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natashia8911's review
4.0
This was an interesting read, for sure. I like the writing approach in that it follows both Alice and Julia's perspective. Both characters were relatable, making it difficult to dislike either. I ended up liking Julia more than Alice just because of her stronger personality. While the end was predictable, the journey to get there was not, so I appreciated the road the writer took to get there. Definitely a novel that I will recommend to others.
natmartinez08's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
2.5
themermaddie's review
2.0
eh. this book was a little all over the place and not quite engaging enough to keep it interesting. it's not so much cat-and-mouse as it is one-woman's-actions-affect-the-other's, it's just quite slow for an espionage story, and doesn't really make use of its two main characters' interactions. there were a lot of characters so it got confusing at times, and i didn't really feel connected to any of them.
feysand326's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
rmarcin's review
3.0
Julia Lerner has been recruited by Russia's intelligence agency to infiltrate a tech firm in Silicon Valley to gain access to data on its users. Leo is her handler. Julia rises quickly to the top, becoming COO and a role model in the industry. She has a successful husband and a baby on the way. She isn't very friendly to other women in the industry, though. When Leo gives her assignment, she is torn, because she likes her success and her life in America, and feels an obligation to her users. Alice Lu, a computer tech notices something strange happening with the servers, and decides to investigate. Will Julia's carefully planned life fall apart? What will happen if she obeys/disobeys the Russian orders?
I enjoyed parts of the book-about work/life balance, some of the conversations between the characters, but the espionage parts seemed a bit disjointed to me. I had high expectations for this book, but I thought it was just OK.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
I enjoyed parts of the book-about work/life balance, some of the conversations between the characters, but the espionage parts seemed a bit disjointed to me. I had high expectations for this book, but I thought it was just OK.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
drumrollplease1's review
3.0
This book kept me reading! I was very interested in the characters and why they made certain choices. However it was not as much of a thriller as I thought it would be, and the ending left a lot to be desired. 3.5 stars ... mostly for unmet expectations.
jsrogers123's review
4.0
I had fun with it! Not my favorite book of all time, but I’m honestly a little confused by some of the super negative reviews. I really wish half stars were an option because a three feels low but a four feels high for how I feel about this book
staystitchy's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to William Morrow, Custom House and Netgalley for letting me read this book early. Imposter Syndrome hits shelves May 25.
In this story you will find Russian spies, minority perspectives, social constructs and Silicon Valley tech all mixed up into a spy story. This one is completely character driven, so much so that I began to hate all of the characters. This was presented as a thriller but I have to say it is not. It was creepy because this story did feel incredibly real and maybe that also turned me off. This one is great but it just wasn’t for me.
This book features mostly Julia, Alice and Leo’s stories all told in swapped chapters as they navigate this cat and mouse game of who can outsmart who and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was told from one perspective for an easier flow. Everyone’s story is unique and kind of astonishing, Wang’s prose is great and her humor was my favorite part. If you’re into well developed characters and eerie stories that cut you to your core, this is your book!
In this story you will find Russian spies, minority perspectives, social constructs and Silicon Valley tech all mixed up into a spy story. This one is completely character driven, so much so that I began to hate all of the characters. This was presented as a thriller but I have to say it is not. It was creepy because this story did feel incredibly real and maybe that also turned me off. This one is great but it just wasn’t for me.
This book features mostly Julia, Alice and Leo’s stories all told in swapped chapters as they navigate this cat and mouse game of who can outsmart who and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was told from one perspective for an easier flow. Everyone’s story is unique and kind of astonishing, Wang’s prose is great and her humor was my favorite part. If you’re into well developed characters and eerie stories that cut you to your core, this is your book!
jl_brown's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0