Ten Girls to Watch

A radiant debut novel about stumbling through the early years of adulthood— and a love letter to the role models who light the way.

Like so many other recent graduates, Dawn West is trying to make her way in New York City. She’s got an ex-boyfriend she can’t quite stop seeing, a roommate who views rent checks and basic hygiene as optional, and a writing career that’s gotten as far as penning an online lawn care advice column.

So when Dawn lands a job tracking down the past winners of
Charm
magazine’s “Ten Girls to Watch” contest, she’s thrilled. After all, she’s being paid to interview hundreds of fascinating women: once outstanding college students, they have gone on to become mayors, opera singers, and air force pilots. As Dawn gets to know their life stories, she’ll discover that success, love, and friendship can be found in the most unexpected of places. Most importantly, she’ll learn that while those who came before us can be role models, ultimately, we each have to create our own happy ending.

“An insightful, funny take on postgrad tribulations that thoughtfully mines the wisdom of women.”

—
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, authors of
The Nanny Diaries

“A sparkling novel about how we find our friends, our mentors, and our way in the world.”

—
Jean Hanff Korelitz, author of
Admission: A Novel

“This novel captures that time right after college, when we all feel overwhelmed and adrift. Shumway expertly guides us through a young woman’s love life, her family, friends, and career as she proves that perfect endings aren’t the only happy ones.”

—
Lauren Weisberger, bestselling author of
The Devil Wears Prada

“A thoroughly charming, sassy, highly satisfying debut from a writer with a rare gift: She sounds like your best friend, telling a story you don’t ever want to end. I adored this book.”

—
Sarah Pekkanen, author of
These Girls

“A heartwarming story about a gathering of extraordinary women who offer wisdom, warmth, and humanity. I can’t wait to give this book to my sisters and best girlfriends.”

—
Nicolle Wallace, bestselling author of
Eighteen Acres

“Lively, smart, and funny … What I loved about this coming-of-age story was its realistic and confirming celebration of female resilience, brilliance, and generosity. Not your stereotypical single gal novel, Shumway’s book is a passion-stirring breath of fresh air.”

—
Helen Schulman, bestselling author of
This Beautiful Life

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COVER DESIGN BY ZOE NORVELL • COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY LINDSAY V. WYNN

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©STACY YOUNG

CHARITY SHUMWAY
received an MFA in Creative Writing from Oregon State University and a BA in English from Harvard College. Among other publications, her writing has appeared in
Glamour,
where she reported on the 50th anniversary of the magazine’s “Top Ten College Women” contest. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

TEN
GIRLS
to
WATCH

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2012 by Charity Shumway

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Washington Square Press Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Washington Square Press trade paperback edition July 2012

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Shumway, Charity.