Cheap & Easy Read (Bella)

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	Bella
Date:	02/07/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some interesting articles, good price and mix of text and images

Disadvantages: Too much emphasis on weight, dieting and outer beauty

I can't say I'm a fan of women's magazines because they're all the same to me; celebrities, thinness, thin celebrities, diets, fashion...and a little more on how to look thin just incase you weren't already fed up of reading about dieting!

To my knowledge, Bella comes out every Tuesday and is priced at 85p. I remember years ago when it was around 70p, but it's still one of the cheaper magazines out there. If it wasn't for the cheap price I don't think I'd ever bother picking Bella up, but it's worth a peruse if you're bored and want something to flick through with a cuppa tea.

The front cover usually gives a good indication of what to expect to read inside. Although this magazine doesn't strike me as particularly modern, the coverage inside is up-to-date and suitable for its target audience. Such people, strangely enough, are usually women. Although I'm sure there are plenty of men, who may or may not wish to own up, who have a quick read when it's lying around the house (you know who you are!). I personally wouldn't say this is for girls, partially because of my belief that such dieting and celebrity 'beauty' shouldn't be shoved down your throat at such an age. Then again, women in their 20s+ get fed up of it too, which is probably the main reason Bella is only getting 3/5 from me.

It's not all pictures and diets however, and there is some intellect to replenish your brain cells. The articles and real life stories vary in topics, though are generally quite easy and enjoyable to read.

The index at the front gives a brief outline of what's included. This usually covers celeb news, real life stories, fashion, beauty and diet, health and their 'regulars'. The latter tends to cover travel articles, horoscopes, home style, puzzles and quizes, top TV picks, problem pages, letters, and a bit on entertainment.

There are a few advertisements throughout Bella, though thankfully not as many as you find in the larger glossy magazines. There's quite a lot on fashion and beauty, and I've already mentioned, though I'm sure many would find some of it quite interesting. The fashion pages which are intended for the average woman, in my opinion, tend to feature clothing for certain body styles from the higher end of high street prices.

The general layout is relatively busy, but there's a good balance of text, photos, bullet points and separate text boxes to break up the pages and make it easier to digest.

Overall, at 85p I would recommend this if you want something that's quick and easy to read. It's relatively entertaining and enjoyable, though I must admit the puzzles pages are probably my favourite part! This isn't one I would buy regularly, but it's worth a read once in a while.

Summary: Nothing special but would suffice for a quick & easy magazine pick-me-up