Smile and Look Pretty

Starred review from September 1, 2021

DEBUT The "whisper network" goes digital in this story of what some women put up with to become successful. Friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max are all executive assistants in New York, waiting to be promoted to their dream jobs. All four languish and must endure outrageous expectations from their bad bosses, with no hint of advancement. To vent, they gather weekly at a bar to destroy the Shit List--each woman's written complaints about her boss's absurd behavior--by burning the paper in a candle flame. When Cate realizes that they must go one step further to "plot against the patriarchy," she creates a Twentysomething, a website where women can anonymously post about their own bosses' terrible conduct. Writing as the Bossy One, the Bitchy One, the Aggressive One, and the Emotional One, the founding friends expose the toxic environments their employers have created (like Olivia seeing her boss's genitals 124 times). Sexual harassment becomes a common thread, and the site goes viral as an outlet to reveal generations of bad behavior. How far are the friends willing to go to start a revolution? VERDICT Readers will cheer Pellegrino's shattering of the glass ceiling in this fast-paced, millennial-centric, you-go-girl novel about workplace empowerment.--K.L. Romo, Duncanville, TX

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October 4, 2021
Pellegrino shines in this intelligent and engaging debut about four friends who work as assistants in various high-profile industries, written in the tell-all tone of The Devil Wears Prada with a conceit reminiscent of Gossip Girl. Olivia Medina aspires to be an actor; Cate Britt a book editor; Lauren Barreo a screenwriter, and Max Burke a broadcast journalist. Their most exciting tasks, however, involve picking up vegan cupcakes and coffee orders, with a generous dollop of condescension. The four meet weekly for margaritas and to vent about the outrageous shenanigans of their famous bosses. Soon, they decide to launch an anonymous blog called Twentysomething, which chronicles their bosses and others’ bad behavior—and ends up attracting a large audience of women dealing with similar situations, and who begin to call out abusive behavior. Veterans of so-called glamour industries will recognize Pellegrino’s depiction of the often-toxic workplaces, and the author does a good job portraying her large cast, among them Lauren’s colleague-turned-boyfriend Owen, who admirably fights for her honor (even with a wimpy writer’s punch). It’s a simple, well-worn story, but it stands out thanks to the ways the characters balance their personal ambitions with a desire for justice. Agent: Liz Parker, Verve Talent and Literary.

November 1, 2021
Cate and her best friends are all assistants to professionals in their chosen fields: Cate to a publisher, Lauren to a TV showrunner, Max to a news anchor, and Olivia to a washed-up actor. Every week the four get together for ""The Shit List,"" where they write the most humiliating thing their boss had them do. One day, Cate proposes they put the Shit List online--very anonymously--as a way to share their venting with other assistants paying their dues. They call it Twentysomething, and soon it has a dedicated following and more anonymous contributions than they can handle. It's not just that women are being treated worse than their male counterparts, but that sexual harassment and assault are rampant. The four have to decide if they want to stay anonymous or start a revolution. Pellegrino's debut novel is part workplace comedy and part girl-power treatise, centered on the ebbs and flows of female friendship. It's a sharp, empowering novel for the #MeToo era that will resonate with anyone who has felt less-than at work.

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October 1, 2022

Pellegrino's smart debut conjures visions of #MeToo for the TikTok set. This is the tale of four friends, all underpaid executive assistants, and the onslaught of bad behavior they are forced to endure on the job. Don't like how you're being treated as a young woman in a male-dominated field? Blog about it! Or in this case, post about it anonymously. When the women decide to blog about their bosses' appalling behavior, they become an internet sensation. Not only do many women come forward with similar experiences, but their posts also go viral, which brings on a new set of problems. Narrator Natalie Naudus brings out the complexities of each character while maintaining a perfect comedic edge. What could have been another tale of women getting even and men behaving badly is treated with refreshing nuance and depth. Although the cover implies that this story is a typical twentysomething slice of life, there's much more than meets the eye. VERDICT This sometimes infuriating, sometimes ridiculously funny workplace dramedy will be an instant hit; recommend to fans of The Devil Wears Prada and 9 to 5.--Anna Clark

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.