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Jo Malone: My Story Paperback – 7 Mar. 2019

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,404 ratings

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‘A gripping but utterly heartrending read’ – The Sunday Times

‘A must-read for beauty fans and budding entrepreneurs alike’ –
Glamour
 
Jo Malone is the inspirational British businesswoman responsible for creating her globally renowned beauty business and, more recently, her new brand 'Jo Loves'. Discover her incredible journey from modest beginnings as a teenager, struggling with dyslexia and leaving school with no qualifications, to becoming an international brand name and one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs.

Jo's lively story explores how her fascination with smell teamed with her natural ability to create world-famous blends such as 'Lime, Basil & Mandarin', revolutionised the way we think about fragrance.

Her unique talent for pioneering innovation and originality within her field is unrivalled. Yet, despite her success, she has faced huge challenges with courage and determination, including being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37 and told she only had nine months to live, and her decision to go it alone after selling the original Jo Malone brand to the Estee Lauder Corporation and walking away in 2006.

Jo's commitment and down-to-earth approach to life, work and family makes her one of the most likeable and well respected personalities in British retail and her honesty, hard work and entrepreneurial grit are an inspiration to all.

Product description

Review

‘You won’t fail to be inspired by this scented story’ ― You, Mail on Sunday

‘Lively and gripping’ ―
OK!

‘A gripping and utterly heartrending read’ ―
Sunday Times

‘A fantastic read… Jo’s courageous story is not just for those who are fans of her famous scents and fancy bags, but also for budding entrepreneurs’ ―
The Sun

‘For any budding entrepreneur the Jo Malone story is inspirational’ ―
Daily Express

‘An extraordinary, inspiring life… a snuggle-down and contemplate “what have I done with my life” kinda book. Take notes!’ ―
Woman & Home

‘An invaluable manual for any would-be entrepreneur’ ―
Evening Standard

‘Has appeal as a rags to riches story but also will act as an inspiration for anyone dreaming of starting their own business.’ ―
Love Reading

‘Incredible’ ―
Gransnet

‘A must-read autobiography for fragrance lovers, budding entrepreneurs and anyone who’s ever felt that the odds are against them’ ―
Get The Gloss

‘A must-read for beauty fans and budding entrepreneurs’ ―
Glamour

‘Honest and inspiring’ ―
Good Housekeeping

‘Inspirational’ ―
Prima

‘A fascinating life writ large’ ―
Sunday Business Post

‘She not only takes you on the journey of her business successes and plaudits but she lets you in on the emotional side of her life, like a trusted friend… She writes movingly, but never self-pityingly, of those dark times. She's brings you into her world and it's utterly compulsive. To anyone going through dark or stormy days themselves, her determination and vision are inspiring.’ ―
Management Today

About the Author

Jo Malone MBE is the inspirational businesswoman and entrepreneur responsible for creating her globally renowned beauty business and more recently her new brand 'Jo Loves' which encompasses a new collection of scented luxury lifestyle products. In addition to her role as Creative Director, she also tours the world inspiring men, women and children with her unique story and passion for business. Jo is 51 years old and lives in London with her husband and son.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster UK (7 Mar. 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1471143023
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1471143021
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 2.7 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,404 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,404 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They find the content inspiring, thought-provoking, and stimulating. Readers describe the author as interesting and genuine. They appreciate the fragrances mentioned in the book and find them appealing. The book is described as attractive and distinctive, making it a nice gift for Christmas.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

114 customers mention ‘Readability’111 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story compelling, well-written, and relatable. The author's down-to-earth personality makes it an easy read. Readers describe the book as a true rags-to-riches story.

"...The strength of their relationship is impressive and I found it very poignant when Malone explained that Gary was the first person to offer her..." Read more

"I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. So inspiring and down to earth making it an easy read...." Read more

"The book was very clean and acceptable. Well packed. Not read yet." Read more

"...There are so many chapters that moved me to tears. Her tenacity, creativity and sensitivity to scents gave her the edge over many startups...." Read more

47 customers mention ‘Inspirational content’47 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and thought-provoking. They describe it as an honest account of Jo Malone's entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and determination. Readers praise the book as interesting and a worthwhile read.

"...way she talks about her husband and son is extremely warm, moving and loving, showing them to be an integral part of who she is and intrinsic to her..." Read more

"I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. So inspiring and down to earth making it an easy read...." Read more

"...There are so many chapters that moved me to tears. Her tenacity, creativity and sensitivity to scents gave her the edge over many startups...." Read more

"...she and Gary have been partners for a long time and still have a great relationship...." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Personality’17 positive0 negative

Customers find the personality of the book interesting. They describe the woman as genuine and a fantastic role model. The story is described as down-to-earth and successful.

"...Jo Malone is brave. She is inspiring. She is iconic. She is a fantastic role model. She is a successful business woman. She is an artist...." Read more

"...Having said all that Jo did come across as a genuine person and obviously knew what she wanted to do from a very early age." Read more

"...A truly inspirational and innovative British icon and export, a great role model, especially for young girls and women...." Read more

"...What an amazing lady ..and what a hugely supportive husband Gary is. Totally deserved her MBE!" Read more

10 customers mention ‘Scent’10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's scent. They mention Pomelo is their favorite fragrance and they love the perfumed pages.

"...I will read it again. And, thanks to the scented page inside the front cover and the sensory overload about her creative process, my Christmas list..." Read more

"...She shares with readers her intuition with scents. Strange enough, she feels scents, not through her nose, but through her emotions...." Read more

"...Pomelo is my new favourite fragrance! The book didn't disappoint at all and I would recommend it to anyone...." Read more

"Loved reading Jo's story, love her fragrances so really interesting about how they evolved, having lived abroad for a long while I didn't know much..." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Appeal’9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's attractiveness and class. They find the cover lovely and mention it has a distinctive look. The brand is described as inspirational and innovative, with discernment and not fussiness.

"...the hallmarks of quality and luxury are discernment, not fuss, not razzmatazz, not bells and whistles. Understated. Subtle...." Read more

"...A truly inspirational and innovative British icon and export, a great role model, especially for young girls and women...." Read more

"...The style is so honest and personal, it was like listening to Jo's life story over a coffee...." Read more

"Fast delivery. A present for my daughter who hasn’t read much yet. Lovely cover. Good value." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Gift value’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book as a nice Christmas gift. They find it an inspirational tale of becoming a successful businesswoman.

"...The book is a gift as an inspirational tale of becoming a successful business woman." Read more

"Bought as a gift." Read more

"Was given as a present and it was enjoyed." Read more

"This is a Christmas precent and my daughter will love the read thank you" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Honesty’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty and sensitivity.

"...This book shows how humble and honest she is.." Read more

"Fantastic read, honesty, incredible woman, can’t put it down!" Read more

"Takes you inside the first and second businesses with truth, sensitivity and poetic reflection...." Read more

"Such an honest , informative and inspirational account of the life of a true entrepreneur...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Humor’4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it relatable and inspiring.

"...autobiography is that the writing is very honest, sometimes blunt, humorous, and exceptionally readable...." Read more

"Very surprised at how fun and relatable jo is throughout this book . Loved reading it . Scented Page was a lovely addition to the book ...." Read more

"...would recommend it every day of the week what an amazing woman, it made me laugh, cry and totally inspired me!" Read more

"Amazing story, well written. Interesting , inspiring, with laughs and a few tears. Enjoyed every moment and didn't want to put it down!" Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2016
    Malone's early family life is quite unhappy. As soon as she was old enough, she was under pressure to take on more responsibility within the household and by looking after her sister as her parent's marriage crumbled and her mother's mental health deteriorated. From the outset, Malone approaches these challenging times with determination and focus, using the housework as a way of establishing order and control. There is nothing pitiable about her, nor is she seeking it.

    The one thing her upbringing did reinforce was that "I don't want to live like this when I'm older. I won't. I can't." And that flicker of grit, resilience, hard work and focus is alight. Sadly she does say that she "learned to detach myself and place sad thoughts into mental boxes that I'd push away and refuse to open", but then this also taught her to "not look back and to keep moving forward" which again, reflects the incredible drive Malone has to follow her passion and what has ensured she's managed such a successful company.

    Malone is tough on herself. She is meticulous in creating a product with integrity and settling for nothing less than outstanding. When she began to experiment with making fragrances she learnt three lessons:

    "always find Tracey (her younger sister) something to do, never take your eyes off the ball, and be willing to toss it out and start again if it's not absolutely perfect."

    However, she is not a cold person. The way she talks about her husband and son is extremely warm, moving and loving, showing them to be an integral part of who she is and intrinsic to her life. On many occasions she explains how she would be nothing without Gary's support and love. The strength of their relationship is impressive and I found it very poignant when Malone explained that Gary was the first person to offer her unconditional love, security and constancy.

    What I also loved about this autobiography is that the writing is very honest, sometimes blunt, humorous, and exceptionally readable. You can't help but admire and respect this woman and despite her global recognition and wealth, the book is incredibly down to earth and chatty in its tone of voice. Except perhaps when she talks about fragrances and creating oils! Her absolute passion for scents and smells seems to be so intuitive, so overwhelming and such an obsession for her that the passages about this are lyrical and effusive.

    "When I start to develop the idea for a fragrance, I am, in my mind, creating a unique character that breathes on its own, with a heartbeat, soul and personality: whispering to me its capabilities, strengths and weaknesses; hinting whether it will be dominant in a room or more reserved, and whether it will turn heads or slowly grow on people. But however it behaves socially, one thing is guaranteed: each one will make its charm and presence felt, stirring moods, memories, emotions.....and our senses."

    "I'm like a conductor pulling in different instruments and musicians to create a symphony"

    And perhaps the best thing about the book is that Malone includes the failures, the mistakes, the cringing, the moments of sheer panic - all with a light touch of humour and humility. This is particularly pertinent, seeing as she often uses music as a metaphor for her work, when she recounts the moment of the "Jo Malone version of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture" when the bottles lining a beautiful shelf display in the shop had been filled a little too full of oil!

    Jo Malone has overcome many difficulties and challenges in her life, but never does she blame, rant or become negative about them. She has a real sense of perspective and appears very grounded. At school, she struggled and although later diagnosed with dyslexia, it was too late to help her with her education.

    "There were no neuroscientists referring to the hidden potential of dyslexics, no Alan Sugars or Norman Fosters to trump the stigmas; no books like "The Dyslexic Advantage" to explain how individuals with dyslexia are't defective; they're simple different. None of that."

    It was interesting hearing how she had learned to overcome this challenge in her working life and how she and her team sought ways of making spreadsheets, presentations and any documents she may be faced with, accessible for her. This really is a determined woman who seeks to positively solve problems rather than let them floor her. And all this pays off. As she quotes:

    "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life - Confucius"

    And she is also a woman who embraces challenges. At various stages of her career she's been dealt a curve ball and had to rethink, re-plan, re-budget, restructure and even start again and every time, Malone starts right at the bottom. She doesn't behave as if she is entitled to anything. As she says when she decides to set up Jo Loves:

    "How does anyone get started? Easy. You start by getting off your arse and making difficult calls."

    "Skin doesn't recognise class and there's something about the intimate space between the 'face girl' and client that is a great leveller."

    The Jo Malone brand is incredibly distinctive, as is her new brand Jo Loves. Malone clearly has a very clear approach to what her brands stand for and her she explains this:

    "Simplicity sums up my approach. I believe that the hallmarks of quality and luxury are discernment, not fuss, not razzmatazz, not bells and whistles. Understated. Subtle. Like a scent that gradually makes itself known and quietly commands attention."

    The hardest challenge that Malone faced was being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. Yes, this is a bleak time for her, yes she is desperately ill, yes she describes how difficult, upsetting and dreadful this time was for her but even throughout this devastating ordeal she remains pragmatic, focussed and resolute.

    "To ask 'why me?' would be to wish that it was on someone else, and that didn't seem fair. Life doesn't always deal the good fortune cards."

    "It's important to share my story......the more we shine light into the darkest, scariest of places, the more acceptable it seems and the less alone we have to be."

    And I totally loved this sentence from the end of the section talking about her illness:

    "Cancer doesn't define me. It only signifies eight months and three chapters in my life story."

    Jo Malone is brave. She is inspiring. She is iconic. She is a fantastic role model. She is a successful business woman. She is an artist. She is a mother and a wife. She also seems like someone you could easily spend an afternoon chatting to over tea and cake- or maybe a glass of wine one evening! I highly recommend this autobiography. I think it's pretty clear how I felt about it and I think I'm probably in danger of being reprimanded by Simon & Schuster for over-quoting!

    Oh but I just can't stop.....!! If any book will make you feel like you can conquer the world, this one will! If any person can make you feel like you should get out there and chase your dream, this one will!

    "Find a ladder. Or find a way to climb over the wall. Or dig a tunnel. Just find a way."

    For Malone it's not about money, status, recognition, fame. She is just chasing a dream to make fragrances, chasing a dream to make something she is proud of herself rather than waiting to be affirmed by someone else. Her use of the words "integrity", "creativity", being "true to yourself", "vocation", "resilience" and "passion" ultimately reflect the fundamental beliefs on which she has built her marriage, her family, her friendships and her business. Even if Jo Malone had not become one of the most recognised brands in the beauty industry - or even since it has -I think we would always find her somewhere, working out of whatever room she could find, doing facials and making people feel good about themselves.

    And there is a lovely, genuine sense of humility about Jo Malone too. I want to finish by quoting her last sentence in her acknowledgements:

    "Lastly I'd like to express my gratitude to every person across this world who, over the last thirty years, has bought a product I've created, be it a fragrance, a bath oil, candle or face cream - thank you for making a shopkeeper's dream come true."

    This is a very easy read, engaging and totally fascinating read. It's like having Jo Malone in the room with you for a few hours, chatting away and provides a real insight into her personal and professional world. I will read it again. And, thanks to the scented page inside the front cover and the sensory overload about her creative process, my Christmas list will be mainly made up of products from her new company Jo Loves!
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 September 2024
    I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. So inspiring and down to earth making it an easy read. Jo’s life has had ups and downs but she’s climbed her way through the mire through determination and hard work. I admire her tenacity to make her life what it is today. You don’t have to be a buyer of her beauty products or an entrepreneur to read her story. As I turned the pages I was willing her on to make it back where she belonged. You can’t live in the past, only look ahead to move forward and the horizon opens up and dreams come true. This book shows it can be done when you set your heart on what you want. Well done Jo for keep on keeping on.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 October 2024
    The book was very clean and acceptable.
    Well packed.
    Not read yet.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2020
    Frankly, you can’t miss Jo Malone, unless you’ve never been to the airport duty free area or you’ve never used or being gifted a bottle of perfume in your entire life.

    I would call it the scents of the divine. Just think of Eden and all the flowers, herbs and nature come wafting into your senses. And these are the way how she opened herself to be read, in the most natural way.

    Without pretentious, she tells about her upbringing, her fight with cancer and her triumph. She shares with readers her intuition with scents. Strange enough, she feels scents, not through her nose, but through her emotions. No wonder every Jo Malone’s fan keeps his/her personal favorite to oneself.

    There are so many chapters that moved me to tears. Her tenacity, creativity and sensitivity to scents gave her the edge over many startups. At least, she has the special gift, although being dyslexic, to move her towards creating with her predominantly astute right brain.

    And of course, we can’t forget her husband, Gary, who is the person, who considerably, the left brain of the business. A successful combination.

    A very candid account of her success story. I wish that every entrepreneur’s book can be as confident, truthful and open as hers.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2016
    Really enjoyed this and read it over 3 nights, very easy read and couldn't put it down. As an entrepreneur myself, I read a lot of business biographies and so many seem to gloss over the details of the true hard slog it takes to reach success, and are instead filled with flannel and self promotion. I loved that we got to hear about the endless hard work and long hours of Jo's early days - I've been there myself with the 20 hour days and years and years of hard work.It also shows other would be 'successful business women' who like the idea of running a creative business that it really does take this level of drive and determination to build a successful business, it doesn't come easy. And that regardless of your background, if you work hard you can create the life you dream of. So many people want the success but are not willing to put in the hours! Jo was/is so lucky to have been able to share that journey and all the highs and lows with a fantastic partner ( in business and in life), her husband Gary- being a female entrepreneur can be quite a lonely life sometimes, so I envy her that....but she deserves every ounce of her success. If she happens to be reading her reviews - well done Jo, and well deserved !
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Claurico
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
    Reviewed in Canada on 7 August 2021
    Flying through this book. I found her story, and the writing of it, very engaging and entertaining. Have worn Jo Malone for years…it’s even more interesting to find out how she began it all.
  • Aïssata Niang
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jo loves
    Reviewed in France on 26 November 2018
    A lire !
  • Nikhil Varma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Follow your bliss
    Reviewed in India on 5 May 2018
    Jo Malone is well and truly an inspiration to young entrepreneurs. Rag to riches story of a woman who followed her dreams.
  • Broadbent
    5.0 out of 5 stars The sweet smell of success!
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 December 2016
    A warmly written bio that feels as though Jo is chatting over a cup of tea. She shares stories of her childhood, family struggles, health challenges and overcoming dyslexia by embracing her heightened sense of smell to create one of the most beloved brands in the fragrance world.

    A lovely and enjoyable read that is part memoir, part self help and part how to succeed in business.

    Highly recommend to anyone who loves fragrance and a heart warming story of success through hard work and love.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A most inspiring book
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 June 2018
    I love the style, the story and now the brand.
    I’d recommend it to all starting entrepreneurs and women in business.
    This is a captivating, strong abc truly inspiring book.