s not forget that these ladies each have men in their life too. A politician, a photographer, a surgeon and then there was Dane! I say that because Dane’s role was not clearly defined. He was like the person who kept his eye on everything and made things happen, with questionable mafia connections. Most specifically he was working to figure out who had murdered his sister Danika. Danika’s death which had left a gaping hole among these women.

Each woman had her own story to tell.
Zoe and Dane will keep you entertained until the end!!
Brittany and the politician who was there until he wasn’t.
Everlee and her photographer husband.
Danica and what actually happened to her.
Each story is filled with its own rollercoaster of emotion, trials and tribulations.
But it’s also about each of these women finding themselves again, along with the support and love of their friends.

This book is a great read and I think that you will also savor the camaraderie and love these women share.

When I finished FASHION JUNGLE, I sat there thinking holy guacamole was that ever a mind-blowing book. We've all heard about what a cut-throat industry the fashion world is …. but this book was so much more insightful into the daily lives of models. The sacrifices, the lies, the drugs, the fakeness, and just about anything else you could think of including a death. Part of what made this story so amazing is we got to follow the journey of four steadfast friends and the sisterhood that bonded them together empowering them to support one another.

The four women in this book Zoe, Danica, Brittany, and Everlee met each other when they were 14. Fresh faces arriving to the dream world of modeling with stars in their eyes and ready to become the next big name in modeling. Fashion Jungle begins years later with these four friends preparing for “fashion week.” Fashion week by itself is a very busy time preparing the new line of clothing for exhibition, getting your models lined up, as well as any last-minute snafu that may arise.

But let’s not forget that these ladies each have men in their life too. A politician, a photographer, a surgeon and then there was Dane! I say that because Dane’s role was not clearly defined. He was like the person who kept his eye on everything and made things happen, with questionable mafia connections. Most specifically he was working to figure out who had murdered his sister Danika. Danika’s death which had left a gaping hole among these women.

Each woman had her own story to tell.
Zoe and Dane will keep you entertained until the end!!
Brittany and the politician who was there until he wasn’t.
Everlee and her photographer husband.
Danica and what actually happened to her.
Each story is filled with its own rollercoaster of emotion, trials and tribulations.
But it’s also about each of these women finding themselves again, along with the support and love of their friends.

This book is a great read and I think that you will also savor the camaraderie and love these women share.

I was so blessed to receive an eARC of Fashion Jungle and I was soooo excited to read this book! I knew it was going to be phenomenal and it was even more than I could’ve imagined. Read on for my honest review!

5 ⭐️’s
If a 10 star rating was a thing Fashion Jungle would have it! Whatever expectations or impressions you have for this book throw them away! Fashion jungle will exceed all of your expectations and isn’t something you can imagine. It’s a romance, coming of age, second chance, mystery, and suspense novel rolled up into a raw, realistic, crazy beautiful package!

I’m not going to lie, the blurb hooked me from the start. Once I read the prologue I knew 3 things. 1. I loved Dane and I would fall even more in love with him the more I read. 2. This was going to be a book that left its mark; book hangover anyone? 3. This is a book you’ll read over and over again.

I haven’t read a book that wasn’t a romance in a very long time. I was nervous but excited. I should’ve known that a book written by Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken would be able to hold my attention, scramble my brain, make me feel alllll the feelings, and leave me with an epic book hangover! You will love this book. It will make you think and feel things that will make your brain and heart hurt but you’ll love it! I hope this is just the beginning of something spectacular from these two powerhouses because I NEED MORE!!!

Fashion Jungle will leave you feeling wrecked and wanting more! You NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE!!!

I didn’t know what to expect going in. I wasn’t even that interested in the whole thing, but decided to take a leap of faith and give it a try. This is one of my favorite works of Rachel and now Kathy! With the multiple POVs, I thought I would get lost, but it actually was weaves together really well. This is a book that I truly believe everyone needs to read. It’s so important in today’s society. There is some Christian influences within one of the characters, but it was so true to that character that I didn’t feel like it was “in my face”. Definitely recommend, 5 stars for going through the Jungle.

This is not your typical romance and honestly had I not gotten an ARC I probably wouldn't have picked it up based on the blurb. But I am so glad that I did read it because it was different and interesting. I think I would have liked it better had they waited until the end to say that it was all based on real life but that's just how my brain works. The book follows the lives and legacy of 4 women. I say legacy because one of these 4 is dead and the book deals with the lives left behind. It also gives a startling view into the world of fashion in New York City. And it doesn't stop at the weight of the models that many now talk about in the mainstream. No it goes into the nitty gritty and it goes through the past of each of these women. I do want to give a trigger warning here though because one of the women deals with domestic abuse and assault. If that is something you don't want to read then this isn't a book for you. Finally, I want to restate that this isn't a romance novel in the way that most think about them (i.e. sex scenes) there aren't any in this one but the relationships that are built upon are so good you just want them to succeed.

“There is no in between. That’s not life, and that’s not how people should love, with only part of their souls or just when it’s easy and pretty. Love is ugly, it’s painful, it’s full of sorrow, long days, terror filled nights. Love asks for everything and nothing all at once. I love the only way a person should love. With every part of me that’s tethered to this universe”

It’s a jungle out there! Wow! Just Wow! What a uniquely, thrilling, lusciously dramatic, romantic and suspenseful read! Based on true stories and events, we felt like voyeurs, enjoying a ‘behind the scenes’ look into the mired world of the fashion industry, through the eyes of three very different, formidable yet achingly vulnerable best friends. With twenty years in the fashion industry, Zoe, Everlee and Brittany, have secrets…many, many secrets and we were dying to hear all of them. Starting with the death of their best friend Danica.

“…this city has a way of hurting you in ways I don’t think most cities do. Like you said, New York is a living, breathing thing, isn’t it? A monster if you let it be. Or a savior. An escape. It can be whatever you want it to be, and I came here thinking it would be this great adventure. And it was, but everything has a cost, you know?”
“What was your cost?”

The gripping synopsis gives you all you need to know about this story and its various players and it’s a story that’s best enjoyed completely spoiler free. As we closed the last page, we felt as though we knew each of the characters intimately, experiencing the myriad of emotions felt by the characters, desperate to uncover their pasts and devour the secrets they slowly shared with us.

‘Love wasn’t cut and dried, and if you couldn’t fight for something, that meant a person didn’t deserve to have it in the first place…….
He’d fight for the rest of his life to deserve her.’

Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken make an incredible and exciting writing partnership bringing swoony romance, unrequited love, political and celebrity scandals and buried secrets between all characters. Secrets that bubble to the surface and threaten to explode in the weeks leading up to New York Fashion Week. Oh gosh, it was all so DELICIOUS! We couldn’t get enough!

“Sometimes, men have no choice but to become monsters to protect those they love from the darkness.”

Kathy Ireland and RVD strikingly captured the passion of these women, their strength, their camaraderie and the hurt and the take downs that marred their confidence. Yes, they were beautiful and had the world at their feet, yet they were crippled by insecurity in an industry brimming with predators and people prepared to tear you down. Their resilience was a credit to them.

It’s not just the women who held us spellbound, there were two unbelievably gorgeous men who completely stole our hearts. The sweet and swoony Dr Oliver Desmond (the way Oliver leans against a door frame…talk about swoooon) and the mysteriously mouth-watering devil in a dark suit, Dane Saldino, whose cloak and dagger antics had us on the edge of the seat. His love for his sister Danica, and her friends, his ingrained protectiveness towards these women made our hearts swoon! We would LOVE a Dane Saldino spinoff! Prepare to fall hard and fast for these guys!

‘…..when you loved Dane, you loved the good and the bad. You loved the man and the monster. ‘

We were completely enthralled by Fashion Jungle from start to finish! Our inquisitive minds were teased, our romantic hearts were tantalised, and our venturesome ways were satiated in this story of friendship and love against a backdrop of lies and betrayal. Clever, poignant inventive storytelling with a real life feeling woven between the pages ensured we enjoyed every single moment!

‘He’d save her because he was selfish. Because he saw, he fell, he wanted.’

This was an interesting collaboration in my opinion. I absolutely love Rachel Van Dyken as a human and a writer, and to see her team up with Kathy Ireland, one of the women I looked up to as a child within the industry was really cool. It was really a fun read trying to figure out what parts of the story were influenced by real situations and which were just made up. I like seeing the different stories between the 4 girls as well as the dynamic.. I feel like the timeline was a good set up for pacing. it didn't feel rushed even though I did find that i kind of called the ending a little early. overall Rachel and Kathy put together a great story. I loved the elements of mystery and intrigue within the story. The different POV's were appreciated though there were voices that I preferred more than others. I loved that the emotions in the book seemed so palpable at least to me they did. I would gladly read another book co-authored by these two!

Holy emotional rollercoaster. I am having a lot of feels in regards to this book, especially as I close the last page and wipe tears from my face. I wasn't expecting to be so emotionally gutted but here we are. This is a unique story, part mystery, part romance, part scandal and part inspiring...I am left wanting more but at the same time hopeful for all these characters.

The story is centered around 4 friends, each with secrets and a determination to make it to the top of the modeling world/fashion industry. You only hear about Danica through memories but her spirit is still haunting all her loved ones. Zoe is a fierce, determined spit-fire. Brittany is your wholesome small-town girl. Everlee is the picture of perfection, but we all know looks can be deceiving. These girls bantered like sisters and they way the supported and uplifted each other left me awe-inspired.

As secrets are reveal, I found my jaw hitting the floor time and time again. Just when I thought the plot twists were over, Rachel and Kathy would throw another surprise I never saw coming. I found myself laughing one chapter and feeling anxious for these characters the next. I can find both touches of Rachel and Kathy throughout the story and that just endeared me to it all the more.

I was worried that the multiple POVs would be an issue, but it was the opposite. I didn't want to put the story down because I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. The plot was just as fast paced as you expected for the gritty underbelly of modeling. Seriously, I am still reeling from some of the revelations!

What I wasn't expecting was the emotional attachment to characters. I found myself tearing up near the end, even though I was desperately fighting it. It's classic Rachel Van Dyken, with a twist. This story is so much more than a mystery or romance, it's a light shone on an issue frequently swept under the rug...and I will never look at the world of modeling the same again.

What. A. Ride. I am not sure what I expected but this was not it. I spent the first half wondering who was good vs bad and what the hell are all these secrets everyone is holding on to so desperately. The second half was my favorite. The development of characters was done in such a unique way. Doctor Oliver... where are you in real life I have some single friends. Dane... everybody loves a bad boy 😝 Zoe, Brittany, Danica and Everlee... who runs the world? GIRLS!

Fashion, friendship, love, loss and ohhhhh the secrets. Don’t miss out on this ride.

What a look into the fashion world! Who knew it could be so ugly? This book is everything you expect from a Rachel Van Dyken book with the added bonus of Kathy Ireland’s first handed experience in the fashion world. It was easy to get sucked into this book. It definitely gave me a look at the fashion industry and the ugliness that lurks beneath the surface. It was easy to become invested in the characters as you read on in the story. The book has everything suspense, heat and a page turning story line!

Thank you netgalley and Rachel and Kathy for my ARC.

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

“Because that was the dream. Look past the face. See the woman beneath.”

There are very few romances that offer you so much in a simple read. Enter Kathy Ireland’s and Rachel Van Dyken’s newest book, Fashion Jungle. In its most basic form exists a story of four women and their successes in the world of fashion and beyond, complicated by the relationships that circle their lives. In this book, there is truly a trope or genre for anyone which makes it an easy read and one that readers cannot leave so easily.

Based on true stories, Fashion Jungle follows four models and one of the brothers of the models, Zoe, Brittany, Everlee, and Danica, along with Dane, Danica’s brother. Each of these women has achieved greatness as supermodels in the fashion industry. Yet, each of them struggles with the challenges of their present lives. Underpinning their story lies a story of suspense. Ireland and Van Dyken have woven into the tapestry of this book a seedy lining of human trafficking and its dangers. There is so much to embrace as you read Fashion Jungle that, at times, it can be overwhelming. However, it’s a reminder that money, power, and influence sometimes hide the darkest places of our world.

The female characters of Fashion Jungle are its power. Ireland and Van Dyken have crafted women who struggle yet exert their strength when it’s important to the story. As each of their stories offer struggle after struggle, in the end, each of them stands in their own power. Yes, Danica’s brother, Dane, acts to help each of them, but Zoe’s, Brittany’s, and Everlee’s tenacity breaks the bonds that bind them and allows them to choose their own paths in the end. Through their characterization, Ireland and Van Dyken challenge societal perceptions of beauty and intelligence in creating heroines who are more than their outer beauty. They are not only iconic former models; they are entrepreneurs, political minds, and women able to undermine the evil of their world. Ireland and Van Dyken give us examples of powerful women: intelligence and beauty combined.

One of the interesting aspects of Fashion Jungle is its storytelling. Each chapter offers the point of view of a different character. With that, the reader receives a different trope: second chance, secret baby, friends-to-lovers, etc. Even more, while this story offers insight into the past world of Ireland, it also tells a story of suspense and intrigue. Fashion Jungle isn’t a romance; it’s a compilation of fictionalized memoirs, hitting on a variety of tropes. Each story is brilliantly interwoven together, moving us forward into each character’s story, while telling a bigger story of the dangers of this world. There is literally something for everyone in this book, meaning that it has the ability to engage a broad audience of readers. That trait can be both positive and negative. On the one hand, it can confuse your reader (this was a challenge of mine in the earlier parts of the book), but it has a greater reach. Yes, Van Dyken is a romance writer, but the romance feels secondary to the true nature of this book, which feels more like Ireland’s memoirs. And I found that the most intriguing. My brain was awash with the want to find out the identities of women modeled after Ireland’s own experiences. It’s that want that draws you deeper into the story. And it’s the multiple points of view and variety of tropes that keep the reader there.

Beyond its heroines and the intricate storytelling, Fashion Jungle awards Van Dyken’s romance readers with couples whose chemistry is palpable, page after page. Dane and Zoe represent the passionate couple set for denial. Dane’s persona threatens Zoe, yet she finds herself tethered to him emotionally. The tension of their coupling pulls at the reader, one minute wanting their happy ending, but worried that Zoe might lose herself in the treachery of Dane’s work. Brittany and Oliver’s easiness and friendship stand in contrast to Zoe and Dane and Everlee and Frederick. These two represent two people who develop a friendship before they fall into a relationship. This is important as it affords an alternative to the man of Brittany’s past, Ronan, the man for whom she lost a piece of herself. That relationship shows the complication of loving a man who can only love himself, while Oliver loves Brittany simply and completely, allowing her to hold true to herself. On the other end of the relationship spectrum lies Everlee and her husband, Frederick, who is nothing more than a self-serving, dangerous snake. This relationship represents a relationship of abuse. In creating this variety, Ireland and Van Dyken are suggesting that the best relationships are the ones founded upon friendship and sacrificial love. Even Dane, who seems overbearing and manipulative, loves Zoe with every part of his being and is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for her. In reading Fashion Jungle, it’s clear that romance is secondary to the stories of our heroines, but it’s necessary for their heroic evolution.

There is something iconic about Kathy Ireland’s and Rachel Van Dyken’s Fashion Jungle. Pouring over its pages, you feel as though you have entered a secret world filled with intrigue and well-kept secrets. My mind could not stop in its conjuring of real-life people to match the fictionalized characters of its pages. And it’s that action that makes reading Fashion Jungle an interesting and important read. Above all of this is a warning, though. The gravity of this book is the dangers that women (and men) of this industry can find themselves in as they offer themselves up for consumption. There are ideas here about outer beauty as an ideal. If you read Fashion Jungle and come away never understanding that human trafficking is a real problem both in the fashion world and beyond, then you have missed the depth of Fashion Jungle’s story. Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken have created a world that both engages us and challenges us to do better for ourselves and others.