Closer is another one of my preferred obsessions, dutifully purchased at the same time as Heat Magazine but for totally different reasons.
What draws me into one magazine is not necessarily what draws me into another, the stories tend to be the same in both with regards to the celebrities, though sometimes the stories are complete opposites (one states someone has broken up while the other tells the whole world that they are actually stronger than ever...makes it difficult to believe who is telling the truth really).

The cover is quite attractive and well set out every week and always features two similar stories from separate celebrities that relate quite well under one headline, with a real life story in the top left corner (usually the most shocking one from the magazine) along with a lesser story that they know will still grab your attention. Closer always features an amazing weight loss that you can apparently follow with their Closer Diet scheme they input after all the stories about skinny celebrities and all the related gossip.

The front cover is usually jam packed with all the most recent gossip stories about the celebrities, with the only difference and the magazine's saving grace...Real Life Stories. I think I take a completely perverse pleasure in reading those particular accounts because they are always crazy and entirely shocking and outlandish. Only in Closer can you read about 60 stone people squashing their boyfriends and other men for money or a woman breastfeeding her father in order to save his life. Most of the features they do are designed to shock and twist our normal way of thinking as well as giving you the chance to judge in the privacy of your own home. I don't think they have ever failed to shock me with what lengths people will go to and their ability to sell their story to a magazine, even if it means they might be ostracised.

In the magazine it is usually a cleverly set out maze through all the main stories before moving onto the real people's accounts and finally ending with the numerous fashion pages and the TV guide for the week. The fashion pages make me very happy as they are usually full of items and products that the normal individual could afford, as well as their helpful feature of how to mimic the latest catwalk looks for a much cheaper price. They also tuck in their diet and food part of the magazine just prior to the TV section which is helpful because it gives you tips on how to get that perfect bikini body without going overboard on the exercise. It also features tips on how to mimic the chosen celebrity in terms of their workout regime and their eating habits.

My favourite part of Closer has to be the Real Life Stories as I love to read that people have married their brothers or they earn money illegally, as these individuals have no idea that selling their story to a magazine is not exactly the right way to go about being accepted by others. That and the stories are entertaining and shocking!