Catwalk Paperback – July 2, 2021

I loved reading about Catherine’s self-discoveries in life and love. She pursued her modeling dream, yet, didn’t lose her true self along the way. There were early on tests to her conscience that showed how fragile and easy she could succumb herself to this life, but she finally realized how fake things were. I love how the author was able to tie in Catherine’s love interest, Benji, to support her in exposing the deceit in the modeling industry. The story within the story was genius and I enjoyed reading how an early encounter with the reporter led Catherine to bring her into the fold. This book is chock full of well-written imagery, I felt like I was right there by Catherine’s side.

CATWALK is a whirlwind of a novel that I could not put down. Gabor’s own career in modeling lends a realism and gravity to the story, shining a spotlight on an industry that everyone sees but no one really knows anything about. Catherine Watson is an endearing and heartwarming character even when her she starts to believe her own “It Girl” hype. Gabor perfectly captures the loneliness and yearning to belong of a teen on the fringes of her high school class and how that lack of confidence can stick with you far into adulthood. This book made me laugh, cringe and smile! Well done, Nicole Gabor!

Catwalk’s protagonist is the Howard Roark of the fashion world. Wise beyond her years, Cat’s initial naïveté and starry-eyed demeanor soon give way to soul-searching courage and integrity. A must-read for fashionistas, incurable romantics and teens exploring life choices. Nicole Gabor skillfully and tenderly captures the self-identity crisis of young Catherine while weaving a captivating page-turner.

Catwalk is a story about Catherine "Cat" Watson - an aspiring new model determined to make it in the New York fashion scene straight out of college, coming from a sheltered suburban home. She dives into the world of fashion with the help of her roommate, Jonnie, who is also a fashion model. Even if Jonnie's more experienced, they discover together the industry that is rewarding but relentless in its pursuit of perfection while navigating and avoiding the "dangerous."This book is the author's debut novel and is told from the first-person POV. The writing is witty and easy to follow. It shows Cat's path of an invisible spaghetti girl turned "It Girl" overnight due to "being at the right place, with the right people." The events mentioned are raw and unfiltered with interactions and reactions of two different worlds - the conservative family life of New Jersey versus the outrageous New York lifestyle.Focusing solely on Cat first - I love reading about self-discovery, young love, and learning through experience. I do believe that "mistakes" are part of growing up, but there were so many times that I wished she listened a bit to her father, who is looking out for her and is a lawyer who knows more than her. Yes, she did many things independently (thought carelessly) to prove her now grown-up status, but the cost was high.The theme of the book reminds me of the saying, "the grass is greener on the other side." Even if so many have gone through and advised the younger generation of this saying, no one can convince the current youth to avoid these "possible mistakes." They all have to experience and learn from it through "failures." Sadly, sometimes the cost of those mistakes is relatively high. I felt it to be in Cat's case. She had to make "big decisions, was frustrating as I shake my head and yell out, "don't do it" or "it's not worth it" in my head. In the book, readers will see Cat dive deeper into the abyss of her "mistakes" then later trying desperately to claw out of it.There is a lot of romance going on in the book. Not only one but two men were vying for Cat's attention. Let me tell you - both men helped Cat (in their own way) in the end. They both made them see her potential and also what she should not settle for. They were the catalyst of Cat's "epiphany" of what she can do to help others. Inadvertently, she does make an impression, an impact, to at least one of them also - to become better versions of themselves.The second part of the book talks about the fashion industry - the seedy part of "back-door dealings" and possible dangers models go through to be the next cover model. It will make readers question everything about business and the people who run it. The author does not censor the shady and scary events Cat went through behind the glitz and glamour of unique locations, beautiful and extra people, and opportunities. It mentions the expected - sex, drugs, alcohol, and abuse (all types) that a new model should learn on the spot fast.I love how the author resolved the ending. It talks about human rights and brings in empowerment, not only of women but also for everyone working to make beautiful billboard posters, magazine covers, and successful runway shows. There is a lot that goes to making one person look good. This book is an eye-opener for me and makes me try to hunt down the inspiration of this juicy, scandalous story.In summary, Catwalk is all about growing up, and finding out perception versus reality is not what it is all cracked up to be. It focuses on the fashion industry and showcases the beauty and "pitfalls." But the more important message is that it brings in the spirit of empowerment and human rights protection for everyone working in the industry.

Fashion, love, coming of age...this story has it all! Great for teens and adults alike, Catwalk expertly pulls readers straight down the runway and into the unexpected ups and downs of chasing the dream of becoming a top model. The author, a former model herself, unveils the darker side of the industry as we follow the main character's journey of self-discovery. Nicole Gabor weaves great dialogue and strong emotions with a message of hope and inspiration. Grab your sunscreen and settle in for a great ride.

There are things I absolutely loved about this book and things I absolutely didn’t love. Overall, the writing was solid. The story kept moving and although it was a slow start, once I was pulled in, I got through it fairly quickly.Cat is well written as a naive barely adult jumping into a notoriously predatory industry. I could see where the story was going from the outset, and I was surprisingly not disappointed that the plot was so predictable. It was a solid commentary on unethical practices in the beauty industry, as well as MeToo and the exploitation and trafficking of children and young adults. There were a lot of ways that she reminded me of my younger, more gullible, will-do-anything-for-success self and that level of authenticity in her character is why I liked her.I did get lost in the sea of characters at times, trying to sort out who was from back home and who were new connections. There were a few characters who could have been developed more to add to the tension Cat was experiencing as they were introduced as solid antagonists to her story.I was disappointed that the story climaxed and resolved so quickly. I would have loved to see the conclusion happening more in real time, rather than the tidy way that it ended.Overall, a cute read with an important message.Content warnings: drug abuse, sexual assault and sex trafficking.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Catwalk is advertised as young adult literature, but I am an "old adult" and I loved it! Nicole Gabor painted a vivid image of a young woman's experience in the high pressured world of New York City modeling- and she threw in an intriguing storyline .... I look forward to more from this author!

This is a fun book to read. It's entertaining and lighthearted but it has a very important message. You probably always suspected the seedy underbelly of the modeling industry. _Catwalk_ reveals how elements of the industry groom people so that they are in too deep before they realize that what is going on is not normal. Fortunately our protagonist has a good head on her shoulders and she manages to escape the clutches of this seductive industry.