A review by hazmatzo
Hot Copy by Ruby Barrett

challenging funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

There are a lot of stories out there with a male boss and a female intern, etc., and this book intrigued me for being the opposite.

In a typical boss romance, he’s powerful and rich, exceedingly handsome. The morals are sort of discussed, but it’s mostly a fantasy, so we’re not really worried about him losing his job. 

In Hot Copy, the “boss” receives about equal amounts of sexual harassment from her own boss as she engages in sexy time with her intern. We’re not given a female power fantasy where we’re just a villain taking advantage of a sweet man who takes care of all our needs at a whim. Instead, we’re being given a look in both directions so that we can ponder the morality of office romances when there are power dynamics… which I’m not really sure I wanted.

You’re also VERY worried she’ll lose her job, because office romances with one’s intern are NOT OK. And for the most part we don’t let women off in life like we do for men. 

The office misogyny was probably real somewhere, but I’ll add, working in a male-dominated field, that sometimes the sexism at the office is a bit more understated, but no less impactful. I wish some of the subtler aspects of workplace sexism had been captured instead of the outright “she’s a c*”. Instead, the subtle exclusions, the “we are proud of our diverse workforce” all while not hiring or promoting the qualified candidates of underrepresented groups. Talking over women and then saying “You never speak up”. It also didn’t touch on racism, it was all about the sexism.

Corinne and Wesley’s romance and chemistry was reasonable. I really enjoyed that Corinne was just a bit brittle. I really enjoyed that she also didn’t want kids. I especially loved that Wesley was set up very much as a caretaker. Although, despite the fact that women who don’t want kids are way too underrepresented, because Wesley was so strong as a caretaker, part of me wanted this story to end with him as the house husband and her as the high powered exec. Alas! 

Gave me a lot to mull over, but wanted a slightly different story. 

3.5 / 5 stars
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