Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

A Lady's Guide to Selling Out

A Novel

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

With "elements of The Bold Type, Mad Men, and The Devil Wears Prada" (Entertainment Weekly), a young woman navigates a tricky twenty-first-century career—and the trickier question of who she wants to be—in this savagely wise debut novel.

At 28, Casey Pendergast is not where she thought she'd be. Sure, she's killing it at her high-paying advertising job, but when she thinks about the idealistic English major she used to be, she can't help the nagging feeling that perhaps her best friend Susan is right – Casey is a sellout who's traded her dreams for a high-rise condominium, expense account, and designer handbags.

When her boss assigns her to a lucrative new campaign to lure acclaimed authors into becoming content creators for corporations, Casey doubts that her literary idols will buy into this particular brand of capitalism. But determined to give it her best shot, she begins her trek across America, only to find herself stunned by how easily these writers agree to compromise their work and integrity in exchange for some extra cash. As she grapples with her own conscience, and falls in love with one of the authors she's courting, Casey begins to question just how much she's willing to sacrifice to chase material success.

A witty and razor-sharp coming of age story perfect for our time, A Lady's Guide to Selling Out is a winning debut novel about a young woman navigating career, love, and friendships, all while redefining success on her own terms and figuring out who she really wants to be.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 19, 2018
      Franson’s snappy debut nimbly skewers the high-flying world of advertising and romance in the age of social media. Casey Pendergast is creative director for the Minneapolis-based People’s Republic advertising firm, anxious to please her achingly cool boss, Celeste Winter, and eager to climb the corporate ladder. She’s given the chance when she’s put in charge of Winter’s new venture, Nanü, paying writers to use and their influence to promote products. Sounds like a win-win. When Casey meets the first author, Ben Dickenson, she’s immediately attracted to him. But navigating the pretentious literary scene, a new promotion, and a possible romance can be tricky business, especially for someone who believes that “love is a delusion shared by two lonely people.” Casey narrates in a hyper, painfully self-aware voice, hiding her insecurity behind great style and great hair. Bitingly funny, she frequently calls out the absurdity of her job duties, such as creating an ad campaign for a self-absorbed Real Housewives star. Characters like Casey’s best friend, Susan, an idealistic, perennially stunted writer, are intelligently observed and further bolster the story. Comparisons will be made to The Devil Wears Prada, but Franson’s irresistibility flawed heroine holds her own as she strives to find honesty, meaning, and even love in a demanding world, resulting in an addictive, escapist novel.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Loading