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Smile and Look Pretty
A whip-smart, piercing debut novel,
Smile and Look Pretty
follows four assistants who band together to take on their toxic office environments in the ultimate comeuppance.
Online they're the Aggressive One, the Bossy One, the Bitchy One and the Emotional One. In real life, best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max all have one thing in common--they're overworked, overtired and underpaid assistants to some of the most powerful men in the entertainment industries. When they secretly start an anonymous blog detailing their experiences, their posts go viral and hundreds of other women come forward with stories of their own. Confronted with the risks of newfound fame and the possibility of their identities being revealed, they have to contend with what happens when you try to change the world.
Gripping, razor sharp and scathingly funny, Smile and Look Pretty is a fast-paced millennial rallying cry about the consequences of whistleblowing for an entire generation, and a testament to the strength of female friendship and what can be accomplished when women come together.
Online they're the Aggressive One, the Bossy One, the Bitchy One and the Emotional One. In real life, best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max all have one thing in common--they're overworked, overtired and underpaid assistants to some of the most powerful men in the entertainment industries. When they secretly start an anonymous blog detailing their experiences, their posts go viral and hundreds of other women come forward with stories of their own. Confronted with the risks of newfound fame and the possibility of their identities being revealed, they have to contend with what happens when you try to change the world.
Gripping, razor sharp and scathingly funny, Smile and Look Pretty is a fast-paced millennial rallying cry about the consequences of whistleblowing for an entire generation, and a testament to the strength of female friendship and what can be accomplished when women come together.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2022
181 people are currently reading
9962 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Pellegrino
2 books239 followersAmanda Pellegrino is a TV writer and novelist living in New York City. Her writing has appeared in Betches, Refinery29, Bustle and others.
Her debut novel Smile and Look Pretty was published by HarperCollins / ParkRowBooks in March 2022. It received a starred review from Library Journal and was most anticipated by FORTUNE, The New York Post, The Associated Press, Medium, Publisher's Weekly, The Nerd Daily, Bookish, and others.
Her sophomore novel, The Social Climber was published by HarperCollins / ParkRowBooks in January 2023. It received a starred review from Booklist and was most anticipated by The New York Post, Library Journal, Booklist, Zibby Magazine, and others.
Amanda has worked on shows for CBS, TNT, Netflix, HULU, and most recently was a writer on Showtime's American Rust.
Her debut novel Smile and Look Pretty was published by HarperCollins / ParkRowBooks in March 2022. It received a starred review from Library Journal and was most anticipated by FORTUNE, The New York Post, The Associated Press, Medium, Publisher's Weekly, The Nerd Daily, Bookish, and others.
Her sophomore novel, The Social Climber was published by HarperCollins / ParkRowBooks in January 2023. It received a starred review from Booklist and was most anticipated by The New York Post, Library Journal, Booklist, Zibby Magazine, and others.
Amanda has worked on shows for CBS, TNT, Netflix, HULU, and most recently was a writer on Showtime's American Rust.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
April 27, 2022
Hell yeah! I enjoy girl power books so much! This one is also about the discrimination, mannerism, inequality at workplace. 9 to 5 meets Devil wears Prada and Horrible Bosses vibes help us enjoy our journey!
We’re introduced four best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia, Max who are meeting each Friday to compare their notes and their weekly updates about their horrible bosses and their last torturous misdemeanors. They’re working as assistants, doing their best to please their bosses but it seems like their main life purpose is turning their assistants’ lives into hell. But these powerful women are trying too hard to be patient and getting the promotions they highly deserve, planning to save money to pursue their dream jobs including book publisher, actress, reporter, TV writer.
One day they decide enough is enough and start sharing their worst experiences about their jobs on blog which goes viral and this is when things are getting out of control!
They accidentally inspire so many colleagues who suffer from same daily issues and they help the people realize to stand for themselves.
Overall: this was easy to read, empowering, smart, entertaining, riveting book. It started like chic lit fictions but the second half of the book, the tone got more provocative and girl power messages were inspirational. You cannot help yourself so you raise fist and scream “atta girl” several times!
So I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 equality at workplace, feminism, friendship, powerful women stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/ Park Row for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
We’re introduced four best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia, Max who are meeting each Friday to compare their notes and their weekly updates about their horrible bosses and their last torturous misdemeanors. They’re working as assistants, doing their best to please their bosses but it seems like their main life purpose is turning their assistants’ lives into hell. But these powerful women are trying too hard to be patient and getting the promotions they highly deserve, planning to save money to pursue their dream jobs including book publisher, actress, reporter, TV writer.
One day they decide enough is enough and start sharing their worst experiences about their jobs on blog which goes viral and this is when things are getting out of control!
They accidentally inspire so many colleagues who suffer from same daily issues and they help the people realize to stand for themselves.
Overall: this was easy to read, empowering, smart, entertaining, riveting book. It started like chic lit fictions but the second half of the book, the tone got more provocative and girl power messages were inspirational. You cannot help yourself so you raise fist and scream “atta girl” several times!
So I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 equality at workplace, feminism, friendship, powerful women stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/ Park Row for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
March 8, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
These women are coming for you. #timesup
Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max are best friends who also work as assistants. They’re overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. They each have a terrible boss, and they’re getting very sick of the toxic behavior they have to put up with.
When Cate is pushed too far, she has the brilliant idea to start an anonymous blog where they can discuss their experiences in the workplace…and how sleazy their bosses are.
The blog quickly goes viral, and other anonymous women start submitting their stories. When the women get wind that someone is trying to find out their true identities, they are instantly worried about the ramifications of what they created…unless they can find a way to own their narrative and bring down the bad guys.
This is a refreshing and timely drama, written expertly by debut author Amanda Pellegrino. The complex friendship between the four leads really shines, as does each of their workplace situations. While I enjoyed it from the start, I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure how much that enjoyment would last. Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max can seem a bit young and naive, and that was made clear when they would constantly check how many “views” the blog had, or when they occasionally bickered about mundane things.
However, the last 25% was absolutely brilliant and unputdownable!!
These four women are badasses, and the story really ramps up with so much empowerment, bravery, and well…girl power! It feels silly for me to say that, but I was literally rooting for these women and saying things like, “YES! Do it!”
You don’t have to be an assistant or a woman to read this one…but you’ll probably enjoy it more if you’re not a complete scumbag. Highly recommended, and I’m thrilled to have ended my year of reading on a high note.
Thank you to Park Row for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
These women are coming for you. #timesup
Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max are best friends who also work as assistants. They’re overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. They each have a terrible boss, and they’re getting very sick of the toxic behavior they have to put up with.
When Cate is pushed too far, she has the brilliant idea to start an anonymous blog where they can discuss their experiences in the workplace…and how sleazy their bosses are.
The blog quickly goes viral, and other anonymous women start submitting their stories. When the women get wind that someone is trying to find out their true identities, they are instantly worried about the ramifications of what they created…unless they can find a way to own their narrative and bring down the bad guys.
This is a refreshing and timely drama, written expertly by debut author Amanda Pellegrino. The complex friendship between the four leads really shines, as does each of their workplace situations. While I enjoyed it from the start, I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure how much that enjoyment would last. Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max can seem a bit young and naive, and that was made clear when they would constantly check how many “views” the blog had, or when they occasionally bickered about mundane things.
However, the last 25% was absolutely brilliant and unputdownable!!
These four women are badasses, and the story really ramps up with so much empowerment, bravery, and well…girl power! It feels silly for me to say that, but I was literally rooting for these women and saying things like, “YES! Do it!”
You don’t have to be an assistant or a woman to read this one…but you’ll probably enjoy it more if you’re not a complete scumbag. Highly recommended, and I’m thrilled to have ended my year of reading on a high note.
Thank you to Park Row for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
May 28, 2022
Smile And Look Pretty is the story of 4 entry level assistants in NYC who are best friends. They are tired of the often demeaning tasks delegated to them but more importantly the dismissive, condescending demeanor in which their bosses treat them. Like, demanding cupcakes for a kid’s class at the wrong time, then asking the school to not allow the delivery inside when you arrive at the right time. Not to mention, some sexism and harassment.
The 4 friends have had enough and decide to start an anonymous blog where people can share their awful work experiences, TwentySomething. At first, the blog gets a little buzz but when an actress submits her story, the site takes off overnight. The girls are committed to preserving their anonymity but society and some of their employers have other plans.
This is Amanda Pellegrino’s debut novel and I was hooked immediately. 4 characters may not sound like a lot but it did take me a little while to keep track of who was who, with their different jobs, circles of coworkers, etc. There are multiple aspects of this story that reminded me of The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker, with this story even making multiple references to a “whisper network” — I know a lot of people loved TWN but I enjoyed Smile and Look Pretty more.
The 4 friends have had enough and decide to start an anonymous blog where people can share their awful work experiences, TwentySomething. At first, the blog gets a little buzz but when an actress submits her story, the site takes off overnight. The girls are committed to preserving their anonymity but society and some of their employers have other plans.
This is Amanda Pellegrino’s debut novel and I was hooked immediately. 4 characters may not sound like a lot but it did take me a little while to keep track of who was who, with their different jobs, circles of coworkers, etc. There are multiple aspects of this story that reminded me of The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker, with this story even making multiple references to a “whisper network” — I know a lot of people loved TWN but I enjoyed Smile and Look Pretty more.
April 14, 2022
What if they all said no? Who would order their bosses’ lunches and consolidate their receipts and set up their car service? Who would tell them what it meant when someone put a googly-eyed emoji in an email, or help them type out the long response to said email since they still used the pecking method? Who would roll their calls and book their flights and send birthday presents to everyone in their lives because assistants were the only ones who remembered the dates? What kind of damage could they do?
Dear Reese Witherspoon . . . . . .
THIS is the book you should have picked for your book club instead of the crap you’ve been telling us to read.
Cate, Olivia, Max and Lauren are all ride-or-die type of besties who also all happen to work as assistants of some sort. Whether it’s a publishing mogul, a news anchor, a washed-up actor or a screenwriter they have one thing in common: they are treated less than everyone else they work with. From watching others get promoted while stagnating in the same position to being sexually harassed these four friends finally decide they are fed up and start a blog called Twentysomething where they and others can share their horror stories anonymously (yeah I know, we’ll get there in a second). They will be known only by names like “The Emotional One” - “because men don’t have emotions, only women do. Men are just passionate” or “The Bossy One. For obvious reasons” or “The Aggressive One” - “if I were a man, I’d just be getting shit done” or “The Bitchy One” - “a woman is a bitch. A man is just opinionated.”
Alright, so aside from the fact that anything that starts off as “anonymous” is 100% guaranteed to blow up in the most viral form possible and out everyone involved (which is why this gets Four Stars rather than the full monty), I thought Smile and Look Pretty was an absolutely whipsmart, relevant and timely debut. Maybe it’s because I have been an “assistant” since Jesus was a toddler myself, but I found every single one of these ladies relatable and likeable. They are gals I would pick to associate with . . . . and I don’t like anybody! And I too have been a coffee fetcher, but after I said my piece about that menial task . . . .
Somehow I magically wasn’t asked to do it anymore.
Dear Reese Witherspoon . . . . . .
THIS is the book you should have picked for your book club instead of the crap you’ve been telling us to read.
Cate, Olivia, Max and Lauren are all ride-or-die type of besties who also all happen to work as assistants of some sort. Whether it’s a publishing mogul, a news anchor, a washed-up actor or a screenwriter they have one thing in common: they are treated less than everyone else they work with. From watching others get promoted while stagnating in the same position to being sexually harassed these four friends finally decide they are fed up and start a blog called Twentysomething where they and others can share their horror stories anonymously (yeah I know, we’ll get there in a second). They will be known only by names like “The Emotional One” - “because men don’t have emotions, only women do. Men are just passionate” or “The Bossy One. For obvious reasons” or “The Aggressive One” - “if I were a man, I’d just be getting shit done” or “The Bitchy One” - “a woman is a bitch. A man is just opinionated.”
Alright, so aside from the fact that anything that starts off as “anonymous” is 100% guaranteed to blow up in the most viral form possible and out everyone involved (which is why this gets Four Stars rather than the full monty), I thought Smile and Look Pretty was an absolutely whipsmart, relevant and timely debut. Maybe it’s because I have been an “assistant” since Jesus was a toddler myself, but I found every single one of these ladies relatable and likeable. They are gals I would pick to associate with . . . . and I don’t like anybody! And I too have been a coffee fetcher, but after I said my piece about that menial task . . . .
Somehow I magically wasn’t asked to do it anymore.
March 9, 2022
Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino is a fictional contemporary story that dives into the #metoo movement. This one is described as a version of 9-5 for this generation and that description does fit. The story in Smile and Look Pretty is one that is told by changing the point of view between the various characters to give all sides.
Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max are all good friends that have one thing in common, they all have complaints about their various assistant jobs. Meeting once a week to air all their grievances feels like it’s just not enough anymore so they begin a website to anonymously post all the dirty laundry and allow others to post their stories as well. Before they know it the site takes on a life of it’s own.
Honesty I went into Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino thinking that it was a thriller novel and some do have it tagged as just that so I was a little let down in that regard. The story in this one is one that has been being told in the media in the last few years with these particular women being a fictional take on that movement and it was interesting to read but I was left wanting a bit more probably due to my early expectations. Overall I rated this one at three and a half stars and felt it was solidly written so perhaps I would try the author again after reading this debut novel.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max are all good friends that have one thing in common, they all have complaints about their various assistant jobs. Meeting once a week to air all their grievances feels like it’s just not enough anymore so they begin a website to anonymously post all the dirty laundry and allow others to post their stories as well. Before they know it the site takes on a life of it’s own.
Honesty I went into Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino thinking that it was a thriller novel and some do have it tagged as just that so I was a little let down in that regard. The story in this one is one that has been being told in the media in the last few years with these particular women being a fictional take on that movement and it was interesting to read but I was left wanting a bit more probably due to my early expectations. Overall I rated this one at three and a half stars and felt it was solidly written so perhaps I would try the author again after reading this debut novel.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 1, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Four women in NYC working as personal assistants for incredibly rich and powerful people across their various dream industries join forces to take their abusive, sexist, disgusting bosses and workplaces down— anonymously, to protect their own livelihoods and selves. I really enjoyed the tight knit friendship and trust among these four characters, and the alternating perspectives offering insight on all of their passions and goals and jobs was at once hilarious and devastating. It was thrilling to see these hard working and talented women succeed and fail at their careers, love lives, and their project of an anonymous website publishing women’s stories about their horrendous mistreatment from powerful men in various industries. There were moments where I teared up, laughed out loud, or rolled my eyes throughout the entirety of reading/listening to this book (I enjoyed the audiobook!) Some of the sentences were sort of corny but forgivable, and at times I found it difficult to separate character voices, which might have to do with my constant struggle to remember the names of fictional characters, but generally, I think the plot delivered the message powerfully. I adored the friendships, the bustling NYC setting, and getting an inside look at various industry’s workplace environments. The writing was nothing to write home about, which I can definitely overlook because of all the things I loved about this book. A fictionalized recounting of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movement wasn’t something I expected to enjoy this much; I was very pleasantly surprised!
Four women in NYC working as personal assistants for incredibly rich and powerful people across their various dream industries join forces to take their abusive, sexist, disgusting bosses and workplaces down— anonymously, to protect their own livelihoods and selves. I really enjoyed the tight knit friendship and trust among these four characters, and the alternating perspectives offering insight on all of their passions and goals and jobs was at once hilarious and devastating. It was thrilling to see these hard working and talented women succeed and fail at their careers, love lives, and their project of an anonymous website publishing women’s stories about their horrendous mistreatment from powerful men in various industries. There were moments where I teared up, laughed out loud, or rolled my eyes throughout the entirety of reading/listening to this book (I enjoyed the audiobook!) Some of the sentences were sort of corny but forgivable, and at times I found it difficult to separate character voices, which might have to do with my constant struggle to remember the names of fictional characters, but generally, I think the plot delivered the message powerfully. I adored the friendships, the bustling NYC setting, and getting an inside look at various industry’s workplace environments. The writing was nothing to write home about, which I can definitely overlook because of all the things I loved about this book. A fictionalized recounting of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movement wasn’t something I expected to enjoy this much; I was very pleasantly surprised!
November 6, 2021
This was so good! Almost like The Morning Show meets Gossip Girl. I struggled a little bit upfront to keep the characters/their jobs straight, but worth sticking with. The story is so so good. Couldn't help thinking what an incredible TV show this would make!
April 13, 2022
I adored this book and ate it up. Desperately needed after the string of books that were not pulling me in the way I wanted.
The only thing holding it back from being a five star read- I think maybe there were too many POVs. Inevitably some of the girls got more page time than others, and inevitably I was more drawn to some than others.
The only other thing is I feel like Cate’s story was kind of forgotten? I won’t say how anything ends but I felt like each of the girls have a solid ending with a thread of hope for happiness while Cate’s kind of left us hanging.
Otherwise an excellent read I feel like many women will easily relate to. It’s eerie how many of these moments I felt like I was thinking, “Been there, done that.”
Will definitely be on the look out for other work from this author in the future.
The only thing holding it back from being a five star read- I think maybe there were too many POVs. Inevitably some of the girls got more page time than others, and inevitably I was more drawn to some than others.
The only other thing is I feel like Cate’s story was kind of forgotten? I won’t say how anything ends but I felt like each of the girls have a solid ending with a thread of hope for happiness while Cate’s kind of left us hanging.
Otherwise an excellent read I feel like many women will easily relate to. It’s eerie how many of these moments I felt like I was thinking, “Been there, done that.”
Will definitely be on the look out for other work from this author in the future.
Read
April 9, 2022DNF at 40%...
I really tried with this one...at one point I even thought it was clicking. But ultimately it had too many characters to keep track of and I didn't really know what was going on most of the time. It has good themes, though.
I really tried with this one...at one point I even thought it was clicking. But ultimately it had too many characters to keep track of and I didn't really know what was going on most of the time. It has good themes, though.
October 29, 2021
Best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max have a lot in common. They all work as assistants for some of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry. They start an anonymous blog to vent and explain how poorly they are treated at work. Then, of course, their blog goes viral and they are famous. Will they be able to keep their anonymity?
I loved how this author tackled some hot topics like equity in the workplace in this clever story. It mixed serious content with some great humor! It was a different type of book than I typically read and I really enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I loved how this author tackled some hot topics like equity in the workplace in this clever story. It mixed serious content with some great humor! It was a different type of book than I typically read and I really enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
January 10, 2022
Freaking fantastic! Great world building, distinct and well developed characters, and moves at the perfect pace!
April 8, 2022
What's the worst thing your boss/ex-boss ever done to make you feel like crap? Or that was just totally outside your job description? I once had a lawyer ask me to cut his meat up for him - and that is NOT a euphemism. And that was just a small taste of how entitled he was - I lasted a whole 2 months at that job. You can't pay me enough to be treated like trash. I've gotten a manager fired for sexual harassment, have caught bosses staring at my ass or been handsy. I think probably most, if not every, woman has gone through something like this in their work life at some point... tragically.
SMILE AND LOOK PRETTY brings us four female assistants in their mid-twenties who work their ass off just to get looked over... over and over again. Reading their experiences, some were somewhat shocking but still I could see them happening. No assistant EVER should be put in a position where they can tally how many times they've seen their boss's penis. WHAT. They decide to put out a blog called Twentysomething that allows women who have been treated terribly in their positions to vent and talk about their issues anonymously. And, of course, this goes VIRAL.
As we have seen through the #metoo movement, and possibly through our own experiences, most of the time harassment of this kind can be washed over or there are little to no consequences. But what WOULD happen if so many people just said NO. Demanded the respect they deserved? NOT be scared at how easily replaceable they could be and how there are thousands, if not millions, of people readily available to take their place with a snap of the fingers. The manager I got "fired", I found out later, was just transferred to a different restaurant. Um, that doesn't really solve the problem, now does it?
In any case - this book gives us pure millennial anger and power. But let it be known that this doesn't just happen to the younger women... or to *just* women in general - men and them are also harassed or treated poorly on the daily. I loved this book as it just hit home, unfortunately, in too many ways. Was it a little too neat at the end? For me, yes but fuck it. I would 1000000% watch the adaptation to this and could see Zoe Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya and Olivia Munn as the leads for some reason.
Loved the friendship between these four women. Remember y'all, there's not only powers in numbers, there's power in YOU.
SMILE AND LOOK PRETTY brings us four female assistants in their mid-twenties who work their ass off just to get looked over... over and over again. Reading their experiences, some were somewhat shocking but still I could see them happening. No assistant EVER should be put in a position where they can tally how many times they've seen their boss's penis. WHAT. They decide to put out a blog called Twentysomething that allows women who have been treated terribly in their positions to vent and talk about their issues anonymously. And, of course, this goes VIRAL.
As we have seen through the #metoo movement, and possibly through our own experiences, most of the time harassment of this kind can be washed over or there are little to no consequences. But what WOULD happen if so many people just said NO. Demanded the respect they deserved? NOT be scared at how easily replaceable they could be and how there are thousands, if not millions, of people readily available to take their place with a snap of the fingers. The manager I got "fired", I found out later, was just transferred to a different restaurant. Um, that doesn't really solve the problem, now does it?
In any case - this book gives us pure millennial anger and power. But let it be known that this doesn't just happen to the younger women... or to *just* women in general - men and them are also harassed or treated poorly on the daily. I loved this book as it just hit home, unfortunately, in too many ways. Was it a little too neat at the end? For me, yes but fuck it. I would 1000000% watch the adaptation to this and could see Zoe Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya and Olivia Munn as the leads for some reason.
Loved the friendship between these four women. Remember y'all, there's not only powers in numbers, there's power in YOU.
April 26, 2022
3⭐️ A very average read. The cover blurb said “darkly funny” and I said “sign me up!” Sadly, darkly funny, this was not. I didn’t find a lot of humor or snark. Also, I should warn you that my mind is a pretty dark place but I was totally expecting some murder here.
Smile and Look Pretty is about a group of friends who all work in pretty awful jobs (albeit in their dream industries). When they finally decide to stand up against their toxic bosses they do so in the most millennial-way possible: they create an anonymous blog! I saw a review that summed up my feelings perfectly (but of course now I can’t find it). The reviewer said something like this could have been more serious or more humous but it felt like it straddled the line and as a result it wasn’t great. Some of the situations these girls are put in are ridiculous while others are painfully familiar. I don’t think the target audience of this book will be surprised by what some women go through in their careers but it could be an eye opening read for others.
Smile and Look Pretty is about a group of friends who all work in pretty awful jobs (albeit in their dream industries). When they finally decide to stand up against their toxic bosses they do so in the most millennial-way possible: they create an anonymous blog! I saw a review that summed up my feelings perfectly (but of course now I can’t find it). The reviewer said something like this could have been more serious or more humous but it felt like it straddled the line and as a result it wasn’t great. Some of the situations these girls are put in are ridiculous while others are painfully familiar. I don’t think the target audience of this book will be surprised by what some women go through in their careers but it could be an eye opening read for others.
February 12, 2023
This was truly fantastic book about the experiences of women in male dominated work environments crushing the patriarchy. I loved every second of the book, from the characters to their stories. I think it’s a must read for everyone who believes in any sort of feminism what so ever.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 23, 2022
We are the assistants, the women behind the men and women who you know and love. We are unnamed, unknown, and uncared for. Best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max have each been assistants for years, each working in the field they yearn to succeed in, yet find themselves passed on for men. Their bosses, and those around them, take advantage of their positions of power, asking them to do unnecessary tasks like purchase cupcakes and make coffee that matches a paint chip. Even worse, some are subjected to unwanted sexual advances. When Cate finally feels like their weekly meeting isn't enough to get their grievances out she presents her friends with an anonymous blog she created, a place to share with the world how bosses take advantage of others. They become the Aggressive One, the Bossy One, the Bitchy One and the Emotional One. Soon others are submitting their stories to the page, the media grows interested, and the bosses names are revealed.
Smile and Look Pretty was such a smart, empowering read. Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max are just chasing their dreams, letting slide the mistreatment in the hopes of finally being given a chance, but when they start to really look at what they've experienced they recognize that no man in their position is treated this way. The blog is initially just an outlet, but watching it grow in popularity and empower the four women is incredible. They each finally come out of their shell, admitting to who they really are, what their time as an assistant has done to them, and the morals they've let be trampled on. It's authentic and real, a book that reads like an expose, something you might see in The Times.
ARC provided.
Smile and Look Pretty was such a smart, empowering read. Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max are just chasing their dreams, letting slide the mistreatment in the hopes of finally being given a chance, but when they start to really look at what they've experienced they recognize that no man in their position is treated this way. The blog is initially just an outlet, but watching it grow in popularity and empower the four women is incredible. They each finally come out of their shell, admitting to who they really are, what their time as an assistant has done to them, and the morals they've let be trampled on. It's authentic and real, a book that reads like an expose, something you might see in The Times.
ARC provided.
March 3, 2022
I wasn't 100% sure what this book was about and whether I would enjoy it, but as I got into it I liked it. The book starts with Cate who has just landed her dream job as an assistant at a great publishing company. Of course, her dreams aren't all they are cracked up to be. The same as her friends are all in careers, they thought would be great stepping stones. On a whim one day at one of their weekly complaining sessions, Cate suggests writing a blog called Twentysomethings. Cate, Max, and Olivia are keen on their idea but Lauren who is the wannabe scriptwriter is worried that this could reflect badly for them and could jeopardize their jobs. As the book goes along and the website begins, the stories start to roll in and the submissions start to rise from females in the industries who have had bad bosses and feel like crap. Soon the website will become viral and what started as an idea will become a revolution for all women in the industry. Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino was a good read for this particular time as it focuses heavily on the #MeToo movement. As a blogger, I also loved the idea that the girls started a website to talk about their issues and the fact it went viral as this is a writer's dream. If you are wanting an amazing feminist novel that everyone should read then Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino is the read for you as it is relevant to today's society.
May 24, 2021
Oh, I liked this!
I didn’t at first. Completely honest here – I had regrets because it started out like old school chick lit from 20 years ago. I mean…I read chick lit. Too much of it. And I wasn’t really ready to return to books where the most important thing is whether or not you’re wearing the right couture pumps while being denigrated by a mean boss.
But this does get modern and relevant pretty quickly. Honestly, I only counted one designer shoe reference (if there were more I didn’t notice) and this was about women sticking up for each other – not mean girls getting ahead. There’s kind of a fantasy aspect to it because, much as I want it to be this easy – women sticking together to make a permanent change – I still don’t believe it. I liked reading it, though.
Yes, there are hot guys and crushes. There’s truly horrendous bad boss behavior. But it’s also a book about empowerment and sticking together for what’s right.
Good book!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
I didn’t at first. Completely honest here – I had regrets because it started out like old school chick lit from 20 years ago. I mean…I read chick lit. Too much of it. And I wasn’t really ready to return to books where the most important thing is whether or not you’re wearing the right couture pumps while being denigrated by a mean boss.
But this does get modern and relevant pretty quickly. Honestly, I only counted one designer shoe reference (if there were more I didn’t notice) and this was about women sticking up for each other – not mean girls getting ahead. There’s kind of a fantasy aspect to it because, much as I want it to be this easy – women sticking together to make a permanent change – I still don’t believe it. I liked reading it, though.
Yes, there are hot guys and crushes. There’s truly horrendous bad boss behavior. But it’s also a book about empowerment and sticking together for what’s right.
Good book!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
May 14, 2022
I really wanted to like this book but it fell short of my expectations. I think the plot and concept are extremely relevant right now... this is what everyone is talking about. It reminds me of DeuxMoi. But the characters came up short for me... I feel like we don't know anything about them, and I often got them confused in my mind because they were so indistinct. Sadly I do think these stories happen to women in the workplace, especially in the entertainment industry. And I do believe that blogs and social media accounts are a huge outlet for people to share anonymous stories. The boring, forgettable characters and the slow-moving plot really weighed down my rating here. I think the author seems so sweet and excited, I would definitely give her another try when her next book is published. But I cannot say I would recommend this book. I will remember the testimonies and examples of workplace harassment, and how people (unfortunately, mostly men) misuse their power... but I will definitely forget the plot and the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
there were some moments that were just a little too "girl boss" for me, but overall, i think that this book does a great job of going into the different types of manipulation and harassment women receive on the daily from men in positions of power. i really appreciated the message of how important it is to stand up for yourself and speak out about these injustices no matter how difficult that may be.
July 26, 2021
Smile And Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino. Thanks to @parkrow and @netgalley for the gifted e-Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four best friends, all assistants, create an online blog for their profession to vent and show the world how they are treated. When it goes viral, they don’t know how long they can keep it anonymous.
Ooooo I was so excited to read this one! As an executive assistant, I eat up stories featuring them. I liked this one but at times I felt like there were too many women with too many similar experiences. I understand one of the goals was to show how they are treated as a profession in general, but I would have liked to see more variety in the main characters. They all kind of blurred together to me. I loved the submission stories and think they’d make great short stories in themselves. The female power and professional empowerment was awesome, but at times I was a little bored
“We know everything. That’s the danger of assistant life. It’s our job to know everything but pretend to know nothing.”
Smile And Look Pretty comes out 12/28.
Four best friends, all assistants, create an online blog for their profession to vent and show the world how they are treated. When it goes viral, they don’t know how long they can keep it anonymous.
Ooooo I was so excited to read this one! As an executive assistant, I eat up stories featuring them. I liked this one but at times I felt like there were too many women with too many similar experiences. I understand one of the goals was to show how they are treated as a profession in general, but I would have liked to see more variety in the main characters. They all kind of blurred together to me. I loved the submission stories and think they’d make great short stories in themselves. The female power and professional empowerment was awesome, but at times I was a little bored
“We know everything. That’s the danger of assistant life. It’s our job to know everything but pretend to know nothing.”
Smile And Look Pretty comes out 12/28.
December 19, 2022
A little too gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss for my tastes, but still well written. None of the characters seemed to have any earned character development. And there were a lot of white feminist moments that were painful to read. Still, a part of me thrilled at watching a narrative of the bastards of society getting shit on.
December 6, 2022
The characters seemed so one-dimensional (which is ironic considering their online alias) and I couldn't differentiate them until the last 20%.
July 19, 2023
3.75⭐️ Reminiscent of Apple TV’s The Morning Show storyline and complements non-fiction works such as Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill.
February 8, 2022
Best friends Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max are overworked and underpaid assistants to some of the most powerful people in the entertainment industries. Like the assistants who came before them, the women know they have to pay their dues and abide the demeaning tasks and verbal abuse from their bosses in order to climb the ladders to their dream jobs.
OK - this premise seemed super promising! However, the execution fell a bit flat. At some point, I questioned whether or not I should finish this book - and that's not a great sign. Overall, I give it 2.5 stars for trying.
OK - this premise seemed super promising! However, the execution fell a bit flat. At some point, I questioned whether or not I should finish this book - and that's not a great sign. Overall, I give it 2.5 stars for trying.
May 27, 2022
1.5* i feel bad to have given a book with such a well intended purpose and i still appreciate that factor. although, the execution was not what i expected. the book was very boring and slow for me. the only interesting parts came in at the 250 page mark.
the book is important as it follows 4 women who start up a blog to expose the horrible behaviors of their bosses. it’s a great concept, but it was very boring to me. regardless i’m not saying what the book was trying to do was bad. i just didn’t enjoy the way the book was paced.
TW for sexual harassment
the book is important as it follows 4 women who start up a blog to expose the horrible behaviors of their bosses. it’s a great concept, but it was very boring to me. regardless i’m not saying what the book was trying to do was bad. i just didn’t enjoy the way the book was paced.
TW for sexual harassment
March 26, 2022
BOOK REVIEW: Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino
2022 Publication Date: March 8
⭐️⭐️⭐️️
CONNECT WITH THIS BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP:
Know when to say enough is enough... ✨😎✨
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: A story centered on "standing up"... For yourself. For each other... Set in the worlds of television, journalism & the entertainment industry, we start reading expecting the female characters to need a "thick skin". But we quickly learn a suit of armor is even going to fall short... Has been described as "The 9 To 5 for the Instagram generation". But it also brings to mind so many other movies dating back from B&W classics to the many current streaming series devoted to this issue... And what I am always left with is: How many more decades will we endure before we all collectively say enough is enough?... ✨😎✨
Pages: 349
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Women's Friendship
Time Period: Present Day
Location: NYC
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
TV: Good Girls Revolt (Amazon Prime)
--------------------
All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://www.thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
2022 Publication Date: March 8
⭐️⭐️⭐️️
CONNECT WITH THIS BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP:
Know when to say enough is enough... ✨😎✨
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: A story centered on "standing up"... For yourself. For each other... Set in the worlds of television, journalism & the entertainment industry, we start reading expecting the female characters to need a "thick skin". But we quickly learn a suit of armor is even going to fall short... Has been described as "The 9 To 5 for the Instagram generation". But it also brings to mind so many other movies dating back from B&W classics to the many current streaming series devoted to this issue... And what I am always left with is: How many more decades will we endure before we all collectively say enough is enough?... ✨😎✨
Pages: 349
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Women's Friendship
Time Period: Present Day
Location: NYC
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
TV: Good Girls Revolt (Amazon Prime)
--------------------
All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://www.thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
November 9, 2023
3.5⭐
slow start but interesting story and the second half of the book delivered
slow start but interesting story and the second half of the book delivered
March 1, 2023
Wow, just wow!
Such a wonderful, realistic and empowering story, I loved it! Many women (and some men, I guess, but mostly women) all over the world suffer silently, working their asses off behind the scenes only to let someone else take the credit because they are just 'assistants'. Their job is to make someone else's life easy but more often than not that particular 'someone else' take their assistants' lives for granted and make their job a living hell. But the carrot dangling in front of them, promising opportunities and a way to achieve their dream job, makes them swallow the uncomfortable and traumatic experiences.
“We were thinking about using nicknames,” Max offered. “To further ensure no one knows who we are.” She suggested that they all pick stereotypes of women as a theme. “I’m The Emotional One,” she continued. “Because men don’t have emotions, only women do. Men are just passionate.”
Cate pretended to gag, then said, “I’ll be The Bossy One. For obvious reasons.”
“And I’m The Aggressive One,” Olivia said. “If I were a man, I’d just be getting shit done.”
...
“I think I’ll be The Bitchy One,” Lauren said. “A woman is a bitch. A man is just opinionated.”
This book truly depicted how women can stand up for themselves and others, not just Smile and Look Pretty.
Such a wonderful, realistic and empowering story, I loved it! Many women (and some men, I guess, but mostly women) all over the world suffer silently, working their asses off behind the scenes only to let someone else take the credit because they are just 'assistants'. Their job is to make someone else's life easy but more often than not that particular 'someone else' take their assistants' lives for granted and make their job a living hell. But the carrot dangling in front of them, promising opportunities and a way to achieve their dream job, makes them swallow the uncomfortable and traumatic experiences.
“We were thinking about using nicknames,” Max offered. “To further ensure no one knows who we are.” She suggested that they all pick stereotypes of women as a theme. “I’m The Emotional One,” she continued. “Because men don’t have emotions, only women do. Men are just passionate.”
Cate pretended to gag, then said, “I’ll be The Bossy One. For obvious reasons.”
“And I’m The Aggressive One,” Olivia said. “If I were a man, I’d just be getting shit done.”
...
“I think I’ll be The Bitchy One,” Lauren said. “A woman is a bitch. A man is just opinionated.”
This book truly depicted how women can stand up for themselves and others, not just Smile and Look Pretty.
May 10, 2022
It feels like I read a different book than others… the writing was very unpolished, everything was a touch unbelievable and the characters are so weak I was reduced to ranting to myself in notes just to process this abomination.
And for a book written about assistants, seemingly for assistants with even the acknowledgment for them, it proceeds to shit on being an assisstant only a quarter way through by claiming life would be a failure if you were 50 and an assistant.
This concept has been done much better by other authors so save your brain cells.
And for a book written about assistants, seemingly for assistants with even the acknowledgment for them, it proceeds to shit on being an assisstant only a quarter way through by claiming life would be a failure if you were 50 and an assistant.
This concept has been done much better by other authors so save your brain cells.
April 29, 2022
I don't like this book and don't like the main characters. I find no excuse to accept the indignities that they accept for a meager salary. They complain but cower and do whatever they're asked, and so they are treated like doormats. It's infuriating, not the men that do it, but the woman that take it and don't say anything. The boss that pinches a butt so hard that it hurts to sit would get a solid punch in the stomach from me. This book is insulting to women.
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