A Model Summer

More about the book

In 1980, fifteen-year-old Jiřina, the daughter of Czech emigrants, arrives in Paris, the fashion capital, to pursue her dream of becoming a model. Struggling to have her name pronounced correctly, she faces disdain from the modeling world, which views her as shy and impoverished. Unhappy at home, Jiřina yearns for a better life. Like many girls her age, she dreams of love, friendship, nice clothes, and music, but her greatest ambition is to succeed as a model. Determined to do whatever it takes for her career, she aspires to resemble the glamorous beauties on magazine covers, seeking fame and admiration. However, beneath the glittering facade of luxurious clothing, hefty paychecks, international travel, and celebrity parties lies a harsh reality: a world of drugs, transactional sex, and ruthless manipulation. The price of living in the spotlight can often be far too high.