Not Bad for a Girl

by Anastasia Ryan

Overview

From hilariously awkward lunch breaks to cringe-worthy Zoom calls, this workplace comedy of errors is sure to put a smile on your face.

Indiana "Ana" Aaron is a talented coder and IT specialist, but she doesn't always fit in at work. When she speaks up one too many times for her boss's ego, she's transferred to a remote team—and it's clear this is her last chance to blend in.

Ana sees working from home as a chance at redemption; she can keep her head down and her camera off. But when her new boss praises her assertiveness and thanks Mr. Aaron, she sees no reason to correct him.

The longer Ana waits to set things straight, the more complicated things get. Soon the legend of "Indiana" begins to take on a life of its own, and Ana is in over her head. Fortunately, she has friends at work, including Shane, a handsome tech guy who's smart enough to put the puzzle together and to help her triumph over workplace preconceptions and other nonsense.

Praise for You Should Smile More:

"If you're looking for something to make you laugh, smile, and get irrationally angry, You Should Smile More fits the bill… This book is a lot of fun."—Culturess

"Ryan paints an ode to RBF owners and anyone slighted by a male boss—you'll be rooting for her the whole way."—Buzzfeed

"Ryan's debut is a slapstick blend of comedy and heart, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and strong female heroines."—Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728253404
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	01/30/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	117,504
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Anastasia Ryan has degrees in English Literature and Pop Culture. Her debut novel, You Should Smile More, released in January 2023. Not Bad for a Girl is her second thoughtfully funny look at the absurdities of our modern workplace.

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/06/2023

A female programmer goes along with her new boss’s misconception that she’s a man in this whip-smart and hilarious rom-com from Ryan (You Should Smile More). After Indiana “Ana” Aaron voices her opinion about being passed over for a promotion in favor of a less capable male programmer at Denver’s Apollo IT, she’s punished by being transferred to work remotely for the company’s New York team. Her new boss, Melvin Hammer, assumes she’s a man, leading her to receive “the most respect I’d ever gotten for my work,” though Melvin still frequently takes credit for her work. When Melvin announces a surprise visit to Denver, Ana’s in-the-know work friends scramble to cover for her, making up increasingly ludicrous lies as to why she can’t meet in person. Among those Ana has confided in is Shane Dalton, the company’s number cruncher and Melvin’s “babysitter” while he’s in Colorado. Ana’s budding relationship with the dreamy Shane is a sweet counterpoint to the professional chaos and her efforts to receive credit for her work on a new app. The story moves at breakneck pace, interspersing laugh out loud moments with pointed commentary about women’s professional struggles in male-dominated fields. Readers will cheer for Ana to get both the promotion and the guy. Agent: Jennifer Wills, Seymour Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Zippy banter, workplace shenanigans, and a heroine to root for make this book virtually unputdownable." — Lucy Gilmore, author of The Lonely Hearts Book Club

From the Publisher