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When a tired, tried-and-true pitch to land mattress-maker Serta as a client fails, Shelly Lipschitz is not surprised but still disappointed. Extending her congratulations to the tiny upstart firm of O’Brien, O’Brien, she soon gets lured into their anything-goes style with its propensity for taking risks with their fingers on the pulse of the ad world. After Shelly signs on as a partner, the new O’Brien, Lipschitz, and Partners agency draws in client after client looking to rejuvenate their branding and advertising with something fresh and unexpected. In a year’s time, the firm goes from plucky beginnings to one of the hottest ad agencies in New York.
Full of laughs, parody, and genuine insight in the advertising business, the friendship between Jack O’Brien and Shelly Lipschitz results in humorous and heartwarming ways. Virtually every chapter in this book represents the interaction between the firm and a particular client, beginning with a spotted opportunity or a client’s requests. By the chapter’s end, the commercial or campaign is put together, and the reader can envision it playing out in their head, complete with visuals, background music, and even celebrity endorsements. While the book advertises itself front and center as a satire, there is some valuable information about how marketing is put together. It is also an enjoyable story about office friendships and the value of loyalty to where you feel like you belong. Blending an always-relatable office story with sharp, stylish characters and plenty of humor, this book contains a Super Bowl’s worth of edgy, hilarious commercials and provides a relaxed, enjoyable read.