Do not adjust your TV sets folks, this is a review for a non-fiction book, which is quite a rare thing to see on this blog.

I am probably about to share way too much information, but I do enjoy keeping a range of lifestyle books in my bathroom. These range from books by Mrs Hinch advising us how to keep our homes clean, Sarah Knight advising how to get our sh*t together and Maria Menounos with the excellent Everygirl series.

Read my Review of Sarah Knight's How to Get your Sh*t Together

The Everygirl series is a range of books written by Maria Menounos with a little help and advice from her celebrity chums about living your best life, but doing it without the trappings of celebrity living. For example, when it came to designing her closet, Maria didn't hire the best, fancy, schmancy interior decorator, but instead bought a load of Ikea furniture to create the space she wanted. This lady knows the price of buck! She has gone on to write The Everygirl's guide to Diet and Fitness, which again is packed full of sensible advice and a common-sense approach to losing the weight.

The Plot

TV Host and journalist, Maria Menounos was once more than 40 pounds overweight, low on energy and often sick. Desperate for a change she tried a whole array of diet and exercise fads with zero success. Like most Everygirl out there, Maria lacked the time, money, energy and will-power to get in shape.

Determined to overcome these obstacles, Maria spent a year developing common sense, diet, exercise and lifestyle techniques that transcended traditional nutrition and weight-loss plans. As a result, she lost the extra pounds, regained her energy and health, and saw her career take off...Maria has created the ultimate no-time, no-money, no willpower guide to losing weight, getting fit, and gaining long term health and success: The Everygirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness.

My Thoughts

It's quite rare for me to review a non-fiction book. I just love the fiction and it is even rarer for me to review a diet book. If I'm honest, I have a real issue with diet books, especially as in my old bookselling days, January brought a slew of faddy diet books promising a new year and a new you. Quite what was wrong with the old you, I never understood. So it is refreshing to have a sensible book about diet.

The book is broken down into highly visual sections. The first covers Foundation, and letting go of whatever it is that is stopping us from losing weight. This was such a great section, particularly the piece around guilt and choosing to let it go.

The book is then separated into food and fitness with each section containing helpful, and common sense advice. It is packed to the gills with tips from celebrities and experts. But the star of the book is Maria herself. She is down to earth and comes across as someone you could imagine having a fun chat with over a couple of cocktails. We get her glimpse into her home and family life. And whilst she may have a successful TV career, she is down-to-earth with a strong sense of family and where she came from.

All in all, if you are on the hunt for a book delivered by a relatable author, packed full of knowledge and sound advice, I would definitely recommend this. I've very much enjoyed reading this and have very much enjoyed boring my husband senseless with the refrain 'Maria says'.