This novel was a bit of a struggle for me. The family dynamic disturbed me. When Birdie is discovered and becomes a model, her parents actions to me felt like they were being unburdened from being parents. How they didn’t understand the paperwork the “rock star” wanted them to sign was just another sign that they didn’t care. Why would an adult male want to go on tour with a child? The exploitation of this young woman is truly unconscionable. Her manager knew and did nothing. How she became a functioning adult is beyond me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it, but it certainly wasn’t a favorite of mine.

All I can say is: WOW! I went in expecting an intriguing (fictional) think piece about the inner workings of the entertainment industry, but I got so much more than that!

With neglectful parents that constantly preach "Be seen, but not heard", Birdie's story starts on a sad and miserable note. As she sinks deeper into the modeling world at the age of thirteen, things only get worse. The Cover Girl dives into the themes of imposter syndrome, public scrutiny, identity, ambition, and the dark side of children growing up in the entertainment industry, and Rossi tackles these topics in such a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.

This book is messy in a fascinating way. Through Rossi’s writing, you can feel, firsthand, the pressure to perform for an industry that thrives on its image. And while you may not always agree with Birdie's choices, you can understand why she makes them.

Rossi does an incredible job of capturing the emotional tension that comes with playing a role for too long. Birdie is smart, observant, and painfully self-aware. She knows she’s complicit in a system that rewards image over authenticity, but she’s also trying to survive in a world that often doesn’t reward women who step out of line and who are often dismissed without a second thought. You can feel her inner conflict in every page, and it’s honestly kind of heartbreaking. More than once, I was left feeling a pang of sorrow for the amount of times the adults around her failed to keep her safe in a world full of predators and self-deprecation.

The writing is sharp and witty, full of insight into the fashion industry, the hustle culture, and how women’s identities are often packaged and sold back to them. There’s also this quiet commentary on friendship, grief, and what it means to be truly seen—not just as a brand, but as a person.

This isn’t a flashy, twisty kind of novel. It’s more introspective and character-driven, but in a way that left me feeling deeply satisfied and wanting more all at the same time. I'm hooked on Rossi's storytelling and I can't wait to see what she'll come out with next. Definitely an up-and-coming author to keep an eye on, and a book worth re-reading in the near future.

I requested and read this book so I could moderate an online discussion of it at bookbrowse.com, so I didn't write it up as I would for a paid review.

I didn't really think I'd like this book - I generally don't have a lot of interest in the worlds of modeling or rock and roll - so it's not one I'd have picked up on my own. I enjoyed it tremendously, however; the character development was top notch and Birdie in particular was incredibly believable. I thought her journey to self-acceptance was credible, particularly the fact that it took decades for her to come to terms with events of her youth. Very well done; I look forward to reading more from this author.

This is a fabulous debut. It’s not just an immersive inside look at the modeling world, but an emotional story of the exploitation of many young girls, be it by men or an entire industry.

Being discovered at only thirteen in the ‘70s, she’s the awkward young model with long legs who would become a Rock Star’s plaything at only fifteen. She lived the life of fame, well, almost; there was always the next young, pretty face coming on the scene.

The story is not overtly graphic, but the point comes across with a fierce passion. Birdie may have been blind to some of what was happening to her as a teen, but she also felt she had no voice, no agency.

It is not until she is an adult, reflecting back, that she is shaken awake with the help of others, and she becomes aware of the fact that she had been a mere child, taken advantage of by him, by others, even her own parents. It was heartbreaking yet incredibly gripping, and it covered topics that resonated with me.

I loved the dual timelines of Birdie’s life, but I especially loved all the '70s and '80s references. This almost felt like I was reading Birdie’s memoir; it felt that intimate.

Thank you @htpbooks @harpercollins and @amyrossiwriter for the gifted ebook and blog tour invite.

Thank you @htp_hive and @htpbooks for my gifted arc of The Cover Girl by @amyrossiwriter!i

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi has become one of my favorite reads of 2025. Similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo & The Favorites, this debut novel centers around the interview of a model while she reflects on her past career, friendships, and romantic relationship. Rossi tactfully discusses the problematic relationship of teenage Birdie and a much older rockstar. I didn’t fall too deep down the rabbit hole of research, but the story hints to Aerosmith. Apparently it was common in the 80’s for adult rockstars to date 16 and 17 year olds. 🤢 Another one of the side characters alluded to “baby groupies” like Lori Maddox. I appreciate when a story can teach me something new from history even the dark side.

Rossi also brought awareness to important topics like the AIDS epidemic, the struggles of making and maintaining friendships, and the exploitation of young girls in the modeling industry.

Birdie wasn’t exactly a likable character, but I just couldn’t help feeling sorry for her when everyone in her like abandoned her. This story brought me through all the emotions, and Birdie’s story will stick with me for a long time.

3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up) | The Cover Girl follows a model named Birdie who starts her career in the 70s as a young teenager. That premise in it of itself had me completely hooked. What I was not prepared for was the intense trauma and mental struggles Birdie would go through and how deep inside her head we would get as readers.

What I loved about this book was how it truly felt like we the readers were inside Birdie's mind as the events of her life unfolded, but that is also what I struggled with. The stream of consciousness writing style sometime felt disjointed and hard to follow, although this was likely intentional by Rossi.

I also struggled with some of the concepts portrayed in this book - definitely keep the trigger warnings in mind.

Lovers of books like Daisy Jones in the Six would really enjoy this book due to the time period portrayed, the topics at hand, the dual timelines, and the intense drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book!

All of my being really wanted to enjoy this and I just couldn't. The writing style and the vibes did not do much for me.

This book surprised me. I honestly did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Why? I did not think that a cover girl story would interest me. But, Birdie proved me wrong!

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.

There are a lot of emotions that run through you as you read this. Birdie is only 13 when her career begins. So, she is terribly naïve. Her parents are very hands off. So, it is all up to Harriet to protect her. And the further you read the more you realize Harriet did not do a great job in her role as protector. Enter the “Rock star”! Let me just say…Birdie was 15 when she met him. Y’all!!!

This book takes you behind the scenes of a world I didn’t think I cared much about. But Birdie is a character that keeps you reading. She is broken but yet she is still tough as nails.

Hillary Huber is the narrator and she helped bring this story to life!

Need a tale which will get your emotions all up in a tizzy…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This book surprised me. I wasn’t expecting it to be as engrossing as it is, and it has all the elements I love in storytelling.

The story spans over several decades, following the career of a young model in the 70s until current times. It discusses the abuse, betrayal, drugs, rock n roll lifestyle that is so often associated with those times. It reads as a memoir, and there are definitely elements that had to have been inspired by true events (hello Steven Tyler 😳). If you liked Daisy Jones and the Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you will enjoy this one.

At times I was angry at the MC, more times I was frustrated or sad for her, which I suppose is the point. But overall, I tried to empathize with her and the hands she was dealt over and over and forced to navigate alone.

This was a fantastic debut novel and I want to thank NetGalley and MIRA publishing for an advanced copy. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I whole heartedly connected with our main character Birdie, which made this such an emotional journey. The author did an amazing job of crafting her characters to seem SO real and vibrant, they had so much to them and will live forever rent free in my head.
I loved the story, it felt so real and just like I was reading about a model’s life with all the juicy details, drama, heartache and everything in between!
Every time I picked this book up I was utterly lost to this world where a young model was clawing her way up the ladder and everyone wanted a piece of her.
I would read this over and over and highly recommend it!
Thank you endlessly to The Hive, Amy Rossi and NetGalley for my arc copy, my opinions are my own.

Haunting, hollowed, and heartbreakingly honest

Amy Rossi’s The Cover Girl tells the story of Birdie Rhodes, discovered at thirteen and cast into the glitzy, gilded world of 1970s modeling. But this isn’t a glamour tale. This is a ghost story dressed in sequins. And it’s Birdie’s voice, hushed, fragile, knowing, that carries us through five decades of longing, loss, and the slow ache of reckoning.

At the novel’s core is an unnamed 31-year-old rock star who, under the guise of love, takes custody, literally and emotionally, of 15-year-old Birdie. What unfolds is not simply a romance gone wrong, but a portrait of abuse so tangled and carefully drawn that even Birdie herself cannot name it as such. Her silence is not absence but survival. Her denial, a kind of shield. As a reader, I was struck by how deftly Rossi captures the quiet, internal reshaping of identity that happens when your worth is built entirely on how others see you.

Birdie’s relationship with Harriet, her talent agent, is equally complicated. There is protection, yes. But also profit. Harriet sees something in Birdie, and tells her that her face is her future. So begins the quiet erasure of Birdie’s self-worth, replaced by beauty, obedience, and the skill of never making trouble. She becomes easy. Quiet. Small. So perfect there’s nothing left to apologize for.

What Rossi nails with aching clarity is how easily stories-those about being boring, unlovable, too much, too plain-take root in the mind of a girl, especially one abandoned, sexualized, or commodified. These narratives become gospel. And to question them, to reframe them, would mean undoing years of longing, waiting, shrinking.

Though the story spans decades, the novel’s strength lies in its depiction of Birdie’s adolescence; the swirl of confusion and awe, the desperate hunger to be seen, and the painful misreading of exploitation as affection.

If I had one longing as a reader, it would be for more time with the older Birdie, the one on the cusp of realizing, finally, gently, that what happened to her wasn’t love. That she deserved better. The book touches this realization delicately, through words spoken by trusted voices in her life. And maybe that’s enough. Maybe we aren’t owed full closure, rather just a glimmer that the story might turn, eventually, toward healing.

For fans of My Dark Vanessa or Taylor Jenkins Reid’s more introspective novels, The Cover Girl is a gorgeously told, emotionally complex read that lingers like the afterimage of a flashbulb: bright, momentary, unforgettable.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the ARC

What a heartbreaking yet wonderful read. I thought the descriptions and the details in this story were so well done. The characters were real, well developed and wonderful. The story will have you crying and cringing all at once. Parts of the story moved a little too slowly (nothing was really happening!) but still a wonderful read. Birdie starts modeling at the age of 13, one of Harriet's girls. The story switches back and forth between the present day, when she is invited to an event for all of Harriet's girls, many decades later. To the earlier years of her career - a young child in a relationship with a 30+ year old rock star, to her years after their relationship as she models through different decades. She has not spoken to Harriet in 30 years. Each paragraph is wonderful. The book flows seamlessly and I found myself sucked into the fascinating and traumatic life that Birdie lived. A great debut!
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

At age 13, Birdie Rhodes was discovered by the renowned modeling agent, Harriet Goldman. She is quickly whisked away into a life of glitz and glamor when she models for the cover of an album and meets a rock star double her age. They begin a relationship that changes the course of Birdie’s life forever.

This story sounded so interesting and had a ton of promise, but it fell flat for me. It took me a month to get through because it’s such a slow burn and just never picked up. Weaving between Birdie’s life in the 70s and Birdie’s current life in 2018 did not work well. The 2018 chapters took me out of the story and weren’t all that necessary. They could have been written as the last few chapters of the book or even an epilogue. There is an important message in here, and I get what the author was trying to do, but it never felt fully fleshed out. Thanks to NetGalley, MIRA, and Amy Rossi for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I thought this book was fine. Birdie was an interesting character who had a lot of terrible things happen to her thanks to the awful adults in her life. Overall, this book was a little slow for my taste, but it was well-written and I’m sure a lot of folks will enjoy it.

Once I started this book it I didn’t put it down. I regret letting it sit so long unread. I was hooked and needed to know came next for Birdie. I was so wrapped up in her story. This book was haunting and glamorous at the same time. I wanted to yell at so many adults in Birdie’s life. It felt like Birdie’s story could also be the story of other young women during that time too. I had so many different feelings and emotions while reading this. The author left some characters ambiguous and not giving them names which let my imagination run wild. I get the comparison I am seeing to My Dark Vanessa though I liked this book better. I cried like it was a TJR book.

If you like books with a theme that amounts to near pedophilia, then this might just be the book for you. After all, our main character, model Birdie, is only 15 when she meets and becomes involved with "the rock star," who is more than double her age.

This book incorporates the clichéd (but historically correct) amount of drugs, rocj band tours, suicide attempts, and generally a lot of inner dialogue. Of course, this novel is told in the first person, which is to be expected.

I made it to about 55% before I gave in and gave up. I couldn't bring myself to like or feel sorry for poor Birdie, and I wasn't engaged or curious about what might have happened in the part I skipped.

I may come back to it to see what happens when Birdie grows up, because this book is also split into two time periods, with Birdie grown and in her 50's. From what I can tell, she hadn't changed much.

ARC supplied by the publisher MIRA, the author, and NetGalley.

I am normally not a fan of books written in first person, but for this novel, it works perfectly -- it reads just like a memoir. The story of Birdie, a 13-year-old who is "discovered" in Saks New York by a modeling agency owner is compelling, disturbing and enlightening. Birdie is tall for her age and struggles to fit in at school; her parents are narcissists who basically ignore her, so when she becomes a model under the tutelage of the famous Harriet Goldman, she is scared but also looking for love and acceptance. She becomes one of "Harriet's Girls" and thrives under the demanding woman, who she comes to think of as a substitute parent. But her career takes a drastic turn when she falls in love with "the rock star" (he is never named) and moves to California to be with him after her parents sign over guardianship rights to him. She can't see that he is a serial child predator (in my opinion).

The book goes back and forth in time from 1975 to 2018. The later years focus on an upcoming tribute to Harriet Goldman in NYC, and Birdie's struggle to decide whether or not to attend because of the way their relationship devolved.

I enjoyed the peek at an industry I know nothing about. While I wanted Birdie to come to her senses many times, I understand that she was caught between childhood and adulthood with no real sense of what was right or wrong. I enjoyed her relationship with Bernice, a fellow model Birdie befriends in Paris. I don't want to spoil anything, but there is some personal redemption for Birdie late in the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and MIRA/Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC and the opportunity to read and this novel. All opinions are my own.

Similar to other things I have read. Interesting dual timeline approach. Had a difficult time connecting to the characters.

I usually love a story centered around the subject matter of this one, but unfortunately, this was middle of the road for me. I didn't love it, didn't hate it - it just didn't have anything particular standout about it for me. I think the comp titles are fairly accurate, but maybe that's what went wrong here. It really does feel like if TJR wrote a My Dark Vanessa story, which sounds like it'd be incredible, but really that meant that it didn't feel authentically new or fresh for these tropes. Regardless, I did like the writing style and would consider reading from the author again.

A competent debut that tackles important themes around exploitation in the modeling industry, though it never quite transcends familiar territory. Birdie's journey from discovered teenager to disillusioned middle-aged woman hits expected beats—predatory older men, complicit industry figures, long-buried trauma surfacing through career retrospectives.
The author handles the dual timeline skillfully, and Birdie's voice feels authentic in both eras. The modeling world details ring true, particularly the claustrophobic dynamic between young models and their handlers. When the story focuses on industry mechanics and power imbalances, it's most effective.
However, the #MeToo framework feels somewhat imposed rather than organic. The rock star relationship, while believable, doesn't offer much insight beyond "older men exploit vulnerable teenagers." Birdie's decades of avoidance and eventual reckoning follow predictable patterns.
The writing is solid if unremarkable—readable without being particularly memorable. For readers interested in stories about women reclaiming agency after exploitation, this delivers what it promises. The My Dark Vanessa comparison is apt but highlights how much more psychologically complex that novel was.
A worthy effort that addresses necessary themes, just not with exceptional originality or depth.