Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl

Most American women would agree that those Frenchies have something going on. La Femme Nikita, Catherine Deneuve, even Audrey Tatou of Amelie fame--they all possess a certain je ne sais quoi. In this cutesy pick-me-up of a book, Ollivier--an American married to a Frenchman--insists that you, too, can be glamorous, mythic and mysterious;""a star in the pantheon of feminine beauty and strength."" How can American gals tap into their inner Frenchness? Ollivier lays down the law, interspersing her must-dos with sidebars detailing, for example, legendary French ladies from Josephine Bonaparte to Coco Chanel. Among Ollivier's tips: for loungewear, think silk mou-mous or padded zebra-skin mules, not baggy sweat pants; toss the Equal and use regular sugar in your coffee; and go ahead and gossip, but be discreet. Stereotypical? Peut-etre. But Ollivier's overall advice--seek beauty everywhere; accept character flaws; don't rush to define a romantic relationship--goes far beyond the realm of France and its women, and is evident in smart women the world over.