Beautylicious!: The Black Girl's Guide to the Fabulous Life

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book! It is about how to be a "Doll" -- a charming, graceful, accomplished, and incredibly stylish lady -- while paying attention to how to be beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. And who doesn't want that? It really is an ideal combination. Beautylicious really emphasizes the fact that "fabulous" on the inside and "fabulous" on the outside go hand in hand. The best part is that it isn't a farce. It isn't an exaggerated, comical advice book to make you laugh. This is a great inspirational and how-to book for women who want to live life feeling great on the inside AND looking great on the outside.

Black women should read this book with a highlighter, pen, and paper in hand. The tips given by the author are TRULY useful, not like a lot of other "how to be glamorous" books that rehash the same tired advice, like "get a manicure" and "eat expensive chocolate". Raines actually gives you specific resources to turn to on your path to "beautyliciousness", like a reading guide, a list of must-see movies, and quick explanations of how to choose diamonds, furs, and wines. In those explanations, she addresses serious issues that most books and magazines won't touch, like the morality of Blacks buying African conflict diamonds, and the inhumane treatments of animals to create real fur items. She is conscientious enough to address the fact that not all Black women relax their hair and wear acrylic nail tips and hip-hop clothes; Raines actually talks about the many ways in which Black women can choose to express themselves through style, and doesn't make one way more "acceptable" than another. She provides good, solid advice on healthy living, hair care, and spiritual inner happiness. This book is an absolute gem--I reread sections of it on nearly a weekly basis, especially before I go shopping!

Fun and filled with wonderful tips, author Jenyne M. Raines presents black American queens and princesses with a guide to living the way we were born to. Have a highlighter and a page-marking technique handy because BEAUTYLICIOUS! is chock full of sensational practices and skills you need to know and possess in order to live life to the fullest. Raines explores everything from developing good posture, behaving like a lady in public, hosting the bomb parties, buying the best for less, taking care of your hair in another country, and developing friends. Included in these pages are websites, recommended books, movies every black woman should own, and what should be in every doll's CD collection. She makes references throughout the novel to beautylicious greats, past and present, like Diahann Carroll, Josephine Baker, Pam Grier, Lena Horne, Halle Berry, Eartha Kitt, and more. Raines constantly takes lessons from their lifestyles and presents us "normal dolls" with knowledgeable routines to live by. She encourages readers to get a pet, eat healthy and exercise, save money, and stay in touch with their spiritual side. Raines doesn't just instruct on physical maintenance, but she also teaches readers how to maintain the mental, spiritual, social, and emotional aspects towards developing true inner beauty. BEAUTYLICIOUS! is indeed the beauty Bible for African American women young and old. I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment I spent with BEAUTYLICIOUS! by Jenyne Raines. Her writing style is carefree, fun, and quite comical at times. I felt as though she was my best friend sitting next to me in a coffee shop passionately telling me everything I need to know to make the most out of the life God blessed me with. The information presented within these pages is simply invaluable and, after careful highlighting, I will refer back to it often. Of all the information she presents, the most helpful for me was learning about the components of Team Me. Every woman needs to have a Team Me to survive and if you really want to know what that entails, pick up this book today. You won't be disappointed. Reviewed by Natasha T.of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I think that every black woman could use this book; it simply reminds us that in a busy world, you must take care of yourself. While the word Diva is overused, this book reminds you as a black woman, you must take care of your emotional, spiritual, sides as well as a fashion staple. It also covers how one can entertain with grace, no matter what the situation. I fell in love with this book from the moment I read the first chapter in the bookstore!

If you have issues as to your self esteem,or you want to start a literary circle or get tips on the best hairstyle,drink, book or cause, then this book is definitely for you!! You may want to call it a Sistah's guide book if you wish.