I enjoyed how colorful this whole book was, but you’ll need suspension of belief for some elements.

Lois is ambitious and can’t wait to become a journalist. The villain at Lane’s job was cartoonishly evil though I can’t say that’s not unrealistic for real life executives, sometimes; but only the worst of the worst would say or do these things so blatantly. It’s usually more subtle. The producer or whoever Dante was way accurate tho. Hollywood in a nutshell.

Also, I really like this line: “My mother and I never say ‘I love you.’ Because for what’s between us… that never feels like an enough.”
( )

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Content warning for depictions of racism and sexism.)

-- 3.5 stars --

Eighteen years old and fresh out of high school, Lois Lane is about to have the summer of her life; her LIFE PLAN says as much, after all. After turning down a much-coveted internship at THE DAILY PLANET, Lois is instead moving to National City, where she'll be mentored by none other than Cat Grant, founder of CatCo. (The promise of doing actual journalism instead of fetching coffee orders is what sealed the deal.) Next up: journalism school and ALL the Pulitzers.

But things take a dive as soon as she sets foot in her new apartment - which her mom neglected to mention she'd be sharing with none other than Miki Mihara, her ex-best friend who she hasn't spoken to in four years. And on her first day at CatCo, she interrupts a gross scene: Cat Grant, being fired from her own media company, now that it's been acquired by Comet News Group Media Corporation, Inc. Lois quickly nicknames the new guy Triple B: Big Bad Boss. Instead of writing special interest pieces on local clog cobblers, Lois is demoted to an errand girl.

When all of the young writers on staff are unceremoniously fired, Lois gets an unexpected opportunity to impress Triple B. But her research into the "youth scene" in National City reveals a scandal: Miki's own mentor, Dante Alexander, assistant director at the theater company the Cleave, is stealing his protege's ideas and passing them off as his own, in secret, underground shows. This includes Miki's own one-woman show, "I am not your Orientalist Construct," about the racism and misogyny she encounters ... as an Asian woman. (It kind of goes without saying, but Dante is a white man.)

Lois brings her scathing exposé to her boss at CatCo, who rejects it outright (he's friends with Dante and a donor to the Cleave, as it turns out). So, with a little encouragement from Miki, they launch their own clandestine news site, Novice Nooz. But can two eighteen-year-old Asian women take on the patriarchy ... and win?

I really like the iteration of Lois Lane as an Asian woman. Growing up, Lois and Miki both had different ways of coping with being two of the few of the nonwhite faces in Macville, their "podunk" town. Lois tried to blend in and not make a scene - unless she was being recognized for her academic excellence, of course. Her LIFE PLAN very much revolves around being the best - at everything! - to show up at the racists in Macville. Meanwhile, Miki was loud and exuberant and kind of extra. This conflict around the supposed protective powers of the "model minority" cloak is one part of the wedge that drove them apart in eighth grade - so it's fitting that the issue is explored (and resolved, as much as it can be) here.

The friendship between Lois and Miki is messy and complicated - but ultimately beautiful and supportive. The end point is an excellent model for young women to aspire to. Ditto: Miki's relationships with her theater posse, Remy, Calla, Bitz; and Lois's budding friendship with tech intern Jasmin. I love how these young people hold each other up and champion one another. (Feeling very much like reading Lane Moore's YOU WILL FIND YOUR PEOPLE atm.) I also really enjoyed the scenes between Lois and her mom ("Breathe.")

The caper that kicks off Lois's investigative career feels relatively low-stakes (at least by supe standards; I'm sure Miki would disagree, and I can't really argue), but somewhat realistic for a recent HS grad. It's entertaining enough (reader, I gasped at Dante's pop up show), even if the huge twist I half-expected never came. ( )