This is a (very thinly veiled) dramatized version of the Elizabeth Holmes story and I am HERE for it, it’s so good!! Way more fun than reality.

The story is told from two perspectives: those of Jamie, a hungry, young journalist trying to get to the root of what’s going on at BrightSpot and of Anna, the Elizabeth Holmes character. The characters are multidimensional and so fun to get to know (even the ones we despise).

Premise - When Jamie gets the opportunity to interview female founder Anna Bright, she’s sure it’ll be a career-maker, something that’ll make her Pulitzer Prize-winning father finally consider her a success. Jamie soon learns her hero is not the idol she’s built her up to be, but when she befriends a BrightSpot employee, Ian, she realizes there’s more wrong at BrightSpot than just a rotten corporate culture…

As someone who began my career working for startups, I inhaled ‘The Dropout’ and this is even better! It’s an indictment of ‘fake it till you make it’ startup culture, our societal definitions of success, and how we treat überrich businesspeople as gods.

This is marketed as ‘The Dropout’ x ‘Inventing Anna’ but it’s basically just the former. I would absolutely love it if the author did a version of the Anna Delvey story next, or Sam Bankman-Fried!🤞🏽🤞🏽

Thanks, NetGalley and Spark Press, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this mystery surrounding this big business and this woman that everyone envies. The many connections among the various characters make it more interesting, with some surprising turns of events. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC.

Reality was more gripping.

Anna Bright is the ambitious and wildly successful founder and CEO of BrightLife, a Silicon Valley startup planning to launch an eye implant called BrightSpot. And she’s hiding something. Jamie Roman, an equally ambitious journalist at an online publication called BusinessBerry, quickly realizes that things at BrightLife might not be quite what they seem, and sets out to uncover the truth about Anna.

I did love the book’s catchy title and I enjoyed its sly humor - there’s a lot of satire in it and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. And major kudos to the two narrators of the audiobook, who did a superb job with the material and made it thoroughly enjoyable to listen to.

That being said, if the novel’s summary reads like it was ripped straight from the headlines - well, it was (and the book’s blurb even admits this). It’s eerily similar to the story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, with a bit of Netflix shine along the lines of „Inventing Anna“ (the Anna Sorokin story) thrown in. Only, reality was actually more interesting than the book, whose characters read like clichéd versions of themselves. Anna is portrayed as your typical smart but shrewd, ambitious but rude, cut-throat and selfish CEO; whereas Jamie (for all her 28 years) is portrayed as intelligent but comes across as incredibly naive, a supposedly great writer but possibly not very good at her job, acting like she just finished school and this is her first week on the job.

The ending also fell flat for me. However, while not even close to a mystery/thriller (I have no idea how this book even ended up in that genre), if you don’t mind some stereotypes, this is an enjoyable summer read. Just don’t expect an original storyline or a layered, nuanced social commentary on women in the workforce.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„Anna Bright Is Hiding Something“ is slated to be released on June 04, 2024.

I loved the premise of the book after following the Elizabeth Holmes case closely, this book isn’t based on that but it felt reminiscent from the blurb so was looking forward to getting stuck in.
The start was great, felt like we were straight into the action with no messing around.
Characters all felt believable and I understood their motivations but felt like the middle dragged a little.
There was perhaps a missed opportunity for tension and the risk of discovery throughout but all in all I enjoyed it
Great narration

Nothing novel in this novel

This wasn't a bad book, but it didn't seem to have anything new. There is a reporter who has issues with her famous father that abandoned her and her mother when she was a child. She is chosen to interview a woman that heads a tech company that is slated to have its IPO. But, the company's product is not meeting the goals that they say it is meeting, so the founder, Anna Bright, covers up the truth. It is basically Elizabeth Holmes.

I listened to the audiobook and it seemed too long. I probably tuned out a few times in the middle.

It had promise, but it was just too slow.

Right from the beginning, I'm thinking that Anna Bright has a lot in common with Elizabeth Holmes. She's a dynamic head of a company with an awesome product and they are certainly headed towards an upcoming IPO. An up and coming young journalist gets a coveted spot on a panel that includes Anna Bright when her boss can't attend. When Jamie helps Anna after a blunder with a microphone, Jamie is invited on Anna's private jet back to Silicon Valley with the promise of an exclusive interview with her. As you can imagine, things do not go as planned. This is a quick and enjoyable read and the audio version is well narrated.

4.5 stars rounded down.

When we met Jamie, Anna and the rest of the characters, I imagined this going a different way. However, the fact that it didn’t wasn’t disappointing as the actual storyline was good and I really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed, the dialogue was good and the entire plot was totally believable. I thought the end was a little too neat and tidy, but otherwise, a good book that I enjoyed.

Advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. All opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were fantastic! The story itself was interesting but somewhat dry in the writing. Way too close to the Elizabeth Holmes story and I felt it strange that they mentioned her scandal a few times.

Anna Bright is a super successful and ambitious entrepeneur about to launch her company public. Jamie Roman is a young, up-and-coming journalist out to make a name for herself. Anna Bright is indeed hiding something, and Jamie is determined to find out and expose what it is. This was an interesting take on launching businesses and journalistic pursuit. During my listening experience Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos came to mind quite a few times, as well as the brave and unwavering journalists who exposed Harvey Weinstein and his crimes. The author did a good job raising questions about gender dynamics in the workplace and the effects corporate greed and unethical practices have on people. Both narrators did an outstanding job bringing these characters to life. Thank you to NetGalley, Susie Orman Schnall and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

"Anna Bright Is Hiding Something" by Susie Orman Schnall is a gripping, fast-paced novel that plunges readers into the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley startups and New York City's media landscape. With its incisive exploration of ambition, deception, and the quest for success, this book is a timely reflection on the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by women in the business world. Susie Orman Schnall masterfully portrays the intense pressure and moral compromises in the world of high finance and tech startups. The characters are vividly drawn. The book’s backdrop, echoing real-life scandals like that of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, provides a thought-provoking commentary on the cult of personality surrounding female entrepreneurs. While there are notable differences between Anna Bright and Holmes, the parallels are unmistakable, prompting readers to question the impact of such narratives on public perception of women in business.
While I wonder if it's too soon for a story reminiscent of recent real-life events, Schnall’s fictional account serves as a cautionary tale about integrity and the perils of unchecked ambition. I reluctantly gave this three out of five stars, the reluctance stemming from how fresh Theranos is in my mind and how I felt like the concept didn't feel original. But, what is original these days, right? However, the book is well-written and I'll be checking out more novels by Susie Orman Schnall.

I mostly stick to sci-fi, horror and thrillers, so Anna Bright Is Hiding Something was definitely a choice outside my comfort zone. Its contemporary and very timely focus was intriguing, so what did I have to lose? Turns out, nothing, because this sharp novel was excellent.

I work in an engineering position in a field bogged down with more bureaucracy than most people can tolerate, so the type of ambition, fast-talk and intense competitiveness of Anna Bright's all-business life was totally foreign to me. Also foreign was the "how far can I push it?" mentality of practically every single character. I don't doubt that these circles are accurately depicted here, and it boggles my mind that it takes this much aggressive greed and deceit are required to make it in the entrepreneurial arena. It was fascinating to immerse myself in their world, but it also gave me some serious ick.

If you're looking for something similar to Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup or Inventing Anna, this might be the novel for you.

I really enjoyed the characters and plot of this fictional Silicon Valley saga until the end. The story follows Jamie, an eager journalist trying to make her way despite pressures put on her by her estranged father and Anna, an extremely unlikeable and cutthroat entrepreneur. The novel definitely gives Elizabeth Holmes vibes, especially when it becomes obvious that there are technical and privacy issues behind Anna's start up "Bright Spot" and yet she pushes on. The novel certainly felt like it was building toward something, and yet the ending fell so flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I am not well versed in the Elizabeth Holmes scandal but I am much more interested in it after listening/reading!

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

I thought the premise sounded great but I was immediately board reading this one. The narrator was objectively find but actual story wasn't that interesting to read. I understand that Anna is not suppose to be likeable, but I assume she's suppose to be interesting. I just found her story so dry.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

First the narration is perfect! I love it so much. I loved Jamie and all her issues. She is trying to get her story but she also had her own issues going on. She has ethics and she is a badass.
Anna is awful and I loved it for her!

I am not a business lady but I have worked with this horrible woman director and suffered through a terrible work culture for years. Now I am broke and so much happier!
That is how I was able to relate. I love it. I love all of this.

I enjoyed this, but it didn’t feel like there was anything new or fresh. I saw every turn coming (not that it seemed like it was supposed to be a wild twist or anything, but it just was very predictable). Anna was the most interesting character to me and no one else seemed to be even slightly fleshed out, and she was mostly a stereotype. I was entertained enough to read it quickly though. Thank you to SparkPress and NetGalley for the ARC

Anna Bright is a female entrepreneur and ready to release a new product and take her company public, but it's possible there is more happening behind the scenes than the public knows. Jamie is a reporter that is trying to land a big story. Her dad is a big name and she is trying to make her own name in the journalism world. These two ladies both have things on the line and it is a fascinating story of what is the truth and will it be shared! I enjoyed the narrators for Anna and Jamie's points of view! Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this fantastic audiobook!

Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall offers a fictional take on the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley, drawing inspiration from real-life events like the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos. The story follows Anna Bright, CEO of BrightLife, a tech company on the brink of going public. When journalist Jamie Roman uncovers potential secrets in Anna's past, a gripping tale of deception and ambition unfolds.

While the novel provides an intriguing exploration of the challenges faced by female executives in male-dominated industries, it falls short in several areas. The ending leaves something to be desired, with loose plot threads and underdeveloped character arcs.

Despite these shortcomings, Anna Bright Is Hiding Something raises important questions about gender dynamics in the workplace and the pressures faced by women in leadership roles. It serves as a cautionary tale about the lengths some will go to protect their reputation and success in the cutthroat world of corporate America. However, those seeking a more nuanced and compelling narrative may find themselves wishing for a deeper exploration of the science behind BrightLife's product and a more finely-tuned plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Tiffany Bache and Hillary Huber, both of whom doe an excellent job narrating this story.

Anna Bright is the founder of the company BrightLife, where the up and coming product, BrightSpot, is readying to be launched. However, when journalist, Jamie Roman, manages to snag a last-minute interview with Anna, she catches glimpses behind the veil of Anna’s manipulation and will stop at nothing to share the company’s harmful secrets.

Told by alternating characters, the story builds to a suspenseful and satisfying climax. Cover-ups, lies, whistleblowers, and at the heart of it all, one journalist trying to uncover the truth. Highly recommend!

"Anna Bright Is Hiding Something" by Susie Orman Schnall is a riveting tale of corporate deceit and journalistic pursuit. Set against the backdrop of Silicon Valley startups and New York City media, the novel delves into the complexities of success and the lengths some will go to maintain it. Schnall skillfully weaves a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they follow Jamie Roman's relentless quest to uncover Anna Bright's fraudulent actions, while Anna fights tooth and nail to protect her empire. With its timely themes and razor-sharp insights into women in the workplace, this book is a captivating read that will leave you questioning the true cost of ambition.