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onion's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Drug use, Misogyny, and Rape
Moderate: Stalking and Racism
Minor: Infidelity, Ableism, and Suicide attempt
alisonannk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Racism, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Xenophobia
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Out today! [Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4/5 stars
Sarah Lai has spent the past ten years recovering from the unexpected derailment of her career in film. But when a journalist reaches out to discuss the events of her path, Sarah will finally have the opportunity to be heard.
Complicit reeled me in from the very first chapter. The writing was stunningly beautiful and memorable, with a plot that unfurled painstakingly to reveal more nuance on every page. The structure of the novel—mostly a story told by the main character, Sarah, to journalist Thom Gallagher—was extremely engaging as well.
I will note that I don’t necessarily consider this a thriller—to me, it’s more a literary suspense mixed with something that entirely defies genre categorization. But whatever it is, it was gut-wrenching in the best way. And, while there are numerous nods to real-life stories and figures, ultimately Complicit tells a story that feels like it is adding something new to an ongoing conversation rather than rehashing existing tropes or storylines.
If you’re looking for non-stop action or mind-bending twists, this book isn’t the one to pick up. But if you want a quiet, important, poignantly told story that weaves together everything from misogyny and rape culture to the immigrant experience and the intricacies of complicated power dynamics, go grab this one right now.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: literary suspense; dark side of Hollywood stories; beautiful prose.
CW: Misogyny; sexual assault/rape/sexual harassment; drug use/abuse.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Sarah Lai has spent the past ten years recovering from the unexpected derailment of her career in film. But when a journalist reaches out to discuss the events of her path, Sarah will finally have the opportunity to be heard.
Complicit reeled me in from the very first chapter. The writing was stunningly beautiful and memorable, with a plot that unfurled painstakingly to reveal more nuance on every page. The structure of the novel—mostly a story told by the main character, Sarah, to journalist Thom Gallagher—was extremely engaging as well.
I will note that I don’t necessarily consider this a thriller—to me, it’s more a literary suspense mixed with something that entirely defies genre categorization. But whatever it is, it was gut-wrenching in the best way. And, while there are numerous nods to real-life stories and figures, ultimately Complicit tells a story that feels like it is adding something new to an ongoing conversation rather than rehashing existing tropes or storylines.
If you’re looking for non-stop action or mind-bending twists, this book isn’t the one to pick up. But if you want a quiet, important, poignantly told story that weaves together everything from misogyny and rape culture to the immigrant experience and the intricacies of complicated power dynamics, go grab this one right now.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: literary suspense; dark side of Hollywood stories; beautiful prose.
CW: Misogyny; sexual assault/rape/sexual harassment; drug use/abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
fanchera's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Misogyny
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sarah Lai is working teaching film studies at a local college. No one would guess that ten years ago she had been on the verge of a successful career in Hollywood. When she is approached by a reporter about running a story on the #MeToo movement, Sarah agrees to talk to him but when they meet up she realises he wants to talk to her about someone specifically. The story is told from Sarah's point of view both in the present & ten years ago as she tells it to the reporter.
Following her graduation from college, Sarah was working weekends at her parents' restaurant whilst looking for a job. Her parents want her to follow in the footsteps of her older sister who is a trainee accountant, but Sarah's passion is for films. Watching them yes, but she wants to be involved in making them too. Her dream comes true when she sees a job vacancy at a small independent company, it's for expenses only, but it could be her way into the business. Through working extremely hard, Sarah turns the opportunity into a paid job, & against all odds the film is moderately successful. Now their small company is known for working with a successful director, the opportunities multiply, & they are approached by Hugo North, a British money man who wants to bankroll their next project. Hugo, successful businessman in his fifties, likes the film business but he likes the perks of drugs & young women even more.
The reader learns that Sarah knows some of what Hugo & director Xander are up to, but that she can only guess at the extent of how far it goes until she becomes the producer of the second film. The book examines how far someone would compromise their principles for the job of their dreams, how willing someone would be to look to other way to be successful. It shows how once the line has been crossed, how easy it is to cross it again, how actions can be rationalised away. I thought it was an interesting read, it had quite a lot of detail about what goes on behind the scenes, also we see how women are not taken seriously & yet are expected to shoulder the blame for not stopping bad, even criminal, behaviour. Some of the characters did seem to verge on the stereotypical at times or even bland - North was supposed to be a Brit but his character didn't feel authentically British, he could have been anyone from anywhere to be honest - but overall it was a well-written exploration of the tawdry side of Tinsel Town, even if the ending was a little flat.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Following her graduation from college, Sarah was working weekends at her parents' restaurant whilst looking for a job. Her parents want her to follow in the footsteps of her older sister who is a trainee accountant, but Sarah's passion is for films. Watching them yes, but she wants to be involved in making them too. Her dream comes true when she sees a job vacancy at a small independent company, it's for expenses only, but it could be her way into the business. Through working extremely hard, Sarah turns the opportunity into a paid job, & against all odds the film is moderately successful. Now their small company is known for working with a successful director, the opportunities multiply, & they are approached by Hugo North, a British money man who wants to bankroll their next project. Hugo, successful businessman in his fifties, likes the film business but he likes the perks of drugs & young women even more.
The reader learns that Sarah knows some of what Hugo & director Xander are up to, but that she can only guess at the extent of how far it goes until she becomes the producer of the second film. The book examines how far someone would compromise their principles for the job of their dreams, how willing someone would be to look to other way to be successful. It shows how once the line has been crossed, how easy it is to cross it again, how actions can be rationalised away. I thought it was an interesting read, it had quite a lot of detail about what goes on behind the scenes, also we see how women are not taken seriously & yet are expected to shoulder the blame for not stopping bad, even criminal, behaviour. Some of the characters did seem to verge on the stereotypical at times or even bland - North was supposed to be a Brit but his character didn't feel authentically British, he could have been anyone from anywhere to be honest - but overall it was a well-written exploration of the tawdry side of Tinsel Town, even if the ending was a little flat.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
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