Entitlement follows the meandering path (rather than propulsive trajectory) of Brooke Orr, a 30-something African-American woman, trying to find her life’s purpose in New York City. Her journey is contrasted with those of her Vassar College friends Kim and Matthew. Kim inherits a large sum of money from her deceased father and dabbles in low-paying somewhat glamorous pursuits. Matthew works as a drone at an advertising agency. In the novel, Brooke has quit her first job as a teacher at a charter school where she felt undervalued and has just started working at the Asher and Carol Jaffee Foundation. Asher Jaffee, an octogenarian billionaire, has minions to help him give away a significant portion of his fortune to worthy causes. As he grandiosely describes it, the fundamental mission of the foundation is to change the world.

Asher feels an affinity for Brooke and takes her on as his protégé. As such he exposes her to privledges and experiences that – while commonplace for persons of great wealth – she was unaware of and unaccustomed to. In turn, she chooses to show him (and convince him to fund) Throop Community School, an African dance and drumming organization, run by a charismatic woman named Ghalyela Jefferson. Ultimately, and perhaps inevitably, both paths have unintended bad consequences. Brooke becomes grasping and avaricious (yes, entitled) while Asher’s philanthropic impulses turn out to be, not so much a selfless quest to do good but rather a means to garner a Presidential Medal of Freedom. These outcomes become apparent in a final confrontation at the end of the book that leaves the fates of the characters up in the air.

Alam does a good job describing New York City life and Asher’s lifestyle and proclivities. He brings up many topical issues – without being preachy – about race, class, age and the uses and misuses of philanthropy. Readers looking for relatable or even likeable characters will be disappointed, as will those hoping for resolution of the many side plots along with the main story line.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Riverhead Books for the ARC in exchange for this review.

**Spoiler alert**. I feel like I just watched a train wreck. How did a young woman, not that young, raised by a solid, grounded mother with a conventional brother lose all sense of propriety and values simply by being exposed to extreme wealth? Is this even possible? She had no roots. She turns into her own version of Robin Hood except her giving to the poor is to herself. She shows no remorse or even shame. I'm completely befuddled by the character. Having said all that, this book has left an impact on me. it reminds me of a popular book from last summer The Guest.

I enjoyed this book more than this author's previous work, Leave the World Behind, however... Here the main character changes careers from a teacher to working at a private foundation, becoming a protege of the donor. In the process of learning about the charitable world, she rapidly changes from a black woman seemingly uninterested or affected by her race, to someone conscious of it as well as her newfound power in the land of money. I found the speedy transition just not believable and bothersome. Her inability to take the time to truly learn the ropes and use her new position for good led to disaster.

Entitlement by Rumaan Alam is a slow-paced character study set in the world of 2010s New York at a billionaire’s charitable foundation. We follow Brooke, a 33 year old woman, trying to figure out her place in the world and how access to the world of wealth changes her in complex ways. Entitlement is a book to pick up if you enjoy books, books that explore themes of wealth and class and privilege.⁣ Like Alam’s other works, this a character driven story, with even minor characters feeling fully realized. The sense of dread and tension builds throughout and while it didn’t quite all come together in the end for me. I enjoyed the journey.

Brooke Orr is a 30-something, Vassar educated, adopted Black woman living in Manhattan and struggling to discover who she is. Newly hired at a billionaire’s charitable foundation, she becomes his protégé which awakens her ambition and compulsive desire for the things money can buy and which erodes her relationships with family and friends. Addressing issues of race, gender, economic inequality and capitalism, the novel examines the roots of Brooke’s increasingly poor decision making and how money, or lack thereof, can impact identity and purpose. This is an important book but I found the shifting voices and the speed of Brooke’s transformation to be a distraction.

I wasn’t as engrossed in this book as I was with Leave the World Behind, but this is a very different type of story. I started out thinking one way about the protagonist, and then my opinion slowly shifted as she did one cringey thing after another. I’m not sure I could say that I enjoyed this book, but it was definitely interesting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of character-driven stories, social satires, books that explore themes of wealth and class and privilege, well…you’re going to love ENTITLEMENT, the latest from Rumaan Alam, the author of 2020’s LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND.⁣
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Set in the world of philanthropic organizations, #Entitlement is about Brooke -a young woman looking to make her mark on the world- who takes a job at a billionaire’s charitable organization, helping to identify non-profits to invest in. When the billionaire takes Brooke under his wing and begins mentoring her as his protege, Brooke’s ideas of wealth and privilege and identity and “what she is owed”, ideas that have been simmering just under the surface, come out in some unexpected and complex ways.⁣
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Similar to other books from Alam, this is a slow-burn character drama, full of nuanced and complicated ideas, morally grey characters, and a thruline feeling of tension and unease. The book poses some really interesting questions to readers, and I have a feeling book clubs are going to have a lot of fun with this one when it officially publishes on SEPTEMBER 17th, 2024.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing for an early copy of Entitlement by Rumaan Alam

Wealth appears to be the driving force that has main characters Brooke Orr and Asher Jaffe spinning their wheels---Brooke wanting to acquire it and Asher wanting to dispose of it. Both are lost in a world where money and everything it can buy prevents both of them from enjoying life.

Brooke has been hired by Asher's charitable foundation to give away billions of dollars which Asher has acquired through successful businesses. His motivation is not altruistic; rather, he desires to be a savior to all and has his eye on a Presidential Medal. One may question whether he recognizes poverty and need in his own backyard.

While seeking out possible recipients of the foundation's charity, Brooke herself is caught up in the desire to acquire more than she can afford and considers that the foundation could be of benefit in obtaining better living arrangements.

The old saying "money can't buy happiness" seems particularly appropriate in Entitlement as one questions the humanity and genuineness of these characters.

Entitlement by Rumaan Alam is a book about ambition, inequities, and the finding of self. It unflinchingly takes on issues of race, class, and gender while always staying true to the characters and the world of the story. The characters are well drawn and believable. Even the lesser characters have real lives and stories that motivate their actions. The themes of the novel thread through, supported by tangible details, and the perceptions of multiple and varied points of view. Entitlement is a brave and powerful novel – a work of art that will cause readers to pause and think. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to preread and review this book.

I enjoyed Rumaan Alan’s previous book Leave the World Behind and was excited to get started on Entitlement.
Unfortunately I only made it half way through and realised it was not for me, I found the characters unappealing from Brooke all the way to Ghalyela.
We will of course have a copy at the library and I am sure many people will enjoy reading it.

This was smart and cringe-y in a can't-look-away kind of way and delightfully unhinged. I can't wait to discuss it in book club!

I love this novel for its twists and turns. I felt for Brooke and her entitlement. Life is hard and unfair. This would make an excellent book club read for the discussions.

A look at the Uber-wealthy and how they dispose of that wealth to make themselves and their image better. The book looks at extreme wealth, privilege, race, age and obsession as seen by a young black woman who works for a very wealthy older white man and his foundation. Brooke accepts the challenge of putting the Jaffee's millions to good use. Her aspirations are lofty, her intentions honorable and her commitment is strong until she begins to enjoy the same lifestyle and privileges that her boss and the foundation have. Should she feel guilty for loving life in private cars and jets, lavish restaurants and all the finer things that NYC can offer? She loses her way and everything takes a downward spiral. Starts off slow but by the end I was stunned and felt like I didn't know Brooke at all.
My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

First, I have to say that Leave the World behind was my favorite book of 2020. When I saw Rumaan had a new book, I immediately asked for an arc. But overall, I had a hard time connecting with the story. There was sharp dialogue, witty commentary, well written characters (he especially writes women characters unbelievably well), but I was expecting more. I think I was hoping for more of a thriller, and that's likely my fault for going in blind to this novel. In all, I didn't find enough tension to maintain my interest throughout the book and it fell a bit flat for me, especially the abrupt ending. I will say, I believe Rumaan Alam is an absolutely incredible writer, and I can't wait to read whatever he does next.

It's brilliant! There'something's wrong with Brooke, or is there? Set in the 2010s in middle class Manhattan world that bumps gently, like a balloon, against the extraordinary privileges and excesses of billionaires, Entitlement plays with the concepts of need and want, generosity and noblesse oblige, the why my and the why not me vibes of 30 something Brooke and sets her on a path that either liberates her or destroys her. You be the judge.

What difference could you make in the world, as a multi billionaire? Rumaan Alam's "Entitlement" begins to scratch the surface of the endless possibilities. By chance, circumstances, and luck, former teacher, Brooke Orr, finds herself in a position to answer that very question for 83 year old multi-billionaire, Asher Jaffee, who tasks her with assisting him in dreaming big and spending his fortune on philanthropic endeavors before his imminent death. Of course, everyone surrounding Jaffe has their own agenda and wants a slice of the pie. Brooke is up to the task, and more, and quickly gets swept up in a lifestyle of wealth and privilege

This novel explores generational wealth, class, race, and wants vs. needs.

For fans of Succession.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Riverhead for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Based on the description, I thought this book would be better. I had a hard time getting into it and it seemed to drag. I understand what the book is and how interpretation is key to it, but found myself struggling to concentrate through much of it unfortunately.

I am a completist of Rumaan Alam's work, and after reading ENTITLEMENT, I will continue to follow him wherever he goes! This was a bit meandering and definitely a slow burn, but I am always in awe of Alam's ability to infuse a sense of impending doom in his writing. Here he tackles race, class, power, and privilege with confidence and verve. This is a worthwhile read, and one I think will be a hit for book clubs.

Back in 2020, I read and reviewed Rumaan Alam’s Leave The World Behind and it was a solid five-star read for me. If you missed that one, here’s a quick summary from my review: “Amanda and Clay take their teenage children on a week-long getaway from their home in NewYork City to a luxury vacation rental (think top-of-the-line AirBnB) and find their peace and quiet abruptly ended by the arrival of a frantic older African-American couple (Ruth and G.H.) in the middle of the night. This couple claims they are the owners of the house, and they say they have come to stay in “their” house because a sudden blackout has completely shut down the City. There is iffy cell reception in this quiet rural area, and they are all without cell service, TV, or Internet, so they don’t really know what is going on…then creepy things start to happen.”

In 2023, the movie based on the book came out (Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, wow!) and was well received – for the most part. So I was happy to receive a copy of Alam’s next book Entitlement, from Penguin Group/Riverhead and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The book features a woman named Brooke Orr, who leaves her work as a teacher in order to go to work for a mega-wealthy man who wants to give his fortune away, and has to deal with the consequences of the effect this career change has on her views and values. Brooke begins to take on some of her boss’s world views (like that she is somehow entitled to the “good things in life” that aren’t generally available to someone living on a teacher’s salary).

Described as “a riveting tale for our new gilded age,” this book is similar to Leave The World Behind in some ways. Both examine the biases, fears, and issues of age, class, and race – and while this one doesn’t seem to have quite as frustrating and ambiguous an ending as both the book and the film of Leave The World Behind, I suspect there may once again be some headscratching about the resolution. Aside from that, and the way I sometimes wanted to just YELL at Brooke for some of her choices, it was a well written and entertaining book. Four solid stars.

A meditative novel. More a book of ideas than of plot. It takes a burning topic and scrutinizes it through various lenses, not least race and age. And it’s a space for the author to display his fine skills of perception, wit, topicality and thought. As such, it’s a rich read, but not an especially compulsive one. His bestselling earlier book, Leave the World Behind, was a more successful fusion of story and ideas. Here the narrative can seem circular and not always credible. Brooke’s character seems a mutable thing, inexplicably solitary and sexless, increasingly infected (by the subway pricker? A good joke) by the idea of money and what is her due. I:enjoyed the exploration more than the storytelling, but always the quality of the writing buoyed the book up. He’s a rewarding writer. Never dull.