A Lady's Guide to Selling Out

February 15, 2018
A high-spirited heroine loses herself in a vortex of modern striving in this debut novel.Casey Pendergast is the definition of "plucky" except for the old-fashioned sound of the word. Casey is a thoroughly millennial 28-year-old, living in a Minneapolis that has its own Real Housewives franchise and working at an upscale ad agency. She's such a fast-rising star at work that she delays pursuing her dream: finding a televised outlet for her wit and enthusiasm (which drive the biting narration along with raw insight into her own insecurities). At the moment, she's in a moral bind, pulled between loyalty to her leftist best friend, an aspiring novelist, and a new opportunity at her job selling authors to corporations for a profit. Money--that marvelous, temporary healer of all wounds--and accolades from her boss are her initial choice, though she's barely able to ignore the angel clutching her shoulder, which only gets louder as she barrels headlong into the work. She's delightfully effective at it, convincing writer after writer to shill for products. One cost of doing business, however, is being sexually assaulted by one of her marks. Casey believes she can weather this rain shower and gain the upper hand, but one lesson of this topical book is that women are not easily--or ever--granted the upper hand, no matter how plucky or right they are. The realism is a downer, presaging and speaking to the recent sea change in views on sexual abuse and assault. But the other lesson regards success as defined by capitalism versus success as defined by the soul. Here, Franson has better news.Come for the hilarious narration, stay for the whirlwind plot, luxuriate in the satirical gleam.

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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.

March 15, 2018
Casey Pendergast is quickly climbing the ladder of PR success. The former English major has put her skills, interests, and cultural insight to good use. She gives clients what they want or think they need and has the technological savvy to stay ahead in a highly competitive field. When Casey receives a big promotion, leading a new project that connects authors with the corporate world, she couldn't be happier. What better fit than a nature writer selling her work to a manufacturer of granola bars, or an Italian poet helping to sell athletic wear? But the literature lover in Casey fears deep down she might be selling out. When Casey falls in love with one of her authors, her spiraling ambition quickly comes face-to-face with her literary past, and she must finally decide where her loyalties lie. Franson's debut is a fast-paced and quick-witted trip into the world of advertising today. With smart, funny characters and perfectly crafted dialogue, Franson cleverly explores the battle between giving in and staying true to oneself.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)