Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Partner Track by Helen Wan

3 reviews

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I wanted to read this book as I heard that Netflix was doing a tv series on this book and the trailer looked good so I wanted to know what to expect and how much the series follows the book.  

This book follows Ingrid Yung. Her life is full of firsts. A first-generation Chinese American, the first lawyer in her family, she’s about to collect the holy grail of ‘firsts’ and become the first minority woman to make partner at the venerable old law firm Parsons Valentine & Hunt. Ingrid has perfected the arts of ‘passing’ and seamlessly blends into the old-boy corporate culture. But when an offensive incident at the summer outing threatens to destroy the firm’s reputation, Ingrid’s outsider status is thrown into the light. For the first time in the eight years, she’s been at the firm, she has to question her place. Pitted against her colleagues, including her golden-boy boyfriend, Ingrid begins to wonder whether the prestige of partnership is worth breathing her ethics. But can she risk throwing away the American dream that is finally within her reach? This novel is a romance fiction book set in New York City.  

The last chapter of this book saved the whole book for me. I was giving up and thought the ending was going to be mediocre just like the book, but Ingrid doing was I hoped she would, saved this book. I thought the whole book was average. The storyline was slightly predictably down to who the villain was. I liked Ingrid’s character development and the fact she stood up for herself but I just was hoping and wanting more. Maybe I little bit of romance in the office considering this book is labelled as a romance fiction. There was no romance except for when it was needed to steer you off the main storyline. I would have loved for a little bit of spice but it just wasn’t there.  

Hopefully the tv show is done a little better and not as predictable.  
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

taaya's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The end makes up (a bit) for the slow first two thirds. As a marginalised person myself this was extremely hard to read.

But I also wanna add: There is NO diversity without disability, and there is at least one character that should have at least mentioned disability once, because it was his fricking job.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

zanazy's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was a solid quick read. I don’t like watching movies or shows based on books without reading the book, and when the Netflix trailer intrigued me, I added this to my my TBR pile. The book takes place at the height of BlackBerrys and Obama as President. I found Ingrid relatable as a BIPOC woman who feels the weight of the world on her. Her inner reflections and dialogue hit home. I am not in the least surprised that she found such a white man club in her law firm, but knowing she had allies helped. Ingrid is the center of the story and it’s more about her growth and understanding that despite being 99.9% perfect and an achiever at work… you cannot combat and win against the corporate in crowd that made this story more informative than a fantasy. As a BIPOC woman, this book was a reminder of what I face, not an escape, but seeing a character get
her much deserved happy ending, one she created for herself was refreshing.

The Netflix trailer shows much more romance than what is in the book. The romance is subtle but it is used as a way to drive the plot forward and truly, I was happy it was not the center of Ingrid’s story. The twists are both predictable and surprising and made the story seem believable.
Yes, her not getting partner was obvious and honestly needed for Ingrid’s character to grow. That Murphy betrayed her with the document… that was a twist. I knew he had stirred up the feels and was jealous, but I had Addler pegged as the one who sabotaged her. The way Ingrid sets up her own practice and steals the client… brilliant if not too cutesy and red ribbon wrapped, but it’s a story… it needed that win.
Overall, nice read, but if you are here due to the Netflix trailer, expect the book to be less cutesy and more real life. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...