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A Novel
by Amy Rossi
Find them early enough, and they will always be her girls.
Birdie Rhodes was only thirteen when legendary modeling agent Harriet Goldman discovered her in a department store and transformed her into one of Harriet's Girls. What followed felt like the start of something incredible, a chance for shy Birdie to express herself in front of the camera. But two years later, she meets a thirty-one-year-old rock star, and her teenage heart falls hard as he leads her into a new life, despite Harriet's warnings. Then, as abruptly as it began, it's over, like a lipstick-smeared fever dream. Birdie tries hard to forget that time—starting over in Paris, in the dying embers of the LA punk scene, in Boston at the height of the AIDS crisis. She's not that person anymore. At least, that's what she's been telling herself.
Decades later, Birdie lives a quiet life. She works modest gigs, takes Pilates and mostly keeps to herself. Maybe it's not the glamor she once envisioned, but it's peaceful. Comfortable. Then a letter arrives, inviting Birdie to celebrate Harriet's fifty-year career. Except Birdie hasn't spoken to her in nearly thirty years—with good reason.
Almost famous, almost destroyed, Birdie can only make her own future if she reckons with her past—the fame, the trauma, the opportunities she gave up for a man who brought her into a life she wasn't ready for. Just like she's not ready now. But the painful truth waits for nobody. Not even Birdie Rhodes.
Told in two timelines, this striking debut novel explores the dizzying fallout of being seen and not heard in a high-stakes industry that leaves no silhouette unscathed.
How was the rock star enabled in his pursuit of Birdie? Who was complicit? How have you seen this dynamic play out in real life?
Just about everyone in Birdie's life were complicit. Most knew about the Rock Star's pursuit of her and no one did anything about it, so it continued. Her parents signed her over to the Rock Star so quickly, Harriet knew the pitfalls in that would occur when she persuaded Birdie to sign up with h...
-Marilyn_B
Overall, what did you think of The Cover Girl? (no spoilers, please!)
I found it a pager-turner. I had no expectations before the book, but I found it an enjoyable read even though it was about some disturbing topics.
-Marilyn_B
How did you feel about the rock star not having a name? Why might the author have made this choice?
It bothered me more the beginning of the book.
-Marie_L
Who would you cast in a film or television adaptation of The Cover Girl?
Sadie Sink would be a great choice!
-Molly_Y
Birdie’s self-image is tied to how she views her body, thinking in 1975 that she was a “freak” and trying to conceal her height. How do you think today’s teens are affected by body image? Are they impacted more, less, or about the same as Birdie was
I think teens these days are highly affected by body image, just as all teens have been since the beginning of time. Social media and the internet exacerbate the issue, of course.
-Molly_Y
From her earliest modeling days, Birdie finds freedom in fashion. What does fashion mean to her? Have you ever used clothes as armor or to convey something about you?
Fashion gives her the opportunity to express herself without speaking or socializing.
-Angela_B
To what audience would you recommend The Cover Girl? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
I believe the book "Cover Girl" would be beneficial for the late teens and young adults, to emphasize the negativity of what some now call "body shaming."
-Carolyn_T
Until the very end of the novel, Birdie insists that she was in control and knew what she was doing as a teenager. Why do you suppose she spent so much of her life denying she was taken advantage of?
All of the women (and it is all women) who answered this question make the same point about Birdie's denial of the abuse she suffered. Even the owner of the modeling agency tried to "keep Birdie close" as much as she could. Birdie's mother did not help the situation. The comparison to the Jeffrey...
-Ilene_M
What are some connections you saw between Birdie in the past and Birdie in the present? How does her present-day life intersect with her past self?
I am going to reply to this from a different
-Marilyn_B
Which time period interested you most – the 70s, 80s, or the 90s? What details stood out? Did you learn anything that surprised you?
I too was disheartened with Birdie's parents, my girls were teenagers during that time. I would not in a million years ever have given permission for such a lifestyle. Amazing how disengaged she was and then had the audacity to say she didn't have any idea what she was signing. Poor excuse, poor ...
-Carol_N
Azrian’s death from AIDS changes Birdie’s life. She retires shortly after and spends a lot of time volunteering and donates a large sum of money to AIDS-related causes. Why do you suppose she took this course of action at this point in her life?
I so agree. She found something to feel passionately about other than herself. It gave her a purpose.
-Carol_N
What do you think Birdie's life is like after the gala? What would she be doing in 2025?
Well put Elizabeth, I would hope that she continues to grow and become the adult she wanted to be. She done the hard part, now is her time to shine.
-Carol_N
Which supporting characters were you most drawn to? What made their storylines compelling?
I liked Bernice from the get-go. She had it together, a strong Black woman when the world was telling her she won't make it. She found happiness, a career and the love of a good and understanding man. She was always there to support Birdie, quietly and lovingly. I also liked the author's decision...
-Carol_N
In addition to taking the reader into the world of modeling, The Cover Girl also offers a behind-the-scenes look at a 1970s rock tour. What role does music play in the novel? How does Birdie's interaction with music change over time?
The author did a good job of giving the reader of what life in a rock band was like. Thinking back to the story line, Birdie was chosen by the rock star; Birdie did choose him. Certain songs he sang seemed important to her. She was not comfortable with the band touring. Still cannot explain why B...
-Arlene_Iannazzi
At what point did you realize Birdie did not have any spoken dialogue? What was the effect?
As the first person narrator in the book, we only see things from Birdie's point of view. I don't know if she is a completely reliable narrator. There were no opportunities to hear from the other people with whom she interacted. As I was reading I kept wondering if Birdie was "talking" about her ...
-Lynne_Zolli
What does it mean for Birdie to be one of Harriet's Girls? How does this meaning change?
I think Harriet's girls was said tongue in cheek. These were children in every respect and the adults should have acted in their behalf
-Peggy_Anselmo
At one point, Lulu talks to Birdie about being a "baby groupie." Is this a scene you were familiar with? How might this experience impacted Lulu as she grew older?
I was never interested in being a groupie or that lifestyle. I imagine being a baby groupie ,Lulu seen things that she never seen or experienced before. It must have jaded her in someway.
-Brenda_Wychock
Why do you suppose Birdie is able to maintain long-term friendships with Bernice and Bobby but not others with whom she worked?
I don't think there was much, if any, competition between Bernice and Birdie. Birdie recognized immediately that Bernice was in a different league. With the other girls there was always the possibility of one of them taking a job she wanted or vice versa.
-Helen_B
How do you think Harriet viewed Birdie? Did she truly care about her, or do you think she merely felt she was responsible for the teen because of her youth? Why do you suppose she wasn’t more vocal about the choices Birdie was making?
I don't think Harriet really cared about her. I thought she saw her as a money maker. She felt responsible for her to keep her in her business.
-Terrie_J
Birdie wants to tell Michelle, the journalist, that she is “not a reliable narrator of my own story.” What do you think she means? Do you agree that she’s an unreliable narrator? Why or why not?
I really liked when she said that to Michelle. She wasn't owning what had happened to her and hadn't found her own narrative
-Beth_M
What are you reading this week? (7/17/2025)
An advanced reading copy of Cover Girl by Amy Rossi!
-Kathleen_W
Cover Girl by Amy Rossi
Please join BookBrowse in our book club discussion of Covery Girl by Amy Rossi
-system
"Thrilling and glamourous as its runways and backstage parties, The Cover Girl is also heartbreaking and redemptive with an ending that made me cry. Birdie is a singular, unforgettable character whose story encapsulates so much of what led up to the #MeToo movement, and why the movement was so necessary. I look forward to reading whatever Amy Rossi writes next!" —Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines
"Who's to blame when a beautiful girl becomes a rock star's muse before she can even drive? The Cover Girl is a haunting meditation on the price of fame, the slipperiness of memory, and the long tail of #MeToo. Almost Famous meets She Said, this book will stay with you long after its final page." —Alison B. Hart, author of April May June July
"The Cover Girl is an unforgettable, unputdownable, well-told retrospective that pierces the mesmerizing facade of rock star worship, and the glitter and glamour of the beauty and fashion industries. Amy Rossi crafts an intimate story of how one woman confronts her fractured past to heal, emerge and move forward." —Monica Chenault-Kilgore, author of The Jewel of the Blues
This information about The Cover Girl was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Amy Rossi received her MFA from Louisiana State University, and she lives in North Carolina, by way of Massachusetts, with her partner and two dogs. The Cover Girl is her first novel.
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