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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.
missmelia's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pandasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars rounded up
After reading Anatomy of a Scandal last year, I was excited when I heard Sarah Vaughan was releasing a new book. I enjoyed this one but I'll confess I preferred her first book. This one felt a little slow paced and there were several points where if I considered giving up but I wanted to see how it would be wrapped up and the final events. I liked the POV of Emma, but found the other characters didn't really add a lot to the story which couldn't have been communicated just as well through Emma. I liked the social and feminist angle but at times this felt a little heavy handed. I read most of the book across one or two sittings. Overall, it was enjoyable book that will appeal to fans of the psychological mystery genre. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading Anatomy of a Scandal last year, I was excited when I heard Sarah Vaughan was releasing a new book. I enjoyed this one but I'll confess I preferred her first book. This one felt a little slow paced and there were several points where if I considered giving up but I wanted to see how it would be wrapped up and the final events. I liked the POV of Emma, but found the other characters didn't really add a lot to the story which couldn't have been communicated just as well through Emma. I liked the social and feminist angle but at times this felt a little heavy handed. I read most of the book across one or two sittings. Overall, it was enjoyable book that will appeal to fans of the psychological mystery genre. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
joannebyrne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sophievivien's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fkshg8465's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I have no idea why I finished this book. Breaking it down, subject matter matters to me…and that’s about it. Characters were all unlikable. Prose was mediocre. I think I didn’t have anything better to read last night…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Bullying, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Emotional abuse
wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
Too dark, too twisted, too psychologically messy. Divorced mother devoted to her political career, teen daughter stressed out by her mother's high profile and the threats she gets but doesn't want to say anything. Mother takes a strong political stand, daughter is getting bullied at school and retaliates against the bully and goes way too far and this is where I stopped reading. This is a really unsettling story about unhappy people and I just can't keep watching everything getting worse and worse for them. This is well-written and well-paced but I can't do it.
bags_and_bookz's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Sarah Vaughan
for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.
Sarah Vaughan is a master of raising awareness of controversial themes in her books. The value of reputation of a female politician versus the value of mother-daughter relationship. The sacrifice women has to take in order to achieve career brilliance. The bullying and the vengeance of the bullied. Who is right and who is wrong? How much is too much? What is women place in the world - career or being a mother? Could it be both? Could it be balanced?
All are questions and no answers in the books. Sarah Vaughan makes the reader think and search for answers in his/her own soul. Because there is no right or wrong, mostly. Everyone chooses for themselves.
At any rate, the plot was intriguing, I did not see some twists and turns coming. At the same time, some parts were drugged on and quite boring, some plot lines were underdeveloped and/or not explored enough. I felt like there were more themes to dig into and go deeper, where author chooses only to lightly brush.
Overall, it is still a good solid book which made me think and question many concepts. Pick it up and think for yourself.
for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.
Sarah Vaughan is a master of raising awareness of controversial themes in her books. The value of reputation of a female politician versus the value of mother-daughter relationship. The sacrifice women has to take in order to achieve career brilliance. The bullying and the vengeance of the bullied. Who is right and who is wrong? How much is too much? What is women place in the world - career or being a mother? Could it be both? Could it be balanced?
All are questions and no answers in the books. Sarah Vaughan makes the reader think and search for answers in his/her own soul. Because there is no right or wrong, mostly. Everyone chooses for themselves.
At any rate, the plot was intriguing, I did not see some twists and turns coming. At the same time, some parts were drugged on and quite boring, some plot lines were underdeveloped and/or not explored enough. I felt like there were more themes to dig into and go deeper, where author chooses only to lightly brush.
Overall, it is still a good solid book which made me think and question many concepts. Pick it up and think for yourself.