This is an interesting book about the business world and how women are able or aren’t able to be successful. It was an interesting book, but it wasn’t quite as fast paced as I was hoping for. I listened to the audiobook and both narrators did a fabulous job bringing their characters to life. This book is told from two perspectives Anna Bright who is a successful founder of a company about to go public and Jamie Roman who is an up and coming journalist. Anna is determined to be successful and is willing to lie about her company’s product to get there. Jamie is determined to be recognized as a journalist and knows that Anna Bright is hiding something and the story of her lifetime is there. It was an interesting story, but I didn’t love the ending. I mean I liked that it updated you about several key characters and what happened, but I wanted a different ending. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up for the excellent job the narrators did reading it.

4⭐️- If you enjoy Black Mirror or the documentary Out for Blood in Silicon Valley about Elizabeth Holmes, you will love this books. Anna Bright is Hiding Something follows Jaime while she uses investigative journalism at first to interview Anna Bright, one her female cofounder idols, but ultimately turns into a suspenseful piece when she learns more and more about the secrets Anna is keeping about her company Brightlife.

The noncommittal, vague title of this book hints at the content of the book itself - while not a bad read, it's not nearly as thrilling or salacious as I was hoping. It reminded me a lot of The Herd and other similar books that take on (or take down?) female founded startups. Whereas The Herd seemed to be a callout of Glossier's Emily Weiss, this book is more in the vein of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes.

Anna Bright is the CEO of BrightLife, a healthtech startup selling an ocular lens that will enable recording, augmented reality, health and wellness, and much more - a product that will change peoples' lives. Enter Jamie Roman, a journalist for the tech news website BusinessBerry, who discovers some salacious things about BrightLife that make her want to dig deeper on BrightLife and Anna herself.

The book was perfectly fine - but that's not exactly what you want from a thriller. It didn't have any shocking twists and turns, and in fact, I found that I could guess the plot how the plot was going to unfold about 25% of the way in. I didn't love Jamie's character or really even see the point of having her be the other MC - I actually think the book might have been more interesting if it went deeper on Anna instead.

Thank you to the publisher for the audio ARC via Netgalley!

I enjoyed it, I wish the resolution would have been a little stronger but it seemed she left the door open for future books with Anna as the main character. Anna seemed to be very, very similar to Elizabeth Holmes, wish there had been some more distinction. But I did appreciate investigating women and the discrimination they face when starting companies.

I enjoyed this read, especially after learning about Theranos/Elizabeth Holmes.

The girl boss angle paired with the tech startup angle was very intriguing! Anna Bright was an interesting character, and I wish I had more insight into her, maybe from a different POV.

I also wanted there to be some bigger "secret" that Anna is hiding. I felt the payoff wasnt huge, especially after knowing Elizabeth Holmes and other scammer/founder stories, it felt kind of run of the mill.

This is cutthroat journalism at its finest. I can't stand how everyone dotes all over Anna Bright and treats her as a diva - never a good thing. She's one of us though - she has her flaws. She just hides them better. Anna Bright is just another well written character in the world of glamour. You'll enjoy reading this and finding out just what makes her human!

If you were invested in the Elizabeth Holmes drama and devoured Inventing Anna on Netflix, this book is for you.

Anna Bright is the founder of BrightLife. The company is preparing to go public and launch BrightSpot - an implant Anna promises will transform the world of biotechnology and change lives forever. Anna knows there are flaws with BrightSpot; however, with the company’s upcoming IPO, Anna refuses to let anything get in the way. Jamie Roman, a business journalist, lands an exclusive interview with Anna and hopes to use Anna’s story to propel her career. When Jamie realizes Anna has secrets and is withholding information from her employees, investors, and the public, Jamie is determined to expose her. Anna works to manage leaks, the departure of employees, and Jamie’s efforts to take her down.

Is Anna a visionary, or is she a fraud?

Anna Bright is Hiding Something is a very interesting read. The storyline is very entertaining, and I was invested in seeing it through to the end. I loved how the story focused on women’s experiences in a male-dominated industry. I loved reading Anna’s and Jamie’s thoughts and interpretations of things happening. This book is a bit addictive, with lots of gaslighting, lies, twists, cover-ups, information leaks, misogyny, and faking it until you make it. There were some funny moments and lots of drama. I was conflicted and found myself rooting for both Anna and Jamie at times. Overall, this was a fun and fast-paced read.

🎧NARRATION:
Tiffany Bache and Hillary Huber did a wonderful job with this dual narration. They did well in giving Anna and Jamie personalities and bringing them to life. The narration enhanced my experience with the story and made me feel like I was watching everything play out live.

This is one for fans of stories like The Dropout. This book really explores women in leadership roles and the implications of it based on society and how people respond to that. This was a slow burn suspense very much in the vein of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes almost so closely that it felt almost too similar.

This book ended up being quick to get through but ultimately won't be that memorable for me. The ending fell a little flat overall when it had the potential to really propel the story forward.

Explores the downfall of ambition, white-collar crime, and women in leadership.

Susie Orman Schnall’s “Anna Bright Is Hiding Something” is a captivating novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. From the glossy offices of Silicon Valley to the fast-paced world of NYC new media, the story unfolds with intrigue, suspense, and unexpected twists.
The character of Anna Bright, a successful entrepreneur, is brilliantly crafted. Her secret life of fraud, unbeknownst to her board, investors, and the public, within her multibillion-dollar company, BrightLife, adds layers of complexity to the plot. As a reader, you’ll find yourself torn between rooting for Anna’s success and hoping for her downfall.

Enter Jamie Roman, the determined journalist with BusinessBerry who stumbles upon Anna’s misconduct. Jamie’s relentless pursuit of truth and a desire to make a name for herself takes us on a bicoastal journey, revealing the true meaning of success and the sacrifices made along the way. The tension between Anna and Jamie is palpable, with BrightLife’s impending IPO hanging in the balance, and their cat-and-mouse game keeps you guessing until the very end.

What sets this novel apart is its exploration of women in the workplace. Anna challenges stereotypes about female founders, and the book delves into the pressures they face. The ethical dilemmas, ambition, and media influence are expertly woven into the narrative, making it a thought-provoking read.

The BrightSpot product, an intraocular implant, particularly piqued my interest. With two decades of experience in ophthalmology, I couldn’t help but scrutinize the technology and consider potential complications associated with implantation as I immersed myself in the novel.

The audiobook narration was exceptional. Their voices were crystal clear, with a pleasant tone, and incredibly easy to follow.

In summary, “Anna Bright Is Hiding Something” is a page-turner that combines corporate intrigue, moral quandaries, and strong character development. Schnall’s writing is sharp, and her storytelling keeps you hooked. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys suspenseful fiction with a touch of real-world relevance.

Susie Orman Schnall's novel is a captivating blend of drama, suspense, and humor, taking readers on an exhilarating journey into Silicon Valley and the media industry. I enjoy reading about women navigating traditionally male-dominated fields, even when one of them may be harboring ill intentions. With the story unfolding through the alternating perspectives of Anna and Jamie, the book quickly seized my attention and held it firmly. The subject matter is intriguing, and the author excels at depicting the nuances of this business world. It's a highly engaging read, featuring well-developed characters and incisive, witty prose. Those who have kept up with the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos saga will find this book particularly compelling. It's a swift, delightful read, and the audiobook is exceptionally well-performed, making for an enjoyable listening experience.
A heartfelt thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advance copy.

I've read and enjoyed this author's work before. This was much different than what I've read previously. I personally felt there was way too much corporate talk in this book. I am not at all a part of that work so I struggled with this aspect of it just being completely over my head as well as personally uninteresting to me! Possibly someone who is more in this line of work and enjoys a slow burn "thriller" would enjoy this more.

Loved this audio book. The narrator had a great voice, without all the dramatics some voices include. It was good and no nonsense. The story was very interesting and inspiriting and gossipy! Highly recommended.

3.75 —

I enjoyed this one. I liked the way it moved back and forth between Anna’s POV and Jamie’s POV. Seeing the way their lives intersect in a few ways.

The way the story was written, I think I was expecting more of a twist or big dramatic reveal at the end. Things do happen, but it felt not too exciting. But maybe that’s just me.

I think I would have also liked a bit more backstory about Anna. Learn more about who she is outside her role as CEO.

This book was fascinating and it talks a lot about women in the tech/entrepreneurial space. How they’re treated and how people perceive them; especially compared to men.

Overall this was enjoyable.

Received an early copy via Netgalley/Dreamscape.

What a ride! A character-driven novel that addresses the inequality of women vs men receiving financial support and opportunities for being innovative developers. A dishonest female CEO of an innovative medical product is pitted against a female reporter who is equally determined to find out the truth. There are twists and turns and lots of suspense. (Think of a fictional Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos scandal) I was hooked and the pages flew.

4.5 rounded up to 5

Thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress a division of BookSparks for an audio.

I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.

What the heck???? This story was touted as a thriller with crime and fraud and all that and it was none of that by the end!! The first 90% was definitely good. But then the climax happens and everything just falls apart. So disappointing.

A slow burn tale of corporate fraud and the battles that women face in the workplace.

Anna Bright is very close to launching her biotech company, Brightlife’s, IPO, but she’s lying to everyone as her groundbreaking product isn’t actually ready to go. Young journalist Jamie Roman is onto Anna and wants to take what she knows and reveal the truth to the world, but Anna can’t allow this to happen and will do whatever it takes to stop the exposé.

Anna herself is intensely unlikeable. She is a hard nosed businesswoman and takes no prisoners, using whatever information she can dig up on her employees to her advantage whenever she has the opportunity. I have worked for some vile women managers in the past and I could totally relate to how Anna’s disgruntled staff felt about her.

For me, the pace was way too slow and there was too much corporate jargon, but the writing was good.

The two narrators, Tiffany Bache and Hillary Huber were excellent.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Susie Orman Schnall and Dreamscape for an ARC in return for an honest review.

An interesting take on Women CEOs and the unique challenges of women in leadership positions in corporate culture today. While this one sounded quite interesting and I enjoyed the author's last book, We came here to shine, I just couldn't get into this one. The audiobook narration was okay but I just got bored by this story sadly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to listen to an early ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Loved this one! I was hooked immediately and found the story very compelling. I loved Bad Blood & following the Theranos scandal, so this was like, a great fictionalized version. I did a print/audio combo and recommend both!

I loved the themes explored such as women vs men in the workplace and the cutthroat tech business. Anna Bright is the founder of Bright Life and is trying to get her start up to go public. Jamie Roman, a journalist, interviews Anna and notices something fishy going on, deceit and fraud. Things are not matching up. Does Bright Life do what it says it does? Anna as CEO will do anything to take this company public and will not take no for an answer. I enjoyed the dual POVs. I did love Anna’s version of women in business – to be treated the same as a man, to not receive special treatment just because she is a woman. The story was captivating and entertaining. The characters were all flawed and the pacing was appropriate. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was great. If you are looking for an entertaining read with some twists and a strong FMC, this one is for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, SparkPress and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of this torn from the headlines novel by Susie Orman Schnall, perfectly narrated by Tiffany Bache and Hillary Huber. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Everyone is anxiously anticipating the launch of BrightSpot, an insertable technology set to change people's lives. Only Anna knows that the technology doesn't work. Jamie is trying to make her mark as a journalist and she gets the opportunity to interview Anna. Then she realizes that Anna may be hiding something.

This one definitely harkens to Elizabeth Holmes and her Dropout story, but it's a story of the issues and inequalities women in the workplace face every day. This was definitely a character-driven story and alternated between the POV of Anna and Jamie. you'll be cheering one on while booing the other. Plus, you feel for all the people behind the scenes! The writing and narration were spot on, and it felt suspenseful to see what would happen with the IPO approaching. It's definitely a scary tale as well, as we allow technology to encroach more and more into our lives. We can only hope that those involved are a bit more ethical.