Women Are the Fiercest Creatures: A Novel

by Andrea Dunlop, Frankie Corzo (narrator), Zibby Books (publisher)

In this wildly addictive novel, three overlooked women take on the charming, manipulative tech CEO who wrote them out of his startup’s history.

Anna Sarnoff is still reeling from her quickie divorce from tech wunderkind Jake Sarnoff. Forced out of the company that she helped Jake build, Anna is trying to pick up the pieces of her life, navigating the waters of solo parenting their two teenage boys and adapting to her new role of ex-wife. To make things more complicated, Jake seems to want her back…and his persuasiveness tempts her to say yes.

Across town, the brilliant and striking Samanta Flores-Walsh, Jake’s college girlfriend, is busy raising her teenage daughter and running her thriving yoga studio. Although their relationship ended years ago, unanswered questions from their time together gnaw at her, and when she learns that Jake is planning to take his billion-dollar company public, she starts to wonder if perhaps it isn’t too late for justice.

Finally, there’s Jake’s much younger new wife, Jessica, who’s struggling to stay afloat as a new mom while her high-profile husband grows increasingly distant.

Set in the wealthy enclaves of Seattle’s tech elite, the lives of these three women grow entangled as long-held secrets are forced to the surface, threatening to destroy their families. Written with razor-sharp intelligence and heart, Women Are the Fiercest Creatures is a searing look at the complexities of family and the obstacles women navigate in every aspect of their existence.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Book Club, Feminism, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published March 7, 2023

About the author

I'm the author of three novels and the mother of one small human. I write complex, suspenseful books about families with dark secrets and women trying to discover themselves in a world full of contradictory expectations. My stories are set in exciting and exotic locations such as French Riviera, New York City, and Buenos Aires which I hope will give readers an escapist thrill.
I love to hear from readers and aspiring authors. I have a background in book publishing as well as writing, and I share my advice and expertise in weekly videos which you can find on Instagram and here on Goodreads.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for your next bookclub pick or just a really thought provoking and intelligent read this one would be such a great choice.

I was immediately invested in this one, it opens with such a strong prologue and the pacing was just so spot on the entire time. You know those special books that you can’t stop thinking about when you’re not reading them? I had that experience here, every time I had to set this one down I found my mind wandering and thinking about what Anna or Sam or Jess would do next. The author did such an incredible job of capturing motherhood in its various stages and iterations but she also captured the very essence of womanhood so well too. She examines all this and more through the lens of the tech world and explores how women are overlooked and cast aside in the industry. The ending was so satisfying and I just loved how it all tied together. Also, how about that title? SO good. Highly recommended.

[Marcia reading past dark · Rating 3 out of 5]

WOMEN ARE THE FIERCEST CREATURES—what a great title, one that grabbed me from the start. The story centers around three completely different women, all of whom have been involved with an ego-maniac, the super-techie Jake Sarno. Author Andrea Dunlop spins the emotional story of a man who refuses to give himself to any one of the three, but he will not completely let them go of them either. The women, triggered by a possible kidnapping, begin to support each other, and their innocent actions become the trigger-point for revealing his deceit and his despicable character.

All three female characters are likable, maybe even like some of our friends, and I found a bit of myself in each one of them. Dunlop speaks to the journeys that all women take, and the feelings and emotions of each season of life flow through her writing. The story moves at a fast pace, and smoothly eases from scene to scene. This would be a great book club read.

[aura · Rating 2 out of 5]

all i have to say is that this could’ve been the best female rage book i’ve read if only the women had a little bit of rage in them. i was expecting more, way more. fiercest creatures? i didn’t see that here. all i saw was women trying to be nice just for the heck of it, just to don’t seem mean, the fit the social expectations of women, specially of mothers. all of them were trying to protect a man that so obviously didn’t care for any of them, and that had played them several times, just the fact that he kept telling all of them “oh i can’t stop thinking about you, you’re the real love of my life”. are you serious? i mean i get that some parents try to not paint the other parent wrong but when is obviously evident that he is trash and even your own sons tell you to and you still keep defending him? please.

i was expecting a big feminist book, with rage and fury i didn’t get that, and also the ending and revelation to the big opening was just so underwhelming, all i could do was laugh. and let’s not forget about them also defending him at the end when everything exploded, god i’m so mad.

the idea was good but the execution was so wrong. i get so mas when i don’t like arcs because i was really hoping to like this but i guess i’ll need to keep looking for more.

thank you netgalley for proving me this arc in exchange of an honest review.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent debut that explores womanhood, motherhood + relationships. Set in Seattle, the story is about three women navigating motherhood alone.. with two of the women sharing intellectual input in making an app named Strangers the success it is today. CEO/founder Jake Sarano shares links with all three. He’s very self-absorbed, a collector of women and a player with all three. When Strangers is to become an IPO, Jake does not give credit where credit is due. One of the women contacts a reporter who investigates Jake and his company. This follows the three women and their family life.. parenting teenagers, female identity, trust, betrayal, sacrifices and racism.. each with telling secrets of their own. I can’t express enough how the author was able to create such an enlightening story around male dominance/female inequality in Seattle’s tech world, and how these women were able to come out on top with so much being thrown at them. Fascinating + unique. 4 stars — Pub. 3/7/23

[AndiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving contemporary fiction!
Anna Sarnoff was discarded by her charismatic CEO husband and is recovering a few miles away with their two boys. CEO Jake is already remarried with a much younger wife and a baby on the way. All could still work out as his IPO goes public but a reporter has heard a tip and reaches out to Jake's long time previous girlfriend Samanta Is it too late for justice for these women? If you like a fast paced revenge story, Women Are The Fiercest Creatures is for you! #Zibby

[Vaughan Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book irritated me. I kept waiting for it to get better. Jake wasn’t developed enough as a character to explain why these 3 women all had babies with him. Was he supposed to be like Elon Musk? Tech wiz having so many babies? And the ending was so disappointing. The author never even dealt with the terrible thing that Anna did to Sam and her daughter. I really can’t figure out why this book got 5 stars by anyone.

[Kelly Hooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never seen a title with words so true. WOMEN ARE THE FIERCEST CREATURES by Andrew Dunlop follows Seattle tech giant Jake Sarnoff and three slighted women tangled in his manipulative orbit.

The story is told from the viewpoints of three women who are each facing distinct challenges as women. Many readers will see themselves reflected in these characters who are navigating careers ,single motherhood, female friendships, divorce, and changing body image. Each woman’s storyline also had a bit of mystery that kept me quickly turning pages.

My favorite aspect of the book was how each character was incredibly layered. Everyone had shortcomings, but there were redeeming qualities abound. Readers who enjoy stories about bold women taking down the patriarchy with a side of found family trope will want to pick this one up.

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
-Strong female protagonists
-The Seattle tech world
-Page-turning stories with a feminist lean

WOMEN ARE THE FIERCEST CREATURES is the first novel published by @zibbybooks and I am excited to read more from this up and coming publisher as well as the author. Many thanks for the ARC!

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: March 7, 2023

[Liz Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women are the Fiercest Creatures is a good book with a great title! It's the story of three women who all have been wronged in different ways by Jake Sarnoff - a rich tech bro that treats women like the Weakest Creatures. The novel centers around each of the three women's stories (which do intersect in both predictable and unpredictable ways).

I really really liked this. It reads SO quickly and easily. The chapters are short and make you want to keep going. Each woman's story was unique with their own distinct narration and characterization. I was fully invested in the outcome for all three of them. From the woman Jake left, to the woman he is married to but not present with, to the woman he stole an idea from, I wanted more for each of them. Dunlop found interesting ways to highlight what it means to live as a woman in today's world in so many different aspects of existence. Yes, a lot of it revolves around the way they are treated by men, but I also loved some of the suburban mom antics.

This is a book I think you can hand to almost any woman and they will find something to enjoy! Read especially if you'd like to pick up something like The Change but without fantastical elements. I'd also recommend this to fans of the movie The Other Woman, though this is not a comedy.

[kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever been stressed out by a book this much.

On page one, Women are the Fiercest Creatures raised my blood pressure and then proceeded to keep it that way until the end.

I always get stuck on writing summaries so just take this: this is a story of three women getting justice from their deeply insufferable but on the surface allegedly charming ex/ex-husband/husband and the embodiment of the chorus of the song Norman fucking Rockwell.

I hate to compare books because the internet has a tendency to just take it and run with it, but I couldn’t help but think of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow while reading the interlocking timelines and tech world aspects. The other book I want to bring up is The 3am Shattered Mums Club by Nina Manning which made me love a thriller-y voice used in talking about women’s inner worlds. All of these things coupled with the general messiness and the postpartum subplot came together at the intersection of My Personal Favorite Things In Books.

The summary names three women but the story is really framed by two, Anna and Samanta. Both complicated, well developed and intriguing; the secrets and overall ticking time bomb sense interwoven in their POVs kept me, well, sweating. My shoulders feel like they’re made of rocks.

Jessica… I just want to hug her and tell her she’s not alone. That’s all.

Now. Jake. My new arch nemesis. There’s plenty of characters I hated in books but Jake takes the cake. That is to say I hope he takes a cake to the face. I hope he slips on 4 consecutive banana peels. I hope his pillow is always warm on both sides and I hope he doesn’t see there’s a spider in the toilet bowl next time he sits down for a number two. I hope he steps in something wet with fresh socks on and I hope he swallows and hiccups at the same time. Every time I thought he couldn’t get worse he would do, or it would be revealed he did, something so selfish, inconsiderate and shitty that it made me sick to my stomach. Bravo, Dunlop.


All in all I highly recommend this if you like complicated, messy, human stories and overworking your adrenal gland.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jennifer Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fierce

This is such a fun read! I tore through it, and it's a wonderful look at the tech scene in Seattle, and the money that comes with it. If you followed, say, Bill and Melinda Gate's divorce with interest, you'll love this.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women Are The Fiercest Creatures instantly drew me in and kept me turning page after page. The three women: Anna, Jessica and Sam, are all very different but very likable and relatable. The book is broken up into 3 parts because there are time jumps but it didn’t inhibit the flow of the book for me.

Thank you to Zibby Books for gifting me a copy.

[Susie Schnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved all of Andrea Dunlop's books and this one did not disappoint. I loved the way she wove together the stories of the women. Also loved -- and there were so many -- the insightful lines about women and mothers and how the reader is presented with the title of the book. There is so much in here and Dunlop does a fantastic job of showing the strength of women when faced with challenges. The book is compellingly propulsive as it races on - could not put it down. Recommend!

[Lindsay (lindsaysalwaysreading) Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

After seeing so much hype about this book via Zibby Owen's Instagram I was dying to read it, and grateful to receive an ARC. I loved the title and cover, and after the first few chapters was getting The Change x Big Little Lies vibes.

Told from the perspective of Jake Sarnoff's scorned ex-partners, at a time when the tech giant is about to make it big through the sale of his social media company, is a story full of secrets and complicated family. Themes of feminism and motherhood run throughout the story, with many supporting characters bringing to life great examples of both. A favourite for me was Bri and her problematic reaction to her son's racism.

While conceptually I love the idea of giving voice to the overlooked women behind a man's success, it fell short for me in a few areas. I found myself confused at times trying to keep track of who knew what at each point in time. The book started and ended with a dramatic event that didn't really have a whole lot to do with the actual story in the middle, and the final chapter seemed to come out of left field. The epilogue was written from a whole new character's perspective, and one whose role in the story seemed unnecessary. In the epilogue is a brief article with the real conclusion to the story, and I wish more time had been taken to give resolution to the storylines that made up the bulk of the book. Finally, Jake's character was so central yet so underdeveloped. He was supposed to have enough charm to build a big company and seduce all these women, but you never saw any of that. His behaviour was inconsistent and erratic. The only real answer was that he was a sociopath, but I don't think that was what the author was trying to communicate.
It was a fun concept, but it felt like it was pushed out into the world prematurely.



Thank you to Zibby Books, NetGalley and Andrea Dunlop for this ARC.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one blew me away. The 3 women in this novel could be yourself or any other female you know. Ms. Dunlop weaves together a beautiful story about what women endure and what we conquer when we support each other even if it wasn’t the case in the past.

Women are a force to be reckoned with as we figure out just how powerful we are.

[Tracey Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women really are the fiercest creatures! Great title. This story revolves around three women who all have a relationship with Jake Sarno, a charismatic, ambitious CEO who is ready to take his tech company public. Anna, his ex-wife, Samanta, his ex-girlfriend, and Jessica, his current wife, find their lives braided together because of their relationship with Jake. But the theme of these women's stories isn't about their connection with him as much as it's about their journey toward self-discovery. Each woman is forced to answer the question of what is most important in achieving satisfaction with life. The strong feminist overtones were almost too strong for me--at times I felt like the author was trying to teach me a lesson about what it means to be a satisfied, truly self-aware woman. And, though I am certain there are men like Jake Sarno, I wished I could have seen another side to this character. I was told too many times that he was selfish rather than learning that about him strictly through his actions. My favorite part of the book were the themes of motherhood, friendship, acceptance, and personal responsibility in living a well-rounded life. It was well-paced and well-written, and I'm now curious about the author's other novels.

[✦ Ellen’s Reviews ✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS


”If everything women do is invisible, people have an excuse to erase them."

First of all, this book is fantastic!! Part thriller, part women’s fiction, I could not tear myself away from this engrossing story. It is not to be missed! The Pacific Northwest also has a starring role and this book made me want to visit Washington State again.

I have followed the author’s career ever since she reached out to me back in 2016 (!) to read her fabulous debut book, Losing the Light. I could not help but envision her newest book as a miniseries as I was reading. Someone please option this for Hulu or Netflix!

Told from the viewpoint of several different women, this book is incredibly timely and empowering. Loved everything about it, including the gorgeous cover and the women in tech. The relationships are all very realistic and each of the main protagonists are perfectly written. Everyone has flaws but most are struggling to make the right choices.

”If you didn't choose a person when it counted, calling them the love of your life meant nothing.”

(Many thanks to the publisher for the free copy. All thoughts are my own.)

[Jamie Rosenblit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner from Andrea Dunlop - a story of an insanely narcissistic CEO and the women surrounding him in life - truly speaking to the title that Women are The Fiercest Creatures. I have loved Dunlop's books since She Regrets Nothing and this book lives up to the hype.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Zibby Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the premise sounded so intriguing. Three women whose lives revolve around one man. Jake Sarnoff. He is a tech guru in Seattle, and he doesn't btrat women very well. Anna is his ex-wife who he left for a younger woman, and is raising their 2 boys. Samantha, who was Jake's college girlfriend, helped him succeed in his career. She is busy with a teen daughter. She is not happy with Jake because he hasn't given her the credit she deserves. Lastly, there's Jessica. She is Jake's new, much younger wife. She's having a hard time being a new stepmom, she's pregnant, and Jake is becoming more distant from her by the day.

This one definitely grabbed me from the beginning. It was fast paced, and propulsive. Totally a binge worthy read. I really enjoyed the women's characters. They felt very real. The ending was a little bit of a letdown but that still didn't take away from the enjoyment. I had fun with this one.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub and Amazon.

[Kailey (kmc_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 stars RTC super bingeworthy

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Paperback

“Anna’s devotion to running was what kept her level. It had saved her again and again”

“If everything women do is invisible, people have an excuse to erase them.”

“Quien siembra vientos, recoge tormentas.” (sow the wind, reap the storm)

This is our bookclub pick for January. It is a character driven novel with well developed characters that you’ll enjoy getting to know.

I think I most identified with Anna although there were pieces of all the women that I loved and could see myself in. I loved Sam’s mother Jacinta and how she showed her love for her daughter and was supportive of her. I really liked Sam’s bestie Padma too.

Jake however, needs to exercise some self control. I mean, he’s probably one of the most selfish characters I’ve ever read. I still liked him a little though. 🤦🏼‍♀️ He legit just seems to fall for any and everyone and to hell with the repercussions of his actions as long as he stays successful.

The part in the beginning about the tech start up boasting about hiring women to work for them…..for FREE (yes like these companies were doing the women a favor). Omg it just blew my mind, infuriated me.

Bottom line is, women ARE the fiercest creatures. Don’t stifle us. Don’t steal our joy. Don’t play us against each other. We have a way of rising up and handling the business in the best possible way. Mo

I love that Zibby Books always publishes books by strong smart women with a voice and something to say.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: WOMEN ARE THE FIERCEST CREATURES
AUTHOR: Andrea Dunlop
PUB DATE: 03.07.2023 Now Available

THOUGHTS:

WOMEN ARE THE FIERCEST CREATURES is the latest triumph by Andrea Dunlop. This novel captures the lives of three very different women with one thing in common - their entanglement with Jake Sarnoff, an ego maniac controlling tech CEO. The women are indeed fierce - Anna, Sam and Jess will have you rooting for them quickly, in this engrossing, fast paced, and well plotted novel set in Seattle’s tech elite.

Women Are the Fiercest Creatures is a searing look at the complexities of family and the obstacles women navigate in every aspect of their existence.

[Jenna M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of this book felt familiar. Scorned women out for revenge, a tech start-up, pretty descriptions of the Pacific Northwest. The plot was very Big Little Lies and that whole genre. Jake is totally worthless and I find it hard to believe that all 3 off these smart, capable women fell for him. I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing in some places but overall it picked up in the later half and the twist was a little surprising. Definitely more a thriller than I originally expected.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about how women can tear each other down and build each other up, all in the name of protecting their family. Interesting story with a little mystery element at the end. I think this would be a great book club book!

[Dawn (dawndevoursbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book alternates chapters between two women as they tell their story of Jake Sarnoff, a charming tech CEO, and the long-held secrets that entangle their lives. If you like books about strong women, friendship, and some twists and turns along the way, then this book is or you. I devoured it in 3 days and gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not resist this title, I had to read this one! And the cover art is fire! This one was a fast, compulsive read about 3 women who’ve been wronged by a Seattle tech bro, Jake Sarnoff, and how their lives intersect and what they decide to do about the narcissist who connects them. Told in alternating POVs and a dual timeline for each, Anna, the first wife, and Sam, the college girlfriend, tell the story of how Jake rises to tech infamy and the cost to all of them while he pursued that dream. I thought this author did a great job telling this story without injecting poisonous “man hating” opinions. I was entertained from cover to cover and will definitely be checking out Dunlop’s backlist. Thank you Netgalley, Zibby Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Available now!

[Meghan ReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Zibby Books for the copy of Andrea Dunlop's book Women are the Fiercest Creatures. This is a highly effective story that manages to blend suspense and empowerment, and the complexity of women in a professional landscape set up to overlook them. It is easy to get drawn into the stories of the 3 main characters, to applaud their wit and intelligence, to wonder about their secrets, and to wait with anticipation, maybe even a little stress, to learn what happens/what did happen and what comes next.
Recommended for fans of The Whisper Network, The Boys Club, a Special Place for Women, Come Join Us, and similar reads.

I am so glad to have received this copy via NetGalley and congratulate Zibby Books on the first publications.

[Haley Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5–I was intrigued by the cover/title of this and flew through it. The tech angle was interesting and I’m obsessed with the Pacific Northwest so I loved the setting and the tone reminded me a bit of Lianne Moriarty a la Big Little Lies, but it’s such a quick read that it was almost too quick?

This is marketed/blurbed as a story about 3 women with a past or present involving the same man so I think I was picturing John Tucker Must Die, but make it tech, and was so excited to see what the story was “leading up to.” I felt like each chapter was building momentum towards the women becoming allies, but I was frustrated by how much the women let Jake get away during the story and the excuses they made for him. I was hoping the end would provide some satisfying fierceness, but it didn’t quite get there. I wanted to see the revenge unfold and not just read a few paragraphs about it in the epilogue!

I also desperately wanted a POV from Jessica’s perspective and still have so many unanswered questions. But maybe leaving it up to the reader to draw their own conclusions is part of the point?

[Chelle - FlowerChildReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This propulsive story is set in the elite Seattle tech industry and revolves around Jake Sarano, but it’s not about him. Jake is the type of man that collects women. When he’s in a relationship he’s never all in, and when they end they lack closure. As Jake plans to take his tech company public three women’s lives collide. His ex wife Anna, his college girlfriend Samantha, and his new wife Jessica. The trauma that brings them together brings long buried secrets to the surface as the three women become an unlikely support to one another.
Dunlop does a fantastic job weaving the story in such a way that I found myself relating to each of these women on some level. Although the setting is well crafted to the tech industry the inequalities, the emotions, are universal and happen in big and small ways everywhere.
I recommend for those that enjoy stories with strong women characters and propulsive storytelling. I think it’s especially well suited for buddy reads and bookclubs as there’s so much to discuss!
This drops 3/7/23 so preorder at your local indie bookstore or request at your local library!

Thank you to Zibby Books and Netgalley for the early review copy.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are parts of this story that are so sharp that it cuts straight through. And other parts that tie everything up in neat, tidy bows that counters the more poignant aspects. In the fantasy world of the wealthy and backstabbing silicone valley world we are met by women of great designs. But fierce? Mmmeh.

Dunlop does a great job of exploring how women are both the biggest supporters and the largest detriments to other women; be it in how we raise our young, support our husbands (and social, economic standing) or how we make it an all out battle against each other for a lack luster prize.

Fiercest creatures played more in the gray area, working to make everyone both so understandable and forgivable. While also walking away scotch free from some severe lack of consent, horrible situations. This is interesting as I both feel that their actions didn't get punished at all, while also not being "fierce" enough. Their actions were despicable in a black white world, but in the context and the emotional reactions Dunlop framed made it seem more cautious, if not meek.

Bechdel: Pass
DuVernay: Pass
Vito: Fail
PM: Fail

[Becca Buncie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the title! Love the cover art.

I went into this one blind and I'm so glad I do. I was pleasantly surprised!

In this book we follow Jake Sarno, a tech genius in Seattle, as well as the three women who have been a part of his life. There's Anna, Jake's recent ex-wife and mother of his two boys, Jessica who is the new and significantly younger wife, now pregnant with his daughter and Sam - his ex-girlfriend from college. All three of these ladies are involved in Jake's tangled web.

I loved each of the female characters in this novel. Despite their competing roles for Jake's affection, they are each likable characters with unique stories. These women support each other despite everything Jake and life has thrown at them. The novel was fast paced and hard to put down. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading some of the author's previous novels.