Was it good for you, too? - Linda Kelsey

Since it was launched in 1972, Cosmopolitan has had a huge influence on the lives of young women. It was the first magazine to acknowledge that women were interested in love, sex, and work - and the first to talk to women in a frank, encouraging and empowering way. Was it Good For You, Too? focuses on what Cosmo is renowned for: lipstick feminism, the female orgasm, advice columns, fashion, work, beauty, male pin-ups and the big issues such as sexual health and domestic violence. This book is packed with past articles, cover shots and features that illustrate 'then and now'. The author traces how life for young women in Britain has changed drastically over 30 years, yet how many issues have remained the same. With a section on the stories behind the cover personalities - from Paula Yates to Madonna to Boy George to Britney Spears; a foreword by Lorraine Candy, current editor; and an interview with Helen Gurley Brown, founder in the US; this is a fascinating and entertaining look at life for the Cosmo girl.