Work Wife

“Most of us spend the majority of our weekdays in an office—and in close proximity to our coworkers. So it’s only natural that our colleagues often become our confidants, pals, and in some very special cases, our work wives. In this book Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur (cofounders of Of a Kind and bona fide work wives) explore this intricate relationship and how working with a friend can sometimes be the secret to professional success. In conversation with other remarkable duos, from the founders of Food52 to the cohosts of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast, they tackle the most important issues that female partnerships face. Read this, then plot your own work-wife-driven empire.”—Glamour

“Is the old adage ‘Friends and business don’t mix’ true? Not according to college friends Cerulo and Mazur, who translated their love of fashion and desire to support emerging fashion designers into a successful business, the e-commerce site Of a Kind. . . . By exploring topics such as setting expectations, defining roles, dividing responsibility, dealing with finances, and addressing disputes, they deftly demonstrate how female friendships produce empowering business partnerships. . . . This insightful, engaging work is an essential guidebook for friends considering a business collaboration.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Friends since college, entrepreneurs Cerulo and Mazur . . . capture the energy of the current social climate of women empowering women in their first book. . . . Engaging and thoughtful, Work Wife champions strong relationships, healthy attitudes, and pragmatic decision-making—an excellent primer for women interested in creating their own opportunities.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Work Wife is a whip-smart guide to cultivating a strong workplace marriage, complete with critical lessons about partnership and leadership that extend well beyond work wives. More than a how-to, it is a clarion call to reimagine and recenter leadership around communality, cooperation, and care. One cannot help but read this book and wonder what women would be able to accomplish if they were empowered to lead as they are.”—Alicia Menendez, correspondent at PBS’s Amanpour and Company

“Work Wife is a master class in being in business with your bestie—every bit of advice is honest, relatable, and actually useful. But what Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur have done here is bigger than that. What truly lassoed my heart and enchanted me with this story from start to finish is their insistence that women leading together will redefine the working world. It’s an essential and uplifting message; anyone who has a job or a dream or a person they slack the second they get to the office must read this book.”—Kayleen Schaefer, author of Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship

“Work Wife explores the potential magic (and the realities) that comes from the combination of two or more women who share a common vision and have turned that shared vision into an amazing business partnership. Sharing both the highs and lows, it’s an inspiring look at how women can be the best of teammates in work and in life.”—Joy Cho, founder and creative director of Oh Joy!