Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
A moving portrait of friendship by Elyce Arons as she reflects on her long relationship with Kate Spade, whom she met in college and went on to cofound the multi-billion-dollar fashion company as they came of age in 1990s New York.
When Elyce Arons first met Katy Brosnahan in a University of Kansas dorm room, she had no idea that this polo shirt–wearing Missouri girl would not only become her best friend but also change the course of her life. Back then, Katy and Elyce were preoccupied with frat parties and The Mary Tyler Moore Show; within a decade, they’d be scraping by in New York City, working day jobs to spend nights building a new line of handbags that would one day revolutionize the accessories industry.
We Might Just Make It After All brings us on the rollercoaster of adventures (and misadventures) that the best friends embarked on, from transferring colleges on a whim, to falling in and out of love with suitors, cramming into roach-infested Hell’s Kitchen apartments, and eventually designing the chic, simple bag that would launch the pair to global fame. Through it all, Katy and Elyce’s friendship remained unshakeable. This powerful friendship lasted nearly forty years, until Katy’s tragic suicide in 2018. We Might Just Make It After All celebrates her legacy as a cultural icon and loyal friend.
Set against the glitzy and gritty backdrop of downtown New York at the turn of the century, We Might Just Make It After All lovingly and candidly explores the power of a friendship as close as sisterhood, the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the 1990s, and the timeless elegance of a generation-defining brand.
When Elyce Arons first met Katy Brosnahan in a University of Kansas dorm room, she had no idea that this polo shirt–wearing Missouri girl would not only become her best friend but also change the course of her life. Back then, Katy and Elyce were preoccupied with frat parties and The Mary Tyler Moore Show; within a decade, they’d be scraping by in New York City, working day jobs to spend nights building a new line of handbags that would one day revolutionize the accessories industry.
We Might Just Make It After All brings us on the rollercoaster of adventures (and misadventures) that the best friends embarked on, from transferring colleges on a whim, to falling in and out of love with suitors, cramming into roach-infested Hell’s Kitchen apartments, and eventually designing the chic, simple bag that would launch the pair to global fame. Through it all, Katy and Elyce’s friendship remained unshakeable. This powerful friendship lasted nearly forty years, until Katy’s tragic suicide in 2018. We Might Just Make It After All celebrates her legacy as a cultural icon and loyal friend.
Set against the glitzy and gritty backdrop of downtown New York at the turn of the century, We Might Just Make It After All lovingly and candidly explores the power of a friendship as close as sisterhood, the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the 1990s, and the timeless elegance of a generation-defining brand.
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (June 17, 2025)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668069097
Raves and Reviews
"I met Kate on a magazine shoot when I was a young makeup artist and she was just starting as a fashion assistant at Mademoiselle. This beautiful book captures not only Elyce and Katy's close friendship, but brings me back to those rough and tumble days of the eighties and nineties when we were all trying to make our way in New York City. Elyce's memory is spot on, the perfect combination of gritty and sweet, with a true behind the scenes view. I friggin' loved this book. I couldn't put it down!"
–Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): We Might Just Make It After All eBook 9781668069097
- Author Photo (jpg): Elyce Arons © Adam Ward(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit