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Fragile réputation
The bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal returns with a new psychological thriller about a politician whose less-than-perfect personal life is thrust into the spotlight when a body is discovered in her home.
As a politician, Emma has sacrificed a great deal for her career--including her marriage and her relationship with her daughter, Flora. A former teacher, she finds the glare of the spotlight unnerving, particularly when it leads to countless insults, threats, and trolling as she tries to work in the public eye. As a woman, she knows her reputation is worth its weight in gold, but as a politician, she discovers it only takes one slip-up to destroy it completely.
Fourteen-year-old Flora is learning the same hard lessons at school as she encounters heartless bullying. When another teenager takes her own life, Emma lobbies for a new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse. Now, Emma and Flora find their personal lives uncomfortably intersected--but then the unthinkable happens: A man is found dead in Emma’s home, a man she had every reason to be afraid of and to want gone. Fighting to protect her reputation, and determined to protect her family at all costs, Emma is pushed to the limits as the worst happens and her life is torn apart.
As a politician, Emma has sacrificed a great deal for her career--including her marriage and her relationship with her daughter, Flora. A former teacher, she finds the glare of the spotlight unnerving, particularly when it leads to countless insults, threats, and trolling as she tries to work in the public eye. As a woman, she knows her reputation is worth its weight in gold, but as a politician, she discovers it only takes one slip-up to destroy it completely.
Fourteen-year-old Flora is learning the same hard lessons at school as she encounters heartless bullying. When another teenager takes her own life, Emma lobbies for a new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse. Now, Emma and Flora find their personal lives uncomfortably intersected--but then the unthinkable happens: A man is found dead in Emma’s home, a man she had every reason to be afraid of and to want gone. Fighting to protect her reputation, and determined to protect her family at all costs, Emma is pushed to the limits as the worst happens and her life is torn apart.
576 pages
First published March 3, 2022
595 people are currently reading
17417 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Vaughan
56 books1,348 followersSarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to be a journalist. After training with the Press Association, she worked for The Guardian for 11 years as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her 3rd novel, Anatomy of a Scandal, was an instant international bestseller, a Sunday Times top five bestseller, a kindle number 1 bestseller, a Richard & Judy pick, and was longlisted for the Theakson's Old Peculier Crime Novel and shortlisted for awards in France, Sweden and the UK. It has been translated into 22 languages and is being adapted for TV. Her 4th novel, Little Disasters, will be published in France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the UK on April 2 and the US on August 18. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and two young children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,074 reviews
July 25, 2022
Reputation by Sarah Vaughan
This story would be a good candidate for a drinking game with all the times the word reputation appears in the book. It seems to be on almost everyone's mind and we are repeatedly reminded that reputation must be safe guarded, often at any cost. And it seems to be the thing most under attack whether the victim is an MP with detractors or a teen who has made enemies.
Emma is an MP who has always put her career before her marriage and her daughter. She'll deny the daughter part but really, she's been letting her ex husband and his wife raise her fourteen year old daughter, Flora, while her time with Flora is fit in around her busy MP career. She even accepts that she is to blame for the break up of her marriage because she really didn't have time to do it all.
A new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse is Emma's main focus and she wants those who use social media for revenge to pay a high price. That is until things hit too close to home. Turns out that Emma is nothing if not hypocritical.
When a man is attacked in Emma's home, we sort of know what happens but there is also a strong sense that things are being held back. Emma is going to protect her daughter, she's going to protect her career if she still has one when this massive dust storm settles, and I get the sense that nothing with Emma will really change.
The first part of the book let me know I didn't care for Emma. The second part of the book is when she falls off her high horse. There is some courtroom time and I tried to pretend I was a juror that had to pay attention but what I knew is that I'd be fighting not to fall asleep in that courtroom. Then it's over and I'm not thrilled with the way things go. I did like Flora, Emma's daughter, and her parts of the story were my favorite.
Published July 5th 2022
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss for this ARC.
This story would be a good candidate for a drinking game with all the times the word reputation appears in the book. It seems to be on almost everyone's mind and we are repeatedly reminded that reputation must be safe guarded, often at any cost. And it seems to be the thing most under attack whether the victim is an MP with detractors or a teen who has made enemies.
Emma is an MP who has always put her career before her marriage and her daughter. She'll deny the daughter part but really, she's been letting her ex husband and his wife raise her fourteen year old daughter, Flora, while her time with Flora is fit in around her busy MP career. She even accepts that she is to blame for the break up of her marriage because she really didn't have time to do it all.
A new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse is Emma's main focus and she wants those who use social media for revenge to pay a high price. That is until things hit too close to home. Turns out that Emma is nothing if not hypocritical.
When a man is attacked in Emma's home, we sort of know what happens but there is also a strong sense that things are being held back. Emma is going to protect her daughter, she's going to protect her career if she still has one when this massive dust storm settles, and I get the sense that nothing with Emma will really change.
The first part of the book let me know I didn't care for Emma. The second part of the book is when she falls off her high horse. There is some courtroom time and I tried to pretend I was a juror that had to pay attention but what I knew is that I'd be fighting not to fall asleep in that courtroom. Then it's over and I'm not thrilled with the way things go. I did like Flora, Emma's daughter, and her parts of the story were my favorite.
Published July 5th 2022
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss for this ARC.
June 7, 2022
3.5 stars
“Danger could hide in plain sight.”
Reputation is a slow-paced psychological thriller about a British politician whose reputation is put under scrutiny when she is on trial for murder.
Emma, an MP who fights for women’s rights, is at the center of a scandal involving secrets, lies, and murder. Her social life, beliefs, and parenting are put under the spotlight while on trial. At stake is not only her family, her career, and her entire life, but most importantly, her reputation.
Narrated primarily by Emma, she is not the most compelling character. She is admirable in her beliefs, but she purposely holds back details from the reader, making it difficult to warm up to her. In the first half, her chapters tease the reader with a sense of foreboding. Hints are interspersed here and here, but nothing concrete is revealed. This element frustrated me.
The perpspectives of Emma’s daughter, Emma's husband's new wife, and Mike, a reporter, are also shared. These chapters are the ones I found compelling and wanted more of. Twitter feed and newspaper articles also reveal events concerning Emma's trial.
This is a slooooow-paced read. Vaughn spends too much time setting up the reader for the event that changes the trajectory of Emma’s life. I didn’t care about Emma or what happened to her until I reached past the 40% mark. Some of the chapters are repetitive and do not work to move the plot forward.
Despite all my criticism, there are some elements that I enjoyed, including Vaughn’s writing style (not the pacing, but her sentences) and the mystery behind the murder. I also liked the ongoing commentary about one’s reputation and the hypocrisy of Emma’s character, especially concerning the revelation at the end.
Reputation was my first read by Vaughn. While it wasn’t a love fest, I will give her books another shot.
I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Danger could hide in plain sight.”
Reputation is a slow-paced psychological thriller about a British politician whose reputation is put under scrutiny when she is on trial for murder.
Emma, an MP who fights for women’s rights, is at the center of a scandal involving secrets, lies, and murder. Her social life, beliefs, and parenting are put under the spotlight while on trial. At stake is not only her family, her career, and her entire life, but most importantly, her reputation.
Narrated primarily by Emma, she is not the most compelling character. She is admirable in her beliefs, but she purposely holds back details from the reader, making it difficult to warm up to her. In the first half, her chapters tease the reader with a sense of foreboding. Hints are interspersed here and here, but nothing concrete is revealed. This element frustrated me.
The perpspectives of Emma’s daughter, Emma's husband's new wife, and Mike, a reporter, are also shared. These chapters are the ones I found compelling and wanted more of. Twitter feed and newspaper articles also reveal events concerning Emma's trial.
This is a slooooow-paced read. Vaughn spends too much time setting up the reader for the event that changes the trajectory of Emma’s life. I didn’t care about Emma or what happened to her until I reached past the 40% mark. Some of the chapters are repetitive and do not work to move the plot forward.
Despite all my criticism, there are some elements that I enjoyed, including Vaughn’s writing style (not the pacing, but her sentences) and the mystery behind the murder. I also liked the ongoing commentary about one’s reputation and the hypocrisy of Emma’s character, especially concerning the revelation at the end.
Reputation was my first read by Vaughn. While it wasn’t a love fest, I will give her books another shot.
I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2022
Gripping, unputdownable, high tension political thriller/ courtroom drama with well crafted, strong female protagonist with powerful feminism and anti- bullying declaration!
Even though it started a little bit slow, the pace picked up after a few chapters later. In the meantime we have opportunity to know more about characters’ backgrounds and their problems, struggles.
Aspiring politician Emma Webster at the age 44, working so hard to keep her career and home life in harmony till a dead man is found at their house. She gets arrested from the crime she didn’t commit and her poor daughter Flora starts dealing more than cyber- bullying and public humiliation right now because of her mother’s possible conviction.
The long courtroom chapters slowed them the pacing but I didn’t care. I love elaborated, dramatic, long written court scenes on scripts so the author’s realistic approach fitted well with high tension of the mystery.
Overall: this was not my favorite book of the author! But I still enjoyed it enough to give four legal drama mixes with mystery thriller stars!
I’m looking forward to read more works of her including Anatomy of Scandal before its adaptation hits the steaming services.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/ Emily Bestler Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Even though it started a little bit slow, the pace picked up after a few chapters later. In the meantime we have opportunity to know more about characters’ backgrounds and their problems, struggles.
Aspiring politician Emma Webster at the age 44, working so hard to keep her career and home life in harmony till a dead man is found at their house. She gets arrested from the crime she didn’t commit and her poor daughter Flora starts dealing more than cyber- bullying and public humiliation right now because of her mother’s possible conviction.
The long courtroom chapters slowed them the pacing but I didn’t care. I love elaborated, dramatic, long written court scenes on scripts so the author’s realistic approach fitted well with high tension of the mystery.
Overall: this was not my favorite book of the author! But I still enjoyed it enough to give four legal drama mixes with mystery thriller stars!
I’m looking forward to read more works of her including Anatomy of Scandal before its adaptation hits the steaming services.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/ Emily Bestler Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
April 4, 2022
“He who steals my purse steals trash; …. But he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.” (a quote from William Shakespeare but not used in the book)
Four scandalous stars for a book revealing the importance and fragility of Reputation. Something that is built over many years, sustained with effort, enhanced with achievements, yet unravelled in seconds when an unexpected event and the reaction to it, by the public, destroys it for you.
The story also exposes us to the darker side of Politics, the influence of social media, the danger of an unrestrained press and the power of the mob, as we live in a time ‘without consequence’ for those that don’t get it right but destroy someone’s reputation in the process. However, the story does well to evoke our own thoughts of what kind of society and corruption we would be facing if the press and media were censored and the court of public opinion was not allowed to do it work - when it is appropriate and fair!!! You need only look at world events today for the answer to that.
The Plot
Emma Webster, a female MP, is defending the right for privacy and driving a new cause for women – to make revenge porn illegal. In the public eye and with a reputation for campaigning moral issues, Emma is faced with her worst nightmare when her own daughter is charged with – yes it could not be any more damaging. Revenge porn on one of her class mates in an act of retaliation and in a moment of madness.
However, events spiral out of control as the news journalist threatening to expose Emma is found at the bottom of her stairs with potentially fatal injuries. However, Emma faces trial at the Old Bailey and on social media.
My Review and Comments
Why was I drawn to this book? The title and the theme, but most of all the fragility of reputation. Something desired by all, controlled by many, boosted by the individual and developed by a few. Yet breakable by everyone and controlled by mass opinion and not by the individual.
Thrilling and addictive. Stylish yet gritty. Thought provoking and always timely because there is never a day when some Politician’s reputation is not being dismantled by the media. Rightly or wrongly; guilty or innocent.
We live in a world of free speech (well most of us) but what of the damage if we get it wrong? Does anyone’s reputation ever fully recover if proven innocent?. Important questions as we as a society wish for the ‘juries’ to be even-handed, just and appropriate. A deeply evocative and poignant story that encourages you to reflect, empathise with the innocent who stand accused, and the accuser, some innocent some not, as the self-appointed juries go to work and the failings in the justice system are exposed.
A heavily themed, thought-provoking, and provocative story with messaging that was stronger than the storyline and made the book. However, as a crime/ thriller it was still gripping, absorbing and authentic.
Four scandalous stars for a book revealing the importance and fragility of Reputation. Something that is built over many years, sustained with effort, enhanced with achievements, yet unravelled in seconds when an unexpected event and the reaction to it, by the public, destroys it for you.
The story also exposes us to the darker side of Politics, the influence of social media, the danger of an unrestrained press and the power of the mob, as we live in a time ‘without consequence’ for those that don’t get it right but destroy someone’s reputation in the process. However, the story does well to evoke our own thoughts of what kind of society and corruption we would be facing if the press and media were censored and the court of public opinion was not allowed to do it work - when it is appropriate and fair!!! You need only look at world events today for the answer to that.
The Plot
Emma Webster, a female MP, is defending the right for privacy and driving a new cause for women – to make revenge porn illegal. In the public eye and with a reputation for campaigning moral issues, Emma is faced with her worst nightmare when her own daughter is charged with – yes it could not be any more damaging. Revenge porn on one of her class mates in an act of retaliation and in a moment of madness.
However, events spiral out of control as the news journalist threatening to expose Emma is found at the bottom of her stairs with potentially fatal injuries. However, Emma faces trial at the Old Bailey and on social media.
My Review and Comments
Why was I drawn to this book? The title and the theme, but most of all the fragility of reputation. Something desired by all, controlled by many, boosted by the individual and developed by a few. Yet breakable by everyone and controlled by mass opinion and not by the individual.
Thrilling and addictive. Stylish yet gritty. Thought provoking and always timely because there is never a day when some Politician’s reputation is not being dismantled by the media. Rightly or wrongly; guilty or innocent.
We live in a world of free speech (well most of us) but what of the damage if we get it wrong? Does anyone’s reputation ever fully recover if proven innocent?. Important questions as we as a society wish for the ‘juries’ to be even-handed, just and appropriate. A deeply evocative and poignant story that encourages you to reflect, empathise with the innocent who stand accused, and the accuser, some innocent some not, as the self-appointed juries go to work and the failings in the justice system are exposed.
A heavily themed, thought-provoking, and provocative story with messaging that was stronger than the storyline and made the book. However, as a crime/ thriller it was still gripping, absorbing and authentic.
March 6, 2022
My second by the author, I loved Anatomy of a Scandal. I do admit that I don't remember much about it though.
This story also features a strong, successful woman who faces an ethical predicament. Emma's career as MP takes a hit and gets derailed when a body is found in her apartment. Her reputation is at stake, her daughter becomes involved in a bullying scandal at school and many questions swirl in the media.
I wasn't attached to any of the characters and had to pretty much force myself to finish. Felt a bit repetitive and the trial was more of the same. Others have really enjoyed it, so I may be an outlier here. The story also has some online bullying, ugly Twitter threads, revenge porn and shaming.
Bumping up to three stars for the last 20% becoming much more interesting. I did guess what happened though so no big surprises for me.
Thanks to NG and Atria for my Arc. OUT July 5, 2022
This story also features a strong, successful woman who faces an ethical predicament. Emma's career as MP takes a hit and gets derailed when a body is found in her apartment. Her reputation is at stake, her daughter becomes involved in a bullying scandal at school and many questions swirl in the media.
I wasn't attached to any of the characters and had to pretty much force myself to finish. Felt a bit repetitive and the trial was more of the same. Others have really enjoyed it, so I may be an outlier here. The story also has some online bullying, ugly Twitter threads, revenge porn and shaming.
Bumping up to three stars for the last 20% becoming much more interesting. I did guess what happened though so no big surprises for me.
Thanks to NG and Atria for my Arc. OUT July 5, 2022
May 30, 2022
3.75*
This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
Emma is an Member of Parliament. Always under the spotlight as a confident, highly successful woman. And it hasn’t come without a hefty price tag. Her marriage disintegrated and her husband recently married her (former!) close friend. Classy🙄. Not enough? Okay…her daughter is facing bullies at school and may have just made the biggest mistake of her young life that even her powerful mother can’t fix.
Not done yet… now a body is discovered at the bottom of her stairs!
There were of course, big questions that demanded answers regarding the body. How he got there and why was he inside Emma’s home in the first place. How did he die? As a junior sleuth, I enjoyed that aspect of the book. Guessing, (wrongly mind you,) throughout the read.
The court room scenes do take up a significant portion of the book, and as a fan of legal thrillers I was glued to the heated courtroom action!
My only drawback in this read was difficulty in warming up to Emma. Even though we saw all sides of her and her string of major issues, she left me just a tad cold.🤷🏻♀️
This is my third read (though not my favorite) by this very talented author, and looking forward to her next!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
Emma is an Member of Parliament. Always under the spotlight as a confident, highly successful woman. And it hasn’t come without a hefty price tag. Her marriage disintegrated and her husband recently married her (former!) close friend. Classy🙄. Not enough? Okay…her daughter is facing bullies at school and may have just made the biggest mistake of her young life that even her powerful mother can’t fix.
Not done yet… now a body is discovered at the bottom of her stairs!
There were of course, big questions that demanded answers regarding the body. How he got there and why was he inside Emma’s home in the first place. How did he die? As a junior sleuth, I enjoyed that aspect of the book. Guessing, (wrongly mind you,) throughout the read.
The court room scenes do take up a significant portion of the book, and as a fan of legal thrillers I was glued to the heated courtroom action!
My only drawback in this read was difficulty in warming up to Emma. Even though we saw all sides of her and her string of major issues, she left me just a tad cold.🤷🏻♀️
This is my third read (though not my favorite) by this very talented author, and looking forward to her next!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
March 3, 2022
It all starts with MP Emma Websters interview in the Guardian Weekend especially the photograph which makes her appear defiant, brittle and sexy. It seems to ignite and incite the Internet trolls, the media and the critics in her own party who now just want to see her fall from grace and what a backlash it is. What makes things worse is a vociferous tirade from a male constituent which adds fuel to the fire.. The gripping story is told from several perspectives including Emma and her 14-year-old daughter Flora which are excellent in their contrasting and revealing narratives.
I absolutely loved Sarah Vaughn’s Anatomy of a Scandal and I find this novel is just as compelling. It’s examines very pertinent themes and explores them in such a way that it should trouble us all, it’s designed to make people uncomfortable especially the entrenched misogyny. Apparently even in 2021/22 it’s ok for a man to stand legs apart and look powerful but woe betide if a woman does so. If you’re an MP to boot then you are fair game it seems. I really like how Parliament is at the centre of much of the drama and here too there’s food for thought. It delves into how reputations can be destroyed in an instant, in parliament, in school, in court and via aggressive social media trolls attacking indiscriminately and horrifically and how this impacts on your physical and mental well-being. It’s utterly shocking in places and pulls no punches and you’d hope it would make people think twice – sadly I doubt it. In places it’s cruel, unbelievably sad, vicious and isolating as a consequence and it feels claustrophobic as walls closing on various characters as their reputations are under attack. The most tense of the scenes takes place in a law court and these are riveting as via the cut and thrust of the prosecution and defence, reputations are put into the shredder and left in tatters. The ending is very good and though I guess part there are some surprising twists which help to explain a great deal.
Overall, another outstanding novel from a hugely talented writer. It’s very well written, the characterisation is incisive, the pace and pitch of the novel I think is perfect. This is designed to make you think and it does just that. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for granting my wish to read the arc in return for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Sarah Vaughn’s Anatomy of a Scandal and I find this novel is just as compelling. It’s examines very pertinent themes and explores them in such a way that it should trouble us all, it’s designed to make people uncomfortable especially the entrenched misogyny. Apparently even in 2021/22 it’s ok for a man to stand legs apart and look powerful but woe betide if a woman does so. If you’re an MP to boot then you are fair game it seems. I really like how Parliament is at the centre of much of the drama and here too there’s food for thought. It delves into how reputations can be destroyed in an instant, in parliament, in school, in court and via aggressive social media trolls attacking indiscriminately and horrifically and how this impacts on your physical and mental well-being. It’s utterly shocking in places and pulls no punches and you’d hope it would make people think twice – sadly I doubt it. In places it’s cruel, unbelievably sad, vicious and isolating as a consequence and it feels claustrophobic as walls closing on various characters as their reputations are under attack. The most tense of the scenes takes place in a law court and these are riveting as via the cut and thrust of the prosecution and defence, reputations are put into the shredder and left in tatters. The ending is very good and though I guess part there are some surprising twists which help to explain a great deal.
Overall, another outstanding novel from a hugely talented writer. It’s very well written, the characterisation is incisive, the pace and pitch of the novel I think is perfect. This is designed to make you think and it does just that. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for granting my wish to read the arc in return for an honest review.
February 16, 2022
Crisis reveals character.
A reputation is built from the outside in. Its bricks are polished to a full-on shine while reality knows that others can chip away at it over the years or shockingly destroy it within deadly nano-seconds.
Sarah Vaughan presents a highly creative novel that should give us all pause. Reputation speaks to the once inborn desire to keep what is private from becoming what is now public. As society backs up on its principles, inch by inch and text by text, we should realize that you can't unring that bell or reel in what is now sparkin' in infinity.
Emma Webster, a former advanced history teacher in her mid 40's, has left her classroom for what she seeks to be greener fields. She's currently a MP in Parliament in the UK taking a stand and being a voice for the voiceless. Recently divorced from her ex-husband David, Emma is a mother to fourteen year old, Flora. Flora spends the majority of her time with her father and his new wife, Caroline. There's a lot of movement between these two households. Typical in many ways and untypical in others.
But there is a jagged thread that will draw mother and daughter together even if each is unaware. As a public figure, Emma is subjected to horrendous tweets and despicable emails that question her authority and throw insults to her role as a female. Some are so threatening that they should be reported to the authorities. Flora, surrounded in an unstable world of teenage quips and insults, is at the receiving end of the bullying scope day in and day out. Neither has a refuge from this constant onslaught.
Emma is contacted by a young woman, Freya Jones, who is now living in the aftermath of her sister's recent suicide. Amy, only eighteen, was a victim of cruel revenge porn. After their breakup, her ex-boyfriend posted pics of Amy in nude compromising positions. Unable to weather the storm and defenseless, Amy took her own life. The boyfriend got off with community service. Emma is determined to fight against such vindictive behavior and slap on the wrist punishment.
But in her pursuit to right the wrongs, Emma will find herself in harm's way. She will place trust in the wrong people even for the right reason. Both Emma and Flora will find themselves at opposite ends of the tangent but with survival at the core.
Reputation is so well done by Sara Vaughan. She lays out a panoramic view of the absolute impact of the decisions we make and the almost careless knee jerk responses we find ourselves inacting in. We live in a world now that responds immediately to "the incoming" verbal and written missiles that bombard us every second. And we feel compelled to react and react again and again. Not every bing should make our hearts pump faster at the sound. Reputation, in itself, should make you back up the bus on social media. The novel is that good.
I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Sarah Vaughan for the opportunity.
A reputation is built from the outside in. Its bricks are polished to a full-on shine while reality knows that others can chip away at it over the years or shockingly destroy it within deadly nano-seconds.
Sarah Vaughan presents a highly creative novel that should give us all pause. Reputation speaks to the once inborn desire to keep what is private from becoming what is now public. As society backs up on its principles, inch by inch and text by text, we should realize that you can't unring that bell or reel in what is now sparkin' in infinity.
Emma Webster, a former advanced history teacher in her mid 40's, has left her classroom for what she seeks to be greener fields. She's currently a MP in Parliament in the UK taking a stand and being a voice for the voiceless. Recently divorced from her ex-husband David, Emma is a mother to fourteen year old, Flora. Flora spends the majority of her time with her father and his new wife, Caroline. There's a lot of movement between these two households. Typical in many ways and untypical in others.
But there is a jagged thread that will draw mother and daughter together even if each is unaware. As a public figure, Emma is subjected to horrendous tweets and despicable emails that question her authority and throw insults to her role as a female. Some are so threatening that they should be reported to the authorities. Flora, surrounded in an unstable world of teenage quips and insults, is at the receiving end of the bullying scope day in and day out. Neither has a refuge from this constant onslaught.
Emma is contacted by a young woman, Freya Jones, who is now living in the aftermath of her sister's recent suicide. Amy, only eighteen, was a victim of cruel revenge porn. After their breakup, her ex-boyfriend posted pics of Amy in nude compromising positions. Unable to weather the storm and defenseless, Amy took her own life. The boyfriend got off with community service. Emma is determined to fight against such vindictive behavior and slap on the wrist punishment.
But in her pursuit to right the wrongs, Emma will find herself in harm's way. She will place trust in the wrong people even for the right reason. Both Emma and Flora will find themselves at opposite ends of the tangent but with survival at the core.
Reputation is so well done by Sara Vaughan. She lays out a panoramic view of the absolute impact of the decisions we make and the almost careless knee jerk responses we find ourselves inacting in. We live in a world now that responds immediately to "the incoming" verbal and written missiles that bombard us every second. And we feel compelled to react and react again and again. Not every bing should make our hearts pump faster at the sound. Reputation, in itself, should make you back up the bus on social media. The novel is that good.
I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Sarah Vaughan for the opportunity.
February 24, 2022
Unreputable Sourcing.
Emma has excelled to make her passion for social causes and helping people become a reality. As an elected MP, she has the opportunity to make a difference by enacting laws that will benefit those less empowered.
However, Emma’s life begins spiraling out of control after a seemingly isolated incident involving an attendee at an open meeting for the public. Then a man is found at the bottom of her stairs and an investigation begins.
She knew the drawbacks to losing autonomy when she ran for office, but didn’t expect the escalating vitriol from hidden readers of online platforms. As a public figure, she’s battered with the opinions of others and her reputation and self-assurance falter.
I think this is a first for me to read about an female politician and I found Emma’s perspective enormously intriguing. She’s an empathetic character and I appreciated her confidence. It was difficult to witness her self worth take repeated hits.
From the beginning, this is a taut complicated story immersed in social issues. Bullying both at the adolescent and adult level are centered around the mystery.
I highly recommend this If you like:
1. Intelligent and unapologetically strong women characters.
2. Current issues that include gender inequality, cyber-bullying, unethical boundaries by the media, among others.
This was my second by the author having enjoyed Anatomy of a Scandal previously. I loved this one even more! I was riveted even though it wasn’t easily read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Vaughan, and Atria & Emily Bestler Books for my electronic copy in advance of July 5, 2022 publication.
Emma has excelled to make her passion for social causes and helping people become a reality. As an elected MP, she has the opportunity to make a difference by enacting laws that will benefit those less empowered.
However, Emma’s life begins spiraling out of control after a seemingly isolated incident involving an attendee at an open meeting for the public. Then a man is found at the bottom of her stairs and an investigation begins.
She knew the drawbacks to losing autonomy when she ran for office, but didn’t expect the escalating vitriol from hidden readers of online platforms. As a public figure, she’s battered with the opinions of others and her reputation and self-assurance falter.
I think this is a first for me to read about an female politician and I found Emma’s perspective enormously intriguing. She’s an empathetic character and I appreciated her confidence. It was difficult to witness her self worth take repeated hits.
From the beginning, this is a taut complicated story immersed in social issues. Bullying both at the adolescent and adult level are centered around the mystery.
I highly recommend this If you like:
1. Intelligent and unapologetically strong women characters.
2. Current issues that include gender inequality, cyber-bullying, unethical boundaries by the media, among others.
This was my second by the author having enjoyed Anatomy of a Scandal previously. I loved this one even more! I was riveted even though it wasn’t easily read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Vaughan, and Atria & Emily Bestler Books for my electronic copy in advance of July 5, 2022 publication.
July 9, 2022
**Many thanks to Maudee Genao at Atria, Edelweiss, and Sarah Vaughan for a DRC in exchange for an honest review! Now available as of 7.5!!**
There's nothing harsher than the steely, unforgiving gaze of the public eye...
Emma has worked hard to be MP (that's a member of Parliament) and has embroiled herself in politics. Far from her life as a teacher, she feels she can do some good and make a difference (as every politician SHOULD) and does her best to stand up for those who feel they don't have a voice, particularly women. She allows her ex-husband to take the reigns of parenting their daughter Flora, aided by his new wife Caroline, while Emma tries to keep her out of the line of fire and bury herself in her work.
Emma soon finds herself in the cross-hairs, however, when she chooses to focus on a new law defending women from online bullying and is soon the target of Troll Terror and threats. She also has more than a bit of personal connection to the new legislation, as Flora has been the subject of bullying at her school...and may have tried to take things into her own hands in a rather foolish way (as teenagers are wont to do.)
Amidst the chaos, Emma gets romantically entangled with a tabloid journalist, which already is risky enough...and the situation quickly spirals when he is found dead at her house. As Emma faces the stand, can she protect herself, her daughter...and the truth? Would she have done just about anything to keep her former fling quiet...or will this trial simply be the death knell for her burgeoning career?
Going into this novel, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, as I'm new to Sarah Vaughan...but calling this one a 'psychological thriller' doesn't seem to quite fit. We get to hear from many narrators, but despite this, I had trouble connecting with any of them. Emma's chapters were longest (or at least they felt longest) and were a bit repetitive, since she seemed to focus on and worry about the same things over and over. Daughter Flora's chapters were perhaps oddest to me, since they ABSOLUTELY read like YA. I suppose this makes sense, since she is a teenager, but some of the abbreviations she used in text messages with her friends, etc. were just a bit off. I know maybe I'm not clued in to the latest slang, but they were just strange all the way around.
Then there's the trial...which felt like it went on for ages. I'm all for an exciting courtroom drama...but this one doesn't have it. Sadly, I finished this book about a day ago, and I already have forgotten a fair amount of the 'twists' and plot points, because nothing grabbed me or surprised me much. Vaughan is a strong enough writer, but I felt there was a huge opportunity to dive in and REALLY explore the subject matter at hand in a broader sense of how it affects our world and she chose not to go down that road.
There are also little bits of news articles, tweets, etc. included at the beginning of some of the chapters. I actually normally find this device irritating, but in this book I wish there had been more of it! Normally when this sort of thing pops up, authors will include several pages or perhaps a short chapter to break up the narrative...but to have only a few lines here and there was just jarring and left me wanting more.
While I appreciate the subject matter behind this story, I was hoping for a more engaging and thrilling read. While I would consider another book from Sarah Vaughan, this one is going to go by the way of a scrolled tweet on my timeline: forgotten before it's even truly gone.
3.5 stars
There's nothing harsher than the steely, unforgiving gaze of the public eye...
Emma has worked hard to be MP (that's a member of Parliament) and has embroiled herself in politics. Far from her life as a teacher, she feels she can do some good and make a difference (as every politician SHOULD) and does her best to stand up for those who feel they don't have a voice, particularly women. She allows her ex-husband to take the reigns of parenting their daughter Flora, aided by his new wife Caroline, while Emma tries to keep her out of the line of fire and bury herself in her work.
Emma soon finds herself in the cross-hairs, however, when she chooses to focus on a new law defending women from online bullying and is soon the target of Troll Terror and threats. She also has more than a bit of personal connection to the new legislation, as Flora has been the subject of bullying at her school...and may have tried to take things into her own hands in a rather foolish way (as teenagers are wont to do.)
Amidst the chaos, Emma gets romantically entangled with a tabloid journalist, which already is risky enough...and the situation quickly spirals when he is found dead at her house. As Emma faces the stand, can she protect herself, her daughter...and the truth? Would she have done just about anything to keep her former fling quiet...or will this trial simply be the death knell for her burgeoning career?
Going into this novel, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, as I'm new to Sarah Vaughan...but calling this one a 'psychological thriller' doesn't seem to quite fit. We get to hear from many narrators, but despite this, I had trouble connecting with any of them. Emma's chapters were longest (or at least they felt longest) and were a bit repetitive, since she seemed to focus on and worry about the same things over and over. Daughter Flora's chapters were perhaps oddest to me, since they ABSOLUTELY read like YA. I suppose this makes sense, since she is a teenager, but some of the abbreviations she used in text messages with her friends, etc. were just a bit off. I know maybe I'm not clued in to the latest slang, but they were just strange all the way around.
Then there's the trial...which felt like it went on for ages. I'm all for an exciting courtroom drama...but this one doesn't have it. Sadly, I finished this book about a day ago, and I already have forgotten a fair amount of the 'twists' and plot points, because nothing grabbed me or surprised me much. Vaughan is a strong enough writer, but I felt there was a huge opportunity to dive in and REALLY explore the subject matter at hand in a broader sense of how it affects our world and she chose not to go down that road.
There are also little bits of news articles, tweets, etc. included at the beginning of some of the chapters. I actually normally find this device irritating, but in this book I wish there had been more of it! Normally when this sort of thing pops up, authors will include several pages or perhaps a short chapter to break up the narrative...but to have only a few lines here and there was just jarring and left me wanting more.
While I appreciate the subject matter behind this story, I was hoping for a more engaging and thrilling read. While I would consider another book from Sarah Vaughan, this one is going to go by the way of a scrolled tweet on my timeline: forgotten before it's even truly gone.
3.5 stars
July 6, 2022
It takes time to build a good Reputation, but only a moment to tear it asunder.
Emma, a relatively new politician, is no stranger to facing judgement from the public. However, everything intensifies after a photo shoot meant to make Emma appear powerful and fierce has the opposite effect. Instead of building confidence and trust among her constituents, the trolls threaten violence against Emma.
The situation escalates as Emma’s daughter Flora gets bullied, and Emma finds a body in her home. Soon, Emma will have to face more than just the court of public opinion.
This multi-pov thriller is exceedingly well-written. The reader experiences the story from every angle, with each voice distinct. The beginning was a touch slow, but the rest was gripping.
This novel shines a light on the changeable nature of the media. It reminds me of a very recent courtroom trial that seemingly had the whole world watching.
This was my first time reading Sarah Vaughan, but I’m sure it won’t be my last.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
Emma, a relatively new politician, is no stranger to facing judgement from the public. However, everything intensifies after a photo shoot meant to make Emma appear powerful and fierce has the opposite effect. Instead of building confidence and trust among her constituents, the trolls threaten violence against Emma.
The situation escalates as Emma’s daughter Flora gets bullied, and Emma finds a body in her home. Soon, Emma will have to face more than just the court of public opinion.
This multi-pov thriller is exceedingly well-written. The reader experiences the story from every angle, with each voice distinct. The beginning was a touch slow, but the rest was gripping.
This novel shines a light on the changeable nature of the media. It reminds me of a very recent courtroom trial that seemingly had the whole world watching.
This was my first time reading Sarah Vaughan, but I’m sure it won’t be my last.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
June 6, 2022
Reputation is a part psychological thriller, part courtroom drama told through multiple character’s perspectives. The story is well written and it raises many important questions about the abuse heaped upon women incl the misogyny and hate directed against women on social media, stalking revenge porn, and other forms of violence against women, and how women are seen and judged in society.
The story features Emma, a strong & successful woman politician who has sacrificed a great deal for her career--including her marriage and her relationship with her daughter. Her fourteen-year-old daughter Flora is facing bullying at school. When another teenager takes her own life, Emma lobbies for a new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse. Now, Emma and Flora find their personal lives uncomfortably intersected--but then the unthinkable happens: A man is found dead in Emma’s home. Now Emma has to fight to protect her family at all costs and also protect her reputation before her life is torn apart.
Reputation is an intense and tough read about some serious social issues like the impact of social media or online or real-life bullying. There were several POVs including Emma, Flora and others, each covering a different kind of abuse and the consequences of such harassment affects every aspect of their lives.
This book is promoted as a thriller, but it’s more of a drama and a vast portion of the second half is a courtroom drama. It gets a bit repetitive as the story moves forward. I just couldn’t feel emotionally invested in Emma or the events of the book so as much as I would have liked. The different timelines with the ever-changing perspectives and narrators, from Emma and Flora to Flora’s stepmother Caroline and Mike get hard to track after a while.
Overall, this book is an interesting read. It raises some important topics like misogyny, the dark side of social media and media surveillance. The book is very timely read with some important issues faced by women both online and in person.
Many thanks to the publishers Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC.
The story features Emma, a strong & successful woman politician who has sacrificed a great deal for her career--including her marriage and her relationship with her daughter. Her fourteen-year-old daughter Flora is facing bullying at school. When another teenager takes her own life, Emma lobbies for a new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse. Now, Emma and Flora find their personal lives uncomfortably intersected--but then the unthinkable happens: A man is found dead in Emma’s home. Now Emma has to fight to protect her family at all costs and also protect her reputation before her life is torn apart.
Reputation is an intense and tough read about some serious social issues like the impact of social media or online or real-life bullying. There were several POVs including Emma, Flora and others, each covering a different kind of abuse and the consequences of such harassment affects every aspect of their lives.
This book is promoted as a thriller, but it’s more of a drama and a vast portion of the second half is a courtroom drama. It gets a bit repetitive as the story moves forward. I just couldn’t feel emotionally invested in Emma or the events of the book so as much as I would have liked. The different timelines with the ever-changing perspectives and narrators, from Emma and Flora to Flora’s stepmother Caroline and Mike get hard to track after a while.
Overall, this book is an interesting read. It raises some important topics like misogyny, the dark side of social media and media surveillance. The book is very timely read with some important issues faced by women both online and in person.
Many thanks to the publishers Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC.
May 17, 2022
A moving and engrossing story of a female politician whose personal live takes center stage when a dead body is found in her house. Emma knew she wanted to get into politics but thought she’d have to run several times before being elected. Now, four years later, she’s lost her husband and her 14 year old daughter is drifting away.
Told from alternating POVs, mainly Emma and her daughter Flora, my heart ached for Flora. She’s scared to death. And possibly for good reason. Her mom is the recipient of numerous threats - letters, tweets, emails. They’ve sealed up the cat door and attached an anti-explosive bag to their letter box. Also, her mom barely has time for her. “But she was so fired up with her work that it sometimes felt there was no room left: that Flora’s fears had to be squished around the margins, squeezed into the tiniest slivers of time.”
I loved the twists the story takes, the topics it covers - bullying, porn revenge, internet trolling, how far a journalist will go for a story, what a parent will do to protect a child. Vaughan skillfully uses the story to make some interesting points about the interactions between the press and politicians. How if you’re a public figure, your whole life is fair game. “I didn’t feed the media beast, and so it has become more ravenous, and now it has turned.” I loved that it made me question the slippery slope of how far the press should be allowed to go.
This has been described as a psychological thriller, which I feel is a misnomer. There’s no unreliable narrator, no red herrings thrown in. It’s an extremely believable story. While I could question certain decisions Emma made in the heat of the moment, I could also understand. There are two twists at the end, one of which which was easily foreseen and didn’t impact my appreciation of the story.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
Told from alternating POVs, mainly Emma and her daughter Flora, my heart ached for Flora. She’s scared to death. And possibly for good reason. Her mom is the recipient of numerous threats - letters, tweets, emails. They’ve sealed up the cat door and attached an anti-explosive bag to their letter box. Also, her mom barely has time for her. “But she was so fired up with her work that it sometimes felt there was no room left: that Flora’s fears had to be squished around the margins, squeezed into the tiniest slivers of time.”
I loved the twists the story takes, the topics it covers - bullying, porn revenge, internet trolling, how far a journalist will go for a story, what a parent will do to protect a child. Vaughan skillfully uses the story to make some interesting points about the interactions between the press and politicians. How if you’re a public figure, your whole life is fair game. “I didn’t feed the media beast, and so it has become more ravenous, and now it has turned.” I loved that it made me question the slippery slope of how far the press should be allowed to go.
This has been described as a psychological thriller, which I feel is a misnomer. There’s no unreliable narrator, no red herrings thrown in. It’s an extremely believable story. While I could question certain decisions Emma made in the heat of the moment, I could also understand. There are two twists at the end, one of which which was easily foreseen and didn’t impact my appreciation of the story.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
March 4, 2022
Sarah Vaughan hit it out of the park with this one! It was so real. With social media and the 24 hour news cycle the pressure on anyone in the public eye, particularly women and how they look, is relentless. Journalists are always looking for ‘gotcha’ moment and the trolls are always waiting for an opportunity to deride, insult and threaten any woman who strays from the narrow path of what is deemed to be acceptable behaviour, or looks.
Emma Webster, 44 years old, has been an MP for 4 years. She is divorced but still very close to her 14 year old daughter, Flora. Emma is a ruthless campaigner for women’s rights and this has already made her many enemies. She has been threatened with death and serious harm to both herself and her family. She recently had a win with some legislation that would keep the names of minors subjected to revenge porn from being published. On this crusade she had the help of a sympathetic journalist, Mike. They had worked together before and got along well.
On this occasion he suggested a celebratory drink and a meal. One drink turned into two bottles and they kind of cosied up. When they left, on foot, they ended up in a hotel and had some very pleasant between the sheets action. Nothing wrong with that - both divorced and consenting adults. But when she wakes up early and sees a string of increasingly desperate messages and missed calls from her ex about their daughter she has to leave and, in her haste, she may have been a bit short with Mike. She did tell him their night together was a mistake and wouldn’t be happening again. It was clear he was not happy.
Flora, who had been bullied relentlessly at school, had finally snapped and done something very stupid in retaliation. Emma wants to protect her and keep her name out of the media but Mike pushes, sensing a big story.
One night on her way home, already in a state of heightened tension Emma arrives home to find the alarm off, the hall light blown and a man she can’t immediately identify in her house. What would you do? Soon she is facing a murder charge. The courtroom scenes are harrowing. But the circumstances are far from straightforward as you will learn towards the end of the book.
This story had me on the edge of my seat. Not only was Emma’s reputation at stake but that of her emotionally fragile daughter. The characterisations were spot on. I can think of examples here, in my own country, of media and social media pile-ons that are designed to destroy their poor victims. It is not good enough! The book was exceptionally well written but to say I enjoyed is not quite right. It made me feel very uncomfortable that real women are subjected to this degradation. Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Emma Webster, 44 years old, has been an MP for 4 years. She is divorced but still very close to her 14 year old daughter, Flora. Emma is a ruthless campaigner for women’s rights and this has already made her many enemies. She has been threatened with death and serious harm to both herself and her family. She recently had a win with some legislation that would keep the names of minors subjected to revenge porn from being published. On this crusade she had the help of a sympathetic journalist, Mike. They had worked together before and got along well.
On this occasion he suggested a celebratory drink and a meal. One drink turned into two bottles and they kind of cosied up. When they left, on foot, they ended up in a hotel and had some very pleasant between the sheets action. Nothing wrong with that - both divorced and consenting adults. But when she wakes up early and sees a string of increasingly desperate messages and missed calls from her ex about their daughter she has to leave and, in her haste, she may have been a bit short with Mike. She did tell him their night together was a mistake and wouldn’t be happening again. It was clear he was not happy.
Flora, who had been bullied relentlessly at school, had finally snapped and done something very stupid in retaliation. Emma wants to protect her and keep her name out of the media but Mike pushes, sensing a big story.
One night on her way home, already in a state of heightened tension Emma arrives home to find the alarm off, the hall light blown and a man she can’t immediately identify in her house. What would you do? Soon she is facing a murder charge. The courtroom scenes are harrowing. But the circumstances are far from straightforward as you will learn towards the end of the book.
This story had me on the edge of my seat. Not only was Emma’s reputation at stake but that of her emotionally fragile daughter. The characterisations were spot on. I can think of examples here, in my own country, of media and social media pile-ons that are designed to destroy their poor victims. It is not good enough! The book was exceptionally well written but to say I enjoyed is not quite right. It made me feel very uncomfortable that real women are subjected to this degradation. Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
July 5, 2022
"It takes many good deeds to build a reputation and only one bad one to lose it." - Benjamin Franklin
Emma is a former teacher turned politician who lost her marriage due to her political aspirations. Her relationship with her fourteen-year-old daughter also took a hit. Emma loves politics but not the things that go with it including the insults, bad press, and bullying on social media.
Flora is Emma's fourteen-year-old daughter. Like her mother, she is dealing with both school and online bullying.
Mother and daughter will both see their reputations take a hit in this book. When a man if found dead in her home, Emma will fight to save her family as her reputation is torn apart.
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me and although I enjoyed it, it failed to completely win me over. I did enjoy how the author tackled bullying, the negative impact of social media bullying, harassment, and bad press.
Enjoyable but lacking in 'wow' factor for me. Others are enjoying this more than I did, so please seek out their reviews as well.
Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Emma is a former teacher turned politician who lost her marriage due to her political aspirations. Her relationship with her fourteen-year-old daughter also took a hit. Emma loves politics but not the things that go with it including the insults, bad press, and bullying on social media.
Flora is Emma's fourteen-year-old daughter. Like her mother, she is dealing with both school and online bullying.
Mother and daughter will both see their reputations take a hit in this book. When a man if found dead in her home, Emma will fight to save her family as her reputation is torn apart.
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me and although I enjoyed it, it failed to completely win me over. I did enjoy how the author tackled bullying, the negative impact of social media bullying, harassment, and bad press.
Enjoyable but lacking in 'wow' factor for me. Others are enjoying this more than I did, so please seek out their reviews as well.
Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 3, 2022
Political thriller, domestic noir?
Courtroom drama?
It’s in here.
I loved her last book, really loved it but although this has her superbly written words in it I found it didn’t hold my interest as much.
It’s a slow burn. That’s ok for me sometimes in certain genres yet in a thriller I like to feel part of the action. I didn’t in this.
It’s a 3.75 for me. Just didn’t hit that spot like Anatomy of a Scandal did.
Will I pick up her next book?
For sure. I love how she writes.
Courtroom drama?
It’s in here.
I loved her last book, really loved it but although this has her superbly written words in it I found it didn’t hold my interest as much.
It’s a slow burn. That’s ok for me sometimes in certain genres yet in a thriller I like to feel part of the action. I didn’t in this.
It’s a 3.75 for me. Just didn’t hit that spot like Anatomy of a Scandal did.
Will I pick up her next book?
For sure. I love how she writes.
July 5, 2022
Update 7/5/22: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Reputation primarily tells the stories of Emma and Flora Webster. Emma is a liberal member of England’s parliament who is pushing for legislation to protect women from revenge porn. Flora is Emma’s 14-year-old daughter, who is going through normal teen angst amplified by her parents’ divorce and the increased attention drawn by her mother’s job in the public spotlight. When a dead man is found in Emma’s house (you won’t find out who it is until about halfway through the novel), Emma winds up on trial for his murder.
The first half of Reputation is very unsettling. The story examines the abuse heaped upon Emma, by individuals and the media, simply for being a woman in politics. The misogyny and hate directed against women on social media. Stalking, revenge porn, and other forms of implied, threatened, and actual violence against women. How all of those things pressure and warp younger women and girls. It’s a depressingly accurate story about how badly the world treats women, from women with actual power to teen girls.
The second half of Reputation, however, is less compelling. One problem is that the story settles into a conventional courtroom drama. Making that more problematic is that we know Emma is an unreliable narrator, so seeing the trial mostly through her eyes makes it harder to determine what’s happening. Instead, after the verdict, we finally learn what truly happened in a series of short chapters that do tie the story together but with a series of twists that some may find unsatisfying or even a bit far-fetched.
But the biggest flaw of Reputation may simply be that the book is too on the nose. The word “reputation” appears 38 times, with nearly every character worrying about their’s. Emma in so many different ways, even though people on trial for murder should really be more concerned with their freedom than their reputation. Flora. Leah. Mike. Even Caroline worries that everyone will judge her (accurately I would say, even though I suppose questioning that kind of judgment is one of the book’s points) for breaking up Emma’s marriage. The book just hits you over the head down the stretch with how every single thing is affecting everyone’s reputation. The novel is very well written, but a little more subtlety might have gone a long way.
“We will get through this,” I repeated because I refused to believe my daughter’s life need be defined by this. “This is a mistake which you’ll learn from and then we’ll move on,” I continued as I held her tight, because neither of us could guess the ramifications of her behavior.Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an ARC of Reputation in exchange for an honest review.
And besides, what choice did I have?
Reputation primarily tells the stories of Emma and Flora Webster. Emma is a liberal member of England’s parliament who is pushing for legislation to protect women from revenge porn. Flora is Emma’s 14-year-old daughter, who is going through normal teen angst amplified by her parents’ divorce and the increased attention drawn by her mother’s job in the public spotlight. When a dead man is found in Emma’s house (you won’t find out who it is until about halfway through the novel), Emma winds up on trial for his murder.
The first half of Reputation is very unsettling. The story examines the abuse heaped upon Emma, by individuals and the media, simply for being a woman in politics. The misogyny and hate directed against women on social media. Stalking, revenge porn, and other forms of implied, threatened, and actual violence against women. How all of those things pressure and warp younger women and girls. It’s a depressingly accurate story about how badly the world treats women, from women with actual power to teen girls.
The second half of Reputation, however, is less compelling. One problem is that the story settles into a conventional courtroom drama. Making that more problematic is that we know Emma is an unreliable narrator, so seeing the trial mostly through her eyes makes it harder to determine what’s happening. Instead, after the verdict, we finally learn what truly happened in a series of short chapters that do tie the story together but with a series of twists that some may find unsatisfying or even a bit far-fetched.
But the biggest flaw of Reputation may simply be that the book is too on the nose. The word “reputation” appears 38 times, with nearly every character worrying about their’s. Emma in so many different ways, even though people on trial for murder should really be more concerned with their freedom than their reputation. Flora. Leah. Mike. Even Caroline worries that everyone will judge her (accurately I would say, even though I suppose questioning that kind of judgment is one of the book’s points) for breaking up Emma’s marriage. The book just hits you over the head down the stretch with how every single thing is affecting everyone’s reputation. The novel is very well written, but a little more subtlety might have gone a long way.
March 9, 2022
3.5 rounded down to 3.
I’ve decided not to include a synopsis as every slant I came at it from gave too much away. I will tell you that the protagonist was a London Labour MP, Emma Webster, juggling work and family, under constant scrutiny and criticism by the press and public.
Reputation introduced me to Sarah Vaughan and one of the first things that struck me was how well written it was. I would categorise it as a political thriller, domestic drama, psychological suspense, and courtroom/legal drama.
There were several POV’s including Emma, her fourteen-year-old daughter Flora, her husband’s second wife, Caroline, and others, which I’ll keep to myself. The characters, none of whom were particularly likeable, were none-the-less riveting – their behaviour, actions, and emotions accurate for the situation. Flora’s POV was my favourite, and I think the author would be very successful in the YA genre. Social media posts and news articles inserted throughout added variety and realism.
The novel broached some serious and topical social issues in a thought-provoking, eye-opening, and tantalising (in terms of the crime suspense plot) way. It will come as no surprise that women are far more likely to be the target of sustained abuse, stalking, and bullying both on and offline, and the consequences of such harassment invades and affects every facet of their lives – social, safety, professional, personal, family, friendships, and relationships, as well as taking a massive toll on them emotionally, psychologically, and physically. Public shaming, slut shaming, judging and punishing women for their sexuality were also prominent themes, and I liked how every sub-plot in this novel connected to at least one of the elements above, making this a cohesive read in that sense.
Now to the negatives. It was predictable largely due to the narration which had a tendency to reveal, (or elude to enough to guess what was to come) major plot points via flash forwards or thoughts-forwards, ruining the element of surprise. The only surprises were in the last four chapters, a long time coming!
And, secondly, was it really necessary to cover so much of the court case? I don’t think so. I felt like I was on the jury. And, thanks to spoiler-y narrators the trial added nothing new. 200 odd pages could’ve been shaved off this novel and it wouldn’t have made a difference plot-wise. Luckily, great dialogue and the fact that the evidence was conveyed in an interesting and intriguing manner saved the courtroom scenes, preventing this book from descending into boring, but I still think it was unnecessary.
I was tossing up between 3.5 rounded down, or 3.5 rounded up, and after careful thought I’ve decided to go with the former. I raced through it in a day and a half, and it was absorbing, especially the first half, but it never reached the heights of exciting, and the lack of unpredictable twists was a disappointment.
I’ve decided not to include a synopsis as every slant I came at it from gave too much away. I will tell you that the protagonist was a London Labour MP, Emma Webster, juggling work and family, under constant scrutiny and criticism by the press and public.
Reputation introduced me to Sarah Vaughan and one of the first things that struck me was how well written it was. I would categorise it as a political thriller, domestic drama, psychological suspense, and courtroom/legal drama.
There were several POV’s including Emma, her fourteen-year-old daughter Flora, her husband’s second wife, Caroline, and others, which I’ll keep to myself. The characters, none of whom were particularly likeable, were none-the-less riveting – their behaviour, actions, and emotions accurate for the situation. Flora’s POV was my favourite, and I think the author would be very successful in the YA genre. Social media posts and news articles inserted throughout added variety and realism.
The novel broached some serious and topical social issues in a thought-provoking, eye-opening, and tantalising (in terms of the crime suspense plot) way. It will come as no surprise that women are far more likely to be the target of sustained abuse, stalking, and bullying both on and offline, and the consequences of such harassment invades and affects every facet of their lives – social, safety, professional, personal, family, friendships, and relationships, as well as taking a massive toll on them emotionally, psychologically, and physically. Public shaming, slut shaming, judging and punishing women for their sexuality were also prominent themes, and I liked how every sub-plot in this novel connected to at least one of the elements above, making this a cohesive read in that sense.
Now to the negatives. It was predictable largely due to the narration which had a tendency to reveal, (or elude to enough to guess what was to come) major plot points via flash forwards or thoughts-forwards, ruining the element of surprise. The only surprises were in the last four chapters, a long time coming!
And, secondly, was it really necessary to cover so much of the court case? I don’t think so. I felt like I was on the jury. And, thanks to spoiler-y narrators the trial added nothing new. 200 odd pages could’ve been shaved off this novel and it wouldn’t have made a difference plot-wise. Luckily, great dialogue and the fact that the evidence was conveyed in an interesting and intriguing manner saved the courtroom scenes, preventing this book from descending into boring, but I still think it was unnecessary.
I was tossing up between 3.5 rounded down, or 3.5 rounded up, and after careful thought I’ve decided to go with the former. I raced through it in a day and a half, and it was absorbing, especially the first half, but it never reached the heights of exciting, and the lack of unpredictable twists was a disappointment.
July 7, 2022
“Take Honor From Me and My Life is Done” – Shakespeare, Richard II
Emma Webster is a member of Parliament, a leading fighter for women’s rights. She is under tremendous pressure and, thankfully, not painted as a superhumanly brave courageous hero. This woman has flaws and makes questionable decisions. Dedicated to her career, she blatantly neglects her teenage daughter and, while a marital breakup is always up to two– she never saw the union of her husband and her friend coming. All this is before the story even begins.
Emma has a lot of enemies, The pressure from threats is tremendous. Her staff handles the social media accounts…the terror is that bad. Daily life soon sinks into a nightmare when she feels she is being stalked by an unhinged constituent.
And then…her daughter makes a huge blunder. Emma will do anything to keep the press from reporting it, from forever ruining the girl’s reputation. Emma will lie. Emma will lie a lot. Emma’s reputation is at stake, as well. Her career hangs in the balance.
And then… a body is found at Emma’s flat. Murder? Not good for that reputation.
Sarah Vaughan’s “Reputation” is a fast paced thriller and a suspenseful read. It brings up a number of issues, the most striking is the intimidation women politicians must endure as a price of their vocation. Again, Emma is presented as an emotional imperfect human– but frustration builds as it becomes increasingly difficult to accept that someone this intelligent is making the choices she does.
Thank you Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Edelweiss for providing the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Webster is a member of Parliament, a leading fighter for women’s rights. She is under tremendous pressure and, thankfully, not painted as a superhumanly brave courageous hero. This woman has flaws and makes questionable decisions. Dedicated to her career, she blatantly neglects her teenage daughter and, while a marital breakup is always up to two– she never saw the union of her husband and her friend coming. All this is before the story even begins.
Emma has a lot of enemies, The pressure from threats is tremendous. Her staff handles the social media accounts…the terror is that bad. Daily life soon sinks into a nightmare when she feels she is being stalked by an unhinged constituent.
And then…her daughter makes a huge blunder. Emma will do anything to keep the press from reporting it, from forever ruining the girl’s reputation. Emma will lie. Emma will lie a lot. Emma’s reputation is at stake, as well. Her career hangs in the balance.
And then… a body is found at Emma’s flat. Murder? Not good for that reputation.
Sarah Vaughan’s “Reputation” is a fast paced thriller and a suspenseful read. It brings up a number of issues, the most striking is the intimidation women politicians must endure as a price of their vocation. Again, Emma is presented as an emotional imperfect human– but frustration builds as it becomes increasingly difficult to accept that someone this intelligent is making the choices she does.
Thank you Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Edelweiss for providing the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2022
"Reputation" should have been called "Repetition".
Soooo much repetitive text.
The book's premise was ultra-compelling: the impact and ramifications of one's decisions and how one error in judgment can damage one's reputation and life.
Also addressed were the disadvantages of being a successful woman with a public persona and the negative impact of public life on one's family.
Although the book's premise was intriguing, the execution of the book's storyline was problematic and fell flat.
Although the book picked up at the end, the majority of the book's dialogue was stale and repetitive.
There was a twist at the end of the book that I guessed early on.
I am not from the UK and prior to reading this book, I did not know what an MP (Member of Parliament) was. The main protagonist was an MP and it was interesting to learn about an MP's responsibilities and the challenges and pressures that MPs face.
This was my second book by Sarah Vaughan and I enjoyed "Anatomy of a Scandal" much better than this title.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
2 stars rounded up.
Soooo much repetitive text.
The book's premise was ultra-compelling: the impact and ramifications of one's decisions and how one error in judgment can damage one's reputation and life.
Also addressed were the disadvantages of being a successful woman with a public persona and the negative impact of public life on one's family.
Although the book's premise was intriguing, the execution of the book's storyline was problematic and fell flat.
Although the book picked up at the end, the majority of the book's dialogue was stale and repetitive.
There was a twist at the end of the book that I guessed early on.
I am not from the UK and prior to reading this book, I did not know what an MP (Member of Parliament) was. The main protagonist was an MP and it was interesting to learn about an MP's responsibilities and the challenges and pressures that MPs face.
This was my second book by Sarah Vaughan and I enjoyed "Anatomy of a Scandal" much better than this title.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
2 stars rounded up.
July 15, 2022
Remember the good old days… when you had to pose for a photo? 📸 Remember those photo booths? 🙋♀️ Now all you need is social media to keep track of your memories.. good and bad.😬
What would you do to protect your reputation? What if the one person that could destroy you…is found dead…in your home..🤫 😳 Houston.. we may have a bit of a problem here..
An intruder in Emma’s own home… was it self defense… a misunderstanding.. what was it?? 🤔🤐 Whatever it was.. it has Emma in a very tough spot. Friends…strangers…acquaintances..questioning her credibility. Then add in all the creepy.. harassing internet trolls… 😳
Wow! This was my first book by @svaugh and it was a page turner! I KNOW…I can’t believe I have not read Anatomy of a Scandal yet! You can bet it is on my list now.🤩
I really enjoy a strong female character…and Emma sure is that. Thought provoking…timely…addressing real life issues that we deal with every day… well hopefully not the little issue of the dead body.😳😂😉
What would you do to protect your reputation? What if the one person that could destroy you…is found dead…in your home..🤫 😳 Houston.. we may have a bit of a problem here..
An intruder in Emma’s own home… was it self defense… a misunderstanding.. what was it?? 🤔🤐 Whatever it was.. it has Emma in a very tough spot. Friends…strangers…acquaintances..questioning her credibility. Then add in all the creepy.. harassing internet trolls… 😳
Wow! This was my first book by @svaugh and it was a page turner! I KNOW…I can’t believe I have not read Anatomy of a Scandal yet! You can bet it is on my list now.🤩
I really enjoy a strong female character…and Emma sure is that. Thought provoking…timely…addressing real life issues that we deal with every day… well hopefully not the little issue of the dead body.😳😂😉
July 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review
Deliciously good. So with Anatomy of a Scandal on my Netflix watchlist, I had to give myself over to the Sarah Vaughan club. Dear fellow reviewers, I was not disappointed. I think when I came to the end of the book and those last few chapters, I laughed like Mike Meyers ( he's Canadian so we laugh the same, right?).
I enjoy a book with a strong female protagonist and Emma, the British politician, is perhaps going to walk away with favorite protagonist in a leading role when I review my 2022 books on Goodreads. I have always felt that media and society in general is an extra kind of mean when it comes to women in politics and Sarah Vaughan illustrated this quite well when she places social media comments and articles throughout the novel about Emma. Not to mention there are so many social issues presented in the novel that makes for good discussion at book club. Now I feel like I will be adding a lot of Sarah Vaughan titles to my TBR.
Expected publication Date 05/07/22
Goodreads review published 24/05/22
Deliciously good. So with Anatomy of a Scandal on my Netflix watchlist, I had to give myself over to the Sarah Vaughan club. Dear fellow reviewers, I was not disappointed. I think when I came to the end of the book and those last few chapters, I laughed like Mike Meyers ( he's Canadian so we laugh the same, right?).
I enjoy a book with a strong female protagonist and Emma, the British politician, is perhaps going to walk away with favorite protagonist in a leading role when I review my 2022 books on Goodreads. I have always felt that media and society in general is an extra kind of mean when it comes to women in politics and Sarah Vaughan illustrated this quite well when she places social media comments and articles throughout the novel about Emma. Not to mention there are so many social issues presented in the novel that makes for good discussion at book club. Now I feel like I will be adding a lot of Sarah Vaughan titles to my TBR.
Expected publication Date 05/07/22
Goodreads review published 24/05/22
July 9, 2022
This wasn’t awful, but it was extremely repetitive and kept hammering the same points over and over. Lessons to learn - don’t take naked pictures of yourself or others and don’t enter politics unless you and your family are tough enough to take the consequences of each such action. I didn’t care for “Anatomy of a Scandal” either (and the author seems to be in a rut), so maybe this author is just not for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
July 12, 2022
Emma is an MP in England and the divorced mother of a teenage daughter who spends most of the time with her father and his second wife. Emma is smart, she's ambitious and she's in big trouble after the body of a reporter is found in the home near Parliament that she shares with two other female MPs.
This is an excellent book told mostly from Emma's POV with some chapters from the daughter Flora, the ex-husband's wife Caroline and the reporter Mike Stone. It was nice to read a story about a strong woman who isn't a lawyer or a police detective and I loved her moments of introspection. My heart was breaking for her and for Flora. So many cruel people in the world. The story was very intense and my attention never wavered while I was reading despite the fact that there was a lot of repetition of the facts. My one criticism would be that we were totally misled by the narrator at around 40%; in fact I had the distinct feeling that she outright lied to us but upon re-reading I realize it was more a lie of omission but, still, it left a bad taste in my mouth. The 'reputation' theme is definitely hammered home but also "the impact of social media and 24-hour news" (that's a direct quote from the book!) In spite of the one niggle I think this is an important book and I highly recommend it.
I haven't read Anatomy of a Scandal but watched and liked the Netflix series and I'd definitely read another book by this author.
Thanks to Atria Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this fine novel. All opinions expressed are my own. This book was published July 5, 2022 and is available now.
This is an excellent book told mostly from Emma's POV with some chapters from the daughter Flora, the ex-husband's wife Caroline and the reporter Mike Stone. It was nice to read a story about a strong woman who isn't a lawyer or a police detective and I loved her moments of introspection. My heart was breaking for her and for Flora. So many cruel people in the world. The story was very intense and my attention never wavered while I was reading despite the fact that there was a lot of repetition of the facts. My one criticism would be that we were totally misled by the narrator at around 40%; in fact I had the distinct feeling that she outright lied to us but upon re-reading I realize it was more a lie of omission but, still, it left a bad taste in my mouth. The 'reputation' theme is definitely hammered home but also "the impact of social media and 24-hour news" (that's a direct quote from the book!) In spite of the one niggle I think this is an important book and I highly recommend it.
I haven't read Anatomy of a Scandal but watched and liked the Netflix series and I'd definitely read another book by this author.
Thanks to Atria Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this fine novel. All opinions expressed are my own. This book was published July 5, 2022 and is available now.
September 4, 2022
“Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.” Quoted by Henry Kissinger. Emma’s reputation is the cornerstone of her political career. Trying to navigate the opposition while receiving threats from every direction, her world is turned upside down. A body is found at the bottom of the stairs and all fingers are pointing in her direction. Is this very unfortunate event the result of heinous threats that are continuously flying her way, or is she a victim of circumstance and simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time? Lines are drawn and loyalties are tested. Gripping, compelling and very timely describes this court room dominated thriller that I couldn’t put down. Thank you NetGalley and Atria for my copy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 17, 2022
Reputation by Sarah Vaughan is psychological fiction at its best. It is a mystery and a thriller and a family drama all rolled into one. This drama introduces the reader to Emma Webster, a teacher turned politician. The book highlights the difficulties a woman encounters when she devotes herself to public service. A double standard is definitely in play. In the age of social media, which permits anonymous slander and threats with no consideration for the harm done, there is no protection. This is exactly what Emma is devoting her political career to. She seeks to get protection through the law for those who are targeted with online harassment and cruelty, which much too often leads to suicide. Emma has sacrificed her marriage in order to make a difference. Being a parliamentarian makes her a target and she becomes worried about her own safety. She is nothing without her reputation and it is continually threatened by the press and anyone who disagrees with her. And then, the worst happens: a journalist is found dying in her home. Where does a woman in public life go when her reputation is torn to shreds? This novel brings to the fore the difficulties and unfairness women face as politicians and other occupations and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sarah Vaughan has written a story that reflects the times we live in. Highly recommended. Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2022
I thought Anatomy of a Scandal was good so I was anxious to read this one. Sarah Vaughan has crafted a another psychological thriller that is timely, relevant, chilling and disurbng. The synopsis explains this book is about reputation and the perils of social media through the stories of Emma, who is an MP in London, and her fourteen-year-old daughter, Flora.
The plot is excellent and the writing style as well. There were places the book dragged a bit for me, but overall it kept my attention. The references throughout the book are to reputation. It is hard to imagine the influence social media has on our lives and our reputation. I think we all know someboy who has felt the damage, even if we haven't experienced it ourself. The book makes you realize how much each of us values our reputation and how easy it is to be damaged.
Thanks to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published July 7, 2022.
The plot is excellent and the writing style as well. There were places the book dragged a bit for me, but overall it kept my attention. The references throughout the book are to reputation. It is hard to imagine the influence social media has on our lives and our reputation. I think we all know someboy who has felt the damage, even if we haven't experienced it ourself. The book makes you realize how much each of us values our reputation and how easy it is to be damaged.
Thanks to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published July 7, 2022.
December 20, 2021
This is a very good read from Sarah Vaughan, author of ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’. Full of suspense ad great characters make this an excellent read.
Emma Webster is a politician whose life is permanently in the spotlight, her personal life is far from perfect she is the talk of the town. Emma has sacrificed a lot for her career including her marriage and the relationship with her daughter Flora. She is not comfortable under the scrutiny of the media and the insults that follow her in work and public life. Her good reputation is a necessity in her role as a politician and one slip can be fatal to her career.
Emma’s fourteen-year-old Flora is struggling at school and having to deal with constant bullying from her classmates. When another teenager takes her own life, Emma lobbies for a new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse causing Emma and Flora problems in their personal lives.
The dead body found at Emma’s home is a man she had every reason to be afraid of and to want gone. She now faces a fight to protect her reputation, and to protect her family and is willing to do it at all costs.
I really enjoyed this and expect it to be another best seller for this talented author.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Webster is a politician whose life is permanently in the spotlight, her personal life is far from perfect she is the talk of the town. Emma has sacrificed a lot for her career including her marriage and the relationship with her daughter Flora. She is not comfortable under the scrutiny of the media and the insults that follow her in work and public life. Her good reputation is a necessity in her role as a politician and one slip can be fatal to her career.
Emma’s fourteen-year-old Flora is struggling at school and having to deal with constant bullying from her classmates. When another teenager takes her own life, Emma lobbies for a new law to protect women and girls from the effects of online abuse causing Emma and Flora problems in their personal lives.
The dead body found at Emma’s home is a man she had every reason to be afraid of and to want gone. She now faces a fight to protect her reputation, and to protect her family and is willing to do it at all costs.
I really enjoyed this and expect it to be another best seller for this talented author.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2022
3.5 stars. Reputation had to be the title of this book since the word is stated over and over again in the story. The author uses a twitter thread to show the nastiness of comments concerning our main character Emma. I'm not on Twitter but I see plenty of ugly comments on all online platforms. I guess it's easier to be nasty in print than to look someone in the eye and do it.
My interest picked up at the very end of Part I. Part II was better. Part III was in the courtroom and I enjoyed the trial. On the downside, I never really warmed to Emma's character. I always knew who was narrating but the timeline jumped around so I had to pay close attention.
I received an Arc from a Goodreads giveaway and can now donate it to my library so others can enjoy the book.
My interest picked up at the very end of Part I. Part II was better. Part III was in the courtroom and I enjoyed the trial. On the downside, I never really warmed to Emma's character. I always knew who was narrating but the timeline jumped around so I had to pay close attention.
I received an Arc from a Goodreads giveaway and can now donate it to my library so others can enjoy the book.
March 23, 2024
I absolutely loved An Anatomy Of A Scandal (the series is actually very good too), and I loved this too! A wonderful author, who creates believable characters, and imagines a brilliantly plotted tale that keeps the reader guessing. It has been a busy week, and I had little time to read when starting this, but I was hooked right away, and that did not wane.
This book presents Emma, a Labour Party MP, and deals with security in the wake of the murders of, and increasing threats to, politicians. There are complicated relationships, and a Court case.
I cannot say more, you will just have to read it!
This book presents Emma, a Labour Party MP, and deals with security in the wake of the murders of, and increasing threats to, politicians. There are complicated relationships, and a Court case.
I cannot say more, you will just have to read it!
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