Semi-Gloss: Magazines, motherhood and the misadventures in having it all

by Justine Cullen

This is not a self-help book or a memoir. It's definitely not the Australian Devil Wears Prada.

In her collection of autobiographical essays, fashion magazine editor Justine Cullen takes us on a hilariously candid exploration of her life so far - and all the mistakes she's made along the way.

Semi-Gloss is an intimate, sharp and witty look at growing up and growing older from the kind of woman who seems like she has it all together - the glamorous job, the perfect family, the killer wardrobe. But, chipping away at that shiny, sparkly surface, Justine reveals the beautiful mess that lies beneath.

A wildly entertaining and sometimes bumpy ride through a life well-lived, by one of Australia's most respected female voices.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Fashion, Essays, Audiobook

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Evangeline Polymeneas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was quality entertainment and a must read for anyone with an interest in fashion journalism!

[Richelle Mav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this and wished Justine was my best friend. But then realised my besties are just as sassy, extra and enthusiastic about wine as Juzzy and so maybe that’s why I loved Semi Gloss so much?!

She tells glamourous stories of mag life so ridiculous that you know they have to be true. But she mixes it with mundane motherhood stories like getting her Celine boots muddy while dropping a child at school. There was a life lesson in there but it just made me put the book down to start a wish list on Net-a-Porter exclusively filled with designer boots. Don’t worry, I returned to the book quickly because Justine has that effect.

She tells us there’s no such thing as having it all, but also, you only get one life so go out there and fucking have it all. The whole book is a paradox like this, but that’s the best part. She’s a suburban Mum, who flies first class to Paris fashion week each year. She’s zoning out while her kids are talking, but fiercely teaching her boys to be good men. She’s doing art projects, in her designer home in palm beach.

Sometimes she seems a little like she’s trying to be “one of us”, and who knows, maybe she really does think she’s “one of us” but then she recalls stories of girls lunches that are catered by naked men and clad in designer labels. I stopped believing she was “one of us” then but oh how fun is it to sticky beak into the lives of “one of them”?!

Nevertheless Justine (or Juzzy to her besties like me) is smart and cute and what a perfect combination that is. Would recommend to any 90s gal who poured over magazines religiously. Hide your credit card before reading!

[Black Jibril · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 2 stars is for sheer readability. The author has a wonderfully engaging, self- deprecating tone that keeps you hooked. But just like a magazine, it's all about the cover. There are some fascinating insights into magazine life that bring the ugly and the mundane to life as clearly as the stunning cover pages. But I just couldn't bring myself to like Ms Cullen herself, which automatically means I don't like the book as much as I could have. She's clearly made some very poor choices in life (which is fine, it's just life), the impact of which she's very much semi-glossed over in this book, to the point of being a bit dishonest. There must be an impact that her very busy, high-flying life (for when she was absent for months in a year) had on her relationship with her children, yet this is never mentioned. Instead, she congratulates herself in bringing up 4 great kids (to 3 different fathers, and she's recently divorced the latest one; her choices in partner and to have kids aren't an issue, but it would have been a bit more honest and brave, frankly, to discuss what readers are surely wondering - how does having to co-parent with 3 guys affect her kids? Yet all we get is more self-congrats on what a great co- parent she is. I finished the book down with a rather sour taste in my mouth.

[Stephanie Razey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so enjoyable to read, so easy, light hearted and fun. It's always enjoyable to get a glimpse into a glamorous life you know you could ever obtain (regular work trips to France?!) Still, this book is filled with some totally relatable stories, some hilarious ones, and at times heart breaking ones, this book is a great one to read that leaves you wanting more.

[Sophie McComas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-deprecating, hilarious, sweet and open.

[Tara Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun and heartfelt read about one of those careers that so many young girls look up to as such a goal. Justine writes in such an entertaining and easy way that really makes you want to just keep reading. What an amazing career and life. Highly recommend!

[Renee McGlashan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. The chapter, The Motherfucking Juggle, perfectly sums up life for every working mum.

[Tayla McDonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Semi-gloss’ is a collection of musings and life stories from @justine_cullen, in which it feels like a friend has opened up the double front doors and welcomed you in to her most intimate thoughts and experiences. We get equal parts career and personal life, and the countless instances where the distinction between them becomes blurred and messy. Her encounters in the fashion & magazine industry are a fascinating behind the scenes insight; from excessive world travel, glamorous events and celebrity run ins (she doesn’t hold back in calling out the difficult ones!). But what I admired most was how candidly she exposed it as an “Instagram aesthetic” lifestyle rather than romanticising it. She kept it real with ferocious vulnerability and self-deprecating humour and passed on some valuable advice, in a way that isn’t preachy. The page count was spot on and the writing itself was 💯; the perfect balance between chatty and stylistic. I really enjoyed this one!
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Content warnings: Detailed discussion of abortion and miscarriage.
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Thank you @allenandunwin for our gifted copy of ‘Semi-gloss’
RRP $29.99

Review originally posted via Instagram @twogirlsonebookshelf

[Milly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so conflicted. The writing, technique-wise was fantastic and this book was so easy to dip in and out of- but my goodness, I found the retelling of some of these tales to surpass self-deprecating or honest and head straight into dislikable territory (after all, honesty without tact is cruelty) and the tone at times sounded reminiscent of high school bullies. While rating memoirs feel odd to me as they’re recounts of one’s life, therefore unfair to rank- it was the literary choices made here, in the way these stories were retold (not the stories themselves), that either irked or sold me- both happening interchangeably in my experience of this book. Ultimately, I don’t think the author failed in producing a good quality memoir as it was still an intriguing read. Not my favourite, not the worst.

[Annabel Pizzata · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. In the acknowledgements section, the Author describes the book as an ‘excessively long editor’s letter’ which is a very fair description.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a few false starts and library renewals until I fully submerged myself into Justine’s glamorous, sparkling and inherently raw world.

Justine’s writing was just that - raw. Powerful. Honest. It’s refreshing to hear an open discussion of the trials and tribulations of marriage and parenthood that don’t include phrases like “it’s hard but it’s worth it” or “when you know, you know” like so many unmarried and non-parent societal circles are plagued with.

At times this book does drip with privilege. In the beginning it’s hard to remember it’s not a work of fiction. My 90s-baby brain couldn’t fathom the magazine world she described, nor the kind of events that took place, without assuming they were embellished or exaggerated, despite knowing they were not.

This book allowed me - if just for a fleeting moment - to be one of Australia’s most inspiring magazine editor. To be at those luncheons, sipping oysters and champagne, to be flown to some impossibly breathtaking tropical oasis for a perfume launch, or to sit front row at Paris fashion week.

Because alas, this journo was born 10 years too late to make her magazine dreams come true.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book that makes you question whether your future (or perhaps past) self wrote it on multiple occasions. That is, if your future or past self was/will be an editor with 20+ years in the publishing industry, four kids and two marriages to reference when writing a book for fellow women who also imagined themselves to be editors, mothers, or wives at some point in their lives.

I really loved this book. It was intimate, honest and freakishly relatable. If you finish this book and decide that you don’t want to be apart of Justine Cullen’s inner ‘Munch’ circle, you may have to read it again.

[Abby Kindelsperger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Some chapters were really entertaining, especially when describing woes of motherhood like head lice. Some chapters were really resonate and thoughtful, such as her description of the magazine industry’s demise. There’s a layer of ignored privilege here that bothered me, though. Four kids and a great career with zero mention of childcare or house cleaning help? She tries to be relatable but descriptions of her romances with male models and professional athletes show this is actually about fame and celebrity.

[Shannyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with Justine’s relatable, witty writing & couldn’t put this book down. As a long time lover of fashion magazines, Justine did not disappoint with the details. She wrote in the perfect balance describing career, motherhood, and everything in between with enough details to satisfy your curiosity while simultaneously making you beg for more. I’m sad the book is finished and couldn’t recommend this enough!

[Yelleana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cullen honestly gave bread crumbs into the industry and a really fluffy series of essays when most of the juicy parts are not included. I have met some of the “characters” and she portrays them with such rose coloured glasses it’s embarrassing. Bronwyn is one of the rudest and most awful people in the industry and everyone everyone knows it! Her writing style is fun but do better and stop trying to be safe. No doubt she has lived an incredible life but those pages didn’t even touch the surface.

[Mary Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. And I enjoyed the first half particularly about Justine's resilience and determination, but after a while the self deprecating silly me style probably was just too much for me. An entertaining read but one that an be over and done with quickly and not a book to stay in your mind.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of life experiences from Justine Cullen - fashion magazine editor and mother of four.

I enjoyed this one, I found Cullen very likeable and was really interested in quite a few of her experiences. Unfortunately there were some that I just wasn’t invested in and found myself skimming through several chapters. An enjoyable read overall, but not a must-read.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, light collection of stories from Cullen’s life, much of which is relatable, much of which is not. I still can’t get my head around how she has managed to keep her house free of The Wiggles with four kids, but I’m sure paid help must come into the equation. You will like this book if you liked Aus fashion/young women’s magazines.

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4-ish stars, because I read it in one sitting and I think that says good things about a book. I liked her style of writing, and there was just the right amount of name dropping. I’m definitely not her demographic (I am one of her colleagues that could be her daughter) but it was a good read nonetheless.

[Elle P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a teenager in the late 90s/early 2000s and devoured magazines each month so the names in the book were familiar. I admire strong female editors e.g. Mia Freedman and Lisa Wilkinson. I really wanted to enjoy this book however the persona of the protagonist wasn't exactly likable.

[Sarah Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this quickly over a few days. I’m a fan of her work and have an interest in the fashion magazine workforce/career life so loved the insights into this. Easy read, not to get to caught up in, honest insights and interesting co-parenting realities with some hilarious pop culture references.

[Ingrid Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this so much. So much heart and honesty.

[Emma The Carers Club]

Really enjoyed this! Perfect holiday read.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun but would have liked more fashion magazine gossip.

[Kate Bascombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Feel as though everyone should read her essay called ‘Good Men’.

[Saffron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I liked this book of short memoirs of Justine’s life. She’s witty and an engaging story-teller.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved and devoured every word!

[Caitlin Matthews]

DNF

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun, and nostalgic audio book (read by Justine Cullen herself). I was one those teens/young women who was obsessed with magazines likes Dolly, Girlfriend, Cleo, and Elle in the 90’s before social media came along and killed them – bit like “video killed the radio star!” They were where I found out about fashion, skincare, friendships, “current” events, etc.

I liked the era when magazines had actual models on the cover instead of the recycled blonde “celebrities” who dominated in the later years because they were promoting something, so I particularly liked Justine’s story about the cover shoots and how hard they could be to organise logistically. And I really enjoyed her early recollections of a very “typical” Australian childhood of the 80’s and the soapies and Aussie “stars” she met when she first started working in magazines.

Of course, the glamour on the outside is just like an iceberg – underneath it’s all the other stuff – like juggling a 100 things at once, especially when you have young children. The world Justine describes is of a past era - hyper-consumption, over-the-top fashion, it-bags, flying half-way around the world for a single event, etc. yet its been replaced by one that’s likely no better – now it’s all online with influencers, fast fashion and still hyper-consumption!