Citizen Girl

Written by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Another biting satire from Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, authors of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Nanny Diaries.
Working in a world where a college degree qualifies her to make photocopies and color-coordinate file folders, twenty-four-year-old Girl is struggling to keep up with the essential trinity of food, shelter, and student loans. So when she finally lands the job of her dreams she ignores her misgivings and concentrates on getting the job done...whatever that may be.
Sharply observed and devastatingly funny, Citizen Girl captures with biting accuracy what it means to be young and female in the new economy. A personal glimpse into an impersonal world, Citizen Girl is edgy and heartfelt, an entertaining read that is startlingly relevant.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jan 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781442343221

Emma McLaughlin

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nanny Diaries, Citizen Girl, Nanny Returns, and the young adult novels, The Real Real and Over You. They are the cofounders of TheFinishedThought.com, a book coaching firm, and work together in New York City. For more information visit EmmaAndNicola.com.

Reviews for Citizen Girl

[mousegrl · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Worst book I have ever read.

[keyboardscoffee · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I actually could not get through this book, which is sad because I loved the idea of it.

First, the fact that the main female's name is 'Girl' and one of the main males is named 'Guy' is completely off putting. Is this supposed to be cute? It comes off as lazy to me. It might have made a huge difference in how this book came across.

Second off, naming a company 'My Company'? Again, is this supposed to be cute? I find it a little childish. Especially with the industry the company is in. It doesn't make sense to me.

All in all, I would not recommend this book.

[wareagle78 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Don't know why I waited so long to read this likable chick-lit. Girl is a gutsy young woman trying to make her way in New York when her need for employment and her values are in direct opposition. Engaging read.

[katrinamariehh · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was pretty awful. It's overall a nice idea (young woman struggles with ideals and modern corporate America - I totally get that), but it was very poorly written, I felt, and in the end I was only finishing it to find out where they intended to go with the story.

[burnit99 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sharp, funny novel with crisp dialogue about Girl, a young college graduate struggling to land the job of her dreams in New York City, while not totally surrendering her ideals and retaining a semblance of a social life. The authors have yet to engage me the way they did with their two "Nanny Diaries" books, but this is quite a fine effort. I'm not quite sure what point they're trying to make by calling the main character "Girl" throughout the book. Sure, it highlights the facelessness of corporate life, but it works against our heroine's struggle for personal identity throughout the book. Still a good read with a nice ending.

[alexanderds · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book was so boring and monotonous that I couldn't be bothered to finish it. I really expected more from these authors.

[amodini_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The heroine of "Citizen Girl" is also called "Girl", fresh in the job market, and looking for jobs in the Journalism/Feminism/Social Work Sector. The book details her travails when she gets a job at "My Company" (her boss is called "Guy"). Work at "My Company" is at the very least an unknown, a very quirky unknown. Interesting book, although "Nanny Diaries" was better.

[ladyhax · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I first read Citizen Girl several years ago, I had to immediately run out and buy it for my friend who was without a doubt working for a real-life Doris Weintruck, right down to the obsession with coloured stationery.

Kraus and McLaughlin present an often entertaining satire of a young feminist trying to make it in the equally cut-throat worlds of non-profit and corporate America. Although some of the scenarios do deliberately border on the ridiculous, we can all recognise something in them that makes them hilarious (yet also strangely chilling). As a character, Girl can be rather black and white, and therefore irritating, but learning about the shades of grey is all part of her adventures.

[kace_12 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

this book seems like it could be a good one...I'm only a couple chapters into it. The main characters name "Girl" really kind of bogs the story down for me right now. I know theres a good reason for the name, commentary Edith Wharton style, or the hippy mom, but seriously. On the other hand, I'm enjoying the characters, and the writing, its just gonna take me a little longer to get over the nuerotic things that comprise me ;)I don't know. After several attempts at reading this, I find it too distracting to have a main character named Girl, another named Guy, and a company called "my company"...I get that there is probably some meaning behind it, but the more I read the more I just want a real name for these central characters. I think this book will end up being one I just can't finish because of this quirk. The writing is otherwise on point, and the story is great, I just don't have the patience for this brand of genius I guess.

[lbm007 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I guess the main character is supposed to represent every woman (or at least every 20-something, college-educated, white woman living in urban America) so she doesn't even get a name in the book and is referred to only as 'Girl' throughout. Maybe her lack of name is why I didn't really care about her? Though I suspect she was not the kind of character I'd care about even if she did have a name. Ho-hum.

[debavp · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

BLOODY AWFUL--the only reason it got a half star is because one of the two authors actually knows who Eddie Izzard is.

[rachelmilen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The author used a creative approach on relating the main character to her work life. The author didn't use her real name, she was known as G. I thought that this book was a real life example of how difficult it can be to get a successful job in todays society. The book was funny at times but overall it wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be.

[risadabomb_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: Working in a world where a college degree qualifies her to make photocopies and colorcoordinate file folders, twentyfouryearold Girl is struggling to keep up with the essential trinity of food, shelter, and student loans. So when she finally lands the job of her dreams she ignores her misgivings and concentrates on getting the job done...whatever that may be.

My review: I really loved Emma McLauglin's other novel The Nanny Diaries but this book was weird. The story was confusing and so were the characters. It was all too ambiguous for me. I did not find it funny in the least.

[joiescire · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not as good as nanny diaries, although it was somewhat entertaining for any girl who is in the office work environment.

[elizabethews · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not nearly as good as Nanny Diaries....very disappointing. There was so much going on that there wasn't enough character development and the story fell flat. Like someone else said - a not good version of the Devil Wears Prada.

[citylove_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So very disappointed. I loved their first novel but this was just sad. At the end I wanted to throw it across the room.

[coolcat_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Yucks! I can't even get past page 8 on this one. Stay away...

[thereader_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I found this book unbearably pessimistic despite it's funny banter. Sarcasm is more cruel than amusing, unfortunately.