Dozens of shouty (and occasionally whispered) one-sided conversations, all of which have been turned from annoying to hilarious thanks to a sublime collaboration between two very beady talents.

Beautifully illustrated… it will strike a chord, even if it seems a bit unfair to strip the ordinary things people say then put them in a book, all the while scoffing at them for not being worthy of putting in a book. Still, that's Christmas for you

A modern curse is turned into a treasure trove of strangers' words

Great only in the sense of being darn good, this is a tiny, beautifully produced volume

Nothing short of delicious... Sharp-eyed as it is wickedly funny... Witty, tender and vividly nostalgic.

Thought-provoking and delightful. I love the way Volk transforms the apparently frivolous and, often, outmoded details of femininity into valuable lessons for life. Completely beguiling.

A moving and entertaining double memoir

Delightful… Juxtaposes the lives of two figures who most shaped [Volk’s] views of what a woman could and should be. Both women were opinionated, secretive, imposing, hot-tempered, charismatic and crazy about clothes… Ms. Volk is thoroughly likeable, warm and generous, with a well-tuned ear and a vivid sense of humour.’

Pure joy... A diptych portrayal of Patricia Volk's gorgeous and infuriating mother and the great fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, this is an irresistible tour de force that puts on display Volk's intelligence, wit and sparkling prose.