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alisonvh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
davidrb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Gaslighting
mlthomas234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I️ also had trouble following the storyline of the writer/author pair of women and the resistance— pretty much everything outside of Nella’s story, the chapters were interesting on their own but found it difficult to follow on how they all connected. Ultimately, I️ just accepted them for their high level message (“something is not right, got it”), and kept reading. Thinking back I️ wonder what would be lost if those scenes weren’t included? They made things more confusing which isn’t the same as making the mystery more interesting.
Overall, Harris did a great job delivering on what was promised: a sharp thriller that explores the dynamics (and fears) of what it’s like to be a black woman in the workplace.
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Stalking
babayagaofficial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, and Stalking
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Slavery, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Cultural appropriation
Workplace bullying and undermining.rorikae's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Nella has been working as an editorial assistant at Wagner Books for two years. She is the only Black employee until Hazel is hired as a fellow editorial assistant. But with Hazel's hiring comes a slew of strange events, including anonymous notes left on Nella's desk that warn her that she needs to leave Wagner immediately. As Nella begins investigating the notes, more strange occurrences come to light and she begins to suspect that Hazel isn't who she says she is.
This novel has been described as 'Get Out' meets 'The Devil Wears Prada,' which are the perfect comp titles. Harris expertly utilizes unsettling scenarios and a dash of something more to create a thriller that explores the real life horrors of being a Black person working in the publishing industry. Nella deals with microaggressions and more overt aggressions, especially when she dares to provide constructive criticism on a stereotypical Black character in one of Wagner's author's upcoming books. Harris creates a creeping sense of dread that permeates from the first note that Nella receives and that slowly escalates throughout the book until the climax. The story is populated by a cast of engaging characters with their own set of faults and virtues.
I am not quite sure how I feel about the ending of the story and would love to read more from the author about why she chose the ending that she did. I think it's an effective ending, even if it wasn't what I was expecting. This is a really engaging debut and I am intrigued to see what Harris writes next.
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Kidnapping