Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau was a delight. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the trip down memory lane to the 1980's. Jessica Anya Blau did a great job capturing the fun and innocence of an 80's young woman. The story of Zippy finding her way and following her heart makes for a wonderful read! Thanks to NetGalley, Mariner, and Jessica Anya Blau for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book sounded appealing, but around 13% of the way into it, main character Zippy's roommate Raquel is calling her "grasshopper", which Zippy says Raquel has done ever since they saw The Karate Kid a few weeks prior. Maybe it's petty, but if a writer can't even get the source material right in their extremely basic pop culture references ("grasshopper" is from the early 70's TV show Kung Fu, not 80's movie The Karate Kid), I can't be bothered to continue to read their work.

SHOPGIRLS by Jessica Anya Blau brought back SO many memories for me. It felt like a 1980s movie! I’m totally aging myself here, but classics like Mannequin, Pretty in Pink, and Can’t Buy Me Love immediately came to mind while reading it. The author’s last novel, MARY JANE was a major hit for me, so I started reading this one shortly after finding it on my doorstep.

I definitely had a soft spot for Zippy, the main character. She’s 19, innocent, naive, and working at a high-end department store in San Francisco. The majority of novel revolves around her experience working at the store, and her interactions with her co-workers and customers. If you ever worked in retail, this book will surely be a hit for you.

In a nutshell, this novel showcases a young woman coming into her own, having fun, dating, clubbing, experimenting, trying to make a living, and enjoying life in an exciting city. It was definitely a fun read.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Fashion and design
- Malls and shopping
- 1980s timeline
- San Francisco setting
- Coming-of-age stories
- Father/daughter relationships
- Female friendship
- Character-driven novels
- Found family storylines

Sadly, I must say that the writing just wasn’t very strong. It felt choppy, dry, and a tad immature. It could have used more editing, to be quite honest. The writing seemed different compared to the author’s previous work. With that said, I’m gonna go with 3.5/5 stars for SHOPGIRLS. I wasn’t super impressed with it, but it certainly kept me entertained, and gave off some nostalgic vibes that I didn’t know I needed. It’s out on May 6th!

I went into this book not knowing exactly what to expect, and I ended up liking it more than I thought. I enjoyed following Zippy as she navigated her new world of "adulting", especially when you don't have everything handed to you (or even figured out). I especially loved reading about Zippy's relationships, especially with Raquel and her mother. They were real, honest, loving and sweet. I was happy to see Zippy get what she deserved and I actually could have read more to see what happens with her new job and her relationship with her biological father and "Just John".

A few months ago I picked up a copy of Mary Jane at Barnes & Noble and quickly read 50 pages. Now after finishing Shopgirls I'm going to go back and finish reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"Shopgirls" by Jessica Anya Blau is a coming-of-age novel set in mid-1980s San Francisco. I loved this author's previous book, "Mary Jane," so I had high expectations for this book; unfortunately, this was just okay for me. The main character, Zippy, works as a salesgirl in a high-end department store in downtown San Francisco and the book is filled with other salespeople and their day-to-day lives at the store. There's not too much plot, it's more "vibes" forward. If you were from San Francisco and had more background knowledge of the area at this time, this may be more of a fun read.

A coming of age story set in San Fran. it was good but even if you speed read the middle, you'll still know what's going on. Some parts are weird but overall it's a good story with a quirky cast of characters

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

3/5

I loved Mary Jane so I had high hopes for this book. It had a similar premise in that she took a young, innocent girl and introduced her to a whole new world. However, it seemed to fall flat here. The story felt very rushed, and I had a hard time feeling connected to the characters or the story. It was still an entertaining read, just nothing substantial.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Like her first novel Mary Jane (which was one of my favorite reads of 2024), Blau has written a coming of age story that takes the reader along for a romp as the main character Zippy figures out who she is and what matters most - her original family versus her found family.. The setting of this novel in 1980s San Francisco, primarily inside the posh I. Magnin department store in Union Square, serves as a wonderful backdrop for Zippy's growth - the store, the employees and their antics (both supportive and back-stabbing in equal measure) are entertaining and fun.

Along with treasured anecdotes about adulting in the 1980s, Zippy's observations about the other salesgirls, the fashion, cosmetics and the customers were the best parts of the story. Only her experimenting with clubbing in the era of HIV/AIDs, where San Francisco was ground zero felt a little too light hearted for me. And I wanted more depth into the storyline involving the unexpected twist in Zippy's newfound relationship with her biological father, who had been absent for all of her childhood.

Zippy's growth takes some twist and turns, as she learns how to take or ignore the advice from her mother, her roommate and her co-workers. In the end, the decisions are her own, and her choices make for a satisfying ending. An entertaining read with many choice cultural references to the 1980s- from skin tight Jordache jeans to Thursday night "Must See TV" with Cheers heading the lineup. Highly recommend!

I wanted to love this book based on the premise alone, however it turned out to be average at best. Not horrible, just okay.

While I loved the author’s previous novel, Mary Jane, Shopgirls failed to deliver.
What I liked: It was a quick read, I enjoyed MC Zippy’s self discovery, some of the quirky ‘shopgirls’, references to the 80’s
What didn’t quite work: Zippy and her co-workers making and playing with paper dolls (what?!), an excess of plot lines made the novel feel scattered and many were not fully explored or resolved
Grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for an early digital copy.

"Shopgirls" by Jessica Anya Blau is a light, easy read that captures the vibrancy of retail life and the complexities of personal relationships. The novel revolves around the lives of its main characters as they navigate their careers in a boutique while dealing with their own dilemmas and dreams. The prose is accessible, making it a quick pick for readers looking for something uncomplicated.

However, while the characters are relatable and the setting is lively, the plot itself tends to meander without a strong central conflict or resolution. This lack of depth may leave readers feeling that the story is ultimately forgettable, as it doesn't delve deeply enough into the characters’ growth or the challenges they face.

In summary, "Shopgirls" is an enjoyable, breezy read perfect for a leisurely afternoon, but those seeking a more intricate plot or profound character development might find it lacking. It’s a book you can enjoy in the moment, but it may not linger long in your memory afterward.

Zippy works in an upscale clothing store in San Francisco in the 1980's. She wants to kiss a man and find a career. This novel is full of memorable characters, surprisingly bold sex talk, and reads as a Young Adult/ coming of age story.

I really liked this offbeat novel. I loved her previous book, Mary Jane, so I was worried this one wouldn't be as good. I also really liked this one (with a few storyline exceptions), but it did have some elements I didn't love as much (the talk about sex was a little tone deaf, they changed the cover from a perfectly nice one to the current TERRIBLE one). Overall, I loved Zippy and her friends and family. This was a fun book, and just what I needed.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

From the author of the “delightful” (New York Times Book Review) Mary Jane, a new novel of found family, growing up, and the best and worst of the 1980s, revolving around San Francisco’s most exclusive department store, I. Magnin.

Nineteen-year-old Zippy can hardly believe she’s the newest and youngest salesgirl at I. Magnin, “San Francisco’s Finest Department Store.” Every week, she rotates her three spruced-up Salvation Army outfits and Vaseline-shined pumps; still, she’s thrilled to walk those pumps through the employee entrance five days a week as she saves to buy something new. For a girl who grew up in a one-bedroom apartment above a liquor store with her mother and her mother’s madcap boyfriend, Howard; a girl who wanted to go to college but had no help in figuring out how; I. Magnin represents a real chance for a better and more elegant life. Or, at the very least, a more interesting one.

Zippy may not be in school, but she’s about to get an education that will stick with her for decades. Her fellow salesgirls (lifetime professionals) run the gamut from mean and indifferent to caring and helpful. The cosmetics ladies on the first floor share both samples and advice (“only date a man with a Rolex”); and her new roommate, Raquel, an ambitious lawyer, tells Zippy she can lose ten pounds easy if she joins Raquel in eating only every other day. Just when Zippy thinks she’s getting a handle on how to be an adult woman in 1985, two surprises threaten both her sense of self and her coveted position at I. Magnin.

Set in the Day-Glo colors of 1980s San Francisco, Shopgirls is an intoxicating novel of self-discovery, outrageous fashion, and family both biological and found.

This is a coming of age book about a girl named Zippy working in a department store in the 80s. Zippy is 19 and this is her first job, her first time living on her own with a roommate. She feels a little naive, having never really even kissed a boy, writing down all the advice the older ladies at work give her, and worrying about lots of life things in general. Her mom and stepdad come off as a little harebrained, maybe hippies still in the 80s? Zippy doesn't know her real dad, not his name or what he looks like, and she wonders about him. When her coworker decides to pray in the dressing rooms for customers, Zippy also prays to meet her father, even though she thinks it's a little silly. But then he calls her at the store! And that's not the only big surprise Zippy gets.

It is so easy to cheer for Zippy and want everything to work out for her. You want her to sell all the dresses and shoes, you want her to find a guy to kiss, you want her to just love herself and not worry about the diet culture of the time. This book is like Valley Of The Dolls lite. No drugs, not spanning years and lifetimes, just a young lady stumbling through becoming a grown up. Zippy and all the characters have such big personalities. I was worried when the ladies at the store were introduced that I couldn't keep them straight, but their personalities shine too bright not to. Her roommate Raquel and her mom are big supporters, even if they push a little hard or act a little rough sometimes.

I really enjoyed this book. The 80s vibe gives it a nice, warm feel and I was sad when it ended and I couldn't hang out with Zippy anymore.

This book was such a joy to read. It was so well written and engaging that I read the first 8 chapters in one sitting. It's not perfect, Zippy is a ridiculous name, and she is verging on unbelievably naive but the 80s setting and the department store locale were enough to keep me going. When they got to the Berber Coffee guy that all the salesgirls love, I laughed out loud, reminded of a series of coffee ads that featured Anthony Head (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame). Those ads were viral before the internet was even a thing.

Zippy had a lower income upbringing, with a loving but eccentric mother and her equally odd husband but she is STILL a bit too unbelievable as a 19yr old. Her endless submission to the louder/stronger personalities around her, her desperate collecting of advice and her exaggerated fears surrounding relationships and AIDS would be more realistic in a younger character. Just because someone hasn't gone to college, doesn't mean that they are completely clueless.

But Zippy loves I Magnin, the department store where she works, and she loves fashion and clothing so much that she will risk ending up covered in sawdust to still wear her stylish best. And that joy and that eye, along with a memory for what her customers buy, lead to a chance at advancement . I could have read another 14 chapters on how Zippy Jane navigates going from selling to buying; her coffee dad; and Just John the college boy. As it was, I finished this book in one day.

I enjoyed Zippy and the characters in this book along with the setting, but overall was left wishing there was a bit more plot as not much happened throughout the book.

“People were more or less the same, I decided. They were just hanging out in different surroundings. Some of them had more money; some were dressed better; some were a little crazy; some were a little mean; some had pure hearts; and some loved me purely. Still, they were all simple humans”

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This is a special one for me because I haven’t stopped thinking about Jessica Anya Blau’s book “Mary Jane” since I read it a couple years ago. It remains one of the books I recommend to people the most. She understands how to make a setting/time period its own character and she writes so poignantly the human experience.

Shopgirls is no different.

Set in San Francisco during the 1980’s, we follow Zippy, a 19 year old girl, trying to find her place in the world & learns to come into her own. As she navigates complex family dynamics, her first career, & relationships, we get a glimpse into her inner thoughts, questions, & how she problem solves along the way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

Oh nostalgia. Thou art mine. A good, sensual trip into my past. When I read that this book centered around ladies working at the up-up scale department store, I knew it was a must-read for me. This novel was set in the 80's, around the time I also worked in a high-end department store, so it took me back to those days.

In the beginning we find 19-year-old Zippy beginning her job at I. Magnin's in San Francisco, as a salesgirl in dresses. She'd never bought anything there; in fact, her wardrobe consisted of three spiffed up Salvation Army outfits and shoes polished with Vaseline. She was the polar reverse of her customers, I. Magnin shoppers. Yet she loved her job.

i would call this book a slice of life, not really a coming of age, but who am I to argue with the publisher.

Zippy's new roommate, Raquel, is a lawyer. She talks Zippy into following her diet - where you only eat every other day.

Humor was beleaguering among the customers and Zippy's coworkers. Anyone who worked retail in the 80's will recognize their fellow salespeople.

I loved this book, gave it five stars and encourage anyone woman to read it.

I loved Mary Jane, and I was excited to read Shopgirls. I couldn’t put this book down! I honestly couldn’t believe how entertaining Zippy’s job in a department store, and enjoyed hearing about her adventures with her roommate Raquel, and her relationship with her mother and her husband. Despite this being a highly entertaining fast read, it could have been perfect if for two things: this could have taken place in NYC, or another major city in the country— I wanted to learn more about San Francisco in the 80’s but we really learned nothing about what its like to grow up and come of age in this city specifically at this time. I feel like the story line with the father majorly lacked depth, and I wanted to know more about him, and see how Zippy’s relationship with him developed. I feel like those were two huge missed opportunities. But still a really fun read, just not as thorough as Mary Jane.

SHOPGIRLS is a heartwarming coming of age story about 19 year-old Zippy, an endearing character you will want to root for to succeed at her new job and in life. Zippy had an unconventional upbringing with her single mom and now has started a job at San Francisco's most prestigious department store. There are plenty of funny, charming moments in the story - the paper dolls, when Zippy meets her dad for the first time - all set against the backdrop of 1980s San Francisco. There is also a parade of secondary characters - the other ladies who work in the store, crazy customers, her mother's friends - all who impart various words of wisdom to young Zippy to help her succeed.

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