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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
If you liked the Devil Wears Prada you’ll like this as it’s similar! One plot point I just didn’t understand but overall an enjoyable, quick read.
Imogen Tate is the editor of Glossy magazine, a staple in the fashion industry. After being forced to take a sabbatical due to illness, a now "aging" Imogen returns to the workforce, quickly realizing that the magazine world she once cherished has changed drastically, and in more ways that one.
At the helm of the new and improved Glossy is twenty-something Eve Morton. Eve is no stranger to Imogen as when she left, Eve was Imogen's assistant. But a lot has changed in the time Imogen has been gone, one thing being Eve's status, another being Eve's attitude. Gone is the eager to learn assistant. In her place is the tyrannical leader, obsessed with getting ahead at any cost. This involves compromising the health and happiness of her co-workers, and setting the scene with the perfect post, all in the pursuit of success.
Another big change comes in the form of the magazine world itself. Print anything is no longer the commodity it once was. These days it's all about tweets, hashtags and selfies. To prove her point, Eve decides to nix the print version of Glossy altogether and replace it with a completely online format, forcing Imogen to feel the need to ship up, or ship out sooner rather than later.
Some of the concepts pitched in The Knockoff intrigued me and had me wondering if they were actually real. And the stories of the Silicon Valley offices that offer offices that sound like a visit to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory are enviable. The tech kids of nowadays really do seem to have it made.
What I didn't love about the novel was the cartoonish villian they created with Eve. At times I felt her antics were a bit over the top and definitely, someone like Imogen could, and would have intervened. But of course if she had, there wouldn't have been a novel. What kept The Knockoff grounded was the presence of Imogen's character and some of the supporting players.
On the surface, The Knockoff could be perceived as a shallow book. It also could be perceived as a knockoff in its own right, due to the success in recent years of The Devil Wears Prada. Yes, The Knockoff IS similar to Devil, but it's really the story told in reverse. In The Knockoff, you're meant to root for Imogen; the experienced veteran has become the underdog. And while I can't relate to the fashion industry aspect per se, I can see how the age old adage of teetering between two generations is inevitable once you reach a certain age in life. The world is constantly evolving, it's just a different brand of evolution.
At the helm of the new and improved Glossy is twenty-something Eve Morton. Eve is no stranger to Imogen as when she left, Eve was Imogen's assistant. But a lot has changed in the time Imogen has been gone, one thing being Eve's status, another being Eve's attitude. Gone is the eager to learn assistant. In her place is the tyrannical leader, obsessed with getting ahead at any cost. This involves compromising the health and happiness of her co-workers, and setting the scene with the perfect post, all in the pursuit of success.
Another big change comes in the form of the magazine world itself. Print anything is no longer the commodity it once was. These days it's all about tweets, hashtags and selfies. To prove her point, Eve decides to nix the print version of Glossy altogether and replace it with a completely online format, forcing Imogen to feel the need to ship up, or ship out sooner rather than later.
Some of the concepts pitched in The Knockoff intrigued me and had me wondering if they were actually real. And the stories of the Silicon Valley offices that offer offices that sound like a visit to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory are enviable. The tech kids of nowadays really do seem to have it made.
What I didn't love about the novel was the cartoonish villian they created with Eve. At times I felt her antics were a bit over the top and definitely, someone like Imogen could, and would have intervened. But of course if she had, there wouldn't have been a novel. What kept The Knockoff grounded was the presence of Imogen's character and some of the supporting players.
On the surface, The Knockoff could be perceived as a shallow book. It also could be perceived as a knockoff in its own right, due to the success in recent years of The Devil Wears Prada. Yes, The Knockoff IS similar to Devil, but it's really the story told in reverse. In The Knockoff, you're meant to root for Imogen; the experienced veteran has become the underdog. And while I can't relate to the fashion industry aspect per se, I can see how the age old adage of teetering between two generations is inevitable once you reach a certain age in life. The world is constantly evolving, it's just a different brand of evolution.
Reminds me of the entitlement that some people I have worked with show. I did enjoy the book.
If you liked The Devil Wears Prada, you'll enjoy this light, breezy read which is chock full of fashion references. The premise--young millennial shoves tech down everyone's throats--was over-the-top, but purposefully so. Many of the references to the generation gaps and divisions caused by technology hit uncomfortably close to home, so the authors certainly got something right.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars
I thought this was just a guilty pleasure read but it ended up having surprising depth, humour and clarity.
I thought this was just a guilty pleasure read but it ended up having surprising depth, humour and clarity.
Fast paced fun book about a young tech-savvy (and evil) editor at a fashion magazine trying to steal the show from her 42 year old "dinosaur" of a boss.
Readers are meant to sympathize with the dinosaur and that was easy for me since I am even older than her and have actually had more than one conversation recently wondering exactly what is the point of Instagram anyway?
Filled with fun characters and while the plot is completely predictable it was still a worthwhile use of time.
Perfect for light reading.
Readers are meant to sympathize with the dinosaur and that was easy for me since I am even older than her and have actually had more than one conversation recently wondering exactly what is the point of Instagram anyway?
Filled with fun characters and while the plot is completely predictable it was still a worthwhile use of time.
Perfect for light reading.
Even for chick lit this was way too much of a hyperbole. The main characters were both so annoying in different ways. The "older outdated" woman behaved more like a 65 year old than a 45 year old. And the younger girl was so incredibly annoying. A few fun parts, enjoyed reading a bit about the fashion world, but this book fell very short for me.
I think it was very smart that the authors specifically set this book in 2015/2016. Between the celebrity name dropping and various mentions of technology that are frequently changing (RIP vine) this book had the potential to not age well at all. Giving it a specific time setting helps avoid that.