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Jaded
A young lawyer wakes up the morning after a work gala with no memory of how she got home the previous night and must figure out what, exactly, happened—and how much she's willing to put up with to make her way to the top of the corporate ladder.
Jade isn’t even my real name. Jade began as my Starbucks name, because all children of immigrants have a Starbucks name.
Jade has become everything she ever wanted to be.
Successful lawyer.
Dutiful daughter.
Beloved girlfriend.
Loyal friend.
Until Jade wakes up the morning after a work event, naked and alone, with no idea how she got home. Caught between her parents who can’t understand, her boyfriend who feels betrayed, and her job that expects silence, the world Jade has constructed starts to crumble.
Jade thought she was everything she ever wanted to be. But now she feels like nothing at all.
For fans of Queenie and I May Destroy You, Jaded is a blistering—and sometimes darkly funny—account of consent, power, race, sexism, and identity in a broken society.
Jade isn’t even my real name. Jade began as my Starbucks name, because all children of immigrants have a Starbucks name.
Jade has become everything she ever wanted to be.
Successful lawyer.
Dutiful daughter.
Beloved girlfriend.
Loyal friend.
Until Jade wakes up the morning after a work event, naked and alone, with no idea how she got home. Caught between her parents who can’t understand, her boyfriend who feels betrayed, and her job that expects silence, the world Jade has constructed starts to crumble.
Jade thought she was everything she ever wanted to be. But now she feels like nothing at all.
For fans of Queenie and I May Destroy You, Jaded is a blistering—and sometimes darkly funny—account of consent, power, race, sexism, and identity in a broken society.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2024
257 people are currently reading
29335 people want to read
About the author
Ela Lee
3 books204 followersEla Lee's debut novel JADED was published in 2024 by Vintage in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US. It was an Amazon Best Fiction Book of the Year, and Lee was named a Spotify Breakout Author. She has also been selected for Forbes 30 under 30, class of 2025. Her second novel MINBAK publishes in March 2026, and has been selected for BBC Radio 2 Book Club. Her newsletter Elaborate can be found at elalee.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 940 reviews
February 19, 2024
Too scared, too ashamed, to say it. Before, I was the unraped. Now I am the raped. The finality of that change struck complete fear in me. There was no in-between.
There have been numerous books in the last decade or so dealing with issues around rape, sexual assault and non-consent: this is perhaps one of the most emotionally absorbing for me.
I found Jade (a 'Starbucks name' for Ceyda) an immediately engaging narrator: in her mid-twenties, forging a career at a City law firm and in love with Kit - but there are subtle red flags that we identify even while Jade tries to blind herself to them. Not least is her mixed-race status and the way Kit tramples over the sensitivities of her Turkish father and Korean mother, and Jade's own performative ways of being with her wealthy, white boyfriend.
There's a lot going on in this book and it's to Lees's credit that it all holds together from the rape and aftermath plot, the increasing focus on race as a complicated status, the exposure of male 'feminism' as cynical virtue signalling (not all men, of course), struggles with corporate culture (and the scenes of the self-congratulatory EDI group are hilariously snarky!), as well as intergenerational relationships and being the child of immigrant parents. All of these are treated in sophisticated ways with no easy arcs or happy redemption narratives. The relationship between Jade and her mother feels especially troubling and all the more realistic for that very reason.
I think one of the important qualities for me is the sense of authenticity - only once was there a convenient plot device (Suzie) and even then the book tried to justify its own coincidence by tackling it in a self-referential way.
This isn't a conspicuously 'literary' book in terms of style or form - but it's emotionally mature and utterly convincing. Jade doesn't always make wise decisions but she's all the more human for that reason. And it's worth mentioning the supporting characters of Adele and Jade's parents are superbly drawn.
Nuanced and, in places, rightfully enraging, this is nicely complementary to Prima Facie but still feels like a book which has important things of its own to say. The world of the book feels robust in its creation with characters who live off the page. Clever wordplay too with the 'jaded' of the title: both the weariness of women battling patriarchy on multiple levels as well as the way Ceyda reconstructs her own 'Jade' identity for other people's ease.
Many thanks to Random House, Vintage for an ARC via Netgalley.
May 28, 2024
This thought provoking plot takes us on a compelling journey alongside Ceyda, affectionately known as Jade, a talented lawyer working at Reuban in London, UK. Her life appears to be on track, but a night of heavy drinking during a work event leaves her with a hazy memory and suspicions of sexual assault. This event is a catalyst, challenging her perception of self and her meticulously constructed world.
Jade is a young woman caught between the desire to please her immigrant parents and conform to societal norms, which include maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend, Kit. When the assault occurs, Jade's carefully constructed façade begins to crumble as she navigates the painful memories, trying to piece together what happened. With the support of her friends and after confronting her family and Kit, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
The book skillfully addresses important themes, including identity, ambition, misogyny, sexism, power, and wealth. It delves into Jade's internal struggle as she comes to terms with her experiences, leading her to become more vocal and aware of the cultural norms and attitudes that have shaped her life. As Jade's understanding grows, she grapples with the expectations of her immigrant parents, who have long encouraged her to assimilate into the dominant culture.
"Jade" is a sharp and thrilling exploration of a woman's search for self, resilience, and empowerment in the face of a traumatic event. This engaging narrative offers readers an insightful examination of contemporary social issues and personal growth, making it an impactful and thought-provoking read. The writing is superb, effortlessly guiding us through Jade's thoughts, realizations, and emotions. While the plot might be challenging, it is executed with finesse. As we accompany Jade on her journey, we see her evolve and transform, ultimately reclaiming her identity and sense of self. Despite the difficult subject matter, the novel is beautifully crafted, and the author's ability to weave complex themes into the narrative is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate the author's future works.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster for sharing this powerful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Jade is a young woman caught between the desire to please her immigrant parents and conform to societal norms, which include maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend, Kit. When the assault occurs, Jade's carefully constructed façade begins to crumble as she navigates the painful memories, trying to piece together what happened. With the support of her friends and after confronting her family and Kit, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
The book skillfully addresses important themes, including identity, ambition, misogyny, sexism, power, and wealth. It delves into Jade's internal struggle as she comes to terms with her experiences, leading her to become more vocal and aware of the cultural norms and attitudes that have shaped her life. As Jade's understanding grows, she grapples with the expectations of her immigrant parents, who have long encouraged her to assimilate into the dominant culture.
"Jade" is a sharp and thrilling exploration of a woman's search for self, resilience, and empowerment in the face of a traumatic event. This engaging narrative offers readers an insightful examination of contemporary social issues and personal growth, making it an impactful and thought-provoking read. The writing is superb, effortlessly guiding us through Jade's thoughts, realizations, and emotions. While the plot might be challenging, it is executed with finesse. As we accompany Jade on her journey, we see her evolve and transform, ultimately reclaiming her identity and sense of self. Despite the difficult subject matter, the novel is beautifully crafted, and the author's ability to weave complex themes into the narrative is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate the author's future works.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster for sharing this powerful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
December 21, 2023
4 - 5 stars rounded up
“Jade isn’t my real name, it’s Ceyda but Jade is my Starbucks name because all children of immigrants have them. I work for the prestigious law firm of Reuben, Fleisher and Wishall and I’ve worked very hard to fit in. At a client dinner and a night of heavy drinking particularly encouraged by my boss David Reuben, who clearly has designs and keeps filling my glass, but it’s actually Josh who takes me home”. This debut novel deals with the fallout and after effects of that fateful night and so much more.
First of all, what an accomplished debut novel this is, and I see this author having a bright literary future ahead of her, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this book gets nominated for awards as it deserves to. It has multiple layers to the storytelling which each wraps around the other making it a whole. Jade is the daughter of a Turkish man and a Korean mother, so cultural identity is one issue. I love the Turkish/Korean element and find her parents, their diverse cultures and outlooks absolutely fascinating. Less good is the racism, be it casual (still racism) or more overt and the lip service the corporate world she lives in pays to diversity makes you cringe. Even her long-term boyfriend Kit blunders in without really trying to understand. It’s almost at times as if he’s trying to just tick a box and feel pleased and rather proud of himself.
Amongst other things, the storytelling looks at the demands of a highflying corporate world, who will always move to protect their own. There’s power, politics, misogyny and wealth also in the mix, and if that sounds too much, it isn’t as the storytelling is so skilful. However, at the heart of the novel lies sexual assault, and the way that Jade recalls this is almost surreal and like an out of body experience, which makes it feel even more chilling. The impact especially her internal battles with feelings such as guilt, the effects on her relationships and every aspect of her life is described so well. She’s so uncertain, there’s pressure on her to tell or not to tell and I find myself getting totally caught up in her life. My heart aches for her, it makes me sad and angry as it is HER life that implodes. Where’s the justice in that??? Naturally, that takes the novel to reflect on victims and the law, and the low rate of conviction which adds to the anger that you feel for her and women who have suffered like her.
Although the topics Ela Lee deals with are very difficult ones, she does this extremely well as it’s much more about the impact on Jade. It’s very well written, it’s intelligent, very powerful, real and thought-provoking, and it’s without doubt a book that I will remember.
With thanks to Natalie and especially to Random House UK, Harvill Secker , for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review
“Jade isn’t my real name, it’s Ceyda but Jade is my Starbucks name because all children of immigrants have them. I work for the prestigious law firm of Reuben, Fleisher and Wishall and I’ve worked very hard to fit in. At a client dinner and a night of heavy drinking particularly encouraged by my boss David Reuben, who clearly has designs and keeps filling my glass, but it’s actually Josh who takes me home”. This debut novel deals with the fallout and after effects of that fateful night and so much more.
First of all, what an accomplished debut novel this is, and I see this author having a bright literary future ahead of her, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this book gets nominated for awards as it deserves to. It has multiple layers to the storytelling which each wraps around the other making it a whole. Jade is the daughter of a Turkish man and a Korean mother, so cultural identity is one issue. I love the Turkish/Korean element and find her parents, their diverse cultures and outlooks absolutely fascinating. Less good is the racism, be it casual (still racism) or more overt and the lip service the corporate world she lives in pays to diversity makes you cringe. Even her long-term boyfriend Kit blunders in without really trying to understand. It’s almost at times as if he’s trying to just tick a box and feel pleased and rather proud of himself.
Amongst other things, the storytelling looks at the demands of a highflying corporate world, who will always move to protect their own. There’s power, politics, misogyny and wealth also in the mix, and if that sounds too much, it isn’t as the storytelling is so skilful. However, at the heart of the novel lies sexual assault, and the way that Jade recalls this is almost surreal and like an out of body experience, which makes it feel even more chilling. The impact especially her internal battles with feelings such as guilt, the effects on her relationships and every aspect of her life is described so well. She’s so uncertain, there’s pressure on her to tell or not to tell and I find myself getting totally caught up in her life. My heart aches for her, it makes me sad and angry as it is HER life that implodes. Where’s the justice in that??? Naturally, that takes the novel to reflect on victims and the law, and the low rate of conviction which adds to the anger that you feel for her and women who have suffered like her.
Although the topics Ela Lee deals with are very difficult ones, she does this extremely well as it’s much more about the impact on Jade. It’s very well written, it’s intelligent, very powerful, real and thought-provoking, and it’s without doubt a book that I will remember.
With thanks to Natalie and especially to Random House UK, Harvill Secker , for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review
January 29, 2024
'I played Twister with my personality, to see what fit best'
Jade is the daughter of mixed-heritage, immigrant parents who have relentlessly toiled to build a life in England to give their daughter a future. But Jade isn't even really her name. It's an anglicised, phonetic take on her given Turkish name Ceyda - and it's just easier. Easier to fit in, easier to not offer explanations, and easier to not side with being Turkish or Korean. Being what Jade perceives people need her to be: a dutiful daughter at home, easygoing with her boyfriend, and a workaholic as a lawyer has worked well for Jade. Jade has everything - until Jade doesn't. The morning after a work function she wakes up naked in bed, without a clue how she got home and a hazy memory of the night before. As her mind slowly reveals what the body has always remembered, Jade is confronted with all the locked-away illusions of her life to date. Her precarious balancing of multiple selves crumbles, leaving her to question just who she really is.
'Jaded' tackles a number of issues within a relatively short book: ethnicity, explicit and complicit racism, endemic misogyny, and sexual assault. For me, highlighting the complicit ways many of us continue to perpetuate racism and gender bias is always a worthy reminder. The 'believability' of sexual assault is also tackled along with the potential ramifications of reporting it versus just burying it.
This book will make you think - even if you end up feeling like you've just come out of the spin cycle by the end of it.
Jade is the daughter of mixed-heritage, immigrant parents who have relentlessly toiled to build a life in England to give their daughter a future. But Jade isn't even really her name. It's an anglicised, phonetic take on her given Turkish name Ceyda - and it's just easier. Easier to fit in, easier to not offer explanations, and easier to not side with being Turkish or Korean. Being what Jade perceives people need her to be: a dutiful daughter at home, easygoing with her boyfriend, and a workaholic as a lawyer has worked well for Jade. Jade has everything - until Jade doesn't. The morning after a work function she wakes up naked in bed, without a clue how she got home and a hazy memory of the night before. As her mind slowly reveals what the body has always remembered, Jade is confronted with all the locked-away illusions of her life to date. Her precarious balancing of multiple selves crumbles, leaving her to question just who she really is.
'Jaded' tackles a number of issues within a relatively short book: ethnicity, explicit and complicit racism, endemic misogyny, and sexual assault. For me, highlighting the complicit ways many of us continue to perpetuate racism and gender bias is always a worthy reminder. The 'believability' of sexual assault is also tackled along with the potential ramifications of reporting it versus just burying it.
This book will make you think - even if you end up feeling like you've just come out of the spin cycle by the end of it.
December 1, 2024
Jade is a dutiful daughter of two immigrants, a successful on-the-rise lawyer in London, and a loving girlfriend. When she wakes up the morning after a work event with no recollection of how she got home, she feels unsettled but tries to brush the feeling aside. Jade chalks it up to a night of overindulgence and buries her unease. She doesn’t want to disrupt her well-crafted life but shortly after, she is forced to address what really happened.
Jaded explores racism, sexism, assault, and corporate cultures of silence. It felt like a real story, for better or worse, and is a reminder of the difficult, unfair positions women are too often put in. I felt for Jade and the gamut of emotions she experienced as she tried to process 1) what happened and 2) what happens next.
I flew through this moving, debut novel and look forward to seeing what Ela Lee writes next — 4.5 stars
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me a gifted copy of Jaded in exchange for an honest review.
Jaded explores racism, sexism, assault, and corporate cultures of silence. It felt like a real story, for better or worse, and is a reminder of the difficult, unfair positions women are too often put in. I felt for Jade and the gamut of emotions she experienced as she tried to process 1) what happened and 2) what happens next.
I flew through this moving, debut novel and look forward to seeing what Ela Lee writes next — 4.5 stars
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me a gifted copy of Jaded in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2024
As a survivor, I find it incredibly difficult to rate this book objectively. The processing of sexual abuse by the main character, Jade, was beyond accurate: with the conflicting feelings, with the doubt, the second thoughts, fear and immense shame, and all the lies we tell ourselves just not to accept the harsh truth.
I found myself crying more than I expected, at certain times for Jade and others for both myself and for us, survivors as a collective.
Although the book might not have a plot, characters, or language like no other, I argue that it comes with something of higher importance — a conversation.
I found myself crying more than I expected, at certain times for Jade and others for both myself and for us, survivors as a collective.
Although the book might not have a plot, characters, or language like no other, I argue that it comes with something of higher importance — a conversation.
September 9, 2024
If you want to cry, scream, rage, and laugh on occasion, read (or listen as I recommend) this!
Jade has shaped herself to be someone she thought was her happy ever after. Successful lawyer. Dutiful daughter. Beloved girlfriend. Loyal friend. Then one night, a work event leads to fuzzy memories and inexplainable feelings. It is not long before Jade can’t hide behind ‘I’m Fine’ and must question her position as an employee, woman, daughter, girlfriend, friend.
I think we have all had those situations where we laugh when we feel like crying, when we brush off concerns to just make it through the day. Speaking as a woman, I know how to make myself invisible. As someone who is also British-Korean-Turkish, Jade has also learnt to change her identity to please whoever she's spending time with.
I played Twister with my personality, to see what fit best.
As someone who studied law in London, I completely appreciate the environment and competitive community Lee describes.
I would say both myself and my buddy reader agreed that there were some parts that made us question Jade’s own ethics, moral standpoint, and values. It would be hard to discuss this without spoiling certain aspects of book, however it did make us ponder certain provoking questions such as what constitutes as racism, who can be racist, does skin colour grant you different privileges when it comes to making your own assumptions and observations.
I actually thought this was a memoir whereas my buddy reader thought it was completely fictionalised and this made us view Jade’s actions in very different lights.
In reality, it turns out this is a fictionalised account based on true events in Dallas.
For more information, or to find out how to help, visit Invisaid.com
I would definitely recommend this if you want something as eye opening as the memoir Know my Name.
Bookstagram
Jade has shaped herself to be someone she thought was her happy ever after. Successful lawyer. Dutiful daughter. Beloved girlfriend. Loyal friend. Then one night, a work event leads to fuzzy memories and inexplainable feelings. It is not long before Jade can’t hide behind ‘I’m Fine’ and must question her position as an employee, woman, daughter, girlfriend, friend.
I think we have all had those situations where we laugh when we feel like crying, when we brush off concerns to just make it through the day. Speaking as a woman, I know how to make myself invisible. As someone who is also British-Korean-Turkish, Jade has also learnt to change her identity to please whoever she's spending time with.
I played Twister with my personality, to see what fit best.
As someone who studied law in London, I completely appreciate the environment and competitive community Lee describes.
I would say both myself and my buddy reader agreed that there were some parts that made us question Jade’s own ethics, moral standpoint, and values. It would be hard to discuss this without spoiling certain aspects of book, however it did make us ponder certain provoking questions such as what constitutes as racism, who can be racist, does skin colour grant you different privileges when it comes to making your own assumptions and observations.
I actually thought this was a memoir whereas my buddy reader thought it was completely fictionalised and this made us view Jade’s actions in very different lights.
In reality, it turns out this is a fictionalised account based on true events in Dallas.
For more information, or to find out how to help, visit Invisaid.com
I would definitely recommend this if you want something as eye opening as the memoir Know my Name.
Bookstagram
March 18, 2024
Jaded is a very well written debut novel by Ela Lee. It is a very raw and heart-wrenching account of a rape and its aftermath. Jade (real name Ceyda but everyone calls her Jade) finds herself at home after a party and she has no memory how she got there. She has to try to piece together what happened the night before. Jade is a successful attorney of mixed race in a firm where the men rule and corporate culture is rife with sexism, misogeny, and racial bias. She has a difficult time navigating these issues and trying to deal with what happened to her.
This book delves deep into Jade's uncertainty and her feelings of being less. I felt the book successfully depicted the trauma and the journey Jade navigated to survive her ordeal. I found the book relevant and well done and I think it is a good book for any woman to read.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication March 19, 2024.
This book delves deep into Jade's uncertainty and her feelings of being less. I felt the book successfully depicted the trauma and the journey Jade navigated to survive her ordeal. I found the book relevant and well done and I think it is a good book for any woman to read.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication March 19, 2024.
March 20, 2024
This book gutted me. It was emotional and unfortunately, will be too relatable for too many people. It is a complex story of racism, sexism, and a young woman just trying to find her own path in a world where there are obstacles around every corner.
I was first drawn to this book because it featured a young lawyer trying to make a name for herself among a sea of white suits. Being part of the legal profession myself, I'm always drawn to books where I can find parallels.
Jade was so relatable. She was kind and ambitious and wanted nothing more than to have a happy and stable life, make her parents proud, and be with the man she loved. All reasonable and seemingly attainable requests, but at what cost?
When Jade is sexually assaulted and she has no real memory of the event, it was deeply troubling. Jade moves on with her days as though nothing has happened and I wanted to shake her for ignoring the signs and not listening to her body. But, as a woman myself, I sadly know that this situation is all too common.
Jaded takes a hard look at victims of sexual assault and the aftermath of an attack. I appreciated how Lee handled this traumatic event - she was sensitive but pragmatic and I think the essence of Jade's experience will speak to and validate many women.
This book was at many times very hard to read. I was angry for much of it - angry at Jade's family for their reaction, angry for Jade's boyfriend for making the assault about him, angry at the abuser for being in a situation of privilege and power and taking advantage of that, and angry at a system that creates the opportunities for such violence and at times, even condones it. I was grateful for strong emotions this novel evoked though, because we need these stories and we need the space to have these difficult conversations. These stories are too common and too powerful and too important not to share
This is an impressive debut. Lee's writing was fantastic and she handled many difficult topics with expertise. I absolutely recommend.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the copy.
I was first drawn to this book because it featured a young lawyer trying to make a name for herself among a sea of white suits. Being part of the legal profession myself, I'm always drawn to books where I can find parallels.
Jade was so relatable. She was kind and ambitious and wanted nothing more than to have a happy and stable life, make her parents proud, and be with the man she loved. All reasonable and seemingly attainable requests, but at what cost?
When Jade is sexually assaulted and she has no real memory of the event, it was deeply troubling. Jade moves on with her days as though nothing has happened and I wanted to shake her for ignoring the signs and not listening to her body. But, as a woman myself, I sadly know that this situation is all too common.
Jaded takes a hard look at victims of sexual assault and the aftermath of an attack. I appreciated how Lee handled this traumatic event - she was sensitive but pragmatic and I think the essence of Jade's experience will speak to and validate many women.
This book was at many times very hard to read. I was angry for much of it - angry at Jade's family for their reaction, angry for Jade's boyfriend for making the assault about him, angry at the abuser for being in a situation of privilege and power and taking advantage of that, and angry at a system that creates the opportunities for such violence and at times, even condones it. I was grateful for strong emotions this novel evoked though, because we need these stories and we need the space to have these difficult conversations. These stories are too common and too powerful and too important not to share
This is an impressive debut. Lee's writing was fantastic and she handled many difficult topics with expertise. I absolutely recommend.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the copy.
February 11, 2024
Jaded is the debut novel from British-Korean-Turkish author Ela Lee, and it comes with a lot of hype. I requested it a few months ago on Netgalley after reading the synopsis and being sold on the City lawyer #MeToo angle, and it’s recently been mentioned in the same breath as the Women’s Prize. I’m happy to say it lived up to the advance praise, I loved it and inhaled it over a couple of days.
Jade (real Ceyda, Starbucks name Jade) is a young mixed race woman with a prestigious career as a City lawyer with one of the big firms and a hot, rich, white boyfriend Kit.
Life changes utterly for Jade when she unwittingly (and unwillingly) gets very drunk on a work night out and wakes up the next morning trying to piece together how she got home, the realisation dawning on her that she has been assaulted. Caught between her parents who don’t understand, her boyfriend who feels betrayed and the firm who expect her silence, Jade begins to unravel.
With themes of identity, class, privilege, expectation and complicity explored, Jaded is one of those novels where you find yourself constantly questioning what you would do in Jade’s situation. There are no easy answers and I liked that this wasn’t a story with a linear arc of redemption.
I worked for one of the big City firms in my twenties and could relate to a lot of what Jade describes - it made me somewhat despair that not much has changed despite the author being fifteen years younger than me.
An excellent, thought-provoking read that would make a good book club pick. Content warning for rape/sexual assault (not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb). 4/5⭐️
*Many thanks to @harvillsecker for the advance copy via @netgalley. Jaded was published this week. As always, this is an honest review.
Jade (real Ceyda, Starbucks name Jade) is a young mixed race woman with a prestigious career as a City lawyer with one of the big firms and a hot, rich, white boyfriend Kit.
Life changes utterly for Jade when she unwittingly (and unwillingly) gets very drunk on a work night out and wakes up the next morning trying to piece together how she got home, the realisation dawning on her that she has been assaulted. Caught between her parents who don’t understand, her boyfriend who feels betrayed and the firm who expect her silence, Jade begins to unravel.
With themes of identity, class, privilege, expectation and complicity explored, Jaded is one of those novels where you find yourself constantly questioning what you would do in Jade’s situation. There are no easy answers and I liked that this wasn’t a story with a linear arc of redemption.
I worked for one of the big City firms in my twenties and could relate to a lot of what Jade describes - it made me somewhat despair that not much has changed despite the author being fifteen years younger than me.
An excellent, thought-provoking read that would make a good book club pick. Content warning for rape/sexual assault (not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb). 4/5⭐️
*Many thanks to @harvillsecker for the advance copy via @netgalley. Jaded was published this week. As always, this is an honest review.
April 6, 2024
REVIEW
A huge thank you to #partners @simonbooks @simon.audio @librofm for my #gifted copies.
Jaded
Ela Lee
📖 Jade, a young lawyer, wakes up following a business party with no memory of what happened the night before. Through flashbacks, she's finally able to piece together what happened, though she's not prepared for what she discovers, or the way her life becomes irrevocably altered.
💭 I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It's a quietly powerful blend of character-driven and plot-driven literary fiction, with gorgeous prose and outstanding character development. Without giving too much away, I really admire the way Lee told this story with such nuance and authenticity. It doesn't feel neat and tidy, but messy and complicated and just incredibly realistic. This is an important story, and though it's not the first of its kind, it's definitely one of the best I've ever read!
🎧 I read this by combining my print copy with my audio copy. Audiobook narrator Rosa Escoda delivers a breathtaking performance! She fully embodies Jade and the others, giving them each a unique voice that matches their personalities. She really captures the tone here, and was perfectly cast. Well done!
Worth noting: Though the stories are completely different, this book made me feel how Adelaide by @geewheeler made me feel. The overall mood of the story, the emotions it evokes, the exquisite writing... all of it. If you loved Adelaide, as so many of us did, definitely pick up Jaded!
📌 Available now!
Shout out to @laurensbookvibes @eat.pray.decorate @booksandthemes @chelseahudsonreads @book_wine_and_thinker for the buddy read and meaningful discussion! ❤️
A huge thank you to #partners @simonbooks @simon.audio @librofm for my #gifted copies.
Jaded
Ela Lee
📖 Jade, a young lawyer, wakes up following a business party with no memory of what happened the night before. Through flashbacks, she's finally able to piece together what happened, though she's not prepared for what she discovers, or the way her life becomes irrevocably altered.
💭 I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It's a quietly powerful blend of character-driven and plot-driven literary fiction, with gorgeous prose and outstanding character development. Without giving too much away, I really admire the way Lee told this story with such nuance and authenticity. It doesn't feel neat and tidy, but messy and complicated and just incredibly realistic. This is an important story, and though it's not the first of its kind, it's definitely one of the best I've ever read!
🎧 I read this by combining my print copy with my audio copy. Audiobook narrator Rosa Escoda delivers a breathtaking performance! She fully embodies Jade and the others, giving them each a unique voice that matches their personalities. She really captures the tone here, and was perfectly cast. Well done!
Worth noting: Though the stories are completely different, this book made me feel how Adelaide by @geewheeler made me feel. The overall mood of the story, the emotions it evokes, the exquisite writing... all of it. If you loved Adelaide, as so many of us did, definitely pick up Jaded!
📌 Available now!
Shout out to @laurensbookvibes @eat.pray.decorate @booksandthemes @chelseahudsonreads @book_wine_and_thinker for the buddy read and meaningful discussion! ❤️
January 26, 2024
The daughter of a Korean mother and Turkish father, Ceyda, known as Jade, spends long hours as an attorney for a London firm that fancies itself pro women and pro diversity. After too much to drink at a firm gala, she wakes up naked with no memory of how she got home. Slowly, she realizes she has been the victim of a sexual attack by a co worker. Struggling to deal with the trauma of the event while balancing career, a boyfriend who seems less than understanding, her traditional parents, and a complicit workplace, her life soon spirals out of control.
This is a skillful debut novel and one I hope will receive a lot of attention. There is much here for reflection and discussion including the treatment of people of color, cultural misunderstandings, cultural identity, racism, consent, the legal system as related to sexual assault, and the misogyny, bias, nepotism and false benevolence of the corporate culture. While difficult topics, they are presented with intelligence, realism, and empathy.
And how beautiful and symbolic is this cover?
Thanks to #netgalley and @simonbooks for the ARC.
This is a skillful debut novel and one I hope will receive a lot of attention. There is much here for reflection and discussion including the treatment of people of color, cultural misunderstandings, cultural identity, racism, consent, the legal system as related to sexual assault, and the misogyny, bias, nepotism and false benevolence of the corporate culture. While difficult topics, they are presented with intelligence, realism, and empathy.
And how beautiful and symbolic is this cover?
Thanks to #netgalley and @simonbooks for the ARC.
February 6, 2024
This book was definitely tackling some important issues. But it wasn't for me. I found the prose muddled at times and hard to follow. Also the issues such as misogyny, racism, power in the workplace etc. were handled in a very heavy handed way. These things are incredibly important but I prefer a little bit more nuance and confidence in the reader's ability to interpret than this writing gave. DNFd at 31%.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
June 19, 2024
Jaded covers many themes. Sexual abuse. Misogyny. Racism. Sexism. And among them all: the emotions that threaten to drown you because of them.
This story is very powerful in its craft. Ela Lee manages to carefully invite you into the protagonist‘s head and surround you with all the emotions where you feel them to a capacity that feels overwhelming but you can‘t look away. You need to feel these emotions. You want to feel them. You have felt them at some point or another, in some way or another.
The way, Ela Lee starts this story, lets us follow the protagonist through her journey and masterfully closes the arc was beautiful - even as I felt all the rage and sadness while reading it.
Thought-provoking, well-written, strongly emotional - this debut will leave a lasting impression on you.
This story is very powerful in its craft. Ela Lee manages to carefully invite you into the protagonist‘s head and surround you with all the emotions where you feel them to a capacity that feels overwhelming but you can‘t look away. You need to feel these emotions. You want to feel them. You have felt them at some point or another, in some way or another.
The way, Ela Lee starts this story, lets us follow the protagonist through her journey and masterfully closes the arc was beautiful - even as I felt all the rage and sadness while reading it.
Thought-provoking, well-written, strongly emotional - this debut will leave a lasting impression on you.
August 22, 2023
This book is a great example of sophisticated storytelling in my opinion. The story was well written and the characters were very interesting. The main situation was uncovered and the book goes into detail about how the characters deal with this. Class, culture and gender are the main themes. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This one is still on my mind.
September 11, 2025
i don't know why but i really did not like the main character. this had lots of potential but fell flat for me
March 19, 2024
“-But as I looked at my mother, I realized I have always craved something from her that she was unable to give me. I could see now. How similar we really were. How much silence had robbed the both of us.”
TW: sexual assault/rape
‘Jaded’ by Ela Lee is a thought-provoking and authentic exploration of sexual misconduct and violence, corporate work environments, generational, class, and cultural divides and the relationships that bolster and challenge your sense of self.
Jade is the only daughter of her Korean and Turkish immigrant parents. Like many immigrant children, she has taken on the burden of making their parent's sacrifices meaningful. And Jade has succeeded. She has an amazing job at a top law firm, a boyfriend who admires her, and loyal friends. Her life couldn’t be better.
But when she wakes up the morning after her work gala with no memory of how she got home, pieces of her picturesque life start to crack permanently.
My favorite thing about this story is how realistic and honest it is. It is easy to present black-and-white scenarios, but the grey area where most people reside is often the hardest and Ela explored it so well.
Many themes were explored, the biggest surrounding Jade processing and recovering from that horrible night. As a society, we pat ourselves on the back since we have evolved to a time when obvious wrongs are easy to criticize. But as we see in this story, major improvements must be made in providing support, protection and grace for victims while ensuring accountability for those who harm and are silent bystanders. Becoming jaded by these acts is a high price to pay.
It was emotional to see how what happened to Jade affect all aspects of her life, from her sense of self to her relationship with her boyfriend, mom and career. But again realistic.
I recommend to anyone with the space to read it. It’s a coming-of-age story under unfortunate circumstances. The writing style is not your typical literary read but everything was explored with maturity. I'm still thinking about the epilogue was a beautiful and powerful inclusion.
Thank you Simon Books for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
TW: sexual assault/rape
‘Jaded’ by Ela Lee is a thought-provoking and authentic exploration of sexual misconduct and violence, corporate work environments, generational, class, and cultural divides and the relationships that bolster and challenge your sense of self.
Jade is the only daughter of her Korean and Turkish immigrant parents. Like many immigrant children, she has taken on the burden of making their parent's sacrifices meaningful. And Jade has succeeded. She has an amazing job at a top law firm, a boyfriend who admires her, and loyal friends. Her life couldn’t be better.
But when she wakes up the morning after her work gala with no memory of how she got home, pieces of her picturesque life start to crack permanently.
My favorite thing about this story is how realistic and honest it is. It is easy to present black-and-white scenarios, but the grey area where most people reside is often the hardest and Ela explored it so well.
Many themes were explored, the biggest surrounding Jade processing and recovering from that horrible night. As a society, we pat ourselves on the back since we have evolved to a time when obvious wrongs are easy to criticize. But as we see in this story, major improvements must be made in providing support, protection and grace for victims while ensuring accountability for those who harm and are silent bystanders. Becoming jaded by these acts is a high price to pay.
It was emotional to see how what happened to Jade affect all aspects of her life, from her sense of self to her relationship with her boyfriend, mom and career. But again realistic.
I recommend to anyone with the space to read it. It’s a coming-of-age story under unfortunate circumstances. The writing style is not your typical literary read but everything was explored with maturity. I'm still thinking about the epilogue was a beautiful and powerful inclusion.
Thank you Simon Books for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 21, 2024
An important story but felt it was too drawn out.
May 3, 2024
i think everyone should read this book - required reading for all
September 19, 2024
I had Jaded listed as an 'anticipated 5 star' for my 2024 reading goal this year after receiving a copy from Simon & Schuster's book buddy program! I knew the topic was going to be a little sensitive, so I waited for a good time to pick it up.
To keep it simple, I couldn't connect with this book. I felt that a lot of the story felt incredibly 'on the nose' in a sense. I think I was anticipating layered characters with depth and nuance, and I felt like I got caricatures of people in its place. There were glimmers of moments where I felt like I could connect with our MC, but most of the time it felt a little Hallmark-ey to me. As I've become much more of an avid reader over the years, I've come to really dislike books that feel as though they're created to sell a belief or political/social stance (Even ones that I agree with!) but don't bring anything original to the table. For me personally, this one falls into that camp.
Admittedly, I did skim the latter 1/3 because I was over it by then, so if there are redeeming qualities that I glazed over in the end, that's on me.
All in all, I think the premise was strong and the delivery was lacking for me, unfortunately!
To keep it simple, I couldn't connect with this book. I felt that a lot of the story felt incredibly 'on the nose' in a sense. I think I was anticipating layered characters with depth and nuance, and I felt like I got caricatures of people in its place. There were glimmers of moments where I felt like I could connect with our MC, but most of the time it felt a little Hallmark-ey to me. As I've become much more of an avid reader over the years, I've come to really dislike books that feel as though they're created to sell a belief or political/social stance (Even ones that I agree with!) but don't bring anything original to the table. For me personally, this one falls into that camp.
Admittedly, I did skim the latter 1/3 because I was over it by then, so if there are redeeming qualities that I glazed over in the end, that's on me.
All in all, I think the premise was strong and the delivery was lacking for me, unfortunately!
July 10, 2024
A very emotive, and confronting story which addresses some of the most uncomfortable experiences. It’s a story that’s told with honesty, it doesn’t shy away from the trauma it discusses, and doesn’t soften its edges for the sake of a narrative. In many ways, it’s well told. However, I did find it just a smidge too much, I am not sure it needed everything it had going on, because for me, it made elements that could have been especially moving a bit too didactic. Nevertheless it’s an important that we have stories about trauma and recovery like this. I appreciated reading this although it didn’t always fire for me completely.
March 30, 2024
Thank you to the author Ela Lee, publishers Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of Jaded. All views are mine.
I observed this oasis [my parents had] created. It scared me to tell them.... I physically ached at the idea of inflicting that pain on them. The kind of pain that only a parent can feel when someone hurts their child and there’s nothing that can undo it. Loc.1166
Perhaps the most telling thing about this book is the title, which it's no spoiler to tell you refers to the limbo occupied by all the women who experienced SA and then are let down in all the countless ways society lets them down. The death by a thousand cuts. JADED. This is a harrowing story told impeccably. I honestly can't praise it enough. This theme is critical and I'm so glad Lee wrote this book. These stories don't often reach the mainstream, so it's good Simon & Schuster picked this one up and published it.
Jade is a young lawyer with a burgeoning career and a promising romantic relationship. After one night that she can't remember, her whole world turns on its head. How she deal with something that is tearing her apart into bits, if she can't even remember it? I recommend this harrowing, insightful, stunning book to readers of women's and feminist fiction, slow burn thrillers and mysteries, and psychological stories. Huge trigger warning for SA, violence against women, gaslighting, amnesia.
You can love someone whilst detesting them with a viciousness that scares you. Loc.2535
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. The wine glass ring element is completely brilliant.
2. This theme is critical and I'm so glad Lee wrote this book. People often experience SA without even being aware of it because of compromised memory, poor definitions of SA, and other reasons. These stories don't often reach the mainstream, so it's good Simon & Schuster picked this one up and published it.
3. The "search results" section is a really clever form that transmitted a great deal of information in a small space.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I'm not a huge fan of so many flashbacks. I do prefer flashbacks to dual timelines, but I think they should be used sparingly and carefully.
2. When Jade first gets confirmation from a nurse, during a vaginal examination that she may have been sexually assaulted, the character fiercely represses her emotional reaction, but with no indication why. This is common, I think, that fiction writers write their characters as repressive, at least initially. But why? It makes little sense.
3. Prose is a bit clumsy in places. Too many fragments and sentences can get rickety.
Rating: 💧💧💧💧💧 bitter tears
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Mar 25 '24
Format: Digital, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👤 psychological thrillers
👧🏽 women's fiction
😬 suspense
🔍 mystery
👔 gender politics
I observed this oasis [my parents had] created. It scared me to tell them.... I physically ached at the idea of inflicting that pain on them. The kind of pain that only a parent can feel when someone hurts their child and there’s nothing that can undo it. Loc.1166
Perhaps the most telling thing about this book is the title, which it's no spoiler to tell you refers to the limbo occupied by all the women who experienced SA and then are let down in all the countless ways society lets them down. The death by a thousand cuts. JADED. This is a harrowing story told impeccably. I honestly can't praise it enough. This theme is critical and I'm so glad Lee wrote this book. These stories don't often reach the mainstream, so it's good Simon & Schuster picked this one up and published it.
Jade is a young lawyer with a burgeoning career and a promising romantic relationship. After one night that she can't remember, her whole world turns on its head. How she deal with something that is tearing her apart into bits, if she can't even remember it? I recommend this harrowing, insightful, stunning book to readers of women's and feminist fiction, slow burn thrillers and mysteries, and psychological stories. Huge trigger warning for SA, violence against women, gaslighting, amnesia.
You can love someone whilst detesting them with a viciousness that scares you. Loc.2535
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. The wine glass ring element is completely brilliant.
2. This theme is critical and I'm so glad Lee wrote this book. People often experience SA without even being aware of it because of compromised memory, poor definitions of SA, and other reasons. These stories don't often reach the mainstream, so it's good Simon & Schuster picked this one up and published it.
3. The "search results" section is a really clever form that transmitted a great deal of information in a small space.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I'm not a huge fan of so many flashbacks. I do prefer flashbacks to dual timelines, but I think they should be used sparingly and carefully.
2. When Jade first gets confirmation from a nurse, during a vaginal examination that she may have been sexually assaulted, the character fiercely represses her emotional reaction, but with no indication why. This is common, I think, that fiction writers write their characters as repressive, at least initially. But why? It makes little sense.
3. Prose is a bit clumsy in places. Too many fragments and sentences can get rickety.
Rating: 💧💧💧💧💧 bitter tears
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Mar 25 '24
Format: Digital, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👤 psychological thrillers
👧🏽 women's fiction
😬 suspense
🔍 mystery
👔 gender politics
November 10, 2023
Jade is a young mixed race lawyer pushing ahead to become a valuable partner in England. She straddles multiple cultures, classes and the ever present sexism that all women face. Everything sharpens when Jade wakes up the day after a holiday party at her firm. She doesn't exactly remember what happened or how she got home. The flashbacks and feeling of dread heighten as rumors fly at work threatening her good standing and her long term relationship. What can Jade do, what should she do, and what can she live with?
A harrowing story, part thriller, part common story. The different is that Ela Lee presents a different perspective, one that is not of a young white woman suffering from misogyny and violence, but that of a person of color. In this book, it makes all the difference and a familiar story seems brand new. #Jaded #ElaLee #SimonSchuster
A harrowing story, part thriller, part common story. The different is that Ela Lee presents a different perspective, one that is not of a young white woman suffering from misogyny and violence, but that of a person of color. In this book, it makes all the difference and a familiar story seems brand new. #Jaded #ElaLee #SimonSchuster
December 4, 2024
Excellent!
Full review here - https://youtu.be/UPV1gc8ViAw
Full review here - https://youtu.be/UPV1gc8ViAw
April 11, 2024
Reading Jaded hurts. It is akin to rubbing your skin until it’s raw and bleeding, worrying an old wound until it feels new, pushing on a bruise until it’s red and purple and mottled all over again. But it feels necessary. And that’s why Jaded has landed on my list of most heartbreaking books, most rage-inducing books, and Best Books I Have Ever Read. Jaded demands to be seen, and it demands a reckoning.
Basically, a young woman wakes up the morning after her law firm’s gala with bruises, flashbacks, and no memory of having gotten home. As she pieces the events together, she realizes that how she reacts to this incident puts everything she has worked for at risk—her fancy corporate law job, her perfect relationship, and her dutiful relationship with her immigrant parents. Jade’s world begins to quake and crumble. And she begins to lose herself beneath the debris and consequences.
I know that was vague, but let me just say this-- I haven’t been so enraged by a book since reading Chanel Miller’s memoir. Jaded wrecks with you with the life lessons we all know deep down to be true, but hope and pray that they’re just stories that happened to other people.
Jaded hit me especially hard. I mean, I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents. I work in law. I am in a relationship with a white dude (he is nooooothing like the partner in this story, but the point remains). The parallels were uncanny. But you don’t need to fit into any of these boxes to feel the way I did about this story. Trust me.
Jaded is a story about someone clawing her way up the ladder, doing everything right, and just screaming to be seen as an individual. And Jaded is also about harsh realities.
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced copy. I’ll treasure this one
Basically, a young woman wakes up the morning after her law firm’s gala with bruises, flashbacks, and no memory of having gotten home. As she pieces the events together, she realizes that how she reacts to this incident puts everything she has worked for at risk—her fancy corporate law job, her perfect relationship, and her dutiful relationship with her immigrant parents. Jade’s world begins to quake and crumble. And she begins to lose herself beneath the debris and consequences.
I know that was vague, but let me just say this-- I haven’t been so enraged by a book since reading Chanel Miller’s memoir. Jaded wrecks with you with the life lessons we all know deep down to be true, but hope and pray that they’re just stories that happened to other people.
Jaded hit me especially hard. I mean, I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents. I work in law. I am in a relationship with a white dude (he is nooooothing like the partner in this story, but the point remains). The parallels were uncanny. But you don’t need to fit into any of these boxes to feel the way I did about this story. Trust me.
Jaded is a story about someone clawing her way up the ladder, doing everything right, and just screaming to be seen as an individual. And Jaded is also about harsh realities.
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced copy. I’ll treasure this one
March 6, 2024
TRIGGER WARNING: rape / sexual assault :
I don’t know quite what I expected going into Jaded, only that it wasn’t this powerhouse of emotion, shrewd commentary and uncomfortable exposee of the aggressions (micro and macro, passive and active) that women face in the world. These are showcased through Jade (whose real name is Ceyda, but it seems that no one can spell or pronounce that), a young mixed race British-Turkish-Korean who is sexually assaulted by a colleague and discovers just how many hurdles there are between her and ‘justice’ (e.g. a shred of accountability and restoration).
Whilst working at a (predictably, majority male, majority white) law firm in London, Jade attends a dinner at which not only is one of the major directors of the firm behaving deeply inappropriately towards her (not allowing her to say no to alcohol, placing hands on her and suggesting that she come and stay with him), which ends in her being blackout drunk and escaping the party. But, after being helped home by another colleague, she wakes up feeling anxious and confused, with no memory and a deep, gnawing sense of dread. She spends the next days and weeks trying to peer through the haze to piece together what happened that night - and the impact it will have on her life from here on.
She turns to her boyfriend, Kit, for support and whilst he initially seems kind and supportive, as the story unfolds we learn slivers of information from past and present that highlight his total lack of cultural sensitivity, combined with virtue signaling and ‘remaining neutral’ as a means of ‘diffusing’ tension.
Whilst evidently the central event of this book is the sexual assault / rape that Ceyda suffers, the narrative also does a brilliant job of slipping in regular ‘throw away’ comments from characters (very much not just Kit!) which highlight just how ignorantly cavalier people can be with their casual xenophobia, how quickly they dismiss systems of oppression, or become more interested in white saviorism than actually challenging structural inequality or addressing their own biases.
This is a story of identity, politics, privilege, oppression, misogyny and feminism and I found it to be deeply moving, scream-inducingly aggravating and totally devastating - all whilst remaining accessible (obviously trigger warnings allowing!) and engaging throughout. Am so grateful for having been able to read this, and I highly highly recommend it.
I don’t know quite what I expected going into Jaded, only that it wasn’t this powerhouse of emotion, shrewd commentary and uncomfortable exposee of the aggressions (micro and macro, passive and active) that women face in the world. These are showcased through Jade (whose real name is Ceyda, but it seems that no one can spell or pronounce that), a young mixed race British-Turkish-Korean who is sexually assaulted by a colleague and discovers just how many hurdles there are between her and ‘justice’ (e.g. a shred of accountability and restoration).
Whilst working at a (predictably, majority male, majority white) law firm in London, Jade attends a dinner at which not only is one of the major directors of the firm behaving deeply inappropriately towards her (not allowing her to say no to alcohol, placing hands on her and suggesting that she come and stay with him), which ends in her being blackout drunk and escaping the party. But, after being helped home by another colleague, she wakes up feeling anxious and confused, with no memory and a deep, gnawing sense of dread. She spends the next days and weeks trying to peer through the haze to piece together what happened that night - and the impact it will have on her life from here on.
She turns to her boyfriend, Kit, for support and whilst he initially seems kind and supportive, as the story unfolds we learn slivers of information from past and present that highlight his total lack of cultural sensitivity, combined with virtue signaling and ‘remaining neutral’ as a means of ‘diffusing’ tension.
Whilst evidently the central event of this book is the sexual assault / rape that Ceyda suffers, the narrative also does a brilliant job of slipping in regular ‘throw away’ comments from characters (very much not just Kit!) which highlight just how ignorantly cavalier people can be with their casual xenophobia, how quickly they dismiss systems of oppression, or become more interested in white saviorism than actually challenging structural inequality or addressing their own biases.
This is a story of identity, politics, privilege, oppression, misogyny and feminism and I found it to be deeply moving, scream-inducingly aggravating and totally devastating - all whilst remaining accessible (obviously trigger warnings allowing!) and engaging throughout. Am so grateful for having been able to read this, and I highly highly recommend it.
March 31, 2024
4.5
This was a really great debut and despite the dark subject matter, I was glued to the pages until the very end. A young lawyer in London, Jade faces what most woman in a predominately male workforce face...sexism and misogyny at every turn. Jade is also the daughter of a Korean mother and Turkish father, so she experiences many racist undertones as well. What gets the book rolling is tragic - a sexual assault that the reader knows happened, but Jade does not realize at first (why is clear in the book). It is horrific...witnessing Jade piece things together based on flashbacks and while I thankfully did not have this experience it is a nightmare come true to read. This was not the sole plot point of the book, but it was the most impactful.
The writing was superb and I will definitely be looking to read the next book by Ela Lee. I am grateful that I had the experience to read her writing and I hope many do not let this book pass them by as it is deserving of much attention. I can only imagine how much more powerful listening to the audio would have been. I wish I could have read it in that forms
Thank you to Simon Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really great debut and despite the dark subject matter, I was glued to the pages until the very end. A young lawyer in London, Jade faces what most woman in a predominately male workforce face...sexism and misogyny at every turn. Jade is also the daughter of a Korean mother and Turkish father, so she experiences many racist undertones as well. What gets the book rolling is tragic - a sexual assault that the reader knows happened, but Jade does not realize at first (why is clear in the book). It is horrific...witnessing Jade piece things together based on flashbacks and while I thankfully did not have this experience it is a nightmare come true to read. This was not the sole plot point of the book, but it was the most impactful.
The writing was superb and I will definitely be looking to read the next book by Ela Lee. I am grateful that I had the experience to read her writing and I hope many do not let this book pass them by as it is deserving of much attention. I can only imagine how much more powerful listening to the audio would have been. I wish I could have read it in that forms
Thank you to Simon Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2024
If you are in the mood to feel ALL of the rage, this is the book for you. It’s not just the MC’s sexual assault and the reaction of those around her, it is the daily onslaught of misogyny, racism, and classicism that she experiences. The most enraging character is Jade’s boyfriend who is more than willing to call out other people’s problematic behaviour but is not self-aware enough to realise that he isn’t the egalitarian, ‘woke’ supporter of women he thinks he is.
This book is maybe a touch too long, but overall is very engaging.
This book is maybe a touch too long, but overall is very engaging.
June 27, 2024
Not a thriller, in case you thought it was, as I did. But it's a very well-written post-mortem of what happens when a woman wakes up naked after a work party with no memory of what happened to her.
I don't have the brain space to write the review this book deserves, but it's a good companion piece to Consent, Know My Name, and The Female of the Species. Like TFOTS, this one delves into sensitive subjects under the guise of riveting fiction, and also explores racism, cultural identity, complicated parental bonds, and various relationships.
I was not at all prepared for this, but I'm glad I read it nonetheless. Really well-written, and an author to watch.
Audio Notes: The audio performance by Rosa Escoda is absolutely perfect.
I don't have the brain space to write the review this book deserves, but it's a good companion piece to Consent, Know My Name, and The Female of the Species. Like TFOTS, this one delves into sensitive subjects under the guise of riveting fiction, and also explores racism, cultural identity, complicated parental bonds, and various relationships.
I was not at all prepared for this, but I'm glad I read it nonetheless. Really well-written, and an author to watch.
Audio Notes: The audio performance by Rosa Escoda is absolutely perfect.
February 5, 2026
3.5 stars
Lately, I have been thinking a fair bit about contemporary fiction written by women; about how many such books, across genre and general concern, trace the unravelling of a female protagonist's carefully-curated life. I feel this is particularly true of fiction featuring racialised women, especially those sketched out to speak to those from immigrant, working-class backgrounds who are brought up to equate success with survival and fitting in with happiness and contentment. Ela Lee's debut novel may at first seem like an iteration of this same old story. But where others create tension by forcing their characters into a reckoning with their 'true selves', Jaded unpacks how the workings of race, class, sex, power and culture prevent such a self from flourishing.
Jade is the British-Turkish-Korean daughter of immigrant parents who have devoted their lives to securing her future. She is well-educated; a City lawyer on her way up; the perfect girlfriend to a hot, wealthy, cultured boy she has been with since uni. She has it all. Except 'Jade' isn't even her real name; it's her Starbucks name: anglicised, palatable, devoid of the ethnic connotations of Ceyda and the explanations it seems to demand. Being 'Jade' is easier, even though it buries her somewhat, requires trading being understood for a shot at belonging and security – until she wakes up the morning after a work gala with a growing sense of violation, mysterious bruises blooming on her skin and no memory of how she got home:
But it also zeroes in on the specifics of of a system that protects perpetrators, from the stigmatisation of victims to their silencing by corporate interests and insidious moral manouevres of the so-called 'progressives' who will always move to protect their own. Ceyda's experience with Human Resources personnel at her firm and the deterioration of her relationship with her boyfriend are both startlingly honest if also angering reflections of what victims – of both sexual violence and racist aggressions – have to deal with all the time; the less visible ways in which they are continually failed and silenced. Indeed, what happens after the rape is just as important in sustaining the exhaustion experienced by Ceyda and the countless victims she stands in for.
This is not a very literary novel: it is structurally straightforward and, though well-written, occassionally uneven in a way that debuts often tend to be. However, I can't help but recommend it for its refreshing, granular authenticity of the story; for the way it refuses to reduce the protagonist to the moment of her violation and adds empathy, intelligence and dimension to a conversation always at risk of being oversimplified.
Lately, I have been thinking a fair bit about contemporary fiction written by women; about how many such books, across genre and general concern, trace the unravelling of a female protagonist's carefully-curated life. I feel this is particularly true of fiction featuring racialised women, especially those sketched out to speak to those from immigrant, working-class backgrounds who are brought up to equate success with survival and fitting in with happiness and contentment. Ela Lee's debut novel may at first seem like an iteration of this same old story. But where others create tension by forcing their characters into a reckoning with their 'true selves', Jaded unpacks how the workings of race, class, sex, power and culture prevent such a self from flourishing.
Jade is the British-Turkish-Korean daughter of immigrant parents who have devoted their lives to securing her future. She is well-educated; a City lawyer on her way up; the perfect girlfriend to a hot, wealthy, cultured boy she has been with since uni. She has it all. Except 'Jade' isn't even her real name; it's her Starbucks name: anglicised, palatable, devoid of the ethnic connotations of Ceyda and the explanations it seems to demand. Being 'Jade' is easier, even though it buries her somewhat, requires trading being understood for a shot at belonging and security – until she wakes up the morning after a work gala with a growing sense of violation, mysterious bruises blooming on her skin and no memory of how she got home:
Too scared, too ashamed, to say it. Before, I was the unraped. Now I am the raped. The finality of that change struck complete fear in me. There was no in-between.As far as unravellings are concerned, Jaded explores the trauma and loneliness of sexual assault and all the myriad ways in which this is exacerbated for women who are already trained to feel shame and guilt about the particulars of their personhood. Indeed, we see how Ceyda, despite her relative privilege, needs to make herself small in order to be taken seriously: as a woman at her workplace, as a woman of colour in a relationship with a white man, as a woman who grew up working-class in an arena rigged in favour of those with generational wealth; as the daughter of immigrants who have only been able to get by through immense personal sacrifice.
But it also zeroes in on the specifics of of a system that protects perpetrators, from the stigmatisation of victims to their silencing by corporate interests and insidious moral manouevres of the so-called 'progressives' who will always move to protect their own. Ceyda's experience with Human Resources personnel at her firm and the deterioration of her relationship with her boyfriend are both startlingly honest if also angering reflections of what victims – of both sexual violence and racist aggressions – have to deal with all the time; the less visible ways in which they are continually failed and silenced. Indeed, what happens after the rape is just as important in sustaining the exhaustion experienced by Ceyda and the countless victims she stands in for.
This is not a very literary novel: it is structurally straightforward and, though well-written, occassionally uneven in a way that debuts often tend to be. However, I can't help but recommend it for its refreshing, granular authenticity of the story; for the way it refuses to reduce the protagonist to the moment of her violation and adds empathy, intelligence and dimension to a conversation always at risk of being oversimplified.
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