I absolutely loathe when men tell women to “smile more” and this book was the most female empowering book I’ve read in a while. For women, we’ve all heard this saying from men at one point or another and this book helped me see that we don’t have to sit back and take the offense.

This book was one hilarity after another. I absolutely loved the characters in this book and I cannot recommend it enough!

I came for the cover and stayed for the quirkiness. I won't lie: this book is over the top at times. There are very eccentric characters and crazy (bordering on unbelievable) shenanigans. However, what really shines throughout are the friendships and the lengths to which these women will go to avenge and protect each other. Plus, there are foster kitties and a sweet romance to top it all off.

I enjoyed the writing and the humor. My only real issue with the book was the pacing. For a book under 300 pages, it sure felt like it was well over 400. Also, you really need to suspend disbelief for some of the things that happen.

Overall, I had a great time reading/listening to this. I think several people will find this to be a breath of fresh air. I look forward to what the author writes next.

I also thought the narrator did a great job.

Perfect for fans of:
The Movie: 9 to 5
Slow-burn Romances
Clean Romances
Main Character Has Pets
Over-the-Top Side Characters
Found Families
Female Friendships
Feminist Leanings
Revenge on Crap Bosses

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media (audio version), and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be super funny. Thought it was a romance when I started but romance is more of a subplot, which I did not mind. I liked the friendship and revenge plot a lot.

Remember the movie Mean Girls?

Well, the Plastics have grown up to be Barbies, according to Vanessa.

And, to make matters worse, the corporate world is harsher than high school. (Who knew?)

Honestly, Vanessa and her friends are a bit more like petulant teens than wronged adults.

Vanessa: "They were mean to me and Jane and they fired us and it sucked, I wrote back. I felt a rush of relief that I didn't have to lie to her like Jane did with her parents. My mom always took my side. Even if she still treated me like I was twelve." (18)

The concept of this story is a simple revenge plan gone awry. With a bit of Sun Tsu as plot inspiration. And while it's actually a fun little romcom, the main character just seemed juvenile to me. Which made the actual romance cringy.

Oh dear, that does sound harsh. The main character does rescue kittens, so that gives her some bonus points.

Was this supposed to be a farce, perhaps? A satire on the pressures of being a new adult in the harsh realities of the business world? A comedy of errors maybe?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange of a review.

I tried so so hard to not DNF this book and see it through since it haf such good reviews but I can’t do it. I hated the main character and just couldn’t connect with the story even if it had such an interesting plot line.

After Vanessa is fired because of her unpleasant face, she finds herself needing to file for unemployment. Her friends help her come up with a revenge plot, and in the process they start to learn many secrets about their former company that could get it in huge trouble. Additionally, Vanessa begins to find there is chemistry between her and the unemployment representative assigned to her case.

This was a quick read with a fun premise and some very entertaining moments. I thought it was hilarious that Vanessa was fired for her face, and enjoyed all of the jokes that came from that. The mystery aspect kept me intrigued and I needed to know what sketchy things were happening at her former company, and like Vanessa wanted to get to the bottom of all the issues. The mystery was more entertaining to me than the actual romance as was the revenge plot, which truly made me laugh out loud at times.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for the advance copies!

"When Vanessa Blair is fired because of her "resting bitch face," her friends help her launch a revenge plan that'll bring down the whole company."
Thoughts
What a fun read! It was really quirky, the plot was pretty unique, and I really enjoyed the side characters! I really gravitated towards this book as someone who has been told they have an RBF many times
This book was really lighthearted and it made me giggle and roll my eyes at the ridiculousness (in a good way).
I saw it labeled as a few different things, including romance. I wouldn't label it as romance, even though there is a small relationship forming as a background story. I think I would consider it women's fiction (which is also how NetGalley described it).
1 was #gifted this book in both audiobook and ebook format, and I did prefer the audiobook (just for convenience, nothing wrong with ebook). Thank you @netgalley, @sourcebookscasa @dreamscape_media, and the author @byanastasiaryan for this opportunity.

Vanessa Blair does not love her job. As a telemarketer, she has to cold call strangers and make her quota of sales or her name will go on the whiteboard of shame. But she can live with the phone calls and the rejection, the long hours and the meetings where they encourage her to “put the we in tweam.” It’s bad, al of that, but what is worse is the fact that the owner of the company, Xavier Adams, walked around all the time in bare feet, which Vanessa found nauseating. And then there were all the activities—the Office Olympics, the Christmas party where she had to dress as the tree, the Prom.

But one day, Vanessa gets called into Xavier’s office, where she is told that face is a problem. She is getting fired because of her face. Despite all of her hard work, all of her consistent good work, she is being fired because her facial expressions show her derision toward management, and it’s affecting other employees. As she’s sitting in the parking lot, trying to get her head around what just happened, her best friend Jane is escorted out with a box of her stuff too.

That evening, they’re joined by their friend Tricia, who hasn’t lost her job yet but was put on permanent probation. They drink too much, play with the five calico kittens that Vanessa is fostering, and talk about what they would do to Xavier and his company Directis if they could. Tricia brings up Sun Tzu. She wants to bring the wisdom of The Art of War to their revenge fantasies.

Only Tricia doesn’t leave them at fantasies. She starts by bugging the company conference room, giving Jane and Vanessa transmitters so they can listen in whenever they want. That’s how they find out that he seems to be living at the office with his wife’s cat, who he has kidnapped. But it’s his conversations with his managers that prove more enlightening, making Vanessa wonder what is really going on at the company.

Meanwhile, she needs to find a job so she can keep the kittens in kibble and herself in espressos. But before she does that, she files for unemployment, as she promised her mother she would. Directis tried to stop her, asking her to sign an agreement saying she wouldn’t sue or file for unemployment in exchange for three days’ pay. She didn’t sign it. But her application does raise some questions at the unemployment office, so she ends up going to the office to answer more questions.

As the days and weeks go by, Vanessa applies for dozens of jobs and does some volunteer work for the animal shelter. She talks more with the unemployment office, particularly a man named Carter who also loves calico kittens, as Directis fights against her claim. Jane finds a job as a bartender that will allow her to go to school during the day. And Tricia keeps fighting from the inside. She’s able to snag some documents from the dumpster, which need to be isolated for several days before they’re suitable for human consumption, and creating a diversion with a glitter bomb that empties the office.

As Vanessa’s mother hears more about what happened to her, she enlists her bridge friends to go after Xavier also. They do internet research and reconnaissance, creating a conspiracy board on the wall of Vanessa’s apartment. Vanessa thinks it’s a little crazy, but she appreciates their support (especially since they bring her favorite muffins each visit), and the kittens like to climb on the yarn they used to connect the photos they took.

With people working on the inside and Vanessa and her friends (and her mother) working from the outside, it seems only natural that whatever Xavier is doing will come to light. But in the meantime, Vanessa has to figure out what she wants for her life. Does she want to keep thinking about her time at Directis and making war, or does she want to create a new life for herself?

You Should Smile More is the work revenge novel that we all secretly wish we were living, brought to us from Anastasia Ryan. This laugh-out-loud story blends the wisdom of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War with the modern workplace. It’s about finding friendship and support in the soul-sucking workforce of low-paying, high-effort jobs and using that experience as a motivation to find the work that you’re passionate about.

As soon as I saw the title for this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been told to smile more or that my attitude could use some work, so I was ready to go all in with this novel. Then I started reading it. And I loved it even more than I expected to. Ryan has a lot of fun with the work revenge storyline, but having Vanessa’s mother and her friends show up as fellow fighters on her behalf was such a pleasant surprise. I loved all these characters (aside from the leadership at Directis, of course), and my only regret is that I don’t get to hang out with them anymore.

Anyone who has ever held a low-paying, humiliating, soul-crushing corporate job that asked far more than you should have had to give to it will cherish this story and want to share it with all their coworkers.

Egalleys for You Should Smile More were provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley, with many thanks.

In my twenties I also worked a soul sucking job, and while I wasn't fired, I think anyone who has also been in that kind of job will relate to this one! Though, hopefully, no one else has been fired because their boss didn't like their face like main character Vanessa in this one. This was funny and charming, and there are so many cats.

This was such a funny book with the most ridiculous firing and workplace situation. If this hadn't actually happened to me before and sound like one of my husbands prior sales work jobs I wouldn't have believed it lol. I had a manager take me outside and tell me to Fing smile and that he hoped his pregnant wife wasn't having a girl cause he didn't understand women. I was stunned and had never been spoken to like that and didn't know what to do. My Dad took care of it for me. I was still in high school who smiles with some creepy guy staring at them anyways? So this book also has a creepy guy that doesn't seem to like or understand women nor wear shoes.

I loved the little kitties she was fostering, they added such a playful feel to the bizarre character that was Excalibur Lincoln and it made me laugh a lot. The romance between her and the unemployment rep was kismet. I would like to be friends with her mother so I can learn some additional ways to mother and embarrass my children. And create a murder wall - I need to map out those clues to SJM books, except I have no walls left.

I totally feel for Vanessa, I have gotten comments on my face from my family, friends and strangers for as long as I can remember. It is always interpreted wrong and my little 5 yo has the RBF fierce when she concentrates, she has no patience either and will probably cut you. I think it's the eyebrow raise or something. But also if I like you you know lol. Everyone seems to love me so if you have a problem with me, that's your problem. I am too old for all that nonsense, this is my Friday rant and I am ready for the weekend.

Thank you sourcebookscasa for the #gifted copy for honest and voluntary review.

This book will put a smile on the face of anyone who has ever worked in an office, especially if you’ve had an awful boss and a super-demanding job. You Should Smile More is a hilarious office revenge story. Vanessa is fired because of her “resting b*tch face” even though she’s really good at her telemarketing job. It turns out that there may be something fishy going on at the company and Vanessa, along with her fellow fired coworkers (and her mother’s bridge group!) are trying to figure out what that might be. There’s a whole subplot about kittens that will absolutely put a smile on your face (even if you’re a dog person) and even a bit of romance. Several of the chapters start out with relevant quotes from The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which I found clever and delightful.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook narrator, Hillary Huber, does a great job with all the voices and accents.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The main character of this book is unjustly fired from her telemarketing job by her boss due to her face. She wasn't the only one fired from her job; one friend was also terminated whereas the other one saved her job after writing an apology letter. The main character was going to let it go and move on with her life but when her ex-employer derailed her future job prospect, she decided to participate in the revenge shenanigans with her friends.

This is an enjoyable Anastasia Ryan book. I liked the female friendships in the book. I also liked the romance in the book. I appreciated the highlight of feline fostering, and giving job termination a lighthearted look with the humor that is in the book. There were some secondary characters that I enjoyed reading about, and there were some characters that I didn't enjoy being in the story. Overall, an enjoyable story and I look forward to reading more Anastasia Ryan books in the future.


**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

The premise of this story was fun and unique! The characters were great and I loved how they all came together to take down Xavier and his nasty feet! The Bridge Brigade ladies were my favorite and I loved their undercover shenanigans. I appreciated that the story shed a light on sexism/discrimination in the workplace and knowing your worth. There was some great growth in the main character and I was happy to see her find her voice. At times, I felt the story did drag a little bit, but there were definitely funny parts that made the storyline enjoyable and I was satisfied with the ending. 3.5 stars!

The title of this book is what made me want to read it, but the premise is really what got me! I was so invested in the quirkiness of the story and the characters from jump. The hilarious quest for revenge, team of officemate besties out to get the man, and Nessa's mom's friends (the bridge brigade), the story kept moving along without any dull moments really! Throw in a litter of calico foster kittens and a hunky, tattooed unemployment officer and you've got yourself a wide range of characters and personalities. This was a super quick read for me, though the events were incredibly unrealistic, it was easy to get lost in the story. Definitely looking forward to reading more by this author in the future!

Have you ever been told you should smile more at work?
I have, more than once, and most recently within the last month. So I needed this book in my life.

Vanessa is fired for "her face" and its expressions. Jane is also immediately fired, but Trisha is allowed to stay at their telemarketing employer if she writes a memo apologizing for being friends with the wrong people. The three brainstorm a revenge plot.

I laughed out loud so many times. The plot is utterly outlandish and hilarious, and the perfect response to the nightmare job. Chapters begin with quotes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, as they take their revenge quite seriously. This book feels like the perfect escape from a bad day at work.

I loved seeing female friends coming together to support each other, both Vanessa with her co-workers Jane and Trisha and also her mom and her bridge club. Plus there's a fun romance and lots of kittens!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan was hilarious. First, the book cover is so cute. I am obsessed with it. If you are a fan of the show The Office, you’ll LOVE this book. The main character is fired for the dumbest reason ever and you follow her along as she tries to get back at her previous employer. REVENGE. This is such an easy read and I think anyone who needs a good laugh will love this.

As much as I didn’t like The Office because I get secondhand anxiety from Michael Scott, you’ll feel the exact same about Xavier. Check out this book today!

The first thing about this book that caught my attention was actually the title. It’s very provocative and unfortunately it seems to be a statement that is often given to women. The idea that somebody would be fired because they had “resting bitch face. “is horrible. I really love the fact.. I really like the fact that after Vanessa was fired, her friends and family all banded together in order to get revenge. It was interesting that Vanessa wasn’t on board until her ex boss sabotaged both her unemployment and a new job opportunity. One of the best parts of this book is the interactions of all the secondary characters with Vanessa. It’s really nice to see the family support she had, as well as how her friends rallied behind her. The relationship with Carter was handled well, and was sweet for the most part. All in all, I really like the fact that as the book went on, Vanessa became more secure in herself, and all in all, this was an interesting and well written book.

This was such a fun ride. I really enjoyed the antics of Vanessa, Trisha, and Jane, among many others such as the Bridge Brigade. The novel moved at a fast pace and I was easily able to finish this book in a couple days. The first few lines immediately suck the reader in as main character, Vanessa, is in the middle of being fired from her telemarketing job at Directis.... due to her face. Her boss, Xavier Adams, is an undiagnosed narcissist who fires anyone he doesn't like or is on to him in any way. When Vanessa's close work friend, Jane, is also fired, the two of them team up along with another work friend, Trisha, who is working on the inside to figure out if there is something even deeper going on at Directis and if they have the capacity to stop it. There is romance, cute kittens, outlandish and hilarious scenarios, and a subplot of taking down the patriarchy. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted and humorous read. Thank you to Netgalley, Anastasia Ryan, and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After being fired for a disagreeable face and attitude, all Vanessa Blair wants to do is quickly find a new job so she can continue caring for her foster kittens. When she goes to file for unemployment, she frustratingly has to explain the embarrassing reason for her firing. The unemployment representative, Carter Beckett, decides to take a further look at Vanessa’s suspicious previous employer. Vanessa bands together with several other of her former coworkers to find out what is really going on in that office.

You Should Smile More is a workplace, contemporary fiction. There is some romance but it is not the primary focus of the book. It does have some sweet moments and there is plenty of humorous banter.

The main storyline follows Vanessa who is trying to find her way after being fired from a job. Although she never cared for the job, she had still made several friends in the office. Now she has to try to not only find new employment but learn how to navigate her friendships outside of the office. The author does an excellent job showing Vanessa’s personal growth along with the development of her friendships and a new romantic relationship. She even seems to develop a closer bond with her mother through the whole situation.

Author Anastasia Ryan’s sense of humor can be seen throughout the storyline. You Should Smile More is her first novel and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca!

Vanessa works as a telemarketer, though she hates it. Her boss, Xavier, is strange. He doesn't wear shoes and uses words that aren't real. He also comes up with dreadful, mandatory, and unpaid events that happen during lunch breaks and after hours. Xavier makes a point to belittle and embarrass employees, so that is why when Vanessa is called in to speak with him and the two HR representatives, she is shocked to find out they are firing her. Xavier says that the reason is her face! Apparently the expressions she makes are unacceptable for the workplace. Also being fired is her best work friend, Jane, who was told that she laughed inappropriately. Another co-worker, Trisha was allowed to stay on permanent probation by sending an office-wide email stating that she should keep better company.

After the terrible day, Vanessa, Jane and Trisha decided to drink the day away and share a bottle of peppermint schnapps. Complaining about Xavier and the ridiculousness of the firm, the three come up with the idea to get revenge by bugging the office and trying to catch Xavier in a lie. Hilarity ensues when Trisha, the only one still on the inside, makes it her mission to lead the employee revolt. There were a lot of questionable things happening and it all seemed a little fishy, so they were determined to figure things out.

This gave me total Office Space vibes with a little zing. I loved it!

4 out of 5 stars.