FALLING OUT OF FASHION starts with the worst and goes backward. When we meet future media darling Jill White, its right as she's beginning to lose creative control of the eponymous magazine that started out as her baby. The story then travels backward to show how the foundation by which Jill eventually became the sassy editorial genius who we'll eventually meet. Yampolsky goes back to Jill's upbringing on a Georgia commune with hippie parents and a love of fishing, to her prep school days in New England where she sticks out like a sore thumb, to a decision to move to New York and work in publishing that eventually leads to the social and industry connections that make Jill a household name. Sensing a gap in the women's publishing market, Jill decides to form a magazine that will focus on the other side of women's issues: instead of how to lose weight, the magazine will focus on rich desserts and enjoying food; rather than telling how to keep your man happy, Jill will tell you how to lose a loser.

By the time the story catches up to the near present, Jill White is definitely living the glamorous life. Jill Magazine is doing well, Jill herself is married to a great guy, and her position as a media wunderkind and fashionista is solidified by her industry connections, killer wardrobe, and reputation as a savvy media expert. But when her magazine's parent company is swallowed by a media giant, Nestrom, things start to come apart at the seams. Nestrom's new publisher and CEO have an entirely different vision than the one Jill originally imagined for Jill magazine, and as their ambition slowly begins to take over, Jill begins to wonder if she's being pushed out of the niche publication that she helped to found. At the same time, Jill's home life begins to suffer as she dedicates more and more time to the magazine, and has less time to focus on her marriage and efforts to have a child using in vitro fertilization.

The professional tell-all novel seems to be all the rage these days, and FALLING OUT OF FASHION is at the top of its game in an otherwise oversaturated market. As the former assistant to Jane editor-in-chief Jane Pratt, Karen Yampolsky tells a story that, while obviously semibiographical, is entertaining, fun to read, and interesting to boot. Along with that, there's also plenty of good celebrity dish for those who read these books simply to catch the celebrity references. For those in the know, several thinly veiled characters from Pratt's life at the top of the celebrity food chain are included, such as Drew Barrymore, JFK Jr, Pamela Anderson, Kate Moss, and Lindsay Lohan... all of whom are easily recognizable if you take the time to read between the lines. However, unlike The Devil Wears Prada or Because She Can, I actually found this book to be relatable and down to earth. Yampolsky portrayed the character of Jill White as a flawed heroine who struggled with personal battles as well as professional ones, but persevered on both sides to become a woman who girls and women alike could emulate and admire. While tell-all novels are a dime a dozen these days, FALLING OUT OF FASHION is at the top of its class.