Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
For fans of Sweetbitter and Severance, a compulsively readable debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul
From the outside, the highly driven narrator in Isabel Kaplan's debut novel appears the vision of empowerment. She has just graduated from a prestigious college and landed an entry-level position at XBC, a leading TV network. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry, more well-versed in implicit bias and gender dynamics than box office hits.
At first, the nonstop, high adrenaline work environment at XBC motivates her to try harder. She takes on extra script coverage, masters administrative drudgeries, and devotes her early mornings to cult-like fitness classes that fellow assistants swear by. But as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the harsh realities of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by a male colleague. Employees gossip about who XBC's female president must have slept with. She hears whispers of abusive bosses and even sexual misconduct. Her personal and professional lives collide as she turns to her mother for support, uncovering industry secrets that will permanently alter both XBC and her future.
With blisteringly sharp prose and a darkly humorous voice, NSFW is an unflinching exploration of the grey area between empowerment and complicity, and a searing, unforgettable portrait of what success costs in a patriarchal world.
Synopsis
Frank, funny, and unputdownable.--Claire Messud, New York Times bestselling author of The Burning Girl and The Woman Upstairs
Blisteringly sharp, hypersmart, and compulsively readable--meet Isabel Kaplan's searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul
From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry, better versed in gender dynamics than box office hits. But she's resourceful and hardworking--what could go wrong?
At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her. She takes on extra script coverage, masters administrative drudgeries, and devotes her mornings to cult-like fitness classes that fellow assistants swear by. Yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues; she hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she's the one in charge--a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst. When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must finally decide what to protect: the career she's given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.
With electrifying prose and a darkly humorous voice, NSFW is an unflinching exploration of the grey area between empowerment and complicity, and an unforgettable portrait of what success costs in today's world.
Synopsis
Blisteringly sharp, hypersmart, and compulsively readable--meet Isabel Kaplan's searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul.
Frank, funny, and unputdownable.--Claire Messud, New York Times bestselling author of The Burning Girl and The Woman Upstairs
From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry, better versed in gender dynamics than box office hits. But she's resourceful and hardworking--what could go wrong?
At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her. Yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues; she hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she's the one in charge--a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst.
When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must finally decide what to protect: the career she's given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.
Synopsis
Blisteringly sharp, hypersmart, and compulsively readable--meet Isabel Kaplan's searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul.
The rare kind of read that made me giggle just as much as it left me gutted. --Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl
From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears to be the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry. But she's resourceful and hardworking. What could go wrong?
At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her. Yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues; she hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she's the one in charge--a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst. When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must decide what to protect: the career she's given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.
Fusing page-turning prose with dark humor and riveting commentary on the truths of starting out professionally, Isabel Kaplan's NSFW is an unflinching exploration of the gray area between empowerment and complicity. The result is a stunning portrait of what success costs in today's patriarchal world, asking us: Is it ever worth it?
Synopsis
The rare kind of read that made me giggle just as much as it left me gutted. --Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl
Blisteringly sharp and hypersmart--meet Isabel Kaplan's searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul.
From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears to be the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry. But she's resourceful and hardworking. What could go wrong?
At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her. Yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues; she hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she's the one in charge--a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst. When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must decide what to protect: the career she's given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.
Fusing page-turning prose with dark humor and riveting commentary on the truths of starting out professionally, Isabel Kaplan's NSFW is an unflinching exploration of the gray area between empowerment and complicity. The result is a stunning portrait of what success costs in today's patriarchal world, asking us: Is it ever worth it?
Synopsis
"An intoxicating exploration of male-dominated workplaces . . . NSFW is gripping, with a lot to unpack, making it excellent book-club fodder." --TIME, Best Books of July 2022
Blisteringly sharp and hypersmart--meet Isabel Kaplan's searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul.
From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears to be the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry. But she's resourceful and hardworking. What could go wrong?
At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her. Yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues; she hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she's the one in charge--a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst. When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must decide what to protect: the career she's given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.
Fusing page-turning prose with dark humor and riveting commentary on the truths of starting out professionally, Isabel Kaplan's NSFW is an unflinching exploration of the gray area between empowerment and complicity. The result is a stunning portrait of what success costs in today's patriarchal world, asking us: Is it ever worth it?
Synopsis
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION'S FIRST NOVEL PRIZE - "An intoxicating exploration of male-dominated workplaces . . . NSFW is gripping, with a lot to unpack, making it excellent book-club fodder."--TIME
Blisteringly sharp and hypersmart--meet Isabel Kaplan's searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul.
From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears to be the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry. But she's resourceful and hardworking. What could go wrong?
At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her. Yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues; she hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she's the one in charge--a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst. When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must decide what to protect: the career she's given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.
Fusing page-turning prose with dark humor and riveting commentary on the truths of starting out professionally, Isabel Kaplan's NSFW is an unflinching exploration of the gray area between empowerment and complicity. The result is a stunning portrait of what success costs in today's patriarchal world, asking us: Is it ever worth it?