The Society of Shame has one of the most unique plots I've read in a while. Kathleen Held returns home early one night to find her garage on fire, her husband's pants down, and a drunk woman in her yard. Not only does she have to deal with the shame of her cheating husband who's running for Senate, but a photo taken that night of her period-stained pants goes viral. The viral photo ends up starting a huge movement - "#YesWeBleed." I loved the journey of Kathleen finding her own empowerment and strengthening her relationship with her daughter. The book also shows the power of social media in our current times. I personally don't have much interest in politics in general so I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for allowing me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Really liked this book! Very engaging and thought provoking. This is one of those books that would be perfect for a book club because there’s so much to talk about and these days, everyone has a story of internet shame.

A very original story line with an original character that could be any one of us. With every second of a person's life available for posting or streaming, the fact that Kathleen's "leaky" tampon ends up as the news of the day just proves that so many people will post ANYTHING. Her original response is what most women's would be......embarrassment and confusion at why this could be newsworthy.

Jane Roper has pulled some very different threads together and given us an entertaining look at today's life and times in the media lane. As Kathleen tries to figure out how she will ever be able to face her neighbors again, we'll recognize the people and organizations that exist slightly off the mainstream. An unusual story that will leave you entertained and telling all of your reading friends......especially those that bleed......that they really need to read this book.

Book 10: Many reviews for this book mention “If you loved Lessons in Chemistry you will love this” and since I did not love #lessonsinchemistry this also was not the book for me. Kathleen’s life is turned upside down when she catches her political candidate husband cheating while their garage is burning down. To make the situation worse she becomes #instafamous because the pictures posted from the cheating incident include a #periodbleedthrough on her pants and she becomes the poster child for the #yeswebleed movement without her consent. Kathleen intercepts an invitation to #thesocietyofshame meant for her #cheatinghusband and through the other internet shamed people she meets Kathleen learns to embrace her new found fame and use it to her advantage. Unfortunately, her daughter is left drowning in the wake of the waves caused by Kathleen’s boat to #influencer status. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️ book available #April2023. 📚📚📚 #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreviewer #bookstagram #my2023readingchallenge

Edgy, satirical, wild ride that becomes surprisingly sincere. The story begins with Kathleen, a politician’s wife, arriving home early to discover her house on fire and her husband in a compromising position with a campaign staffer. But what makes the news isn’t her husband’s infidelity so much as the period stain on the back of her skirt. This kicks off a bizarre PR and public activism whirlwind that Kathleen finds herself first reluctantly and then fully immersed in, thanks to the urgings of the mysterious Society of Shame.

I thoroughly enjoyed the satirical aspect of this book, especially as a liberal reader in a red state. I also enjoyed seeing Kat’s relationship with her tween daughter Aggie evolve over the course of the book. Did I have to face some of my own discomfort with constant descriptions of menstruation and menstrual products? Yes. But I think I’m the better for it.

The Society of Shame is quirky fun, with an interesting premise, a fairly likable protagonist, and a lot of on-the-nose humor. It is also not subtle social commentary.

This was an interesting take on how in the age of viral content, an individual's whole life can be changed by information about them that gets online. I think it was also an interesting perspective on midlife, and how at that time you may still be finding yourself and discovering what brings you purpose. I loved Aggie, the daughter of the main character, and her perspective remained a fresh part of the book, working to eventually even ground the adults around her.

This smart and funny novel had me laughing and nodding along with the narrator from page one! Jane Roper is a comedic sharpshooter and aims her wit at partisan politics, social and mass media, cancel culture, and the unrelenting use of hashtags. I especially loved that she cleverly interwove made-up debate transcripts, social media commentary, online articles, etc. into her narrative—reflecting, with the astute and skeptical perspective only a Gen-Xer can, what's absurd about these public (and mostly online) arenas. THE SOCIETY OF SHAME captures the zeitgeist of our time and was the hilarious release valve I so very badly needed.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of THE SOCIETY OF SHAME.

Oh Kathleen! The public revelation of her husband's infidelity gets totally lost when a photograph of her pants - where she has bled through- goes viral and she becomes the poster woman for a we bleed movement. Twitter and the rest of social media takes off, pushing her into a corner trying to protect her teen daughter Aggie. And then she intercepts an invitation for her husband to join the Society of Shame founded by Danica, a best selling novelist who was cancelled. Danica introduces Kathleen to others who have been through the mill- their portraits are succinct, sharp, and for the most part sympathetic (there's at least two sides to every story) and to changes she needs to make in her own life. This is very much about finding resilience and yourself but it's also laugh out loud funny in spots. The characters- from Kathleen/Kat to her sister (what a hoot) to Jonathan and so on- are well drawn. It's also a sly indictment of trends in publishing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

When Catherine “cat“ held found her husband cheating it was because their garage was on fire and he was trying to put it out while his pants were down around his ankles and his intern was sitting in the grass with her panties around her ankles and oh yes the cab driver was there and took a picture. What he also unknowingly photographed was that Catherine just started her period and although she is devastated that her husband was cheating she is totally embarrassed at the world can see proof of her monthly cycle. This starts a wave of hashtag movements but the most popular is hashtag yes we bleed. Catherine would rather live like an ostrich and put her head in the sand but her daughter as opposed to being bullied by it gets angry and decides to join The #yes we bleed club at her school they’re even creating gift bags for refugees with pads and tampons… They just need to find some refugees. Catherine is not down with this and tries to make her daughter quit the club but since she’s left her husband and join A group of other adults who suffered from scandal publicly she’s also gaining some confidence and decides not only to allow her daughter to be in the group but it’s going to advocate for the #GuessWeBleedMovement.HerBiggestFearWasHerDaughterWouldn’tTakeTheDivorceAndTheNewVersionOfTheirFamilyThatWellButItSeemsHerDaughterAndThisGroupOfLosers will wind up teaching Catherine all the great things she has in her life. This book was one of the funniest books I’ve read in a while I love this book from the one eyed dog nugget to the group leader to so much more and although I don’t think every situation should be a public discussion I do think the stigma for women’s periods is a pointless one. I’m myself I’m not embarrassed by my period and if it did happened I would’ve just shrugged it off, I mean life happens but I know some people take that seriously and I found it being The subject of a book hilarious. I love the people in the group I loved Catherine I thought her husband was an egomaniac this is such a great book and one I highly recommend if you just need a pick me up you definitely need to pick this book up first you will totally be laughing by the time you’re done. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review

I love a plot that is totally different from anything else I have read before, and for me the new book The Society of Shame definitely met that criteria. It starts out with a scenario we've all heard of in both real life and fiction; wife comes home and is shocked to catch her politician husband having an affair. But this is where the similarities end. A photo is taken that not only exposes the affair but also the fact that the wife, Kathleen, has a huge period stain on her pants. This photo causes humiliation for Kathleen while simultaneously birthing a new social cause, a feminist movement called Yes We Bleed. The reader follows Kathleen as she is forced into instant celebrity and all of its ups and many downs. This plot is timely, focusing on how the media, especially social media, brings out everyone's opinions, and how sometimes there's no way to come out on top no matter how many good things you try to do. You'll be rooting for Kathleen to survive it all and maybe come out better for it all.

I appreciate Jane Roper, Anchor Books, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this fun new book.

I really enjoyed this hilarious satirical send up of cancel culture, social media, 2000s movements and the women (and men) who love them. Our main character Kat get thrown into the limelight when her husband gets caught cheating with his pants down while her pants get stained with a bleed through period. Thus begins a movement WE BLEED. Kat is horrified but begins to get hurtled into stardom. Then she meets a rag tag group of formerly shamed and forever infamous and cancelled buddies. I felt like if you threw this book in a time capsule for 2023 the only other thing you’d need are mom jeans, those ugly serial killer glasses everyone’s been wearing and a poppit and you’d get what’s going on today.
If you like satire, social commentary and a really sweet mother daughter story to boot definitely check this out. You can tell the author has a really fun time writing it and I had a great time reading it.

This book held my interest throughout the story. The characters were well developed and were relatable . It was at times funny and though provoking. It covers politics marriage and parenthood using political wife Kathleen Held as the reluctant main protagonist. Its element of mother/daughter interactions were poignant and funny and the same time . At first the movement the Kathleen unwittingly started seemed silly, but as the reader continues on you get the feeling this is a satire on the culture of today....the internet I recommend reading and enjoying this book as soon as you can

I really enjoyed the what I call quirky chaos (slightly satirical) vibe of The Society of Shame. I was onboard with the #yeswebleed themes but also felt that I was returning to characters I loved in Where'd you go Bernadette and Today Will be Different (Maria Semple books) in terms of women who march to their own beat but have a little chaos or unexpected hilarity unfold around them, in their wake. The commentary on social media was its own best worst enemy was also well done.
This one was a yes for me, I thought Jane Roper had deft touches with the plot and societal commentary. Thank you Knopf for the ebook via NetGalley.

The book started off well and was able to hold my interest. Around the half-way point I grew tired of the #yes we bleed movement and it took me quite awhile to actually finish the book. It started picking up again towards the end and I was glad I actually stuck with it. This book could be considered a statement of our times, one #movement after the other, some more ridiculous than the others. Kathleen is not a likable person from the start—a doormat at work and at home who then becomes very self-important and inconsiderate. She does redeem herself at the end. Aggie, her daughter, is the victim throughout this book and I felt the most compassion for her. I could definitely say that each of the characters in this book engendered some kind of emotional response from me. To my mind, a book that carries the reader to another emotional plane, is doing its job. This book is a solid 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC. This review is my own.

3 stars
I found this book to be pretty relevant to our world and its relationship to social media. I was expecting a much funnier read. Though it was humorous at times, it felt a bit too real. Overall I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I really liked the concept, but the actuality of social media was pretty demoralizing. I liked the mother/daughter relationship, but just wanted a bit more depth overall on the subject matter. Although as a statement on the artifice of pretty much everything in the news, it is pretty solid.

The Society of Shame is a charming and hilarious book about a woman who is experiencing a crisis in her marriage. Kathleen has returned from vacation and discovered her husband with another woman. To make things even worse, he is a high profile man running for Senate and it gets leaked to the media causing a feeding frenzy. I can definitely see the comparisons to Lessons in Chemistry crossed with Where'd You Go, Bernadette? That's a perfect description. This is such a fun and thoughtful read. It's very cinematic and I could picture it happening on a screen.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Kathleen Held's husband is running for office. When she gets home early one night, she finds her garage on fire and her husband in an undressed situation with one of his staff members. However, it's the red spot on her pants that goes viral. Completely ashamed and in despair about her marriage and her embarrassment on the national news, she takes her pre-teen daughter and moves out. When she is invited to join The Society of Shame with other virally cancelled people, she rebrands herself Kat and vows to own her shame and turn it into a positive moment in the spotlight and a new life. She allows her name to be used for the #YesWeBleed movement (yes, it's cringy) but the spotlight can be a very tricky place to live.

This book was fantastical and a fun farce. I tried to get on board with some of the wacky things that happened. The social movement parts were not my favorite (see- society tells me to be uncomfortable with so much period talk!) but I took this book in the spirit of satire and enjoyed the wild ride.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review. 3.75 stars

An intriguing read as to how a woman like Kat opts to no.longer stay in the shadow of her husband and live in a "just" life but rather forges her own path and figures out whom she wants to be. Yes, she was shamed by the picture of her husband and his mistress coupled with her period stain but she started a movement allowing women to embrace that which shouldn't be regarded with shame. The Society of Shame was merely an introduction into a new way of thinking and the drive for action. I enjoyed her evolution of relationships with Aggie, Margo and Bobbie. Kat really became her own person.