Anastasia Ryan

Anastasia Ryan writes contemporary romantic comedy shaped by workplace frustrations, friendship, and women’s efforts to define success for themselves. You Should Smile More begins when telemarketer Vanessa Blair loses her job despite strong sales because her manager objects to her facial expression. Her friends Jane and Trisha respond with a revenge plan inspired by The Art of War, while Vanessa navigates unemployment, a possible new romance, and another employer’s interference with her future. Sourcebooks Casablanca published the novel in 2023 as Ryan’s debut. Its comic premise lets her examine gendered expectations of friendliness, the insecurity of office life, and the practical solidarity among coworkers. Ryan studied English literature and popular culture, training that fits the novel’s playful use of familiar romantic and workplace conventions. She followed it with Not Bad for a Girl, another comedy about the absurd pressures women encounter at work. In her first novel, professional retaliation drives the plot, but Vanessa’s friendships and growing confidence provide its emotional center.