Though I'd spot-read this book for a presentation prior to its release, I had not yet returned to enjoy in full. Vacation days seemed the right moment, and there is quite a bit to appreciate.

Workplace dramas, especially seen through a newbie POV, can be dishy and fun, and the representation of a young, fully-realized, Iranian American starting at a contemporary culture magazine offered strong draw. Social issues of various weights are given attention without any feeling performative, and those threads are the most resonant.

Where it isn't as successful is the line it tries to walk in evoking hellish boss/coworker tropes but also wanting to distance from them. Yes, the debt to The Devil Wears Prada and others in that vein should be acknowledged, but too much attention on parallels without creating textured distinctions of own tips the story into pastiche. In short, the title writes a check the narrative can't quite cash, but it may be that generationally I'm not best positioned to fully appreciate. Though exasperated by many of Noora's choices (and a key conversation at the end that felt entirely unearned), I do cheer that she is allowed to be messy and complex, and it may be that this is the throughline I center when suggesting to others.

Appeals: starting out, boss from hell, found family, cultural and social representation, self-actualization, workplace drama

This captivating narrative had echoes of "The Devil Wears Prada" but within the print industry. Filled with Gen Z references, it exuded a distinctly 2019 vibe. While the characters were endearing yet somewhat unpredictable, the plot, unfortunately, was too predictable for me.

I loved this book! Modern day Devil Wears Prada. I couldn't put it down and felt for Noora while she tried to navigate her life. This was my first read by Iman Hariri-Kia but it sure won't be my last!

Full disclosure - this was a DNF for me. I was so looking forward to this book based on the premise, but it was such a slow build up that I couldn’t maintain interest. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book but it wasn’t for me.

To be completely honest, I DNF’d this book. The author had done a great job of hyping it up on her social media accounts and made it seem far more interesting than it actually is. When I first started this book, I was waiting for it to pick up. This genre isn’t a particular favorite of mine, but there are certainly books in this genre I adore. However, the book never picked up. I couldn’t relate to the characters, the storyline, or the relationships. Not that I particularly need to relate to them, but since the story fell flat for me I needed some sort of connection, but unfortunately I never got one.

I absolutely loved everything about "A Hundred Other Girls" by Iman Hariri-Kia. This book provided a captivating and enriching experience that resonated deeply with me. From the engaging characters to the thought-provoking themes, every aspect of the novel left a lasting impact.

Hariri-Kia's writing style is both eloquent and raw, allowing readers to connect intimately with the characters' emotions and experiences. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery and the exploration of identity are portrayed with authenticity and sensitivity.

At the heart of the narrative is a beautifully portrayed exploration of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. The characters' interactions are rich with nuance, and their personal growth is both moving and relatable.

"A Hundred Other Girls" successfully delves into themes of feminism, cultural identity, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The author's ability to tackle these topics with grace and insight adds depth to the story.

In conclusion, "A Hundred Other Girls" is a remarkable and impactful book that touched my heart on multiple levels. If you're looking for a novel that combines exquisite writing with powerful storytelling and meaningful themes, this book is an absolute must-read. I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

oh i hated the hashtag girlboss vibes and politics of this. it just went down so tough, there's nothing here. try hard and bad.

I love a magazine book, and the lead I really liked but I couldn't get drawn into this book unfortunately

I wasn't able to continue reading this unfortunately because I had read the exact same story in other books in the past and was bored

This was an amazing and completely engaging. I was invested from the very first chapter. The characters were complex. The plot was original.

A Hundred Other Girls offers a new perspective, something we don’t get often in books, a Middle-Eastern MC which takes us through her experiences in New York. The perspective was somewhat refreshing, and something I love to read about.

Other than this, the book fell pretty flat. The constant Gen-Z/TikTok references were just painful to read and took so much away from the story that could’ve been told.

Overall, I’m just disappointed by this book. I really wanted to love her writing and the story but couldn’t connect or move past the negatives.

Honestly, I did not like this book. To the point that I DNF'ed it.

I was unreally excited to read this book. The premise seemed SO interesting, the cover was gorgeous, and I was super ready to read Iranian-American representation.

However, this book kind of just flopped. The references of Gen-Z "culture" was far too on the nose and almost never made sense. The book was 100% women's fiction but honestly far closer to young adult fiction because the romance was unbelievably bland. I hated the love interest but mainly, I hated Nora.

Unfortunately this just wasn't for me! A little too heavy on the gen z language and pretty typical as far as storyline goes. I think the "The Devil Wears Prada" reimaginings are getting a little tired.

I wanted to love this book - the premise sounds great especially the comparison to The Devil Wears Prada! - but ultimately this was a DNF at about 12% for me due to the writing style. The language was very YA and heavy handed (e.g., “My mind runs faster than Buzzfeed pumps out listicles”). I thought maybe it would soften as the book went on, but the heavy use of pop culture made the content very distracting and I found myself unable to engage with the plot. I’m Gen Z but it seems like maybe this was marketed to a slightly older audience than best intended. Disappointed this one didn't pan out!

A modern day Devil Wears Prada meets the Bold Type from an amazing fresh voice. Thank you to Sourcebooks for the gifted ARC my honest review.

Think millennials meets Devil Wears Prada, throw in some (a lot) of pop culture references and you have A Hundred Other Girls.

The book is a quick and enjoyable read however I do feel that it may be portrayed better on screen than through literature. Think a combination of the bold type and gossip girl circa 2021. I feel like it was quite heavily marketed as a romance however I'd say it was more womans fiction. Yes there are romantic elements in the form of one short and unfulfilling sex scene.

It wasn't amazing however as a debut novel I'll definitely give Iman's upcoming novels a read in the future.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

I really liked the concept of this book as I, like the main character, grew up loving magazines and wanting to work for one. I also enjoyed the diversity in this book and the commentary on it. However, this story fell a bit flat for me in the writing department. It felt a little juvenile to me. The subject matter isn’t at all YA, but the writing felt that way to me.

I was given an eARC of the book through Netgalley a few weeks ago and was initially so excited! However, I was let down after reading about 5-7 chapters because of the writing style. It honestly was not for me, and there were times when it felt sort of info-dumpy.

What I did like, however, is the way she writes about the perspective of people from different backgrounds, especially Middle Eastern people living in post-9/11 America.

Overall, this book would work much better as a movie. I have no doubt that Imani is a really sweet person who has a knack for writing, but this book was simply not for me.

Thank you very much for this ARC copy! While I was really looking forward to AHOG and admire the premise of the book— which was described as a re-telling of The Devil Wears Prada, with an updated focus on digital media and a more diverse cast of characters— I felt the slang references, pop culture moments, and simile use were distracting to the plot. The plot itself was also hard to engage with, and often felt a bit performative. The characters and their dialogue just didn’t feel true to life, but rather, a bit cliched.

The book sang when it focused on New York City as a character— I would've enjoyed seeing more of that throughout the book.

A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Kariri-Kia. Pub Date: July 26, 2022. Rating: 2 stars. I was so excited to read this book when I read the blurb and it stated "For Fans of The Devil Wears Prada." Sadly, this book is not anything near that story and honestly, I was annoyed with the plot, descriptions and the trying too hard to be modern for connection. The main character is selfish and cringe worthy with no real substance and I found her very difficult, if almost impossible to relate to. The amount of pop culture references were a little much. Sadly, this book was not for me. Thanks to #netgalley and #sourcebookslandmark for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.