Not Bad For a Girl

by Anastasia Ryan

From hilariously awkward lunch breaks to cringe-worthy Zoom calls, this workplace comedy of errors is sure to put a smile on your face.

Indiana "Ana" Aaron is a talented coder and IT specialist, but she doesn't always fit in at work. When she speaks up one too many times for her boss's ego, she's transferred to a remote team―and it's clear this is her last chance to blend in. Ana sees working from home as a chance at redemption; she can keep her head down and her camera off.

But when her new boss praises her assertiveness and thanks Mr. Aaron, she sees no reason to correct him. But the longer Ana waits to set things straight, the more complicated things get. Soon the legend of "Indiana" begins to take on a life of its own, and Ana is in over her head. Fortunately, she has friends at work, including Shane, a handsome tech guy who's smart enough to put the puzzle together and to help her triumph over workplace preconceptions and other nonsense.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Humor

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2024

About the author

Anastasia Ryan writes about what she loves best: coffee, humor, and cats. Follower her on Instagram (@byanastasiaryan) for updates and news!

Reviews

[amarachireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this thinking it was a romcom because of the cover but it wasn’t really. This is definitely women’s fiction comedy if there anything like that but the romance didn’t really play a main part in it. This book really tackles work place discrimination against women, the patriarchy, gender discrimination and women empowerment in a fun and crazy ways. It all starts when the main character who’s a woman in tech gets mistaken for a man by her boss. There are so many hijinks, plots and wild moments that make for a fun book. The romance is a back plot and I think if I had know that it wasn’t a huge part of the book going in I would have adjusted my expectations and enjoyed this more. Overall this was fun to read and if you want women’s fiction with a dash of romance lots of humor and a bit of satire you should read this.

Thank you Sourcebook Casablanca for this arc for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan of liars and this lie got quite a bit out of hand (thanks, Heidi), but I'm happy the love interest knew the truth, so that's made it a little easier to swallow. Review soon.

(Indi)Ana & Shane
What to expect:
~ single 1st person POV
~ a super smart h who’s not afraid to speak up for herself, but had a hard time telling the whole truth
~ a heartwarming daughter/father relationship
~ no steamage

Narration notes:
Well she was okay for her regular voice, but not so great with others. She tried, so A for effort there, but Heidi specifically was the most grating to my poor ears.

[costitanza (onetoomanybooks) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a nice premises, execution.... not so much,

When I read the synopsis I was totally in for a story about a girl in a men world and all the struggles she has to overcome to be seen.
But this book it's so absurd that it can be borderline fantasy for how much things don't make sense 😂 Like in a way it's funny, until it's just too much.

Also the love story between Ana and Shane was veeeeery weak, they met, spoke three words and then he brings her to buy a fish 🤔

I think the misogynist work environment was well depicted, but a part from that this book was very weak. I almost DNF it a couple of times

[Cristina Elena | LaaA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anastasia Ryan‘s "Not Bad for a Girl" follows the journey of Indiana "Ana" Aaron, a skilled coder in a male-dominated IT industry. When Ana's assertiveness earns her praise under the guise of her alter ego "Indiana," she embarks on a comical adventure of mistaken identity and workplace shenanigans. Moving at a brisk pace, the plot keeps readers engaged with its blend of humor and heartfelt moments.

Through the storyline, Ana's character undergoes significant growth as she navigates the challenges of being a woman in a professional environment that often underestimates her. Her transformation from a frustrated employee to a confident advocate for gender equality is both relatable and empowering. The supporting cast, including Ana's quirky coworkers and supportive friends, adds depth and humor to the story.

Anastasia Ryan's writing style can be described as witty and engaging, capturing workplace dynamics and the camaraderie among colleagues. The dialogue is sharp and humorous, drawing readers into Ana's world and keeping them entertained from start to finish. Ryan infuses the story with plenty of humor and wit, creating laugh-out-loud moments that range from Ana's awkward encounters with her boss to her friends' misguided attempts to help her maintain her secret identity.

Overall, "Not Bad for a Girl" is a delightful work about the challenges and triumphs of a female coder navigating a male-dominated industry. With its witty writing, endearing characters, and empowering message, Anastasia Ryan's rom-com tale is sure to leave readers laughing and inspired. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or simply enjoy a good laugh, this book is not to be missed.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #NotBadforaGirl #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

wtf was this bro. first of all, why is there a male on this cover? the character he represents has four scenes in the book. don’t try to play this off as a romcom when it isn’t!!! this is a story about a female bitching and moaning about the troubles of being a female in a male dominated field. listen, I’m in law. I can relate to this sentiment, but it felt so disingenuous because she not only has this conversation with herself, but with every. other. single. person. in. the. book. coworkers? yup. dad? yea. dad girlfriend of one day? absolutely. ceo of the company she’s pitching to? you bet. room full of high level mangers and leaders of the company she’s working at while she’s on a stage holding a microphone? unfortunately. what she was saying is true, but it felt like the author watched the barbie movie and said “let me write this down”. on top of that, everything was so absolutely cliche. the “forced family” with the fmc and her coworker was so cringey and not cute. the fmcs close friends made this whole “fake identity” situation worse and it was annoying. the romance was so forced (and again misleading cause it was practically non-existent). the jokes hit at times but fell flat most other times. wow I just … did not like this. this isn’t a romance, this is whatever you call a story about a girl who lies to her boss and makes him believe she’s a man because being a girl is so hard and deals with the repercussion of this for 280 pages and in sometime through all that found someone who she loves.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I normally am not a huge fan of the workplace rom-com, finding them to be somewhat unrelatable to me, but I loved everything about this feminist look at what it's like to be a woman in a predominantly male field.

Indiana "Ana" Aaron is a coder at Apollo IT, who has just been passed over for a promotion in favor of the younger and less experienced man she just trained. After she expresses her displeasure at the way the situation was handled in the meeting, she is effectively demoted to an all remote team with the company's biggest screw up at the helm. With her gender neutral name, her new boss assumes that she is a man, and when she finds that she is finally being shown the respect she deserves and having her input taken seriously, she isn't in a rush to correct his mistake. When he flies in for a meeting and wants to meet Indiana, everything quickly spirals out of control, with Ana's work friends coming up with zanier and more elaborate excuses why the elusive man's man Indiana can't meet in person. Only the boss's minder, accountant Shane, is clever enough to put two and two together and realize that Ana may just be a nickname for Indi-Ana, but keeps her secret. The two embark on a sweet romance, but I liked how in this story the romance was not the focal point, and rather focused on Ana's trials and tribulations in the workplace. There was a wide cast of side characters between her work friends and father and landlords that provided plenty of witty conversations. I even got a bit of a giggle out of the name confusion, because the same thing has happened to me more times than you would think over emails back when I was working. I am definitely motivated to go back and read the author's first book and am excited for future releases since I greatly enjoyed her writing style and naturally flowing banter.

🩷 Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casa and Anastasia Ryan for a copy of Not Bad For a Girl to review!

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Bad for a Girl/Anastasia Ryan
Sourcebook Casablanca/30-Jan-2024
Genre: Women's Fiction

"𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.  𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲."

📚A delightful read that combines humor, romance, and a poignant commentary on the challenges women face in the tech industry.

📚The protagonist, Indiana “Ana” Aaron, is a relatable character whose journey through workplace mishaps and identity mix-ups is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

📚Ryan’s approach to addressing feminist issues within a male-dominated field is both bold and refreshing. The book doesn’t shy away from depicting the reality of gender bias, yet it remains a comedy at its core, making it a unique addition to contemporary fiction.

📚Overall, “Not Bad for a Girl” is a compelling blend of comedy and heart, offering plenty of laughter, romance, and a meaningful message about empowerment and overcoming stereotypes. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a fun yet impactful story.

📚Read if you like:
Feminist FMC working in STEM
Workplace Comedy
Witty Banter
Mistaken Idenity
Lots of Laughs
Romantic Sub-plot

[Dona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Anastasia Ryan, publishers Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of NOT BAD FOR A GIRL. All views are mine.

Opening Quote: God damn it. I had on my highest heels. Loc.3780

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The opening scene of this book absolutely yanks at my emotions and I immediately connect with the fmc and the world she inhabits.

2. YES! Cat butts are the best parts of zoom meetings!

3. Ryan has razor edged wit and writes amazing dialog: “You know, you’re not twelve. He’s not going to love it just because his daughter made it for him. That stops when you leave elementary school.” “Does not,” I said. “It doesn’t matter how old I get—he always loves my crap.” “That’s fortunate, because you’re absolutely full of it.” Loc.452

4. One of Anastasia Ryan's comedy signatures is hijinks, which oftentimes lead to absurd situations, which Ryan also seems to favor. In this book, like in her first, a major hijinks occurs early in the plot-- the fmc is mistaken by her employer for a man, because of her name, Indiana. Indeed, the absurdity deservedly ensues, and it is fun!

5. Sherrif Hopper!! ♡♡♡ OMG the babies!! They're basically just swimming around waiting for their digestive tracts to freeze. Loc.3202 Okay I'm dead😂😵

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. I read several reviews in which the readers dinged the adsurdism, but I think absurdity is one of the book's most charming features. Everything is awkward, but that fits because the fmc feels out of place, is often mistaken, and ultimately experiences a very literal sort of identity crisis. Absurdism is a perfect choice of technique for this story, and is probably the only technique that could plumb the themes' comedic depths so completely.

Rating: 🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈 cat butts
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Jan 14 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🤣 humor
🤷‍♀️ women's fiction
👭🏽 women's friendships
👢 sexism and the patriarchy
🪪 mistaken identity

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anastasia Ryan writes THE BEST workplace comedies. Her books make me laugh because I can relate to her characters on such a deep level- it's like they live in my own brain! Honestly, I've adored everything she's written so far. Sure, it's two books but they are AMAZING in every way! If you're looking for something fun and relatable then make sure to grab this one. I've already preordered a paperback to have on my shelf!

[Jultri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indiana "Ana" Aaron has a big name to live up to, especially when a case of mistaken gender following a departmental transfer result in her finally getting the recognition and respect she deserves from co-workers for her extraordinary capabilities in IT/coding. Being a diminutive pretty female in a traditionally male-dominated field, she has been struggling to be seen and heard. Well, actually she is heard alright, because her opinionated, straight-talking mouth has a way of running off before the filter is switched on. And that is how she found herself transferred to a different department after losing out on the promotion she thought was hers for the taking. Working remotely, her grand first name got her mistaken for a man and suddenly, her assertiveness now comes across as leadership material rather than mouthiness. With an important deal on the line that will either make or break her team, Ana's brilliance is finally allowed to reach its full potential. With so much at stake, her secret grows to mammoth status along with the legend of Mr Indiana Aaron's superhuman abilities. Hilarity follows as Ana and her growing gang of co-conspirators try to maintain cover in order to allow her to put the finishing touches to her project.

Yes, the book borders on the ridiculous at times, but like even the worst of the Indiana jones movies, it was all done with such charms and spirit that it's hard not to jump on board and just enjoy the rollercoaster ride. The romance takes a backseat to Ana's fight against entrenched work-force chauvinism and that's okay.

Audiobook is provided by NetGalley. Narration was enjoyablle.

[Dana Negro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just … every time Heidi spoke I wanted to bash my head against something …

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feminist, funny, with a dash of romance on the side! What’s not to love? I would categorize this book as more general fiction and less of a romance, as the focus was on the lead character's struggle to be taken seriously in the tech world. This book was a perfect mix of both serious and fun, and I am excited to read more by this author.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

[Katy O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

(free review copy) This is a mistaken identity story that exposes ALL the gender discrimination in the tech industry. It was fun to watch it get flipped and turned as Ana and Indiana’s identities converge. I went into this expecting a rom com, but was pleasantly surprised to find that romance takes a definite back seat to the workplace story ~ I’m all for romance, but witnessing misogynistic bosses get what they deserve is even more entertaining! 4 instead of 5 stars because the writing is a bit more tell than my preferred show, and with more hijinks than I normally enjoy. But it was extra fun reading this Denver-set story while I was visiting the city!

Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss

[Tiffany aka Chai Tea And Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a laugh out loud romance that highlights the absolute absurdity of being a female in a male dominated field. With slightly over the top instances, and situations snowballing out of control, I had a hard time putting this one down. I should have been prepared for an adventure when I realized the main character’s name was Indiana. But nothing could have prepared me for this ride. This was a great read.

Indiana is a coder, one of the best at her job. So when the guy she just finished training gets the big promotion over her, her lack of filter became a problem. In the middle of a big meeting. Transferred to a division in it’s last leg, she now works remotely from home. She hasn’t turned on her camera yet, and her new boss makes a big mistake. She emails him separately to correct him, and instead of getting angry he… thanks her in a group email to everyone. And included the title Mr. in from of her name. Her new team thinks she’s a guy and actually respects her opinion and treats her like one of the team. How long will this ruse go?

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute romcom with plenty of zany antics along with some more serious discussions of misogyny in the workplace. The mistaken identity trope gets an assist from zoom, with the main character’s sec being assumed because her name is male (Indiana) and she has a profile picture of Indiana Jones. It was a clever premise!

There are a few goofy moments, but it adds to the romcom vibe. The secondary plot involving the main character’s father finding love in assisted living was very cute.

Of course, the villain got their comeuppance and we get a happily ever after for the main character.

[Suzi (Lil Bit Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professionally, Indiana “Ana” Aaron is a woman in a man’s world. She’s excellent at IT and coding, but not always great at relating to her male coworkers and bosses. She’s not afraid to speak her mind though, and after she offends her boss, winds up assigned to a remote team no one wants to be on.

Working from home, her camera off during zoom calls, and a first name that evokes Indiana Jones all lead to her new boss mistakenly assuming she’s a man. Instead of correcting him, Ana decides to roll with it. With the help of her friends, she invents a larger-than-life persona for Indiana: pilot, emergency back-up goalie for the Avalanche, and other crazy hijinks. I was simultaneously laughing out loud while being anxious that she was going to get found out and also rooting for her to take down her jerk of a boss.

As a woman who works in a male-dominated field myself, I totally identified with Ana and found myself infuriated by the sexist nonsense she had to endure. Luckily, there was plenty of raucous laughter to cancel out my flares of irritation at the patriarchy. This book is a hoot! It has a romcom vibe but the romance is just a side plot and the workplace shenanigans take center stage, which is awesome! Ana’s friends are fantastic, and her relationship with her dad is adorable.

This is Anastasia Ryan’s second workplace comedy and after loving this one and her debut, “You Should Smile More”, I can safely say I would read absolutely anything she writes in the future! Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me an advance copy of this book.

[Shannon Mayhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this in one day while I was in the kitchen baking. It is so much fun. Indiana(Ana) is a woman in the male dominated tech world who isn’t being taken seriously due to her gender. The story line tackles the topic with humor and truth.

Ana likes to speak her mind and while doing that she hurt her bosses ego. She was transferred to a remote team as a punishment. Her new boss assumes she is a man due to her name and the fact that she never has her camera on during zoom meetings. What happens after this is so funny. For once in her career she is being taken seriously, but will people find out that she is a woman?



Blurb-


"Indiana "Ana" Aaron is a talented coder and IT specialist, but she doesn't always fit in at work. When she speaks up one too many times for her boss's ego, she's transferred to a remote team-and it's clear this is her last chance to blend in. Ana sees working from home as a chance at redemption; she can keep her head down and her camera off. But when her new boss praises her assertiveness and thanks Mr. Aaron, she sees no reason to correct him. But the longer Ana waits to set things straight, the more complicated things get. Soon the legend of "Indiana" begins to take on a life of its own, and Ana is in over her head. Fortunately, she has friends at work, including Shane, a handsome tech guy who's smart enough to put the puzzle together and to help her triumph over workplace preconceptions and other nonsense."--

[Lisa Welch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading other reviews, I am in the minority on this one, but I felt it was dreadful in so many ways. The premise of this book held so much potential in terms of addressing the role of women in male-dominated industries like tech, but I think some of the plot choices ended up doing the opposite of what the author intended (yes there were some positives in the plot in addressing this but by creating two dimensional characters with cliche personalities as well as over-the-top cover-ups that no one in real life would believe, the negatives far outweigh the positives in my opinion). The romance was definitely more background which is fine, but the romance was boring and created no real tension for the reader. The backstory of Anna and her dad were VERY underdeveloped, and I felt like if I had known more, I might have been more invested in both of their lives. Overall, this one just missed the mark. If this were not an ALC, I would have DNFed it, but I do try to do a full review for any advance copies I receive.

[Saloni Porwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! I have to say that it's not much of a rom com as it's just a fun, witty book. It really reminds me of Didn't See That Coming by Jesse Q Sutanto, a YA book about a girl who games under a boyish username.

Of course, this book felt more grown up and mature, dealing with explicit sexism in the workspace with the MC being a coder in a male dominated world. As outrageous as some of the treatment towards Anna seemed to be, I wasn't surprised because that's how the world does unfortunately function. The author has used a ton of humor in her writing to bring the seriousness of the topic to an entertaining level. I think the writing style resembled what you would find in a comedic diary format novel, with Anna narrating her POV with a ton of emotion and rawness.

Frankly, I loved Anna I loved Shane, and I loved the fish <3 Because I just can't get over the adorable descriptions of pets and children in books. It was captivating to see Anna's firm opinions and way of expression. I found that everything she said made a ton of sense.

Speaking of the narrator, I LOVED HER!! Jesse Vilinsky gave all the feels and vibes for me to rush through this book, which I finished in a day. I'm definitely gonna be on the lookout for more by this author and the narrator.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess 3.4 for me
Too messy, but the main topic of this book 🔥
WOMAN IN TECH ITS WHAT I NEED
and yeah it’s not romance at first place, so don’t get the cover fool u

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Bad For a Girl is a fun take on a serious topic. Watching Ana navigate gendered workplace politics, first as the woman she is, then when she’s mistaken for a man (thanks to a zoom assist), is both frustrating and delightful in equal measure. I appreciated that Ryan decided to tackle this still-relevant issue, and that she did so without rendering the story too heavy, injecting plenty of humor and even a touch of romance along the way.

Jesse Vilinsky did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Anastasia Ryan, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hilarious romcom by a new to me author that features Indiana "Ana," an talented coder who works for a company that doesn't appreciate her skills at all and when she speaks up in a meeting ends up getting transferred to a whole other division across the country.

Being able to work from home means she can remain anonymous and when her new boss accidentally assumes she's a man, Ana doesn't correct him. This leads to lots of mistaken identity hijinks, laugh out loud tall tales and Ana discovering its much easier to hack it in the tech world when people think you're a man.

Highly recommended if you enjoy stories about bad-ass women in STEM confronting male privilege and misogyny in the workplace or authors like Denise Williams and Ali Hazelwood. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Steam level: kissing only

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indiana “Ana” Aaron is an IT specialist and coder who doesn’t always fit in. When she speaks up to her boss one too many times she ends up being transferred to a remote team, and knows this is her last chance to blend in. Then when he new boss praises her work and thanks her as Mr. Aaron, she doesn’t feel the need to correct his assumption. Now the legend of Mr. Aaron is taking on a life of its own and it’s becoming way more complicated to set the record straight.

I loved this book and flew right through it. I received this as an ALC and loved listening to it. Although a lot of the situation felt over the top, I just couldn’t help but adore Indiana’s character! She had so much personality and quite the mouth on her… not that everything she said wasn’t warranted. I found myself relating to her and really enjoying her wit. This is my first Anastasia Ryan novel and it will not be my last. Jesse Vilinsky (the narrator) was perfect for this. She had me listening to this story with ease and had me chuckling throughout the story. This is a good one to read and/or listen to! Not Bad For a Girl is out 1/30/24.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my advanced copy and giving me the chance to review it honestly.

Happy reading!

[klaudia katarzyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg! anatasia ryan has done it again.

there's not much I can talk about other than the fact I love the writing style of anastasia so much I could read anything written by her!! when I read her debut novel you should smile more I wasn't able to put the book down.. well it happened again.

once again we are met with a strong main female character that lives in a man's world.
once again we met in an office/workplace.
once again we are met with a beautiful cast of strong women.

this book, just like the other one, is perfect in the sense that
- you can't put it away
- you love the MC
- you love the side romance happening

anastasia ryan, you're my queen, please continue writing, I'll read anything by you, seriously.

★ Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the e-arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather depressing

This book is advertised as comedy, but the constant parade of workplace misogyny that the hapless FMC is subjected too was not at all amusing. It was depressing.

DNF.

[Pixel Sowelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Not Bad for a Girl" by Anastasia Ryan offers a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges women face in male-dominated fields like IT. The book sheds light on the pervasive misogyny that persists, with relatable instances of women being unfairly labeled as 'emotional' when they assert themselves, a situation many female professionals can relate to (this reviewer included). The protagonist, Indiana, captures this struggle perfectly, as she remarks, "You know, if I were a guy, I wouldn't be bossy. I'd be assertive." This poignant portrayal of gender bias adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.

One of the refreshing aspects of the book is the unexpected choice of love interest. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the twist in Indiana's romantic journey. Anastasia Ryan's writing is commendable; her prose is engaging and keeps readers captivated throughout the story.

While the author skillfully weaves historical examples of remarkable women who had to adopt male identities for recognition, I found that these instances are somewhat disjointed from the main plot. The introduction of figures like Pope Joan, while informative, could have been integrated more seamlessly into the storyline.

On the downside, the book takes a somewhat bizarre turn with the misunderstood identity plot, as Indiana's character suddenly becomes a pilot hockey player who delivers babies. This unexpected development may left me scratching my head. Additionally, the secondary characters, particularly Ana's friends, come across as unsupportive and critical, which is very frustrating. Ana's father's penchant for speaking in exclamation points may be an acquired taste for some.

In the romance department, the book falls short in building a strong connection between Ana and the mmc. Insufficient interaction between the two makes it challenging to root for them as a couple. Their relationship lacks the depth needed to evoke genuine reader investment.

Furthermore, the foundation of the misunderstood identity plot seems shaky, as it could potentially be resolved with a simple internet search, especially in the era of LinkedIn and online presence. The author's attempts to explain Ana's anonymity through her camera-off meetings and absence from the company website may not be entirely convincing in a highly connected world.

Lastly, while the writing is strong, some readers might find the plot's flow lacking fluidity, making it harder to fully engage with the story. Overall, "Not Bad for a Girl" offers a valuable perspective on the challenges women face in male-dominated professions, but it leaves some room for improvement in terms of plot coherence and character development.

- this review if for a free review copy provided by NetGalley -

[Sarah (sarahs_shelves_sc) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This workplace story had me laughing, getting angry at inequality in the work force, and feeling emotional over the strong bond between a father and his daughter. Anastasia Ryan just became a must read author for me!

Indiana is an outspoken and opinionated woman working in IT, a male dominated field. After being passed over for a promotion for a man who didn’t deserve it, she loses it during a meeting and is placed on a remote team. An error makes the coders on her team believe SHE is actually a HE, and Indiana goes along with it once she realizes the new respect she is commanding as a man. Hilarity ensues as her friends build the story of the mysterious male Indiana to be more and more stereotypically manly.

The commentary on being a female in a male dominated industry seems to hit the nail on the head here. The biases and misconceptions due to someone’s gender are truly ridiculous and frustrating, particularly at times like when Indiana is asked to get coffee for the rest of the team and treated like she probably won’t understand what needs to be done. Ryan makes great points in Ana’s big speech towards the end, about equality and respect and the need for a shake up in office culture.

Ana and her friends are hilarious. Ana is snarky and full of truly ridiculous fish facts, and any time the fish were mentioned had me laughing out loud. She adores her father, and the scenes involving the two of them were precious and funny at the same time. She is unflinchingly herself at all times (except on those zoom calls when she pretends to be the goalie for a hockey team and a pilot). Her friends add such absurd details to the stories and I’d love to see them in future books, can this be book one in a series please??

The tone feels slightly campy and definitely cheeky, making for such a fun reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Taylor Swift's "The Man" was theme song of a book, Anastasia Ryan's Not Bad For a Girl would be that book. This workplace comedy with just the hint of romance was a hilarious and extremely relatable read. The author played with sarcasm and wit beautifully to deliver some harsh reality.

Indiana is a talented coder but her efforts and accomplishments are grossly ignored by her boss because...she is a woman! After her outburst at a meeting, she is transferred to a team that works remotely and is performing poorly. By a miscommunicated email, her new team leader assumes she is a HE and she is suddenly taken seriously. One thing piles up after another and the mistake grows into something complex but she will not stop till she claims the credit she deserves..as the real Indiana.

Indiana is made of parts any woman will recognize. Doesn't matter if you are working or not, if you are short or has a good height..this story showcases how the so called progressive society still undermines women and discriminate against them. And it's shown in a hilarious and entertaining way. You would be laughing loudly at the disastrous accidents but the irony won't be lost on you. Every reader will see a piece of herself in Indiana. She is sassy and out spoken and talented. She hates confrontation but she hates unfairness even more. I clapped along the way as she slowly exposed the manipulative and condescending boss and slowly showed everyone that she is the one who has been doing the hard work and innovations. She had help of her best friends and an unlikely group of helpers from her new team. Shane was one of them. The romance isn't the centerpiece here but it's awesome that she found love with a man who respects her and appreciates her. May be, in real life, things don't always end so well and changes don't come but this story gives you hope and courage and inspiration. So , next time, someone mansplains you and tries to put you down, pull an Indiana!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Jill (jills.bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read if you like:
• Laugh-out-loud comedy
• Strong female heroines
• Mistaken identity
• Workplace romance

Indiana "Ana" Aaron is a talented coder and IT specialist at Apollo IT, but she doesn't always fit in at work. After being passed over for a well-earned promotion, Ana speaks up at a company meeting and ends up being transferred to a remote team that no one wants to be on. It's clear this is Ana's last chance, and she sees working from home as an opportunity for redemption. On her new remote team, Ana keeps her head down and her camera off. But when Ana corrects her new boss in an email, suddenly "Mr. Aaron" is praised for being assertive, and Ana sees no reason to correct her mistaken identity. The longer Ana waits to set things straight, though, the more complicated things get. Soon, the legend of "Indiana" begins to take on a life of its own, and Ana is in over her head. She doesn't know how to compete with her alter-ego, a former Navy SEAL, emergency back-up goalie, hang-glider, pilot, and life-saving hero. Fortunately, she has friends at work, including Shane, a handsome tech guy who's smart enough to put the pieces together and to help her triumph over workplace preconceptions and other nonsense.

I need a minute to finish this review, because I am still laughing just thinking about all of the hijinks and shenanigans that Ana and her friends got into. This book was absolutely hilarious and had so much heart. While this book made me smile, it also made me angry because there is so much truth to what Ana experienced in her male-dominated field. Ryan tackles a lot of tough subjects in this book—gender discrimination, the patriarchy, and female empowerment—but does so in a way that doesn't feel overly preachy. This was such a thoughtful and fun workplace comedy that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover for this book is adorable but gives the wrong impression. It looks like a rom-com but this is very much a funny story about misogyny in the workplace. The publisher is correctly marketing this as women’s fiction so no markdowns for that. Indiana “Ana” Aaron is a petite, talented coder. But her company promotes and rewards good old boys networking. After speaking up when passed over for a deserved promotion she is sidelined to a remote team. The manager is terrible, but appreciates her hard work and aggressiveness. But he also is under the impression she is a man. The myth of Indy grows all the while Ana is diligently taking care of her work and team. There are a lot of funny lines and situations that at times become farcical. Success will be rewarded if she can figure out how to get credit for her own work before her manager can claim recognition for it. She knows she will have to identify herself as Indy. She has the support of her team of work friends. And Shane becomes her confidant and eventual love interest. (Again, romance is not the focus.)

I enjoyed the breezy writing, and dialogue. The friends and Ana’s dad added a lot of sweetness and silliness to the story. Once I adjusted my mindset to what I was reading I was invested. If you’re here for romance you’ll be disappointed. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.