mnreadingmama 's review for:

Shopgirls: A Novel by Jessica Anya Blau

4.0

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Blau truly writes the most sweet, charming characters. In this story, we meet Zippy, a 19-year-old working in a high end department store in San Francisco in the 1980s as she navigates familial challenges, self-discovery and figuring out her romantic life. I’ll be honest, there isn’t a whole lot going on here plot-wise. Or I guess technically there is quite a bit that happens, but the plot wasn’t the part I found compelling. Rather, I just loved the main character and found her charming and relatable as she discovered herself and truths about the world as a naïve young woman. This book was sweet, but not saccharine, and I really enjoyed the time I spent with this main character, along with the vibrant cast of side characters. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.