French Women for All Seasons by Mireille Guiliano - Book Review

French Women for All Seasonsis the follow up to Mireille Guiliano's bestselling "non-diet" book, French Women Don't Get Fat. In French Women For All Seasons, Guiliano focuses less on obtaining and maintaining an ideal weight and more on how to live well in general. Guiliano's fans will enjoy her new insights and recipes; however, those who have not read the first book would be better served starting with French Women Don't Get Fat.

French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano's first book on weight loss and healthy living, has become a regular resource in my kitchen for its simple and delicious recipes. I was pleased, then, when I heard Guiliano was releasing a sequel to her bestselling "non-diet" book.

French Women for All Seasons is a book in much the same vein as French Women Don't Get Fat, with more advice on eating for pleasure and maintaining balance. Guiliano does not, however, go over her weight loss plan in the new book. She addresses readers as if they have already reached their equilibrium weight and need more recipes and encouragement in her counter-cultural mindset about eating.

She did, in fact, encourage me. I remembered the principles I had learned in French Women Don't Get Fat, and was motivated to change those eating habits that had fallen back into old patterns.

About halfway through the book, however, Guiliano started to lose my attention. Since she does not give weight loss advice, she fills many pages with other tips, like how to tie a scarf and how to pick fresh flowers. I did not find these tidbits as interesting as her thoughts on food, and felt as if they slowed the book.

I have also been somewhat disappointed in the recipes I have tried. Everything I prepared from French Women Don't Get Fat was a winner at my table. I have not found that to be so with these new recipes. I am holding out hope, however, that I will still find some gems among the pages.