Trigger warnings: abandonment, grooming, adult/minor relationship, emotional abuse, drug/alcohol use, suicide attempt, AIDS epidemic
SPOILERS INCLUDED

A phenomenally written coming-of-age story set "in the biz" of the entertainment industry. This was marketed to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, which is spot on--though this is a step more adult, more graphic, and more literary. And a debut novel at that! Excellent tactile descriptions and realistic writing that placed me directly in Birdie's world.

Birdie has spent the years since avoiding what really happened to her. So much so that the exploration into her early years are surface level--forget seedy details and minutiae. Much is assumed and hinted at. Her traumatic experiences are not explicitly stated and I think the book is better for it. We've all heard this sort of story before and can fill in the gaps, haven't we? And what does that say about not only the entertainment industry, but also the world at large? Azrian says to Birdie in his final show, paraphrasing that "Birdie wouldn't feel so paralyzed if she can recognize truly the worst thing that happened to her." In the final chapters, Birdie finally comes to terms with her exploitation, abuse, abandonment and overall stolen youth. She finds a way towards showing up authentically in her platonic relationships and not as a "mirror," reflecting back what others want to see. She finally sees herself as Elizabeth and not a collection of body parts and the desires, needs, and creative vision of others.

Structurally, I enjoyed the dual timelines. As a reader, it was interesting to juxtapose the Elizabeth we meet in the first chapter with the Birdie we come to intimately know throughout the book. It certainly expanded my understanding that the road to self-acceptance and acknowledging trauma is not linear or speedy, and certainly never leads to a full restoration of the self.

I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA. All opinions are my own.

This title releases on August 5, 2025.

This was a heavy read. We’re following a model through the ‘70s as she’s suffering from AIDs and being taken advantage of. My heart hurt for her at times. Very reminiscent in a way to 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but this one had more heart to it for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. The Cover Girl was a great read. The transitions in time flowed well and the writing felt as though I was reading an actual true story. I found the book hard to put down because I wanted to know how Birdie story ended. Definitely recommend this book.

Thank you for the ARC!

I think that this book is great if you love reading about celebrity relationships. There was a lot of interesting scenes and moments regarding the modeling/rockstar worlds that are fun to read about since they’re so far from my life.

I think the tone of the narrator was detached from the content of the book, and even though it seemed to be like that for a specific purpose, it kept me from really connecting to the story.

This book may not have been for me, but it was well written and I think if you’re more interested in this fictional memoir style then you will probably really enjoy it!

even though it took me a while to get into this book, about 50% into it, it picked up and it started to get really good.

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. My issue was mainly with the writing style. It was choppy and jumped all over the place. The writing felt almost stream of consciousness, but in a bad way.

This book just didn't work out for me. I ended up DNFíng it but if I rate it as DNF it will count against my percentage. So, instead I will rate it here and say it just wasn't for me.

Welcome to the 1970's and the glamourous world of modeling! Or is it glamourous? When Birdie Rhodes is shopping with her mother in an upscale department store, they are approached by Harriet Goldman, a legendary modeling scout. Soon thirteen-year-old Birdie has a contract and is one of Harriet's "girls". As she goes to various modeling shoots and becomes educated on the ins and outs of the modeling world, her star begins to rise .When she is fifteen, a handsome rock start who is thirty-one-years old notices Birdie and her real education begins.

Years later, Birdie is now known as Elizabeth and still doing some modeling but mostly living a quiet life. When a letter arrives inviting her to a celebration of Harriet's life, she is unsure what to do. She has been estranged from Harriet for years. But in order to move forward she must come to terms with her past where she was not quite famous and almost destroyed.

This cautionary, coming of age story grabbed me from the beginning. As Birdie's star begins to rise, the author brings in other supermodels from that time period like Cheryl Tiegs to add authenticity to the story. There is sex, drugs, rock n' roll and an inside look at the world of modeling. I enjoyed this book. The Cover Girl will be published on August 5, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the advanced reading copy.

⭐️⭐️.💫/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.