Book Review: Secrets of the Southern Belle

Author: Phaedra Parks
Publication Date: November 12, 2013
Publisher: Gallery

Who is always perfectly put together and never at a loss for words? Who is professional, courteous, and harder working than anyone else? Who’s Christmas cards arrive the day after Thanksgiving, year after year? Y’all know she’s got to be a Southern Belle.

A Southern Belle takes care of herself and makes sure people treat her right. She always gets her way, even if her man thinks it was his idea. (That’s a win for you both.) But, darling, you don’t have to be raised in the South to be the same fun-loving package of looks, charm, and determination that makes a Belle a Belle. That’s what this delightful little book is for!

Ladies, take it from Phaedra Parks, the smart, confident, and always poised star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Life as a Belle is simply better for you and for the people around you. So let’s imagine you’re rocking on the front porch, with a tall glass of sweet tea and a plate of ladyfingers, because Phaedra’s got a thing or two to tell you!

A few times I have used some choice words that aren’t in the Bible. The point is, we keep trying, every day, to live up to the Southern Belle ideal.

Nobody knows everything, and if you think you do please make sure you rename yourself “Queen Perfect.”

Everybody knows…The Southern Belle loves her three P’s: pearls, panty hose, and pumps.

Know how to tell if pearls are real? You rub them gently between your teeth and if they feel slightly grainy, they’re genuine. I promise nobody will do this to you at a party, so you’re safe with the synthetic version.

I have made it my goal to try and read more self-help books in the coming year. I decided to start with one that appealed to my already innate nature: being a Southern Belle! I really dislike reality television, so I had no clue that the author of this book was the star of the T.V. show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but honestly this did not deter my interest in reading it. This book called to me from the first moment I saw its cover!

The advice that Parks gives within this book is valuable, professional, and relatable. She shares things that could be really beneficial to anyone, not just Southern Belles. I love how she has everything sectioned off, it’s organized by section, and she even provides bulleted lists when necessary. I am an extremely “listy” person, so this makes me happy and keeps me entertained. She speaks to every part of life from the social aspects, the work field, and even about personal relationships. She covers every category!

What I instantly loved about Phaedra Parks and her writing is that she is completely honest! She admits that while she knows what it takes to be a proper, respectable woman, she sometimes fails at being a Southern Belle herself. I can tell what type of person she is through her writing, and I think this speaks volumes for her and her passion on this topic!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review***