Book Blurb:
Alex Vogel has always been a high achiever who lived her life by the bookβstar student and athlete in high school, prelaw whiz in college, Harvard Law School degree. Accepting a dream offer at the prestigious Manhattan law firm of Klasko & Fitch, she promises her sweet and supportive longtime boyfriend that the job wonβt change her.Β Yet Alex is seduced by the firmβs money and energy . . . and by her cocksure male colleagues, who quickly take notice of the new girl. Sheβs never felt so confident and powerfulβeven the innuendo-laced banter with clients feels fun. In the firmβs most profitable and competitive division, Mergers and Acquisitions, Alex works around the clock, racking up billable hours and entertaining clients late into the evening. While the job is punishing, it has its perks, like a weekend trip to Miami, a ride in a clientβs private jet, and more expense-account meals than she can count.Β But as her clientsβ expectations and demands on her increase, and Alex finds herself magnetically drawn to a handsome coworker despite her loving relationship at home, she begins to question everythingβincluding herself. She knows the corporate world isnβt black and white, and that to reach the top means playing by different rules. But who made those rules? And what if the system rigged so that women canβt win, anyway?Β When something happens that reveals the dark reality of the firm, Alex comes to understand the ways women like her are toldβexplicitly and implicitlyβhow they need to behave to succeed in the workplace. Now, she can no longer stand by silentlyβeven if doing whatβs right means putting everything on the line to expose the shocking truth.
My Review: 4 stars
The Boysβ Club takes readers into the world of Big Law and knowing from the start that this was optioned by Netflix allowed me to read this as a movie in my head. I havenβt read a legal thriller in quite some time so this was a welcome escape.
This book immediately takes you into the competitive world of corporate law. I got a glimpse of everything from the all-nighters, sleeping in the office, βuppersβ, mentor relationships, the power struggle between partners, as well as associates, partying with clients and happy hours. I really enjoyed getting this insider’s look into their jobs and how gender played such a huge role. Many real world, outside of the office, issues were touched upon, mainly the #MeToo movement.
There was a lot of build up in regards to relationships, friendships and the “trial” which kept the plot pushing forward. With all of that force, the ending seemed anti-climatic in comparison. It may have been realistic, which I can appreciate, but after investing so much time into the novel I wanted more out of the conclusion.
Overall, this was an entertaining and different read for me. I canβt wait to see how Netflix adapts it.Β
Quotes I liked:
Weβre practicing corporate law at the biggest firm in the entire world. Whether we know it or not, weβre blazing a trail for women in the future. The key to having it all is redefining what βallβ is. I wanted three kids. That means I have two nannies. I want them to eat home-cooked meals every night. That means I have a chef.β
βBy the way, nobody outside Big Law will ever get it. Maybe investment bankers. But theyβre the client. They have the luxury of not responding. We donβt. Doctors keep horrendous hours, but they at least know when theyβre going to be on call. Thereβs no predictability with us. No ability to unplug. Do you know how many vacations Iβve taken where I havenβt left my hotel room? I havenβt been anywhere without an internet connection in sixteen years. Planes used to be the only time I really slept, and then the airlines went and got fucking Wi-Fi. The ironic part is, I did the IPO for GoGoβthe company that delivers it to them.β She smacked her head dramatically. βIf anybody tells you they βget it,β theyβre lying. And they probably hate you for being on your phone so much.β