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Charity Shumway was hired by Glamour Magazine to research the 500 past winners of their Top Ten College Girls contest. She used this experience as the basis for her fun new novel, Ten Girls to Watch. Click over to 5 Minutes for Books to read her thoughts on the difference between reading a novel that’s inspired by real-life events and reading a novel that’s inspired by nothing but pure imagination. This was one of the things that drew me to this story.
Dawn West’s life isn’t quite what she hoped it would be. She’s stuck on her ex-boyfriend, who’s clearly moved on, living with a roommate who can’t quite pay the rent, and paying the bills by writing an online lawn care column and signing up for any market research study she comes across. Â At a party held by her ex’s family she meets the editor of Charm magazine, and after confessing her lawn care prowess isn’t quite what it appears, is offered the job of tracking down the former winners of the magazine’s Ten Girls to Watch contest.
Dawn turns out to be perfect for the job, enticing the winners to open up about what the contest meant to them, how it influenced their lives and what they’re doing now. She chats with teachers, scientists, authors, doctors, lawyers and hundreds of other successful women, and learns something from many of them, whether it’s hair care tips or how to stay true to oneself.
Ten Girls to Watch is full of larger-than-life characters and Dawn finds herself in some pretty crazy situations, but that’s what makes this novel delightful and fun to read. Scattered throughout the novel are pictures of the contest winners with their original bios — the ones from the 50’s when it was just a beauty contest are pretty priceless — as well as some features from the Charm issue honoring the contest winners. These gems just add to the charm (no pun intended) of the novel.
Nancy was a big fan of Glamour in her younger years. She writes about her boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.
Veronica Garrett says
Cosmopolitan is my favorite magazine.
Sand says
Marie Claire is my current favorite.
Karen Gonyea says
LOVE O Magazine đŸ™‚
mike b says
i like entertainment weekly
heather c says
Family Fun is FUN!
Lisa says
I like all you.
Leah Shumack says
I like to read People magazine
Charlene Kuser says
My favorite magazine is Vanity Fair
brenda Elsner says
I love All You!
Teresa Thompson says
I read Yoga Journal from cover to cover.
Sarah Yurga says
Family Fun is my favorite magazine as a girl scout leader
samantha says
i like family fun or parenting
kayla hyde says
My favorite magazine right now is BabyTalk.
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Nicole C. says
My favorite magazine is Redbook.
Angela W says
I love Lucky Magazine
DanV says
I like People
Samantha Meyer says
I like People magazine, but mainly for the crosswords, lol
Renee G says
I like Sunset
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Mary DeBorde M.A.D. says
My favorite magazine is MAD!!! Love the satire đŸ˜€
susan smoaks says
my favorite magazine is rolling stone
Chelsea M says
I love Us Weekly! I can’t help but buy it any time I see it at the store.
Beth says
My favorite magazine is The Week.
kathy pease says
i like good housekeeping
Ed Nemmers says
I enjoy “Entertainment Weekly”!
Saver Sara says
I Love Bon Appetit
Jennifer Peaslee says
I like All You…it’s the only magazine I subscribe to
susan varney says
good housekeeping [email protected]
Susan Smith says
I like People and Good Housekeeping
shawna says
All You is my fav.
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
The tv guide lol
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Diane Baum says
i like Time Magazine
Joye Barr says
Vogue and Vanity fair
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Lani says
Cooking Light would be on the top of my list.
christal c w says
My favorite is people style watch and psychology today
PinkySwayers says
My favorite magazine is Martha Stewart’s Living. Thanks for the giveaway!
Traci Lynn Butler says
I love magazines – it’s hard to choose a favorite – I like All You, Good Housekeeping, LHJ, Food Network…
dario says
I like People
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I like Lucky magazine.
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right now shape
The Green Yak says
I enjoy Monocle!
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atlantic monthly i love
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family fun
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Terra Heck says
My favorite is Marie Claire. Thanks.
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Kelly H. says
I like Star.
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i love shape magazine
Rebecca Rahkonen says
My favorite magazine is Cooking Light
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I love Real Simple!
Kimberly B. says
Mine is Good Housekeeping.
Jessica T says
Real Simple is my favourite magazine!
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motor trend, only one i get at the moment
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I like US Weekly
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Staci A says
I like Parents.
Helen says
Family Fun. I get such great ideas in that one.
Jenny says
All You magazine
Brenda Smith says
Real Simple or All You
Chelsea says
I love fitness magazine
Jennifer Donovan says
Nancy–I do was a big Glamour reader in my teens and early twenties.
Beth - TheAngelForever says
My guilty pleasure if People magazine.
Jessica To says
I like All You magazine.
Stacie Fontinell says
Cooking light and sunset!