Love me as I am

Beauvais, the first Black woman to be featured on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, wants readers to know that she is more than just a Real Housewife--she's a former model and is currently an actress, host of the talk show The Real, a producer, and an author (I Am Mixed; I Am Living in 2 Homes). Cowritten by Smith, this poignant, candid memoir begins by describing Beauvais's childhood in Haiti. Growing up with an absent father who returned only to rule the home with an iron fist, she came to the United States at age seven with her mother and siblings, was discovered by modeling agent Eileen Ford, and found herself making her way in New York at 17 in the early 1980s, a time when Black models were a rarity. In addition to detailing her road to success, Beauvais discusses her marriage and infertility issues, the challenges she faced raising her oldest son, and how she found her voice. She also opines on fashion, her faith, friendship, race, and "keeping it real," and ends with "Garcelle's Gems," sayings she lives by such as "Mind your business, Garcelle. Mind your business." And yes: she dishes about the other housewives and the celebrities she met on her road to success. VERDICT An inspirational memoir that fans of the Real Housewives franchise or The Real will enjoy.--Rosellen Brewer

One of the stars of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills talks about real life. Haitian American actor and podcast host Beauvais (b. 1966), whose TV credits include Housewives, NYPD Blue, Family Matters, and The Mentalist, makes her adult book debut (she has published several children's books) with a disarmingly candid memoir, co-authored by Smith. Beauvais recalls growing up in a middle-class neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, surrounded by warmth, color, family, and friends. Her mother, a nurse, immigrated to the U.S. first, then brought little Garcelle to join her in Massachusetts. Although she knew no English and was the only Black child in her school, she managed to thrive. When she was 17, she was offered modeling jobs in New York City, where she reveled in newfound freedom and independence. Besides working for Eileen Ford, she finagled her way to becoming a Playboy Bunny even though she was underage. Married at 22, she soon became a mother, but by the time her son was 3, the marriage ended. Fortunately, her career took off. Modeling led to acting: In the 1990s, she appeared in Models, Inc. and The Jamie Foxx Show; many other opportunities followed. "I am a woman who is proud of her success but hasn't completely bought into it," writes the author, who shares many juicy backstage tidbits: A weeklong gig on The View proved dismal because of the hostile atmosphere among the women on the show; and her co-stars on Housewives could lash out viciously: "I was caught off guard by how venomous" they could be, she admits. Beauvais is forthright about personal issues, including her first husband's immaturity; the betrayal that led to her second divorce; her "angst, fear, helplessness, and worry" about her oldest son's emotional problems and substance abuse; her experience with in vitro fertilization (and the birth of twin sons); beauty; spirituality; the plight of Black actresses; and sex. Dishy, warm, and entertaining. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.