Julia Haart – Brazen @RandomTTours @JuliaHaart @Octopus_Books #BrazenBook #SharonBTB

Today I am posting my review for the book tour of Brazen by Julia Haart. Thanks to Random Things Tours and Octopus Books for the copy of the book.

Ever since she was a child, every aspect of Julia Haart’s life – what she wore, what she ate, what she thought – was controlled by the rules of ultra-Orthodox Judaism. At nineteen, after a lifetime spent caring for her seven younger siblings, she was married off to a man she barely knew. For the next twenty-three years, her marriage would rule her life.

Eventually, when Haart’s youngest daughter, Miriam, started to innocently question why she wasn’t allowed to sing in public, run in shorts, or ride a bike without being covered from neck to knee, Haart reached a breaking point. She knew that if she didn’t find a way to leave, her daughters would be forced into the same unending servitude.

So Haart created a double life. In the ultra- Orthodox world, clothing has one purpose – to cover the body, head to toe – and giving any more thought than that to one’s appearance is considered sinful, an affront to God. But when no one was looking, Haart would pour over fashion magazines and sketch designs for the clothes she dreamed about wearing in the world beyond her Orthodox suburb. She started preparing for her escape by educating herself and creating a ‘freedom’ fund. At the age of forty-two, she finally mustered the courage to flee.

Within a week of her escape, Haart founded a shoe brand, and within nine months, she was at Paris Fashion Week. Just a few years later, she was named creative director of La Perla. Soon she would become co-owner and CEO of Elite World Group and one of the most powerful people in fashion. Along the way, her four children – Batsheva, Shlomo, Miriam and Aron – have not only accepted but embraced her transformation.

Propulsive and unforgettable, Haart’s story is the journey from a world of ‘no’ to a world of ‘yes’, and an inspiration for women everywhere to find their freedom, their purpose and their voice.

I had no idea who Julia Haart was when I started this book. The cover and the synopsis made me want to read this. I do read some memoirs/autobiographies, so thought why not?! Julia Haart is a woman who found her life at 42…her real life I mean. Before this she lived life in an ultra orthodox family and married a man from the same faith.

I didn’t know anything about the ultra orthodox Jewish faith until I read this book. From Julia Haarts experience, I really can understand her need to escape. She felt that women where strictly controlled and sometimes, conforming takes so much of the personality away from you. Julia Haart’s story was emotional at times and I could feel my heartstrings being pulled.

She got away from the life she hated and was almost born again. She went on to live her life in ways she could never have guessed she would, in fact she soared the heights within the fashion industry. All this on her own, what a strong, determined and single minded woman.

Her early life, I found so interesting. The tales of how females are treated within the Ultra Orthodox Jewish religion, are eye opening and in this day and age it seems so weird that it is happening still. As the book moves into her new life Julia Haart pays an awful lot of attention to her relationships. I totally understand the reason this is important. It’s is the first time ever she has been free to express herself sexually or even be free to have relationships like this.

I myself would have been so interested in learning how she got her business of the ground. As soon as I got to the part of the book that explored her sexual freedom, I realised, in some ways this was much more important to her than how she built the business. When you have been starved you need sustenance.

A memoir from a woman driven to be free and explore her life to the fullest. What can I say but congratulations, you are killing it. Hope to see a sequel at some point.

Author Bio

Julia Haart is the star of the Netflix docuseries My Unorthodox Life.

She is the CEO, co-owner and chief creative officer of Elite World Group, the world’s first talent media agency, which is comprised of 48 global agencies representing the most dynamic and culturally connected talent in the world. 

She was previously the creative director of La Perla, the luxury Italian intimates brand, and launched her career as a designer with her namesake shoe collection. 

Julia lives in Manhattan. 

Instagram https://instagram.com/juliahaart.