Next Level Basic: The Definitive Basic Bitch Handbook

The photo I added is just to show you some contrast about my week in Colorado and how it relates to this book purchase. I spent 8 days with my husband camping in Colorado, living out of tents with a group of our best friends, out hiking, enjoying lots of hammock time. I got to 4 wheel drive the in-laws’ Jeep Rubicon “Rubi” at Rocky Mountain National Park, definitely a fun and somewhat dangerous way to spend a vacation but I enjoyed every minute of it! We love to camp and every year we just level up a little bit more. This was our first time doing the a Rocky Mountains. If you ever have a chance to go, I recommend it. For us camping is a huge part of our lives, and we have built a pretty strong camp squad of friends to go with which makes it that much better. It’s amazing what you can learn about friends in a situation where you have to take a shovel into the woods to poop, or realizing the only true heroes at a campsite are the coffee bringers. We eat all our meals out of coolers and someone always brings a Coleman grill that never fails us. This trip was extra special too because the camp squad was all in and we went to visit a mutual friend who just moved to grand lake, Colorado. If you’re unfamiliar with grand lake, you should google it! Then visit it! It’s such a beautiful scenic place to visit. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that my feet got dirty, my hair turned into one giant tangle — which two days later I’m still trying to get untangled — and I slept in a tent most nights. The view in the painting is our view at one of the camp sites — And you know, this is all probably something Stassi would really hate. I think the only thing stassi would get right on a camping week would be her outfit, but I digress. What I’m saying is that it doesn’t matter because, guess what? I love to camp. It brings me joy! I love to rough it outside. I love doing what makes me happy. This book is a reminder of something t we all need to hear sometimes — do what makes us happy. Simple, huh? I purchased Next Level Basic for this camping trip thinking it would be a light read and help me go down for my mid-afternoon hammock nap. Trust me. If you’re camping more than a few days you learn real quick about that hammock nap. Nothing better. But this book made it hard to nap because first of all it made me laugh — obviously, Stassi has a way of saying normal ass things, mostly about Ranch dressing, that make you chuckle — but this book was also uplifting and empowering. Sure it was an easy read and i finished it in 3 nap sessions, but it was cleverly layered with anecdotes from the perspective of a young girl growing up in the real world, facing fashion disasters, making an ass of herself to replicate Angelina Jolie and terrible grey lipstick, losing her virginity — and ultimately a quirky coming of age story that reminds us all to not take ourselves so seriously because the truth is none of us really know what we’re doing on this earth anyway so why don’t we just do what makes us happy.***The cover photo is a painting I made while out camping. It’s our view from one of the campsites we stayed at. I used this painting as the cover photo for this review because it is my happiness. (Which is what this book is all about in case you haven’t realized that yet.) I started painting just this year due to the pandemic, having lots of free time, lots of extra anxiety, lots of it, so I started using art to distract myself —and through that I realized I have a true passion for art. I honestly can’t believe I went my whole life without doing art. I never thought I had room for art or that I would be any good at it, probably because at some point someone made me feel I wasn’t an artist. I wasn’t good enough. Then just like that it became my life. I’m not the best at it but I’m my best when I’m doing it and I never have to go another day without art — and that is the ultimate bright side. This book is all about the bright side and finding YOUR art.

I've watched Vanderpump since it began and Stassi is one of my favorites in the show so when she wrote this book I knew I had to read it. Before I bought the book (because let's be honest I don't like spending money on anything) I read some of the reviews and they really bummed me out. Of course there were the true followers like me who loves the book, but then there were even ppl who know her and the show and still said they didn't like the book and it worried me. The one thing that stuck with me is that some ppl said that they wanted to know more juicy secret stuff about her instead of just reading on how to be basic. Well.... Come on.... First of all the book is called next level basic! So what did you think you would be reading about?? Secondly, I don't know what those ppl were talking about because pretty much every single chapter had secrets, or stories of her childhood or adult life on and off Vanderpump Rules. That's one thing I really enjoyed about the book. Learning about her childhood, how she lost her virginity, and how she has made mistakes and grown as a woman. You really feel like you get to know Stassi more. But this book isn't an autobiography so don't think that's what the entire book is, and that's fine. I also really loved how you can literally hear her when reading the book. It's not like it was written by a ghost writer and doesn't sound anything like her.. It actually feels like your sitting having coffee with Stassi and she's giving you advice and cracking jokes. She has an amazing attitude in this book and really helps us learn how to accept who you are and OWN it. Don't worry about anyone else and what they think because when you do you're not being true to yourself, and there's nothing wrong with being you. In this day and age with Instagram and everyone judging each other, this book is definitely needed. Not only for its positivity but for really letting you feel okay to be you. Seems like advice we all say we know but no one follows. This book really makes you feel ok to be yourself and the people who love you for you will be there no matter what. And those are the ppl you need in the end.Okay rant over.Buy the book. :)

Book was okay and really quick and easy to read. At times it read like a college essay but overall it was entertaining.

Bit disappointed if I’m honest. I love Stassi, her podcast, Vanderpump Rules but this book is basic and not in a good way. Stassi is an English major I expected much better writing and it’s just not well written. I was not expecting endless lists of serial killers and bad fashion. It’s written for 15 year old girls. Finished it and threw it in the bin. Lesson learned - I'm not buying books written by reality celebs and instagram cleaning guru's anymore. They are jut books thrown together to make £££ in their moment of fame. There's nothing to this book save your hard earned money, I wish I had

I expected I wouldn't like this if I'm honest because I was frightened my expectations of stassi would grow less after watching her for years on vanderpump rules . She is kind of my queen I find her so insaneky witty and of great humour but it's hard to write and I get that .. it was either gonna pass with amazing levels of fail . I feel I can relate I'm on my honeymoon and couldn't ask for a better read she has made me laugh out loud several times. It's light hearted it's taking the piss out of ourselves and as an Irish girl im quite surprised how alike the humour is and it's been brilliant thank you stassi and may you write many more books and always be yourself ..I for one will be a massive follower XXJordan X x

Funny but the lists feel like fillers. Particularly the phone charger graphs- like a teenager filling out their homework. The Takeaway summary’s are equally fillers, it’s an entertaining book - not a manual for life!

I am so disappointed by this, i really thought this would be full of witty banter, this was not even the slightest funny

If you love Stassi, you'll love this. I had it on holiday and the only downside was I got through it in 2 days.