The Real Housewives franchise helps promote the stars’ businesses, projects and brands, of course. Take Bethenny Frankel’s dynamic Skinny Girl brand or Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants and LVP sangria. But what the popular shows really push is the women themselves — and their often glamorous, sometimes troubled lives.
Even with Twitter, Instagram and TV, one great way to tell their stories remains that old-fashioned content delivery system called books. The Real Housewives have written a ton of them — and for every Real Housewives book listed below the customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with most getting 4-out-of-5 stars or better. The sample reviews below are from Amazon customer reviews. Here are 11 books from some of the most popular Real Housewives. Surprising variety too, just look at the first three!
Sample good review: “The best piece of celeb literature we’ve ever come across.” (LA Weekly)
Sample critical review: “repetitive, not much substance or ‘juice’ for a pseudo-celeb gossip genre.”
Sample good review: “A fabulous collection of being classy, enjoying luxurious parties, and couture fashion!”
Sample critical review: “Too many expensive recipes and too much about her dog (I love my dog, too, but puh-leeze!)”
Sample good review: “Riveting, heartbreaking” Jeannette Walls
Sample critical review: “There is a fair amount of narcissism here. This is just who Carole is.”
Sample good review: “Honest, transparent”
Sample critical review: “she is quick to ‘toot her own horn A LOT’ and I don’t like that quality in anyone” (then again, it’s a book about her!)
Sample good review: “If you are a fan of Real Housewives of New York, then you will enjoy this book.”
Sample critical review: “She doesn’t give much dirt about the show”
Sample good review: “Powerful, inspiring”
Sample critical review: “After awhile it seemed like we would have a whole chapter on why she had done something.” (A quality that gets praised also.)
Sample good review: “Great beach read!”
Sample critical review: “There really is no big juicy news in the book.”
Sample good review: “Ms. Parks is a great example of what a determined, polished woman looks like in today’s day and age”
Sample critical review: “Where she went wrong was when she devoted entire chapters to which fork you should eat with”
Sample good review: “Kenya Moore is hilarious!”
Sample critical review: “Not an easy read”
Sample good review: “Great plot. Can’t wait for the second part!”
Sample critical review: “Very predictable”
Sample good review: “really is a BIG book that is full of good fun useful stuff for your love life!”
Sample critical review: “Pretty cheesy … but I still love Lisa!”
