Customer Reviews

Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Okay, first of all, I am a faithful viewer of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta", and in the first season, NeNe was the most appealing and lovable of all the ladies. She was funny, seemingly down to earth, and she was the housewife everyone wanted to get to know and hang out with, simply because of her bubbly personality and her no-nonsense persona. She was just REAL and we loved her for that! We also sympathized with her as she learned that the man she had always acknowledged as her biological father was not her real dad at all.

But as the second season dawned, the NeNe that we had come to love had evolved into another person - someone whose ego has inflated at least 10 times what it was last season to the point of being obnoxious, loud and just plain mean. This fact was totally evident as of late when she intigated a rowdy and childish argument with another cast member (Kandi Burruss) at a party over something that really wasn't all that important to her. I was wondering, just what is going on with her?? Why was she being so bitchy?? This is behavior by a grown woman who is supposed to be a socialite and old enough to know better. I still like NeNe, but she's not making that easy to do these days. She has regressed from being cool, fair-minded and witty to being nasty, bitter and downright juvenile. I have to conclude that her sudden fame as a reality show star is a contributing factor.

All of these things are evident in this new book by NeNe Leakes, which she didn't actually "write", but merely told to the real author, Denene Millner, what she wanted to say in it. She obviously thinks the sun rises and sets on her and she has nothing good to say about Kim, her castmate - who ironically was once her closest friend - and Sheree (whom she seems to now have an alliance with). Believe me, I am not a fan of Kim's either, but NeNe crosses the line here. There are some people who might say that this is not real, that we are taking it too seriously, that it is only an act for TV. But if that is so, then that would make NeNe far from being the "real" person she claims to be - making her nothing more than a poser. However, if it IS indeed truthful, then she seems to have forgotten that she is the one who started the feud with Kim last season by making fun of her. NeNe was the one most likely to stir things up amongst the other women on the show this season, and then stood back to view the carnage. It's perfectly okay for her to talk mess about others behind their backs, but if someone does it to her, then they're the ones who are wrong. She claims to have taken the high road and doesn't want to deal with drama, but yet she devotes entire chapters to how much she dislikes Kim and Sheree - therefore, keeping the drama going. Way to go, NeNe!

This book is a disappointment. I expected more from this sista who should be setting a positive example to young black women about how to conduct themselves, but instead she makes excuses to justify her actions. Just a note: Strong black women don't need to disrespect others to order to earn respect. Sad to say this, but NeNe seems to be a miserable and insecure woman who gets off on putting other people down in order to build herself up. She comes off as being nothing more than a hypocrite and it shows in her book. This book could have been inspirational and empowering about her upbringing, the abuse she endured, her search for the truth about her real father and how she went from being a stripper (yes, she admits it) to being amongst ATL's elite - but instead it is just catty and narcissistic. In the end, all I can do is feel sorry for her. If and when the old NeNe comes back, I will welcome her with open arms. But until then, I will steer clear. Spend your money elsewhere.

If you want to read a book about someone who says how fabulous and amazing they are every other sentence, this is the book for you! In the beginning of her book she says something along the lines that she doesn't boast or brag. Are you kidding me? This is what she does throughout the entire book. I could write a thesis paper on all of the contradictions in her book. She constantly says how everyone loves her because she is real and speaks her mind. But it certainly is not a two way street because when other people are being "real" and speaking THEIR mind back to her, she is amazed at their audacity and how out of line they are . . . if she will even let them get in a word edgewise.

Nene 1st Season = crazy fun
Nene 2nd Season & Book = obnoxious, annoying, and world's largest ego (Can she enter the Guinness Book of World Records for that?)

Nene, you've lost your magic.

This isn't NeNe we knew and loved from the first season. This is just a 'as told by' book by someone who has let fame go to their head.

Ok, maybe one day she will be as great as she thinks she is. She keep talking about her talents; What talents? being ghetto. She said She wears a SIZE 8! For alot of the book she rags on the two people that has loved her, her aunt and Greg... No more ATL housewifes for me.. Nene sucks bad and is a big ol 40YO plus brat! I am glad I did not buy this book, grow up NeNe!

Why do I have to write this awful review? I don't want to, but somehow I feel cheated as a fan of Nene Leakes. I waited weeks to get this book from the library because I wasn't completely convinced it would be good. I was damn right. The parts about Nene's past and childhood are interesting, but every other paragraph is filled with constant repetition (rush job!), an attempt to redeem her actions (more filler), and reinstate how fabulous she is. The latter I didn't mind so much because what would the book have been without the Nene personality? I'm guessing either Denene Millner is a horrible author or Nene had too much authority over the final product (often the case with celebrities who don't know how to let the professional do their job.) The conversational tone was so ungraceful and contrived it sounded like a suburban white woman trying to "write" black, so jerky and unnatural. (It's obvious that the author struggled with translating Nene's stories and voice into a memoir of substance.) To top it off, none of the gossip was that juicy. It was about what we had already seen in the show. The best part was when Nene describes how Sheree's hair looked when they first met. And I don't remember reading anything about Dwight (although I may have missed a few lines as I dozed off between chapters). Thank goodness Nene is has money because this book is a flop.

I agree. Reading the book did feel as if Nene were there on the couch chatting it up with you. It sounded just like her. However, I did think it was very wordy & redundant, ie, & I am paraphrasing: "Growing up I was a cheerleader and my auntie would order anything I wanted from the Spiegel catalogs. I had it going on with my polo shirts. All my clothes came from Spiegel. There was nothing she denied me. We laways had Spiegel catalogs on the coffee tables. Spiegel catalogs were a permanent fixture in our home growing up. I only wore Spiegel threads growing up. A lot of the kids at school wore jealous of me with my cute hair and my Spiegel clothes." She would ramble on & on. And when she'd stop, she'd reinterate it later just in case you forgot. I think Gregg was the best thing that ever happened to her. He really has a good heart but I don't think even he can control her. I think fame has gone to her head. Nene is mean and she is a bully like no other. I cannot believe how bad she treats Kim and Kandi. I regret helping inflate Nene's bank account & her head.

and write another boook.

I agree that the book was wordy and redundant but this is the way she wanted it published. Don't blame the ghost writer!
I am sure the Ghost Writer, hopefully as a professional, gave Nene her opinions but with Nene being so bull headed - her way or no way
the ghost writer didn't have a chance if she wanted to get paid.

After reading this book I have to say Nene is just simply a mean, hateful person. I agree with the others that rated it the same. BUYER BEWARE. It really wasn't a good read at all. Save your money or buy a different book.

I really don't think this book deserves a full star. First, I think Ne Ne is selfish and her 15 minutes of fame are over. This book was not a good read and I feel that she is selfish and her self esteem is so low that the only way she can shine is to put everyone else down. If I was Kim I would sue for slander. I think all of the good reviews are coming from her friends. Buyer beware...

Love the Real Housewives, so had to buy this book. Not much there except bragging about herself. NE Ne neglects to mention that she started the riff with Kim by making fun of her in the limo. I feel sorry for Gregg and the boys- they don't have a chance.