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charlig19's review against another edition
3.0
This thriller was just okay. I think I would classify it as a suspense rather than a thriller. It kept me engaged but I did not find myself wanting to pick it up.
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
3.0
If you've just binge-watched Anatomy of a Scandal and you want more Sarah Vaughan, this is the book for you. A slow burn thriller infused with issues that feel like they were ripped off the front pages of the newspapers. I found Reputation uneven compared to Anatomy of a Scandal, but well worth the read.
#netgalley
#netgalley
thelibraryofimagination's review
4.0
Reputation delves into the world of politics and the importance of reputations. It also examines sexual exploitation in social media.
Emma is a rising politician. She has made many sacrifices to be where she is and hold on to her shiny reputation. She is not comfortable being in the spotlight but she tolerates it, even the sexualisation and verbal abuse she suffers - she wants to make a difference, but at what cost?
As a person who does not enjoy the political side of life, I struggled to read this book but I was very curious to see who dunnit.
I found the story engaging and the issues covered were realistically presented. The characters I found very difficult to like, especially Emma. The plot’s ebbs and flows moved the book along nicely but I was not riveted to my seat eager to read on. Shame.
I did enjoy the ambiguity during the trial - the did she, didn’t she was played out beautifully and the end was very satisfying considering the overall circumstances. So overall I was pleased.
I am eager to read her first book Anatomy of a Scandal so I can then watch the dramatisation of it. I am curious what the fuss is all about.
I am hugely grateful for the chance to read this book and present a review. Thanks for waiting so long for it.
Emma is a rising politician. She has made many sacrifices to be where she is and hold on to her shiny reputation. She is not comfortable being in the spotlight but she tolerates it, even the sexualisation and verbal abuse she suffers - she wants to make a difference, but at what cost?
As a person who does not enjoy the political side of life, I struggled to read this book but I was very curious to see who dunnit.
I found the story engaging and the issues covered were realistically presented. The characters I found very difficult to like, especially Emma. The plot’s ebbs and flows moved the book along nicely but I was not riveted to my seat eager to read on. Shame.
I did enjoy the ambiguity during the trial - the did she, didn’t she was played out beautifully and the end was very satisfying considering the overall circumstances. So overall I was pleased.
I am eager to read her first book Anatomy of a Scandal so I can then watch the dramatisation of it. I am curious what the fuss is all about.
I am hugely grateful for the chance to read this book and present a review. Thanks for waiting so long for it.
avidreader8725's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Misogyny, Suicide, Homophobia, and Infidelity
rosebeccs's review
3.0
Deeply topical for the current moment, done in a really interesting way. I really enjoyed that it leans into everyone's flaws. It's a booked packed full of imperfect people who make questionable decisions. And yet you can understand what drives them, even in their mistakes. It did keep the surprises up and kept adding to the story throughout.
My one issue is that it starts to get a little repetitive. It feels more like the author had concepts they wanted to address rather than a fully developed plot, so we end up fully centred around a handful of key moments. That makes sense given the situation our protagonist finds herself in but it's not so interesting as a reader. Continually returning to not only the same themes but the exact same incidents got a bit wearing.
Nevertheless, it has a lot to say about misogyny, the pressure of the public eye, surveillance culture, and the harm of online trolling. There couldn't be a more appropriate time to release something like this, and writing it from the angle of an MP is a particularly adept move. Definitely sets it apart from the crowd and I am glad to have read it. Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for the ARC.
My one issue is that it starts to get a little repetitive. It feels more like the author had concepts they wanted to address rather than a fully developed plot, so we end up fully centred around a handful of key moments. That makes sense given the situation our protagonist finds herself in but it's not so interesting as a reader. Continually returning to not only the same themes but the exact same incidents got a bit wearing.
Nevertheless, it has a lot to say about misogyny, the pressure of the public eye, surveillance culture, and the harm of online trolling. There couldn't be a more appropriate time to release something like this, and writing it from the angle of an MP is a particularly adept move. Definitely sets it apart from the crowd and I am glad to have read it. Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for the ARC.
tanyatanya's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
caszriel's review against another edition
4.0
Initial thoughts: Okay the only thing going through my mind right now is that the year is 2022 and we're less than a month away from Anatomy of a Scandal being a TV show on Netflix, something which I am extremely excited for. I will share actual thoughts about this book soon, but extremely brief thoughts are that I loved the complexity of the characters though at times I struggled to connect with the book because of its psychological thriller element, which seems to be a theme with the genre.
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~ I received a copy from HarperCollins NZ and willingly reviewed it~
Unfortunately, I think I'm still waiting for the day when psychological thrillers live up to their concepts. Like many others of this genre I've read, I love the premise of Reputation, but not so much the execution. That's not at all saying it was bad, in fact far from it; more that I wonder how much more I would've enjoyed it if I had connected with the characters more.
I was so expected for Reputation to tackle British politics from the perpsective of a female MP; the idea seemed promising and who better to write it than Sarah Vaughan given the brilliance of Anatomy of a Scandal? The government aspect of the novel was as excellent as I expected. The power dynamics, being a woman in a male-dominated world, the role of media in the life of a public figure, were all executed with the level of political astuteness I'd come to expect. Details were not spared in the depiction fo Emma's online hate, a sickening but realistic view of the world for those in positions like her.
What fell short for me in Reputation was the cast. I struggled to care for their plights and that didn't change as I read more. Maybe I felt sorry for Flora in the end, but that was the limit of my emotional investment. I think I was hanging on because of hte plot and themes more than anything else, and it meant some of the more character-driven scenes lost their punch.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read but I maybe wouldn't recommend it if you're a character-driven reader. If you're here for the themes then absolutely check it out but either way, the main thing I have to say after reading Reputation is that you should check out Anatomy of a Scandal for sure.
————————————————————
~ I received a copy from HarperCollins NZ and willingly reviewed it~
Unfortunately, I think I'm still waiting for the day when psychological thrillers live up to their concepts. Like many others of this genre I've read, I love the premise of Reputation, but not so much the execution. That's not at all saying it was bad, in fact far from it; more that I wonder how much more I would've enjoyed it if I had connected with the characters more.
I was so expected for Reputation to tackle British politics from the perpsective of a female MP; the idea seemed promising and who better to write it than Sarah Vaughan given the brilliance of Anatomy of a Scandal? The government aspect of the novel was as excellent as I expected. The power dynamics, being a woman in a male-dominated world, the role of media in the life of a public figure, were all executed with the level of political astuteness I'd come to expect. Details were not spared in the depiction fo Emma's online hate, a sickening but realistic view of the world for those in positions like her.
What fell short for me in Reputation was the cast. I struggled to care for their plights and that didn't change as I read more. Maybe I felt sorry for Flora in the end, but that was the limit of my emotional investment. I think I was hanging on because of hte plot and themes more than anything else, and it meant some of the more character-driven scenes lost their punch.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read but I maybe wouldn't recommend it if you're a character-driven reader. If you're here for the themes then absolutely check it out but either way, the main thing I have to say after reading Reputation is that you should check out Anatomy of a Scandal for sure.
theresey01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sikonat's review against another edition
4.0
Joan Jett might've sang she didn't give a damn about her bad reputation, but in Sarah Vaughan's 'Reputation', its everything for politician Emma Webster.
After sacrificing her marriage for her political career - because of course her initially supportive husband can't handle his wife in the power position, Emma battles her own parliamentary party colleagues as well as those on the opposite side of the bench in order to lobby for a bill to protect women and girls from online abuse. All while receiving online abuse.
Meanwhile her 14 year old daughter Flora encounters her own bullying, but decides on fighting back in a way that would leave her mum embarassed.
Throw in a man dead in her home and Emma's life is turned upside down as she fights to protect her reptuation in court.
Vaughan weaves a slow burn (at times I found the court stuff dragged for me) thriller about women in public life and the misogynistic attacks on their reputation, particularly online where its easy to publish near-threats from behind a screen. It cleverly tackles online abuse from a generational divide, along with the ways men and women - specifically white men and women experience online abuse.
After sacrificing her marriage for her political career - because of course her initially supportive husband can't handle his wife in the power position, Emma battles her own parliamentary party colleagues as well as those on the opposite side of the bench in order to lobby for a bill to protect women and girls from online abuse. All while receiving online abuse.
Meanwhile her 14 year old daughter Flora encounters her own bullying, but decides on fighting back in a way that would leave her mum embarassed.
Throw in a man dead in her home and Emma's life is turned upside down as she fights to protect her reptuation in court.
Vaughan weaves a slow burn (at times I found the court stuff dragged for me) thriller about women in public life and the misogynistic attacks on their reputation, particularly online where its easy to publish near-threats from behind a screen. It cleverly tackles online abuse from a generational divide, along with the ways men and women - specifically white men and women experience online abuse.