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You Should Smile More
A fun women's fiction novel about finding meaning in the workplace, and a satire of all the bad jobs you've ever had with lots of humor and snark thrown in.
When Vanessa Blair is fired because of her "resting bitch face," her friends help her launch a revenge plan that'll bring down the whole company.
Telemarketer Vanessa Blair isn't in love with her job. It pays the bills and feeds her foster kittens, but offers only one other her friendships with Jane Delaney and Trisha Lam. But, as mind-numbing as her job is, things are about to get worse. Xavier Adams, her self-absorbed boss, calls Vanessa into the conference room and fires her. The reason? Her facial expressions. Apparently, her resting bitch face is wide awake, and it doesn't matter that her sales numbers are stellar or that she organizes office events.
After a girls' night of schnapps and imagining retribution, Vanessa awakens to find that Trisha is more literal than she thought, and has implemented a revenge strategy based on the classic business book The Art of War by Sun Tzu. At first, Vanessa wants nothing to do with it. She wants to file for unemployment and move on with her life, possibly with Carter Beckett, the cute, cat-loving unemployment rep assigned to her case. But when Xavier contests her unemployment and ruins her shot at her dream job, Vanessa is all in...
When Vanessa Blair is fired because of her "resting bitch face," her friends help her launch a revenge plan that'll bring down the whole company.
Telemarketer Vanessa Blair isn't in love with her job. It pays the bills and feeds her foster kittens, but offers only one other her friendships with Jane Delaney and Trisha Lam. But, as mind-numbing as her job is, things are about to get worse. Xavier Adams, her self-absorbed boss, calls Vanessa into the conference room and fires her. The reason? Her facial expressions. Apparently, her resting bitch face is wide awake, and it doesn't matter that her sales numbers are stellar or that she organizes office events.
After a girls' night of schnapps and imagining retribution, Vanessa awakens to find that Trisha is more literal than she thought, and has implemented a revenge strategy based on the classic business book The Art of War by Sun Tzu. At first, Vanessa wants nothing to do with it. She wants to file for unemployment and move on with her life, possibly with Carter Beckett, the cute, cat-loving unemployment rep assigned to her case. But when Xavier contests her unemployment and ruins her shot at her dream job, Vanessa is all in...
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2023
125 people are currently reading
9796 people want to read
About the author
Anastasia Ryan
2 books180 followersAnastasia Ryan writes about what she loves best: coffee, humor, and cats. Follower her on Instagram (@byanastasiaryan) for updates and news!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 618 reviews
February 14, 2023
💖happy vday💖 sharing some books I love
Thank you Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Audiobook rating: j'adore!!!!
Performance: all the stars | Plot: bangerlicious | Ending: yay!
OOOOOHWEEE did I ever LOVE this!! I listened to it in one afternoon (1.5x speed). What a BANGER. Now my dumbass thought this was a straight up romcom, but I got so much more. Like Lindsey Kelk's books, it was more women's fiction with a splish splash of romance. Speaking of Lindsey Kelk, if you vibulate with her books, I'm certain you'll love this one too.
First of all, big shoutout to the narrator. Homegirl was putting in WERK. Loved the different voices she used for each character; this is a huge plus as a listener. She really brought the story to life.
Next, I loved the content of the book. What millennial (and I guess gen-z now... *shudders in I'm getting old*) hasn't suffered through a soul-sucking job for pennies and broken promises in their 20s? I know I have. Multiple jobs in fact. I loved how this addressed the pitfalls of today's toxic work culture and bleak af job economy. And I absolutely loved how we saw the leading ladies stand up for themselves (in their own ways). On a serious note... KNOW YOU RIGHTS. FILE THOSE FEDERAL AND STATE/PROVINCIAL CLAIMS. DON'T LET THESE HOES RUN CIRCLES ON YOU. As someone who filed both federal and provincial labour claims, I'm telling you it's worth it! Break the cycle!
This book had the perfect balance of serious life stuff and jokey jokes. I audibly chortled at the "you can never just eat one hot dog" remark and the evil boss splitting the employees into Team Iraq and Team North Korea for the office olympics. LMaooOOOO. Anyways. Yes, she used the word mansplaining early-on, which is usually my sign to exit stage left, but this book was refreshingly pander free. Which is surprising given the title sets it up to be very much #bossbabe feminism. Points were made without burning of bras.
All in all, I highly recommend if you're looking for a different listen in between all the stabbings and serial killings 😂
***I do not give star ratings for audiobooks but this was a banger, so I made an exception***
Thank you Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Audiobook rating: j'adore!!!!
Performance: all the stars | Plot: bangerlicious | Ending: yay!
OOOOOHWEEE did I ever LOVE this!! I listened to it in one afternoon (1.5x speed). What a BANGER. Now my dumbass thought this was a straight up romcom, but I got so much more. Like Lindsey Kelk's books, it was more women's fiction with a splish splash of romance. Speaking of Lindsey Kelk, if you vibulate with her books, I'm certain you'll love this one too.
First of all, big shoutout to the narrator. Homegirl was putting in WERK. Loved the different voices she used for each character; this is a huge plus as a listener. She really brought the story to life.
Next, I loved the content of the book. What millennial (and I guess gen-z now... *shudders in I'm getting old*) hasn't suffered through a soul-sucking job for pennies and broken promises in their 20s? I know I have. Multiple jobs in fact. I loved how this addressed the pitfalls of today's toxic work culture and bleak af job economy. And I absolutely loved how we saw the leading ladies stand up for themselves (in their own ways). On a serious note... KNOW YOU RIGHTS. FILE THOSE FEDERAL AND STATE/PROVINCIAL CLAIMS. DON'T LET THESE HOES RUN CIRCLES ON YOU. As someone who filed both federal and provincial labour claims, I'm telling you it's worth it! Break the cycle!
This book had the perfect balance of serious life stuff and jokey jokes. I audibly chortled at the "you can never just eat one hot dog" remark and the evil boss splitting the employees into Team Iraq and Team North Korea for the office olympics. LMaooOOOO. Anyways. Yes, she used the word mansplaining early-on, which is usually my sign to exit stage left, but this book was refreshingly pander free. Which is surprising given the title sets it up to be very much #bossbabe feminism. Points were made without burning of bras.
All in all, I highly recommend if you're looking for a different listen in between all the stabbings and serial killings 😂
***I do not give star ratings for audiobooks but this was a banger, so I made an exception***
March 29, 2024
I requested this for the title. As someone who suffers from severe RBF, I was horrified to learn the protagonist was fired for hers. There's obviously more to this. Mainly here for the shelter cats.
📖 Goodreads; 🎧 NetGalley
📖 Goodreads; 🎧 NetGalley
May 2, 2023
Thank you to the author Anastasia Ryan, publishers Sourcebooks Casablanca, and as always NetGalley, for a review digital copy of YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE.
Vanessa Blair and her plucky army of former telemarketers have recently been fired from their shared employer, Directis, or are on the docket awaiting offboarding. Vanessa refuses to sign the company's puny severance agreement and instead goes home and cuddles with her kittens, then to Job and Family services to file for unemployment. Upon learning she is the first person from Directis to ever apply, and several other curious tidbits, Vanessa decides to act. But not without help from, and as such, helping out, the funniest and most frazzled office workers in the US.
I really love books that make me lol, they're just like soul medicine! I really connected to this concept, and I think many readers will, as most of us has had at least one employer we don't remember fondly. This book is a richly ironic look at the sweat off our brow.
YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE is women's fiction and it's a caper, and I've never read anything quite like it. Gorgeous. Funny. A great ride.
Rating 📄📄📄📄.5 / 5
Recommend? Indeed, if you want a laugh!
Finished: January 26 2033
Read this book if you like:
🙃 Irony and Sarcasm
😂 Satire
🏢 Work caper
👩💼 Strong female characters
🤪 Goofball bosses
🐈⬛ Kittens!
*Second Reading
Audiobook copy found in Libby!
Finished May 1 2023
This book is still amazing!
Updating my rating to 5 stars.
Vanessa Blair and her plucky army of former telemarketers have recently been fired from their shared employer, Directis, or are on the docket awaiting offboarding. Vanessa refuses to sign the company's puny severance agreement and instead goes home and cuddles with her kittens, then to Job and Family services to file for unemployment. Upon learning she is the first person from Directis to ever apply, and several other curious tidbits, Vanessa decides to act. But not without help from, and as such, helping out, the funniest and most frazzled office workers in the US.
I really love books that make me lol, they're just like soul medicine! I really connected to this concept, and I think many readers will, as most of us has had at least one employer we don't remember fondly. This book is a richly ironic look at the sweat off our brow.
YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE is women's fiction and it's a caper, and I've never read anything quite like it. Gorgeous. Funny. A great ride.
Rating 📄📄📄📄.5 / 5
Recommend? Indeed, if you want a laugh!
Finished: January 26 2033
Read this book if you like:
🙃 Irony and Sarcasm
😂 Satire
🏢 Work caper
👩💼 Strong female characters
🤪 Goofball bosses
🐈⬛ Kittens!
*Second Reading
Audiobook copy found in Libby!
Finished May 1 2023
This book is still amazing!
Updating my rating to 5 stars.
February 25, 2023
Such a fun read! I loved the slightly silly plot, where a woman loses her job due to her face, and together with her friends and absolutely hilarious mum she becomes an accidental private detective, trying to figure out why so many people are sacked from her former work-place. The characters in this book were quirky and memorable, and the plot was a mix of cute and interesting.
Enjoyed myself immensely while reading.
Enjoyed myself immensely while reading.
February 1, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me an ARC of You Should Smile More in exchange for an honest review.
Findings of Fact
Vanessa Blair loves fostering kittens, and volunteers for a local animal shelter. Until recently, she was unhappily employed at Directis, a telemarketing company. In addition to being overworked and held to impossible goals, Vanessa and her co-workers were forced to participate in a number of terrible corporate morale building activities like a lunchtime Office Olympics and synchronized chair dancing performances. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Vanessa was fired by her gross, always-barefoot Xavier Adams for her allegedly “dark soul” and “resting bitch face.” Over drinks that night with her friends Jane (also fired the same day) and Trisha (retained, but on a “permanent probation”), Vanessa wallows and talks of revenge, only to learn the next morning that Tricia has bugged the Directis office and is putting their drunken, over-the-top plans for vengeance in motion. Vanessa is torn between wanting to move on and find a better career path and wanting to uncover why she and so many others have been recently fired. Throw in a cute unemployment agent named Carter, and a wildly intrusive mother, and Vanessa’s life seems to have come to something of a crossroads….
Issue
Is You Should Smile More a book worthy of your time?
Law
“Wheels of justice grind slow but grind fine.” — Sun Tzu
Reasoning
I don’t know that I would have picked up You Should Smile More were it not for the multiple references to the main character filing a claim for unemployment compensation benefits. I have a connection to the field, and I just had to see how the system would be portrayed (that’s also what gave me the idea to write this review like an unemployment hearing decision). While there were moments that had me sounding like a doctor watching Grey’s Anatomy and muttering at the screen “that’s not how that works,” it was a reasonable depiction overall. The only significant quibble I’d make is that I don’t believe there’s any state where an employee can legally sign away their right to file for unemployment benefits.
And what about the great majority of You Should Smile More’s story that is not about Vanessa’s pursuit of unemployment benefits, you ask? I’m happy to report that it’s good. Maybe it’s because I just watched it, but the story here really reminded me of the movie 9 to 5. Like Dabney Coleman, Xavier Adams is cartoonishly evil, a dozen bad boss stories rolled into a single villain. And like Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton, our heroines Vanessa, Jane, and Trisha will have their comically exaggerated revenge through everything from glitter bombs to conspiracy walls to wildlife gone wild. Vanessa’s interest in Carter the unemployment agent is a fun subplot, but it’s a minor one; this book is not a romance or even a rom-com. And Vanessa’s mom and her bridge group regularly appear to stress Vanessa out and take matters into even more absurd directions.
Decision
You Should Smile More is a fun story about an insane corporate workplace, the friends you make along the way, and figuring out how to get the career you truly want. And the audiobook is very well-performed by Hillary Huber. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Findings of Fact
Vanessa Blair loves fostering kittens, and volunteers for a local animal shelter. Until recently, she was unhappily employed at Directis, a telemarketing company. In addition to being overworked and held to impossible goals, Vanessa and her co-workers were forced to participate in a number of terrible corporate morale building activities like a lunchtime Office Olympics and synchronized chair dancing performances. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Vanessa was fired by her gross, always-barefoot Xavier Adams for her allegedly “dark soul” and “resting bitch face.” Over drinks that night with her friends Jane (also fired the same day) and Trisha (retained, but on a “permanent probation”), Vanessa wallows and talks of revenge, only to learn the next morning that Tricia has bugged the Directis office and is putting their drunken, over-the-top plans for vengeance in motion. Vanessa is torn between wanting to move on and find a better career path and wanting to uncover why she and so many others have been recently fired. Throw in a cute unemployment agent named Carter, and a wildly intrusive mother, and Vanessa’s life seems to have come to something of a crossroads….
Issue
Is You Should Smile More a book worthy of your time?
Law
“Wheels of justice grind slow but grind fine.” — Sun Tzu
Reasoning
I don’t know that I would have picked up You Should Smile More were it not for the multiple references to the main character filing a claim for unemployment compensation benefits. I have a connection to the field, and I just had to see how the system would be portrayed (that’s also what gave me the idea to write this review like an unemployment hearing decision). While there were moments that had me sounding like a doctor watching Grey’s Anatomy and muttering at the screen “that’s not how that works,” it was a reasonable depiction overall. The only significant quibble I’d make is that I don’t believe there’s any state where an employee can legally sign away their right to file for unemployment benefits.
And what about the great majority of You Should Smile More’s story that is not about Vanessa’s pursuit of unemployment benefits, you ask? I’m happy to report that it’s good. Maybe it’s because I just watched it, but the story here really reminded me of the movie 9 to 5. Like Dabney Coleman, Xavier Adams is cartoonishly evil, a dozen bad boss stories rolled into a single villain. And like Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton, our heroines Vanessa, Jane, and Trisha will have their comically exaggerated revenge through everything from glitter bombs to conspiracy walls to wildlife gone wild. Vanessa’s interest in Carter the unemployment agent is a fun subplot, but it’s a minor one; this book is not a romance or even a rom-com. And Vanessa’s mom and her bridge group regularly appear to stress Vanessa out and take matters into even more absurd directions.
Decision
You Should Smile More is a fun story about an insane corporate workplace, the friends you make along the way, and figuring out how to get the career you truly want. And the audiobook is very well-performed by Hillary Huber. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
January 26, 2023
Honestly, I did not expect to love this book. The cover is silly, the title is cutesy. Those things typically are a turn-off for me, but I was in a Netgalley drought (thanks holidays for slowing down audio book releases), so I took a chance. And it paid off.
This was exactly the cutesy, refreshing and fun amuse-bouche my soul needed to kick off 2023.
Vanessa, an underemployed telemarketer, is fired from her job because of her face. Yes, a woman employed to talk on the telephone in one of Dante's circles of hell, doesn't have the right face according to her misogynistic goof of a boss, Xavier Adams.
After an evening of alcohol, Vanessa and two work girlfriends devise a plan of revenge involving the equivalent of a baby monitor placed in the conference room, glitter, and all around mayhem.
I LOVED the interpersonal relationships. I LOVED the mom-group who were Dateline level armchair detectives. Even the romance which ensued with the unemployment guy and Vanessa - chef's kiss. And, truth be told, I hate romances. I prefer domestic thrillers and long time married couples turning on each other and ultimately killing (please do not tell my husband that).
Overall, this was a delightful way to spend a January afternoon and kudos to the choice of Hillary Huber as narrator. She is always fantastic and was perfect for this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen in advance of the 2/2/23 publication.
This was exactly the cutesy, refreshing and fun amuse-bouche my soul needed to kick off 2023.
Vanessa, an underemployed telemarketer, is fired from her job because of her face. Yes, a woman employed to talk on the telephone in one of Dante's circles of hell, doesn't have the right face according to her misogynistic goof of a boss, Xavier Adams.
After an evening of alcohol, Vanessa and two work girlfriends devise a plan of revenge involving the equivalent of a baby monitor placed in the conference room, glitter, and all around mayhem.
I LOVED the interpersonal relationships. I LOVED the mom-group who were Dateline level armchair detectives. Even the romance which ensued with the unemployment guy and Vanessa - chef's kiss. And, truth be told, I hate romances. I prefer domestic thrillers and long time married couples turning on each other and ultimately killing (please do not tell my husband that).
Overall, this was a delightful way to spend a January afternoon and kudos to the choice of Hillary Huber as narrator. She is always fantastic and was perfect for this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen in advance of the 2/2/23 publication.
Read
February 13, 2023Best title ever. Chick lit rather than romance though there's a love story with a cinnamon roll guy, which is nice. Woman is sacked from telemarketing job in dysfunctional office from hell for having RBF. A friend still in the office takes their drunken ramblings about revenge seriously and sets out to bug the boss, as in surveillance and also as in doing really annoying things. Heroine's mum and her bridge buddies join in and the vengeance quickly avalanches.
It's very good fun but, as the above para suggests, it's a story that happens to or around, rather than being driven by, the heroine. She is the (resting bitch) face of the revolution because she accidentally puts in motion the events that lead to the evil boss's downfall. But it's her friend and her mum driving events, and for much of the book the heroine trying to put the brakes on. This can work perfectly well (see Dial A for Aunties) but there the heroine had an excellent reason to be reluctantly involved in the farcical events (covering up a whoops murder) whereas here the heroine feels a bit passive, a lot of what goes on is reported to her rather than witnessed still less instigated by her, and she's very much the object of events till quite late on.
The horrible boss is beyond horrible in a very silly nightmare-office way, and his habit of making up horrible new words is particularly grating/entertaining. I read this in one single sitting while stuck on a train, for which it was perfect; in other circs I'd have wanted a harder edge or a bit more escalation of the chaos.
It's very good fun but, as the above para suggests, it's a story that happens to or around, rather than being driven by, the heroine. She is the (resting bitch) face of the revolution because she accidentally puts in motion the events that lead to the evil boss's downfall. But it's her friend and her mum driving events, and for much of the book the heroine trying to put the brakes on. This can work perfectly well (see Dial A for Aunties) but there the heroine had an excellent reason to be reluctantly involved in the farcical events (covering up a whoops murder) whereas here the heroine feels a bit passive, a lot of what goes on is reported to her rather than witnessed still less instigated by her, and she's very much the object of events till quite late on.
The horrible boss is beyond horrible in a very silly nightmare-office way, and his habit of making up horrible new words is particularly grating/entertaining. I read this in one single sitting while stuck on a train, for which it was perfect; in other circs I'd have wanted a harder edge or a bit more escalation of the chaos.
March 25, 2024
This was very light-hearted—funny, charming, sweet—yet still filled with plenty of dramatic tension. The heroine is a normal person who has friends. She gets fired because of her face. When her loony boss continues to interfere with her life, it’s war.
There are a lot of zany, over-the-top situations. Anyone who’s had a terrible boss or toxic work environment will relate to this. Think “Office Space” and “Dilbert.”
The book also has KITTENS. They were so adorable even though they were only described in a book without video. There is a sweet romance as a subplot; it’s not front and center.
*Reader’s Choice Nominee Spring 2024*
Language: Some strong language
Sexual Content: Some innuendo
Violence/Gore: Description of diseased bare feet
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
There are a lot of zany, over-the-top situations. Anyone who’s had a terrible boss or toxic work environment will relate to this. Think “Office Space” and “Dilbert.”
The book also has KITTENS. They were so adorable even though they were only described in a book without video. There is a sweet romance as a subplot; it’s not front and center.
*Reader’s Choice Nominee Spring 2024*
Language: Some strong language
Sexual Content: Some innuendo
Violence/Gore: Description of diseased bare feet
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
May 3, 2023
Remember when that douchebag guest told Kate Chastain she had resting bitch face and then she did this????
If you don’t watch Below Deck that was probably all just *wordswordswordswords*, but if you DO watch it then you know this was the moment that made Kate a true Bravolebrity and ensured she would always have a paycheck if Andy Cohen had any say-so in the matter.
When Vanessa finds her employment terminated due to her “face” she doesn’t even get a chance to make a penis towel as revenge. Instead, she discovers she had potentially been working for a Jen Shah sort of telemarketing company. If you’re asking yourself how many Bravo reality series references I can make in one review, here’s a spoiler . . . .
So she and her fellow co-workers decide to dabble a bit in The Art of War in order to bring down the company.
If you enjoy zany antics, this one will probably be more of a winner for you than it was for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not really my style.
If you don’t watch Below Deck that was probably all just *wordswordswordswords*, but if you DO watch it then you know this was the moment that made Kate a true Bravolebrity and ensured she would always have a paycheck if Andy Cohen had any say-so in the matter.
When Vanessa finds her employment terminated due to her “face” she doesn’t even get a chance to make a penis towel as revenge. Instead, she discovers she had potentially been working for a Jen Shah sort of telemarketing company. If you’re asking yourself how many Bravo reality series references I can make in one review, here’s a spoiler . . . .
So she and her fellow co-workers decide to dabble a bit in The Art of War in order to bring down the company.
If you enjoy zany antics, this one will probably be more of a winner for you than it was for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not really my style.
November 8, 2022
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Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I read several romance/comedy books this year that were advertised as being "laugh-out-loud" funny, and ended up being anything but, at least to me (also to many other people with taste.) This one actually didn't promise me that I would laugh out loud... but I did! I appreciate it when a book overdelivers even if it's simply by not making any promises.
Anastasia Ryan's debut novel is genuinely a laugh-out-loud story about friendship and revenge. And cats.
Vanessa Blair has a lot of reasons to be glad she no longer has to work for Directis, a telemarketing company, one of them being that she won't have to look at the bare feet of her megalomaniac boss Xavier every day. But a job is a job, and she's not only unemployed now but humiliated, after being fired on account of "her face". What. The. Fuck.
While the people in her life want to find dirt on Xavier's shady company and get revenge, Vanessa just wants to put everything behind her, get unemployment help, and find a better job. She's put up with too many mandatory, off-the-clock "company bonding" events and degrading "worst employee" rankings to want anything to do with Xavier or anyone like him again. But Xavier is out for her blood, and Vanessa is not going to take it anymore.
I've never worked in telemarketing or any other corporate jobs, though I think it's very different in my country from North America (thank goodness for labor laws!). I've heard enough from people who do to know that the events depicted in this story might not be too far from what really happens in some offices, though. I thought that Ryan has a good balance of depicting how truly messed up and traumatizing for employees that is, and keeping it ridiculous and light so that it can be enjoyable.
The book leans on "The Art of War", which I've never read, and every chapter in the present starts with a relevant quote from it. Other chapters give us a flashback to past office events that shed some light into current situations and relationship dynamics.
While there are a couple of romantic subplots, romance is not the focus of the book, which worked for me. Both of these relationships were very cute and made you root for them, and the male characters in both of them are great without the author having to hit you over the head with how great they are. They just are, but it's not about them.
This is mostly about Vanessa and her support group. Vanessa and her friends were likeable, relatable, and supportive with each other. I also loved her mom's "bridge" group, and the rest of the characters who eventually join in the plan. And the cats, of course.
I really enjoyed following Vanessa's unemployment journey. Reading about her anxiety and insecurities felt relatable and understandable rather than a bummer. I don't want to read a book to get depressed about someone else's life! And I really appreciated that, while it is totally believable to get fired in the US based on your appearance, there was another reason behind it.
Overall, this was a really fun ride that will make anyone who's ever had a horrible boss (especially if you're a woman) cheer as he gets his comeuppance. Resting bitch face comrades, rise!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I read several romance/comedy books this year that were advertised as being "laugh-out-loud" funny, and ended up being anything but, at least to me (also to many other people with taste.) This one actually didn't promise me that I would laugh out loud... but I did! I appreciate it when a book overdelivers even if it's simply by not making any promises.
Anastasia Ryan's debut novel is genuinely a laugh-out-loud story about friendship and revenge. And cats.
Vanessa Blair has a lot of reasons to be glad she no longer has to work for Directis, a telemarketing company, one of them being that she won't have to look at the bare feet of her megalomaniac boss Xavier every day. But a job is a job, and she's not only unemployed now but humiliated, after being fired on account of "her face". What. The. Fuck.
While the people in her life want to find dirt on Xavier's shady company and get revenge, Vanessa just wants to put everything behind her, get unemployment help, and find a better job. She's put up with too many mandatory, off-the-clock "company bonding" events and degrading "worst employee" rankings to want anything to do with Xavier or anyone like him again. But Xavier is out for her blood, and Vanessa is not going to take it anymore.
I've never worked in telemarketing or any other corporate jobs, though I think it's very different in my country from North America (thank goodness for labor laws!). I've heard enough from people who do to know that the events depicted in this story might not be too far from what really happens in some offices, though. I thought that Ryan has a good balance of depicting how truly messed up and traumatizing for employees that is, and keeping it ridiculous and light so that it can be enjoyable.
The book leans on "The Art of War", which I've never read, and every chapter in the present starts with a relevant quote from it. Other chapters give us a flashback to past office events that shed some light into current situations and relationship dynamics.
While there are a couple of romantic subplots, romance is not the focus of the book, which worked for me. Both of these relationships were very cute and made you root for them, and the male characters in both of them are great without the author having to hit you over the head with how great they are. They just are, but it's not about them.
This is mostly about Vanessa and her support group. Vanessa and her friends were likeable, relatable, and supportive with each other. I also loved her mom's "bridge" group, and the rest of the characters who eventually join in the plan. And the cats, of course.
I really enjoyed following Vanessa's unemployment journey. Reading about her anxiety and insecurities felt relatable and understandable rather than a bummer. I don't want to read a book to get depressed about someone else's life! And I really appreciated that, while it is totally believable to get fired in the US based on your appearance, there was another reason behind it.
Overall, this was a really fun ride that will make anyone who's ever had a horrible boss (especially if you're a woman) cheer as he gets his comeuppance. Resting bitch face comrades, rise!
October 5, 2022
This is the kind of book that just hits the spot after a long day of work. Best buds, revenge, a ridiculous villian, and some romance all mixed into one satisafying read.
A modern take on the classic movie 9 to 5 with a dash of Office Space. Cannot stop telling my book clubbies to check this one out. Most def on my reread list.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
A modern take on the classic movie 9 to 5 with a dash of Office Space. Cannot stop telling my book clubbies to check this one out. Most def on my reread list.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
October 3, 2022
I loved this book so, so much! It was off-the-wall in the best way possible and made me laugh so hard. If you have ever had a boss from Hell and wished karma would kick them in the butt, this the book for you!
Nessa did everything right at her job despite their ridiculous demands, and she was rewarded for her hard work by being fired. Reason given: her face.
This sets off a hilarious quest for revenge with help from her officemates and her mom’s unhinged bridge club buddies. Throw in a litter of calico kittens, a hot, tattooed unemployment officer, and some wild turkeys, and you’ve got one perfect book.
This will definitely be added to my favorite reads of the year. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Nessa did everything right at her job despite their ridiculous demands, and she was rewarded for her hard work by being fired. Reason given: her face.
This sets off a hilarious quest for revenge with help from her officemates and her mom’s unhinged bridge club buddies. Throw in a litter of calico kittens, a hot, tattooed unemployment officer, and some wild turkeys, and you’ve got one perfect book.
This will definitely be added to my favorite reads of the year. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 16, 2022
This book had such an interesting premise. Vanessa is wrongfully fired from her telemarketing job, so with her two work friends decides to launch a revenge plan. At the beginning of this novel, I was so invested and loved the quirkiness to this novel, particularly in its characters. I will admit that this lost its shine by about half way through, but I think it was due at this stage to the pace of the novel. It felt like it really slowed down, and just became a bit too unrealistic in some of the shenanigans. Thankfully, the pace picked back up again in the last 20%.
You Should Smile More is a fun book, with eccentric characters and a light, feel-good romance. I look forward to reading more from Ryan in the future.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
You Should Smile More is a fun book, with eccentric characters and a light, feel-good romance. I look forward to reading more from Ryan in the future.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2023
4.5
Oh my gosh, this book was fantastic! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was AMAZING. She really brought the characters and story to life through her many voices and emotions. The first page literally had me smiling and laughing out loud. I was listening to this while shelving books at work and I could tell people were looking at me. But I didn’t care, this book was such a delight and was exactly what I needed. I loved the main character and how relatable she was. The side characters had their own personalities, depth, and added to the story. The romance, even though it was light, was done so well! It was a cute romance that didn’t feel forced. Overall, this book felt like a hug and I’m so sad that I finished it in one day. I wish I could have stayed with these characters longer. I would highly recommend this one and if you’re able to definitely listen to the audiobook. Remember this book is meant to be fun, a little out there, and even unrealistic but that just adds to its charm.
Oh my gosh, this book was fantastic! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was AMAZING. She really brought the characters and story to life through her many voices and emotions. The first page literally had me smiling and laughing out loud. I was listening to this while shelving books at work and I could tell people were looking at me. But I didn’t care, this book was such a delight and was exactly what I needed. I loved the main character and how relatable she was. The side characters had their own personalities, depth, and added to the story. The romance, even though it was light, was done so well! It was a cute romance that didn’t feel forced. Overall, this book felt like a hug and I’m so sad that I finished it in one day. I wish I could have stayed with these characters longer. I would highly recommend this one and if you’re able to definitely listen to the audiobook. Remember this book is meant to be fun, a little out there, and even unrealistic but that just adds to its charm.
March 18, 2023
I tend to prefer stories that are heavier on the romance, but I became so invested in this hilarious act of revenge.
Following telemarketer Vanessa after she gets fired for her "resting bitch face", it's a bit of a satire on a toxic workplace. There's moments that are beyond farfetched, but it was delightfully kooky. I had a great time!
I mean, you simply cannot help but cheer for Vanessa as she strikes back against her completely unhinged boss. You've got sabotage, kittens, and a fantastic group of accomplices, including her mother's HILARIOUS bridge club.
I loved seeing Vanessa find a silver lining in an otherwise terrible situation, especially the minor but sweet romance with her tattooed unemployment representative, Carter Beckett.
If you're not into quirky stories, maybe skip this one. But it definitely made me smile!
(heat level: kissing only)
Following telemarketer Vanessa after she gets fired for her "resting bitch face", it's a bit of a satire on a toxic workplace. There's moments that are beyond farfetched, but it was delightfully kooky. I had a great time!
I mean, you simply cannot help but cheer for Vanessa as she strikes back against her completely unhinged boss. You've got sabotage, kittens, and a fantastic group of accomplices, including her mother's HILARIOUS bridge club.
I loved seeing Vanessa find a silver lining in an otherwise terrible situation, especially the minor but sweet romance with her tattooed unemployment representative, Carter Beckett.
If you're not into quirky stories, maybe skip this one. But it definitely made me smile!
(heat level: kissing only)
December 30, 2022
You Should Smile More is a phrase used a lot nowadays towards women so when I saw the title I had to read it. Gladly I can say that the book is not depressing at all but actually very inspiring and funny!
The story itself is not something I've stumbled across before. We get a friend group, a little bit of spying action (bugging the office was very hilarious!), and many happy endings.
Vanessa is a well-written character, she's not perfect but she is likable and her volunteer work as a foster "mom" for kittens adds a lot to it. There's also Jane that gets fired at the same time as Vanessa, and Trisha that gets to stay in the company but is being watched very closely by Xavier and Bobbert (such a funny nickname).
The girls get an interesting idea while drinking after being fired and they actually go through with it! We get to experience some spy action from the girls and Vanessa's mom friend group while they decide to uncover the "dark" secrets of the telemarketing company.
I enjoyed reading this one quite a lot, it was missing something (can't really say what) therefore I leave only 4 stars.
💙 Contemporary Fiction | Few Romance Scenes in the Background 💙
★ Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the e-arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
💌 December 14, 2022 : E-ARC provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley.
The story itself is not something I've stumbled across before. We get a friend group, a little bit of spying action (bugging the office was very hilarious!), and many happy endings.
Vanessa is a well-written character, she's not perfect but she is likable and her volunteer work as a foster "mom" for kittens adds a lot to it. There's also Jane that gets fired at the same time as Vanessa, and Trisha that gets to stay in the company but is being watched very closely by Xavier and Bobbert (such a funny nickname).
The girls get an interesting idea while drinking after being fired and they actually go through with it! We get to experience some spy action from the girls and Vanessa's mom friend group while they decide to uncover the "dark" secrets of the telemarketing company.
I enjoyed reading this one quite a lot, it was missing something (can't really say what) therefore I leave only 4 stars.
💙 Contemporary Fiction | Few Romance Scenes in the Background 💙
★ Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the e-arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
💌 December 14, 2022 : E-ARC provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley.
October 3, 2022
I loved this book so, so much! It was off-the-wall in the best way possible and made me laugh so hard. If you have ever had a boss from Hell and wished karma would kick them in the butt, this the book for you!
Nessa did everything right at her job despite their ridiculous demands, and she was rewarded for her hard work by being fired. Reason given: her face.
This sets off a hilarious quest for revenge with help from her officemates and her mom’s unhinged bridge club buddies. Throw in a litter of calico kittens, a hot, tattooed unemployment officer, and some wild turkeys, and you’ve got one perfect book.
This will definitely be added to my favorite reads of the year. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Nessa did everything right at her job despite their ridiculous demands, and she was rewarded for her hard work by being fired. Reason given: her face.
This sets off a hilarious quest for revenge with help from her officemates and her mom’s unhinged bridge club buddies. Throw in a litter of calico kittens, a hot, tattooed unemployment officer, and some wild turkeys, and you’ve got one perfect book.
This will definitely be added to my favorite reads of the year. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 18, 2023
Vanessa was wrongfully fired by her boss, Xavier. He said her resting bitch face brought in bad vibes. But she wasn't the only one fired for some absurd reason. Jane and Trisha were also on the chopping block. Feeling crushed and outraged, Vanessa joined her two coworkers to hash out a plan to get back at their ex-boss.
This was over the top and ridiculous in the best way possible. It had me laughing from beginning to end. Highly recommend to those looking for a fun and light read.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Anastasia Ryan (the author), and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
This was over the top and ridiculous in the best way possible. It had me laughing from beginning to end. Highly recommend to those looking for a fun and light read.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Anastasia Ryan (the author), and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
June 10, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, libro.fm and Dreamscape Media for an eARC and ALC respectively to read/listen to and review.
Looking over my comments as I listened to this book I almost have whiplash. I was ALL over the place with this book. Or maybe it was all over the place and I was just reacting to that?
It was annoying, when characters did not seem to be thinking (not asking her friend to retrieve her coat for her who was still working at the job, "cleaning" the fridge by just putting the food outside of the back door, causing all sorts of wild animals to congregate to fight for the food, the MC h being a complete pushover re: the stuff her mom and friends left on the wall, etc.)
And yet I was full-bodied laughing at the glitter scene and the romantic moment was just TOO SWEET!
And then...the following scene which I am going to spoil happened, which is where I DNF'd at 68%.
Background, the mom and her bridge friends have a key to the MC h's apartment and set up on the wall the stereotypical crazy person red string pattern with pictures and everything, with the daughter in the middle of it all, labeled as the "innocent victim".
Of course she doesn't take it down and of COURSE when the main love interest enters her apartment by accident due to the kittens she is fostering, he sees it and 1) doesn't give her much time to explain and 2) SHE DOESN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING and just stands there stuttering like an idiot instead of saying, "My mom has my apartment key and she set this up, let me tell you the whole story, it's funny and annoying!" 3) He just BOOKS it.
I get him fleeing what seems to be a crazy person, BUT he gave her like two seconds to explain and she didn't help herself out any. He has some MAJOR groveling to do imho. Like, give her a chance to SPEAK. Though she really needs to get her brain in gear or learn to remove wall hangings in her own home of which she does not approve.
I decided that I didn't want to deal with TSTL and OTT (the mom was SOUTHERN OTT) characters, so I bounced, just like the MC H.
2, I didn't hate it, it made me belly laugh and say "AAAAWWWW!!!!", but I just couldn't continue any further, stars.
Looking over my comments as I listened to this book I almost have whiplash. I was ALL over the place with this book. Or maybe it was all over the place and I was just reacting to that?
It was annoying, when characters did not seem to be thinking (not asking her friend to retrieve her coat for her who was still working at the job, "cleaning" the fridge by just putting the food outside of the back door, causing all sorts of wild animals to congregate to fight for the food, the MC h being a complete pushover re: the stuff her mom and friends left on the wall, etc.)
And yet I was full-bodied laughing at the glitter scene and the romantic moment was just TOO SWEET!
And then...the following scene which I am going to spoil happened, which is where I DNF'd at 68%.
Background, the mom and her bridge friends have a key to the MC h's apartment and set up on the wall the stereotypical crazy person red string pattern with pictures and everything, with the daughter in the middle of it all, labeled as the "innocent victim".
Of course she doesn't take it down and of COURSE when the main love interest enters her apartment by accident due to the kittens she is fostering, he sees it and 1) doesn't give her much time to explain and 2) SHE DOESN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING and just stands there stuttering like an idiot instead of saying, "My mom has my apartment key and she set this up, let me tell you the whole story, it's funny and annoying!" 3) He just BOOKS it.
I get him fleeing what seems to be a crazy person, BUT he gave her like two seconds to explain and she didn't help herself out any. He has some MAJOR groveling to do imho. Like, give her a chance to SPEAK. Though she really needs to get her brain in gear or learn to remove wall hangings in her own home of which she does not approve.
I decided that I didn't want to deal with TSTL and OTT (the mom was SOUTHERN OTT) characters, so I bounced, just like the MC H.
2, I didn't hate it, it made me belly laugh and say "AAAAWWWW!!!!", but I just couldn't continue any further, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 2, 2023
Eh this was okay but not great?
Middling fair?
I think because it felt a lot like Loathe at First Sight (which I liked a lot better), as in more workplace contemporary revenge comedy than full on contemporary romance.
The title is fantastic, the execution is good, but the overall result is not very memorable.
Middling fair?
I think because it felt a lot like Loathe at First Sight (which I liked a lot better), as in more workplace contemporary revenge comedy than full on contemporary romance.
The title is fantastic, the execution is good, but the overall result is not very memorable.
October 3, 2022
This book made my heart so happy, I couldn’t stop laughing and finished it in one sitting! Definitely reccomend if you loved the film Office Space!
January 25, 2023
3.5
I came for the cover and stayed for the quirkiness. I won't lie: this book is over the top at times. There are very eccentric characters and crazy (bordering on unbelievable) shenanigans. However, what really shines throughout are the friendships and the lengths to which these women will go to avenge and protect each other. Plus, there are foster kitties and a sweet romance to top it all off.
I enjoyed the writing and the humor. My only real issue with the book was the pacing. For a book under 300 pages, it sure felt like it was well over 400. Also, you really need to suspend disbelief for some of the things that happen.
Overall, I had a great time reading/listening to this. I think several people will find this to be a breath of fresh air. I look forward to what the author writes next.
I also thought the narrator did a great job.
Perfect for fans of:
The Movie: 9 to 5
Slow-burn Romances
Clean Romances
Main Character Has Pets
Over-the-Top Side Characters
Found Families
Female Friendships
Feminist Leanings
Revenge on Crap Bosses
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media (audio version), and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I came for the cover and stayed for the quirkiness. I won't lie: this book is over the top at times. There are very eccentric characters and crazy (bordering on unbelievable) shenanigans. However, what really shines throughout are the friendships and the lengths to which these women will go to avenge and protect each other. Plus, there are foster kitties and a sweet romance to top it all off.
I enjoyed the writing and the humor. My only real issue with the book was the pacing. For a book under 300 pages, it sure felt like it was well over 400. Also, you really need to suspend disbelief for some of the things that happen.
Overall, I had a great time reading/listening to this. I think several people will find this to be a breath of fresh air. I look forward to what the author writes next.
I also thought the narrator did a great job.
Perfect for fans of:
The Movie: 9 to 5
Slow-burn Romances
Clean Romances
Main Character Has Pets
Over-the-Top Side Characters
Found Families
Female Friendships
Feminist Leanings
Revenge on Crap Bosses
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media (audio version), and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2023
Not entirely sure what I thought this book was about but I was pleasantly surprised. The word "zany" fits it best. Vanessa gets fired from a horrible telemarketing job because of her "face" but realizes there's something fishy going on with the company, and it's not just the boss and his no-shoes fetish. Several of her friends get laid off as well and reluctantly Vanessa starts digging in to the company and it's shady dealings. I mean, someone needs to feed and house her foster kittens right? Her Mom and her bridge brigade also get involved and set up a murder wall. Vanessa meets a handsome tatted cat-lover Carter that works at the unemployment office and sparks fly but the romance is a small piece of this book. If you like the timing and humor in Finley Donovan you will love this book.
But we need to take a minute and recognize the narrator of this book - Hillary Huber. OMIGOD. Hillary brings this book to life, her voices for the friends, Vanessa's Mom, the swarmy boss Excalibur, it's incredible. She nailed the slap-stick comedy bits and the depth and sweetness of Vanessa and Carter. Immediately looking up what else she narrates ....
But we need to take a minute and recognize the narrator of this book - Hillary Huber. OMIGOD. Hillary brings this book to life, her voices for the friends, Vanessa's Mom, the swarmy boss Excalibur, it's incredible. She nailed the slap-stick comedy bits and the depth and sweetness of Vanessa and Carter. Immediately looking up what else she narrates ....
did-not-finish
March 29, 2023DNF @ 10%
I don’t think I would have absolutely hated this book but I didn’t see myself enjoying it so I didn’t want to push through it. The MC was coming off as kind of immature and I just didn’t really like her perspective. I think the message behind this one is important but I wasn’t liking the execution.
I don’t think I would have absolutely hated this book but I didn’t see myself enjoying it so I didn’t want to push through it. The MC was coming off as kind of immature and I just didn’t really like her perspective. I think the message behind this one is important but I wasn’t liking the execution.
January 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this starting over after getting unjustly fired women's fiction book. Equally hilarious and deeply relatable, this was an easy listen PLUS the FMC, Vanessa gets involved in a in helping a pet shelter. Try as she might to move on though, her old boss attempts to thwart her at every move, blocking her unemployment application and placing the blame on her. A bit of a modern day 9 to 5 story with a touch of romance, this was great on audio too narrated by Hilary Huber. Would definitely recommend this new to me author and I look forward to reading more by her! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 1, 2023
This was a fun one with a trope of work revenge, kitty love, and a sprinkle of romance! Nessa gets fired for her resting B. face or so we think, and with the help of her ex-coworkers, mom with her bridge club gals, and Carter she puts Xavier where he belongs. I absolutely loved all the characters, except Xavier of course. This book is just perfect to read or listen to if you need a pick-me-up kind of book. The narration was on point!!! Only reason I didn’t 5 star this is because it was missing something; maybe a bit more action/drama??? Anyways, I highly recommend this one.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Thank you so much Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing Date: 02/02/2023
#YouShouldSmileMore #NetGalley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Thank you so much Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing Date: 02/02/2023
#YouShouldSmileMore #NetGalley
October 4, 2022
You Should Smile More follows Vanessa after she’s fired from her telemarketing job because her boss doesn't like her face. The story moves back and forth between present day espionage/revenge on the company (with some inspiration from Sun Tzu’s the Art of War) and her past few weeks at this terrible company.
This novel was hysterical and the perfect escape from the stresses of my own job. There were times that I had to physically put my Kindle down just to take a breath from laughing. It was such a fun story to follow and the boss, Xavier, was absolutely ridiculous.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This novel was hysterical and the perfect escape from the stresses of my own job. There were times that I had to physically put my Kindle down just to take a breath from laughing. It was such a fun story to follow and the boss, Xavier, was absolutely ridiculous.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
December 5, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book made me laugh so hard and smile so much. It was just what I need to escape the stresses of work and home. I could not stop reading until I was done. This book had it all and a dash of romance, I can’t say enough good things.
October 28, 2022
3.5✨
This book brought the belly laughter, the epic heroics, the heart-warming inspiration, and all the love. It was a delightful read!
The title is what caught my attention— I can’t tell you the number of times strangers or acquaintances have implored me to smile more. I felt so offended on Vanessa’s behalf when her ‘face’ got her fired. The basis for her firing and the entire workplace plot is utterly ridiculous but damn it if I didn’t fall for it all hook, line, and sinker. I shouldn’t have sold so quickly into former bosses with bare-feet-on-fake-grass-under-the-desk, but here I am believing it. But even easier to believe and love was the friendship between the women who came together to right several wrongs against them. Their friendship is the core of this story and they carry it well.
I admit towards the middle I felt I lost my footing within the world, I looked more forward to its ending than its journey. I do think in part this is because I’m primarily a romance reader and this isn’t romance (although a sweet one develops subtly throughout), so my focus waned. Nevertheless, it’s very well written and our protagonist is a character so easy to root for. You want badly to see her get the justice she so deserves.
Thank you NetGalley and Casablanca for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book brought the belly laughter, the epic heroics, the heart-warming inspiration, and all the love. It was a delightful read!
The title is what caught my attention— I can’t tell you the number of times strangers or acquaintances have implored me to smile more. I felt so offended on Vanessa’s behalf when her ‘face’ got her fired. The basis for her firing and the entire workplace plot is utterly ridiculous but damn it if I didn’t fall for it all hook, line, and sinker. I shouldn’t have sold so quickly into former bosses with bare-feet-on-fake-grass-under-the-desk, but here I am believing it. But even easier to believe and love was the friendship between the women who came together to right several wrongs against them. Their friendship is the core of this story and they carry it well.
I admit towards the middle I felt I lost my footing within the world, I looked more forward to its ending than its journey. I do think in part this is because I’m primarily a romance reader and this isn’t romance (although a sweet one develops subtly throughout), so my focus waned. Nevertheless, it’s very well written and our protagonist is a character so easy to root for. You want badly to see her get the justice she so deserves.
Thank you NetGalley and Casablanca for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2022
Vanessa is fired from her telemarketing job at a company called Directis. However, it was not her performance that got her fired, it was her face, or rather the faces she makes around the office. The faces that she makes were against their ethics policy that they call “tweam”. Vanessa’s friend and coworker Jane was also fired, and their other friend Trisha was put on probation, just because they are friends.
The girls come up with a revenge plan one drunken night and you watch that plan expand throughout the book. I love the support team that Vanessa had behind her. The way they all stood up for one another and took a stand against the company that was committing fraud was terrific to see.
I love that Vanessa fosters animals and helps out at the local animal shelter during her free time. She seemed to be truly happy helping them.
I loved seeing Vanessa's life go on a better path. It shows that everything really does happen for a reason. She never wanted to be a telemarketer but now she works at her dream job and has wonderful friends, family, and a new boyfriend.
There are some good laughs throughout the story and you will feel like one of Vanessa's friends who just want the best for her and to see her succeed.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The girls come up with a revenge plan one drunken night and you watch that plan expand throughout the book. I love the support team that Vanessa had behind her. The way they all stood up for one another and took a stand against the company that was committing fraud was terrific to see.
I love that Vanessa fosters animals and helps out at the local animal shelter during her free time. She seemed to be truly happy helping them.
I loved seeing Vanessa's life go on a better path. It shows that everything really does happen for a reason. She never wanted to be a telemarketer but now she works at her dream job and has wonderful friends, family, and a new boyfriend.
There are some good laughs throughout the story and you will feel like one of Vanessa's friends who just want the best for her and to see her succeed.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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