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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Intriguing premise, boring execution.
Hoping the TV show is better.
It feels like there was potential for a good commentary on society, but it never actually happens. It felt like reading a very dry recount of events that are supposed to be intertwined but they don't seem like they are. The 3 narrative POVs blend together and rarely give you any real insight into the characters' minds. It all feels really pulled back so it kind of defeats the purpose of varying POVs. The ending didn't feel like anything other than trying to shock the reader. The whole book is centered around sexual assault and we're supposed to feel what exactly when the men get in 'trouble" for a male-victim crime? Is that supposed to be the conclusion? Doubt that it was intentional. Let's just say that I wasn't surprised when I read the author was a journalist - the facts were all there but it lacked soul.
Hoping the TV show is better.
It feels like there was potential for a good commentary on society, but it never actually happens. It felt like reading a very dry recount of events that are supposed to be intertwined but they don't seem like they are. The 3 narrative POVs blend together and rarely give you any real insight into the characters' minds. It all feels really pulled back so it kind of defeats the purpose of varying POVs. The ending didn't feel like anything other than trying to shock the reader. The whole book is centered around sexual assault and we're supposed to feel what exactly when the men get in 'trouble" for a male-victim crime? Is that supposed to be the conclusion? Doubt that it was intentional. Let's just say that I wasn't surprised when I read the author was a journalist - the facts were all there but it lacked soul.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A silly book, unfortunately, on a very serious subject. I would say that the plot turns on a preposterous gimmick, but it doesn't -- the gimmick is there all right, but its impact on the plot is negligible.
“Men can make fools of us all.”
I received this book as part of a Sarah Vaughan trilogy from a giveaway done by Atria Books so thank you!
Anatomy of a Scandal is a book about a high profile politician who is standing on trial due to an allegation of rape. His wife wants to believe he is innocent, but his prosecutor, who is taking this case personally, is adamant about destroying him.
This was my first time reading a courtroom drama and I enjoyed it. It did start out a little slow, and I think some scenes were drawn out longer than they needed to be, but it was very descriptive so I could really picture what was happening. The flashbacks were done really well, and I was surprised to see how the characters were connected to each other.
This book really put white male privilege on display because James and his friends deem themselves “invincible,” and we learn that they have gotten away with much worse with no consequences. There were several times when I wanted to throw my book across the room because I was so mad.
This book kind of put me in a reading slump so it took me way longer to finish that it should have, but overall all it was a pretty good courtroom drama. I would most definitely suggest checking the TW before reading!
I received this book as part of a Sarah Vaughan trilogy from a giveaway done by Atria Books so thank you!
Anatomy of a Scandal is a book about a high profile politician who is standing on trial due to an allegation of rape. His wife wants to believe he is innocent, but his prosecutor, who is taking this case personally, is adamant about destroying him.
This was my first time reading a courtroom drama and I enjoyed it. It did start out a little slow, and I think some scenes were drawn out longer than they needed to be, but it was very descriptive so I could really picture what was happening. The flashbacks were done really well, and I was surprised to see how the characters were connected to each other.
This book really put white male privilege on display because James and his friends deem themselves “invincible,” and we learn that they have gotten away with much worse with no consequences. There were several times when I wanted to throw my book across the room because I was so mad.
This book kind of put me in a reading slump so it took me way longer to finish that it should have, but overall all it was a pretty good courtroom drama. I would most definitely suggest checking the TW before reading!
Left slightly disappointed. It took me ages to get into the story as it was a lot of back and forth between different people, time, and places. The twist mid-way through brought me back and I eagerly read through the court room scenes waiting for the result, but once that was over it lost me again. Lost of description and not a lot interaction between characters.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Drug abuse
This is the story of Kate, Sophie and James... and how their lives collide in a rape trial that will leave all of them marked for life. Ready for a Scandal?
I will make some spoilers with my review, so be advised!
This has been a disturbing read, reading about a rape trial is not easy and the thought of the rapist going free simply for lying is shameful.
Let me explain, the book is very well written, slow paced and with a few surprising twists. Told between the past and the presents of our main characters to put us on scene and that make us understand their story and their thoughts. What I didn't like is how in a moment where the women are trying to stop violence against women and sexual assaults, this book, with simply a lie in the court, the rapist could go free, without any doubt from the jury. Sorry, no rapist should go free, neither in fiction or in reality, a woman that has been assaulted had to suffer the rape and the sadness to repeat the experience in voice a lot of times, so no excuse, no rapist should go free!
What makes me more angry is that the "alleged" rapist, James, is in the politician career, has money and a lot of contacts, and of course he is handsome and perfect to charm everyone. So he knows that no matter what the woman says, he will go free.
Sophie, James wife, is more sad that his husband was cheating on her that the possible rape, and is ready to forgive him for the health of their children! Really? Would you like your kids to grow up with a rapist and a cheater? Sorry, not me.
And the last one, Kate, the glue of the story, the devil's lawyer, a cold woman that just lives to solve cases, is ready to put James in prison... but will she win?
Take a breath and start reading Anatomy Of A Scandal, the controversy is served.
I will make some spoilers with my review, so be advised!
This has been a disturbing read, reading about a rape trial is not easy and the thought of the rapist going free simply for lying is shameful.
Let me explain, the book is very well written, slow paced and with a few surprising twists. Told between the past and the presents of our main characters to put us on scene and that make us understand their story and their thoughts. What I didn't like is how in a moment where the women are trying to stop violence against women and sexual assaults, this book, with simply a lie in the court, the rapist could go free, without any doubt from the jury. Sorry, no rapist should go free, neither in fiction or in reality, a woman that has been assaulted had to suffer the rape and the sadness to repeat the experience in voice a lot of times, so no excuse, no rapist should go free!
What makes me more angry is that the "alleged" rapist, James, is in the politician career, has money and a lot of contacts, and of course he is handsome and perfect to charm everyone. So he knows that no matter what the woman says, he will go free.
Sophie, James wife, is more sad that his husband was cheating on her that the possible rape, and is ready to forgive him for the health of their children! Really? Would you like your kids to grow up with a rapist and a cheater? Sorry, not me.
And the last one, Kate, the glue of the story, the devil's lawyer, a cold woman that just lives to solve cases, is ready to put James in prison... but will she win?
Take a breath and start reading Anatomy Of A Scandal, the controversy is served.
A thrilling, suspenseful read! My heart was downright pounding at several instances.
There was a supposed plot twist, though, that I figured out just before it was revealed, I was so proud of myself. ^^
There was a supposed plot twist, though, that I figured out just before it was revealed, I was so proud of myself. ^^
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
I cannot believe I finished this in one day. I feel so hyped-up and angry.
This is a traumatic story. I went into it without reading the blurb and for some reason I thought it's about a messy divorce with twists and turns. It's not. It's a story about a rape case. Lots of traumatic stuff in there, so be warned.
I was annoyed by the shift in narrative at first. It was hard to keep up with these new names and stories, but as the story progressed I came to enjoy the shift in narrative. I wish the author would have paced it better, though.
I think the book held my attention well, but sometimes I felt so disinterested in the events taking place. I guess the book could have been trimmed a little.
All in all, it was a pretty interesting read.
This is a traumatic story. I went into it without reading the blurb and for some reason I thought it's about a messy divorce with twists and turns. It's not. It's a story about a rape case. Lots of traumatic stuff in there, so be warned.
I was annoyed by the shift in narrative at first. It was hard to keep up with these new names and stories, but as the story progressed I came to enjoy the shift in narrative. I wish the author would have paced it better, though.
I think the book held my attention well, but sometimes I felt so disinterested in the events taking place. I guess the book could have been trimmed a little.
All in all, it was a pretty interesting read.
3.5/5 ⭐️
From the beginning I wasn’t very captivated with the author's writing nor the plot and story. Despite that, I continued reading and it was enjoyable but I feel like the plot is very simple and could be more explored, it's all too predictable... overall I expected something better!
From the beginning I wasn’t very captivated with the author's writing nor the plot and story. Despite that, I continued reading and it was enjoyable but I feel like the plot is very simple and could be more explored, it's all too predictable... overall I expected something better!