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Writer's pictureJudith D Collins

Very Bad Company

Narrator: January LaVoy

ISBN: 9781250346841

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Publication Date: 05/14/2024

Format: Audio

My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)



A gripping, darkly comic novel from the national bestselling author of Bad Summer People about a team of wealthy and powerful executives on retreat in Miami when one of them goes missing . . .


Every year, executives at the trendy tech startup Aurora gather the company’s top employees for an exclusive retreat in Miami, and this year Caitlin Levy—Aurora’s newest hire—is joining the team as head of events. The benefits are outstanding: a seven-figure salary, stock shares, a discretionary bonus, limitless vacation days—what could possibly go wrong?


When a fellow high-level executive vanishes after the first night, the disappearance has the potential to derail the future of the company’s sale and cost everyone on the team millions. Now more than ever, Caitlin and her colleagues must continue the charade—partaking in team-building exercises, group brainstorms, dinners—in order to keep the future of Aurora afloat amid all the fatal speculations.


Compulsively readable, Very Bad Company is a slick send-up of corporate culture wrapped in a captivating mystery.








My Review


Emma Rosenblum returns following her smashing debut, Bad Summer People with another scandalous sizzling summer show-stopper, VERY BAD COMPANY.


This time, we are headed to Miami (my backyard) for a corporate retreat like no other!


A darkly comic novel about a team of greedy, wealthy, and powerful executives on a corporate retreat in Miami when one goes missing and turns up dead. Is there a murderer among them? What secrets are to come?


The trendy tech startup, Aurora has set their annual exclusive retreat in Miami this year for all the top executives.


When: Tues-Friday Apr 23-26

Where: The 1 Hotel, Miami Beach, FL

An exclusive resort hotel


Attendees:

~John Shiller, CEO

~Dallas Joy, CTO

~Zach Wagner, CRO

~Martin Ito, CIO

~Debra Foley, CPO

~Nikki Lane, EVP

~Olive Green, DOC

~Caitlin Levy, Head of Events

~Jessica Radum, Head of Partnerships


Organizer:

~Madison Bez, Assistant to John Shiller


Caitlin Levy, their newest hire as Head of Events, will join them for the first time this year. The benefits include a seven-figure salary, stock shares, a discretionary bonus, and limitless vacation days.


Things get off to a rocky start when one of the executives vanishes after the first night, which may derail the company's future sale—and cost everyone millions.


Miami can be a dangerous place...


However, the show must go on as they all come together for the charade, presentations, and team-building.


Told from multiple POVs:

part one-part five

~Caitlin

~Olive

~Debra

~Nikki

~Madison

~John

~Zach

~Martin

~Dallas


The Finger Waggers Reunion (catchup)

Epilogue


Who will be able to play the corporate game? It's a fun, wild, roller coaster, soapy ride. Who will be out/in?


From dark secrets, drinking, drugs, dancing, hookups, arm candy, back-stabbing, greed, ambition, surprises, corruption, power games, blackmail, scandal, and dark company secrets. Highly entertaining!


AUDIOBOOK: You must get the audiobook, narrated by the fabulous January LaVoy, juggling multiple POVs for an impressive, witty, riveting, and entertaining performance for all the voices.


I have managed numerous corporate retreats in Miami and South Beach; however, none quite as racy as this one.


VERY BAD COMPANY is for fans of Kaira Rouda's The Kingsley series, Under the Palms. (May 21, 2024)


Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and #MacAudio2024 for an advanced listening copy for an honest opinion. #SMPInfluencers


@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars

Pub Date: May 14, 2024







Praise


"Fun, page-turning corporate suspense."

―People


"With its comedic send-up of corporate dynamics and culture, Very Bad Company is another irresistible summer read."

―W Magazine


"A darkly funny mystery about toxic corporate culture."

―TIME


"Rosenblum’s tale is juicy and hilarious, especially if you've ever had the misfortune of speaking to a tech bro for too long."

―Glamour


"The wicked streak Rosenblum exhibited in her debut shows up here, too... This is a beach read with bite."

―Publishers Weekly


"[Rosenblum] is fantastic at showing the subtle corruption of wealth and how those who have it justify both the having and the wanting more. A fun, decadent ride."

―Kirkus


"Rosenblum is a deft storyteller, juggling these points of view with ease. Readers will delight in knowing every secret while waiting for the explosive denouement."

―Booklist










About the Author



Emma Rosenblum is chief content officer at Bustle Digital Group, overseeing content and strategy for BDG’s lifestyle, parenting, and culture & innovation portfolios, including Bustle, Elite Daily, Romper, NYLON, The Zoe Report, Romper, Scary Mommy, Fatherly, The Dad, Gawker, Inverse, and Mic. Prior to BDG, Emma served as the executive editor of ELLE. Previously Rosenblum was a senior editor at Bloomberg Businessweek, and before that a senior editor at Glamour. She began her career at New York magazine. She lives in New York City, with her husband and two sons. Bad Summer People is her first novel.





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