Know that this isn't a rom com but rather a smart, funny look at a woman in the tech world and how she takes control to own the room. Indiana - known as Ana to her pals- is an ace coder who, when she speaks up in a meeting, finds herself transferred to a virtual working group headed by a man who has been Peter Principled into management. He can't see her-all the meetings are on Zoom and she turns the camera off- and so he answers an email referring to her as "mr," and she doesn't correct him. Her friends help perpetuate and expand the situation until he and all of her colleagues believe that she's a superman type. And she is, when it comes to coding. How Ana takes control back after being sent to get coffee is a lesson that many will appreciate. There is a little light romance but Ana is more about, to be honest, her fish, her father, and her friends. I liked this a lot for the pointed and the gentle humor both. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It was much more than I was expecting and it's a terrific read.

Although the book cover for Anastasia Ryan’s Not Bad for a Girl suggests a romantic comedy, this story is really Women’s Fiction with a little bit of romance.

27-year-old Indiana "Ana" Aaron is a 4’11” spitfire redhead who is a very talented coder at an IT firm in Denver. However she is discriminated against because she’s female and outspoken. When she is passed over for a promotion that she deserves, she rants at the announcement meeting and is transferred to a team of misfits who work remotely for the New York headquarters. The manager of her new team, Melvin Hammer, is terrible and has been promoted multiple levels above his capability.

Ana views working from home in her garage apartment as a benefit, so that she can avoid office politics. She deliberately keeps her camera off and hides her gender. When Melvin assumes that Indiana is male and thanks her in a team email for correcting his error, she doesn’t correct him. Soon Melvin is contacting Indiana at all hours of the day and night for help with their project; he has absolutely no understanding of software. When Ana is not able to help him at that moment, she will text him an excuse that involves some manly activity.

Pretty soon Ana’s friends from the Denver office make up outlandish stories about Indiana. When Ana has in-person meetings scheduled, even her new team members make up outrageous excuses about Indiana’s whereabouts. She develops a friendship and subsequent romance with a finance guy, Shane, from the New York headquarters. Shane is supportive of her and encourages her to finally put fish in her empty fishtank. Eventually the situation with Melvin and Ana comes to a head, with predictable results.

Not Bad for a Girl contains many hilarious scenes, with the male Indiana’s exploits becoming more and more unbelievable. The moments of humor are in contrast to Ana’s rants about discrimination and descriptions of fish. The cast are colorful and engaging; I particularly liked when Jason explained to Ana that he, a black male, is also discriminated against. Ana’s father is wonderful, and I enjoyed the sub-plot of his blossoming relationship with Margaret.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and SourceBooks-Casablanca for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 stars!

"Not Bad for a Girl" by Anastasia Ryan is an excellent book, but don't go into it thinking it's all romance because it's not! I had a good time reading this one. I greatly enjoyed the characters, the situations, the resolutions, and the humor. Gosh, this book made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions! Wonderful wit and jokes throughout. I think this has the perfect mix of seriousness and levity. Ryan explains in great detail how every woman on this planet has been treated at one point in their life (I guarantee it). This book will insense any woman who reads it, and if they aren't angry after reading the way the main character Indiana (aka Ana) is treated, well, they are either lying or benefitting from their proximity to the white supremacist patriarchy. It explores what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated field of employment like computer coding. As the plot goes along, Ryan shows how Ana is treated differently and is seen as "lesser than" her male counterparts in her workplace simply because she is a woman. Men don't take her seriously. Men think she's the coffee matron. Men think she's a man because of her first name. Men make assumptions that she is worse than her male counterparts when she is the best coder at her job. Men benefit from the labor of women, even when they are less competent than women. It *should* enrage everyone. I appreciate the supporting characters, from Ana's dad and his burgeoning relationship with a woman at their long-term care facility to her two (often scheming) best friends Heidi and Patrick. This book has it all. Loved the women in STEM representation, loved the disability representation with Ana's father, loved the banter between Indiana and the main male character, Shane, and I loved the geeky and nerdy references! I will say that I wish the love story had been a little stronger, but I still think Indiana and Shane make a cute enough couple. I also particularly enjoyed Jesse Vilinsky's audiobook narration and will seek out other books read by her. I think she brings levity and light to the characters Anastasia Ryan created!

Thank you to NetGalley, Anastasia Ryan, and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

*3.5

This is definitely womens fiction, not romance so the cover doesn't make a lot of sense. The book just deals with misogyny in the coding world. I like Indiana's character and how she stood up for herself.

I received an arc through netgalley.

First of all, I loved the cover. Second of all, I think this is the wrong cover for the book. This gives total romcom vibes, and this is not a romcom. Sure, it has romantic elements along the way, but not enough to make it work as a romance. There was no real insight into their interest in each other, and it was almost like the got together by accident. There was certainly no chemistry coming off the page.

The description workplace comedy of errors is accurate though. I did enjoy reading this book for the most part.
Some of it was unrealistic, unplausable, and perhaps even confusing, some of it was sweet, funny and sadly, when it came to the misogynistic themes, too accurate.

I found the start a bit slow, really enjoyed the middle, even stayed up late to read the end, but I found it finished kind of flat. A bit too rushed, a bit too much of random extra things happening that didn't move the story along, and no thrill or emotion at the end. For someone who was loud and outspoken enought to get moved from their job, the character was strangely quiet for most of the time, with all the other characters being the ones to drive the story forward. Even when she found her voice again at the end, it was a rant that kind of diverted the storyline from the satisfying ending we were ultimately looking for - seeing the douchebag get what he deserved.

The number of times this book kept me on the edge of my seats is uncountable. Just like the previous book in this series, this too deals with a woman's journey in a male dominated industry where she has to pribe herself again and again.

In Indiana's case, not only was she challenged every time, but she was also not given the respect she deserved. I really enjoyed the writing a lot. It was serious with humor undertones that made the plot entertaining & funny at times.
The subtle love interest was swoony, and the ending was satisfying af.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a delightful read!

I expected it to be romance, hence the cover, but it's definitely more of a women's fiction with a romantic subplot. Still really enjoyable.

After speaking up against her boss, a talented coder Indiana Aaron is moved to a team in a different city, which forces her to work remotely. Right off the bat, her now new boss starts addressing her as "Mr. Aaron" and the mistaken identity snowballs from there.

It has many laugh-out-loud moments with strong friendships and strong female characters. It's also very quirky, some of the shenanigans that the characters get into are ridicious. In that sense the book doesn't take itself too seriously.

It's definitely plot driven, rather than character driven.

The main concept of the story is misogyny in STEM, which is a big issue in the real world and I really appreciate that. I really liked the fun-facts about badass women in history, it was a nice addition.

Overall, a pretty good story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a quirky and cute read! Although it would look like it is a rom-com book, there is very little romance that takes place. I would definitely categorize this more as women’s fiction. I enjoyed the overall plot (even with it being far-fetched at times, I like me a little crazy in my books lol). However, I did struggle to connect with Indiana as a character at times. It was hard for me to respect or take her seriously in moments that felt like they needed to be taken seriously when instead humor was injected. I just felt that she came off immature at times. As a character driven reader, it’s hard for me to stay fully invested when I am not connecting or invested in any character and I just didn’t feel that here in this book. The writing was very well done.

If you’re going into this because the cover makes it look like a romcom- this is not. While romance is there, I would say it’s a very, very small subplot. This is good old women’s fiction tackling misogyny in the workplace, which I enjoyed because it was so spot on it had me cackling.

This pleasantly surprised me, especially when the beginning starts out like so many other books with its accurate portrayal of how some women are treated in the workplace. This is my second Anastasia Ryan novel and I loved it as much as the first. It’s funny but also sheds light on a common problem in male-dominated industries. The story is well-paced and kept my interest the whole time, not falling victim to common romance tropes; in fact, the romance is a small part but is equally fun. I loved everything about this!

This was a hilarious romcom by a new to me author that features Indiana "Ana," an talented coder who works for a company that doesn't appreciate her skills at all and when she speaks up in a meeting ends up getting transferred to a whole other division across the country.

Being able to work from home means she can remain anonymous and when her new boss accidentally assumes she's a man, Ana doesn't correct him. This leads to lots of mistaken identity hijinks, laugh out loud tall tales and Ana discovering its much easier to hack it in the tech world when people think you're a man.

Highly recommended if you enjoy stories about bad-ass women in STEM confronting male privilege and misogyny in the workplace or authors like Denise Williams and Ali Hazelwood. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Steam level: kissing only

Women’s Fiction
Female in a Male Dominated Career
Hidden Identity

Indiana Aaron is a female coder. The story begins with her being passed for a promotion to a male colleague. Shes outspoken and gets transferred to a different remote team where her new boss assumes she’s male because of her name. Indiana who goes by Ana lets him think she’s a male so maybe she get a little more respect for the work she does and it kind of snowballs from there.

I think the cover is slightly misleading. It looks like a cute romcom but it’s barely a romance. There is a subplot romance but it’s just sprinkled in a little bit. It is being marketed as Women’s Fiction so I am happy with that.

This book is about gender and other forms of workplace discrimination. It took a very real and serious matter and made it quirky and funny at times. There was a quote from Indiana/Ana in this book that describes her character well “I have an opinion about everything. That makes me bossy, insubordinate, and emotional. It makes my counterpart, the manly Indiana, assertive, a risk-taker, and an innovator." It was really nice reading this book and seeing the recognition of the bias we all have when we meet someone. We have to fight those biases that are instilled in us. It is sad that we have come along way from our history but we still have so much further to go.

I liked the depiction of misogyny in the workplace in this book. I think it was pretty well done. Not only was her boss a misogynist but he was also just plain terrible at his job. The rest of her coworkers were nice and supportive though. The way they stood up for and with her was pretty great.

The rest of the book was a little weird though. There’s a lot of ‘nerd’ lingo that I’m not really all that familiar with so it didn’t really hit for me. I didn’t hate it because it is sweet that everyone lets Ana be herself with no apologies. It was still a little much though like just random long winded conversations about nothing. I didn’t really feel like any of the characters including the FMC had that much depth to them.
Also, the romance was a subplot but overall it was just meh. There was really nothing to them. It was a healthy relationship though I guess so once again I didn’t hate it but it fell a little flat for me.
Overall, this was an ok book for me. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Anastasia Ryan, and Netgalley for the eARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The cover for this book is adorable but gives the wrong impression. It looks like a rom-com but this is very much a funny story about misogyny in the workplace. The publisher is correctly marketing this as women’s fiction so no markdowns for that. Indiana “Ana” Aaron is a petite, talented coder. But her company promotes and rewards good old boys networking. After speaking up when passed over for a deserved promotion she is sidelined to a remote team. The manager is terrible, but appreciates her hard work and aggressiveness. But he also is under the impression she is a man. The myth of Indy grows all the while Ana is diligently taking care of her work and team. There are a lot of funny lines and situations that at times become farcical. Success will be rewarded if she can figure out how to get credit for her own work before her manager can claim recognition for it. She knows she will have to identify herself as Indy. She has the support of her team of work friends. And Shane becomes her confidant and eventual love interest. (Again, romance is not the focus.)

I enjoyed the breezy writing, and dialogue. The friends and Ana’s dad added a lot of sweetness and silliness to the story. Once I adjusted my mindset to what I was reading I was invested. If you’re here for romance you’ll be disappointed. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.

I initially thought this was going to be more of a romance books, based on the brief description and he cover art. But it really isn't. By the end, I honestly didn't care if she ended up in a relationship or not.
While I do appreciate and did enjoy this perspective on women in tech and how even in 2023/2024, women don't earn equal pay or respect, I overall felt that the story and plot just didn't quite land for me. Ana came across as incredibly immature throughout the story. I feel like the author was trying to make her quirky and unique and outspoken, but I found her annoying at times. I also felt like how far they rode out the misconception of Indiana being a man super unprofessional and very unbelievable. In today's world it would have been super easy to figure out she was a woman without even trying (HR files/records alone?!). Even though the author tried to explain it away as Ana not having a strong online presence, I just found it not realistic, especially for someone in Ana's generation. Not to mention the fact that anyone was even believing the ridiculous stories about Indiana in the first place. I mean delivering a baby during an office fire? Her friends were very odd to me.
All in all, it was an easy and entertaining read, just missed the mark in a few areas for me.

I laughed, I got mad and I was happy while reading this book. I really enjoyed it and it was a very good book and I loved the writing style as well.
I just reviewed Not Bad for a Girl by Anastasia Ryan. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Thanks for allowing me to read and review this book ahead of its release. My review will post to my blog on 1/26/24. I will also post the review to Goodreads and retail sites and highlight the book on my Instagram feed.

Review:
I read Anastasia Ryan's "You Should Smile More" last January and absolutely adored it. When I heard she had a new book coming out this year, I immediately requested a review copy on NetGalley. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this book just as much as her first. "Not Bad for a Girl" is a humorous and highly entertaining workplace comedy that will have you laughing out loud from start to finish.

The book focuses on Indiana "Ana" Aaron, a "little but loud" female software developer who knows all too well what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominant field. When she is passed over for a promotion that she more than deserved, she speaks out and is immediately reassigned to another team. Ana feels that she is walking on thin ice, so in her new role, she decides to keep her head down and her camera off. When she receives an email from her new boss that contains incorrect information, she feels compelled to set him straight. He writes back, thanking "Mr. Aaron." It's not long before Ana finds herself working alongside her boss to land a huge account. The only problem is that her boss thinks Ana is a dude, and it's only a matter of time before he finds out the truth. Ana knows she should come clean, but the long overdue recognition and the ability to work on a project that could launch her career is too enticing. As the legend of who Indiana really is begins to grow into ridiculous territory, Ana knows there is no way she can keep up the ruse, but if she finally comes clean, will she lose everything she's worked so hard to obtain?

Ryan has a talent for creating characters that you can't help but root for, and Indiana "Ana" Aaron is no exception. With her quick wit and relatable awkwardness, Ana is a refreshing and endearing protagonist. Ana's journey of self-discovery and redemption is at the core of this book, and Ryan handles it with great finesse. As Ana embraces her new persona as "Indiana," she uncovers a newfound confidence that is both empowering and hilarious. Watching her navigate through various workplace situations with her own unique style is a joy to read, and you can't help but cheer for her every step of the way.

The supporting characters are equally memorable. From Ana's quirky and supportive friends at work to the charming Shane, each character adds depth and humor to the story. The chemistry between Ana and Shane is electric, and their blossoming romance is an enjoyable subplot that perfectly complements the main storyline.

Ryan's witty dialogue is another highlight of the book. The banter between Ana and her colleagues is sharp and clever. It's the kind of dialogue that feels so real that you can easily picture yourself in the midst of these hilarious conversations. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've had some of these conversations myself.

"Not Bad for a Girl" is not just a funny workplace comedy; it also tackles important themes such as gender inequality and the struggles women face in male-dominated industries. Ryan does a fantastic job of addressing these issues in a lighthearted yet thought-provoking manner. As Ana challenges workplace preconceptions and fights against stereotypes, you can't help but feel inspired and empowered.

Overall, the pacing of the book is spot on, and Ryan's writing style is fresh and engaging, making it a breeze to devour this book in one sitting. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a lighthearted and entertaining escape.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca. I'm voluntarily leaving a review—all thoughts are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Side helping of Romance, Humor
Spice Level: Kissing (I'd call this a no-spice romance book.)
Language: Med-Hi. There's swearing but it's not on every page.
Representation: Gay couple and racial diversity within secondary characters
Theme: Equality, Misogyny

If someone tells me a book is funny, I better be smiling and laughing. And NOT BAD FOR A GIRL gave me the giggles and laughing aloud. In fact, I found a part so funny, I had to read a paragraph to my hubby—he thought it was humorous too. When a book tackles equality in the workplace, it's a sore subject and the best approach is through laughter. So, yes, there is that theme, but it's also about Indiana coming to know who she is, believing in herself, and making us laugh at her (and her friends') antics.

This is actually a light-hearted read and so fun. I would read it again for the giggles.

There is a side helping of romance, but I would say it's the B plot. Everything revolves around Indiana and her work, not her romance, or even her dad's romance. I thought this was great because even though romance is one of our most important relationships, it's not the only thing that makes life tick.

The geeky gamer references are hilarious. I didn't even watch 90210 and caught the humor there. But never fear, if TV isn't your thing, the author included games, books, WEIRD history facts, sports, and animals to geek out over. IF you're not a self-proclaimed geek like me, the references are broad enough for anyone to be inside the joke.

I highly recommend this book for a fun read and to consider doing some stereotype busting.

Happy (laughing) reading!

This is the first book of Anastasia’s I’ve read and she’s got me hooked. I went into this thinking it would be a cute work romance but it’s so much more than that.

Indiana (Ana) is an IT coder and is relocated to a remote team where the boss calls her “Mr” and she lets it go scared that if she corrects him she might not be taken as serious. This starts a whole slew of other misconceptions regarding her true identity.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. I think a lot of women can relate to Indiana, especially in the workplace. Not to mention every company has a Melvin.

I do wish we got to see more of Shane & Ana’s relationship woven into the story. I was rooting for them from the start and enjoyed seeing their relationship grow.

If you like these tropes, check out Not Bad For a Girl!

↠ mistaken identity
↠ workplace comedy
↠ strong FMC
↠ women in STEM
↠ LOL moments

I understand what the author was trying to do here, and I commend her to trying to make it comedic while also addressing the real issue of misogyny in the workplace. However, every character and scene was so stereotypical, this ended up becoming a caricature of both sides. The men were so overtly sexist, it put Mad Men to shame, and Ana was so crazy manic pixie dream girl she describes herself as “cartoonish” and talks of the struggle of not wearing pink or glitter to an office. When she’s faking being a man she sounds like she’s naming the most stupid things men have said on dates. And the way her and her friends act when keeping her identity secret was like they were 10, not late 20s.

I love the idea and the general plot of this book. I always love women in STEM fields represented and this book certainly represented. My main issue was that it came off very lecture heavy to point out that women can have a rougher path in male-dominated fields. Maybe some people aren’t as aware of that, but this book would make them very aware. Certain monologues are very preach-y and just don’t flow or add to the story. The FMC didn’t have much personality besides being small, liking fish, and being a woman in tech. The romance was completely forced and there were too many nerdy references that were also forced. This book could be good, but it needs some serious edits first. 2.75⭐️, 0.5🌶