Adventures in Polishland

September Favorites | Beauty + Lifestyle Loves!

Posted on October 6, 2015July 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I can’t believe September is already over, and we’re nearly a full week into October. Fall is my favorite season, so I’m glad to be enjoying cooler temperatures, warmer clothing, and, of course, pumpkin mania! I don’t have too many beauty favorites, but I do have a bunch of other goodies to share. Let’s jump right into my September Favorites!

Lip Product

Chosungah 22 Flavlorful Lipstick – Chai Tea [BUY]

I got this really intriguing lip product in one of my last Birchboxes. It’s a Korean lipstick that has lip balm qualities. It doesn’t add any color to the lips, but does have a bit of a gloss to it. I haven’t been wearing any lip colors lately, so this product is perfect. It feels so moisturizing, and I just really love it! It’s a bit pricey at $18.00, but if you’re up for a splurge, I highly recommend it!

LIP CARE

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish [BUY]

I’ve loved the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish for a few years now, but I haven’t used it in such a long time. With the cooler weather, though, I’ve needed to exfoliate my dry lips. I got this small tub of Lip Polish at the Fresh store in Las Vegas for free when I signed up for the Rewards program. I’m so glad to be putting it to use! It’s truly an amazing scrub, and very luxurious.

BODY CARE

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel – Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin [BUY]

Here is a huge savings tip – make sure you sign up for Bath & Body Works coupons! Every once in a while I get a coupon in the mail for free products with no purchase required. I recently got one for a full size product, and I picked up the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Shower Gel! I love the scent for fall – it is really fragranced and my bathroom smells great even after I’m out of the shower. While I don’t like all of the ingredients in the Bath & Body Works products, I definitely like to use them once in a while.

HAIR CARE

Irresistible Me Diamond Hair Styler [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been completely obsessed with the Diamond since I got it! Make sure you check out my full review with before and after photos if you haven’t already. I’ve stashed my old flat iron away now, and only reach for the Diamond. It’s definitely an investment product, but it’s 100% worth it. My hair has never felt so shiny and glossy, and my straightening time is cut in half. I’m so in love!

BOOK

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyla [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been loving creepy books lately, and The Accident Season is an awesome one! This is a young adult book that follows a girl named Cara as she and her family try to survive the month of October. They always experience a lot of accidents in October, and this year seems to be the worst lot of accidents yet. I highly recommend this book if you love magical realism! Check out my full review by clicking the above link.

ETSY SHOP / STICKER SHOP

Oh, Hello Stationery Co. [ETSY] [WEBSITE]

One of my go-to shops for buying planner stickers is Oh, Hello Stationery Co. The brand recently opened up its own website in addition to its Etsy store, and the new site has much more to offer. My favorite thing is the new Poppy Points rewards system that allows you to earn points for every purchase and for referrals! So, if you’d like to get a $5.00 coupon, please sign up using my referral link HERE. This coupon is only for new Oh, Hello shoppers, so if you’ve bought from the store before keep that in mind. I’ve linked one of my recent hauls from Oh, Hello above so you can see the types of stickers I buy from the brand!

FOOD

Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Coffee

Last but not least, I have to shout out the pumpkin coffee from Dunkin Donuts! I absolute love it and have for years. Step aside Starbucks PSL – I much prefer this sweet concoction. Plus, I’m currently living in Patriots Nation, and every time they win I can get a free coffee. It’s been super successful so far this NFL season! If you haven’t tried pumpkin coffee yet, I highly recommend it.

What were some of you favorites in September? Let me know in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

KBShimmer Fall 2015 Collection | Breaking Blues & I Feel Gourd-geous

Posted on October 5, 2015September 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to review two of the polishes from the KBShimmer Fall 2015 Collection. This collection contains 12 nail polishes in rich, jewel tones. There are a variety of formulas, finishes, and shades available, and I have one cream and one full-coverage glitter to share. Let me go ahead and review Breaking Blues and I Feel Gourd-geous for you!

First up is Breaking Blues, a periwinkle blue with a cream finish. Breaking Blues has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! The color is so stunning, and not what I would traditionally think of for fall. I think Breaking Blues will look good with any skin tone, and I’m definitely going to be wearing this polish a lot in the coming months.

I Feel Gourd-geous is the other polish I tried, and it is a copper shade of holographic glitter polish. I Feel Gourd-geous is a full-coverage glitter that can be worn alone (as I’ve done) in three coats. Of course, you can use this polish to layer over other shades, but I’m amazed with how stunning I Feel Gourd-geous is alone! I layered a glossy top coat over the manicure to smooth out the glitter, and I think it’s beautiful. If you’re a glitter lover, you need this one!

All in all, I’m really impressed with these two polishes from KBShimmer. Each has an excellent formula, and I can see myself reaching for these countless times. KBShimmer is an indie brand and retails from $7.50-8.75 each. What I love about KBShimmer is that it can be purchased direct from the brand’s website HERE or on Amazon HERE. That way you can use an Amazon gift card, or if you have an Amazon credit card like I do you earn 3x the points! No matter where you shop, I highly recommend these polishes! Let me know in the comments if you’ll be purchasing either of these!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Born Pretty Store Planner Supplies + Stationary Haul | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on October 3, 2015September 28, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’m back with another #PlanWithPolishland post today. For those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that the online store Born Pretty Store is one of my favorite places to get fabulous and affordable nail art supplies. Now that I’ve begun this planner hobby, I went back to the site and discovered the plethora of cute planner supplies and stationary sold, too. I am excited to show you the awesome stuff Born Pretty Store sent me for review, and to incorporate these goodies into my planner. Let me share the planner haul with you, and make sure you stay tuned for a coupon code!

I filmed a video haul so you can see the products in action, but I have close up photos of everything below, too! As I mention in the video, all of the stationary products that I received are a random design. That means when you place an order, you don’t know which design you’ll get! It’s really fun, and everything is so cute that I don’t mind not being able to pick out a particular design. I’m really happy with what I got!

Sticky Flags – London Design – $1.70 [BUY]

I love using sticky flags for planning ahead, or for stickers in my planner. The London design is super cute! I might do an entire London week in my planner just based around these sticky flags.

Rilakkuma Sticky Notes – $1.58 [BUY]

I’m loving this kawaii design from Rilakkuma! These flags are so cute. They are not very sticky, but can easily be turned into stickers or simply using to pre-plan. Rilakkuma is a popular brand as well, so it’s great to be able to purchase these sticky notes from Born pretty Store.

Crown Pen – $1.40 [BUY]

My favorite item in the haul is this Crown Pen! It is so well made, and really easy to write with. The ink is good quality, and doesn’t skip when I write. These pens are so trendy, and can be quite pricey. I’m so glad I found this on Born Pretty Store!

Floral Paper Tape – Bonjour Design – $3.28 [BUY]

The last item I got is this floral paper tape. It is a washi tape and sticker combo. I got the Bonjour design, and I really love the coloring and scalloped edges. This is perfect for decorating envelopes, or simply the edges of your planner!

The great thing about Born Pretty Store is that there is free international shipping! No matter where you are in the world, you never have to pay for shipping. Plus, you can get an extra 10% off your order with my coupon code FZL91. These prices are amazing for such cute goodies, especially for those of you around the world who may not otherwise have access to stores like Target and Dollar Tree. Simply click the photo above to start shopping!

Have you purchased planner supplies from Born Pretty Store? If so, let me know what you got in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Simple Fall Nail Art featuring Zoya Nail Polish & Messy Mansion Stamping Plate MM38 | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on October 2, 2015September 24, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Now that fall is in full swing I thought I would create a simple nail art look for all of you. Over the past several months I have slowly been practicing nail polish stamping. I have a few plates, and I’m finally finding my groove. Stamping takes a lot of patience, but with a steady hand you can create a really cool nail art look with little effort! I reached for some fall colors from Zoya Nail Polish in my collection and a Messy Mansion Stamping Plate from Beautometry to put together a fall look. Let me show you the nail art I created!

First things first, here is the list of everything I used to create this look. Of course, you can use any nail polishes or stamping plates you own! Just make sure they are comparable in color and style.

Zoya Hunter [REVIEW] [BUY]
Zoya Ember [REVIEW] [BUY]
Born Pretty Store Stamper & Scraper Set [REVIEW] [BUY] – use coupon code FZL91 for 10% off!
Messy Mansion Stamping Plate in MM38 [REVIEW] [BUY]
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [REVIEW] [BUY]

I began my manicure with two coats of Zoya Hunter, which is a deep forest green. I let this dry completely before beginning the next step. This is really important! You can even paint your nails the night before you plan on stamping.

Next, I used Zoya Ember as a stamping polish and a leaf/bark pattern on the MM38 stamping plate. In order to get the desired look, I rolled the stamp over my nails. It was messy, but I cleaned up with a Q-tip and I am beyond in love with the result! Ember is a perfect stamping polish! I’m going to show you the manicure in both artificial light (as shown above) and natural light, just because it is easier to see the pattern in artificial light.

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

NATURAL LIGHT

All in all, this nail art look was so simple to create, but it looks so cool! The colors are perfect for fall, and the stamp just reminds me of foliage. If you’re new to stamping or intimidated by it like I was, just remember that with a little practice you’ll get the hang of it. I definitely want to continue my adventures in stamping, so if you have any recommendations on stamping plates or polishes to use, please let me know in the comments! You can also use the hashtag #FallintoPolishland on social media to share your fall nail art.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

Posted on October 1, 2015September 19, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

Published by Scholastic on April 28, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: eARC

Pages: 309

Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2

Revisit Hamilton High in this MUST READ for all fans of The DUFF – co-starring Bianca and Wesley.

Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend’s house every night because she has nowhere else to go.

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with – secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross.
Ryder’s the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can’t stand – a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually ‘like’ him. Only there’s one small catch: he thinks he’s been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she’s the girl he’s really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

The DUFF is a New York Times Bestseller and a major motion picture starring Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell, Mae Whitman and Alison Janney.

REVIEW

I was very hesitant to pick up Lying Out Loud after reading The DUFF this past May, but because I had received a copy for review, I decided to go for it. Lying Out Loud is a companion novel to The DUFF, meaning that it can be read as a stand alone, but takes place at Hamilton High just as The DUFF did. In addition, Lying Out Loud allows readers to catch up with characters from The DUFF, especially Wesley and Bianca. That being said, if you enjoyed The DUFF, I think you’ll really love Lying Out Loud, but if you haven’t read it, I recommend skipping it.

Lying Out Loud follows Wesley’s little sister Amy and her best friend Sonny, who has just moved in with Amy after trouble with her mom. The two friends are inseparable until a new guy named Ryder moves to town. He has a huge crush on Amy, but Sonny soon falls for him. Lying Out Loud follows Sonny as she tries to get Ryder to like her after she catfishes him by taking on Amy’s persona online. Along the way readers learn more about Sonny, and why she has come to use lying as a coping mechanism in her life.

I enjoyed Lying Out Loud much more than The DUFF, primarily because a lot of the issues I had with The DUFF were not present in this book. I can tell Keplinger’s writing has matured a great deal, and I was happy with the limited swearing and sexual content. Lying Out Loud is much better suited to a young adult audience than The DUFF is. Similarly, while I don’t typically enjoy characters who lie in books, I was able to accept Sonny’s behavior because the book’s plot focuses on her lying problem and why she feels compelled to lie. Lying Out Loud has a good message for younger readers, especially those who may be going through difficult times like Sonny.

In the same way, I really liked the characters in Lying Out Loud. I was able to connect with them, and I felt like they were going through real issues that today’s teenagers face. Sonny and Ryder, in particular, face tough challenges and struggle with overcoming them in the book. I also really loved the side characters of Amy’s parents. They were so kind and loving, and unlike many parents in young adult literature.

My main critique of Lying Out Loud is that everything seems to wrap up nicely and easily for everyone. Of course, I won’t get into the details so as to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say Lying Out Loud lives up to the ‘fluffy contemporary’ stereotype despite some of the hard-hitting issues discussed in the book. Because of that, I couldn’t give the book a higher rating despite enjoying the read overall.

Thus, I recommend Lying Out Loud for fans of The DUFF and for young adult contemporary lovers. It is a fun read that would be great for travel or for those who don’t have much time to read. I read this book over the course of three months and I didn’t have any issues remembering what was happening. This might be the perfect pick-up from the library on your next trip!

BUY THE BOOK

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When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

OZ Naturals Ultra Ageless Eye Créme Review

Posted on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to review another product from the skincare brand OZ Naturals. I’ve received products to test out from the brand in the past (see my review HERE), and I’ve always enjoyed them. I appreciate that OZ Naturals focuses on using safe and natural ingredients, and that the brand is cruelty free and made in the USA. Plus, the price tag is pretty fabulous and affordable for natural skincare. Without further ado, let me share my thoughts on the Ultra Ageless Eye Créme!

OZ Naturals Ultra Ageless Eye Créme Review

The Ultra Ageless Eye Créme is made of 99% natural ingredients, including coffee seed extract, algae extract, and vitamin E. It is designed to protect and hydrate the skin while preventing wrinkles at the same time. The coffee seed extract in particular helps to reduce puffiness. Plus, because this does not contain harsh chemicals, the Ultra Ageless Eye Créme can be used both day and night, unlike retinols which should only be used at night.

I really love how this eye créme can be used not only under the eyes, but on the entire face as well, including under makeup. It is light, but still provides a lot of moisture. I really like using it as an all-over-face moisturizer. Because eye créme is gentle for the sensitive area under your eyes, it is perfect for those of us who have sensitive skin in general. In terms of scent, there is a very slight ‘lotion’ smell, but I would describe it as an unscented product. I’ve been using this product for about two weeks now, and while I haven’t noticed any huge differences in my skin, I overall enjoy the product and feel moisturized when I use it. I will definitely keep this in my skincare routine!

All in all, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to review another great product from OZ Naturals! If you would like to transition into using natural skincare products, I think OZ Naturals is a great brand to try. I definitely recommend the Ultra Ageless Eye Créme as a starting point, since it can be used as simply an eye créme, or a daily face moisturizer. You can purchase the Ultra Ageless Eye Créme on Amazon HERE for just $19.49!

Do you use natural skincare? Tell me why or why not in the comments!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

Posted on September 29, 2015September 18, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

Published by Kathy Dawson Books on July 2, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Magical Realism

Format: ARC

Pages: 283

Source: BEA

Goodreads: ★★★★★

It’s the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom.

The accident season has been part of seventeen-year-old Cara’s life for as long as she can remember. Towards the end of October, foreshadowed by the deaths of many relatives before them, Cara’s family becomes inexplicably accident-prone. They banish knives to locked drawers, cover sharp table edges with padding, switch off electrical items – but injuries follow wherever they go, and the accident season becomes an ever-growing obsession and fear.

But why are they so cursed? And how can they break free?

REVIEW

Perhaps it’s because Halloween is coming up, but I’ve really been into creepy reads lately. The Accident Season definitely fits that description. This haunting young adult novel follows Cara and her family during the month of October, during which they experience the Accident Season. Every year they experience a series of accidents, sometimes small and sometimes tragic. This year Cara’s best friend Bea predicts that it’s going to be the worst season yet.

What follows is an incredibly written story full of emotion. It started slow, but the pace quickly picked up to the point where I couldn’t put the book down and finished the novel in two days. I loved the mystery of The Accident Season. It is written in a way so that it leads the reader in one direction, but logically builds up to a few exciting twists.

In the same way, I really loved the characters in The Accident Season. I cared deeply for each character and his or her personal struggles, and I also rooted for each character. I am amazed at how the emotions jumped off the page and into me. For example, during one particular scene, I felt frightened and like I was watching a scary movie take place. I’m amazed at how the author seamlessly used her words to create such a feeling in me as a reader.

As always, I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that it was perfect for the magical realism genre. That being said, I feel like this book will not be for everyone because it does deal with some very serious issues that I won’t discuss due to spoilers. I recommend the book for those who enjoyed We Were Liars, as it has a similar vibe with a very different storyline. The Accident Season is also a great choice for book clubs, because it leaves a lot to be discussed and will mean different things to different readers.

In the end, I highly recommend The Accident Season. It’s very difficult to describe just how much I loved this book without giving away the mysterious plot. If you are looking for an eery yet extremely poignant book this fall, I highly recommend The Accident Season. I am really looking forward to the next books from debut author Moïra Fowley-Doyle, as this one is outstanding.

BUY THE BOOK

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My Top 5 Dark Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on September 28, 2015September 16, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! My fall nail polish series #FallintoPolishland continues today with my top five dark nail polishes. When I first began my blog three and a half years ago, I absolutely avoided dark polishes! I was into brights and neons, but when I first received dark nail polishes for review I was converted. I now absolutely love dark polishes, especially in the colder months. Let me go ahead and share my favorites with you!

LVX – Dahlia [BUY]

First up is Dahlia from the high end brand LVX. This is a deep crimson polish that has a great formula. Dahlia is perfect for those of us who don’t like the traditional red nail. It looks beautiful even on those with the fairest skin tone. LVX is a vegan brand, so I think it’s worth the higher price tag!

Covergirl – Sapphire Flare [BUY]

I, of course, have to include a couple dark blue polishes, as blue is my go-to shade in the fall. Sapphire Flare from Covergirl is a great option from the drugstore. It is a navy polish that is opaque in two coats. While dark, the polish is still very blue in color. Plus, this shade is great for nail art as well!

Milani – Ink Spot [BUY]

Next up is Ink Spot from Milani, an even darker blue polish. Ink Spot has an amazing, high-gloss formula. It is nearly black, but still has a rich blue pigmentation. Ink Spot also has undertones of purple, so take that into consideration when you’re deciding between it and Sapphire Flare!

Julep – Brandt [BUY]

One of my all-time favorite Juleps is Brandt, an off-black polish from the Trina Turk collection. Brandt has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks good with any outfit because the color is not a stark black. Brandt looks great layered under glitter, or on its own! It’s been a staple of mine for the past three years.

Michael Marcus – Once You Go Matte [BUY]

Last but not least is Once You Go Matte from Michael Marcus. I really love matte nail polish, and it’s always a bonus when a polish has a matte formula because I don’t have to reach for a separate top coat. Once You Go Matte has an amazing formula that dries quickly. I’ve worn it countless times since I got it!

That wraps up another #FallintoPolishland post! I hope you were inspired to grab some of your dark nail polishes out of the back of your collection to wear this season. If you’ve shied away from darks in the past, now is the perfect time to try them out! Of course, please share your favorite dark nail polishes with me in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Rimmel London Wonder’Lash | Lift Me Up Mascara Review

Posted on September 25, 2015September 16, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review a brand new mascara from the Rimmel London Wonder’Lash line. The Lift Me Up Mascara has a unique formula with vitamins and cucumber, and is designed to provide lift and volume to the lashes for an eye-awakening look. It comes in a bright green tube with a twisted design, which is sure to stand out in your makeup collection. The Lift Me Up comes in two shades – Black and Extreme Black. Let me share my thoughts on Extreme Black with all of you!

THE FORMULA

First things first, let’s talk about the formula. The Lift Me Up has a wet formula, much like the Covergirl Lashblast Volume and the Benefit They’re Real. I personally prefer dry mascara formulas, because wet formulas weigh my lashes down. That being said, I do find that the Lift Me Up does a great job at separating the lashes, and really pulling them up to give the lashes a fuller look. While I do wish the formula was lighter, if you like wet formulas you will really like this one. Keep in mind that the mascara does have a cucumber scent to it. While I can’t smell it once it is on my eyes, and I haven’t experienced any irritation, the scent is strong during application. Finally, the formula is great in terms of staying power. The mascara does not flake, and only comes off with eye makeup remover. The Lift Me Up is definitely long-wearing!

PRECISION BRUSH

The Lift Me Up also comes with what Rimmel is calling a Precision Brush. The brush is quite thick, and I have a lot of trouble with it. For some reason I end up with mascara all over my eyelids despite a careful application. I can’t even feel the brush hitting my eyelids, but I always have to clean up with cotton swabs afterwards to remove the mess. That being said, I usually like to stick with rubber applicators, as these brushes don’t work well for me. If you like mascaras with this type of applicator, I think you’ll have better luck.

All in all, I think the new Rimmel Lift Me Up mascara is good, but much better suited for someone else. I will not be repurchasing this mascara simply because it doesn’t work well for me, but I do think the wet formula and full brush will suit many of you well. The mascara retails for $8.99, but keep an eye out for sales at your local drugstore or department store. I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this mascara, so please let me know what you think of the Lift Me Up in the comments if you’ve tried it already!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

Posted on September 24, 2015September 15, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

Published by Crown Archetype on October 14, 2014

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Humor

Format: Paperback

Pages: 291

Source: Blogging for Books

Goodreads: ★★★★

Tired of memoirs that only tell you what really happened?

Sick of deeply personal accounts written in the first person? Seeking an exciting, interactive read that puts the “u” back in “aUtobiography”? Then look no further than Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography! In this revolutionary, Joycean experiment in light celebrity narrative, actor/personality/carbon-based life-form Neil Patrick Harris lets you, the reader, live his life. You will be born in New Mexico. You will get your big break at an acting camp. You will get into a bizarre confrontation outside a nightclub with actor Scott Caan. Even better, at each critical juncture of your life, you will choose how to proceed. You will decide whether to try out for Doogie Howser, M.D. You will decide whether to spend years struggling with your sexuality. You will decide what kind of caviar you want to eat on board Elton John’s yacht.

Choose correctly and you’ll find fame, fortune, and true love. Choose incorrectly and you’ll find misery, heartbreak, and a hideous death by piranhas. All this, plus magic tricks, cocktail recipes, embarrassing pictures from your time as a child actor, and even a closing song. Yes, if you buy one book this year, congratulations on being above the American average, but make that book Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography!

REVIEW

I’ll admit it – I’m a sucker for the celebrity memoir. I even have a separate space on my bookshelves where I keep celebrity books because it makes me laugh to see my pop culture obsession physically stacked in one place. That being said, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t expect much out of the celebrity memoir in terms of quality writing. I’m excited to share my thoughts on Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, as NPH proved that not all celebrity books are created equal.

Of course, Choose Your Own Autobiography is written in its classic style, allowing readers to control the story’s order by choosing to which pages they turn at the end of each chapter. This allows the book to be read in a variety of ways, making each reader’s experience different. I chose to read the book chronologically from cover to cover, and while that may be breaking the rules a bit, I found that my reading experience was still logical and enjoyable. Thus, no matter how you choose to live NPH’s life, the book is organized so that your adventure is always a great one.

Similarly, NPH’s writing voice is extremely well done (and I say that recognizing he’s not the only person credited as author). His writing is witty, and I was laughing at his cleverly inserted one-liners throughout the entirety of the book. He mixed fact with fiction so seamlessly that sometimes I couldn’t even differentiate between the two. At the same time, NPH shared a great deal about his life, including many intimate moments. Despite not following his career closely before, I feel like I know him personally after reading his book.

Moreover, I have a few minor critiques. While the experimental writing style works well for the majority of the book, there is one lone chapter that fell flat for me. Choose Your Own Autobiography is written in the second person, placing the reader into the role of NPH. However, one chapter is written in How I Met Your Mother style, with NPH speaking in the first person to his children Gideon and Harper. I can appreciate how he’s using the familiar trope in the book, but I felt like the switch in perspective was unnecessary and detracted from the otherwise uniform writing.

Finally, Choose Your Own Adventure needs more page numbers! The entire premise of this book is allowing the reader to flip to the pages of her choice to continue the story, but each new chapter of the book does not contain a page number. Many chapters are only a couple pages long, so there can be a few pages in a row without a page number. That makes flipping to the correct page number a bit annoying and time-consuming, and takes away from the enjoyment of reading when one has to stop and find the proper page before continuing. If this book is printed again, I highly recommend the publisher include a page number on each and every page.

Those small critiques aside, I truly enjoyed Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography. It is a fun and thoughtful read, and great whether you’re a huge NPH fan or simply looking to learn a bit more about him. Plus, the book includes recipes, magic tricks, and even a chunk of photos in the middle. It truly has something for everyone.

BUY THE BOOK

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