I’ve read a lot of books in my twenty four (soon to be twenty five) years on this planet. I’ve read so many that sometimes I wind up reading the same book twice by accident. And then there are the books that have touched me emotionally. The books that have made me laugh, the ones that have made me cry, and the ones that have made a lasting impression and have become old friends. Have you ever read one of those books? Have you ever read a book where you find yourself stopping every few chapters to say, “Holy sh**. This is so me right now?”
Last December, in one of my many trips to the library, I picked up this book on a whim: Copygirl by Anna Mitchael and Michelle Sassa. The pink cover caught my eye and when I opened it, I read the following inside:
So. You want to work in advertising. The glitz, the glamour, the cocktail fueled brainstorming sessions and Xbox breaks. Sounds like a dream job, right? Wrong. The reality can be a nightmare. There are five simple rules for succeeding in the ad world — and I think I’ve already broken every single one…
- Never let them see you cry. Even if your best friend breaks your heart. And posts it all over social media.
- Be one of the boys. And, if you were born with the wrong equipment, flaunt what you’ve got to distract them while you get ahead.
- Come up with the perfect pitch in an instant — or have your resume ready to go at all times.
- Trust no one. Seriously. If you don’t watch your back, they’ll steal your ideas, your pride, even your stapler.
- Most importantly, don’t ever, under any circumstances, be a CopyGirl.
Trust me. I know.
Needless to say, I was hooked right then and there. Without even having read the book, I knew it was going to go on the long list of favorites. Here are seven reasons why I love Copygirl.
1. Kay is every 24 year old after graduation, fighting to make it in the ‘real world’ and getting her ass kicked while kicking ass.
2. There is very little romance in this book. Seriously. Kay is a strong, independent woman kicking ass and taking names while getting shit done. By herself. She’s her own knight in shining armor. She doesn’t need a man to save her. She’s the true hero in this story.
3. So. many. inspirational. quotes! The first time I read this quote I thought to myself “Are these women reading my diary? This is so me right now! “Still, the wooshing and whirring of the washers was oddly comforting, the promise of a clean start made palpable by the rinse cycle. As I sat there watching my jeans and underthings dance in circles of suds, I realized what an apt metaphor that was for my life so far in Manhattan. As the world around me danced, I sat and watched it all through the glass, waiting for the buzzer to signal that my time was up (pp. 125-126).
4. It’s all about girl power and empowerment, one woman at a time.
5. It encourages you to be an original and stand out.
6. It promises you that when you least expect it, inspiration and your true calling will find you.
7. It teaches you that everyone has a fairy godmother who is somehow an older, wiser version of themselves and will appear when you need them most. Possibly in a McDonald’s in Chinatown in the middle of a blizzard, but who cares?
Copygirl is an inspiration to all twenty somethings fresh out of college who are trying to make it in the adult world. Especially women. Kay is the perfect character and someone we should all aspire to be. She is quirky. She is eclectic. Hardworking. Hilarious. The best friend we all wish we had. Near the middle of the book, she finally finds her voice through the creating of Copygirl, her alter ego, and she doesn’t hold back.
If you’ve been looking for something to give you that extra bit of inspiration, I highly recommend you check out Copygirl. Read it. Love it. Buy it. Take notes and hope for the sequel!
