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eeviee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An assistant to a Hollywood exec narrates her experiences in the industry and how she navigates her relationships with her mom, colleagues, and partners. There is something cutting about how acutely self-aware this book is, almost as though it's dancing to the same tune as most of its ilk. Let's be honest, there have been a lot of hyper-feminist books being released, and I'm not complaining, although it has become oversaturated. This book tries to beat itself up with that. It's equal parts funny in a way that's dangerous because you're not quite sure if you should be laughing at all. It talks about privilege, rape, the MeToo Movement, or the works of it, and it's obvious which exec it describes. I can almost hear the hate for this book simmering from the edges of a select crowd, gnashing its teeth at this unsuspecting plot.Â
I'm glad it was left open-ended. The reader is left to marinate with their thoughts and presumptions on how our main character will decide between two opportunities that will make or break the entire narrative. A small detail that I also like is how their name is never mentioned; the reader floats through the story never realizing that until the very end because how are you supposed to distinguish yourself from such a mediocre character who somehow mirrors the very same hypocritical internal monologue most of us have?Â
I'm glad it was left open-ended. The reader is left to marinate with their thoughts and presumptions on how our main character will decide between two opportunities that will make or break the entire narrative. A small detail that I also like is how their name is never mentioned; the reader floats through the story never realizing that until the very end because how are you supposed to distinguish yourself from such a mediocre character who somehow mirrors the very same hypocritical internal monologue most of us have?Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
amergens's review
dark
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Rape
aaronm's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Rape
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
niicoleg's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Eating disorder and Drug abuse
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a heavy book, detailing the toxic and dark natured world of Hollywood. Working at a network, our unnamed narrator is at war with herself about whether to stand up and argue for change but lose all prospects of job advancement, or to stay quiet and earn a higher ranking position that might allow her to bring change. We see the unspoken expectations put on women through standards of beauty, fitness, grooming, etc. Undergoing all this she compares this to why men are allowed to wear the same outfit every day to work. As the book progresses, the patriarchal structure of the workplace worsens. There are scenes of sexual assault, rape, and harassment included and the ramifications that women face when they come forward.Â
The other side of the book examines the narrator's relationship with her mother, a high profile lawyer who campaigns for women’s rights and against rape. Her mother is demanding of her time, not allowing the narrator to have time to herself as an adult and admonishes her for not loving her. However, her mother can also be affectionate and loving and pay for anything the narrator needs that she can’t afford. Her mother’s ethics and morality can be questioned very heavily in the book. Her actions do not follow what she has preached during her career. When a close friend is accused of sexual assault, she is going to represent them. Her view on victims’ rights seem to fade when it’s a friend who is accused.Â
I find that I would have preferred less interaction between the mother and narrator as their arguments tended to all be the same. I think some of the conversations they have are important as it highlights the hypocritical nature of the mother and leaves the narrator questioning her own values. I think what lets this book down is more the execution. The beginning was a brief history of our narrators life, and learning of her immense privilege. It then took a while for the substance to appear in the book, as we got more observational notes from the narrator than plot. I think this is a book that covers a very important and vital topic, it just missed the mark at a few places.Â
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.Â
The other side of the book examines the narrator's relationship with her mother, a high profile lawyer who campaigns for women’s rights and against rape. Her mother is demanding of her time, not allowing the narrator to have time to herself as an adult and admonishes her for not loving her. However, her mother can also be affectionate and loving and pay for anything the narrator needs that she can’t afford. Her mother’s ethics and morality can be questioned very heavily in the book. Her actions do not follow what she has preached during her career. When a close friend is accused of sexual assault, she is going to represent them. Her view on victims’ rights seem to fade when it’s a friend who is accused.Â
I find that I would have preferred less interaction between the mother and narrator as their arguments tended to all be the same. I think some of the conversations they have are important as it highlights the hypocritical nature of the mother and leaves the narrator questioning her own values. I think what lets this book down is more the execution. The beginning was a brief history of our narrators life, and learning of her immense privilege. It then took a while for the substance to appear in the book, as we got more observational notes from the narrator than plot. I think this is a book that covers a very important and vital topic, it just missed the mark at a few places.Â
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship
applejacksbooks's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley.Â
TW: sexual assault, sexual harassment, eating disorder, sexism, mental illness, prescription drug abuse, vomit
To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I devoured the whole thing in mostly one sitting (my job got in the way). I think the writing style is wonderful and I love the fact that the main character remains unnamed for the entirety of the story. I think it hammers home that there are so many (too many) unnamed women who are sexually assaulted in the workplace every day, especially in the Hollywood industrial complex. During a time when the Me Too movement is going strong and when women are taking less shit from the industries that suppress them, I think this story has a place. The commentary about boundaries between parents and their adult children is also prevalent throughout the story and I enjoyed that as it's something that relates to my own life (and I'm sure many others).Â
Here's what I enjoyed a little less about the story. Around chapter 7 there was a comment made about yoga and it being like religion and how you don't have to get something out of it. This statement comes off as culturally insensitive, because yoga is supposed to be a spiritual practice that you should get something out of, especially with how white people have colonized the practice. My other issue was the first half was a little slow, and at 50% I was still unsure where the plot of the story was going. It definitely picks up in the second half of the story, but that first half left me a bit confused.Â
TW: sexual assault, sexual harassment, eating disorder, sexism, mental illness, prescription drug abuse, vomit
To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I devoured the whole thing in mostly one sitting (my job got in the way). I think the writing style is wonderful and I love the fact that the main character remains unnamed for the entirety of the story. I think it hammers home that there are so many (too many) unnamed women who are sexually assaulted in the workplace every day, especially in the Hollywood industrial complex. During a time when the Me Too movement is going strong and when women are taking less shit from the industries that suppress them, I think this story has a place. The commentary about boundaries between parents and their adult children is also prevalent throughout the story and I enjoyed that as it's something that relates to my own life (and I'm sure many others).Â
Here's what I enjoyed a little less about the story. Around chapter 7 there was a comment made about yoga and it being like religion and how you don't have to get something out of it. This statement comes off as culturally insensitive, because yoga is supposed to be a spiritual practice that you should get something out of, especially with how white people have colonized the practice. My other issue was the first half was a little slow, and at 50% I was still unsure where the plot of the story was going. It definitely picks up in the second half of the story, but that first half left me a bit confused.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Eating disorder, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
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