This is the third book in the fashion-based tale that began with The Devil Wears Prada and was followed up in Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns. This third episode is more of a spin-off than a true sequel, to my mind. Previous main character Andrea Sachs is mentioned only once, briefly, and she never appears on camera herself. Her "devil" nemesis, Runway editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, makes a few cameos here, but she certainly doesn't appear as often or in as much depth as her character would have expected. If Miranda had considered this manuscript, she might have arched an eyebrow and added a question mark to her signature dismissal: "That's all?"

Instead, this tale is a multi-pronged one, centering on three main characters. Emily Charlton, Andrea's former co-worker and business partner, is now an image consultant for celebrities who find themselves in public trouble. Her friend, Miriam Kagan, is a lawyer, now serving more often as the mother of three elementary-age children. Miriam's friend, Karolina Hartwell, is a Polish-born model married to U.S. Senator Graham Hartwell. Each woman faces challenges in both her personal and her professional life. Karolina's situation is the most public, the most problematic, and the most frustrating one of the three. What started out as a seemingly routine traffic stop ended up with Karolina spending a night in jail. Jail! What just happened? And what is happening as a result? Can Miriam and Emily help her in any way? Even while they deal with their own issues?

Fashion is still a featured guest at this table, of course. We get to hear about and to imagine the outfits that all of the mothers are modeling in suburban Connecticut. And we "see" whatever styles Emily, Miriam and Karolina are wearing, too. I know nothing about this world. But those readers who do know fashion will be able to imagine the clothing much better than I can. Still, the main challenge here is how to get Karolina out of the thick jam that she's suddenly been thrown into.

Author Laura Weisberger provides yet another approach to the narration here. The Devil Wears Prada was told in first person by Andrea. Revenge Wears Prada was told in third person, and limited to showing only Andrea's feelings and actions. This book is told in third person, with each chapter centered on just one of the three main characters. The focus varies. Interesting! There's certainly nothing wrong with an author deciding to change it up a bit. Makes it more interesting for both the writer and the reader.

When Life Gives You Lululemons is a compelling story that sustains a reader's interest on its own merits. You don't have to read the other two books first to be intrigued by this one. And you may not be able to predict some of the surprises that emerge among these pages. If you're due to read a female empowerment story, this one could be for you.