Having adored Jessica Anya Blau's previous novel, Mary Jane, I was excited to read her newest release titled Shopgirls. This novel has the greatest name for the main character. Zippy is the perfect name to describe this dynamo. Set in California in the 1980s, Zippy is a 19-year-old who has just discovered her passion for fashion when she takes on a new job at a department store. She seems to intuitively know what each customer is in need of and serves with a smile. This is a quick read that will have you smiling and cheering Zippy on. Read and enjoy!

This novel is set in San Francisco in 1985. Main character Zippy is 19 and never went to college, but has moved out from the apartment she shared with her single mom and mom’s boyfriend to an apartment with roommate and new best friend Raquel, and landed a job in the petite dresses department of fancy department store I Magnin.

This is very much a character-driven novel - part a coming age story for Zippy as she takes advice from Raquel and her co-workers and tries to figure out who she is and who she wants to be; part slice of life as we see her working life and personal life. So it’s a quiet book where not necessarily much happens, but a very sweet story with quirky characters. Jessica Anya Blau’s last book, Mary Jane, was a top ten of the year for me - this one is not at the level but still a very enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved Blau's last book, Mary Jane, so I was super jazzed to read another book by her, especially one set in the 80s!

Alas, this was not what I was hoping for -- the MC (named Zippy, for the love) was fairly charming at first but became increasingly grating as the book went on (paper dolls?) -- and for a short book it felt very repetitive. Not much happened plot-wise, which could be fine in a coming of age story since those are usually more character-driven, but the ho-hum characters and meh plot felt like a real letdown after the amazingness of Mary Jane.

All of my griping aside, I will happily read future books by Blau because I think she has a lot of great stories to tell.

(2.5 rounded up)

This book was such a nostalgic visit to the mid 80’s. I was too young to be in the same place as Zippy (the FMC), but it still resonates. I really enjoyed the tone of the book, it felt lighthearted and easy to read, but actually covered some serious topics. It was fun, although you do wonder how Zippy was so oblivious to the ways of the world. This aspect was a little unbelievable, especially with her mother and best friend around all the time. The paper doll play was a little odd to me, as it was something that occurred repeatedly. I’m not sure that it really added to the story, unless it was just to portray her immaturity. Overall a good read!

Thanks to Jessica Anya Blau and Mariner Books for the advance readers copy!

What an utter, totally unexpected, delight Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau is! It’s paradoxically spare and rich, bittersweet and charming.

The world of I. Magnin is an eye-opening one for Zippy who has learned to get along with less and be contented despite loving fashion. The employees become like a second-family to Zippy, teaching her about life, love, and religion (just a smidge (a hint, really) of the latter), helping her grow. Her roommate, Raquel, soon becomes her best friend and confidante as well as mentor to some degree. It’s Raquel who opens Zippy’s eyes to the quirky ideal of her mother, step-father, and her mother’s odd group of friends. Then, despite her mother telling her that she didn’t know the name of her father or even who he was, Zippy’s father comes into her life. He’s a surprise as well and with their new relationship, Zippy learns even more about the world at large. More about relationships and family and found-family and the heartbreak of accepting life’s own finalities.

Zippy is amazingly but sweetly more sheltered than I was then (which in itself is super-amazing) which lends itself to the lovely fairy tale essence. The shoppers were like typical fairy tale royalty, embodying the good, the bad, and the ugly with their childlike demands and sometimes insufferable arrogance (or were those my own reminiscent experiences in a similar scenario? ha). Zippy’s experiences felt very true-to-life, reinforcing the concept that everyone should work in a customer service position in their lives just to understand exactly what it’s like. Because then you will know. 😉

In a world in which we are overwhelmed by excesses, what a welcome respite the delicious simplicity of Shopgirls is. Blau doesn’t inundate us with nonessential pop culture. She gives us a slice of pie because she knows we really don’t need the entire pie. She doesn’t leave the framework of Zippy’s POV to make sweeping statements. Instead, we are firmly in Zippy’s world, learning and absorbing as she did through her lens that’s tinged with trust and kindness and sparkling bits of awe.

So glad that this little gem of a book fell into my lap. Many thanks to Mariner Books and the author for sending me a copy.

More slice of life fiction than narrative fiction, this book was full of endearing characters and fun scenarios. Well-balanced and well-paced with a cute leading lady who has to learn the way of the world as she grows up. I don’t have much to say about it, because it was just kind of sweet and fun and thoughtful and nothing more. A nice lighthearted read.

This was a book that made me laugh and cry. A book that brought me back to being a young adult just starting out in the world. I loved the setting of San Francisco and I loved Zippy and all that she was going through. A great book to re-live your youth.

This is such a sweet and earnest book, without being too cliche or unrealistic. Set in 1980s San Francisco, this book follows Zippy, a 19-year-old salesgirl at a fancy department store. Zippy grew up with a single mother and is devoted to being self-sufficient and having a career, and we follow along as she learns how to deal with the various personalities on the sales floor and does her best to make ends meet.

This book felt like a warm blanket. I always love when a book has a fundamentally good main character, and Zippy is so pure and such a joy. Not to say she isn't complicated or doesn't have flaws, but throughout the book her heart and morals always anchor her, even when she gets things wrong. The setting of the department store is fascinating - I didn't grow up in the golden age of department stores, but I can easily imagine it, and it felt like Blau perfectly captured the glamour and hustle and bustle. The dynamics between all the salesgirls is fun and sparkly, and I loved seeing Zippy blossom and become more confident. The side characters feel very fleshed out, the dialogue was great, and the pace worked. I loved this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

I've been anticipating this book since I read the author's 2021 book "Mary Jane" (which is one of my top 10 lifetime favorites). I was SO nervous because I wasn't sure the author could deliver a book that would met my expectations. I'm happy to report that this book and Zippy stole my heart! After an hour or so I was HOOKED and by the 50% mark I wanted to protect Zippy at all cost! This will absolutely be a top 10 of 2025 for me! Shout out to Libro FM for the the ALC and Netgalley for the ARC! buuuut this cover isn't it...hoping the paperback will look better!

I worked at Lord & Taylor for a few years so when HarpercCollins sent me this arc via netgalley I was eager to read it. It brought back a lot of great memories. It is a story of women and how some support and some pull you down.

3.5 stars. I read Shopgirls over the course of a single afternoon. I found it so entertaining and hard to put down, despite the fact that the plot is pretty simple. It’s a fun, gentle story of self-discovery about a young woman named Zippy who works in the Petite Dresses section of I. Magnin, a fancy department store, in 1980s San Francisco. The book follows Zippy as she deals with eccentric customers, bonds and battles with her coworkers, and spends evenings with her roommate and best friend, Raquel – exploring their city or curling up on the couch for Thursday night Must See TV.

Zippy reminded me a lot of the titular character in Jessica Anya Blau’s novel Mary Jane, in that she is incredibly naïve, but in an endearing way, not an annoying one. Blau writes such interesting characters – even the minor ones are written with care and warmth – and her dialogue is so authentic. I do think Zippy reads a bit young on the page – this book feels like it would be at home in the world of YA – but I loved her innocence, her determination, and her heart.

My biggest criticism of Shopgirls is that it doesn’t feel firmly placed in 1980s San Francisco. I wanted more ‘80s references that felt organic to the story, for Blau to really take advantage of San Francisco’s history, landmarks, and unique geography. I may be too directly comparing this book to A Gorgeous Excitement, which I read earlier this year, because it’s also a coming-of-age sort of story and it felt so firmly placed in 1980s New York. I just wanted more nostalgia from Shopgirls.

Now that I’ve read a couple of Blau’s books, I think I have a feel for the types of stories she likes to tell: joyful tales with quirky characters and lots of humor and heart. I would actually love a movie based on Shopgirls; just imagine all the beautiful Jessica McClintock patterns! Thank you to Mariner Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year because I ADORED this author's last book so, because of that, I was quite disappointed. This just seemed a bit pointless and disjointed. I found it hard to connect with or understand any of the characters. I was unhappy reading this but I hope you have better luck!

Shopgirls comes out next week on May 6, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.

I had been working as a salesgirl at I. Magnin, "San Francisco's Finest Department Store," for one month when the guy from the shoe department leaned into my ear and whispered, "See me when you can." He was beside me in line at the employee entrance and exit where we clocked in each morning and had our bags checked at the end of each day.

I loved “Mary Jane,” and “Shopgirls” had the same vibes, so that makes me happy. MJ takes place in the 70s, SG takes place in the 80s - I greatly hope that Blau is working on a book that’s set in the 90s, with some grunge and The Cranberries. 🙏

I received an advance copy of “Shopgirls” from the publisher, but as soon as I discovered that the narrator was Caitlin Kinnunen, I eagerly awaited the audiobook release. Her narration truly enhances the storytelling experience.

From the start this book kept me locked in. Love how it mainly takes place within a retail store, fancy one at that. The descriptions of the characters kept the story alive and it made me feel like I was walking around as Zippy myself. Love the fashion in put, the details on it. Amazing book!

3.5.

You can't help but root for our 19-year-old protagonist Zippy as she finds her path in Jessica Anya Blau's latest book, Shopgirls. Finding herself in the petite dress section of the department store I. Magnin in 1980s California, we see Zippy growing up among dress racks and cosmetic counters, running between dressing rooms, and the changing relationship with her mother.

While I really loved Jessica Anya Blau's previous work, Mary Jane, sadly, Shopgirls felt a little flat. For me, there was such a sameness between the other dress saleswomen that it was hard to keep them all straight in my head, especially when there are so many of them. And I really didn't know why we needed all the doll playing. Nevertheless, it is an easy read and tackles many fundamental topics that shaped the 1980s.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Zippy was an entertaining FMC with a lot of history for a nineteen year old. Reading about her job at I. Magnin department store with all of the other ladies that worked in her department was definitely entertaining. It was easy to imagine how department stores were in the mid-80s. I recommend reading this book to see how Zippy deals with her dad coming back into her life and trying to figure out what she wants to do for a career.

Thank you to Mariner Books and Harper Audio for the copies to review.

What a gem of a book! I loved the audio for this one, and I absolutely loved Zippy and her curiosity. This is set in 1980s San Francisco, which I loved. The writing was engaging, the characters relatable, and did I mention I enjoyed Zippy? She had people in her life that were both supportive and not, and she learned how to navigate both, and also how she learned who her father was and what he was going through was endearing, especially how it gave perspective on her mother and their own relationship. Blau also handles many tough subjects in here masterfully, particularly education around AIDS as not much was known back then, but also being a single parent, dieting (eating every other day was a new one to me), and other things that the 80s brought. I’m telling you, I did not expect to love this one as much as I did, and it will be one that I purchase for my shelves. I cannot recommend this one enough, and if you can do audio it was great to listen to.

A well written story. That kept me glued to my kindle.
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

I loved Mary Jane so much when I read it a couple years ago, and I was thrilled to see Blau's newest novel was set in the '80s mall scene. But wow, I was so bored with this one. The first 20% is literally just her going through her experiences helping customers and talking to her fellow sales girls at the department store, then going home and telling her roommate about it. It was all mindless minutiae and seemed to be leading absolutely nowhere. And for a book well under 300 pages, it felt like it was dragging. I'm so bummed, but I just don't think I can finish this one.

This was a quick read that took me down memory lane back to the days of the department stores that the author described so well in Shopgirls. It was definitely a different era. It was fun watching Zippy come into her own in the story.