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drumrollplease1's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read about the inner-workings of millennial culture. It kept me entertained and interested.
anitaashland's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fun read if you're interested in entrepreneurs and start up culture and are in need of a light read. It pokes fun at that culture and has a fast paced plot.
whitneymouse's review against another edition
3.0
I'm feeling conflicted about this book, to be honest.
The writing was excellent. It was engaging and made you want to keep reading. I'm not denying Ms. Shafrir has a talent for narrative writing. I'm just not sure how I feel about the narrative as a whole.
There are five main characters: Katya, a reporter who is the daughter of Russian immigrants; Sabrina, a Korean-American mother of two in a huge amount of debt and with a crumbling marriage; Isabel, a senior staff member at one of the main companies; Mack, the CEO of TakeOff; and Dan, Sabrina's husband and Katya's boss.
Both of the male characters are terrible and are basically the same person. The main conflict stems from Mack sexually harassing Isabel. At the start of the novel, he claims to be "in love" with this woman, but she clearly has moved on from their casual relationship and is in a serious relationship with someone else. This causes Mack to send her inappropriate pictures and increasingly become hostile towards Isabel, causing her to quit. Katya writes a story about it and in the end, Mack ends up having to resign as CEO. While I think it's important that he resigned, there is basically no resolution to this plot. Isabel gets threats on Twitter in the last chapter and that's it...no resolution.
Dan is an alcoholic cheater who kisses his subordinate, Katya, and THIS IS NEVER BROUGHT UP WITH HIS WIFE! Sabrina has plenty of her own issues, stemming from a shopping addiction that puts her and her family into crippling debt, but Dan yells at her about the debt, yells at her about the "side job" she's doing to pay down the debt, is barely there for his kids, comes home late and drunk multiple times throughout the story and there are basically NO repercussions for him. He's obsessed with taking down Mack for being terrible and sexually harassing people, but he's no better. When Katya spurns his advances and gets upset about something else messed up he did (more on that in a minute), he tells her to "take the day off", repeating what Mack tells Isabel. So how is he any different than this man he hates? He's not.
In addition to being a terrible boss, husband and father, Dan runs a Twitter account that he feels speaks for "marginalized tech workers"....despite the fact that he is a 40-year-old, white male. He heavily implies he's black while running this account and does not understand why that's an issue that he, as a 40-year-old, white male, is taking it upon himself to "speak for" tech workers that are marginalized. It never gets resolved other than a brief moment where his wife feels she needs to apologize for his behavior, which is ridiculous.
The parts that satire tech culture are mildly funny. Some of the companies mentioned, while contemporary now, might make the book feel dated in a few years. All in all, I can see from a writing standpoint why some are excited about this, but from a story standpoint, I feel it took on some heavy issues without real resolution or any encouragement to move someone to do something about these issues.
The writing was excellent. It was engaging and made you want to keep reading. I'm not denying Ms. Shafrir has a talent for narrative writing. I'm just not sure how I feel about the narrative as a whole.
There are five main characters: Katya, a reporter who is the daughter of Russian immigrants; Sabrina, a Korean-American mother of two in a huge amount of debt and with a crumbling marriage; Isabel, a senior staff member at one of the main companies; Mack, the CEO of TakeOff; and Dan, Sabrina's husband and Katya's boss.
Both of the male characters are terrible and are basically the same person. The main conflict stems from Mack sexually harassing Isabel. At the start of the novel, he claims to be "in love" with this woman, but she clearly has moved on from their casual relationship and is in a serious relationship with someone else. This causes Mack to send her inappropriate pictures and increasingly become hostile towards Isabel, causing her to quit. Katya writes a story about it and in the end, Mack ends up having to resign as CEO. While I think it's important that he resigned, there is basically no resolution to this plot. Isabel gets threats on Twitter in the last chapter and that's it...no resolution.
Dan is an alcoholic cheater who kisses his subordinate, Katya, and THIS IS NEVER BROUGHT UP WITH HIS WIFE! Sabrina has plenty of her own issues, stemming from a shopping addiction that puts her and her family into crippling debt, but Dan yells at her about the debt, yells at her about the "side job" she's doing to pay down the debt, is barely there for his kids, comes home late and drunk multiple times throughout the story and there are basically NO repercussions for him. He's obsessed with taking down Mack for being terrible and sexually harassing people, but he's no better. When Katya spurns his advances and gets upset about something else messed up he did (more on that in a minute), he tells her to "take the day off", repeating what Mack tells Isabel. So how is he any different than this man he hates? He's not.
In addition to being a terrible boss, husband and father, Dan runs a Twitter account that he feels speaks for "marginalized tech workers"....despite the fact that he is a 40-year-old, white male. He heavily implies he's black while running this account and does not understand why that's an issue that he, as a 40-year-old, white male, is taking it upon himself to "speak for" tech workers that are marginalized. It never gets resolved other than a brief moment where his wife feels she needs to apologize for his behavior, which is ridiculous.
The parts that satire tech culture are mildly funny. Some of the companies mentioned, while contemporary now, might make the book feel dated in a few years. All in all, I can see from a writing standpoint why some are excited about this, but from a story standpoint, I feel it took on some heavy issues without real resolution or any encouragement to move someone to do something about these issues.
schray32's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars... entertaining but very fluff. So much brand name dropping that it seemed odd. Almost like one big commercial.
itsolivia's review against another edition
3.0
The deal: A fictional account of lots of juicy drama happening between a bunch of startup and tech mag employees from Doree Shafrir - former Buzzfeed journalist and current co-host of the podcast Forever 35.
Is it worth it?: It’s just fine. Not sure I’d enthusiastically recommend this, but it’s definitely not bad. If you want a fluffy beach read sort of thing, have at it. However, I would enthusiastically recommend Forever 35. It’s the most consistently soothing discussion of everything from serums to SSRIs I’ve heard in a long time.
Pairs well with: putting your phone down
B-
Is it worth it?: It’s just fine. Not sure I’d enthusiastically recommend this, but it’s definitely not bad. If you want a fluffy beach read sort of thing, have at it. However, I would enthusiastically recommend Forever 35. It’s the most consistently soothing discussion of everything from serums to SSRIs I’ve heard in a long time.
Pairs well with: putting your phone down
B-
jessksimpson's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was good until the ending. If you can even call that ending. Unless I missed something, it felt like the author just quit writing. I was shocked when I turned the page to find out that that was the last chapter. (Read it digitally so wasn’t paying attention to how many chapters were left) maybe some can help me out with this one?
Aside from that, I enjoy the millennial-ness of it and the tech side. Those part were pretty spot on!
Aside from that, I enjoy the millennial-ness of it and the tech side. Those part were pretty spot on!
dianametzger's review against another edition
3.0
A big mehhh to this one. For a book that seemed to be pro women in tech, the female characters felt so flat and half baked. And I felt like I was being told there were stakes and drama instead of feeling the characters risks. Just didn't feel like the juicy look into start up culture I'd hoped for.
abbywdan's review against another edition
4.0
I know basically nothing about the world of startups or the world of journalists, so I can’t speak to how realistic or juicy-fied this story is, but I don’t care! It was an enjoyable read that picked up momentum and depth as it went on. My instinct was to go, “AND THEN WHAT??” at the end, but having sat with it for a month or so, I’m happy with where the novel ended, and I think of the whole thing as a kind of complex still life of its ensemble of characters. Read it!
quietdomino's review against another edition
2.0
I appreciate the effort to satirize the gross tech bro culture, but this attempt is so slight as to barely leave a nail mark.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advanced copy of Doree Shafrir's novel, Startup, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- TakeOff, a New York based tech company, is poised to be the next big thing. Its founder, Mack, is externally confident and cocky, but he has secrets. Mack is desperate for funding, his company is on the brink of failure, and Isabel, a beautiful employee that he has casually slept with, has a new boyfriend. She is no longer interest in Mack. In a moment of desperation, Mack sends Isabel compromising pictures of himself, an action which creates gossip and jeopardizes his fragile startup.
Downstairs, in the same building as Takeoff, is a newsroom, filled with desperate tech reporters, who depend on social media traffic to keep their jobs. Katya is a young journalist, who inadvertently lands a lead on the problems occurring at Takeoff. Her lead involves, Sabrina, who happens to both work at Takeoff, and who is the wife of Katya's boss, Dan. Dan and Sabrina are in their mid-thirties, struggling with both their marriage and keeping afloat working in a younger persons industry. Dan is hiding a secret crush that he has on Katya. Sabrina is hiding a massive debt that she has incurred from shopping.
How long can these characters keep up their lies, before the lives implode?
LIKE- Startup is a fun read. I have to admit that it also made me anxious. One of the major themes is the fear of missing out. For example, early in the novel, we see the characters struggling to keep up with their social media accounts, both with regard to adding personal content and staying current with others. This is even more extreme, when you realize that Katya's job depends on things like Twitter: it's not just personal, but it's her career.
We are introduced to both Mack and Katya, as they attend an early morning rave in Manhattan. The rave is designed to get the day started and rather than alcohol, the dancing/music is accompanied by juice drinks. Naturally, the characters have to instagram that they were at the rave, because why even go, if you don't share what you've done? If you don't document it, it doesn't matter. Shafrir nails her assessment of the current state of our society and while my social media behavior is nowhere near as extreme as her characters, I've felt that anxiety of keeping up. It's a hamster wheel.
Also relatable, is the dynamic between Dan/ Sabrina vs their much younger co-workers. Dan and Sabrina are in their late 30's, yet next to their coworkers, they feel somewhat irrelevant or washed-up. They are the only characters with children, something their coworkers view as an aspiration for the distant future, which truthfully is only ten-fifteen years away. It's this dynamic that sets a rather desperate tone for both Sabrina and Dan. Dan looks to recapture his youth by going after Katya and Sabrina tries to compensate by buying trendy clothes. Neither of these are the answer of course, but they keep digging themselves into deeper holes. I don't ever feel that their coworkers are actively trying to make them feel less-than, more that it's a self-imposed category.
Startup is funny, timely, and a cautionary tale. It has a wonderful women-power, feminist twist. Part of what drew me to her book is Shafrir's background as journalist and former writer at Buzzfeed. Shafrir's writing sparkles and she has created memorable characters.
DISLIKE- This is minor, but I wish that the Shafrir had gotten into the heads of the male characters more, given them more depth. By the end of the novel they came across as egotistical, pigs and for a story with so many layers, I felt she could have gone deeper here.
RECOMMEND- Yes. My husband isn't much of a reader, but for the tech aspect and themes, I was even recommending Startup to him. Shafrir has a strong voice and she has a tight grasp of current topics. With the current technology and associated lingo, I think this novel will date very quickly, but for now, it's a trendy, on-point read. It will make you think twice about updating your social media accounts. Of course, I'm headed off to tell put out a blast that I read Startup.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- TakeOff, a New York based tech company, is poised to be the next big thing. Its founder, Mack, is externally confident and cocky, but he has secrets. Mack is desperate for funding, his company is on the brink of failure, and Isabel, a beautiful employee that he has casually slept with, has a new boyfriend. She is no longer interest in Mack. In a moment of desperation, Mack sends Isabel compromising pictures of himself, an action which creates gossip and jeopardizes his fragile startup.
Downstairs, in the same building as Takeoff, is a newsroom, filled with desperate tech reporters, who depend on social media traffic to keep their jobs. Katya is a young journalist, who inadvertently lands a lead on the problems occurring at Takeoff. Her lead involves, Sabrina, who happens to both work at Takeoff, and who is the wife of Katya's boss, Dan. Dan and Sabrina are in their mid-thirties, struggling with both their marriage and keeping afloat working in a younger persons industry. Dan is hiding a secret crush that he has on Katya. Sabrina is hiding a massive debt that she has incurred from shopping.
How long can these characters keep up their lies, before the lives implode?
LIKE- Startup is a fun read. I have to admit that it also made me anxious. One of the major themes is the fear of missing out. For example, early in the novel, we see the characters struggling to keep up with their social media accounts, both with regard to adding personal content and staying current with others. This is even more extreme, when you realize that Katya's job depends on things like Twitter: it's not just personal, but it's her career.
We are introduced to both Mack and Katya, as they attend an early morning rave in Manhattan. The rave is designed to get the day started and rather than alcohol, the dancing/music is accompanied by juice drinks. Naturally, the characters have to instagram that they were at the rave, because why even go, if you don't share what you've done? If you don't document it, it doesn't matter. Shafrir nails her assessment of the current state of our society and while my social media behavior is nowhere near as extreme as her characters, I've felt that anxiety of keeping up. It's a hamster wheel.
Also relatable, is the dynamic between Dan/ Sabrina vs their much younger co-workers. Dan and Sabrina are in their late 30's, yet next to their coworkers, they feel somewhat irrelevant or washed-up. They are the only characters with children, something their coworkers view as an aspiration for the distant future, which truthfully is only ten-fifteen years away. It's this dynamic that sets a rather desperate tone for both Sabrina and Dan. Dan looks to recapture his youth by going after Katya and Sabrina tries to compensate by buying trendy clothes. Neither of these are the answer of course, but they keep digging themselves into deeper holes. I don't ever feel that their coworkers are actively trying to make them feel less-than, more that it's a self-imposed category.
Startup is funny, timely, and a cautionary tale. It has a wonderful women-power, feminist twist. Part of what drew me to her book is Shafrir's background as journalist and former writer at Buzzfeed. Shafrir's writing sparkles and she has created memorable characters.
DISLIKE- This is minor, but I wish that the Shafrir had gotten into the heads of the male characters more, given them more depth. By the end of the novel they came across as egotistical, pigs and for a story with so many layers, I felt she could have gone deeper here.
RECOMMEND- Yes. My husband isn't much of a reader, but for the tech aspect and themes, I was even recommending Startup to him. Shafrir has a strong voice and she has a tight grasp of current topics. With the current technology and associated lingo, I think this novel will date very quickly, but for now, it's a trendy, on-point read. It will make you think twice about updating your social media accounts. Of course, I'm headed off to tell put out a blast that I read Startup.
Like my review? Check out my blog!