In Meg Wolitzer’s latest novel, The Female Persuasion, Greer Kadetsky has a life-changing encounter when she meets renowned feminist and author Faith Frank at a college lecture. Greer has always been ambitious, excelling at school, yet shy and afraid to speak her mind. In Faith, she finds a mentor who gives her the confidence to use her voice. When Greer lands her dream job working at Faith’s women’s foundation, Loci, she is excited to help women share their stories and shine a light on issues such as pay inequality and workplace harassment. But Greer’s idealistic view of Loci is put to the test when she discovers the venture capital firm funding the foundation has been involved in some shady practices.

Meanwhile, Greer’s high school boyfriend, Cory, has plans to form a start-up microfinance company with two friends after graduating college. In order to earn money for the venture, Cory finds himself unexpectedly working for a consulting firm overseas, until a family tragedy derails his plans. Greer and Cory always thought they’d end up together, but have their diverging paths in life made them too different?

This richly plotted novel deals with a number of topical themes, such as power structures, female friendship, mentorship, gender roles, and privilege. A film adaptation with Nicole Kidman playing Faith Frank is in the works.