Sali Hughes, Everything is Washable

[Dandyrose]

Has anybody read this and would you recommend? I'm tempted but put off by the extortionate £20 price tag and some reviews that suggest it's tripe - very mixed!

I’d be more inclined to believe the negative reviews rather than the gushing positive ones - they all seem quite similar in tone, raving about her being like a friend/sister.

I’ve been bought this as a gift and I’m looking forward to reading it, but I’m not entirely sure what qualifies her to write about everything and anything? Sure, she’s qualified to speak on beauty but what expertise does she have on organising a kitchen?

Yes I do enjoy her tips but sometimes there's a veering towards being a bit patronising and I wonder if that might be the tone!

When you've read it let us know @LiftyLift :-)

I've always been a fan of her beauty writing, when I saw this book on the library app I had a quick read, I found the tone somewhat patronising really wasn't sure who the audience would be as didn't see anything very enlightening!

I have read this, TBH none of it will blow your mind. I mean, advice about how to light a candle…advice about how to clean up after a party…advice about hanging pictures…advice that having blankets or throws by your sofa makes it more comfy 🙄its a lot of money for something you already probably know!

I got the audiobook, tbh it’s pretty awful. There are a few bits that are more interesting, but the tone is weirdly judgemental in the main. Like she’s got life sorted and is kindly sharing her wisdom with us. The worst bits are when she gives advice on something very serious (that she hasn’t actually experienced) such as IVF. Very insensitively handled. As it’s Audible I can just return it. I would not be happy if I’d bought the book! I used to really like her writing in The Guardian etc but I think she’s got too self-important.

I thought the extract in the Guardian was pretty risible - just a stream of consciousness about random things, most of which are pretty blooming obvious.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/03/how-to-create-a-cosy-home-without-buying-anything-new

Didn't Anthea Turner put out this sort of claptrap some years ago? Did some weird tv show about how to fold your towels nicely. Everyone laughed at her and then no one ever heard from her again.

I like Sali's beauty make up tips. One of her nice friends should have had a bit of a word about it when she came up with this. If I told my mates I was going to publish a book about how to organise a kitchen and trim a candle wick, I'd like to think they'd set me straight.

Sorry this made me giggle, in the article which is titled "How to create a cosy home (without buying anything new) ", she's posing in lovely new pyjamas that cost £500. I mean of course you need to be properly done for the pic, but the pic just doesn't seem to match the headline.
Lovely PJs tho. Those will make anything cosy!

I can see what she's trying to do here but I just don't view her as some sort of authority on how to light a candle I suppose

Thanks for the replies! I do want to have a flick through but I'm not spending upwards of £20 to learn how to repossess a candle jar that I can't afford to buy in the first place.