This isn't really a thriller as much as it is a conversation starter. The book felt very much like it wanted to explore more than it could even though it wasn't short nor devoid of viewpoints. Had it focused more on the idea of revenge porn and the two sides of the bullying coin, it would've been more insightful; but it wanted to cover so much, that it spread itself too thin. However, as a book club book I could see this being interesting; there are a lot of discussion points and threads to pull on. I just wish the plot had been narrowed down a bit (and the trial been chucked altogether). I'll still be looking for more from this author.

2.5 stars

Having read and enjoyed both Anatomy of a Scandal and Little Disasters by this author I was so excited to receive this from NetGalley, and Sarah Vaughn did not disappoint. This is a taught political/court room thriller and I was sucked into it from the start. I felt the tension the main character went through and the love for her daughter. I liked the political aspect and the way women are treated in a male dominated world. I was so absorbed into the story that I managed to read it in a couple of sittings, staying up way past my bedtime last night. I loved the different points of view and getting into each characters head, I love books formatted that way. Such a timely novel with internet stalking, young women being taken advantage of and bullying . Such a fantastic story, that will keep you on the edge of your seat and is deserving of all the stars.

I expected to really enjoy this book but sadly I can't say that I did. Whilst the writing style was good the storyline was laborious and dragged after about the first 20%. The same points made over and over and the second half of the trial felt like I sat through the whole trial; I found myself skimming over most of it. The characters weren't particularly likeable, which I don't mind but I didn't connect or find them engaging at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an ARC of Reputation in exchange for an honest review.

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.

This is the second book that I have read by this author. Emma is a strong character with a dilemma. This is a tale of women in politics and how everything balances on reputation. I found this book to be fast-paced and well written. Readers who love to read about intrigue will thoroughly enjoy this book.

I absolutely loved Anatomy of a Scandal….. can’t wait for the series to come out. Unfortunately I could not get into this book. I found it very repetitive and by 50% in I gave up. I think this could have been a great book but it got annoying.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy

I love books featuring smart, ambitious women and this one hit the mark as someone who was an MP in England while also a single mother. She would do anything to protect her job and her daughter and it's emotionally gripping what happens to her in the second half of the book when her reputation is damaged. Is she innocent? What really happened that night? Read to find out!

I feel indifferent to this story. I don't like it or dislike it. Is it suspenseful? Not exactly. I can't seem to connect to any of the characters or have any type of strong feelings toward them. Emma is bland and she's too much in her head. There are more descriptions coming from her than the progression of the storyline. The story crawl along opposed to developing at a steady pace. Flora's character isn't fully developed and yet she is a more central character that I think is interesting.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing and relevant book! Fantastically written, with superb character development! A story that is very relevant and important today, written in a honest, realistic, and engrossing way! Fast paced, unputdownable, and intense! I’ve not yet read Vaughn’s first book, but will have to soon, as she definitely knows how to write an amazing thrill ride! A twisted tale, full of twisty turns, thrills, chills, and shocks! Cannot recommend enough!

This is a fine mystery, delving into how the unexpected results from a series of disconnected events. In this case, it is the murder of a reporter and the trial of an accused MP., Emma Webster. The author spins the reader through layers and layers of events and motives leading up to this moment.

There is no obvious ending since the moment that should have been the ending, is not. The reader is left analyzing the past and thinking about the future. Readers are reminded that there is no buried past and events can always come back to change our lives.

The book held my interest with very good character development. I liked the nuanced characters, which lead me to think about the future of Emma, her daughter Flora, and the ubiquitous Caroline, the stepmother.

I think that readers of this genre will enjoy this book. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Great character development...with a number of people. Very current with the idea of revenge porn. Thoroughly enjoyed the trial phase and the fact that there were a few surprises in the ending!

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. WOW! This book is unbelievable! I loved it from start to finish and can't wait to read more by Sarah Vaughan! Thanks for the chance to read this!

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.

𝓡𝓔𝓟𝓤𝓣𝓐𝓣𝓘𝓞𝓝
By Sarah Vaughan
The US Release Date 07/05/2022

Partly, I like a bad reputation. But I also want a reputation of being a good person.
Joan Jett

Emma is a rising politician, a feminist, and trying to do the right thing everywhere she goes.
Fighting for women's rights is her main goal.
She’s divorced from David; they have a daughter Flora who’s 14. They seem to have a decent and amicable split, he’s since remarried Caroline, and they all seem to get along great.
This book is all about one's Reputation. How worrying about it so much ends up destroying you in the end. Everything with Emma is half-assed when it comes to her daughter and family, and at this point, Flora is being harassed, bullied, and continuously pranked at school. She’s failed to pick up on any of this (and that part will piss you off to hell and back. )
She’s made friends with a reporter Mike, who wants to run a story about her family that will ruin her good name.
She adamantly refuses. Coincidentally, Mike is found dead in her home; she is charged with murder. Hence, ruining her reputation, she’s worked so hard to build.
The court case part of this book is phenomenal. Does she repair her reputation?
The book is told in multiple POVs and is so twisty at the end, you have to walk away for a minute when you’re done to regroup.
4.5 S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉

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Sarah Vaughn Anatomy of a Scandal was so well written I recommended over and ver again.I will be doing the same with Reputation,I was drawn into the lives of this mother and daughter the mother aA divorced amp fFlors her teenage daughter each facing terrifying that come from todays headlines.This is an edge of your seat thriller that kept me turning the pages.hating to put it down#netgalley#atriabooks.

An entertaining legal drama and an unsettling cautionary tale for any woman considering entering politics – 5 stars.

This book was incredible and so hard to put down!

There’s so many dimensions to this book.
It goes between a few different point of views and pay attention to the dates.

Emma is a fierce character who wants to protect her daughter and her reputation. The ending is great! Sarah Vaughan doesn’t disappoint

*Thank you to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read the arc in return for an honest review.

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 a 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:

~Intelligent and unapologetically strong women characters.

~Current issues include gender inequality, cyber-bullying, ethical boundaries (and lack of) 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.

Lots to like, including (but not limited to) the somewhat thought provoking central issue. The final few court scenes were notable for thier poignancy. Yet...there were a couple of things in the wrap up that felt unnecessary as well as the occasional superfluous character perspective. The narrative could have been tighter, is what I'm saying.

Interesting plot about a female MPs life. How a photo shoot and article can change the public's perception of a person. How social media can have such a devastating impact on a person's life. Revenge porn and social media threats play a big role in this book as does the role of the media. Sarah Vaughan has her usual court room drama. Good pace, good page-turner with a few twists.