A review by kberry513
Startup by Doree Shafrir

3.0

I struggled with how to rate this book because for me it was only an eh/ok read, mostly because I didn't really like any of the characters. I'm not sure if it's bc I couldn't really identify with Sabrina even though I'm closer in age to her character but was born much closer to when Isabel, so as a result a lot of the sort of complaints Sabrina has about Isabel's generation apply to me (eg still being a child when home internet access came about), but I am now in my early 30s and so don't fit into the 20s stage the way Isabel and Katya do. HOWEVER I do think it addresses some really important things about the tech industry, mainly that as a whole it is majorly lacking in diversity, and the current men in charge are extremely touchy about it to the point where even when things like blatant sexual harassment happen, it's generally the woman who gets attacked for it and the guy gets all defensive and claims to be a victim the way Mack does here. I've worked in tech my whole career and have been lucky that any sexism I'm faced has been very minor, but 90% of the time I've been the only woman in the room and that's extremely telling.

However, I found the ending was unsatisfying - it just sort of stopped. Mack sort of gets his comeuppance but Dan doesn't really.and maybe I was just tired and not catching on, but it ends with something along the lines of "and Sabrina knew exactly what she was going to do next" but what the eff is it??

The characters being unlikeable isn't necessarily a deal breaker for me, I just probably won't reread it. That being said, it definitely brings up some interesting discussion points - I think it would be a decent book club book.