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A review by caseys_chapters
The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
After a speedy marriage, newlyweds Asha and Cyrus create a social media platform that intelligently designs rituals for users based on their values. It becomes a huge success, but also expands into risky areas while straining their relationship.
I appreciated the story’s modern, important themes: the dangers of social media, how women are sidelined in relationships and business (especially tech), and the fine line between humanity and technology. These should be explored in fiction more!
However, the writing style wasn’t for me. It was too blatant and over the top at times. Plus there were odd similes (air conditioning is like walking in milk, for example) and hyper-specific details that might not age well. Maybe that’s a satire thing?
Although I didn’t totally love it, I bet a lot of people would enjoy The Startup Wife and I can see it thriving on screen. It’s relevant with an unprecedented social media concept that makes for great discussion.
Note: the story includes suicide and the pandemic. You may want to consider these elements before diving in.
I appreciated the story’s modern, important themes: the dangers of social media, how women are sidelined in relationships and business (especially tech), and the fine line between humanity and technology. These should be explored in fiction more!
However, the writing style wasn’t for me. It was too blatant and over the top at times. Plus there were odd similes (air conditioning is like walking in milk, for example) and hyper-specific details that might not age well. Maybe that’s a satire thing?
Although I didn’t totally love it, I bet a lot of people would enjoy The Startup Wife and I can see it thriving on screen. It’s relevant with an unprecedented social media concept that makes for great discussion.
Note: the story includes suicide and the pandemic. You may want to consider these elements before diving in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide