dsweber 's review for:

The Knockoff by Jo Piazza, Lucy Sykes

3.5

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I think this book was trying to be The Devil Wears Prada for the modern day - when it was published in 2015. Another twist is that our protagonist, Imogen, is a working mother in her 40s. Imogen is the longtime editor-in-chief of Glossy, a fashion magazine. When she returns after treatment for breast cancer, her former assistant, Eve, has been promoted to managing the digital magazine. A mean girl with intentions to phase out the classic magazine with a digital future, Eve makes life a living hell for the entire staff. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This felt like a pretty realistic look at how digital media has overtaken traditional, and while I work in TV news, there are similar battles and struggles that I see every day as we try to reach and monetize a dwindling audience. Because this was written a decade ago, it was hilarious to read about the latest tech being Google Glass and drones filming at a wedding. But for the most part, the story has aged well. 

I liked Imogen, and I was rooting for her to succeed and outwit the younger, tech-savvier villains. But I can’t say I felt particularly connected with her or the story, and this was just a like for me, not a love. Maybe because it’s also hard to think so much about the slow death of magazines and other media I grew up loving. This story is kinda gossipy and light, so if you’re if mood for that instead of deep character development, go for it!