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Being a Girl: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Teen Life
Award-winning "Sex and the City" actress Kim Cattrall offers heartfelt adviceto today's teens. Cattrall tackles real questions in an honest, intimate, andtotally hip way. Info-packed spreads feature never-before-seen teen photos ofthe actress.
- GenresNonfiction
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2006
4 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Kim Cattrall
8 books17 followersKim Victoria Cattrall, is a British-born, Canadian-raised Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated actress. She is known for her role as Samantha Jones in the HBO comedy/romance series Sex and the City, and for her leading roles in the 1980s films Police Academy and Mannequin.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 7, 2011
I received this book when I was 12, and I'll admit that I had no idea who Kim Cattrall was or what Sex and the City was really about. That said, I first read this book as an insecure and unhappy pre-teen, and with no initial judgement of the author.
This book is best suited for young girls of around 11 to 14, when they are starting to hit puberty. Cattrall has stuffed every little detail of the teenage years into this simple and easy to understand book - self esteem, beauty, family and friend relationships, boys, sexual intelligence and the world in general. She provides general advice with all of these topics, and I think that her light and easy-to-understand approach to these subjects is extremely helpful.
I've got to say, I did find it a good and uplifting read when I was 12, and I still do now. The advice given in the book, tied with the extremely cute illustrations throughout, make it a great guide for the blossoming woman to read.
Kim Cattrall may not be as fun and flirty as her character on Sex and the City, but she is a wonderful woman herself. She talks about her own experiences as a teenager and how she coped with all the bad things she went through, and I'll tell you now that she is not Samantha Jones. People will initially judge her just by her portrayal of her alone, and this is a perfect example of the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover." It's nothing like Samantha, because the actor and the character are two different people.
Like I previously stated, I didn't know who she was when I first read the book - but because of this, Kim Cattrall is now one of my role models in life. I love this book and I think it is perfect for young teens everywhere.
This book is best suited for young girls of around 11 to 14, when they are starting to hit puberty. Cattrall has stuffed every little detail of the teenage years into this simple and easy to understand book - self esteem, beauty, family and friend relationships, boys, sexual intelligence and the world in general. She provides general advice with all of these topics, and I think that her light and easy-to-understand approach to these subjects is extremely helpful.
I've got to say, I did find it a good and uplifting read when I was 12, and I still do now. The advice given in the book, tied with the extremely cute illustrations throughout, make it a great guide for the blossoming woman to read.
Kim Cattrall may not be as fun and flirty as her character on Sex and the City, but she is a wonderful woman herself. She talks about her own experiences as a teenager and how she coped with all the bad things she went through, and I'll tell you now that she is not Samantha Jones. People will initially judge her just by her portrayal of her alone, and this is a perfect example of the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover." It's nothing like Samantha, because the actor and the character are two different people.
Like I previously stated, I didn't know who she was when I first read the book - but because of this, Kim Cattrall is now one of my role models in life. I love this book and I think it is perfect for young teens everywhere.
April 5, 2010
This is a great tool for girls trying to make their way through their teens and early 20's. Kim covers a wide variety of topics such as: self esteem; dealing with fears; relationships with friends, family, mean girls/bad crowds, and boyfriends; body development; eating right (also covers eating disorders); budgeting/living on your own; seeing and appreciating different types of beauty; dating; some carefully chosen/addressed topics on sex; style; skin care; and make-up. Kim's advice always comes off as clear, truly helpful (it's very positive advice and I'd recommend it to teenage girls), and specific. It's very evident that she really cares about helping her readers to improve the journey through those tough years. She's honest, sweet, and funny as well. The book is easy to read and contains pictures of her from childhood on up, as well as cute little cartoon sketches that go along with the subjects. It's really terrific!
June 3, 2011
always read this book when I'm down or feeling insecure...it makes me feel better, i don't know why; i must have read it about 5 times
September 20, 2025
I watched Sex and the City a long time ago. And, every time I see videos of the show I say to myself, "I'm a bit like her, no I'm like her." Recently I feel like I'm Samantha. But, in reality women contain a thousand other women inside them, movies and tv shows seperate them and make archetypes to make it easier for us and enjoyable to watch.
Samantha's character had a lot of soul. And that is something that Kim Cattrall gave.
I am 25 now, and while reading this book I was thinking to myself, I must be so immature because I still deal with those things. And some other things I learned later in life. That is because adolescense is an important part of life and if things left resolved that teenager you were might still lead your life. How you show up at work, on dates, around friends. And it's nice to have reminders, and read sweet books like this.
I have also dealt with an eating disorder when I was 19 and this touched me, I know how life sucking an ED is.
I like the book, I wish I read it when I was younger, but books find you in the right time, so, it's fine. I will recommend it to my students and nieces.
It's stylish and cool. I read it before going to sleep, exactly like an adult bedtime story.
Samantha's character had a lot of soul. And that is something that Kim Cattrall gave.
I am 25 now, and while reading this book I was thinking to myself, I must be so immature because I still deal with those things. And some other things I learned later in life. That is because adolescense is an important part of life and if things left resolved that teenager you were might still lead your life. How you show up at work, on dates, around friends. And it's nice to have reminders, and read sweet books like this.
I have also dealt with an eating disorder when I was 19 and this touched me, I know how life sucking an ED is.
I like the book, I wish I read it when I was younger, but books find you in the right time, so, it's fine. I will recommend it to my students and nieces.
It's stylish and cool. I read it before going to sleep, exactly like an adult bedtime story.
January 10, 2023
A light little book, nestled in its time and quite a lovely and typical "celebrity book", where Kim Cattrall (and Samantha Jones) offer advise to cis-gender, heterosexual teen girls. It was sweet and a nice read to switch my mind to the next book.
October 5, 2011
I read this when I was about 14. I was slightly familiar with her face and who she was, but I simply got it out as it was about teenage hood.
I found it fun and it was nice to read. I didn't have a personal opinion of her then and thought the book was pretty neat and wanted to keep it. Now, I do not like her.
I do not like her and I hate sex and the city. Simply because I do not agree on sleeping around with guys and all her books and tv shows about orgasms and sex she has brought out. Which makes me feel like being sick. If she was not so obsessed with all things SEX then I wouldn't think so badly of her.
And yes, I had a Christian upbringing so I do not like shows and books about violence, sex, drugs and alcohol.
Though, I do love her speaking voice in real life! So weird that a woman so amorous about orgasms and sex could have such a soft and gentle voice!
Personal judgment of Kim alone, the book was decent and enjoyable at the time, but nothing fantastic, so two stars. I would rate it 2 and a half out of kindness, but I can't do that here
I found it fun and it was nice to read. I didn't have a personal opinion of her then and thought the book was pretty neat and wanted to keep it. Now, I do not like her.
I do not like her and I hate sex and the city. Simply because I do not agree on sleeping around with guys and all her books and tv shows about orgasms and sex she has brought out. Which makes me feel like being sick. If she was not so obsessed with all things SEX then I wouldn't think so badly of her.
And yes, I had a Christian upbringing so I do not like shows and books about violence, sex, drugs and alcohol.
Though, I do love her speaking voice in real life! So weird that a woman so amorous about orgasms and sex could have such a soft and gentle voice!
Personal judgment of Kim alone, the book was decent and enjoyable at the time, but nothing fantastic, so two stars. I would rate it 2 and a half out of kindness, but I can't do that here
January 31, 2015
A great book for specifically teenage girls. Me, being a teenage girl could for once in my life relate to this book. I thought the author's stories were intriguing even though I have never seen
"Sex and the City". Only seeing Kim Cattrall in one movie, "Ice Princess", I was skeptical on the book just getting it from the library. But I was pleasantly surprised and extremely happing finding useful and helpful advice without things overly sugar coated.
"Sex and the City". Only seeing Kim Cattrall in one movie, "Ice Princess", I was skeptical on the book just getting it from the library. But I was pleasantly surprised and extremely happing finding useful and helpful advice without things overly sugar coated.
March 31, 2009
This is not as bad as you might think. I can't stand Sex and the City. Because Cattrall's character on Sex and the City was so trampy I thought this book would be too. I realize this assumption makes no sense. I found this book on the bargain table. I'm going to hold onto it for a classroom library if I ever teach high school again.
June 18, 2010
It's not as bad as you think it is, but it's not great either. Cattrall offers sound advice for teens and preteens, but it's nothing new. She tries to cover too many topics only to give broad advice for each topic. It's a fun book if you're a huge Sex and the City fan, but otherwise there are better self-help type books for teens.
July 10, 2013
Ah, the good old amusing Christmas gift from your divorced father when you're thirteen! Not knowing that my mother probably gave me the most comprehensive 'talk' that any tween ever got...
Still, though - some of the things in here surrounding body image were nice to read, if I recall, and the voice was natural enough. I hadn't a clue who she was when I read it though.
Still, though - some of the things in here surrounding body image were nice to read, if I recall, and the voice was natural enough. I hadn't a clue who she was when I read it though.
January 26, 2013
It was really good for me growing up.
April 14, 2013
I wasn't able to get into this book. Maybe it's because I don't watch Sex and the City. Or it's just because I didn't feel connected to her. Whatever the reason, it wasn't for me.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews