Fashion Jungle is suspense meets the fashion world meets mafia meets decades of friendship meets romance. It’s a gripping set of intertwined stories about friends that have been in the fashion world for what feels like forever.

Although this is my first time venturing into the fashion world via romance, it is truly a stunning display of friendship, love, and betrayal. The characters are intriguing and beg of you to keep reading. Their stories are engaging and Dane and Zoe’s storyline drew me in and Brittany was a unique character that holds the reader captive waiting to see what happens next.

Expect a rollercoaster of emotions to hit you as you read Fashion Jungle, hold on tight and enjoy the ride. From behind the scenes, fashion world moments to threatening moments to sad moments you wish hadn’t happened to romance that was bound to happen – it’s a fantastic read.

The collaboration of Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken has created a novel not to miss. It’s full of suspense, intrigue, and even a bit of honesty. Beautifully written and executed.

I’m not going to lie. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. I’m not big into fashion. But this book wasn’t only about fashion! It was four stories in one! It has mystery, it has romance, it has feels. This book made me tear up in a couple places.

If you’re debating on whether or not you’ll be interested in this book don’t debate. Pick it up and read it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised like I was!!! This book is definitely one of the best books I’ve read in over a year!!!

I loved reading about Brittany, Ronan, Oliver, Zoe and Everlee! I loved their connection. I would love to read more about all these characters!!!

Omg wow, I just finished Fashion jungle and I'm feeling shocked (In a good way) and not sure what to say about this book other than this was hands down an amazing story from Rachel Van Dyken. You really really brought this to life and I felt part of the story. And I love that is was in 4 POVs. I've read a lot of Rachel's books over the years and this has to be one that will stand out for me. A big congrats Rachel.

Anyone that has read my reviews, followed my reviews, or follows Wickedcoolflight book blog knows that I’m a long-time Rachel Van Dyken fan. And since I stal…er…follow her closely (cough, cough), I’ve known about Fashion Jungle for quite a while. And I sat (mostly) patiently waiting until I was able to get my hands on it. And once I did, there was absolutely no way I was going to start this book at bedtime because I knew I’d be sucked right in and not want to put it down until I had read every last page. And I was NOT wrong! (Hey…I’m a mom, and we’re usually right, after all!)

Fashion Jungle grabbed me from the very first sentence of the prologue and had my undivided attention until the very last word. I literally devoured it in one afternoon, banning my entire family from talking to me or asking me for anything until I was one hundred percent DONE with it! And when it was all said and done, I honestly had to take a few days to just let it all sink in and to process it. I’m old enough to remember Kathy Ireland’s rise to fame, and knowing this book was based on real events had my brain in overdrive once I finished reading. The phrase supermodel might have been coined a few decades before my childhood, but most of my growing up years were during the heyday of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover supermodels and true supermodels of the fashion industry. Most of us little girls dreamed of an exciting career in modeling in New York and/or Paris. Reading Fashion Jungle made me so glad I never really tried to pursue that pipe dream. Today, unfortunately––or maybe, fortunately––almost everyone is aware of how prevalent sexual assault and sex trafficking are in our world. But in the 1980s and 1990s, it wasn’t something we heard much about. At least not in my circles. My heart is still breaking for all of the young ladies in the fashion industry that were made to feel less than during that time. Fashion Jungle was most definitely an eye-opener. And it made me want to be able to go back in time and let every one of them know that they were enough and never less than. But it wasn’t just about tragedy and despair. Its bigger message, to me at least, was about triumphing despite horrible, and sometimes horrific, circumstances. That it’s possible to overcome impossible situations when you simply refuse to give up and put one foot in front of the other, day after day.

While the stories penned in Fashion Jungle are based on real-life events, I’d be doing it a huge disservice if I didn’t highlight just how talented––and with a wicked cool imagination (ha!)––Rachel Van Dyken is. Long-time fans of her stories will not be disappointed in Fashion Jungle despite its detour from her normal writing style. It’s less romance and more romantic suspense than we normally expect from her books, but all of the emotion we’re used to her pulling from us with her words is absolutely still there. It’s incredibly well written and will not disappoint those of us who have loved her words for so long.

NICUnurse’s Rating: I’m not even going to delve into any of the characters or storylines because it’s too easy to fall into the spoiler category, and I do NOT want to spoil one second of this book for anyone. It is just that good! The characters became so incredibly real to me as I read the story, and I could picture––and feel––all of the crazy energy of New York City in nearly every scene. It was written in a way that made it so easy to picture it playing out in my head just like a movie. (Hmm…) And when it was all said and done, I’ll confess to spending a good bit of time with my friend, Google! It was truly a rollercoaster ride of an emotional book. Some character’s worlds were absolutely coming together as some other’s lives were falling apart. You were given a bit of the warm fuzzies just before a good gut punch…and everything in between.

I give Fashion Jungle by Rachel Van Dyken and Kathy Ireland a resounding 5 out of 5 stars!

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the telling in multiple voices. I learned something about the fashion world and I was entertained. That makes the whole thing worthwhile.

Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken regaled us with a tale of what happens behind the scenes in the fashion industry. Some of it is fiction and some is the truth but it really shows how much everybody’s worth is measured in a currency of secrets and who you know. There are hard topics that were handled brilliantly. This book will reel you in and consume you in the best way and keep you waiting to find out all the secrets and how everything comes together. This book surprised me in the best way with all 4 point of views and dying to know what was going to happen next.

“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 here because he was selfish. Because he saw, he fell, he wanted.’

What a great book! It's a little "Project Runway" and a little "Sopranos" mixed in with some mystery and romance. The fact that this book is based on real life events is freaking sad and so scary, but the fact that real life is sad and scary is part of what makes this book so good! This is a story of survival and friendship. It's about love and loss and staying true to yourself. It's about the decisions you make that shape the rest of your life. It's about second chances. After reading this book, you'll never look at the world of fashion and modeling the same way. And that's probably a good thing!

Expect the unexpected
This new novel by RVD is everything and more. It takes you on an unexpected ride through a world so unknown for most of us.
The story of those three main characters, Britany, Zoe and Everlee is so captivating that it is impossible to not feel for them, hurt for them.
Knowing that this is partially based on real life events makes you see that the world out there, also in general, is dark and twisty and not everything that shines is gold. And it is scary to know that there are indeed people who take advantage of young girls and boys who have this one dream and just don’t know any better.
This novel, co-written with Kathy Ireland, is not the typical RVD read. It is so much more. It is intense and once you turn the first page it won’t let you go. Even after finishing. It’s going to be stuck in your head. It gets you thinking about the important things as well as the little things and how grateful we all should be for all of them. Cause it is a jungle out there and you never know when it gets to you.
Don’t miss this fantastic book about dreams and hope, success and failure, about the ugly and the pretty out there and everything in between.

Brittany, Zoe, Everlee, and Danica... These four ladies have one common bond that ties them together, Fashion Model. The trials, tribulations, and harrowing encounters the ladies experience as they strived to reach the top and then to maintain their status are surprisingly difficult. Each model shares her most vulnerable secrets and you are privy to their behind closed doors lives. The strength that Brittany gains from her faith is inspiring to not only her friends but also to the reader. Although this is a fictional novel, there is a deeper truth that is shared about what young models encounter as they enter this indunstry. Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dylan have brought us a book of love, intrigue, friendship, empowerment, and ultimately the strength in having faith. I highly recommend this book.

This is a story of four women Brittany, Zoe, Everlee and Danica who as teenagers dreamed of the glamour and prestige of fashion and modeling but years later, they find out that not all that glitters is gold. They have all reached their present in different ways, have different experiences but each have pasts that they want to remain private and regrets about what they have done and what they should have done.

When one of their inner circle is no longer with them, the rest are struggling to come to terms with the aftermath. They along with Danica’s brother Dane are determined to expose the fashion world for what it truly is but their mission won’t be without its collateral damage.

This is a story of a deep enduring friendship between four strong women who are with each other through all the elation and devastation that life brings. It is a story of love lost and love found filled with intrigue and twists that show once again that things aren’t always as they appear.

When I saw that Fashion Jungle was being co-authored by Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken, I was instantly intrigued. Ms. Van Dyken is one of my favorite authors so I was interested to see how their collaboration would play out. I have to say I really enjoyed it. A view of the inner workings of the fashion and modeling industry combined with a mystery, domestic abuse and much more kept me turning the pages.. The authors definitely squeezed as much into this book as they could. They were able to shine a spotlight on many important topics.

Fashion Jungle focuses on the lives of three fashion models, Brittany, Everlee and Zoe, who met one another when they were fourteen. One of their friends , Danica, recently died. Each of them is dealing with difficult challenges and each of them has secrets. In addition, the other major character is Dane, Danica's brother who is in love with Everlee. This book shows that you never know what is truly going on in someone's life. Just because things look good from the outside, the interior might be in tatters. So many people envied these women for their fame and fortune as top models, but their lives were anything but wonderful.

Also, I loved the relationship between these women. Their commitment to their friendship was simply amazing. It is a rare thing to find friendships that can endure a lifetime but the ones the authors wrote of in this book were that special kind. The ones where you know they always have your back no matter what.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read the blurb but this book was so much more than that! I really wasn't sure what I was going to be getting but I knew with red and Kathy Iteland writing it, I'd give it a chance. I mean come on! Lol I'm so glad that I did!

So much love in this book but also behind the scenes. The heartbreaks, the tragedies but the LOVE. Oh the feelings, the love, the friendships that never die.

So much in this book!

3.75 Pulling the Curtain Way Stars
* * * 3/4 Spoiler Free
Every generation has beauty icons they look up to...or are fascinated by. The Original Ones were the Real Movie Stars...Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor...the names could go on and on...Then we had the emergence of the models of the '60s that became the faces that stared out at us, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Veruschka, Patti Boyd and so many others...Each decade had their stars, their Supermodels...the '70s brought us Iman, Lauren Hutton, Janice Dickerson, Beverly Johnson...again so many.

Which brings us to Kathy Ireland. She was the Good Girl Next Door of the '80s. She was out there fighting the runways and magazine covers with a pack of amazing women, Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley, Paulina Porizkova, Elle Macpherson, Kim Alexis, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and others.

Kathy Ireland was out there being on the covers little girls dreamed of...Sports Illustrated to Vogue. But Ms. Ireland had something special, a critical eye and support system many did not have. She has been massively successful outside of the modeling industry before it was "The Thing". There is much out there to learn about all of her ventures.

I touch on this only to give a background to how rare it is to have the "Real Deal" about the Fashion Industry during those years and how cutthroat it is. All of the storylines in this book ring true. The fact Ms. Ireland has partnered with the icon Rachel Van Dyken makes this project even more enticing.

We have all read the stories of how young girls are plucked from families...with the stars and glamour in their eyes and hearts.

Promises are whispered in the ears of parents and caretakers...
We will look out for them...
We will make sure they are protected...
They will eat well and get their rest...
We will take care of them as if they are our Own Children...
The money they will make will change their lives...and yours forever...

During these times, there was little internet, no Twitter, or streaming-only TV and Slick Fashion magazines. Runways in all the big fashion capitals like New York City, Rome, Paris, and all the others were the goals. Advertising Campaigns needing new faces to promote their products had just started to become the Golden Ticket. These were the promises and young girls where blinded by the lights.

We are given the stories and secrets of four 14-year-old girls brought into the business at the same time. They are housed in an apartment that is like a dorm...from hell. It is owned by the model agency where the cost of feeding them, housing them and any other costs happen are charged back to them when they leave...successful or mostly not.

For us who may have followed all of these things back in the day, remember reading and learning about Eileen Ford and her agency. She did exactly that...apartments where she "took care of the girls" like they were her own.

These four girls develop a very special bond and even in death it is not broken. We have stories told from each POV. We also are given a mystery, a long-held love for one of the women and the launching of a new fashion line.

The entire timeline is over the ramp-up to New York Fashion Week. In seventeen days many lives are changed. Secrets are revealed and discoveries between all of them test the bonds.

I was drawn by the authors and subject matter. It has romance but is more of a women's fiction/suspense. There were heavy emotional moments, spiritual ones and reaffirming ones.

The fashion world is a jungle - eat or be eaten. Three friends who got their modeling start together are now 20 years older and wiser than when we met. They are also grieving the loss of the 4th member of their band of friends. Brittany is the good girl, with her Bible ever at her side, hiding a secret from long ago that haunts her to this day. Zoe is the natural leader, but is trying to avoid paying back a debt with a vow of marriage. Everlee has the picture perfect marriage, with cracks hiding below the surface. And Danica is the one they lost, ever the life of the party, her secret might just be the biggest of them all.

I liked these women from the very start, even though I struggled to find the story they were telling together. These women each have their own struggles and secrets weighing them down. As their stories unfolded I found myself pulled into their world, pulled into the mystery of what was really going on in each of their lives.

That ending though! I struggled to connect with the characters and the jungle that is the fashion world, but that ending! As Dane come closer to solving the mystery I found myself guessing what was coming next. Even though he was doing so much to help the women, I sometimes wondered if his secrets made him a character I could trust, which kept me constantly questioning everyone.

This was a bit of a genre shift for Rachel, and though I wasn’t sure it was going to be truly for me, since I am not into fashion or the industry, but once I settled into the characters, it had everything I look for in a good book: compelling backstories, interesting plot twists (with a little bit of suspense), and characters that make me root for them.

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I went into this book completely blind. I had no clue what to expect but I am a fan of RVD so I am like what the heck. The beginning of the book lays the foundation of the characters in the book. All the characters lives are intertwined with one another and the fashion industry in some way. I am not familiar with the life of models or the fashion industry so I really enjoyed how this book gave me insight. I loved the character. On the outside one would think models have it all but it was refreshing to see the struggles that the characters were dealing with. This book had it all jealousy, secrets, lies, and betrayal. There was definitely enough drama to keep the reader engaged. The different perspectives that we get in the book is another great benefit. This book is so different for me but I enjoyed it. If you are looking for a book that is outside of the box, that takes you on a journey this is the book to read.

First I want to start off by saying this book is amazing, but its also heartbreaking and gut wrenching. It is also REAL, and so so beautiful. Its so sad to know that these things are happening in the fashion industry. I think this book is incredibly brave, as are all of the characters in it.

This review has taken me some time to write so I could take some time and appropriately gather my thoughts on it. I’m still not sure I’ve fully done that. To be honest, at times I felt like Fashion Jungle was hard to read. As with most humans, I tend to shy away from things that make me uncomfortable but I’m so glad I kept reading.

It was beyond amazing to watch as these characters really grew, faced fears and made the hard decisions. I was fully invested in every one of their stories and was rooting for them the whole time.

theres plenty of reviews that will go in depth as to the plot line and give summaries but I’m not going to do that. I like to write how the book made me feel and more importantly if Id recommend it or not. So do I? YES, X1000.

It starts off a little confusing as you get a feel for the where the characters are at and whose who but you will quickly be immersed and captivated in the story. This is not the kind of book I usually tend to read, and if that is also the case for you and you’re thinking about this, give it a chance. I really think you’ll fall in love.

Bravo to RVD and Kathy Ireland on an incredible book. Despite the difficult subject matter this book was epic and fully blew me away. 5 stars well deserved.

Whoa what a story! This is a fiction book about the dark side of the fashion world and how cutthroat it can really be. I hear some of the story is based on true events, and I’d love to know exactly what! It would definitely make for a great movie or TV series.

The book immediately opens up with a bang from the prologue and you’re really trying to figure out what is going on. The story is told by multiple narrators. I did struggle with how many characters there were and keeping them all straight. You get tiny breadcrumbs of information from each, leading to some big reveals. There were a whole lot of secrets and lies. It was dark and twisted. The girls have emotional back stories, which could be a trigger warning for some readers. It hits on many important but hard to read subjects. The ending was exactly what we needed for closure. I’d love more stories from this duo!

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

It is a world where you don't know who you can trust and you hold onto whatever you can to keep going. A world of dreams and so many nightmares. Would you survive the jungle?
I love books that give you a behind the scenes look where you may never have a chance to otherwise go. The world of the fashion industry is always a temptation especially for little girls. Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken give you the peak behind the curtain you have been waiting for. It is definitely not always all glitz and glamour. The story of these girls and a few of those around them is one of hustle, heart, romance and fear. Secrets they keep and secrets kept from them. There is so much packed into theses pages, that it will keep you flipping through to get to the end.
Though this story is written after the girls have been in the industry for a while you get a glimpse of what life is like for the younger girls just starting out, either the flashbacks of their pasts or the secrets and side glances they witness.
I wasn't entirely sure of what to think this book would be like when I first hear about it, but I am so glad I read it.

5+ stars
Holy wow this book. Just finished and hands down it's totally on my top reads list of this year. whoa i have always been a fan of RVD's books but her duo with Kathy knocked this off the charts. This book sucked me right from the beginning and i couldn't put it down. Finished it in one sitting it was jus so damn intriguing. I was truly mesmerized by this story. Fashion Jungle is about four friends and their experience and life in fashion industry. Rachel and Kathy showed it amazingly, all the parts of the industry - good, bad, beautiful and ugly. The writing was astounding and i can't begin to explain how fantastic this book truly is. The duo has taken the readers on an amazing, wild ride full of emotions and everything in between.
And omg talk about Dane damn it i need a guy like that in my life. I think everyone needs someone like him. And the friendship between the girl so real so beautiful. My emotions are all over the place. I smiled, cried, screamed, yelled, cursed and was shocked so many times. And the mystery element kept it all the more interesting till the very end.
Another winner by RVD and Kathy. Highly recommended to EVERYONE!!!!