“Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.” Quoted by Henry Kissinger. Emma’s reputation is the cornerstone of her political career. Trying to navigate the opposition while receiving threats from every direction, her world is turned upside down. A body is found at the bottom of the stairs and all fingers are pointing in her direction. Is this very unfortunate event the result of heinous threats that are continuously flying her way, or is she a victim of circumstance and simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time? Gripping, compelling and very timely describes this court room dominated thriller that I couldn’t put down. Thank you NetGalley and Atria for my copy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed learning about the UK legal system and how women politicians struggle in this suspenseful story. The timely online bullying and social media harassment of politicians and teenagers is a major part of this story. For someone like Emma who is in the spotlight she makes some bad choices and should have paid more attention to her daughter. Be prepared for a number of twists and turns at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books. This was a good read. The book relates to today's world and made it quite interesting to read. It was fast paced and the chapters. were not very long. I read a couple. of other books by Sarah Vaughan and like other reads of hers this was very good.

I really enjoyed "Reputation" by Sarah Vaughan! A plot full of suspense and twists, conveying the fragility of everyone's reputation and the power of media. Great characters, family drama, and dangerous assumptions. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This thriller was just okay. I think I would classify it as a suspense rather than a thriller. It kept me engaged but I did not find myself wanting to pick it up.

A real mixed bags. I liked the main character but felt it dragging a bit in the middle. I don't love legal thrillers so that could be me!

Reputation is a slow paced psychological thriller (ish), and while I was drawn to the title, author, and the story line, I struggled to finish.

Emma was a tough character to like, and there was a court room scene that definitely could have been shorter…

…overall, I give this a 3/5. I loved the concept and the topics written about (free speech, the legal system, social media and how easily reputation can be damaged), but my attention wasn’t as captivated as I was anticipating it to be.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This is an OK legal thriller about a female politician doing what she can to protect herself and her daughter. It felt way too long, and the added POV of the daughter (teenager) made the narrative flip between adult and YA fiction. I didn’t care for this; if I wanted to read a YA book (which I generally do) I would have chosen one. These two POV did not go well together.

This is also very easy to figure out, making the length unnecessary.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I recently watched Anatomy of a Scandal on Netflix and was completely hooked by the story. It was powerful and strong. I was really excited to read Sarah Vaughan's latest, Reputation, however, I felt a bit meh about the story. I felt the story jumped around far too much and with too many different POVs and storylines happening. While the main story is about Parliament member, Emma and her trial for the murder of political reporter, Mike, it also centers around her daughter and the incident she has.

Ultimately, the story is about multiple people's reputations, not just the main character. The book starts strong and grabbed me, but by the middle I found I was bored and trudging through it purely because I wanted to know the end. The end was good and tied everything together. There were points I thought about DNF because I was bored.

All in all, I'll give it a solid 3.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Sarah Vaughan, of Anatomy of a Scandal fame, is a killer when it comes to legal thrillers with a one-two punch. This particular story revolves around Emma, a British MP on trial for murder charges.

The victim? A tabloid reporter with a scoop on an inflammatory story revolving around the MP’s daughter. But it’s so much more complicated than that and secrets unravel at every turn.

Sarah Vaughan, best selling author of Anatomy of a Scandal, is back with another cinematic legal thriller. This story gripped me from the start. The audio narration is fantastic thanks to the fabulous Julie Teal and has a few special effects that really bring this story to life. The twisty plot kept me engaged as I rode the roller coaster with Emma Webster. The topics of revenge porn, the ‘me too’ movement, harassment of female public figures was timely and current without being heavy-handed. I could easily see this becoming another fantastic Netflix series!

Reputation by Sarah Vaughan is psychological fiction at its best. It is a mystery and a thriller and a family drama all rolled into one. This drama introduces the reader to Emma Webster, a teacher turned politician. The book highlights the difficulties a woman encounters when she devotes herself to public service. A double standard is definitely in play. In the age of social media, which permits anonymous slander and threats with no consideration for the harm done, there is no protection. This is exactly what Emma is devoting her political career to. She seeks to get protection through the law for those who are targeted with online harassment and cruelty, which much too often leads to suicide. Emma has sacrificed her marriage in order to make a difference. Being a parliamentarian makes her a target and she becomes worried about her own safety. She is nothing without her reputation and it is continually threatened by the press and anyone who disagrees with her. And then, the worst happens: a journalist is found dying in her home. Where does a woman in public life go when her reputation is torn to shreds? This novel brings to the fore the difficulties and unfairness women face as politicians and other occupations and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sarah Vaughan has written a story that reflects the times we live in. Highly recommended. Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and reliable review.

To be completely honest, I was bored. I was expecting thriller vibes but it was definitely more mystery/legal fiction.

This book follows Emma, an MP in England, while she campaigns for a new online law to be put into place which increases sentences for offenders who distribute sexually inappropriate images of their former partners. All hell breaks loose when Emma finds that her daughter has done something similar. Also addressed were the disadvantages of being a successful woman with a public persona and the negative impact of public life on one's family.

My favourite part of this book was the courtroom drama and that is simply because I am in the legal profession and find the law fascinating. The storyline of the book, although compelling, was not executed well and ultimately falls flat. There is a TON of repetition in this book and it was not for me. Of course, I encourage you to read it for yourself in order to form your own opinion!

Emma is an MP in Parliament in the UK. This is a huge jump from her former career as a teacher. She’s learning the hard way that being a political figure exposes herself and her loved ones to a level of scrutiny she has never known before. She fights to strengthen laws that protect people from online abuse, but ironically, her own daughter, Flora, is caught in a moment of snap decisions and makes a bad choice.
Emma uncharacteristically has a one-night stand with a journalist. Of course, both of these are a no-no for public figures. Things get really complicated when Emma has to call the police and report that she’s found this same journalist dead and at the bottom of her stairs.
Emma must face the scrutiny of the public as she faces court for murder while her daughter faces charges of her own. Each day, they both learn the big difference between “friends” and true friends. How will they fare in the bright light of public opinion when their reputations are on the line?
Thanks so much to Atria- Emily Bestler Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reputation was a must-read after liking Anatomy of a scandal so much, so I was delighted to receive a copy. Emma is a hardworking, independent and strong woman who has worked hard to make her passion for social causes and helping people a job in becoming an MP. She has the opportunity to help enact laws to make a real difference. However, things quickly change after a seemingly isolated incident and Emma’s life begins to spiral out of control. Emma finds herself battered by the opinions of others and her reputation and self-esteem become exhausted too.

This has a great plot, with lots of current, political issues included. It’s a taut, complicated story centred around a mystery full of social issues and bullying. I loved reading about a strong, independent female, especially one who has been elected to be an MP as I find these often aren’t featured in books.

It wasn’t an easy read but was thoroughly enjoyable.

Slow paced psychological thriller that kept me interested! I really wish it did move along a bit faster, but I was interested enough to keep opening the book to read more.

I found myself intrigued more in the novel when reading from the main character, Emma’s daughter, or her husband. I found Emma’s chapters and the set up of the story to be a bit too extraneous.

This was a bit of a scandalous book though, which have it more mystery and intrigue. I enjoyed as a whole!

Whenever Emma expressed concern for an injustice or failing, her father would say “Well, what are you going to do about it?”. Taking his words to heart, she leaves her teaching job and enters politics. Now she is a member of Parliament and constantly in the public’s eye. She is acutely aware that, as a woman, her reputation must be of the highest priority. And, she soon discovers that it only takes one misstep to destroy it. Meanwhile, her fourteen-year-old daughter, Flora, is also learning the same lesson as she faces unrelenting bullying at school.

Reputation is a well-written book that addresses a number of issues that can impact women of all ages. These issues are magnified when there is the glare of the public spotlight along with the heightened attention of the media. With good character development, Sarah Vaughn does a masterful job weaving together these issues as they pertain to both Emma and her daughter and the devastating consequences that result.

Flora is a sympathetic figure. She is a teenager who is attempting to deal with adult problems, while longing for the support and understanding of her mother. Meanwhile, it was much harder for me to feel wholly sympathetic for Emma. Knowing how relentless the press and public opinion could be for a woman in politics, she still makes several decisions that are almost certain to impact her reputation. Moreover, she becomes so immersed in her own issues that she fails to recognize that her daughter is dealing with some sort of upheaval as well. I think I expected more from Emma. Instead, I unexpectedly enjoyed the presence of Flora’s stepmother, Caroline, who becomes a rock for Flora and a supporter of Emma’s – something they both need.

In the end, I liked Reputation but I can’t say it is one of my favorite books. I would give it 3.5 *s but will bump it to 4.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

The personal is political. The discourse around politics is so divisive, especially on social media, that it’s easy to forget that it’s not just an American problem. Doxxing, bot campaigns, and misogyny are issues all around the world. And it’s the center of British author Sarah Vaughan’s latest novel, Reputation. Her 2018 release, Anatomy of a Scandal, is now a top series on Netflix. Reputation may earn the same accolade. While her stories take place in England, the plots could easily take place in the United States. If you’re a woman who follows politics and spends time on social media, Reputation will quickly pull you in.

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A reputation takes years to create and foster, but only seconds to destroy. I enjoyed this book but it was a slow burn for me and I found myself skimming a lot which was disappointing, especially since this was a thriller and I hoped for a faster pace. There were parts I enjoyed, but this is a solid 3.5 in my humble opinion. I would read another book by this author for sure! I have heard great things about Anatomy of a Scandal.

I've tried so many times to read this one and it's just not going to be one that I finish. The book centers around a law protecting women from online abuse and harassment, and it's pretty explicit with some of the threats about Emma in the beginning of the book. Between that and simply not liking her, I wasn't super interested. I skimmed a bit further, but ultimately, this one just wasn't for me!