
One woman attempts to beat the boys club at their own game in this wickedly funny novel that is both a takedown of the advertising industry and an inspiring story about breaking through the glass ceiling.
Twenty-something copywriter Kay Carlson has landed her dream job at the top ad agency in New York City, but it turns out life at the edgiest shop in town is less “Lean in” and more #MeToo. Talent and hard work don’t count as much as winning the approval of her hotshot creative director, Elliott, whose idea of team-building is bullying his boy tribe to tag along to the strip club. Meanwhile, Kay is stuck at the office penning puns for the cat food account none of the cool kids will touch.
When the agency’s biggest client threatens to fire them, Kay realizes her job will be first on the chopping block if she doesn’t find a way to outshine the old regime. Winning another account will require all her creativity and strength, but can Kay find the confidence to risk it all so she can rewrite the rules from the corner office? Or will she be on the first bus back to Jersey, too washed up to write copy for the phone book?
As a late-in-life copywriter, I was mostly curious to see how this book portrayed the life of a copywriter (since it’s not anything I jumped into and it’s not anything I’ve done in a big city). I loved this book on many levels, though I’m sure at least one of them is only something another copywriter would understand (such as taking time away from my desk to work — I’ve done that for AGES and felt guilty about it; I didn’t realize other creative people do the same thing!).
One of the things I really appreciated was how the authors shifted gears. I started by loving and siding with Kay. At about the time when she was starting to get on my nerves and I was ready to be done with her, things happen and she has to give herself a good, long look. She was desperately close to being a whiny, unsympathetic heroine, but she wasn’t — I really enjoyed the character arc.
My only gripe — I would have loved to see more of the romance on the page. More of Suit and Kay would have been perfection! Get your copy here!
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