Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls

Jaycee Grayson #1

by Julie Ann Sipos

“Sipos writes with wit, introducing a large cast of quirky characters hiding a trove of backstories and deceptions. The dialogue is filled with sharply focused sarcasm, and Jaycee, who narrates the tale, is a feisty protagonist relentlessly trudging through a chaotic swamp of miscreants...
Our Verdict: Get it.”
—Kirkus Reviews

In this spirited satire of sisterhood and survival across the urban frontier, a daring new literary heroine emerges to heal a divided nation—whether it wants her to or not.

An imaginative and creative kids’ entertainment executive, Jaycee Grayson is forced out of a hard-won studio job in a bold face-off with the notorious Hollywood boy’s club. Armed with a fresh rehab rap sheet and a knack for making miracles out of mishaps, she seeks the unlikely refuge of Littleburgh, Wisconsin, Home of the World's Most Wonderful Girls.

Jaycee expects to find like-minded ladies helming Littleburgh's famous inspirational doll empire—only to confront an unfriendly outpost of Prairie Karens wearing smiles as plastic as the coveted merchandise. She soon discovers that behind the façade of this storybook village lurks an army of happy backstabbers harboring a billion-dollar web of secrets and masks. Even the empress of Littleburgh’s lucrative legend may never have existed at all.

Fueled by irreverence and wit as sharp as a stiletto skating on thin ice, a twisted plot leads Jaycee and her fellow misfits toward a joyful rebellion or a public execution in the town square. Heartbreaking news from home forces an ironic choice. Jaycee can return to a shattered dream under thumb of the patriarchy—or cling to a flimsy showcase of female hypocrisy exposed at her own peril.

A blockbuster finale reveals a powerful ally even life-long readers of girl-powered page-turners won't see coming. Buckle in for a poignant, provocative, and darkly funny showdown between Hollywood and the heartland.

Genres: Satire, Humor

304 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

A former writer-producer for Disney, Mattel, and American Girl, Julie Ann Sipos is known for creating witty, complex female leads and social satire with bite. Her multiple award-winning Jaycee Grayson Novels—a darkly comic world of small-town secrets, corporate greed, and heartland reinvention—launched in 2025 with the breakout hit Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls. Her debut won the 2025 IPPY Gold Medal, the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize for Self-Published Novel of the Year, was named a BookLife at Publishers Weekly Editor’s Pick, and earned an 8.5 overall score in the 2025 BookLife Prize. The series continues in June 2026 with The Girlfriend Guide to Negligent Homicide, a deliciously cozy murder mystery set in the dangerous world of spiced cured meats.

The expanding Jaycee Grayson storyworld also features two bestselling companion books: Naomi’s Recipe Box, a character-voiced cookbook packed with farmhouse classics and local gossip, and Postcards from Littleburgh, an epistolary travelogue with a mystery of its own from a town that doesn’t exist. There’s also an online catalogue of fine Midwest merch you can actually buy from local folk who may or may not have your best interests at heart.

A professor of Cinema & Television Arts at Cal State Northridge, Sipos earned her MFA in Screenwriting at UCLA, still delivers a mean Bruin 8-Clap, and spends her off-hours restoring a classic pickup truck and a hundred-year-old home.

🎬 Watch the official book trailer: bit.ly/JayceesBookTrailer
🌽 Buy fine Midwest merch & dive deeper: bit.ly/ShopJayceeGrayson
📚 Follow on BookBub for deals & new releases: bit.ly/jayceegraysonbookbub

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never in my wildest dreams did I EVER think there was such a thing as sarcasm overkill. But here you go.

[Lisi Bee (Beth)]

This voluntary review is based on an ARC I was provided, all opinions are my own. I'm opting out of a star rating as I didn't finish the book, for content-related reasons that are explained below. Jaycee, a cynical film industry exec, is wrongfully terminated from a sexist and toxic workplace. Looking for a fresh start, her sister Meredith finds her a marketing job for a female-staffed Wisconsin doll company. Faced with subterfuge and corporate backstabbing, Jaycee finds herself questioning who she can trust amongst her "Prairie Karen" co-workers. And there are a LOT of them, so many I couldn't keep track. (And it was a little hard to believe that Jaycee, who worked at a cut-throat Hollywood firm, so easily let down her guard and was taken in by her colleagues. I'd have thought she would have been less trusting given her previous work experiences.)

I loved the premise (and the book cover was especially cute). This book is written with a hard and clipped writing style, the plot is a bit dense and the story felt overly complicated at times with a very large cast of characters. The author has some impressive descriptive skills, and I loved the narrative details like the gifts from Jaycee's neighbors and her house of dubious origins. And Jaycee uses a hefty dose of sarcasm to get through her life, of which I approve. But, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, which was disappointing. Jaycee is over-dependent on her lawyer sister Meredith, although that's explained by the fact that Meredith is a hovering older sister, with both of them impacted by their mother's abandonment in childhood. They both seem to have dysfunctional personality styles, with each other but also in their interpersonal relationships. Which is not a deal-breaker for me, that can keep things interesting. However, the biggest roadblock for me to finishing this book is that I found Jaycee (and Meredith at times) to be unlikeable. I struggled to think of reasons to root for Jaycee, other than that she's the main character and I was supposed to, but it got harder to do as the story went on. I *really* didn't like Jaycee's frequent mentions of her sister's weight and her unflattering comparisons between their body types (as well as the snotty inner commentary about her co-workers' bodies). It was unkind and unnecessary, other than to depict Jaycee as a superficial and fat-shaming/body-shaming mean girl. And it got to the point where it was enough to make me DNF at around the 50% point after a hurtful weight comment (that was masked as a joke) made to her sister at an especially vulnerable time.

Overall I struggled to invest in Jaycee and I didn't warm up to her, which hindered my enjoyment of the book. While her character wasn't very inviting, I did admire her tenacity with her job and with getting to know those in her new community. I do think this author writes well, and I loved the chapter headings, but this book wasn't for me. But if you enjoy women's literature about a quasi business-savvy fish-out-of-water FMC in a Midwestern setting, who has the guts to successfully butt heads with a whole herd of Prairie Karens, then this is the book for you.

[Steph]

I was immediately intrigued by this amazing cover and flashy title. Then I read it took place in Wisconsin and reminded me of a certain doll company that used to have an office near Madison. 👀 Say less.

📖: After an embarrassing incident at company gathering, Jaycee Grayson lands a new job at Wonderful Girl, a Wisconsin-based doll company. As Jaycee acclimates to and embraces her new home, her struggles at Wonderful Girl build.

🤝: This could be a good fit if you enjoy:
- Midwestern settings
- Chaotic, sarcastic main characters
- Corporate Mean Girls but Midwest nice (IYKYK)

👍: What worked for me:
- As a Madison-dwelling Wisconsinite, the shoutouts to local places was fun.
- The vibe reminded me of one of my favorite midwest satires, Drop Dead Gorgeous, but instead of a beauty pageant, it was a dominant all-women run doll company.
- I liked the emotional moments and who came through in the end.

👎: What didn’t work for me:
- The narrative seemed chaotic and jumpy which left me feeling like I missed something multiple times. Being in Jaycee's head made mine spin sometimes. 😅
- It was easy to lose track of the similar-seeming characters working at the company.

The concept of this book is amazing. The execution wasn't for me, but I think it could work for others. I'm curious to see how other locals receive this one!

Thank you to Dartmouth Park, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook early in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls by Julie Ann Sipos
Overview

A Subversive and Humorous Exploration of Identity and Chaos
Julie Ann Sipos’s “Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls: A Jaycee Grayson Novel” is a riveting and sharply witty narrative that masterfully weaves together themes of identity, addiction, and reinvention. By setting her story within the iconic backdrop of a Midwest doll company, Sipos crafts a tale that is both a scathing critique of societal expectations and a poignant exploration of the human experience.

Key Strengths
-Witty and Engaging Writing: Sipos’s writing is characterized by its biting wit, unpredictable twists, and a narrative voice that is both irreverent and deeply empathetic.
-Complex and Relatable Characters: The novel’s protagonist, Jaycee Grayson, is a complex and multifaceted character, embodying both the flaws and the resilience that define the human condition.
-Thought-Provoking Themes: Through Jaycee’s journey, Sipos tackles a range of timely and thought-provoking topics, from the toxic dynamics of workplace culture to the fraught landscape of female relationships.

Potential Considerations
-Unpredictable Pacing: The novel’s pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling more rushed than others.
-Mature Themes: The book deals with mature themes, including addiction and personal struggle, which may be challenging for some readers.

Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Content Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - A deliciously subversive tale that will leave you questioning the norms and laughing out loud.
-Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - Sipos’s writing is sharp, witty, and engaging, making for a compelling reading experience.
-Character Development: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - Jaycee Grayson is a complex and multifaceted character, with a depth and nuance that makes her both relatable and compelling.
-Pacing and Plot: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5) - The novel’s pacing is generally well-balanced, though some readers may find certain sections to be somewhat uneven.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - A wickedly wonderful ride that will leave you breathless and eager for more.

Ideal Audience
-Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction with a strong narrative voice.
-Those interested in exploring themes of identity, addiction, and reinvention.
-Anyone looking for a humorous and thought-provoking read.

Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Ann Sipos for providing an advance review copy of “Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls: A Jaycee Grayson Novel”.

[Drficticity · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls"

The story follows Jaycee Grayson, a 40-year-old former Hollywood studio executive who, after a stint in rehab and losing her job, relocates to Littleburgh, Wisconsin. There, she assumes the role of executive producer and vice president of global entertainment at "Wonderful Girls", a company renowned for its lifelike dolls that embody individual personalities and aspirations.

Anticipating a supportive environment, Jaycee instead encounters a workplace rife with backstabbing and sabotage. Determined to succeed, she allies with fellow misfits to uncover a billion-dollar secret lurking behind Littleburgh's storybook facade. Amidst these challenges, Jaycee grapples with personal dilemmas, including a budding romance and distressing news from home, forcing her to choose between retreating to a shattered dream or fighting for a life she never knew she wanted.


It's satirical, clever and entertaining, features a feisty protagonist and unexpected twists. Loved the bond between the sisters, the overall theme.


Although there's a large cast of quirky characters, each with hidden backstories and deceptions, the story after a time became a task for me to follow, the narration is jumpy and hard to follow. I felt the characters were interesting but it all didn't come together as I would have liked.

[Anastasia Kar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Folks, meet Jaycee Grayson. Jaycee is 40. She has recently lost her job as an exec in Hollywood, and even more recently escaped from rehab. So, what's the next step for her? 


A doll manufacturer in the heart of the country, of course. Jaycee is taking over the executive place in a company that makes dolls, and finds out that toxic workplaces aren't only found in Hollywood. It's a “past-Holywood-glam-meets-smalltown-toxic” situation that feels like a guilty delight to read.


This is a story of recovery and healing. It's also a story of sisterly relationships amidst a work environment that constantly throws obstacles their way. It's witty, maybe more witty than it should be. It's vastly chaotic like the workplace itself, which took a lot out of the reading pleasure for me. However, Sipos’ writing is intriguing and I loved the way Jaycee is written out, so bluntly and raw in a way that reflects real, unkind situations, so I am stoked to know that this is going to turn into a trilogy. 


I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

In this lit fiction book we follow Jaycee Grayson who leaves rehab and, at the urgence of her sister, moves to Wisconsin to take a job at Wonderful Girls-a doll company. Jaycee takes a high ranking position and finds herself in a strange web of small town religious groups, a handsome cop who holds a candle for an ex, and a slew of passive aggressive corporate women who give her a difficult time. I found this book extremely difficult to follow. The transitions were subpar, the plot was not intriguing, the pacing was nonexistent, and the character was very naïve. Some unfortunate events happened in the book that I think made the story worse too. I thought the end wrapped up nicely, but overall I did not enjoy this book or reading it.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book because of the cover and the title. I was also excited by the description. It was kind of a tough read because it jumped around a bit in the timeline and in location so I had to flip back a lot to see if I missed something or if we were somewhere else in the story.

I liked the concept of the book and the prairie Karen's were very funny. I pictured them like that pack of moms who come after Lorelei in that one Gilmore girls episode.

I definitely had some laugh out loud moments, but overall I'm not sure this book was for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dartmouth Park for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not one to read reviews before starting a story but I'm glad I skimmed the reviews for this one. It was so confusing and all over the place when I started reading because the main character talks about so many details and back stories of different people. Once you get the hang of the writing style it's really not that bad of a story. There are for sure so many characters that you learn about but I also have a funny feeling the main character has such a creative imagination that some of what she was saying about her colleagues was made up. All in all definitely a story that represents the title really well!

[Charissa Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways this is a silly story. In others, it feels like a lot to unpack. I suppose it really comes down to how deep you look at or connect with the text. There are some really interesting dynamics and topics to decipher throughout the book. The ending is a happy one but in a "rainbow following the storm" sort of way. I enjoyed Jaycee Graysons' personality and humor, her personal growth/development, as well as the meaningful connections she made throughout the book. It's easy to see yourself as the excess baggage in someone else's story and completely miss the lives you've touched in your own. Way to go Jaycee!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to agree and disagree with other reviewers for this book. In many ways, I liked it—the sarcasm and all. But it did suffer in the final chapters. It became too much for too long, and I just needed a cozy little ending. Sometimes the story was hard to follow, especially as new characters were introduced. Some will like it, some will not. I liked about 75%.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. However, I was confused far too often to love this book. I’m not sure it was the lingo or Hollywood type references, but I always felt like I was missing something whenever there was a conversation happening.
That combined with a lot of “as I would find out later”s, left me perplexed.
It just missed the mark for me.

Note: I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[IngramSpark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title was selected for IngramSpark's Indie Title Discovery Spotlight 2025!

Darkly hilarious, sharply satirical, and wildly entertaining! This book delivers an irreverent and insightful exploration of sisterhood and self-discovery.

[Brittney Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls by Julie Ann Sipos.
Published by Dartmouth Park – thank you the author for my gifted book.

Let me start by saying this book was not what I expected, but exactly what I needed. Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls is basically what would happen if The Devil Wears Prada got drunk on boxed wine, crashed into a Lifetime movie, and woke up in the snow-dusted heart of Wisconsin. It’s a biting, smart, sometimes savage satire that peels back the pastel-pink curtain on women-led workplaces and shows you the fangs behind the friendly smiles.

Jaycee Grayson is forty, freshly canned from her Hollywood job, and recently escaped from rehab thanks to her sister, Meredith, a sharp-tongued lawyer with her own baggage and zero patience. With no job, no prospects, and about as much stability as a Jenga tower in a wind tunnel, Jaycee lands a new gig at a company called Wonderful Girls. It’s a doll company. In Wisconsin. Run entirely by women. So, naturally, it’s a powder keg with a pretty face.

Jaycee shows up in the tiny town of Littleburgh, still dizzy from detox and delusion, hoping to make a fresh start in a community that seems sweet on the surface but is rotting underneath like a smiling jack-o-lantern in mid-November. Her new coworkers—Midwest polite with a razor edge—smell blood in the water the moment she walks through the door. She’s the outsider. The Hollywood transplant. The woman with too many ideas and too little filter. And in a workplace like this? That’s dangerous.

Let me tell you, the claws come out fast. This is corporate America through the lens of “Midwest Nice,” which basically means backstabbing, but with a potluck. Jaycee’s ideas are stolen, her credibility constantly questioned, and her mental health casually run over like a deer in hunting season. If you’ve ever worked in an all-female office that claims to be “empowering” but actually functions like a high school cafeteria with health benefits—you will feel this book in your bones.

But this isn’t just snark and sabotage. Sipos weaves in something deeper beneath the absurdity. Jaycee is damaged, yes, but she’s also trying. She’s clawing her way back to a version of herself that isn’t ashamed, that doesn’t self-destruct, that wants something real. Her relationship with her sister Meredith is the emotional backbone of the book—a complicated bond built on trauma, loyalty, and that very specific love-hate dynamic only sisters can perfect. Meredith is the rock, the fixer, the one who stayed when everyone else didn’t. She’s also judgmental, controlling, and not above using Jaycee’s instability as leverage. But when push comes to shove, she’s there. Every. Single. Time. That’s real love, folks. Messy, codependent, slightly toxic—but real.

Also, side note: the house Jaycee moves into? May or may not be designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s unclear. And somehow that little mystery, floating in the background of all the doll-fueled chaos, perfectly captures the vibe of this book—beautiful on the outside, maybe falling apart on the inside, and full of secrets no one’s really telling.

The writing style is quick, sarcastic, whip-smart, and dense with biting commentary. Julie Ann Sipos does not pull punches. She’s got jokes, sure—but they’re wrapped around something sharp. If you’ve ever been the woman in the room who dared to say what everyone else was thinking and got punished for it, this book is a mirror. And if you’ve ever been the woman who smiled while twisting the knife—well, it’s a mirror for you too.

Favorite quote? Easy:
“Don’t ever mistake HR for a friend, Meredith had so often forewarned me. Think of them as the company prosecutor, and you’re the defendant of some regrettable set of charges that you’ve already copped to in the form of a weekly paycheck.”

I mean, if that doesn’t belong on a coffee mug in every office in America, I don’t know what does.

Is the plot a little chaotic? Absolutely. Are there a few too many characters to keep straight at times? Yeah. But honestly? That works for this story. Because the point isn’t clarity. It’s chaos. It’s survival. It’s about what happens when you drop one flawed woman into a pressure cooker and watch who gets burned. And somehow, through all the snark and sabotage, Jaycee’s voice carries you through. She’s not always likable, but she’s always real.

By the end, I didn’t just root for Jaycee—I saw her. In all her mess and mayhem and middle-aged grit. And I’m glad she’s getting a series, because the girl has more fight in her, and I want to see how far she’ll go.

Rating: ★★★★☆
This one’s for the women who’ve been underestimated, the sisters who never give up, and the sarcastic survivors who weaponize humor like armor.

#HorribleWomenWonderfulGirls #JulieAnnSipos #BookReview #SatiricalFiction #FeministLit #DarkHumorReads #CorporateDrama #MidwestFiction #DollCompanyDrama #JayceeGrayson #SisterhoodStories #SnarkyBooks #WittyFiction #NetGalleyARC #BooksWithBite #MessyWomenMatter #SmartReads #StrongFemaleProtagonist #BookstagramRecs #LiterarySatire #WomenWhoWork

[Julie Sipos]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Too Bold for the Boardroom and Too Brash for Book Club?
If you’ve ever screwed the pooch for your right to tell the truth, buckle up, sis—you’re home.

By Jaycee Grayson

Spoiler-ish alert: For those of you who skim indie debuts in the span of a bubblebath and skip to the end while the water's hot—let me treat you to a key decision from my final chapter with my compliments. I don't reveal all the details, but there is a key plot point I'll need to touch upon, so scroll at your own risk.

So, I was offered a seven-figure payout to shut my mouth. All I had to do was sign the NDA, sip the Kool-Aid, and pretend none of it ever happened.

Instead, I wrote this book.

So what if I’m fictional, and my story a satire we women are quietly passing among each other as a number-one debut—some days.

It’s loud on all of them. Messy. Fully sarcastic and fully aware that female self-loathing is far more dangerous than male toxicity—and that the Hollywood patriarchy doesn’t pack half the punch of a Prairie Karen embroiled in a pastel-perfect corporate lie.

And if that’s too much for your group chat—or your Goodreads feed—you might want to head over to Community and find a good grumpy romance.

But if you’ve made it this far, you’ll not only love my book, you may also qualify to join my ride-or-die resistance.

Give yourself 1–5 points for each degree of slight you've suffered at the hand of another woman, depending on the degree of betrayal, bitchiness, or spiritual whiplash.

Have you ever...

🔲 Been ghosted, gaslit, or told your tone was “a little much” on the first day you met your awesome new girlboss?
🔲 Shared an idea with another woman—only to have it stolen out from under you?
🔲 Won a promotion only after they disappeared the last gal, who apparently has cancer but no name?
🔲 Had your office pie turned down for “looking store-bought?”
🔲 Been reported to HR for attempted murder after suggesting bleach and ammonia as a desk disinfectant (who knew that’s mustard gas)?
🔲 Seen your giant jar of desk candy quietly revoked?
🔲 Received an office condolence card—but only signed by ladies who don’t know you?
🔲 Uncovered a complex plot against you by a would-be mentor, supposed friend, and sweetheart of a protégé?

💥 Score 25+? Welcome to the ranks. You need a hug.
💄 Score 35+? Don’t sign anything. No severance, no deal, and definitely skip the exit interview.
👠 Score 40+? You’re a warrior, girlfriend. Get a lawyer—and walk with us.

📽️ Take a moment to watch the trailer:
https://youtu.be/w0bJOT1VYlk

Still here? Okay!

- To the 4,298 “Want to Read” girlies who vanished when the giveaway ended—this is your gentle prod.

- To the ten who won a signed copy and never showed up to weigh in with some thoughts—consider this your RSVP.

- And to the darling followers of that popular review laying EXCLUSIVE claim to "sarcasm overkill"—as if the shift key were a substitute for full-throated wit—bless your hearts. Dorothy Parker is shaking a martini in the sky to toast a coterie of lower-case half-wits.

If any of that offends you, know this: I didn’t write my story for the unfortunate woman giving into the horrible during a casually cruel wine scroll. I wrote it for the countless wonderful girls reclaiming the power we’ve owned all along—and the great adventures we gave up on sharing in books somewhere along the lonesome road to adulting.

My name is Jaycee Grayson—a refreshing new series heroine with no filter and nothing to lose, here to claim the crown, fire up engagement, and turn your Goodreads 3.4 versus my Amazon 4.4 into a post-feminist movement in mutual self-empowerment.

Like and follow if you’re with us. Say hi if you’re bored. You might want to skip that caps lock.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "What If?" Read for All Women - What About the Things Unsaid and Paths Not Taken?

You'll know that a film producer crafted this entertaining love-hate story about a brave professional trying to make it in a small town. Soak up the rich character development and intensely descriptive narrative: taste the culinary delights and horrors; feel the pain of frozen Wisconsin winters, only trumped by the icy words and actions of the Horrible Women; experience disrespect, lust, and loss (and the greatest of these is love). There are a large number of characters and details, so while the cover disguises this as light chick lit, Ms. Sipos' novel commands your full concentration. What a fabulous movie this would make, an empowering Barbie-esque sequel - just picture the featured Wonderful Girl packaged in a box and zoomed up to a shelf at the end of each episode. Every individual makes a difference; we just hope for a life of kindness, however short or long in the world, with our image honored in perpetuity and not marked down for clearance. Highly recommended!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved going on this ride with Jaycee ..,You definitely have to pay attention because there are a lot of characters to follow —-that being said I really liked the heroine and how she persevered after constant disappointments, and still tried to make her surroundings a better place. It touches on workplace themes, addiction themes, but maybe most importantly, that close sister BOND And maybe fish out of water themes too. There’s also even a little bit of intrigue and mystery going on trying to find the founder. So there’s a lot, but I found it very entertaining and touching too, . I think as a woman there are many things that I could relate to from romantic choices to workplace things all in all really fun and I’m excited to Read the next one. There were a lot of Prairie Karen’s that you know had some similarities that I really needed to pay attention and remind myself who was who, but you know that to me was no big deal. I’ve read plenty of books with a lot of characters where I’m having to go back and figure out who’s who. All in all I recommend for a fun read, but with heart.

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls is one of those books that you have to really tune in to understand the myriad of characters, events, and honestly, just grab on to Jaycee's coattails as she's going to take you on a wildly eclectic ride. Filled with characters like the mean girls clique who didn't really grow up, a sister who, by all means, is the lifeline of Jaycee as she navigates this world that has just not been kind to her. It's definitely a different type of read, but guess what, sometimes we all need a change of pace too. Not to mention, the 'company' Jaycee works for reminded me of a modern day wholesome company, only to find out that the writer Julie Ann Sipos worked for said company. Shocking/not shocking. Loved the story. Highly recommend.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given an e-copy of this book and am choosing to review it. Jaycee’s career in the movie industry has been short circuited. She does a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic, negotiated by her sister so her former employer won’t press charges. She winds up in Wisconsin at the Wonderful Doll Company (think Bratz or Some other Barbie knockoff) The company and its employees remind me, rather unpleasantly of Junior High. I made it through Junior High ok, I don’t want to go back there. The book is filled with “quirky” Wisconsinites- I don’t think any of them is just a regular person. There are romantic entanglements and a confusing bit about twins. It was exhausting.

This is a series. I won’t be reading any more of her adventures

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the bottom drops out of her carefully planned career, Jaycee retreats to Betty Ford to regroup. An offer to work for a well known doll manufacturing company in Wisconsin promises her the chance to take positive steps away from her history. The story line is an original look at one woman's feverish efforts to succeed. A considerable cast of supporting characters displays the lengths Jaycee goes to never be in "that space" again. Her actions and the consequences of them will lend an unbelievably comic touch to her earnest efforts. The book is enjoyable in a "oh my goodness" type of reaction. It definitely would play out as a television series where Murphy's law dictates.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Ann Sipos wrote a relatable and darkly funny exploration of female relationships in Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls. I especially loved the dynamic between Jaycee and her sister Meredith—raw, real, and grounding amid the chaos of workplace drama. Jaycee was looking for connection and support among women in her new position in a women-led company, and was surprisingly disappointed from almost her first day at her new job. Her sarcastic humor was a highlight, making her voice both relatable and smart. This novel offers a refreshing, honest take on sisterhood, ambition, and the relationships between women. I can’t wait to read more about Jaycee in a future novel!

[Mutated Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that took me two read throughs to really get into it, I really fell in love with Jaycee's story the second time around. I had trouble getting into it the first time because of the writing style, and I was under the impression I had accidentally started in the middle of a series. Everything changed however, when I restarted and really went through it at a slower pace than I usually read.

Check out my full review here! Posted 9/12/2025

https://mutatedlibrary.wordpress.com/...

[NADA ALSET · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Ann Sipos delivers a smart, funny, and heartfelt story in Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls. The story blend the chaos of sisterhood and toxic workplace. I was attached to the character Jaycee Grayson who is bold and sarcastic and finds herself in the middle of office drama and personal growth. The writing is sharp and full of humour with vivid characters. It’s an entertaining read with real emotions, and I’m excited to see more from this series! Highly recommended for every woman.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful tale of one woman aim to make a difference in everyone lives around her. Full of inspiration as she tries to make those around her next project. See where she will take you as you go along for the ride
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I loved hoe determined she was

[Christine Gallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters, and sometimes the plot jumps had me thinking I must have missed pages. I really enjoyed the relationship between the sisters, so overall that won me over.

[nikka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edgy

Really cool main character - real, messy, and funny in a way. The plot had some strong moments and I liked the whole small-town drama, but it also felt over the top sometimes. The writing was good imo. It’s worth a read if you like edgy stories.