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The Partner Track
A young attorney must choose between the prestige of partnership and the American Dream that she — and her immigrant parents — have come so close to achieving in this riveting debut
In the eyes of her corporate law firm, Ingrid Yung is a "two-fer." As a Chinese-American woman about to be ushered into the elite rank of partner, she's the face of Parsons Valentine & Hunt LLP's recruiting brochures--their treasured "Golden Girl." But behind the firm’s welcoming façade lies the scotch-sipping, cigar-smoking old-boy network that shuts out lawyers like Ingrid. To compensate, Ingrid gamely plays in the softball league, schmoozes in the corporate cafeteria, and puts in the billable hours — until a horrifically offensive performance at the law firm's annual summer outing throws the carefully constructed image way out of equilibrium. Scrambling to do damage control, Parsons Valentine announces a new "Diversity Initiative" and commands a reluctant Ingrid to spearhead the effort, taking her priority away from the enormous deal that was to be the final step in securing partnership. For the first time, Ingrid finds herself at odds with her colleagues — including her handsome, golden-boy boyfriend — in a clash of class, race, and sexual politics.
"Smart, incisive, and fast-paced, THE PARTNER TRACK is a sparklingly readable look at the inner workings of a Wall Street law firm -- from the vantage point of a brainy, beautiful and self-doubting Asian-American associate. Wan has the remarkable ability to make you feel as if "you are there" -- inside the law firm, inside protagonist Ingrid Yung's head. I did not want to put this book down." –Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of "QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"
"A wholly engrossing behind-the-scenes look at real life behind the pomp, power and prestige of a high-powered law firm that wants to still play by a 1950s rule book." –Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus, co-authors of "Citizen Girl"
"Hell hath no fury like Helen Wan's savvy heroine in this terrific debut. We all know women like Ingrid Yung: the well-educated over-achiever who does everything right to ensure a long, productive journey on a lucrative career path. But what happens when someone blows up the path? The Partner Track is a delicious, satisfying read for anyone who has fantasized about getting the better of the boss, the ex-lover, the corporate powers that be--or all three. Ingrid Yung has done it for all of us." –Kristin van Ogtrop, editor of REAL SIMPLE
"Behind Helen Wan's wit and sparkling prose is a poignant and at times, painfully honest tale of loyalty, ambition and sacrifice. Funny, fragile, sometimes bold, often unsure, Ingrid Yung is one of those unforgettable heroines that you actually miss, like a dear friend, when the story’s over." –Ann Leary, New York Times bestselling author of "The Good House"
"What a terrific debut novel. Ingrid Yung is a fresh, funny, and fearless heroine. Her razor-sharp wit and keen observations of gender, race and class politics in corporate America make THE PARTNER TRACK an entertaining, engrossing and ultimately deeply compelling read." –Cristina Alger, author of "The Darlings"
"The Partner Track is a marvelous story about female ambition and power, about betrayal, identity, and the conflict between self-interest and desire. In short: all the big, human stuff. Read it." –Alison Clement, author of "Twenty Questions"
In the eyes of her corporate law firm, Ingrid Yung is a "two-fer." As a Chinese-American woman about to be ushered into the elite rank of partner, she's the face of Parsons Valentine & Hunt LLP's recruiting brochures--their treasured "Golden Girl." But behind the firm’s welcoming façade lies the scotch-sipping, cigar-smoking old-boy network that shuts out lawyers like Ingrid. To compensate, Ingrid gamely plays in the softball league, schmoozes in the corporate cafeteria, and puts in the billable hours — until a horrifically offensive performance at the law firm's annual summer outing throws the carefully constructed image way out of equilibrium. Scrambling to do damage control, Parsons Valentine announces a new "Diversity Initiative" and commands a reluctant Ingrid to spearhead the effort, taking her priority away from the enormous deal that was to be the final step in securing partnership. For the first time, Ingrid finds herself at odds with her colleagues — including her handsome, golden-boy boyfriend — in a clash of class, race, and sexual politics.
"Smart, incisive, and fast-paced, THE PARTNER TRACK is a sparklingly readable look at the inner workings of a Wall Street law firm -- from the vantage point of a brainy, beautiful and self-doubting Asian-American associate. Wan has the remarkable ability to make you feel as if "you are there" -- inside the law firm, inside protagonist Ingrid Yung's head. I did not want to put this book down." –Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of "QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"
"A wholly engrossing behind-the-scenes look at real life behind the pomp, power and prestige of a high-powered law firm that wants to still play by a 1950s rule book." –Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus, co-authors of "Citizen Girl"
"Hell hath no fury like Helen Wan's savvy heroine in this terrific debut. We all know women like Ingrid Yung: the well-educated over-achiever who does everything right to ensure a long, productive journey on a lucrative career path. But what happens when someone blows up the path? The Partner Track is a delicious, satisfying read for anyone who has fantasized about getting the better of the boss, the ex-lover, the corporate powers that be--or all three. Ingrid Yung has done it for all of us." –Kristin van Ogtrop, editor of REAL SIMPLE
"Behind Helen Wan's wit and sparkling prose is a poignant and at times, painfully honest tale of loyalty, ambition and sacrifice. Funny, fragile, sometimes bold, often unsure, Ingrid Yung is one of those unforgettable heroines that you actually miss, like a dear friend, when the story’s over." –Ann Leary, New York Times bestselling author of "The Good House"
"What a terrific debut novel. Ingrid Yung is a fresh, funny, and fearless heroine. Her razor-sharp wit and keen observations of gender, race and class politics in corporate America make THE PARTNER TRACK an entertaining, engrossing and ultimately deeply compelling read." –Cristina Alger, author of "The Darlings"
"The Partner Track is a marvelous story about female ambition and power, about betrayal, identity, and the conflict between self-interest and desire. In short: all the big, human stuff. Read it." –Alison Clement, author of "Twenty Questions"
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2013
416 people are currently reading
10862 people want to read
About the author
Helen Wan
2 books142 followersHELEN WAN is Associate General Counsel at the Time Inc. division of Time Warner Inc. Before that, she practiced corporate and media law at law firms in New York. Born in California and raised near Washington, D.C., Wan is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Virginia School of Law. Her essays and reviews of fiction have been published in "The Washington Post" and elsewhere. She lives in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with her husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 726 reviews
October 30, 2017
I picked this novel up from the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble because I could not get the wifi to work in my hotel room while at a conference and didn't want to be bored with nothing to do. I expected it to be breezy and lightweight, but it was surprisingly well written, reflective and enjoyable, to the extent that sexism and anti-diversity sentiments can be enjoyable.
This was an interesting story about discrimination from the point of view of Ingrid Yung, a Chinese American corporate lawyer trying to make partner at a Manhattan law firm.
Her former secretary had told her, "I don't like sushi, no offense." The senior partner demanded that she be on the revitalized Diversity Committee, for damage control, after a racist parody was performed by some associates at a firm outing. A lady approached her at a coffee shop and told her to give her a call because her friends needed a good nanny who "spoke Asian."
I read the book in two days because I wanted to know what would happen next and how she was going to balance assimilation, ambition and self-identity and keep her sanity intact.
Of course I've read (and written) books about discrimination against African-Americans and the story about the challenges of people of other races navigating a majority-culture society is always insightful and I appreciated the many parallels.
This was an interesting story about discrimination from the point of view of Ingrid Yung, a Chinese American corporate lawyer trying to make partner at a Manhattan law firm.
Her former secretary had told her, "I don't like sushi, no offense." The senior partner demanded that she be on the revitalized Diversity Committee, for damage control, after a racist parody was performed by some associates at a firm outing. A lady approached her at a coffee shop and told her to give her a call because her friends needed a good nanny who "spoke Asian."
I read the book in two days because I wanted to know what would happen next and how she was going to balance assimilation, ambition and self-identity and keep her sanity intact.
Of course I've read (and written) books about discrimination against African-Americans and the story about the challenges of people of other races navigating a majority-culture society is always insightful and I appreciated the many parallels.
August 14, 2022
I have a feeling within the next few months people will quickly be picking up this book for the exact same reason I did… the soon to be Netflix show.
Let’s just get this out the way… I think the trailer for the show is a little misleading with saying it’s based off this book, because from what I saw they don’t seem like they’ll have much in common, but honestly I think that’s okay.
TPT is far from the gooey lovey trailer I’d seen and a lot more
And I was here for it!!!
I went in thinking that this book was going to be a semi spicy office romance (again thank you Netflix), but got a powerful realistic few on what it’s like being a minority in a white collar male driven industry.
Helen Wan perfectly executes these compete moments of cringe we’ve all experienced or seen. All while having Ingrid, her main character, weave us through her accurate and sometimes gut punching thoughts. Ingrid often finds herself struggling on where she fits in in this white male driven world. To speak up? To keep quiet? Worrying either way if it’ll jeopardize her potential to become a partner at her high profile law office.
"What would it be like, I marveled, to go through life so utterly unwary? So wholly certain of your belonging to a place that it was never necessary to consider how your next move would be perceived?"
I don’t want to give much more of the story away, because I truly think more people should read this and go into it openly.
The only reason this book wasn’t a 5 star read to me is because I felt the ending dragged on a tiny bit too long and yeah I would of liked a bit more romance. I mean who doesn’t lol. That’s really my only complaints.
I might of gone in thinking this story would be one thing, but I’m so happy with what I got.
The Netflix show can be whatever it wants. I just deeply hope they don’t exclude all the important moments Wan so clearly thoughtfully put into her story.
I will gladly treat the show much like I did this novel and binge it!
Let’s just get this out the way… I think the trailer for the show is a little misleading with saying it’s based off this book, because from what I saw they don’t seem like they’ll have much in common, but honestly I think that’s okay.
TPT is far from the gooey lovey trailer I’d seen and a lot more
And I was here for it!!!
I went in thinking that this book was going to be a semi spicy office romance (again thank you Netflix), but got a powerful realistic few on what it’s like being a minority in a white collar male driven industry.
Helen Wan perfectly executes these compete moments of cringe we’ve all experienced or seen. All while having Ingrid, her main character, weave us through her accurate and sometimes gut punching thoughts. Ingrid often finds herself struggling on where she fits in in this white male driven world. To speak up? To keep quiet? Worrying either way if it’ll jeopardize her potential to become a partner at her high profile law office.
"What would it be like, I marveled, to go through life so utterly unwary? So wholly certain of your belonging to a place that it was never necessary to consider how your next move would be perceived?"
I don’t want to give much more of the story away, because I truly think more people should read this and go into it openly.
The only reason this book wasn’t a 5 star read to me is because I felt the ending dragged on a tiny bit too long and yeah I would of liked a bit more romance. I mean who doesn’t lol. That’s really my only complaints.
I might of gone in thinking this story would be one thing, but I’m so happy with what I got.
The Netflix show can be whatever it wants. I just deeply hope they don’t exclude all the important moments Wan so clearly thoughtfully put into her story.
I will gladly treat the show much like I did this novel and binge it!
September 18, 2022
Ingrid Yung works in the corporate practice at global law firm, Parsons Valentine. She’s been working nonstop for 8 years making every effort to be promoted from Associate to Partner — When and if she’s elected, Ingrid will be the first female Asian-American partner at the firm.
Ingrid gets assigned to a new deal working with Marty Adler, a corporate partner and rainmaker at PV. She works late, poring diligently over the details of the deal, hoping her excellent work will continue to be noticed as election season of new partners approaches. While working on this deal, Ingrid also witnesses an offensive performance by other lawyers at an internal firm event and is voluntold to participate in the firm’s diversity initiatives, in a clear move of damage control by PV.
Ingrid has to balance this participation with the big deal, as well as long-held feelings she has toward Jeff Murphy, a fellow corporate associate also up for partner. As Ingrid contends with all of these things simultaneously, she’s forced to evaluate where she stands.
I binge watched The Partner Track series on Netflix a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it! About halfway through watching the series, I decided I’d read the book. Given there are 10 episodes, 40+ minutes each, the show allows more of a deep dive and this is a rare occasion where I’d say I like the adaptation more than the book, however, the book was still good — I think if you liked one, you will like the other. There are differences between the two, but I found no drastic, unlikable changes. The book ending felt a bit neat, especially for how cutthroat the legal world is, however, Ingrid is a character you want to continue rooting for — 3.5 stars
Ingrid gets assigned to a new deal working with Marty Adler, a corporate partner and rainmaker at PV. She works late, poring diligently over the details of the deal, hoping her excellent work will continue to be noticed as election season of new partners approaches. While working on this deal, Ingrid also witnesses an offensive performance by other lawyers at an internal firm event and is voluntold to participate in the firm’s diversity initiatives, in a clear move of damage control by PV.
Ingrid has to balance this participation with the big deal, as well as long-held feelings she has toward Jeff Murphy, a fellow corporate associate also up for partner. As Ingrid contends with all of these things simultaneously, she’s forced to evaluate where she stands.
I binge watched The Partner Track series on Netflix a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it! About halfway through watching the series, I decided I’d read the book. Given there are 10 episodes, 40+ minutes each, the show allows more of a deep dive and this is a rare occasion where I’d say I like the adaptation more than the book, however, the book was still good — I think if you liked one, you will like the other. There are differences between the two, but I found no drastic, unlikable changes. The book ending felt a bit neat, especially for how cutthroat the legal world is, however, Ingrid is a character you want to continue rooting for — 3.5 stars
December 17, 2014
Mild spoilers ahead. I adore legal satire even more than Silicon Valley satire, and this was a fun fairytale that packed a surprising punch. At first I just really enjoyed the dramatized details of Big Law life. For instance, Ingrid dissects the power dynamics of one's behavior in the law firm dining room - but in what universe would you be judged for any action other than your failure to take your food right back to your desk and resume billing, you lazy goddamned associate? The idea of white shoe lawyer league softball is also really fun but probably results in fisticuffs. And the perks of firm life are much more reminiscent of pre-Recession-era Big Law, though this would be a far less fun read if, hypothetically, there were only Yoplait and cheese sticks in the pantry, and the branded notepads just had firm stickers covering the Office Max logo. I'm just saying.
Some details are absolutely true though, and those are the very worst ones. Clients mistaking female attorneys for assistants. Elevator eyes from male colleagues. Being called a two-fer at every opportunity. That entitled, Brooks Brothers-wearing kid who somehow works with you because his dad knows some big partner. Being the sleep-deprived, disheveled, sick lead on a project and picking up the slack for that entitled Brooks Brothers-wearing kid, only to discover him drinking Scotch in the partner's office right before a crucial deadline. Even the central plot drama - a proverbial blackface incident by privileged male lawyers during the firm's summer event; no fall-out - how utterly easy is this to imagine?
Ingrid, the perfect Asian-American senior associate protagonist, makes a lot of questionable drank-the-Kool-Aid choices, and the story is flawed and predictable. There's fraternizing, yelling, sabotage, burned bridges, mentions of Above the Law (tee hee), poaching, eleventh-hour heroics and revenge. But despite the melodrama, I kept having visceral reactions - reading about this specific brand of law firm hell even in a fictionalized, dramatic form literally made my heart pound. In particular, there's a really sad scene where Ingrid thinks of all the war stories traded by her minority lawyer friends, and what her choice to be a perfectly palatable minority says about her. I damn near cried at several points (and also at the part near the end when her mom says simply, "I just wanted you to be happy").
The ending is probably the least realistic part of the story - like, zero chance of this every happening - but by that point I was so wrapped up in reverie and flashbacks that I simply did not care.
Some details are absolutely true though, and those are the very worst ones. Clients mistaking female attorneys for assistants. Elevator eyes from male colleagues. Being called a two-fer at every opportunity. That entitled, Brooks Brothers-wearing kid who somehow works with you because his dad knows some big partner. Being the sleep-deprived, disheveled, sick lead on a project and picking up the slack for that entitled Brooks Brothers-wearing kid, only to discover him drinking Scotch in the partner's office right before a crucial deadline. Even the central plot drama - a proverbial blackface incident by privileged male lawyers during the firm's summer event; no fall-out - how utterly easy is this to imagine?
Ingrid, the perfect Asian-American senior associate protagonist, makes a lot of questionable drank-the-Kool-Aid choices, and the story is flawed and predictable. There's fraternizing, yelling, sabotage, burned bridges, mentions of Above the Law (tee hee), poaching, eleventh-hour heroics and revenge. But despite the melodrama, I kept having visceral reactions - reading about this specific brand of law firm hell even in a fictionalized, dramatic form literally made my heart pound. In particular, there's a really sad scene where Ingrid thinks of all the war stories traded by her minority lawyer friends, and what her choice to be a perfectly palatable minority says about her. I damn near cried at several points (and also at the part near the end when her mom says simply, "I just wanted you to be happy").
The ending is probably the least realistic part of the story - like, zero chance of this every happening - but by that point I was so wrapped up in reverie and flashbacks that I simply did not care.
August 7, 2022
Started off as a catching read but became rather dull and predictable towards the middle. Some of the characters, like Murph and Adler were extremely unconvincing and illogical.
October 5, 2013
This was a really satisfying book. Wan does a great job of taking us behind the scenes in the lawyer's world. I really loved how she wove in the experiences of being a minority and a female in that setting. Although some of the childhood experiences with racism and the beginning interactions with her goal-oriented parents were pretty generic (maybe because I've experienced them myself or heard about them plenty), the actual character of Ingrid seemed very multi-dimensional. I enjoyed how Wan set up Ingrid's desire to work in and be part of New York City.
This novel did an excellent job of pacing and kept me wanting to read more, either about Ingrid's experiences in the workforce or in her personal interactions with others. My only minor issues with this book were that I didn't find some of her coworkers' views on diversity programs to be that shocking (although it seemed surprising to Ingrid), and that I didn't understand some of the legal terminology near the end of the book. Overall, though, I want to say thank you to Helen Wan for creating a valuable contemporary Asian-American read.
This novel did an excellent job of pacing and kept me wanting to read more, either about Ingrid's experiences in the workforce or in her personal interactions with others. My only minor issues with this book were that I didn't find some of her coworkers' views on diversity programs to be that shocking (although it seemed surprising to Ingrid), and that I didn't understand some of the legal terminology near the end of the book. Overall, though, I want to say thank you to Helen Wan for creating a valuable contemporary Asian-American read.
May 14, 2023
Let me start by saying this book only took me a little over two months to read because I was supposed to read it with my family and they just…. stopped reading it with me.
Anyways, Ingrid is a badass lawyer and an even more badass woman. I had a difficult time getting into the book in the beginning simply because I was comparing it to the show itself on Netflix but overall it was a pretty good read.
Jeff Murphy is lame. He was in the book and he was in the show. Ted Lassiter and Justin Keating are my two favorite men in the book. That’s it.
Anyways, Ingrid is a badass lawyer and an even more badass woman. I had a difficult time getting into the book in the beginning simply because I was comparing it to the show itself on Netflix but overall it was a pretty good read.
Jeff Murphy is lame. He was in the book and he was in the show. Ted Lassiter and Justin Keating are my two favorite men in the book. That’s it.
November 3, 2013
This is a phenomenal debut book, one that should be read by every pre-law and law student as well as anyone who liked "I Don't Know How She Does It," by Allison Pearson. Helen Wan has written a cohesive, tone-perfect, and sharply-observed novel (a roman a clef?) about a female Asian lawyer on the M&A partner track at a fictional New York law firm. Her sketches of the lightly-veneered minefields during the firm's country club outing and its softball games are alone worth the price of the book. And of course, as a lawyer she brings a wholly credible framework. There are insider chunks--like reference to analysis from the Wall Street Journal and Oil and Gas Investor--Wan gets exactly right.
I have only three details, and these are tiny. First, the omnipresence of Blackberrys in the story dates it since Blackberry is no longer the electronic business toy of choice. Second, in what I have seen in energy M&A deals, a two-person team as described in The Partner Track (and it is really a one-person team) is too small. (From a fictional perspective I understand the desire to limit the number of characters.) Third, because I write both fiction and non-fiction centered on the energy business, it jumped out at me that Binney, the firm to be acquired, was referred to on page 13 as a "clean energy upstart" and on page 27 as an offshore drilling company. An offshore drilling company as acquiree makes more sense and is more interesting/credible so it's unclear why it was mislabeled on page 13.
These are all minor points in an engaging book. Wan writes heartfelt scenes with the protagonist's parents. Without giving away the plot, she also manages excellent shape-shifting with four or five characters as their foibles are revealed.
Read The Partner Track by Helen Wan.
I have only three details, and these are tiny. First, the omnipresence of Blackberrys in the story dates it since Blackberry is no longer the electronic business toy of choice. Second, in what I have seen in energy M&A deals, a two-person team as described in The Partner Track (and it is really a one-person team) is too small. (From a fictional perspective I understand the desire to limit the number of characters.) Third, because I write both fiction and non-fiction centered on the energy business, it jumped out at me that Binney, the firm to be acquired, was referred to on page 13 as a "clean energy upstart" and on page 27 as an offshore drilling company. An offshore drilling company as acquiree makes more sense and is more interesting/credible so it's unclear why it was mislabeled on page 13.
These are all minor points in an engaging book. Wan writes heartfelt scenes with the protagonist's parents. Without giving away the plot, she also manages excellent shape-shifting with four or five characters as their foibles are revealed.
Read The Partner Track by Helen Wan.
August 31, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Compared the book with the tv show adaption in this fun little reading vlog:
did NETFLIX do it better? | comparing book to tv adaptions | The Partner Track
https://youtu.be/UFZIG5LUTVA
xx
-Christine
Compared the book with the tv show adaption in this fun little reading vlog:
did NETFLIX do it better? | comparing book to tv adaptions | The Partner Track
https://youtu.be/UFZIG5LUTVA
xx
-Christine
November 15, 2014
I greatly enjoyed this book. Here is my review for the Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/S...
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/S...
December 29, 2022
I received a surprise copy of THE PARTNER TRACK by Helen Wan a while back and did not realise that it had been made into a Netflix series. While my husband was selecting something on Netflix, I saw the preview for it. It looks good. It is my habit to read a book before I see the movie or TV adaptation, so, this gave me incentives to bump this book up my TBR list. I do not regret it. This is such a fantastic story of determination amid struggles and prejudice. I love Ingrid's character so much and related to her desire to please everyone. I also love that the romance aspect of the book was not what you would have expected and that was a welcomed surprise. If this book is not on your TBR list yet, I recommend it!
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November 6, 2022
I started watching the Netflix show based on Helen Wan's 2013 book and then went back to read the original. While there are definitely some differences, I enjoyed both versions, especially the way Ingrid finds her own path despite all the corporate lawyerly politics and discrimination. I did find the book had less romance than the show though so if you're looking for a good romance read you might be disappointed with the book. Good on audio too narrated by Catherine Ho.
February 22, 2015
Quick read that reminded me of many of the aspects of big firm life that made me miserable for so long.
"What bothered me most - the single worst thought that I kept turning over and over in my mind - was that I was the one who'd let this happen. I had no one to blame but myself. I had allowed myself to be duped…. I had completely bought into the myth of a meritocracy. Somehow I'd actually been foolish enough to believe that if I simply kept my head down and worked hard, and did everything, everything, that was asked of me, I would be rewarded. What an idiot."
"What bothered me most - the single worst thought that I kept turning over and over in my mind - was that I was the one who'd let this happen. I had no one to blame but myself. I had allowed myself to be duped…. I had completely bought into the myth of a meritocracy. Somehow I'd actually been foolish enough to believe that if I simply kept my head down and worked hard, and did everything, everything, that was asked of me, I would be rewarded. What an idiot."
November 8, 2014
I try to rate my books based on readability. When one comes along that I literally don't put down until I'm done, it gets a 5.
December 27, 2023
4.5 stars!! A kick ass story about the Chinese American dream mixed with drama in the corporate world!
August 4, 2022
I really liked this book!!
I saw the trailer for the Netflix movie that's coming out and was v happy to see an Asian lead! I was too curious about what happens with the love interests in the trailer so I had to read the book to find out since I can't wait the half-month for the movie to come out. I was originally just going to skim to see what happens with the boys but ended up reading the whole book at once because I just had to finish all of it. There was low-key way more to it than I was expecting that actually made me want to read the whole thing.
I have zero interest in the law and find that stuff stressful but it was very exciting in this book form!!
You should read this book! High quality book!
I saw the trailer for the Netflix movie that's coming out and was v happy to see an Asian lead! I was too curious about what happens with the love interests in the trailer so I had to read the book to find out since I can't wait the half-month for the movie to come out. I was originally just going to skim to see what happens with the boys but ended up reading the whole book at once because I just had to finish all of it. There was low-key way more to it than I was expecting that actually made me want to read the whole thing.
I have zero interest in the law and find that stuff stressful but it was very exciting in this book form!!
You should read this book! High quality book!
May 24, 2015
A book inside the BigLaw culture? I had to check it out. As a BigLaw refugee myself, I was dying to know what the novelistic approach would be. Using realistic characters and many actual law firm names, this novel gave me that look into the world that I had departed from. I really appreciated the chance to see what it was like since i always regretted that I didn't go further with it. Now, thanks author Helen Wan, I can say that I do not think I really regret not progressing in that world anymore. Being the only Asian female who made it as far as she did, the narrator (an Asian-descent, female attorney, like the author) is manipulated into many lose-lose situations. But in the hope of becoming partner, which the narrator is very close to, she perserveres. It all feels extremely unfair, and I'm impressed that the author could convey the unfairness. In these impossible situations that many of us are caught up in at our work or elsewhere, it is hard to explain to others, much less put into a compelling novel. The novel improves as it goes along. The first 50 pages are so even feel like a BigLaw associate was assigned to write a novel. The heart and emotion are missing behind words that otherwise hit the mark. I also found a key plot point to be slightly unbelievable in that a top BigLaw associate gets caught in a mistake that should have been caught on the morning of. You know this mistake is coming, and the dread starts to build up as it does. It may be hard for anyone outside of the legal world to believe or understand, but BigLaw bosses are not known for being reasonable and understanding that mistakes can be made (although they say they will). In short, the book was not perfect, but it was perfect if you are a BigLaw refugee. It was an easy read, and I look forward to the next book by this author, which I have the inkling will dig deeper.
July 12, 2017
This is a loosely autobiographical story of a Chinese-American woman trying to make partner in a prestigious New York law firm and how the deck is stacked against those who aren't white, male, and privileged. (At least, that's the book's premise.)
There are some moments in the book that resonated with me (such as the times when folks confused the Asian female lawyers or the times that the main character is mistaken for a secretary), and those moments are both illuminating and bittersweet. But the book also portrays the main character as without fault in any of the unfolding events. And the final humiliating straw--the emotional crux of the novel--made no sense to me at all.
That being said, the book is well-written and an easy read with moments of poignancy. However, it would have been a more interesting read had there been more nuance and shades of gray. Not every white privileged male is a jerk and not every minority is deserving of advancement. It would have been nice to see more than cardboard cutouts of stereotypes. The book was good, but it could have been so much more than it was.
There are some moments in the book that resonated with me (such as the times when folks confused the Asian female lawyers or the times that the main character is mistaken for a secretary), and those moments are both illuminating and bittersweet. But the book also portrays the main character as without fault in any of the unfolding events. And the final humiliating straw--the emotional crux of the novel--made no sense to me at all.
That being said, the book is well-written and an easy read with moments of poignancy. However, it would have been a more interesting read had there been more nuance and shades of gray. Not every white privileged male is a jerk and not every minority is deserving of advancement. It would have been nice to see more than cardboard cutouts of stereotypes. The book was good, but it could have been so much more than it was.
August 25, 2022
It was ok. It was hard to understand why such a smart woman would fall for such a douchebag (that thing he did, I saw it coming a mile off). The lawyery bits were ok but the cultural problems/misogyny shit all seemed a bit... dated already? Well it's a 2013 book anyway. I heard Netflix is making a series, let's see what they'll do!
December 30, 2022
This was such a satisfying read for me. As a minority woman, I related a lot to the main character Ingrid and the conflict she faces between who she is and who she wants to be. This book tackled some serious gender and racial issues in a way that was entertaining but also incredibly inspiring. Overall a great read to me.
September 26, 2013
Ingrid Yung is on The Partner Track. After 8 years working at Parsons, Valentine & Hunt. This could be her year! She could be the first woman and first woman of color to make partner in their corporate department.
She basically sacrificed her life to fulfill this dream. Shes single, childless and a woman of color. That’s Ingrid.
She is hand picked by a partner to work on a HUGE case. One I found difficult to follow for the most part. But lets start from the beginning. Parsons, Valentine & Hunt is a lawyers paradise or well my lawyer dream. The way to this girls heart is through book and food. As soon as Ingrid walked into the cafeteria I was sold and envious. There may have been a stomach growl. What can I say im odd.
The first part of The Partner Track was rather intriguing. -sigh- However in the middle when all the law mumbo jumbo came into play my eyes started to glaze over. I powered through because I ladies and gents am a trooper. Ingrids endless thoughts/statements regarding her gender and race did not help. I was l l that close to creating my own drinking game. The Rules:: Take a shot every time race or gender was brought up in any manor. Should you decide to try this out please PLEASE report back. The outcome should be interesting.
The last half of the book reeled me back in! It almost made up for the middle ( which I swear isnt that bad im just drama). Please dont miss understand I enjoyed the book could the story have been less legal and complicated sure. Im super grateful to myself for powering through the story was well planned. The characters slightly likable. The message beautiful. The Partner Track wasn’t at all what I expected not by a long shot. However Im grateful to have read it. Congrats Helen Wan on your debut I look forward to reading more from you in the near future. Thank you Wunderkind PR for sending me the book. Its always a pleasure to work with you. And while the book was gifted to me Im pretty sure you can see my honest opinion was given.
She basically sacrificed her life to fulfill this dream. Shes single, childless and a woman of color. That’s Ingrid.
She is hand picked by a partner to work on a HUGE case. One I found difficult to follow for the most part. But lets start from the beginning. Parsons, Valentine & Hunt is a lawyers paradise or well my lawyer dream. The way to this girls heart is through book and food. As soon as Ingrid walked into the cafeteria I was sold and envious. There may have been a stomach growl. What can I say im odd.
The first part of The Partner Track was rather intriguing. -sigh- However in the middle when all the law mumbo jumbo came into play my eyes started to glaze over. I powered through because I ladies and gents am a trooper. Ingrids endless thoughts/statements regarding her gender and race did not help. I was l l that close to creating my own drinking game. The Rules:: Take a shot every time race or gender was brought up in any manor. Should you decide to try this out please PLEASE report back. The outcome should be interesting.
The last half of the book reeled me back in! It almost made up for the middle ( which I swear isnt that bad im just drama). Please dont miss understand I enjoyed the book could the story have been less legal and complicated sure. Im super grateful to myself for powering through the story was well planned. The characters slightly likable. The message beautiful. The Partner Track wasn’t at all what I expected not by a long shot. However Im grateful to have read it. Congrats Helen Wan on your debut I look forward to reading more from you in the near future. Thank you Wunderkind PR for sending me the book. Its always a pleasure to work with you. And while the book was gifted to me Im pretty sure you can see my honest opinion was given.
January 2, 2023
Thank you, Helen Wan, for penning this book.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I stumbled across "The Partner Track" in the new fiction rack at the public library. The title caught my eye, as a new associate, and the Asian surname enticed me to pick it up, as it evoked memories of my wonderful Asian-American authors course in my senior year of college.
This is the type of book every individual should read. It shows real-world, everyday experiences of a minority (especially a minority woman) in America in an accessible way: through a story in which you're genuinely rooting for the main character and, at least for me, identifying with the experiences Wan writes.
For instance, just today a perfectly lovely partner (older, white, male) expressed shock and horror when I told him that yes, I am overly familiar with being on the receiving end of both racial slurs and catcalls based in ethnic ignorance. His apology was genuine, but this is direct evidence of the fact that America is not yet in a place where we can "look past race." Benign ignorance may not hurt, but it does nothing to move our society forward into seeing each person for who s/he is and what s/he has accomplished or will contribute.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I stumbled across "The Partner Track" in the new fiction rack at the public library. The title caught my eye, as a new associate, and the Asian surname enticed me to pick it up, as it evoked memories of my wonderful Asian-American authors course in my senior year of college.
This is the type of book every individual should read. It shows real-world, everyday experiences of a minority (especially a minority woman) in America in an accessible way: through a story in which you're genuinely rooting for the main character and, at least for me, identifying with the experiences Wan writes.
For instance, just today a perfectly lovely partner (older, white, male) expressed shock and horror when I told him that yes, I am overly familiar with being on the receiving end of both racial slurs and catcalls based in ethnic ignorance. His apology was genuine, but this is direct evidence of the fact that America is not yet in a place where we can "look past race." Benign ignorance may not hurt, but it does nothing to move our society forward into seeing each person for who s/he is and what s/he has accomplished or will contribute.
February 1, 2020
I was excited to read the book based on reviews, but I found that it fell short of what other books in the genre did better.
Wan's novel features a high-ranking Asian-American associate, Ingrid Yung, at a top corporate law firm in New York. The book does well in highlighting the differences between a person such as Yung, and the prevailing white, male dominated hierarchy that is corporate law. A lot of the better moments in the book focus specifically on this contrast to good effect, albeit with some hypocrisy from Yung that I am not convinced was intended by the author.
However, what truly ruined the book for me is
Further, the ending felt weak, and much too feel-happy for what occurred in the book. Much too separated from the reality that is portrayed within the novel.
"The Partner Track" is OK, as some of the moments in the book are good. It is dragged down by some unfortunate features that prevent it from being great.
Wan's novel features a high-ranking Asian-American associate, Ingrid Yung, at a top corporate law firm in New York. The book does well in highlighting the differences between a person such as Yung, and the prevailing white, male dominated hierarchy that is corporate law. A lot of the better moments in the book focus specifically on this contrast to good effect, albeit with some hypocrisy from Yung that I am not convinced was intended by the author.
However, what truly ruined the book for me is
Further, the ending felt weak, and much too feel-happy for what occurred in the book. Much too separated from the reality that is portrayed within the novel.
"The Partner Track" is OK, as some of the moments in the book are good. It is dragged down by some unfortunate features that prevent it from being great.
May 7, 2015
This book was delicious! It was such a realistic portrayal of the law firm life, and the second guessing that setting creates as a woman, minority, and human being! I particularly liked one part, when there was an error in a document she proofread 3x, when she wondered if it was her subconscious secretly trying to sabotage herself. That was hilarious because it's true- at some point the law firm will make you question your sanity (and skills and intellect and choices). Her observations and commentaries were spot on, and I think the ending was both surprising and inevitable for so many reasons. It's such a sadly accurate depiction of life as a woman and a minority in the corporate world, but I think white, males could relate to this as well. In the end, those corporate settings are just so political and everyone thinks they are an outsider (a point of view she does touch on in the book). We all feel out of place at some point and are just trying to figure out the game. Writing style was light, funny, and fun. Thank you Helen Wan!
September 7, 2022
Really did not like this book. I generally dislike books or shows set in the high paced world of lawyers offices where everyone is out to get ahead at all costs and working all the hours there are. Everything about this book was a cliche. The settings, story and especially the characters. The main character Ingrid was the most cliched and she really needed to get over herself a bit. While there was some race and gender discrimination, the way she saw it in every little detail of everything was annoying. Sometimes she read into things and projected onto things that just were not there. I have experienced being the only woman boss in a male dominated workplace (and industry), so I know where she was coming from but you don’t need to see an insult or double meaning in everything. The way she said she hated all the games but was one of the best at playing games to get ahead at the cost of others, well, hypocrisy at its finest.
February 27, 2014
3.75 stars, actually. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. I was expecting chicklit-style prose (with lots of the word "like") and chicklit-style plots with chicklit-style characters. I got a little of the last two, but Wan's legal jargon helps break it up and add credibility. I thought I would despise this character (type A, well-educated minority woman trying to conquer the world [not unlike myself, unfortunately]), since this type of woman is usually rampantly stereotyped in literature, but Ingrid is pretty real. I loved her voice, her concern, and her intellect. My only qualms with the book were that, sometimes, the dialogue felt a little forced and the ending wasn't satisfying to me, too neatly tied in a pretty bow. Overall, a nice vacation read.
April 25, 2015
Finally got around to reading this recommendation from Real Simple. I really enjoyed this story! It was very solid plot-wise, I thought, and very interesting to read about what goes on at a big corporate law firm, especially for women at the firm. The author's biography reveals her knowledge on this subject, and I assume much of it is very accurate. I only had one lingering question after reading, and overall felt very satisfied with the story arc and conclusion (thought it was very optimistic/romanticized!).
April 15, 2015
I was looking for a quick, enjoyable read on a long weekend with long flights, and this certainly met my requirements! I enjoyed the insight into how big-name corporate law firms function (perhaps with a bit of artistic license), as well as the struggle with being a minority woman in such a firm. The story kept me interested and that is about all one can ask!
August 28, 2022
I hate cis white men
August 11, 2022
2,5⭐
Comecei a ler este livro porque vi o trailer do novo filme da Netflix que vai sair baseado nele e adorei!
Só houve um pequenino problema: quando comecei a ler, percebi que a única coisa que o trailer e o livro têm em comum são os nomes das personagens principais e nada mais.
O livro conta a história de Ingrid Yung, uma jovem advogada numa das maiores firmas de NY que luta para se tornar parceira num mundo de machismo e privilégio acentuados. Um dos seus colegas e competição para a vaga de parceiro é Jeff Murphy, por quem Ingrid está apaixonada há uns bons anos.
Enquanto que o filme parece focar nesta história como uma romcom, o livro não tem absolutamente nada disso.
Ao longo das páginas vemos Ingrid ser maltratada, menosprezada e discriminada tanto pelo seu sexo como pela sua etnia. Sinceramente, cheguei ao ponto de desespero só de ler as coisas terríveis que ela tinha de suportar, e de desejar que ela largasse aquele emprego infernal, porque honestamente ninguém merece.
Além da aflição constante que é esta leitura, nas últimas 30 páginas assisti ao maior assassinato de caráter de uma personagem principal que alguma vez li, o que me fez baixar o rating deste livro de um talvez 3,5 para um 2,5 arredondado para cima e com pózinhos de fada.
Felizmente, o filme parece bem melhor, e acreditem que é algo que nunca pensei dizer sobre qualquer livro.
Comecei a ler este livro porque vi o trailer do novo filme da Netflix que vai sair baseado nele e adorei!
Só houve um pequenino problema: quando comecei a ler, percebi que a única coisa que o trailer e o livro têm em comum são os nomes das personagens principais e nada mais.
O livro conta a história de Ingrid Yung, uma jovem advogada numa das maiores firmas de NY que luta para se tornar parceira num mundo de machismo e privilégio acentuados. Um dos seus colegas e competição para a vaga de parceiro é Jeff Murphy, por quem Ingrid está apaixonada há uns bons anos.
Enquanto que o filme parece focar nesta história como uma romcom, o livro não tem absolutamente nada disso.
Ao longo das páginas vemos Ingrid ser maltratada, menosprezada e discriminada tanto pelo seu sexo como pela sua etnia. Sinceramente, cheguei ao ponto de desespero só de ler as coisas terríveis que ela tinha de suportar, e de desejar que ela largasse aquele emprego infernal, porque honestamente ninguém merece.
Além da aflição constante que é esta leitura, nas últimas 30 páginas assisti ao maior assassinato de caráter de uma personagem principal que alguma vez li, o que me fez baixar o rating deste livro de um talvez 3,5 para um 2,5 arredondado para cima e com pózinhos de fada.
Felizmente, o filme parece bem melhor, e acreditem que é algo que nunca pensei dizer sobre qualquer livro.
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