Despite multiple attempts, unfortunately this book was just not for me. While some have compared it to the Devil Wears Prada, I found this comparison to be a stretch. Unfortunately, I found most of the characters to be unlikeable.

Fashion Victim was an interesting look into mental illness with an edge. When I picked it up, I thought it might be a nod to The Devil Wears Prada (it's not). It's more of a nod to Jack the Ripper, but less gory. I enjoyed some of the dark humor, but the overall plot had lots of holes that made it hard to believe. Of course, I would hope that aspects of a serial killer rampage would have flaws. Who really wants to write that convincingly? I found the pacing of Fashion Victim to be quick, and it's intense enough to keep you reading. If you're looking for depth of character, you won't find it here, though. Just like the name and synopsis imply, Anya is superficial and vicious, resulting in a conclusion that doesn't really feel satisfying.

This was my first book by this author, and I can positively say that I really enjoyed reading this one. Its captivating. For sure I will be checking other books written by this author.

#OMG #WTF #WOW #TWISTED #CRAZY #REALLYCRAZY
If you have ever wondered what would happen if you mixed The Devil Wears Prada with American Psycho then Amina Akhtar’s book, #FashionVictim is for you.
Over the top characters take backstabbing and climbing the corporate ladder to new extremes.
Why worry about working hard to get promoted when you can just murder the competition instead?
Only make sure you are wearing the latest Marc Jacobs jacket paired with the Chanel pencil skirt and Manolo pumps while literally killing the competition. Don’t forget to blog about it afterwards. #killingit
Fashion editor, Anya St. Clair, has a killer job at fashion magazine, La Vie, an amazing wardrobe and a successful blog.
Unfortunately Anya doesn’t have everything she wants. She is not #BFFs with the ultra-glam, gorgeous colleague, Sarah Taft.
Sarah is not only gorgeous and wealthy but is the “It” girl of social media and the favorite of the magazine editor in chief.
Anya will do anything and I mean anything to be BFFs with Sarah.
Sarah takes every opportunity to remind Anya of why she will never be part of Sarah’s world and makes public humiliation of Anya a daily ritual.
Anya never gives up on becoming Sarah’s bestie until they are pitted against each other for a promotion.
Ali versus Frazier was nothing compared to the unbelievable dirty low punches these two throw at each other.
The story is told from the psychotic Anya’s point of view.
The book is a fast-paced, dark, campy look into the fashion industry.
Akhtar’s book was weak in character development and too easy in the way things fit perfectly. The premise of a dark campy psychological thriller was there but all of the characters were unlikable and Anya’s character needed more development and backstory to make her a character worthy of our interest.
Unfortunately #FashionVictim fell #FashionFlat.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #FashionVictim

Super fun story with a great premise. This is one that people will be talking about. Hoping there are additional books about Anya.

Interesting plot. Characters who fell just shy of being truly relatable, but they were fun to read about. I kind of feel as if a few things could have been flushed out a little more, but overall this was a fun quick read - perfect to bring to the beach!

Loved this story. I did not read it on time. Sorry. But, I did enjoy reading this deliciously suspenseful tale. Thank you.

Fashion is notoriously a cut-throat industry.
Television competitions like Project Runway and movies like Devil Wears Prada have long given the large majority of us who, despite our best efforts, remain… fashionably challenged, a fleeting insight into a world filled with tears, ruthless competition and more than a few personal sacrifices.
It is easy therefore, to imagine this world as one in which murder could be treated with apathy and complacency. That the dog-eat-dog, kill-or-be-killed mentality could actually spill over into actual violence.
And in #FashionVictim, Amina Akhtar examines just that, but manages to do so in a way that made myself and my notoriously stoney-face, laugh out loud on numerous occasions.
In a narrative and humour style that would not be out of place in cult classics like Heathers and Jawbreaker (which are, admittedly, two of my favourite movies), Akhtar perfects black comedy to effortlessly juxtapose the glamorous existence of those style-icons who we all follow on Instagram, who fill their days with PR events, New York Fashion Week and trips to Milan and Paris; with truly gruesome scenes of utter spine-tingling gore.
And because of that, it paints a novel that is utterly unique, completely spell-binding and one that fulfils every single one of my deepest, darkest, if-I-lived-in-a-dream-world career aspirations. Only, if I was literally killing off the competition to get ahead, I would probably find a better way to do it than sticking a lone Louboutin in her head.
...I mean, let’s be honest, it’s a bloody expensive way to kill someone.
But hey, it certainly makes a statement.

was a gripping thriller that took you to every aspect of trying to figure out what was really going on and what was going to happen next! This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what else is released from this author!

This book was Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars meets Project Runway. The main character was the most likable and she is kind of a jerk too, but that is the point, you root for none of these characters! She does all of the things people wish they could do to backstabbing, too critical work colleagues. Overall the story was kind of predictable even the ending but I did enjoy the fashion and the backstabbing. It was a bubble gum psychological thriller, fun and chewy at first but after a while, you were done with it.

I struggled through this book solely so I can write an accurate review. What was that? Seriously... what did I just read?? #Spoilers There was sooooo much potential for a great story. A first person serial killer story??? Sign me up! Negative. The dialogue was atrocious and there is no way that magazine people talk like this. It hurt to read. Also we never found out why Anya was crazy. Also the shrink being dead should have been a bigger reveal that that. Same with the detective. I would not recommend this book at all. Ugh I hate giving 1 stars.

My apologies, but I didn't finish this one. I got four chapters in and I just disliked the writing style too much. It doesn't strike quite the right balance between being funny and having a readable plot. It reminded me a tiny bit of Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho, which I also hated. Thanks to the publishers for sharing it though.

A satirically written, light-hearted thriller based within a Fashion company. This was an enjoyable read, but I felt it was just a repeat of the same thing over and over and I felt let down by the ending, as I was waiting for some big twist to unveil. The MC was crazy, but I loved the way she thought and the little scenarios that she would construct, were very entertaining and made the whole thriller aspect lightened. I also really liked how the perspective was via the murderer, so the whole time we knew who it was. But I think this is why I wasn't totally satisfied with the ending, as I wanted a little more. Overall it was entertaining and I am glad I picked it up.

An outrageous, unique, and dark story with the perfect amount of #craycray

Loved this! Are you kidding me? A book about fashion where I get to spend the entire time in the mind of a complete whackadoodle? It’s a dream come true, don’t judge! I am SO #teamanya loved her! Well with the exception of the murdering thing, and the obsession thing, and the fact that she had no moral compass, but who am I to judge?😉

Anya is a fashionista working for a fashion magazine with her eye on the prize, and nothing I mean nothing is going to stop her! She is a bit obsessed, OK a lot obsessed with her coworker Sarah... convinced if she can just become BFFs with her it will take her to The next level.... after the gauntlet is thrown down with a promotion on the line the bodies start dropping and nobody is safe! You know what they say; and fashion, one day you’re in and the next day you’re dead.

A dart campy quirky book that made me giggle and roll my eyes throughout! A book that had me feeling sympathy for the killer...Anya was such a disturbed, deranged, delusional psycho, but shoot I still adored the girl!This book captured my attention completely throughout... and that ending? that was both shocking and deliciously delightful! Definitely looking forward to the next book from this author, this was a bunch of fun!

If you are looking for a fun, fast read - this is it. It has a dark humor to it that keeps it light and not too sinister. Reading this felt like I was binge watching a TV show. Originally, going into the book, I did not really know what to expect. I was looking forward to the serial killer aspect but wasn't so sure about the fashion aspect. This book combines them so well that I enjoyed reading it. In a way, it reminds me of the book series The Lying Game - not the TV show, that was definitely a loosely based show - but more murderous.

This was a fun and unpredictable read! I think fans of fashion and mysteries will enjoy the ins and outs of the story.

Anya works at La Vie magazine. All she wants is for popular rich girl Sarah Taft to be her BFF. Anya knows it will happen, all she needs is to win the promotion over Sarah, and then she will have no choice but to like Anya.

I really enjoyed this book. It shows the darker side of fashion, the need to keep up appearances and to constantly be aware of photographers and the latest trends and fashions. Anya is a good main character. She slowly descends into madness throughout the book.

I did not expect the ending, and I could not stop reading until I found out what happened to all of the characters: Sarah, Jack, Anya, Celia and especially Dr M. I have downloaded the audio book too so I'm looking forward to listening to the book with a narrator!

People seem to hate this book but if you read it as a satire as it is meant then you’ll enjoy it. The narrator is working at a fashion magazine and simultaneously loves and hates her job and the fashion industry. She hates the shallow people and the ridiculous things she has to wear and do to be in style but then goes along with it because she wants to be accepted and loved so much. She ends up looking like a clinger and getting made fun all the time but unlike normal people, she is crazy and just starts killing people (really not a spoiler since she starts killing within the first 10% of the book). This is what people imagine they do to the “mean girls” but don’t actually do. I guess this could be a guilty pleasure read for some. I just kept on reading because I wanted to see how much she could get away with. If you don’t take the book seriously, you’ll love it.

I received a free, advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.

The premise was good. I had a hard time not being annoyed with some of the characters but that was the story, over the top. I liked the writing and I would read more by this author.

I DNF’ed this book around 40% because it just wasn’t engaging. All of the characters felt shallow and immature, and the plot line wasn’t really going anywhere.