The unnamed (why?) main character is relatable (at least as much as I can relate to someone young enough to be my kid, had things gone poorly in my 20s) and deeply, deeply frustrating as she muddles her way through a low-level job in Hollywood while confronting the patriarchal structures of the industry.

There were some funny parts and I appreciated the social commentary, but I really disliked how much of the book was about her relationship with her mother (holy toxic) and thought the pace was kind of slow. I didn’t love this, but I’m glad I read it and look forward to reading Kaplan’s next book.

Tw: sexual assault, eating disorder, abuse.

NSFW is a debut by Isabel Kaplan. This novel explores a young, feminist, woman who has a job in a Hollywood development company as an assistant, The MC, who is unnamed, has to deal with work related assault and an abuse of power.

I think the subject matter of the book is extremely relevant and note worthy! However, it dragged so much. I think because the character is unnamed it was very hard to connect with her and I just did not care about what was happening in the book until the 75% mark. Sometimes it felt like we were more worried about the relationship with the MC and her mother versus the actual abuse and assault the book was apparently about.

This book was in first person and usually that makes me connect with characters better and faster, but I was so detached from everyone. This was not a long book yet still felt like there was so much unnecessary dialogue and descriptions. There also seemed to be an open ending, but we all know there is only one answer to what the MC has to do after the book is finished.

2 Stars

This is a story about the confluence and conflict of ambition and values.  The unnamed narrator has landed her dream job as an entry-level role in a top television network -- a job she got in large part because of her mother, a powerful attorney for feminist causes.  The narrator at first feels a bit like a fish out of water, as she gets used to the new world of the entertainment industry and struggles with the implicit and explicit sexism she regularly confronts.  As she seems to finally be getting traction in her career, she grapples with what it takes to succeed -- which becomes impossible to avoid when her personal and work life converge in ways that threaten not just her future but those of so many around her.

This was a terrific book.  It was a clear-eyed and deeply insightful examination of the nature and manifestations of ambition in the modern workplace.  Through the varying perspectives, experiences, and choices of the narrator, her co-workers, and her mother, the author provides a revealing and thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between one's values and how to operationalize them in one's life and work.

Strongly recommended!

I started reading this on my Kindle, and I liked it. It was fine, but I didn't feel very drawn to the material. But then I received an advanced listening copy from Libro.fm, and the narration really made this book come alive for me. The dialogue seemed to pop a little bit more. Maybe it was just a matter of having made it past the first third of the book, or maybe it's just great on audio. I really loved how the book showed the ways in which women can become complicit in reinforcing existing power structures and dynamics. A smart, incisive novel.

NSFW by Isabel Kaplan explores the power dynamics at play in Hollywood (and any industry). Our protagonist gets a job working for an executive at a leading TV network thanks to connections from her mom, a well known lawyer advocating for equal rights, and starts to learn more about the realities of working as a woman in a male dominated industry. Throughout the story she is constantly faced with the same choice - do I use this as an opportunity to get ahead in my career or do I do what I believe is right?

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that was especially poignant in the light of “Me Too” and the current climate of Roe v Wade. I found the story to be realistic and believable but slightly predictable and direct. I would recommend this to readers - this would be perfect for a book club to read and discuss!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC - NSFW is out 7/5/22.

This book was a quick read and was reminiscent of some recent Apple TV+ series tackling similar subjects (The Morning Show, Bombshell). I enjoyed the read and was consistently cheering for the MC to achieve a better life for herself!

Recently graduated from Harvard, the unnamed female narrator of NSFW moves back to LA to try and find a career that doesn't totally suck and that she might actually enjoy. Through her mother's connections, she manages to land a job as a temp assistant at XBC, a leading TV network. Our narrator attempts to balance her career, her mother, and the drive to be perfect while facing the struggles of living and working in a patriarchal society.

I would describe NSFW as a "slice of life" read. There isn't a strict plot or goal that we're striving towards as the reader, but all the same, I found it a really compelling read. The main character felt real, and much of what she deals with any recently graduated student trying to find a career can relate to, especially if you work in a male-dominated profession. NSFW manages to deal with some weighty and complicated topics while keeping an air of humor. As an underrepresented minority, how can you create change from the bottom of the ladder? Are you just shooting yourself in the foot if you speak up, or is it best to play along to get to the top and then shake up the industry? I think if you love books that feel real, deal with topics like feminism in a patriarchal workplace, and like those "slice of life" stories, this is a great, short-ish read!

Major trigger warnings for sexual assault, eating disorders, body image issues/body dysmorphia, and toxic relationships with a parent.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had very high hopes for this novel. The premise sounded interesting, and it was generating a lot of pre-publication buzz. Kaplan's writing is very good, and there were certainly plenty of things about the novel that I liked - enough to want to read more by the author. However, there were other things that just didn't work for me (perhaps, because I'd just been read something by Lisa Taddeo, I found some of the more "adult" parts of this novel fell flat).

It's a good novel, and there's plenty to enjoy, but for some reason it just didn't land for me as well as I'd hoped. I am, however, still very much interested in seeing what the author comes up with next.

NSFW by Isabel Kaplan has been described as a mix between Bombshell with a twist. In this story our named protagonist goes about navigating her career through a world run by men, take opinions from other men and generally prefer men to be in charge. We also see her trying to balance an unhealthy relationship with food and her mother, a budding romantic relationship of her own all while trying to get ahead in life and her career, When an incident happens at work she has to decide if her career or stand for the women she champions. This story was an authentic look of sexism in the workplace, sexual harassment along other mental health issues like food and drug abuse. The prose felt very LA to ma and the way the city was describing, living within it's shadow I thought as really well done. I will say it almost read like a memoir and I was convinced through most of it that it was until I looked up the category, which goes to show how well it is written as it came off with great ease.

Thank you Henry Holt and netgalley for the ARC

WOW. There is a lot to unpack with this book. It was sad and frustrating at times, seeing our unnamed female protagonist deal with everything from diet culture to sexual assault, but this was such a compelling read. I found it incredibly hard to put down. You can’t help but root for our MC to succeed and change her toxic work environment and relationships with her mother and brother. This book really showcased where the system (not just one system, but all of them) is broken and even people you think should be on your side aren’t truly. It’s definitely not a feel good read, but it is absolutely an important one. I think this would be such an excellent choice for a book club. The possible discussions are endless. The ending is left open and up for interpretation as to what our MC will decide to do. As much as I wanted closure, I did really like the open ending.
TW: body shaming, eating disorder, sexism, mentions of rape, sexual assault

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for sharing this advanced digital reader’s copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book open-minded, not at all well-versed in the ins and outs of the entertainment business and/or Hollywood. That being said, it didn’t take me long to connect with the protagonist of this story, who remains unnamed. She has a drive to prove herself, to work hard and fit a certain mold, the one that is expected of her. She has a delicate relationship with her mom, as well as a roommate and a boyfriend that seem more like fixtures than true impactful people in her life. I empathize with her attempts at setting boundaries.

The book was hard to read at times because it forces the reader to consider what it means to be a woman in the workplace, especially one that is male-dominated. Sexual comments and/or actions are too frequent, and it presents a struggle internally: come forward and face the repercussions or stay silent and internalize the trauma. I don’t want to overly politicize this review, but I would argue that all women have dealt with some of the issues addressed in this book on some scale. It’s sad, but true. Because of this, I think it’s an important read. There’s nothing worse than ignorance, and we can’t keep ignoring some of the things that happen in our society.

Equally important, in my opinion, is this hamster-wheel quest for beauty and self-worth. “If I look skinny, beautiful, fit, wear nice clothes, etc., my life will be perfect.” I’ve been there. I think most women have. This need to change! We put so much into looking a certain way, even though it is literally draining us of confidence and self-esteem.

Excellent work bringing these things to the surface. They are concerns that should be discussed! Also- interesting ending. I’d like to believe it ended the way I think it should’ve, but I guess I’ll never know for sure…

NSFW
by Isabel Kaplan
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
Henry Holt and Co.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
* Fiction *Contemporary
Not for me but would make a great book club selection. Lot to talk about.
Interesting but just couldn’t get into it. A story of a girl's transition from an entry-level job and even the struggle to get this entry-level job. The true life of working in Hollywood from sexual harassment to living with her boyfriend. Awkward, difficult to follow. But some people really loved it so maybe it's just me.
3 stars

The premise of this short novel sounded intriguing, but the writing was too simplistic and repetitive for my liking.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley.

TW: sexual assault, sexual harassment, eating disorder, sexism, mental illness, prescription drug abuse, vomit

To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I devoured the whole thing in mostly one sitting (my job got in the way). I think the writing style is wonderful and I love the fact that the main character remains unnamed for the entirety of the story. I think it hammers home that there are so many (too many) unnamed women who are sexually assaulted in the workplace every day, especially in the Hollywood industrial complex. During a time when the Me Too movement is going strong and when women are taking less shit from the industries that suppress them, I think this story has a place. The commentary about boundaries between parents and their adult children is also prevalent throughout the story and I enjoyed that as it's something that relates to my own life (and I'm sure many others).

Here's what I enjoyed a little less about the story. Around chapter 7 there was a comment made about yoga and it being like religion and how you don't have to get something out of it. This statement comes off as culturally insensitive, because yoga is supposed to be a spiritual practice that you should get something out of, especially with how white people have colonized the practice. My other issue was the first half was a little slow, and at 50% I was still unsure where the plot of the story was going. It definitely picks up in the second half of the story, but that first half left me a bit confused.

NSFW is a can't miss! Biting, incisive and incredibly fast-paced, it's a jaw-droppingly realistic look at the entertainment industry (one that may give you the very best sort of PTSD if you have worked as an assistant before!) We follow an unnamed recent Harvard grad as she moves back home to LA and redefines her relationships with her family, her body, and herself, uncovering her identity and her worth in an industry that so often requires one to sell their soul. With equal parts dry humor and delicious prose (I laughed as much as I was stunned!), it's the best sort of story that digs deep into your skin and makes it impossible to stop reading. Isabel Kaplan is a writer to watch - can't wait to read what she writes next.

Netflix’s “The Assistant” meets “Bombshell” in Isabel Kaplan’s debut “NSFW.” If you’ve seen either movie, “NSFW” is a wild ride through one millennial’s moral dilemmas and work in the film industry.
Fresh out of college, our unnamed protagonist lands an entry-level position at a leading TV network, working as a glorified babysitter and coffee runner. As the daughter of a prominent attorney, she’s grown up with one foot in the industry and one outside, friendly with celebrities but clueless about the inner workings of television and film development.
As our protagonist climbs the ranks of the production studio, she is confronted with the realities of the male-dominated business: her recommendations being ignored until they’re echoed by her male counterparts, unfair treatment, and multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. She’s encouraged to keep her head down and avoid those sticky situations, but the universe has other plans for her.

Kaplan uses a first-person point-of-view to dig into the protagonist’s inner thoughts and moral dilemmas she encounters on her first day at the studio. With nuanced and compelling characterization, our protagonist is nowhere near perfect. Her flaws and mistakes aren’t new for recent grads. Each layer pulled back brings her closer to reality and can only be described as relatable.

The novel’s backdrop–a TV studio embroiled in sexual misconduct and abuse allegations–parallels the #MeToo Movement that brought to light the horrific treatment of women working in the industry and is retold with subtle grit and clarity. Although the sexual abuse and sexism themes carry much of the narrative, the tidbits on navigating adulthood and post-grad life aren’t glamorized. As a 20-something dealing with her own post-grad transition, Kaplan perfectly encapsulates the anxiety and fears of the transformation. The themes of body dysmorphia, eating disorders, OCD, and the struggle between mother and daughter are woven into the narrative. Fair warning, the sexual abuse, eating disorder, body dysmorphia, and general sexism themes can be jarring–so proceed with caution.

Not to spoil anything, but the cliff-hanger ending works wonderfully with the protagonist’s inner struggle of coming clean about her experience or keeping quiet for her career. It’s a reality check, but the self-reflective moment when a book ends without the protagonist’s choice; is an unsettling moment for readers to look into their own ethics and what they would do in similar situations.

A stark observation of Hollywood power dynamics and the moral dilemmas of being a feminist, “NSFW” is a sharp, hard-to-put-down, authentic dive into the not-so-glamorous life of the silver screen and post-grad life for the female millennial.

A good mix of smart and funny, NSFW is a page-turning read that did not disappoint. The narrator’s struggles with trying to succeed in a male-dominated industry while balancing her (and her mother’s) mental health were extremely relatable. Kaplan does a wonderful job balancing the different major themes of the story to create a cohesive narrative that is sure to be a conversation starter.

While the book is set roughly 10 years ago based on the pop-culture references, it’s prominent themes of workplace sexism and sexual assault are just as relevant today. The varying thoughts presented by different characters as the story progresses was interesting to read about up until the very last page.

Thank you so much to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book -- it felt real without being cliche, true to life for an LA native and I appreciated the just general sense of malaise. I also thought the relationship between the mom and daughter was well characterized; the mom was a nightmare person that in a flattened AITA Reddit post would have inspired the daughter to go no contact, but the pull and the love the daughter still had for her made it more nuanced and textured.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and Netgalley for the ARC.

Milk Fed meets The Devil Wears Prada?

A solid debut about the inner conflicts we face as feminist women trying to succeed professionally. I was really rooting for the narrator, and both loved and hated how much I related to her sometimes. She navigates a new job, her own mental health and that of her mother, interpersonal issues with friends and men, and body image. There were moments when she was grappling with the inherent hypocrisy of trying to get ahead as a woman in a man’s world when I wanted to shout YES THIS IS SO TRUE AND SO FRUSTRATING!

Some issues with fleshing out the secondary characters, and the prose tended towards simplistic, but absolutely worth a read if you’re interested in the themes.

Trigger warnings for sexual assault/harassment.

I could not finish this book. I tried, but I could only make it half way. Not only is the main character incredibly pedantic, she also sucks any happiness out of the room, to include the one I’m in.

Now, I’m giving this three stars because I believe the character may be intended to come across that way. Maybe she’ll have a moment of growth, maybe she won’t.

I would recommend having something break up the incessant droning and judgement of the main character or you will likely lose a lot of readers.