This thought provoking plot takes us on a compelling journey alongside Ceyda, affectionately known as Jade, a talented lawyer working at Reuban in London, UK. Her life appears to be on track, but a night of heavy drinking during a work event leaves her with a hazy memory and suspicions of sexual assault. This event is a catalyst, challenging her perception of self and her meticulously constructed world.

Jade is a young woman caught between the desire to please her immigrant parents and conform to societal norms, which include maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend, Kit. When the assault occurs, Jade's carefully constructed façade begins to crumble as she navigates the painful memories, trying to piece together what happened. With the support of her friends and after confronting her family and Kit, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

The book skillfully addresses important themes, including identity, ambition, misogyny, sexism, power, and wealth. It delves into Jade's internal struggle as she comes to terms with her experiences, leading her to become more vocal and aware of the cultural norms and attitudes that have shaped her life. As Jade's understanding grows, she grapples with the expectations of her immigrant parents, who have long encouraged her to assimilate into the dominant culture.

"Jade" is a sharp and thrilling exploration of a woman's search for self, resilience, and empowerment in the face of a traumatic event. This engaging narrative offers readers an insightful examination of contemporary social issues and personal growth, making it an impactful and thought-provoking read. The writing is superb, effortlessly guiding us through Jade's thoughts, realizations, and emotions. While the plot might be challenging, it is executed with finesse. As we accompany Jade on her journey, we see her evolve and transform, ultimately reclaiming her identity and sense of self. Despite the difficult subject matter, the novel is beautifully crafted, and the author's ability to weave complex themes into the narrative is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate the author's future works.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster for sharing this powerful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I just finished the book and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this arc. All thoughts are my own. This Book follows Ceyda aka jade and her journey as a lawyer in a firm Reuban in London U.K. One night she gets drunk and is sexually assaulted. Now reading this book I can see Jade has to deal with sexism, racism, and wanting to please her parents. She wanted her life to stay the same but at the cost of her not accepting what truly happened to her. It took that one event for Jade to see that her life was perfect but there were things she didn't see. The attitudes and actions of the people in her life were questionable. She needed to see that she couldn't ignore all the wrongs done to her and she needed to back away and get help. Mental health played a factor in this book as well and I cried knowing that Jade was a woman who went through an event that happens when we have trust and it's broken by people you thought were your friends. Her life and her relationship with her parents, job, and relationship spiraled, but Jade really went out knowing she just had to let her old life go. I liked this book and it's a book many women should read in this day and age.

Ela Lee's novel feels as if she is writing from experience. I have no idea if this novel is autobiographical in any way, but I sense, on every page, the rage and pain, the humiliation, the ongoing aftereffects of terror that follow rape. It feels emotionally real.

Jade is the daughter of a Korean woman and a Turkish man and both cultures figure prominently in this novel. She works successfully in a large London law firm which brings her immigrant parents immense pride. But truth is that she is a woman, and women still have to play certain roles in a man's world.

Jade has had a years-long relationship with Kit, who comes from a wealthy family. It appears like a perfect love affair, but cracks begin to appear after what happens to her one night after a drunken office party at the Savoy. Kit doesn't really see her nor recognize the racist remarks from his closest friends, which wound her.

Jade's women friends offer support, but her life is broken. The story goes on (and on and on hence the three-star rating.) It could benefit greatly from editing. The crying jags and ethnic food descriptions could easily be cut without harming the central core. I must confess however, that parts of the book are so visceral that I could not sleep the night i read them due to the excess adrenaline coursing through my system after an emotional scene.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early copy.

This is a powerful book. The premise is centered on sexual assault in the corporate world, as well as misogyny and racism.

I think non-UK readers may struggle to connect with this as much as UK-based readers. Many of the references are British.

Oh thank you Simon & Shuster for the privilege of reading this ARC of Jaded because I won't soon forget it. This read tore at my heart and made me feel all the things, angry, sad, disappointed. Jade constructs her life to please her immigrant parents by becoming a lawyer. She conforms to fit into her society boyfriends world. One night, after a social function for work, Jade is plied with drinks by one of the partners, and brought home by another rising star at the firm. She wakes up the next morning and has no memory of getting home. Jade starts to put the pieces together with flashbacks, and after seeing a doctor. When she is finally able to share her truth with her parents and boyfriend she learns a valuable lesson about how you can be let down hard by the people you love and her carefully constructed world comes crumbling down. Her seemingly perfect boyfriend was so tone deaf to Jade's pain, I hurt for her. Fortunately, Jade's best friends are there for her and support her in her recovery and journey of self discovery. This book, and Jade, will be on my heart for a long time.

Ela Lee's debut novel, JADED, is recommended for readers of I MAY DESTROY YOU or QUEENIE. It's a novel of the cut-throat corporate world and an examination of consent, power, race, sexism, and identity in a broken society.

3.5 rounded up to 4.0. I enjoyed this book which deals with a young woman, member of a non-dominant social group as the child of Turkish/Korean parents. Jade (as she is called by Starbucks and her friends who can't pronounce her given name) is brought up in a white world, going to good schools, achieving academic and career success as an attorney. She is in a long-term relationship with a young white guy, Kit. Jade experiences a sexual assault early in the book. She is deeply ashamed of the assault and hides it from her friends and family, including Kit. The reactions of those individuals awakens in Jade increased awareness about how she has had to deny who she is in order to survive in this white world. Jade begins to see many things about which she was unaware before the assault. As an individual committed to social justice and inclusion, I could relate to the struggles and growing awareness in Jade's life. She starts to be more concerned and vocal about the impact of comments and actions within the dominant culture about herself, her struggles, and her own reactions. The book also deals with Jade's relationships with her immigrant parents who expect her to collude with the norms of white culture. I recommend the book, although I think it will be seen by some members of our dominant culture in the US as an over-reaction to an unfortunate event in the life of a woman of color. I"d love to hear the reactions of other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! It started off a little slow but I'm glad I stuck with it. The friendships and relationships were all well-written.

A sharp, thrilling account of how Ceyda’s (better known as Jade) life and sense of self seems to unravel as she starts to have flashbacks of the night of a work gala and suspects she was assaulted.

A difficult read for me in terms of the plot but it is executed well and the writing is lovely. The author does an excellent job of taking us through Jade’s thoughts, realizations, and emotions and of weaving in so many themes including identity, ambition, misogyny, sexism, power, and wealth. I’m excited to read whatever she writes next.

Thank you very much to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this impressive debut.

This book is a great example of sophisticated storytelling in my opinion. The story was well written and the characters were very interesting. The main situation was uncovered and the book goes into detail about how the characters deal with this. Class, culture and gender are the main themes. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This one is still on my mind.

Wow. This book was amazing. It was like I was there experiencing the heartbreak and trauma and change with Jade.