The Cover Girl: A Novel by Amy RossiPublication Date: August 5, 2025
Pages: 336
Add on: Goodreads
Buy the Book: Amazon
Rating: ★★★
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Psychological
Publisher: MIRA / HarperCollins
In this dual-timeline novel, a model comes to terms with the manipulation she suffered early in her career from those she trusted the most, with an inside look at a high-stakes industry for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.
In 1975, 13-year-old Birdie is discovered in a department store by legendary modeling agent Harriet. Birdie flourishes as a model—finally finding what feels like freedom in front of the camera. But at age 15, her career brings her into the path of a famous rock star, and the four years they spend together fundamentally change Birdie, her career, and her relationship with Harriet. In 2018, Birdie lives a quiet life in LA—until she receives an invitation to a celebration of Harriet’s career. As she struggles to unpack memories she’s long since tucked away, Birdie will have to re-examine everything she once thought to be true.
REVIEW
Amy Rossi’s The Cover Girl starts with a classic fairy tale moment: a teenage girl spotted in a department store becomes fashion’s next big thing. But don’t let that fool you. This isn’t your typical rags-to-riches story.
Thirteen-year-old Birdie Rhodes’ journey from wide-eyed newcomer to jaded veteran unfolds across two timelines, each one sharp and vivid as a magazine spread. The 70s and 80s fashion scene springs to life with all its excess and electricity, while present-day segments cut through the glamour like a sobering morning-after.
At the heart of it all is Birdie’s relationship with Harriet Goldman, the legendary agent who “discovers” her. Their dynamic crackles with tension, part maternal, part mercenary. It’s fascinating to watch Birdie navigate this world where every smile is currency and youth is the most valuable commodity of all.
Rossi writes like someone who’s lived in this world, even though she hasn’t. Snails both the intoxicating highs of runway success and the crushing lows that follow, creating scenes that feel ripped from today’s #MeToo headlines while staying deeply personal.
The middle section occasionally drags, with a few too many fashion shows blurring together. But that’s a small wrinkle in an otherwise polished debut. Fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo will find familiar themes here: fame, power, the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
At 336 pages, The Cover Girl is like the perfect outfit, carefully constructed, beautifully presented, and memorable long after you’ve put it down. Rossi has announced herself as fashion’s newest literary darling, and trust me, this is one trend you’ll want to follow.
