A review by oneliteraturenut
Born to Be Brad: My Life and Style, So Far by Mickey Rapkin, Brad Goreski

4.0

Brad Goreski is the endearing, quirky-chic dresser that appeared first on The Rachel Zoe Project show on Bravo and later in his own show with the same network. Who doesn't love a story of someone coming up the ranks from nothing to great wealth and success? Brad's story is just that. Having started off as a troubled teenager and adult, dealing with issues of his sexual identity as a gay man, Brad struggled to come out to his family. His story of drug abuse and failed relationships feels like a real triumph when we fast forward to his successful, current relationship and amazing red-carpet-ready styling in Hollywood, but there is an in between story that his book delves into. I loved reading about how he became confident and secure in who he was as a person, how he worked and took on opportunities for styling experience wherever possible (hello, Vogue?!?), and how he took risks in branching out and trusting in his own talents to become the stylist he is today.

Some have critiqued the writing and layout/styling of the book as "frothy" or nothing new. I didn't find any of that to really take away from the foundation, which was his story. Honestly, I thought that his personal voice came through very well, which made the story candid and true to who he is as a person. I also thought the styling fit him, with its bright colors and funny pictures, and matched what he had experienced. For me, it was an interesting life story and one that I thought was inspiring and made me like and understand Brad a bit better.