Lucy Sykes

One of the things I really hate is men telling women to lose weight to meet society's standards.

It's one thing to be discussing weight loss for health.

But weight loss for vanity's sake truly pisses me off. As a result, I picked up this book with a serious side-eye.

The heroine, Janey Sweet, is forced into a weight-loss work hiatus by her best friend Beau, the co-owner of the bridal fashion line they started together. After Janey is photographed eating a fashion show, Beau very unhelpfully show more points out she's aging and gaining weight, and he believes she needs to take several months off of work to get her weight back on track. The novel uses Janey's hurt feelings regarding Beau's fat-shaming to push Janey to get "healthy" and take back her company. This is a very tricky topic for any novel, because how we view ourselves and the impact of the healthy living craze are constantly evolving. Still, in my mind, this book could have been written yesterday. Every woman I know, or maybe just the very honest, has admitted to some pursuit of healthy living, be it a diet or crazy workout phase. The diets and workouts in Fitness Junkie were just on the right side of realistic/ridiculous. The book flies through Janey's evolution, which I won't spoil here, but I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. The authors were able to take on a tricky subject with enough humor and lightness, but not ignore the awful ways we all seek to love ourselves.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! show less

(I've just fangirl-ed quite a bit, as Lucy Sykes has followed my Instagram page :) ) I really, really enjoyed this book. It was fun and fast-paced, though there was no heavy page-turning drama (albeit some drama, of course). It has been a while since I've felt the joy of not wanting to put a book down and when I did have to put it down, the satisfaction of picking it back up and getting right back into it. I don't like to use the term "chick-lit" as it's sexist and exclusive (in a bad way), show more but if I had to choose a book to fit the "chick-lit" bill, this would be it. Mostly female characters in the lavish, idealistic version of New York City, many of whom are slaves to couture and to diets that aren't approved by the FDA. But for me, that's fun, because it's not my reality. It's the other half, and most of us would like to be a fly on the wall to see how they live. It's light and easy and the perfect read for my week dog-sitting, where I had to pet the sweet girl's head whilst simultaneously turning the page. Not as easy as it sounds! Janey was a really nice, sweet character that I felt for. At times needy and insecure, yet comfortable in her own skin at other times, she is someone I could root for and get behind. Again, this is not a challenging read, but a fun one. A clay-eating, Louboutin-wearing world to get lost in and just enjoy. Thank you to the publishers and the authors for the opportunity to read this book in advance! show less

The Knockoff is an us-versus-them tale in which the “us “very much depends on the age of the person reading the novel. Readers’ reactions will also depend on the readers’ ages, for The Knockoff is all about ageism and the differences between generations. It is a fascinating presentation, and the discussions one could have among generations are endless.

Imogen will resonate with most Gen-Xers and Boomers. She is in her early forties, has a young family and must balance the demands of show more said family with a high-profile, upper management position in the fashion industry. More than proficient in industry knowledge and influence, she does not have time to learn the new technology or its lingo. More importantly, in the past she has not had to do so thanks to assistants assigned to do that work for her. However, after a six-month sabbatical for health reasons, she learns just how quickly life, thanks to technology, changes.

Eve is Imogen’s exact opposite. Young and eager and having grown up surrounded by technology, Eve is out to take over the world. She has no family to divert her attention and thanks to her beloved gadgets remains connected to her job 24/7. The previous way of doing business, any business, is as antiquated as the horse and buggy and anyone supporting those old methods should be set to pasture alongside the horse. Her energy is endless, and there is no such thing as bad publicity when it comes to social media.

To say that the two clash is an understatement. Imogen struggles to learn the new rules of doing business to capitalize on the available technology, while Eve just wants Imogen out of the way. The dynamic between the two is fraught with tension and frustration and achingly realistic. Talk to anyone in management above a certain age, and they will all have stories similar to Imogen’s. Then again, talk to anyone Eve’s age and her frustrations are their frustrations. The Knockoff captures the individual sides perfectly.

While The Knockoff does present some serious clashes in generational knowledge and expectations, it manages to do so with a lightness that will allow both sides to enjoy the story. Ms. Sykes and Ms. Piazza keep the story from being anything but an enjoyable experience for readers of all ages. The pacing is fast but engaging. Plus, they have a lot of fun with language and language differences that everyone will appreciate.

There is a lot to love in The Knockoff. Think of it as The Devil Wears Prada for the next generation. However, to expect the same story as Prada would be to seriously underestimate the twists and turns The Knockoff has in store for readers. Anyone who has ever been frustrated at work due to a genuine clash in personality and expectations should read The Knockoff. In fact, it would make a fantastic book club option, as it is quick, light, and humorous, and yet presents multiple situations and characters that are open to interpretation. show less

I am Imogen Tate!!!...In fact, entire generations of women will be screaming this sentiment, as she encompasses countless mature women who live on the cusp of real life experience and the explosion of virtual reality. Lucy & Jo are genius and I absolutely love this book!

Women beginning with Generation x, while enveloping its forerunners, will relate to the confusion and defiance of common sense and kindness when navigating the innumerable social media, and have often verbalized Imogen's show more thought, " Have we all become so desperate to share everything that we've stopped enjoying our lives? " The saga of Imogen's journey to integrate constant groundbreaking technology into her established career, norms and protocol makes for a hilarious and heartfelt ride that is timely and engaging.

As much as I love, and AM, Imogen Tate, her nemesis is just as possessing. Eve's character as an evil, sociopathic bitch, and technological prodigy is fabulous. Although I hated her, she drove the story and rounded out the cutthroat expedition of finding balance between the ages, experiences and technological dilemmas that are central to the story.
Lucy & Jo have created a modern Devil Wears Prada meets The Internship with both chic and
scornful characters and situations, which has fast become my favorite book of the season!
I LOVED IT, I show less