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Very Bad Company
🎧Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes
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, and limitless vacation days. What could possibly go wrong?
When another 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, and dinners—to keep the future of Aurora afloat amid the fatal speculations.
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...(Macmillan Audio)
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, and limitless vacation days. What could possibly go wrong?
When another 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, and dinners—to keep the future of Aurora afloat amid the fatal speculations.
Audible Audio
First published May 14, 2024
1148 people are currently reading
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About the author
Emma Rosenblum
7 books1,186 followersEmma Rosenblum is the national bestselling author of Bad Summer People, Very Bad Company, and Mean Moms. She's the former chief content officer at Bustle Digital Group, overseeing content and strategy for BDG’s editorial portfolios. 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,648 reviews
May 12, 2024
First I would like to thank Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced audio book copy.
I love stories about the workplace and I thought it would be great for me. The narrator was great.
The story is interesting and well paced, but I had a hard time engaging with the characters, who felt somehow all the same.
I usually love rooting for good characters who are terrible people, but I felt like here they lacked some depth and complex motivation.
I still would recommend if you are familiar with the author.
I love stories about the workplace and I thought it would be great for me. The narrator was great.
The story is interesting and well paced, but I had a hard time engaging with the characters, who felt somehow all the same.
I usually love rooting for good characters who are terrible people, but I felt like here they lacked some depth and complex motivation.
I still would recommend if you are familiar with the author.
June 3, 2024
I believe in the Pop-Tart food group as much as the Steel-Cut Oats one, and likewise, I don’t think everything we read needs to be Ulysses or The Iliad or whatever. And when readers do choose to engage in that more “processed frosted breakfast pastry” type of fare, the Rich People Behaving Badly In Warmer Climes genre is a perennial favorite flavor, on which Corporate Malfeasance and Badly-Behaved Tech Bros and CEOs are “the sprinkles” in this latest by Rosenblum. But while I thought the author’s last book, Bad Summer People, worked just fine on this insubstantial-but-briefly-satisfying level, unfortunately Very Bad Company failed to fully coalesce for me despite some initial potential and fizzled out in the end.
Some plot threads and characters were left to languish or too efficiently summed up, and the big reveal behind the crime at the novel’s center was anticlimactic and pretty predictable. I had a very hard time getting any kind of strong visual image of the distasteful, persistently Churchill-quoting CEO; he just didn’t ever come through for me as a cohesive character I could wrap my head around and conceptualize. Worst of all, I felt like characters were generally summed up by their physical characteristics throughout the novel and that is about as deep as their characterizations got: for instance, we have Flowery Dress, Adult Headband, Tight Short-Shorts, and seriously one character is basically just Enormous Breasts, accompanied by Guy Staring With a Goofy Grin at Said Breasts.
Let it be known that it pains me to write this pretty unflattering review: I think Rosenblum is a talented writer and I liked her last book way more than a lot of readers did. Something here just seemed desultory or off: maybe she is ready to move on and write her own Steel-Cut Oats novel? Would love to see what she does with it!
Some plot threads and characters were left to languish or too efficiently summed up, and the big reveal behind the crime at the novel’s center was anticlimactic and pretty predictable. I had a very hard time getting any kind of strong visual image of the distasteful, persistently Churchill-quoting CEO; he just didn’t ever come through for me as a cohesive character I could wrap my head around and conceptualize. Worst of all, I felt like characters were generally summed up by their physical characteristics throughout the novel and that is about as deep as their characterizations got: for instance, we have Flowery Dress, Adult Headband, Tight Short-Shorts, and seriously one character is basically just Enormous Breasts, accompanied by Guy Staring With a Goofy Grin at Said Breasts.
Let it be known that it pains me to write this pretty unflattering review: I think Rosenblum is a talented writer and I liked her last book way more than a lot of readers did. Something here just seemed desultory or off: maybe she is ready to move on and write her own Steel-Cut Oats novel? Would love to see what she does with it!
May 19, 2024
This was a 3-3.5/5 entertaining amount of thriller. I think I was expecting more from the endings and reveals, but the bulk of the story kept me guessing and intrigued.
There were a surprising amount of nods to corporate culture and being a woman (in particular the cold temperature of offices was brought up on multiple occasions) but there was no biting commentary or direction to go with it, just something brought up during the female POVs. (There was little if any nods to being Black or gay during those respective POVs, so I thought the author was going for a stronger feminist angle than we ultimately got.)
Audiobook Notes:
The narrator is clear and crisp and is able to differentiate all the voices by changing her register or accent to better reflect each character.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for granting me an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There were a surprising amount of nods to corporate culture and being a woman (in particular the cold temperature of offices was brought up on multiple occasions) but there was no biting commentary or direction to go with it, just something brought up during the female POVs. (There was little if any nods to being Black or gay during those respective POVs, so I thought the author was going for a stronger feminist angle than we ultimately got.)
Audiobook Notes:
The narrator is clear and crisp and is able to differentiate all the voices by changing her register or accent to better reflect each character.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for granting me an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 6, 2024
A 3.32 Goodreads’ rating????
Man, what a bunch of buzzkills! Okay, so clearly this isn’t some literary award winner or a story that’s going to change your life. Buuuuuuuuut it’s eighty trillion effing degrees outside almost every day and Summer is when you take books like this to the pool with a fizzy beverage (spiked with some sort of booze if you feel like it) and just allow yourself to be taken away fictionally. And what better destination than a corporate team building retreat where someone dies???? Tasty!
So what if the whodunit is pretty obvi? The lies and lies and lies and backstabbing and affairs were really the driving force behind this one. And it read sooooooo fast. Literally an afternoon at the pool had this done cover to cover and me a toasty shade of brown.
3.5 Stars and rounding up purely for the escapism.
Man, what a bunch of buzzkills! Okay, so clearly this isn’t some literary award winner or a story that’s going to change your life. Buuuuuuuuut it’s eighty trillion effing degrees outside almost every day and Summer is when you take books like this to the pool with a fizzy beverage (spiked with some sort of booze if you feel like it) and just allow yourself to be taken away fictionally. And what better destination than a corporate team building retreat where someone dies???? Tasty!
So what if the whodunit is pretty obvi? The lies and lies and lies and backstabbing and affairs were really the driving force behind this one. And it read sooooooo fast. Literally an afternoon at the pool had this done cover to cover and me a toasty shade of brown.
3.5 Stars and rounding up purely for the escapism.
April 3, 2024
She writes about her “diverse characters” like a male author writes female characters; like she doesn’t understand them at all.
April 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! It followed start up company on a retreat where nothing goes as expected. Never knew what was going to happen or who was behind anything. Would definitely recommend for a beach read. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
July 6, 2024
This book is probably a 5 star read for someone but that someone isn’t me. From the description I was expecting some drama, but it also described a missing person and a lot of mystery. This book was 99% drama and 1% mystery and that’s not the ratio I was looking for. So much of this book nothing really happened except horrible people being awful to each other. I didn’t care about a single person in this book and I didn’t care what happened next or the “whodunnit.” The writing was pretty good, this one was just not for me. All of the upper management for Aurora is on their annual corporate retreat at a fancy hotel with tons of speedy activities including the newest member Caitlin. But there are a lot of secrets between these people and secrets have a way of coming out.
August 19, 2025
I can pinpoint the exact line I knew I should have DNF'd this one. 48% of the way in, upon finding out an employee of his is dead, we are subjected to this line: "A jolt of orgasmic relief shot through John's body, causing his penis to instantly harden." Yeah, it's gonna be a no from me. Very bad company? More like very bad book. I really don't have anything good to say about this other than the narrator of the audiobook did a good job.
Given its title, it's not surprising that basically each and every character is unlikable and/or unreliable, but not one of them is at all endearing or charismatic enough to make you give a shit about them; they're just one-dimensional and that one dimension is that they're in some way a bad person. This is most prominent with John, the company CEO, likely because given his role he *should* be charismatic in a way that gets the reader to somehow like him despite his questionable behavior. Instead, he is simply smarmy and annoying, never in any way endearing himself to the reader. John is noted for having a habit of saying people's names three times, and practically every time he speaks, we have to be subjected to it; not quirky, simply annoying. Everybody kind of hates this guy, women included, and yet practically every female is supposed to be attracted to him or has some sort of sexual fantasy about him at some point; it makes no sense.
There's also a lot of bouncing around in time, but not in any productive way that adds to the story. A character will be in one place and time, then suddenly we start getting their story from a previous place and time but told as a memory being recounted by the character in the current moment, before suddenly being brought back to the current action again. Instead of adding context or detail to the narrative, it often disrupts the flow of the story and slows things down, not to mention is highly confusing.
As the book nears the end, the story tries to spin some sort of "everyone is a bad person" narrative but it just feels so flat. There were never any stakes raised for you to care about. So what if everyone is bad? We were never given any reason to like or care about these characters anyways to be shocked by any fall from grace or dark revelations. All in all, the only positives are a pretty cover and solid audiobook narration; neither of these warrant the time you'd spend reading the book, so maybe give this one a pass.
Given its title, it's not surprising that basically each and every character is unlikable and/or unreliable, but not one of them is at all endearing or charismatic enough to make you give a shit about them; they're just one-dimensional and that one dimension is that they're in some way a bad person. This is most prominent with John, the company CEO, likely because given his role he *should* be charismatic in a way that gets the reader to somehow like him despite his questionable behavior. Instead, he is simply smarmy and annoying, never in any way endearing himself to the reader. John is noted for having a habit of saying people's names three times, and practically every time he speaks, we have to be subjected to it; not quirky, simply annoying. Everybody kind of hates this guy, women included, and yet practically every female is supposed to be attracted to him or has some sort of sexual fantasy about him at some point; it makes no sense.
There's also a lot of bouncing around in time, but not in any productive way that adds to the story. A character will be in one place and time, then suddenly we start getting their story from a previous place and time but told as a memory being recounted by the character in the current moment, before suddenly being brought back to the current action again. Instead of adding context or detail to the narrative, it often disrupts the flow of the story and slows things down, not to mention is highly confusing.
As the book nears the end, the story tries to spin some sort of "everyone is a bad person" narrative but it just feels so flat. There were never any stakes raised for you to care about. So what if everyone is bad? We were never given any reason to like or care about these characters anyways to be shocked by any fall from grace or dark revelations. All in all, the only positives are a pretty cover and solid audiobook narration; neither of these warrant the time you'd spend reading the book, so maybe give this one a pass.
June 22, 2024
What could go wrong when an unlikable corporate crew travels to Miami for their annual executive team retreat? This is all you need to know when starting Very Bad Company, a fun, coworkers behaving badly, whodunnit story.
Very Bad Company includes excessive spending, competition among team members, clandestine romance, high drama, and secrets abound. While the characters are unlikable, I found this to be a fast, entertaining book. Perfect for poolside reading or an escape for a few hours.
Very Bad Company includes excessive spending, competition among team members, clandestine romance, high drama, and secrets abound. While the characters are unlikable, I found this to be a fast, entertaining book. Perfect for poolside reading or an escape for a few hours.
October 29, 2024
I picked this book up at my local library because I had read the author’s other book, “Bad Summer People.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Maybe I should have stopped there! Because the reviews didn’t appear as positive for this one, either. I wasn’t sure I would want to take the time to read it, so I didn’t put the book on my “currently reading” shelf. But as things go with books, I couldn’t help but be curious, and so I dived in, after all.
I think I should have trusted the other reviews. I know, that isn’t a great way to start off a review, right? Well…
Let me just say it began with an interesting feeling…lovely setting, drama, secrets, an unsolved mystery, lots of romance, and possibility. The book having possibility, that is.
But…if this was intended to be a “gripping, darkly comic novel,” it didn’t meet that expectation for me.
The characters were mostly unlikable, and the plot veered in so many directions because of the multiple point of views that my head began to hurt trying to follow them. By the time the story was ready to reach its climatic peak, I was too tired to climb it. This story was just tedious with a predictable mystery.
It is advertised as a dark comedy, thriller mystery, satire of Corporate America. Maybe some may feel those vibes. For me, I was just happy to move on to another book.
2.5 stars hesitantly rounded up because of the promising beginning.
Maybe I should have stopped there! Because the reviews didn’t appear as positive for this one, either. I wasn’t sure I would want to take the time to read it, so I didn’t put the book on my “currently reading” shelf. But as things go with books, I couldn’t help but be curious, and so I dived in, after all.
I think I should have trusted the other reviews. I know, that isn’t a great way to start off a review, right? Well…
Let me just say it began with an interesting feeling…lovely setting, drama, secrets, an unsolved mystery, lots of romance, and possibility. The book having possibility, that is.
But…if this was intended to be a “gripping, darkly comic novel,” it didn’t meet that expectation for me.
The characters were mostly unlikable, and the plot veered in so many directions because of the multiple point of views that my head began to hurt trying to follow them. By the time the story was ready to reach its climatic peak, I was too tired to climb it. This story was just tedious with a predictable mystery.
It is advertised as a dark comedy, thriller mystery, satire of Corporate America. Maybe some may feel those vibes. For me, I was just happy to move on to another book.
2.5 stars hesitantly rounded up because of the promising beginning.
May 28, 2024
3.5 rounded up
Thank you Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC. #MACAUDIO2024
Very Bad Company
Emma Rosenblum
🎙️ January Lavoy
Out now
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5)
(Narration - 5 stars)
Very Bad Company is a satirical drama set at a tech startup's annual retreat, where nothing is what it seems and you have no idea who to trust. It's full of secrets and schemes and (intentionally) unlikeable characters. While entertaining, I struggled to become fully invested. January Lavoy's narration is the star of the show, as her multi-character performance enhanced my experience and made me push through to the end (which I probably wouldn't have if I'd read it with my eyes).
And if I never hear another Winston Churchill quote, it'll be too soon. IYKYK 😆
Thank you Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC. #MACAUDIO2024
Very Bad Company
Emma Rosenblum
🎙️ January Lavoy
Out now
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5)
(Narration - 5 stars)
Very Bad Company is a satirical drama set at a tech startup's annual retreat, where nothing is what it seems and you have no idea who to trust. It's full of secrets and schemes and (intentionally) unlikeable characters. While entertaining, I struggled to become fully invested. January Lavoy's narration is the star of the show, as her multi-character performance enhanced my experience and made me push through to the end (which I probably wouldn't have if I'd read it with my eyes).
And if I never hear another Winston Churchill quote, it'll be too soon. IYKYK 😆
June 3, 2024
CALLING ALL THOSE INTO BUSINESS DRAMA!!!
Caitlin Levy has just landed her dream job at the trendy tech startup company, Aurora. Without a firm job description, she’s a little wary of attending the annual business retreat in Miami Beach. With this multi-million dollar company, what could go wrong? When a top executive goes missing and lines are blurred between relationships, Caitlin begins to realize Aurora is hiding dark secrets. Told from every viewpoint, this Fortune 500 fiction is JUICY
Though I found myself wanting to know how it ended to the reading of January Lavoy’s brilliant character voicing, this particular book was not for me at all. Completely a preference. The writing was honestly well done, I just didn’t enjoy the storyline, business trope, or the type of drama. In addition, the all-characters points of view also made the storyline tough to get into initially. I fully believe there is an audience out there waiting to give this 5 stars.
A very special thank you to Emma Rosenblum, January LaVoy, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the chance to read this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Caitlin Levy has just landed her dream job at the trendy tech startup company, Aurora. Without a firm job description, she’s a little wary of attending the annual business retreat in Miami Beach. With this multi-million dollar company, what could go wrong? When a top executive goes missing and lines are blurred between relationships, Caitlin begins to realize Aurora is hiding dark secrets. Told from every viewpoint, this Fortune 500 fiction is JUICY
Though I found myself wanting to know how it ended to the reading of January Lavoy’s brilliant character voicing, this particular book was not for me at all. Completely a preference. The writing was honestly well done, I just didn’t enjoy the storyline, business trope, or the type of drama. In addition, the all-characters points of view also made the storyline tough to get into initially. I fully believe there is an audience out there waiting to give this 5 stars.
A very special thank you to Emma Rosenblum, January LaVoy, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the chance to read this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2024
Very Bad Comapny ….. Is a very, very good audio book! Scandal, lovable characters, and lots of dark humor. January LaVoy did an amazing job narrating this story. My first book by Rosenblum & I’m already on the hunt for more!
Thank you NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for an ARC copy of this title.
Thank you NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for an ARC copy of this title.
May 21, 2024
Emma Rosenblum just gets me. I freaking love her books. Terrible people, lots of money, beautiful settings, and lots of lots of drama. This is the perfect book to listen to to kick off summer!!
I've been on a couple work retreats and it's safe to say, my company must be doing them all wrong because I've certainly never stayed in a five-star resort, gone jet skiing, clubbing, or eaten a Michelin-starred dinner on a yacht. Aurora definitely knew how to party and John Schiller definitely knew how to throw a bash. So what someone died? Just a little more drama and another story to tell, amiright?!
Honestly, even as the reader it was easy to forget that someone had died. I really can't imagine a real life scenario where a work trip wouldn't be cut short if one of your own died on the trip, but you can't say it didn't make for some great reading!
I had such a hard time knowing who or what to believe. The way everyone was so nonchalant about the death made me wonder if it truly was an accidental overdose. But as the secrets started spilling, everyone seemed (and was!) guilty of at least something and I started to believe anything was possible.
I loved how everything shook out, how despicable everyone was, and the (maybe not so realistic) insight into a startup hitting major success and going through a sale.
This book was perfect for audio and I loved the narrator. It's told by different character perspectives and I usually prefer multiple narrators for those formats, but January LaVoy is so good I didn't need it here.
This is one I definitely recommend and I can't wait to see what other shenanigans Rosenblum gives us next!!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the copy.
I've been on a couple work retreats and it's safe to say, my company must be doing them all wrong because I've certainly never stayed in a five-star resort, gone jet skiing, clubbing, or eaten a Michelin-starred dinner on a yacht. Aurora definitely knew how to party and John Schiller definitely knew how to throw a bash. So what someone died? Just a little more drama and another story to tell, amiright?!
Honestly, even as the reader it was easy to forget that someone had died. I really can't imagine a real life scenario where a work trip wouldn't be cut short if one of your own died on the trip, but you can't say it didn't make for some great reading!
I had such a hard time knowing who or what to believe. The way everyone was so nonchalant about the death made me wonder if it truly was an accidental overdose. But as the secrets started spilling, everyone seemed (and was!) guilty of at least something and I started to believe anything was possible.
I loved how everything shook out, how despicable everyone was, and the (maybe not so realistic) insight into a startup hitting major success and going through a sale.
This book was perfect for audio and I loved the narrator. It's told by different character perspectives and I usually prefer multiple narrators for those formats, but January LaVoy is so good I didn't need it here.
This is one I definitely recommend and I can't wait to see what other shenanigans Rosenblum gives us next!!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the copy.
March 29, 2024
This is different from the kind of books I normally read, but it was very entertaining. So much drama! There was always something going on, some secret being uncovered, salacious rumors being told. It was a very quick read.
There was just something about the ending that didn’t sit quite right with me. It left me with lingering questions and feeling like some loose ends needed to be tied up.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and I thought the narrator did a great job at portraying these complex characters.
Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.
There was just something about the ending that didn’t sit quite right with me. It left me with lingering questions and feeling like some loose ends needed to be tied up.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and I thought the narrator did a great job at portraying these complex characters.
Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.
June 26, 2024
This was atrocious. I would have stopped reading after page 20 if I didn’t need to finish it for book club. I hated the way this was written, it was constantly jumping between different time frames and events every other sentence, I was not following. I didn’t like a single character except maybe for Marc. John is public enemy number 1. Also, why did this feel like a Winston Churchill biography….I got absolutely nothing from the 100 Churchill references.
June 20, 2024
More like very bad book.
September 3, 2025
Konnte mich nicht so überzeugen, hatte aber auch seine guten Momente.
Z.b. werden konsequent die TecBranche und generell Firmenevents durch den Kakao gezogen. Die Gehälter der Führungsriege sind maßlos überzogen und die Teambuilding Maßnahmen sind sowas von affig (Parasailing, Jet Ski, Firmen T-Shirts)
Feminismus und Rassismus sind auch ein ständiger Begleiter, werden förmlich ausgelutscht.
Da tritt die eigentliche Story -die tote Kollegin- etwas in den Hintergrund. Darum geht es letzten Endes auch tatsächlich nicht. Sondern wer mit wem schläft, wer wem die Karriere versaut wer wie viel verdient und verrückte Chefs. Also Neid, Missgunst, Einschleimerei, Erpressung und Bestechung.
Urlaubsfeeling kam da weniger auf.
Z.b. werden konsequent die TecBranche und generell Firmenevents durch den Kakao gezogen. Die Gehälter der Führungsriege sind maßlos überzogen und die Teambuilding Maßnahmen sind sowas von affig (Parasailing, Jet Ski, Firmen T-Shirts)
Feminismus und Rassismus sind auch ein ständiger Begleiter, werden förmlich ausgelutscht.
Da tritt die eigentliche Story -die tote Kollegin- etwas in den Hintergrund. Darum geht es letzten Endes auch tatsächlich nicht. Sondern wer mit wem schläft, wer wem die Karriere versaut wer wie viel verdient und verrückte Chefs. Also Neid, Missgunst, Einschleimerei, Erpressung und Bestechung.
Urlaubsfeeling kam da weniger auf.
September 22, 2025
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
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 14, 2024
May Newsletter
May 2024 Must-Read Books
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
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 14, 2024
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September 5, 2024
Dark humor always gets me - especially when it’s mixed in with mystery and drama. Loved this story and the characters. Having worked at several large companies and a start up, I’ve attended retreats similar to the one depicted in this book. Not as over the top, of course, but I found the scenario somewhat relatable. I do wonder if someone without exposure to this world would find it as entertaining.
I found this book funny and entertaining with just the right amount of fluff. The ending wasn’t nearly as satisfying as it could have been but all in all this was a great book. The perfect beach read!
4.4 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
I found this book funny and entertaining with just the right amount of fluff. The ending wasn’t nearly as satisfying as it could have been but all in all this was a great book. The perfect beach read!
4.4 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
June 11, 2024
Another mediocre book that centers around rich people and first world problems.
May 9, 2024
A trendy tech company retreat gone wrong when someone ends up murdered and everyone is trying to figure out what happened while also harboring their own secrets.
There were a ton of characters to keep up with and it was hard to remember all their back stories at times. Honestly when someone turned up missing I didn’t even remember who that person was. Not to mention most of the characters weren’t very likeable.
A little too much business talk and Winston Churchill facts and quotes for my liking.
January LaVoy did an incredible job narrating though! This book wasn’t my cup of tea, but it may be yours 😊
Thanks so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC!
#MacAudio2024
There were a ton of characters to keep up with and it was hard to remember all their back stories at times. Honestly when someone turned up missing I didn’t even remember who that person was. Not to mention most of the characters weren’t very likeable.
A little too much business talk and Winston Churchill facts and quotes for my liking.
January LaVoy did an incredible job narrating though! This book wasn’t my cup of tea, but it may be yours 😊
Thanks so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC!
#MacAudio2024
July 19, 2024
Respectfully, this is not for me. Did not like a single character. The title is correct—this is a bad company.
May 19, 2024
"Very Bad Company" is an enjoyable, if not entirely memorable, novel of rich people behaving badly. The top-level executives of a well-known tech start-up are gathering for their annual corporate retreat in Miami. This year, they are joined by their newest hire, Caitlin, who is appointed for the somewhat nebulous position of Head of Events. Led by the eccentric CEO, John, the group of executives is already borderline dysfunctional even before one of them goes MIA during the event. And after that disappearance, tensions raise in a hurry.
This book isn't quite a thriller, but it's definitely got more intrigue than most contemporary fiction. There is a large cast, but most characters are well fleshed out. I will say that I rarely do well spending time humoring the misdeeds of the overpriveleged, but Rosenblum did a great job of crafting characters that were largely likeable despite their many, many flaws. The narration was done well, and the pages flew by. I was never tempted to put this one in my DNF stack, though I admit it's also one that likely won't stick with me for long. Not all books need to be life changing and with you for the long haul, though, and this one was a fun ride for the time I spent with it.
3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance copy for honest review.
This book isn't quite a thriller, but it's definitely got more intrigue than most contemporary fiction. There is a large cast, but most characters are well fleshed out. I will say that I rarely do well spending time humoring the misdeeds of the overpriveleged, but Rosenblum did a great job of crafting characters that were largely likeable despite their many, many flaws. The narration was done well, and the pages flew by. I was never tempted to put this one in my DNF stack, though I admit it's also one that likely won't stick with me for long. Not all books need to be life changing and with you for the long haul, though, and this one was a fun ride for the time I spent with it.
3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance copy for honest review.
March 30, 2025
Each year the top executives at Aurora get together for their annual executive trip in Miami. Led by their eccentric chief executive, Winston Churchill obsessive, John Shiller, their daily activities on the trip can often be unusual and dare I say it, sometimes mildly alarming. But these employees are paid so well with additional perks that they usually grin and bear it.
However when yet another of their execs go missing, and rumours of the company’s downfall start to filter through, they all start to wonder if this is the end of Aurora as they know it…
What a fun read! I really enjoyed Bad Summer People by this author and this book continues in a similar style. There are a few characters to remember yes, but that comes with time so bear with. Not many of them are pleasant, but that doesn’t seem to matter either, instead you’ll enjoy their downfall.
John Shiller is barking mad, he’s an egocentric maniac and he makes for compelling reading. His Winston Churchill quotes were hilarious and each time he spouted his nonsense or wore his ridiculous outlandish outfits it got funnier and funnier.
There’s back stabbing and secrets and lies and affairs and it’s all so much fun. I part listened to this one and the narration was excellent, it kept me entertained and absorbed.
If you want a light hearted read for your summer holidays which will keep you chuckling, then this is definitely one for you.
However when yet another of their execs go missing, and rumours of the company’s downfall start to filter through, they all start to wonder if this is the end of Aurora as they know it…
What a fun read! I really enjoyed Bad Summer People by this author and this book continues in a similar style. There are a few characters to remember yes, but that comes with time so bear with. Not many of them are pleasant, but that doesn’t seem to matter either, instead you’ll enjoy their downfall.
John Shiller is barking mad, he’s an egocentric maniac and he makes for compelling reading. His Winston Churchill quotes were hilarious and each time he spouted his nonsense or wore his ridiculous outlandish outfits it got funnier and funnier.
There’s back stabbing and secrets and lies and affairs and it’s all so much fun. I part listened to this one and the narration was excellent, it kept me entertained and absorbed.
If you want a light hearted read for your summer holidays which will keep you chuckling, then this is definitely one for you.
May 17, 2024
Do you like a book full of unlikable characters? Full of adults behaving badly? Characters so full of greed they’re willing to kill to keep a secret? Then Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum is for you.
This book follows an executive team of a Tech startup on a retreat full of team building activities. One of them dies. Secrets come to light about the origins of the company. The sale of the company for millions is in jeopardy when a member of the team dies. But let’s keep up appearances because we want our money.
January Lavoy does a great job with the audio. There are a lot of characters, male and female, and she gives voice to them all.
As a reader/listener, it was difficult to keep up with all of the different characters. And it was unnecessary to have so many back stories for every character. It did not add to the story. Not a fan of the Southern stereotype character. We do have graduate schools here. The CEO was the only comic relief with his constant Churchill quotes and funny outfits.
This felt like an 80’s “Greed is Good” story. There are no characters to pull for or care about.
This book follows an executive team of a Tech startup on a retreat full of team building activities. One of them dies. Secrets come to light about the origins of the company. The sale of the company for millions is in jeopardy when a member of the team dies. But let’s keep up appearances because we want our money.
January Lavoy does a great job with the audio. There are a lot of characters, male and female, and she gives voice to them all.
As a reader/listener, it was difficult to keep up with all of the different characters. And it was unnecessary to have so many back stories for every character. It did not add to the story. Not a fan of the Southern stereotype character. We do have graduate schools here. The CEO was the only comic relief with his constant Churchill quotes and funny outfits.
This felt like an 80’s “Greed is Good” story. There are no characters to pull for or care about.
July 29, 2024
wanted to like it
people mostly irritating
read to page 105 and the last 10
people mostly irritating
read to page 105 and the last 10
May 17, 2024
Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books, & NetGalley the free audiobook.
Blurb:
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 . . .
✨My thoughts:
Such a great audiobook! I knew from the cover I was going to love it, and I did. This is the book and audiobook you’ll want to read or listen to at the beach or on vacation. I’m a big fan of dark humor and not only do you get a laugh, you get drama, and our entertainment. January LaVoy narrated the audiobook and it was superb! It’s already been recommended to all of my audiobook lovin’ feiends. I loved Bad Summer People last year and I’m so happy I loved Very Bad Company too. Emma Rosenblum is officially a new auto buy author for me. I need to get my hands in a finished copy!
Happy reading 📖
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books, & NetGalley the free audiobook.
Blurb:
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 . . .
✨My thoughts:
Such a great audiobook! I knew from the cover I was going to love it, and I did. This is the book and audiobook you’ll want to read or listen to at the beach or on vacation. I’m a big fan of dark humor and not only do you get a laugh, you get drama, and our entertainment. January LaVoy narrated the audiobook and it was superb! It’s already been recommended to all of my audiobook lovin’ feiends. I loved Bad Summer People last year and I’m so happy I loved Very Bad Company too. Emma Rosenblum is officially a new auto buy author for me. I need to get my hands in a finished copy!
Happy reading 📖
July 14, 2024
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review!
I really enjoyed this one, it has all of the elements I love - bingeable, awful people, murder, corporate drama that is so extra, and it all takes place at a corporate retreat. I devoured this in an afternoon, and really enjoyed all of these awful people and watching them self-destruct. The audio was excellent and overall I definitely recommend this one, it is a perfect beach read for this summer!
I really enjoyed this one, it has all of the elements I love - bingeable, awful people, murder, corporate drama that is so extra, and it all takes place at a corporate retreat. I devoured this in an afternoon, and really enjoyed all of these awful people and watching them self-destruct. The audio was excellent and overall I definitely recommend this one, it is a perfect beach read for this summer!
May 8, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Review to come
Review to come
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