Book Review: "Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing"

"Hey, Hun" by Emily Lynn Paulson is a disappointing and flawed exploration of the author's experiences in the multilevel marketing (MLM) world. Unfortunately, it falls short in delivering the promised insights and instead offers a misguided and unconvincing narrative that attempts to tie MLMs to white supremacy in America.

"Hey, Hun" fails to effectively examine the operations and implications of MLMs. The book's attempt to present a significant polemic on MLMs and their role in cultural isolation and cult-like ideologies lacks coherence and persuasive arguments. The connection between MLMs and white supremacy feels forced and unsupported, undermining the credibility of the author's message.

Paulson's first-person accounts, while intended to add a personal touch, come across as self-indulgent and lack the depth necessary to truly engage readers. The acerbic wit and biting commentary promised in the book's description often fall flat, leaving readers with a sense of disappointment rather than a fresh perspective on MLMs.

Moreover, the entertainment value of "Hey, Hun" is limited by its lack of substance. The attempts at humor feel forced and do little to enhance the overall reading experience. The book's failure to provide well-researched insights and comprehensive analysis leaves readers wanting more, ultimately rendering it an unsatisfying read.

In conclusion, "Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing" is a regrettable book that fails to deliver on its promises. Emily Lynn Paulson's attempt to shed light on the world of MLMs and connect them to white supremacy lacks credibility and falls short of providing meaningful insights. Readers looking for a thought-provoking exploration of MLMs would be better off seeking other sources. Overall, this book is a disappointment and does not live up to its potential.

This was a great look into the world of MLMs. It was an easy read and the audiobook had excellent narration. If you enjoy books by Amanda Montel you will love Hey Hun!

I received a free copy of the audio version of this book from #Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
My Interest

I may have no ability to push away a guy not worth having (and am a champ at getting rid of the ones WORTH haivng), but dang if I can smell b.s. in business and politics (and no, I don’t mean a Bachelor of Science degree). Happily, my fear, loathing, and research into pyramid schemes came very early–way per-internet. “If it sounds too good to be true…” was taught to me at the dining room table. Mind you, I suck at math, but even I can see when the numbers are not adding up and are rally just mumbo-jumbo.

Disclaimer: I have never seriously considered joining an MLM. I have seen people WHO GOT IN EARLY, seemingly do very, very well with them. I also saw a woman of over 300lb [not shaming–hang on] agree to sell chocolate in a home party setting because her friend did well. She was the target audience–a stay-at-home Mom with too much debt. She bombed. “Optics” are everything in this game. I know a PhD in PSYCHOLOGY who got sucked into Amway (under a different name–another game MLMs play). Yes, it is “true’–if you buy one jug of something, put it on your store’s shelf, then buy it yourself you “can’t keep it on the shelf.” Yes, it is stuff you were “going to buy anyway.”

MLM’s prey on stay-at-home moms and struggling single moms. The upper-middle and upper-class STAHM’s have all the advantages and win every time. The working class or single moms–well, they fail. The failure rate is around 99%. This book tells why. (As if you can’t figure out that all your friends are broke, child care to go to meetings costs a fortune or ruins every family and friend relationship….blah blah blah blah)

I also never seriously thought of joining a sorority. At my Big 10 college the Greek system was HUGE. I had neither the looks, income, personality, or personal interests to make it in the Greek world as anything more than a date to a cruel “pig” party, and I knew it! There’s a ton of similarity between joining an MLM and rushing a sorority on 3rd street or North Jordan.

If anyone has ever told you to “banish your stinkin’ thinkin'” or similar phrases, you’ve met a hardcore MLM-er without knowing it. Very likely it was at your conservative mega-church or in your suburban upper-middle class Moms’ bookclub or at the neighborhood pool. This book explains why that is.
The Story
“…toxic positivity….”

Emily is an a-typical MLM [multi-level marketing aka pyramid scheme] recruit. A former sorority girl, she is happily married to a high-flying husband and has 5 little kids because they are “bad at birth control.” She had a comfortable life, but is isolated and lonely. She rarely speaks to adults. She rarely has time away from her kids. When someone she barely knew from school contacts her she goes–but it turns out to be a pitch for an MLM that she fictionalizes at “Rejuvenate.” Primed with wine, she agrees. Next comes success, alcoholism, and an income of her wildest dreams–most of which is wasted on an au pair, a p.a., and other expenses. [Note: She was in that 1% who truly succeed, but after the expenses were subtracted she made about $80k–something her profession as a chemist would have easily given her. Nearly every person in an MLM would earn more working a minimum wage job].

As Emily progresses up the exhaled ranks of her MLM, her life shreds and she, in hindsight, explains how and why.
My Thoughts
“…a crack where the truth slips in….”

My years of fascination with alleged cults (like Amway which operates under different names today), cultish religion and similar groups, nothing here shocked me. In fact, the entire book was like one long vindication. Unlike the author though, I do not see capitalism as evil. I spent 4 years earning a degree studying authoritarian regimes–sorry, I don’t see capitalism as “evil.” The problem with MLM is the one she spells out–they are in bed with the GOP in Congress. Yes, the GOP. (Oh, don’t worry–the Democrats would be if they’d been offered the $$ first). But allowing the loopholes in business laws that we have is what allows these monsters to exist–not capitalism. Amway has had it’s hand up the GOP backside since it’s beginning (Disclaimer: I know a a few families who got into Amway earlier and as guru Dave Ramsey would say “changed their family tree” for the better, but still..) These companies stay “just” legal.

If you ask a MLM person about court cases they will inevitably answer “General Motors is sued all the time.” Yes, they are–but not for “tying” (requiring purchase of other merchandise to get the new, hot thing) and not for R.I.C.O.–racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations. And, yes, a law firm has a lot of similarity to a pyramid scheme, but, law firms PAY their employees. The big problem with pyramid schemes is you work for free most of the time. Product sales are not the key to success–recruitment is. You get paid for the people you recruit. That’s the problem.

If congress would close the loopholes theses accursed companies would die. Am I holding my breath? Of course not…… [The European Union aka “EU” makes it much harder for these companies and we should learn from them]. Somewhere out there, right now, a single mom desperate for more money is charging a sales kit to her “emergency” credit card and starting into a nightmare of debt and shaming. Just as if she’d dared to rush a sorority. She’d have been better off striking a deal with another single mom and swapping child care while each works a minimum wage second job. Or, today, taking the kids with her as she does a food delivery service like Door Dash.

A quick not on the comparison to the Cu Clux Clan [I am deliberately misspelling hoping to avoid freaks, ok?) It’s true. Check out the new book on the Clan, Fever in the Heartland (link is to my review).

Emily Paulson tells the story so well. This book should be in every public library, every church library (if any church still has a library) read by every suburban book group and, due to the business press putting some positive spin on these organizations occasionally, in every university library. MLMs ruin churches, marriages, extended families, and neighborhoods with their mandatory predatory recruiting policies and their ridiculous minimum buy figures. It’s time they were stopped.

I enjoyed hearing about how Emily became sober and went on to re-credential as a sobriety coach. I have not read her first book, but she has a good way with words and I can see how she would be a good coach [fyi: I took graduate level coaching classes during COVID]. Her new business, which is not an MLM, but a legitimate business that she owns, is called the Sober Mom Squad. They have a reasonable fee structure similar to other such groups and provide scholarships for those who cannot afford the regular fees. They also have groups specific to single moms, parents of special needs kids, etc, to help a person find their way to recovery.


My Verdict
4.0

This was a great listen. I have been on the receiving end of SO MANY "hey hun" messages and this book articulated and exposed much of what I had guessed was going on behind the scenes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hey, Hun…you aren’t alone! This book was powerful for me as a reader because I tried multiple MLM “opportunities” in search of endorphins, friendship, community, and financial freedom. Spoiler…it didn’t work out!

I felt so understood while reading this book, for the first time. I’m not alone. Not even close! But it’s not acceptable to talk about, to express what went wrong, how the toxic positivity is unhealthy, how traumatizing the MLM experience can be…especially when you don’t want to hurt those you know who are actively part of a MLM.

This book was everything to me! It gave me freedom to accept my feelings, and to finally stop lying to myself. I can let go 100% and I can say no!

If you have ever been part of a MLM, have interest, are active, or simply are curious why so many are pulled in, this book is for you! The author created an easy read, the story unfolding like fiction, while delivering truth on repeat. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

I listened to the audiobook. It was read by the author, who did an excellent job! I listened at 1.75x speed which is my normal listening speed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had never heard of Emily Lynn Paulson before this book but I was very familiar with MLM horror stories. This was a really solid review and honest portrayal of the MLM ultra white "girl boss" culture of MLMs. I did think this was written for someone without any knowledge of the predatory nature of MLMs and pyramid schemes but I accomplished its goal of "putting it all out there" so to speak.

This kind of story is essential reading for anyone who is considering an MLM or who is trying to reason with someone who should get the hell out of one.

Emily Lynn Paulson achieved the nearly-unachievable for a consultant in an MLM: She made it nearly to the tip-top of the pyramid, getting touted as a million-dollar earner (before taxes), winning a "free" car, and receiving five-digit paychecks every month. Hey, Hun is the story of why she did it, how she did it, and why she chose to give it all up.

First things first, I should admit this: About six years ago, I myself was part of an MLM (the leggings one -- you probably already know most of what I experienced if you've watched the Lularich documentary). Thankfully I didn't get in deep enough to recruit a giant team or lose my entire savings before I nope'd outta there, but I could definitely relate to a lot of what Emily talks about in Hey, Hun: the cult-like ideology, the conditional sisterhood, the emotional manipulation, feeling tied to your phone to fulfill the constant need to do and be and display more. Emily wasn't part of my particular cult MLM, but it doesn't matter: They all employ the same structures and strategies to recruit, manipulate, indoctrinate, and exploit.

In brutally honest, bitingly funny terms, Emily exposes the predatory nature of MLMs, how they employ toxic positivity, emotional manipulation, and false promises to target vulnerable women and then shame them into staying, even as they are hemorrhaging money and fracturing their real-life relationships. Hey, Hun reads like an exposé as Emily takes us down the rabbit hole of her experiences in her dual role as victim and perpetrator, sharing all facets of her #bossbabe life...including her spiral into alcoholism, perpetuated by the pressures of her MLM "career." The book is strongest when it's focused on Emily's personal journey, but less so when she brings social issues into the story; the claims of white supremacy within MLMs feel forced and unsupported, and while it was interesting to read how the MLM world responded to COVID, I could have dealt without the rehashing of the fraught political situation at that time.

I really enjoyed this overall, though, and appreciated how frank and vulnerable Emily was in the telling of her story. If you've ever been a consultant for or a customer of an MLM, or even just if you're curious as to what an MLM looks like from within, I think you'll find Hey, Hun fascinating and illuminating. Thank you to Row House Publishing, OrangeSky Audio, and NetGalley for the early listening opportunity.

This book is EXCELLENT. The author was deep in her MLM “business”, one of the top representative. She shares her story of her time in the company, and insight into why and how MLM companies are cult-like. I found it so fascinating because, due to my background, I also recognize the cultish ways of pyramid-type MLM companies.

I have lost friends due to their sinking into MLMs. I see SO many christians get sucked in. The mixing of religion and selling is fascinating. Is it any wonder MLM companies target mothers, and christian mothers? They have a network that trusts them, for easy sells, and they target women’s vulnerabilities.

Watch out when MLM reps sell the company more than the product, sell the dream, like: Look how well my company treats me! Retreats and prizes! This company allows me to work from anywhere! My company is so amazing! Shout out to Xyz on achieving [made-up award]! This isn’t an MLM, etc

Life after MLM podcast host said: “everyone in an MLM is a victim and a perpetrator.” “Most people who join MLMs are good people. They want to make a difference in people’s lives. They intend to sell a dream. But intentions and impact don’t always match.”

The author never mentions the company she was with. She made up a name. I love that she did that, because ultimately all MLM companies operate similarly, and use the same tactics.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s eye opening, enlightening, and much needed in today’s social media bombardement.

(and an aside: there’s a lot of similarities here to how churches operate. And how missionaries represent themselves and find their living.)

Interesting look inside MLM culture, especially the connection with alcohol. I probably already knew most of this from previous documentaries and podcasts.

Thank you to Row House Publishing and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

If you've ever been curious about a Direct Selling 'opportunity', I'd recommend you read this book before you make any purchase or sign a contract.
Been listening to this the past few days while going about my day. While parts of it were tough to listen to because of the content, it was mostly fascinating to get a peek into the MLM world of today. I'm pretty far removed from much of the world of Mom-preneurs, but I was exposed to Amway and a couple other small MLMs as a kid, so I'm familiar with the soft-sell social persuasion that these types of pyramid scams use. It was interesting to see how every single one of them are used in everyday interactions from the Huns. Kind of terrifying, actually.
There were definitely parts of the book that I didn't enjoy, primarily the lip service and handwave to privilege but then not actually *doing* anything about it. Recognition doesn't mean you've changed anything. It was also hard to me to relate to the cattiness, the ruthlessness, and the general narcissism that was rampant in her characterization of the women around her.
Overall, a fascinating look at an intense clique of opportunists., but I don't think I'd read another book by this author.

If you’ve ever been in an MLM, you’ll know Emily speaks the truth. Though I was in different companies (yes plural), the story is the same I’ve seen and lived across the pyramid scheme landscape. If you’re well versed in the anti-mlm world, much of this book will not be a surprise. However, it’s her personal account, mixed in with quotes from other former MLMers and historical information for perspective. Her story was compelling, because of how common it was (well, maybe not the rank and $ she reached, but still relatable). If you’ve ever been sucked into this world, this book will leave you feeling less alone. Should be required reading before anyone signs up for an MLM!

Received an advance copy of the audiobook through NetGalley.

This book was truly incredible! As someone who has grown up in the thick of MLM-culture, I really appreciate Emily grabbing the truth by the horns and putting a book like this out there, not just about being in an MLM but also about her personal life. Told as part memoir/part informative non-fiction, Emily really broke down how MLMs operate and what her actual experience was from within one. It was mind blowing to hear how, despite being a top leader of her MLM org, it was still a very wild and testing experience for her.

One of the biggest messages Emily put out there was that while MLMs are not awesome and be very cult-like, the people who are a part of them are not bad people and I think sometimes we forget that when we get bombarded with the “hey hun”, “hey girly pop”, “What’s up lady?” messages.

This was really an enjoyable read and I highly recommend, even if you’re not big into the whole MLM thing.

This was the most engaging, well-researched, well-written, and vulnerable memoir I've read in a long time. For more than six years, Emily Lynn Paulson was a #BossBabe at an MLM, one of the very, very few to reach the top 0.5% of earners at her company. She mastered the art of being a ladyboss: cold recruiting constantly, working everywhere, never taking no for an answer, being a leader who "showed up," and learning every one of the tactics and motivational lines to keep her downline engaged. She devoted boundless time, energy, and money into this business and made it big, but she saw the toll that it took on her and others: she had no time, became a high-functioning blackout alcoholic, and roped dozens of women who could not afford it into being consultants.

Now, she is out of her MLM and has written this book as a recounting of her journey, a cautionary tale, an exposé on the predatory practices of MLMs, and a sociological dissection of who MLMs prey upon and why they work.

Not only is this book extremely engaging – I was totally hooked and couldn't put down the audiobook until I finished it – but it's so important. Paulson writes about the inherent white supremacy, anti-feminism, and toxic positivity of MLMs. She pinpoints their pervasive whiteness, service to capitalism under the guise of female empowerment, and extreme predation on a certain type of vulnerable woman who is looking for community among the loneliness of stay-at-home motherhood and instead gets shamed for not working hard enough or investing enough in her business to succeed, when the system is entirely set up against her to begin with. Paulson aptly says that she sees all women who are part of MLMs as both victims and perpetrators, and certainly does not shy away from acknowledging her role in perpetuating violence, shame, and lies.

I can't imagine the strength, self-reflection, and vulnerability it took to write this book, especially knowing the extreme cult-like behavior of MLMs and how much hate she must have (and must still be) getting. I love that this book isn't just an outsider reflecting on MLMs: Emily has been there and knows all the tricks in the book - so if you're looking to help someone get out of an MLM, Emily might be the gal for you. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thank you to OrangeSky Audio for the audio ARC via Netgalley.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

5/5

Wowie zowie - so much tea!!! If you’ve ever hated on OR wondered about OR gotten out of OR thought about joining an MLM, you will probably want to read this!! This book was so incredibly interesting! Sure, I’ve heard about how MLM’s and pyramids have are the worst, but this book helped me take a deeper dive. Going in, I knew about how the pay scale and earnings systems are skewed against success for the majority. This book, however, explored a lot more themes and topics, including why people join and what it’s like to find success in this type of business. I found most interesting the analysis of how MLMs in general promote systemic racism. I also enjoyed the discussion around toxic positivity.

I really loved at the very end how the author encouraged the reader to do additional research and not just rely on one source or even one side of the argument to obtain all the information on this subject. She indicates that even though MLMs function like a cult, it is possible to become cult-like about anything - even being anti-MLM.

Overall, the author brings a really great perspective, as she was not only involved in an MLM, but was a top producer (Super Duper Tippy Toppy Sparkly Iridescent Diamond All-Star, or some bonkers title like that).

Wooooow. I’ve done a lot of research on my own about the predatory world of MLMs but this was still shocking. The more I hear about these “small businesses” and “boss babes” the more I hate them. It’s horrible and so sad.

ELP was involved in an MLM and made it to the top. The memoir portion of this story covers how she became involved, how she made it to the top, and how she eventually learned the truth of MLMs and left. The other portion of the story is facts and research into laws and regulations surrounding MLMs, what allows them to thrive, how they do as much damage as they do, etc. I learned that Mike Lee, my trash garbage senator, accepts multiple high value donations from MLMs, which keeps them thriving. Hate to see it.

I do recommend the audio book, read by the author. The author at times sounds like a boss babe herself, but she’s selling me on the idea that MLMs are trash and should under no circumstances be joined. I was able to listen via NetGalley and say thanks to the publisher for allowing me to listen!

I loved this book. Full disclosure: I was fascinated by MLM's and subsequently hated MLM's before reading this book, so I came in with a good amount of bias. I find MLM's intriguing in the same way that people do with cults and murder. Emily did an excellent job of exposing the terrifying culture that surrounds MLM's while holding herself accountable and admitting to doing most of those terrible things herself. She's also honest about the racism, classism, and overall predatory intent of these companies. Personally, my favorite aspect of the book is that Emily was a chemist before joining an MLM and therefore has the credibility to highlight the blatant misinformation and pseudoscience that MLM reps love to post all over the internet. I highly recommend this book, whether you've been in an MLM or not. I personally have not but am rivetted by how prevalent MLM's have become. I think this book is important for people to read so that they can understand how easily people fall victim to these companies and how they prey on vulnerable women.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks netgalley and rowhouse for letting me listen to this arc!

Chances are, if theres some media out there about an MLM, i want to consume it. I love to hate these "small business" scams. Reading this book was a bit of the same, a bit of new, and a lot of new perspective. I really enjoyed the authors tone and candor- she comes from being on top and talks about what it took to get her there, but also what made her walk away. The more recent info was a combination of mindblowing but also not surprising- who knew the kkk was an mlm at one point? But it totally tracks. The narrator was great and the story just spun out into a great listen.

What a great read!

Hey, Hun offers an honest, critical, and empathetic look at MLMs, and does so in a way that’s super approachable and easy to understand. The connections to white supremacy were particularly interesting to me, and I wish it went even further. Similarly, I wanted to know even more about the history and rise of MLMs in terms of how they’re founded and owned by white men. (I suppose, like usual, I wanted it to be more radical. The heart wants what it wants!)

Still, I deeply appreciated the fact that the author mentions how inherently imbalanced MLMs are, and how a person’s background and identities would impact how far they can even make it in an MLM. It’s clear that she’s been doing anti-racist work, and it’s refreshing to know that simply in how she words things, the perspectives she offers, and the areas she acknowledges she’s not an expert in.

On the whole, this is a timely, relevant book that’s well-written, insightful, and entertaining.

Thank you to OrangeSky Audio and Netgalley for an ARC of this audiobook!

I have listened to numerous podcasts about MLMs and their predatory nature, so I had low expectations with this book. Emily Lynn Paulson, however, gives an incredibly interesting view into her time as rep for "Rejuvinate," the fake company she made up to, likely, protect herself from legal repercussions. The entirety of the book is from her perspective as a now-outside who has researched into cult-like behaviors and brainwashing, but she is able to explain how she was able to explain away the numerous issues with the business while she was still working for it. This is the first piece of media that made me feel like I understood the (mainly) women who joined these companies, rather than just belittled them for falling into the trap. It felt very nuanced and empathetic, and by the end I truly believed what Paulson had said in the introduction: Every person in an MLM is both a victim and a perpetrator.

There were a few instances, mostly in the beginning, where it would sound like Paulson, who also narrates the book, had spliced in numerous takes of a single sentence. It was also a bit confusing when new chapters would start. They were not audibly labeled as new chapters, and each chapter began with a quote from former MLM reps, so I would hear these little vignettes and think they were from Paulson until she named the person quoted. Other than that, Paulson did a fabulous job narrating her book, and I really enjoyed consuming the book in this format. I would highly recommend!

Thank you to #NetGalley and @orangeskyaudio for this audio-ARC

For anyone who was curious about multilevel marketing and how those businesses work this is the book that throws open the doors and airs all the dirty laundry. I wanted the LuLuRoe documentary on Netflix a while back and was stunned. I had watched a lot of women, mostly moms, attempt to shill all sorts of products over the last two decades and never really understood either the appeal or the pitch. Sure when I felt bad I would buy an eyebrow pencil or a face cream, but that was the limit of my involvement.

Paulson wasn’t just in an MLM, she was a top performer, and through this memoir of sorts, she dives into why she joined, the role white supremacy and misogyny play, and the predatory tactics and social/emotional control exerted over reps. I appreciate that Paulson takes a hard and honest look at why she joined, why she was able to succeed and on the fall out. From substance abuse to bullying to financial irresponsibility it is all laid bare and for the most part Paulson through research and experience lets us all in.

This was a fascinating listen, but you need to be ready for some Becky’s and Karen’s in power positions.