Corporate feuding is one of my favorite tropes that I don’t read nearly as often as I should. This was a fun and quick read about a leadership team with many secrets. The characters were compelling and the pacing of the story kept me interested. It took me a minute to get track of all of them with the multiple POVs but once I did it was a breeze to know who had what at stake. If you like a story with greedy rich people behaving badly than this one is for you!

Very Bad Company is about a tech start-up retreat in Florida. Caitlin was hired days before the event and is nervous to meet the rest of the executives for the first time at the retreat. When one of the execs is dead after the first night, the retreat must go on. Yes, even after a friend/peer is dead, they go on a yacht, parasailing, pickleball, and many other social events. Why? Well, there is an acquisition pending, and we can't let a little death derail that, right?

While the premise of this one requires you to suspend a lot of reality, and the characters were all a bit (or a lot) flawed, it was good entertainment. I liked the multiple povs throughout the book to piece together the puzzle of the dead exec.

3.5 stars rounded up

This company trip gone wrong storyline is starting to feel a bit overplayed to me. I kind of knew what I was getting myself into which is why I’m glad this was an audiobook and I could listen while driving, walking, etc. every character’s storyline was somehow too dramatic and too surface-level at the same time. The ending was too drawn out and I wasn’t engaged enough to pay proper attention so I either missed a really big twist that tied it all together, or there wasn’t one at all. Unfortunately I didn’t care enough to rewind and figure it out.

This is not a romance! (Note: i did not expect it to be one when i picked it up, I'm also just warning all you romance friends!) Not a book I'd usually pick up, but the premise was intriguing and every now an again I love a good c-suite drama. It was an enjoyable read, though reminds me why I prefer Dukes and Aristocrats over CEOs and mergers. Some small jabs hit a little too close to home, but it's a world that exists and I have only the faintest grasp. It has all the drama of a train wreck you can't look away from, and the juicy intrigue into the lives of the overworked rich. Let's just say it's a reallllly interesting readalong companion to Burnout Immunity which I'm also currently reading.

2.5 stars. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a novel with this much work place drama and I was not here for it. Caitlin Levy joins Aurora’s tech exec team just in time for their annual retreat to Miami. This exec team made the leadership team in Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team look like a dream team.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A trendy tech company retreat in Miami gone wrong when someone ends up murdered and everyone is trying to figure out what happened while also harboring their own secrets.

There were a ton of characters to keep up with and it was hard to remember all their back stories at times. Honestly when someone turned up missing I didn’t even remember who that person was. Not to mention, none of the characters were very likeable.

A little too much business talk and Winston Churchill facts and quotes for my liking.

January LaVoy did an incredible job narrating though! This book wasn’t my cup of tea, but it may be yours 😊

Thanks so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC!

#MacAudio2024

I received this as an ARC. It was just meh for me. I’m not sure if it was too many characters or the jumping around from one character to the next but it didn’t keep my attention very long. I finished it because I wanted to know what happened but it definitely didn’t have me on the edge of my seat. I loved the narrator!

Just like in her first novel, Bad Summer People, unlikeable people are the theme of this book! And the author once again hit it out of the park with this group! The execs from start up, Aurora descend on Miami for team building drinking, and jockeying – oh, and lying, cheating, backstabbing. When one of the team goes missing, the group is more concerned with the future of the company and how it will impact them. The story unfolds by focusing on each of the main characters POV. While I don’t usually like books with unlikable characters, no one devises despicable, narcissistic characters like Rosenblum and I’m here for it!
As with her first book, the plot almost seems secondary. While the plot revolves around the death of an employee and the future of the company, the core of the story really centers around the toxicity of the characters as well on commentary on corporate greed. It’s the story you will hate to like!
January LaVoy who was amazing with her narration of multiple POVs, differentiating their personalities with her tone and voice. I will continue to seek out books read by her!
A very fast paced, perfect summer read!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and macmillan audio for the advanced audio copy!

This book was pretty fun. I enjoyed the cast of characters a lot, and enjoyed their humorous banter! Some of the jokes were problematic (intended to be satire I think) and fell a little flat for me. I also thought that since this was marketed as a mystery/thriller, I expected there to be a more mystery/thriller type feel.

My main critique is that the build-up was slow (and not in a slow-build/intense kind of way), and the ending was rather unsatisfying in my opinion.

Overall a fun read! I look forward to seeing people's thoughts especially about that ending :0

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: Animals - Nickelback (because these people were a bunch of animals and seemed like the kind of people who like Nickelback)

💭What I thought would happen:

I read the title as bad company as in people but it’s actually clever toxic people and work place ahh💡

📖What actually happens:

Coworkers go on a retreat and everything goes to shit. Stock options. Cocaine. Mystery death. Scandal.

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Mmmmk so imagine an absolutely toxic AF workplace then going on a retreat/vacation with them in Miami…😬

Not going to lie, read/listened to this days ago…I have forgotten much. This gal ain’t memorable

Twas fine. I don’t have any rage to take out on it. The ending left me confused and there were about 2 too many characters 🤷🏼‍♀️

Audiobook: After recently listening to another book narrated by January LaVoy (Listen for the Lie), I was excited to hear her narrate this one. Very Bad Company gave me vibes of the non-fiction books by John Carreyrou, Bad Blood/Hatching Twitter, along with the TV show White Lotus. If you've enjoyed those, you may enjoy this story of a company with a lot to hide on a group retreat. It was an enjoyable listening experience, but there were a lot of characters. I'm not even sure if reading a hard copy of the book would have made it easier to keep the characters straight because there were a lot to follow, and their jobs and personality traits seemed to blend together a bit. LaVoy did great job of differentiating the characters from a narration perspective, so that definitely helped. A light, fun summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook copy - out on May 14, 2024

This has all the makings of a beach binge. 🏖️😎

Let’s set the stage:
- Tech start-up
- Executive retreat
- Destination: Miami
- Multibillion dollar merger in discussion
- Rich people doing bad things

What could possibly go wrong? Well, things start to go askew when one of the execs goes missing and then things really start to unravel.

Overall, this was a quick read. Somewhat entertaining, albeit predicable. Would’ve liked more character development. Wanted to know more on why I should love or hate the characters. I felt like I just needed more, but the narration held me over.

🎧 January LaVoy narrated this one and what amazing range. This book was told in multiple POVs - over 1/2 a dozen - but the delivery was 🤌🏼. If you’re the type to get lost a little bit when multiple POVs are in the mix, I feel that LaVoy distinguished between them all so well which will keep you on track. Would love to listen to more done by her. 👏🏼 I gave a little extra boost to my star-rating solely based on her performance.

Thank you to #MacAudio2024 for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 rounded up. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ALC copy of this one!

The beginning of this book had me hooked but then the ending felt anti climactic to me. I thought the author did a fantastic job with the characters in this one, if not a little predictable. Definitely recommend if you’re into corporate gossip or need a quick beach read.

Unfortunately this book isn’t for me. I love the narrator, but don’t care for any of the characters - and there are so many it’s difficult to keep track of them. A group of high level executives with rich people problems gather on a company retreat in Miami. Apparently there will be a missing person, but I didn’t make it that far. After about 25%, nothing much had happened except background on everyone, and I decided I wasn’t really interested in the story. I’m sure others will love this one, and I wish all the best to the author and team.
Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio, the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the eALC to listen to and review. All opinions are my own.

Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum
Narrator: January LaVoy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 5/14

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Very Bad Company takes us to a tech startup's annual retreat, where the line between work and play blurs spectacularly. When one of their coworkers goes missing and is later found dead, accusations fly and secrets start to come out, leaving readers wondering who they can trust in this group of unlikeable executives.

The title says it all! This story is about a very bad company and the terrible people who run it. I really enjoyed this author’s previous book Bad Summer People, also narrated by one of my favorites, January LaVoy. This had a very similar structure, with a large cast of unlikeable characters and the ‘whodunit’ mystery to solve.

This cast of characters as colorful as they are conniving. From John, the eccentric founder, to Caitlyn, the ambitious new hire, each member of the Aurora team brings their own motivations and machinations to the table.

Narrated with flair, the audiobook brings each character to life with distinct voices and personalities, making it easy to get swept up in the drama.

I love thrillers with multi-POV, but in this case, the cast was a bit too large, and the characters were all too similar to tell apart. I had to go back and relisten a few times because I forgot who was speaking. And while I also love a group of snarky, unlikeable characters, this group is pretty terrible. Thankfully, the plot moved quickly, and I wanted to know what was happening with the company. Otherwise, I may have stopped listening.

Overall, this book has charm, and I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the fast pace.

Read if you like:
*rich people problems
*Miami
*multiple POV
*the tech world
*unlikeable characters

This… did not do it for me. The characters were all different shades of annoying, which is fine but it was hard to get into the story when I didn’t like any of the characters. I was hoping there would be more “rich people doing bad things” vibes that can be tantalizing and fun to follow even when those people themselves are the worst, but this cast didn’t get there for me.

There’s an underlying current of Winston Churchill that I wasn’t really interested in and was just annoyed with by the end because of the onslaught of mentions of it there was.

I got a bit past 50% before I decided I really didn’t care and was just listening to listen. Yes, there was a murder but it ended up being more of an afterthought to the whole plot AND didn’t come about until almost halfway through the book. The pacing, cast of characters and overall feel of the book was not for me.

If you’re someone who’s into the tech/business world and want a beach read where you can simply shut your brain off and watch the characters go about their day… this may work for you but for me, it missed the mark.

On an audiobook note, I did really like the narrator. She did a great job of differentiating characters and showing a lot of energy and emotion. Her voice was nice and if it weren’t for that I don’t think I would’ve made it through this one.

A book loaded either drama, scandal, humor and a gorgeous setting.

Much like Emma’s other book, Bad Summer People, Very Bad Company is the perfect combo of mystery and scandal and is basically like a train wreck you can’t look away from with an ending will surprise you!

I struggled with the number of characters and trying to keep track of who was who as well. It was also difficult to connect with a lot of the business aspects in this book. The trendy tech startup felt like it played a larger role than I would have preferred!

Overall, this book along with Bad Summer People will make for the perfect summer reads! Fun settings, murder & so many secrets, all of my favorite things in a book 😏

3.5 ⭐️

Have you read this one or is it on your TBR?

I listened to the audio of this and the narrator did a great job especially since there was so many characters. It took a little bit for me to remember all the characters though but once I did, I really got into this book and learned a lot about tech start ups and the shady business that went on at this one. There was a lot of drama in this book in a new take, which I love.

This is a compulsive mystery novel, without any doubt. The plot is covered in secrets, and when one of the characters stumbles upon something that's too good to be true, odds are, it's too good to be true. The writing was fairly decent, and I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks that provided the backstory of where the characters were and how they ended up in their situations.
Speaking of characters, I'm now a fan of the talented January LaVoy. She truly brought the characters to life, each with their own tone, expressions, and emotions. She made me dislike John Shiller and his obnoxious obsession with Winston Churchill.

In all honesty, this is not typically a book I read. There were a few explicit scenes I skipped over. The plot was decent and compulsive, but the ending felt underwhelming and flat for me. However, I do like to adventure outside my historical fiction and give other genres an open mind. Plus, I truly enjoy discovering audiobook narrators. Bravo, January LeVoy.

Emma Rosenblum returns following her smashing debut, Bad Summer People, with another scandalous, sizzling summer show-stopper, VERY BAD COMPANY. This time, we are headed to Miami (my backyard) for a corporate retreat like no other!

A darkly comic novel about a team of greedy, wealthy, and powerful executives on a corporate retreat in Miami when one goes missing and turns up dead. Is there a murderer among them? What secrets are to come?

The trendy tech startup, Aurora has set their annual exclusive retreat in Miami this year for all the top executives.

When: Tues-Friday Apr 23-26
Where: The 1 Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
An exclusive resort hotel

Attendees:
~John Shiller, CEO
~Dallas Joy, CTO
~Zach Wagner, CRO
~Martin Ito, CIO
~Debra Foley, CPO
~Nikki Lane, EVP
~Olive Green, DOC
~Caitlin Levy, Head of Events
~Jessica Radum, Head of Partnerships
Organizer:
~Madison Bez, Assistant to John Shiller

Caitlin Levy, their newest hire as Head of Events, will join them for the first time this year. The benefits include a seven-figure salary, stock shares, a discretionary bonus, and limitless vacation days.

Things get off to a rocky start when one of the executives vanishes after the first night, which may derail the company's future sale—and cost everyone millions. The battle for power quickly turns ugly.

Miami can be a dangerous place...

However, the show must continue as they all come together for the charade, presentations, and team-building.

Told from multiple POVs:
part one-part five
~Caitlin
~Olive
~Debra
~Nikki
~Madison
~John
~Zach
~Martin
~Dallas
The Finger Waggers Reunion (catchup)
Epilogue

Who will be able to play the corporate game? It's a fun, wild, roller coaster, soapy ride. Who will be out/in?

From dark secrets, drinking, drugs, dancing, hookups, arm candy, back-stabbing, greed, ambition, surprises, corruption, power games, blackmail, scandal, and dark company secrets. Highly entertaining!

AUDIOBOOK: You must get the audiobook, narrated by the fabulous January LaVoy, juggling multiple POVs for an impressive, witty, riveting, and entertaining performance for all the voices.

I have managed numerous corporate retreats in Miami and South Beach; however, none quite as racy as this one.

VERY BAD COMPANY is for fans of Kaira Rouda's The Kingsley series, Under the Palms. (May 21, 2024)

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and #MacAudio2024 for an advanced listening copy for an honest opinion. #SMPInfluencers

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 14, 2024
May Newsletter
May 2024 Must-Read Books