⭐️⭐️.💫/5. The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced reader copy. This is the debut novel by Ms. Rossi, and sadly, it wasn’t for me. In the 1970s, Birdie is discovered as she’s walking into Saks by legendary model scout, Harriet Goldman. Birdie was only 13, and she’s quickly thrust into the fast paced world of modeling. As one of Harriet’s girls, Birdie must maintain a high level of decorum. That all changes when at 15 she meets a 31 year old rock star. Quickly, the rock star takes over her life. Birdie’s uncaring parents even sign over parental rights. She makes sacrifices to her career to tour with the rock star. This novel takes us on a journey through Birdie’s coming of age, however I found it all incredibly sad. No one really cared for her. Finally, in the last two chapters, I was roped in a bit, but overall, it wasn’t for me. Too drawn out and depressing. #books #bookstagram #whatiread #bookgram #netgalley #advancedreaderscopy #bookworm #reading #goodreads #libbyapp

"He tells me I didn't even look real to him that first time he saw me, the face of a girl on the body of a woman. Like a dream, he tells me. Like something he would always have to come back to."

Birdie Rhodes was only thirteen when legendary modeling agent Harriet Goldman discovered her in a department store and transformed her into one of Harriet’s Girls. What followed felt like the start of something incredible, a chance for shy Birdie to express herself in front of the camera. But two years later, she meets a thirty-one-year-old rock star, and her teenage heart falls hard as he leads her into a new life, despite Harriet's warnings. Decades later, Birdie lives a quiet life. Maybe it’s not the glamor she once envisioned, but it’s peaceful. Comfortable. Then a letter arrives, inviting Birdie to celebrate Harriet’s fifty-year career. Except Birdie hasn’t spoken to her in nearly thirty years—with good reason.

Birdie's strong voice throughout this novel was a delight to read and kept me entranced as she took us through her teenage years in 70s Connecticut and NYC, Boston in the early 2000s during the AIDs epidemic, and LA in the 2010s. I loved the back and forth between her teenage self (1970s) and her older self (2018). I thought it added dimension to her examining her career and relationships and allowed us to see all facets of her personality and life at once.

Birdie's story is one that we have seen all too often in many industries in which young, vulnerable women are preyed upon by older men who yield their power to get what they want. The most heartbreaking part of this book was seeing the trauma that Birdie kept hidden within herself. She could never truly acknowledge the damage her relationship with an older man had done to her psyche and career and how it had hurt many of her other non-romantic relationships.

Overall, a profound novel that touches on abuse, family dynamics, the underbelly of the modeling industry, and the AIDS epidemic. Would highly recommend if you are a fan of Daisy Jones & The Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Amy Rossi’s The Cover Girl is a poignant exploration of the modeling industry’s dark side, following Birdie Rhodes from her discovery at 13 to adulthood as Elizabeth. Alternating between past and present, the novel powerfully examines fame, exploitation, and trauma, making for a heartbreaking yet necessary read.

This book was not at all was I was expecting when I started it. This book definitely deals with some heavier topics, but the everything that happened definitely makes sense for both the time and for Birdie as a character. Her growth by the end of the book was good, but it felt mostly shoved into the end rather than spread evenly throughout.

I did think the middle got a little repetitive, but the last 20% was really enjoyable. I liked that the book did emphasize the AIDS epidemic and its impact on the fashion world, as well as how that impacted Birdie’s later career.

Thank you to MIRA and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

The glamorous life of a teenage model, isn't the same seen in the lense of an adult. Birdie Rhodes is discovered at 14 and from there her life changes in ways she's never imagine. A gripping story of modeling in the heyday of 70s/80s rock and roll, and seeing those events in 2018.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy of The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi. I was drawn to this book by the description. I grew up during this time and followed all the Super Models. I enjoyed the book however I feel there were some flaws. There were two things that stood out to me. I felt the book ended abruptly. The ending should have included a final discussion with Harriett. Next, the story didn’t have smooth transition sometimes between stories. The specific time period sections interrupted the storyline in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. A young detached but beautiful girl is “discovered” by a modeling agency in the 1970s. She already doesn’t fit in anywhere She is detached from life with cold and uncaring parents She hopes through modeling she has found her purpose. Instead she becomes a “baby groupie” and is whisked away by “the rock star” at the tender age of 15. The rest of book mostly deals with the fallout from her life spent too young. The detachment remains. And although I felt sympathy for her , I never could relate to her superficial glide through her sad life It all ended up feeling very sad and empty and frustrating

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi dives deep into the dark side of the modeling world through Birdie Rhodes' life. Discovered at just 13 by a famous agent, Birdie is thrown into the glamour and exploitation of fashion. As she travels from LA to Paris, she struggles with past trauma, including neglect and a toxic relationship with an older rock star. The book shifts between past and present, showing how Birdie’s scars shape her life as an adult, now named Elizabeth. It’s a powerful, emotional story about the harsh realities many women face in the industry.

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi is a compelling and poignant exploration of the modeling industry, fame, and the emotional complexities of womanhood through the life of Birdie Rhodes. Discovered at just 13 by legendary agent Harriet Goldman, Birdie is thrust into the glamorous yet often predatory world of fashion. As she navigates the high-stakes industry, her journey takes her from LA to Paris, while she struggles with the trauma of a past marked by parental neglect and a toxic relationship with an older rock star. The novel alternates between past and present, revealing the deep scars that continue to shape Birdie’s life as an adult, now known as Elizabeth.

The story powerfully exposes the darker, exploitative side of the fashion world, especially during a time before the #MeToo movement, and captures the predatory relationships many young girls faced. Birdie’s emotional journey is heart-wrenching—caught between her desperate search for love and her inability to recognize the abusive dynamics she’s entangled in. The rock star’s anonymity throughout the novel serves as a chilling reminder that his behavior could belong to anyone, highlighting how widespread and terrifying such experiences are for many women.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc.

“The Cover Girl” is the story about the modeling industry in the 70’s and 80’s told in flashbacks by a woman who was “discovered” at age 13. Birdie was let down by every adult in her life. We are witness to her finally coming to terms with the damage that was done to her. It’s in many ways a tragic story, one that would never happen today. Highly recommend. It took me a little bit to get into so it gets 4.5 stars.

4/5 couch binge worthy, finished it in a few sittings. Got a little slow toward the end (could have been ~50 ps shorter imo) but def kept me coming back to it quick.

Great for fans of:
- unreliable narrators
- flash forwards and backwards
- had a very Almost Famous (the movie) vibes to it

The Cover Girl takes us on the journey of Birdie Rhodes through the 70s to 2018 and her roller coaster career as a model.

The descriptions of modeling life from decades past was interesting and intriguing. However, as we come to find out, the story has more to do with a relationship of Birdie’s — one with The Rock Star. I felt sad for Birdie but also her ignorance drove me a little crazy. She was alone and lonely and I felt for her lost potential. She made choices for years based on what happened to her as a teenager. Some of those choices led to positive activism, other choices led to her closing off her mind and her heart.

I think having the story alternately told by Harriet’s POV could have been intriguing. I also think the 2018 pieces could have been told as an epilogue instead of being woven throughout. The back and forth made it feel choppy to me.

Also, what was the point of never naming The Rock Star?

This was not a top read for me and it wouldn’t be the first book I’d recommend to a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi is a sharp, poignant look at the world of modeling, music, fame, and Sunset Boulevard mainly in the 70s-80s through the life of Birdie, a model who was discovered at 13 walking into Saks Fifth Avenue by Harriett, an agent who has a very complicated relationship with Birdie. Cover Girl is told in dual timeline, focusing on the past and present Birdie (who now goes by Elizabeth).

Cover Girl was a wonderful and complicated story. It touched on a lot of important topics, from girls in predatory relationships to parental neglect to the AIDs crisis. Unfortunately I think this book tried to cover almost too much, A lot of topics felt glazed over, especially how they related to Birdie and her recovery personally. However, I did really enjoy this book. There was something cathartic about the ending especially, seeing how Birdie's relationship to Harriett was redefined and changed. I certainly agree with other reviews that this book is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Amy Rossi tells a tragic story of a young model, Birdie Rhodes, who was abused by the system, neglected by her parents, groomed my a much older Rock Star and affected deeply by the AIDS epidemic.

Rossi hits on so many topics that are relevant to the fashion and rock star lifestyle, however it is all happening to one character and I felt like it glazed over these topics instead of picking one or two and doing a deep dive. Birdie is a complex character, but reads as more of a bystander in her life. I felt like she had no fight in her, which may have been exactly what Ms. Rossi wanted from her. Because of that I had a hard time really connecting with Birdie. I wanted so many more confrontations from her as an adult, then just the retrospective she fades into.

I did enjoy reading this novel, but I was looking for a different ending to the character.

Birdie is discovered at the tender age of 13 and thrust into the grown up world of modeling in the 1970s. Her agent, Harriet, is the only one who offers some semblance of security. Her parents were only too eager to let her go off w a much older rock star. That strained credulity for me.

The novel offers a sometimes shocking look at the modeling industry in the 70’s and 80s. Fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will certainly enjoy. Recommend for all public libraries

If you're a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid, this is the book for you. Personally, The Cover Girl felt a little too shallow. I think it properly painted LA in the late 70's/early 80's Sunset Strip Rock & Roll life. I did find it disappointing that it took Birdie 40 years to realize that she was in a predatory relationship with "The Rocker" and how it derailed her career. You'd hope that she came to that realization earlier on in life, but it is what it is.

Well written historical fiction told by Birdie, the very tall, very beautiful girl/woman who doesn’t have her shit together. Writing is delightful, Birdie is a great character, and I highly recommend this novel.

📸 Summary:
At just 13 years old, Birdie Rhodes is discovered by legendary modeling agent Harriet Goldman and swept into the glamorous, high-stakes world of fashion. But while she dreams of making it big, she never quite reaches the top. At 15, she falls into a relationship with a much older rock star—something Harriet warns her against. As her career takes her from LA to Paris and beyond, Birdie buries her past, reinventing herself along the way. Decades later, an invitation to honor Harriet’s legacy forces her to confront everything she’s tried to forget—the fame, the trauma, and the choices that shaped her life.

🌟 My Thoughts:
Overall, The Cover Girl was a pretty good read with an important message. It sheds light on how women were treated in the modeling industry before the #MeToo movement, showing the darker realities behind the glamour. Birdie’s story was compelling, and I appreciated how the book explored the exploitation young girls faced.

That said, the pacing felt uneven. A huge portion of Birdie’s life seemed to be skipped over, leaving gaps in how she truly felt about everything she had experienced. Then, when she finally figures things out, it all wraps up too quickly. I wanted a deeper look into her emotions and journey rather than a rushed conclusion. While it had its flaws, I still found the story impactful and worth reading.

"The Cover Girl" by Amy Rossi highlights the child modeling industry and the impact that it leaves on those involved. Birdie is discovered as a model at a very young age and ends up mainly surrounding herself with people who aren't the best influence nor are looking out for her best interests. It was honestly sad to read what she went through and how it shaped her decision making skills later on, especially when her bad decisions were so apparent to those who truly cared about her. There were so many times in the book when I just wanted to yell at Birdie to open her eyes!

The story ties together nicely at the end and I enjoyed the slight-dual timeline. Thank you for the advanced reader copy!

I felt for Birdie so much when reading, being young and feeling unloved does cause you to make bad decisions. Her parents truly failed her and Harriet tried her best. Birdie was stuck in the false sense of a fulfilling love that was never pure. I don’t think she would have actually listened in any of the adults of her life overtly stuck up for her. I could feel how she disassociated from modeling, her life and that she just never knew who she was. This shows how much trauma can truly alter your brain chemistry and perception. Birdie was never going to realize the abusive situation she was in until she was ready to confront. My favorite thing about the book was how the rock star was never given a name - he could’ve been anyone. Because this has happened to many woman and that is terrifying.

How this book is written definitely reminds me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I loved. The premise of this book really hooked me in because I love learning about how the fashion and modeling industry was so different before the 2000s. I love how universal and timeless womanhood is, but in a tragically beautiful way.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!