This Year's Model

by Carol Alt

Supermodel Carol Alt takes us on a wild ride through the glamorous, cutthroat world of fashion and fame--in a biting, witty, and absolutely authentic novel that rocks the world of high-end modeling

Tall, beautiful, practical Melody Ann Croft of Morristown, New Jersey, is busting her behind as a waitress and wishing there was an easier way to earn money for college. When a customer claiming to be a fashion photographer insists she could become...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061366242
• ISBN13: 9780061366246
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

The real first Supe tells all!

Janice Dickinson claims to be the first Supermodel. Carol Alt however is the true title holder. She rose to fame swiftly in the 80's creating a new legion of models, Supermodels -or Supes as they call themselves. Carol Alt has appeared on over 700 magazine covers. The woman is a legend! When she set out to write a fictional novel about the world of modeling, she certainly had done her homework. Her portrayal of the industry seems to be spot on. I read Carol Alt's biography and found a lot of parallels between her life and the book. I would venture to say that this book is a semi-autobiographical fiction. When Melody Ann Croft is discovered at a steakhouse, she is lured into the world of modeling, thinking it is only a summer job to make a few bucks for college. She has dreams of becoming a doctor and has no intention of giving that up. As she is morphed into Mac, a girl on the verge of becoming a Supe, she has to reevaluate her plans. Her closest friends in the industry show their true colors and the picture painted isn't what Mac chose to see. She struggles with her family not agreeing with her decision as well. Will Mac make it big, or be stomped on in front of NYC's elite at Bryant Park? This was an excellent read, I loved every minute of it and cannot wait for the next installment. Author to watch!

Amazing! Carol's best work!

This book is, to steal a word from the book itself - 'fabtastic'! Superb writing - the story grabs the reader from the get go. Talk about a hook - this book is it. The oh-so-personal writing style left me wanting more. Kudos to Carol and her editors. I can't wait for her next book! Because of my name, people always ask if I know Carol. The book's tone has a being there - in the moment realness, makes the reader a part of the story and makes me feel like I really do know her! Read 'This Year's Model' - you'll love the becoming part of a model's world. I did.

Enchanting Review: This Year's Model

THIS YEAR'S MODEL CAROL ALT Rating: 4.5 Enchantments Melody Ann Croft finds the guy she's waiting on at table eight to be unnerving, what with the way he keeps complimenting her, like he thinks she should be on the menu. But when his meal's done and he hands her a card, telling her to call the modeling agencies and drop his name, she can't imagine the sudden twist her life's about to take. Within the course of a few months her life is barely recognizable. The eighteen year old Melody is now 'Mac', and she's spending more time in the city than at home with her family. Her days are filled with go-sees, photo shoots and rare down time spent at the local tea shop, hanging out with Jade and her crush in newcomer male model, Duncan Shiloh. From her newfound jet setting model ways to walking the runways for Fashion Week in New York and Milan for some of the hottest designers, her dreams of a scholarship to Penn state gets put on the backburner as she pursues her newfound dream of modeling. The only stable thing in her life is her at times awkward friendship with fellow model, Jade, who is not only Mac's best friend but at times, her competition as well. I really enjoyed THIS YEAR'S MODEL and the set up of Mac flashing back to how she ended up on the cover of the swimsuit issue of S.I. Mac's journey from a small town waitress to one of the fashion world's rising stars. I think my favorite part of the book was Mac herself, how she didn't let anyone walk all over her or push her into doing something she really didn't want to do, even if her booker was telling her to just do it and let it go. I also enjoyed the unusual friendship between Mac and Jade. The ending while not entirely surprising given Jade's behavior throughout the book, is a great set up to see where Ms. Alt takes Mac and co in the next book in the series. Readers apt for a behind the scenes look into the NYC model scene won't want to miss this debut! Ms. Alt pens an interesting behind the scenes glimpse into the life of a "Supe" model in the making in THIS YEAR'S MODEL, her first fiction novel. The sequel is due out next year. You can visit her online at www.carolalt.com Lisa Enchanting Reviews September 2008

Peek inside the world of the supermodel...

In this fun new novel the reader gets to experience the outrageous world of professional modelling through the eyes of newly discovered model Melody Ann Croft. Melody is just a normal kid from New Jersey, working as a waitress during her last summer before going away to college. Then one night a professional photographer happens to have dinner at the restaurant where she works. He thinks she has potential and gives her some contacts which turn out to be top modelling agencies in Manhattan. After some indecision she decides that she has nothing to lose and calls some of the numbers on the card. The photographer's name is enough to get her interviews at several top agencies. The first one she visits immediately snaps her up, they think that she has "it", that elusive quality that means success. She is immediately thrust into the competitive and frantic world of professional modelling. It's an eye opening experience. There are ugly sides to the new world that she finds herself in. She has to lose weight, of course, and it is difficult to maintain the waif like appearance that is demanded by most clients. The other models are fiercely competitive and some are downright mean. Then there is the ever present drug use. Melody is a strong girl with a solid middle class upbringing, so she is grounded and able to resist the temptations around her, but she still learns some difficult lessons. Supermodel Carol Alt has written a fast-paced, fun novel that gives the regular person a peek into the inner workings of an industry that most of us will never experience. I know that I'll never look at a glossy fashion advertisement the same way again!

Ladies of Discipline

Carol Ault's new novel, This Year's Model, published by HarperCollins (Avon A) is a story of friendship played against a background of high and low fashion. The two friends are a study in contrasts: light and dark, reckless and self-disciplined, indulgent and moral, cynical and realistic, genetic and athletic, eating and starving. The story is fast-paced with good character development of the two central figures and their satellites. There is interesting information throughout the book about behavior and products in the business of modeling and the mental and physical strength it takes to be a supermodel. An important theme is the isolation of the "supe" when surrounded by dressers, designers, editors, photographers, and other models. Engulfed in chaos, how the supe reacts, learns, reasons, and makes decisions in these long periods of solitude can make or break even the most gorgeous model. Survival requires discipline. There certainly are opportunities for sequels with strong, continuing story lines. Ms. Alt, a supermodel, offers some advice and insight about modeling at the end of the book. This Year's Model could be a very good movie with super roles for several actors.