A neurotic hypochondriac, Zoe Rose is her own woman. Ever since witnessing the cruelty of girls toward each other in kindergarten, she has studied behavior between girls and women. As an adult, she seizes an opportunity to spread her message of treating each other right. She believes women will make better strides in the world if they support rather than sabotage each other.

As a new editor at a popular women’s magazine, Zoe shakes up the trendy crew with a new name for the publication, and a fresh perspective on content. Her brother-in-law’s mother bands with longtime staffers to undermine the new efforts.

Zoe doesn’t care what people think about her lack of style, sudden weight gain, or eating habits. In fact, an old friend is solidly on her side. What she does care about is that the wonderful medium of a best-selling magazine can do some good in the world, if it isn’t irretrievably sabotaged. Why can’t some people understand that she just wants to save the world’s women from each other?

While the idea for this story an endearing premise, it falls far short of expectations. Zoe is a difficult character to enjoy. Between obsessing over germs, pregnancy tests, and trying to make women treat each other nice, she comes across as snarky, insensitive, and too full of herself. For being so smart, she is incredibly oblivious to the pregnancy that is obvious to everyone else, and her article/spread ideas are only mildly inspired. Rambling dialogue further slows the plot, threatening to loss the reader’s interest. The multiple group discussions (magazine staff meetings) are difficult to follow at times, as well.

Although the author’s message was well meaning, the read itself was something of a disappointment.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
10/20/2006

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