This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Anya Blau, I have Mary Jane, but I haven’t read it yet. This was a slice of life, character-driven book, with a slow-burn plot. Maybe the plot was a little too slow-burn for my taste. Character-driven books aren’t my cup of tea, so I did struggle to engage with this book. The chapters were long and not much happened in each chapter, so I found my mind wandering and losing interest. When I did zero in, I could tell the writing was well done. The atmosphere and fashion industry were the real stars of this book.

I recommend this book if you like character-driven books with an awesome atmosphere. This book has its audience and I don’t think it was for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mariner Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

This story is set in 1985 in all its glory. I was the same age as the main character that year and I loved all the references to style, music and the bar scene. I also worked in retail and could relate to all the insecurity and pressure Zippy felt working as a salesperson at an exclusive department store. I found myself routing for her and I loved how she found new family and friends as she figures out how to believe in herself.
Light, cute story that improved as it went on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Zippy is a shopgirl, 19 years old and recently moved into her first apartment with a roommate, working at glamourous I. Magnin in mid 1980s San Francisco. Zippy is struggling to find her own identity after moving away from home and collects bits of advice and bon mots from the other ladies who work at I. Magnin with her. From her perspective we learn about the various women she works with as well as getting a slice of her life as a sales associate, working on commission to sell wealthy women dresses.
I very much enjoyed the author's previous book, Mary Jane, and as a result was eager to grab this one from NetGalley. For me this book had a lot of potential, similar to the potential that Zippy exhibits. It was fun and enjoyable to witness as Zippy grows up and comes to understand herself and find her own happiness. That said, it was lacking in the overall execution, especially the use of the setting of mid 1980s San Francisco, when the gay scene and AIDS were a huge factor of the time period. There are brief moments in the book where these things are mentioned, but it felt glossed over, and at only 272 pages, I do feel there was room to expand upon the concepts and do a better service to the time period and setting. This is why I've decided to rate it at 3.5 stars rounded up. It just didn't quite live up to the potential that it had for me.
Thank you to Mariner Book and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

I really enjoyed Mary Jane and was extremely excited to read Shopgirls, especially since it takes place in the 1980s which is my favorite decade and I spent a huge chunk of it shopping in malls and department stories.

Unfortunately this book was a huge disappointment for me. The chapters are long with very little taking place. I did not bond with Zippy or any of the other characters. Too much praying going on. I kept checking to see how much I had read and at Chapter 5 I decided to read other reviews to see if I was in the minority. There was a 2 star review by someone who grew up in San Francisco which showed me that my feelings were valid and sadly this book would probably not get much better.

This book was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2025 and I’m absolutely delighted to report that I LOVED it, I loved it so so much.

This book was the story of a girl called Zippy who worked in a fancy department store called I. Magnin. It was mainly about her job, her relationship with fellow workmates and of course the customers (or rats as Miss Yolanda would call them)

Along with being at I. Magnin we got to see snippets of her home life with her flatmate and her relationship with her mother.

I thought this book was very unique and I really adored Zippy a lot, she was a special lady with the kindest of hearts. I loved seeing her confidence grow throughout the storyline and that last paragraph just made my heart so happy.

I really enjoyed all of the characters and loved how they were each very different to each other, yet they made up such a bunch of ladies that somehow worked.

I love that the author wrote this book having worked in the very same department store, I love getting those little snippets into their lives.

This book was unputdownable and I loved it. I laughed, I smiled and I was just so happy from start to finish. It’s the kind of book that just sucks you in until it’s over.

I absolutely loved Mary Jane by this author, I recommend it to everyone and have read it myself multiple times. When you love a book that much, it’s always a worry that the other will not live up to it but this did, in so many ways. Though I should not compare as they are both definitely different books, however both have wonderful strong women.

Great read, add to your TBR for sure.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy. ShopGirls, by Jessica Anya Blau is a coming of age story that takes place in 1980's California.
Zippy, living with her lawyer room-mate, has dropped out of high school and is working in a department store.
We get to know the other sale associates and the hierarchy of department store culture. If you have ever wondered what is might have been like to work at Macys or Barney's in 1985- this is the book for you. It is Zippy's voice that I enjoyed most about Shopgirl.. She is serious and sincere yet funny. Readers will love the 1980's scenery that comes alive here- landlines, neon clothing and diet culture to name a few. I would have liked to have a few more chapters to follow Zippy and see where her life takes her. Overall, I enjoyed this short, heart-felt book.

This novel is a delightful and poignant look at a young woman’s journey into adulthood, set against the glamorous yet cutthroat world of 1980s retail. Zippy is an instantly lovable protagonist—earnest, scrappy, and full of ambition, despite coming from a background that offered little guidance on how to build the life she dreams of. Through her job at I. Magnin, she steps into a world of elegance and opportunity but soon realizes that survival in both work and life requires far more than just polished shoes and charm.

The supporting cast is just as engaging, from seasoned salesgirls and wisecracking cosmetics ladies to her intense, diet-obsessed roommate. The novel balances humor and heart beautifully, capturing the highs and lows of navigating early adulthood with wit and warmth. As Zippy faces unexpected challenges that shake her confidence and test her resilience, her journey becomes a deeply relatable reflection on self-discovery, ambition, and the small but significant moments that shape us.

With its vibrant 1980s setting, sharp social commentary, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for, this book is an absolute joy to read.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I became a fan of Jessica Anya Blau when I read Mary Jane. I was excited to receive an early copy of her new book, Shopgirls, courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher. Shopgirls is a slice of life novel about Zippy Tremblay, a 19 year old working as a sales girl in the dress department of a department store. She has an entertaining cast of coworkers and customers. Her mother and stepfather are colorful, funny characters as well. This is a book where not much happens, but it's an entertaining read, especially if you've ever worked in a clothing store.

Shopgirls is another charming read from Jessica Anya Blau (I enjoyed her novel Mary Jane back in 2021). This time it's set in San Francisco in the 1980s, when 19-year-old Zippy (yes, that’s her real name) has been hired to work in the Petite Dresses department of the celebrated luxury store, I. Magnin. She can't afford to buy any of the clothes sold there, but she is thrilled to spend her week learning about clothing sales and forming bonds with some of her coworkers--particularly Miss Lena, who enjoys sharing her long experience and her spirituality with Zippy. Of course, Zippy has some detractors, mostly from employees who are envious of her ever-growing success, and her personal life continues to be fraught as her stepfather loses his hardware store job after a careless accident. Zippy isn't sure whether she should keep her cherished but low-paying job when a position cutting lumber at the hardware store is much more lucrative.

I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely story, which sometimes veers into almost fairytale territory. Zippy is a character that touched my heart, and Miss Lena and Zippy's roommate, lawyer Raquel, are also delightful. Even Zippy's otherwise unpredictable mother and stepfather have their hearts in the right place where Zippy is concerned. Zippy has an encounter with someone unexpected from her family and there is a dollop of romance with someone she meets. It's a quick read with a satisfying ending. And although the author typically writes standalones, I'm harboring some hope there might be a sequel for this one.

My thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

In this 80s drenched coming of age we follow nineteen year old Zippy, recently moved out of her moms house and trying to make it in San Francisco.

Shopgirls reads like a “slice of life”- half engaging 80s atmosphere, half mundane detail, which at times took me out of the story. I did enjoy noticing how much has (and also has not) changed in the last forty years.

3.5 stars

The character Zippy brought me back to working at a clothing store as a teen. I enjoyed reading about the department store and the characters Zippy interacted with at work. This was a cute coming of age story and was fun for me to read.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC

I briefly worked at Macy's in the 2010s, so it was really interesting to read what that would have been like in the 80s. (Better clothes and customers still suck). At least no one asked me to fetch clothes for them while naked

This is a short book and the description doesn't lie. I do feel like certain instances were slightly too repetitive (like the journaling scenes), but it ended up working for this kind of story that relied on building off of familiar scenery. I think some of the revelations shown at the climax of the story are a little too silly / not believable enough for a full novel, but they were revealed in a way in this novella for it to be funny and to move the story along pretty well.

Zippy's coworkers were fun to read about. Even characters that were initially presented as mildly antagonistic were still humorous and not frustrating to read about. There is a good blend of "show and tell"- the way characters perceive and talk about Zippy matches up with her thoughts and actions, so I didn't feel myself getting annoyed with her. She acts how you would expect a 19 yr old semi-sheltered teen to act

If you like slice of life and coming of age genres, this is a good book to read

What a massive disappointment. Almost as if it was written by a high schooler. Even the cover annoys me.
While I enjoyed Mary Jane, I was SUPER excited to dive into Shopgirls, as it is set in the story of my youth - Union Square San Francisco (I.Magnin to be exact) in the 80s.
I grew up in the city in this time period. I was one of the first people to grace the nine-story Nordstrom mall when it was first built (recently since shuttered RIP). I remember the two story Sanrio store, FAO Schwarz, Woolworths, Blondies Pizza (which makes a brief appearance in the book), taking the L Taraval or N Judah during Christmas to see the tree lit up, you name it, I remember it.

So when I first heard that this book would be based during this memorable time, centered around Zippy (even the name annoys me), who works at I.Magnin as a shopgirl, hawking Donna Karen, Jessica Mcclintock dresses, I couldn't wait to dive in.

Unfortunately, this was a massive misfire. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?!! Instead, we are forced a generic, bland, and an uninspiring San Francisco. There was a 30-minute chapter on a busy day, selling orange dresses to a cult, sharing a commission with another employee, and none of it was fun to read about. This story could have taken place during anytime period.

There are hardly any mentions of San Francisco, Boz Scaggs gets forced into it, Zippy's father reappears (she can't afford to call him long distance, cause yes that was an issue back in the day), Vanna White's dresses are mentioned, and if you're not familiar with this era, you will find some of the mentions unmemorable. Must see Thursday night TV was a real thing: Cheers, The Cosby Show, Night Court. However, it was all just tossed in there just because. There are mentions of AIDS, and if you know anything about AIDS in the City during. this period, it affected everyone. But, it's as if everything was just glossed over, even though a major plot point revolves around it.
There are a lot of Zippy's coworkers in as side characters. Blau calls them all by Misses Miss Lena, Miss Yolanda), as that is what they were referred to back then, at least we think? All of them were forgettable. Not sure how much historical references she actually went by because it's a snooze.

Ended up skimming through to the end and tossed my kindle to the couch (not ground, cause that's rude), as this book was a major disappointment.

Following up on her breakout hit Mary Jane, Jessica Anya Blau knocks it out of the park once more with a lovingly told coming of age story. In Shopgirls, we meet Zippy a smart, ambitious 19-year old, who lands her ideal job at i.Magnin, an iconic San Francisco department store. Zippy was raised by her loving but unconventional single mother. High-end stores with expensive designer fashions were simply not part of their lives. But hard-working Zippy sees an opportunity at i.Magnin and seizes it with pragmatism and warmth as she begins to create her own future.

Shopgirls is a gentle story focusing on life experiences, friendships and hard work as the best tools to help us guide our way. This character-driven novel will have children of the 80’s yearning for their cassette tapes, wayfarers, and Thursday night sit-coms. It was a delightful read for this child of the 80's, who to this day says everything I know about business, I learned as the front-door greeter of my then favorite retail store.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jessica Anya Blau and Mariner Books for an advanced reader copy.

this book was so good! I feel like it can be made into a tv series and would do so well! I love the themes of family, and man-made family, growth, self discovery, and the lessons that tie this whole book together, and throw in some humor and there is the perfect book! It was very entertaining!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

If you want a quick, easy read that is still well written, this is the book for you. While it may lack the nuance and depth of Blau’s previous Mary Jane, this makes up for it with fun, likeable characters and prose that is easy to read without sacrificing quality. There were a few other plot points that felt a little predictable but that didn’t keep me from enjoying this. I will definitely keep an eye out for what Blau writes next.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Magnificent setting and time period! I got lost in the pages of this story. It was interesting and enjoyable to see how the main character came to life and self-realization throughout the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A fun read, though I discovered fairly early that this is not a subject I can either identify with nor have any interest in! So not for me, but if you are interested in fashion and wacky characters, this will probably work for you.

Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau

Mariner Books
Pub Date: 5-6-25

Thank you @netgalley, @marinerbooks, and @jessicaanyablau for this eARC.

“The only thing you should do is dictate your own life. You be the chooser for where you go or what you do or who gets the money you earn.”

"It had never before occurred to me that I was not the chooser in my life but, obviously, that was so."

I loved going back to the 80s with Zippy. At 19, she’s navigating life with her roommate Raquel and a group of women working with her at I. Magnin, a high-end department store in San Francisco.

While most of the story takes place at the store, we also get glimpses of Zippy and Raquel out on the town, as well as Zippy’s first visit to see her birth father—a moment that brings more surprises than she expects.

With references to Jessica McClintock, Wham, and Whitney Houston I was transported back in time - and I learned that you can manifest your dreams by writing them in a Day-Timer!

This book is an absolute disappointment! I lived in San Francisco in the '80s. I had friends who worked at I. Magnin. This book does nothing to capture the vibrancy of the city or the store at that particular period of time. There was a zeitgeist happening in the city and in fashion in the '80s and you would NEVER know it by reading this book (about San Francisco and fashion). Too, if you are going to write an homage to the past make it come alive (and do deep research, which doesn't exist on these pages). This book is as dead as SF's Union Square in the post-pandemic era.