Smile and Look Pretty is a sharp, witty, and fiercely feminist debut that cuts straight to the heart of the toxic dynamics in the workplace—especially for women. The story revolves around four assistants—Cate, Lauren, Olivia, and Max—who are all drowning in the demands of their jobs as overworked, overtired, and underpaid employees in the cutthroat entertainment industry. In a world where they're constantly belittled, ignored, and reduced to stereotypes, these women come together to vent their frustrations in the only way they can: an anonymous blog. But what starts as a small act of rebellion soon explodes into something much bigger when their posts go viral, and hundreds of other women come forward with their own stories of workplace abuse and exploitation.

Pellegrino’s writing is smart and fast-paced, giving readers a front row seat to the highs and lows of the assistants' journey. Her dark, razor-sharp humor makes this unputdownable. The women at the center of the story are brilliantly drawn—complex, flawed, and completely relatable, but what makes Smile and Look Pretty so compelling is the way it tackles the consequences of whistleblowing, especially for women. As the blog gains traction, the four women must contend with the dangers of exposure, the potential fallout in their careers, and the questions of what happens when you try to take down a system that’s been in place for years. The novel provides an unflinching look at the ugly realities of workplace inequality. And while it's certainly timely in its critique of the entertainment industry, It's a must-read for anyone who’s ever worked in an environment that doesn't value them.

ahh! Such a great read from Amanda Pellegrino. Hard to put down. Fascinating story line. You will stay up all night to finish

Honestly, I’m almost embarrassed how long I’ve had this book hanging around my stack. I’m so easily distracted by shiny new things (and books), lol. But I was in the mood for a little workplace drama (since I don’t have any in my new job), so I finally picked this up.

Cate, Olivia, Lauren, and Max are best friends with big dreams. But in order to achieve them, they’re all working as assistants to some movers and shakers in the entertainment world. Their bosses are all awful—a cross between Miranda Priestley and the bosses from the Horrible Bosses movies. All four women are constantly stressed, working way too much and not getting paid well for all the work they do.

They get together every Friday to commiserate. And the more they talk about their respective situations and share their frustrations about being overlooked and mistreated, the angrier they get. So they decide to air their grievances on an anonymous blog.

It doesn’t take long for the blog to catch fire. More and more women anonymously step forward to share that they’ve had the same—or worse—experiences. And as the blog continues going viral, they learn that someone is trying to figure out who is behind it. Is the validation of their treatment worth the risk to their futures? Can they actually take down their sleazy bosses?

I enjoyed this book a lot. The camaraderie between the women was great, and even if they seemed a little naïve at times, the characters were generally appealing. The tone of the book shifted to more female empowerment and courage, and that was great.

Thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. If you’re looking for a great backlist read, pick this up!

Assistants Expose Toxic Workplace

Smile and Look Pretty is a powerful debut novel that combines sharp social commentary with an engaging narrative. It's a must-read for anyone interested in stories about empowerment, resilience, and the fight against workplace injustices.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I love books about women in the workplace. This book is fun while also covering some deep and difficult topics. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed their dynamics with one another. While I do feel I was a bit old to be the target audience for this one, it’s a book I wish I had been able to read in my 20s. Overall I enjoyed this one.

Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino is a must-read for young adult readers who crave a relatable and empowering tale of female friendship, identity, and rebellion, perfect for those who enjoy inspiring stories of women taking control of their lives and careers in the face of adversity.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Smile and Look Pretty</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>Smile and Look Pretty</i> by Amanda Pellegrino is a contemporary fiction novel that follows the lives of four young women—Cate, Lauren, Max, and Olivia—who work as assistants in the cutthroat world of media and entertainment. Frustrated by the demeaning treatment and lack of recognition, they create an anonymous blog, "The Assistants," to voice their grievances and expose the harsh realities of their work environments. As the blog gains popularity and their stories resonate with a wider audience, the women must navigate the consequences of their newfound empowerment and the risks that come with speaking out.

<h4>The Details</h4>

Pellegrino offers sharp observations about the challenges faced by women in male-dominated industries. The anonymous blog serves as a powerful platform for discussing important issues and sparking change.

While the main characters are likable, they sometimes lack depth and complexity. Their individual arcs could benefit from more development and nuance, making them feel more three-dimensional.

Also, certain plot developments and resolutions are foreseeable, which can lessen the overall impact of the story. Experienced readers of contemporary fiction might anticipate key events and twists.

<h4>The Details</h4>

Overall, <i>Smile and Look Pretty</i> by Amanda Pellegrino is a timely and relevant novel that explores the struggles of young women in the workplace. The themes of workplace inequality and the strength of female friendships are well-handled and resonate strongly. However, the novel falls short in terms of character depth and plot predictability. Despite these shortcomings, it remains an engaging read with insightful social commentary. Fans of contemporary fiction and readers interested in stories of empowerment and solidarity will find value in Pellegrino's portrayal of the challenges and triumphs of modern working women.

Stopped at 10%. I dislike toxic environments with characters who seem to do nothing to get out of them and are happy to sit around and complain. This isn’t a book for me. I imagine a lot of our readers might enjoy and relate, though. Probably 3-4 stars for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Amanda Pellegrino did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

It's every assistant's dream. Start an anonymous blog, get the trash taken out, and get a leg up in the working world because of it... if only it was that simple, right? Four assistants, four complex friends, one goal in mind. Or is it? A fun ride full of twists and 'tinis the whole way through.

This is a terrific, wickedly funny look at the dark side of entertainment, the lives and and travails of the Hollywood "assistant." Cate, Lauren, Olivia and Max all have "jobs to die for"--at least it seems that way to the outside world. But actually working in Hollywood is something different. Being denigrated by their bosses, seriously underpaid and overworked goes with the job. Their only relief is sharing their stories, first with each other and then in popular online blog. The blog is anonymous and but soon goes viral! I don't to spoil the plot, but it is explosive. Highly recommend

I don't think this was the book for me, I wanted to love it, I just couldn't connect! Nothing really specific that disliked, maybe just the pacing is what got me.

Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino

I predict this book is going to be turned into a movie. Very timely subject matter indeed.

When four best friends who all work as assistants to men who take advantage of them, they start a blog that exposes the working conditions they endure. It was great to read a book about friendships and how they empowered each other.

Well written, tight and fast paced, the subject matter alone makes this a great read. I look forward to the next book by Ms. Pellegrino

Rating 4
Linda C

I´m sorry for being super late to the party with this one. But I finally read this and enjoyed it a lot. 4 strong voices and a fun NYC/Gossip Girl vibe.

Smile and Look Pretty is all about women's power and taking back the voice in a male dominated work environment. While I enjoyed reading this one, I often had to flip back through to make sure I had the character's names straight. I wanted more of a "mic drop" moment and thought the pacing was a little slow in the middle of the novel.

I had a little trouble getting into this one. The premise is lined up with exactly what I'd want in a book, but it just fell a little short for me in terms of captivating my attention. I will give it another shot, though; I loved Amanda's other novel!

This ... was.. not the book I expected. Based solely upon the cover, I assumed this was a YA thriller? And it was absolutely not. This is why book cover design matters, idk. I could get into a whole thing, but I'm not going to.

The actual book I read was one I really liked, just a little out of my comfort zone. As a youth services librarian I only read a handful of books written for adults each year, but this one seemed good? I liked the characters, the setting seemed believable, and I would love to see this as a tv series. It reminded me a lot of The Bold Type -- a show that I really loved.

This book is a good look at the #metoo movement. The novel is like an inside look at twenty something women working in media and corporate America. They experience a lot of sexism and harassment in their jobs. They regularly get together to share their experiences, but then decide to anonymously share their experiences on a website. And then the website blows up. And soon their bosses are unknowingly talking about the stories that expose their debauchery.

Thanks so much to Net Galley and Park Row for a e-book copy of this book.

I am way late on this review, which is terrible because this was one of the funniest books I read last year. I wish the blog in the book were real!

Really enjoyed this novel and its cast of strong women. The novel is told from the perspective of four main characters - all of whose voices were strong and well done.