I read an ARC of Complicit on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. This book talks about the film industry in a realistic way. It is certainly a timely novel as there has been many scandals lately, many actresses and people working in the industry coming forward and telling their stories.
A huge part of this novel reads like an interview between the main character and a journalist. It makes the book seem more personal as the main character tells her story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was thoroughly gripped by the story of this book. Told mostly in flashback as Sarah recounts her story to a journalist, Li explores one of the unspoken areas of the #MeToo movement so far - the women who, whether maliciously or not, allowed sexual harrassment and violence to continue in Hollywood for such a long time. Li discusses this sensitively and with compassion, but doesn't excuse the behaviour and forces us all to think about whether we could do better ourselves. A compelling and timely read.

This is book that is so topical with all the news stories about the dark side of the entertainment industry and the #MeToo movement. The topic of this book is dark and extremely disturbing in places but is one of the most compelling novels of 2022 I couldn't put it down despite the difficult theme. Winnie M Li faultlessly describes the situation the MC is in to a point where your screaming about red flags constantly, The way she switches between the before and after timeline it makes you see what's coming before its revealed in the after sections. This book is hard hitting but a MUST READ. #NETGALLEY #COMPLICIT

Complicit had so much potential but ended up feeling very lacklustre. A lot of the dialogue felt unnatural and stilted, Hugo North as a Brit wasn’t convincing and there wasn’t a climax to the story.

The first half really dragged, felt quite repetitive and it took a long time for me to be truly interested and engaged with the plot. Once it had finally been established that it was a take on the metoo movement my interest had waned and it’s a shame that Complicit didn’t add anything particularly interesting to the topic.

I started the first few pages and seemed intrigued...then couldnt read stop reading it. This is a real page turner and such an interesting story. It raises important issues in to the seemingly glamorous lifestyle and world of the film business - I admit I had never even considered the issue of sexism and inequalities in this area before reading this book. If you are a film / cinema lover then this is a must read book for you.

I found the character of Sarah Lai easy to warm to throughout most of the book - however at times I did feel like I wanted to shout out loud at her...and I guess this is a credit to the author in drawing me in so well.

I read this whilst on holiday sat around the pool, so it shows that this book can be read anywhere at any point, and whilst the topic could be considered rather nuance, it raise the important challenge of being complicit.

A fascinating read that has stayed with me after I had finished the book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Set within the movie industry, Complicit, looks under the surface of all the glamour. Powerful men, abusing their power for their own enjoyment. The main character, no longer part of this world gets an opportunity to exact revenge on those who hurt her. A turbulent ride told through flashbacks.

I was hooked on this book, which is no mean feat considering I had a unpublished copy (thank you net galley) where whole sentences didnothaveanyspacesbelievemeitwashardwork. Regardless of that (annoying as it was), I was completely drawn in. Desperate to know how the story unfolded for Sarah (the hungry wanna be producer). What happened, what had she done/not done!!! The story takes in the balmy Californian but often sleazy movie industry and makes you wonder how men have got away with it for so long. It is hard not to be angry when reading this, you are invested in Sarah, Holly (the lead lady in the film), the pa and the business owner of the production company, Sylvia. I loved the book right up to the end, where I wanted to throw it across the room. Arghhhh, so after a few deep breaths, I realised that life isn't all sunshine and lollipops, but I guess I just felt the story wasn't really over... I needed another 50 pages, tie up some loose ends etc. I was just left hanging, bereft and emotional.
Without a doubt this novel would make an excellent book club choice, I can truly hear the debates and heated discussion from here. Enjoy

An excellent timely page-turner. It raises a lot of important issues and shows the internal workings of the supposedly glamourous world of film industry and celebrities. I loved the fact it's a familiar plotline but told from a fresh angle, foucisng on inequalities and discrimination. A great read for any cinema enthusiasts - I couldn't put it down!

An interesting insight into the ins and outs of the film industry and one that highlights the sheer amount of insidious sexism and exploitation of women on both sides of the camera, whilst also being sympathetic to the nuances of where the women who work in film can perhaps be unwittingly complicit, hence the book’s title. A story that kept me turning the pages.

Sarah Lai is working teaching film studies at a local college. No one would guess that ten years ago she had been on the verge of a successful career in Hollywood. When she is approached by a reporter about running a story on the #MeToo movement, Sarah agrees to talk to him but when they meet up she realises he wants to talk to her about someone specifically. The story is told from Sarah's point of view both in the present & ten years ago as she tells it to the reporter.

Following her graduation from college, Sarah was working weekends at her parents' restaurant whilst looking for a job. Her parents want her to follow in the footsteps of her older sister who is a trainee accountant, but Sarah's passion is for films. Watching them yes, but she wants to be involved in making them too. Her dream comes true when she sees a job vacancy at a small independent company, it's for expenses only, but it could be her way into the business. Through working extremely hard, Sarah turns the opportunity into a paid job, & against all odds the film is moderately successful. Now their small company is known for working with a successful director, the opportunities multiply, & they are approached by Hugo North, a British money man who wants to bankroll their next project. Hugo, successful businessman in his fifties, likes the film business but he likes the perks of drugs & young women even more.

The reader learns that Sarah knows some of what Hugo & director Xander are up to, but that she can only guess at the extent of how far it goes until she becomes the producer of the second film. The book examines how far someone would compromise their principles for the job of their dreams, how willing someone would be to look to other way to be successful. It shows how once the line has been crossed, how easy it is to cross it again, how actions can be rationalised away. I thought it was an interesting read, it had quite a lot of detail about what goes on behind the scenes, also we see how women are not taken seriously & yet are expected to shoulder the blame for not stopping bad, even criminal, behaviour. Some of the characters did seem to verge on the stereotypical at times or even bland - North was supposed to be a Brit but his character didn't feel authentically British, he could have been anyone from anywhere to be honest - but overall it was a well-written exploration of the tawdry side of Tinsel Town, even if the ending was a little flat. 3.5 stars (rounded up on sites without a half star rating).

TW: obviously with the subject matter it contains mentions of sexual content & sexual assault.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I loved Winnie M Li's debut novel 'Dark Chapter' so was keen to read her latest offering. The Author's Note at the beginning sets the scene perfectly. 'Complicit' reads like a behind-the-scenes look at #MeToo and #TimesUp unfolding. Li uses her experience in the industry to add authenticity to her plot, and shines a spotlight on male entitlement. She also details the gruelling, yet seemingly glamorous, process of film production in such a way that it's easy to see how young women can be groomed, coerced and manipulated with false promises. 'Complicit' is a book about collective misplaced shame and the importance of telling our stories, if we feel ready and able. It's an important book and one which I hope is widely read and discussed.

I am sorry but this is too slow for me I keep losing interest and having to go back pages as have forgotten what has happened

I enjoyed reading this book and I found the lace good too and the writing style intrigued me and kept my interested

The premise of this book was very intriguing, but did not hit the mark for me sadly. It was interesting to here from the perspective of a Chinese/ American young woman trying to make it in the movies, and although she is talented, ultimately she is passed over for most jobs and when she tells her story to a reporter, it blows up for her, but like I say, it just didn't do it for me.

Hollywood, the film industry and the 'MeToo' movement could have been good. But SO slow.at the start and never picked up - I could not finish it.

Furthermore, the quality of the text on my Kindle was unreadable as some of the words ran into each other.

Thanks to Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for the chance to read and review.

A Hollywood has-been, Sarah Li's dreams of success behind the camera have been put to the wayside. Now a lecturer at an obscure college, this former producer wants nothing more than to forget those youthful ambitions and push aside any feelings of regret....or guilt. But when a journalist reaches out to her to discuss her own experiences working with Hugo North, Sarah can no longer keep silent. This is her last chance to tell her side of the story and maybe exact belated vengeance.

Sarah is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and the story is told from her point of view. Her story is interesting. Journalist Thom Gallagher contacts Sarah to see if she would consider being interviewed for an article he is writing about Hugo North. The story is told as an interview with transcripts of other people entwined. The story was well written and the build up towards the ending was really good. The main characters are well developed and believable. Sarah is a character that many women will be able to relate to. The book had me gripped from the beginning and held my attention throughout.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #WinnieMLi for my ARC of #Complicit in exchange for an honest review.

This left an impact long after finishing reading. Cinephile Sarah has always dreamed of being a screenwriter, willing to be the bottom of the ladder for a film production company. Through hard work and effort – and very little money – she attracts the attention of Sylvia Zimmerman, who wants her to work on the production processes of an upcoming project, written by wonderchild Xander Schulz. This is Sarah’s make or break opportunity and the fact that a well spoken millionaire (with a few opinions) is involved can only be a good thing, right? Ten years later, the now lecturer looks back on that film, highlighted by a journalist who wants her side of the #MeToo stories, and tells her story on where she’d come from… and where she ended up. This deals with a number of serious, conversation starting topics but written in an engaging and accessible manner. You’ll have definite feelings about it when you finish it. I inhaled it

This was my first book by this author. In recent times like many I have become interested in the me too movement. It was a difficult read in a good way as it made think

I was given an advance copy by net galley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own

When Sarah Lai begins an unpaid internship at Firefly Productions, she is even more convinced that this is the world she is meant be in. A cinephile all her life, and with dreams of one day becoming a screenwriter, Sarah finds herself quickly immersed in the world of backstage showbusiness, and quickly ingratiates herself with her boss with her clever insights and knack with scripts. But when the company undergoes some changes, overseen by the wealthy patron bankrolling their latest project, Sarah finds herself gradually being drawn into a world that is murkier than she ever expected...

Fast forward to the present, and Sarah is no longer working in the movie business, but instead is a lecturer at a local college. When a journalist approaches her for her version of events about what happened at Firefly all those years ago, Sarah must decide how much to reveal. And in doing so, perhaps uncover some painful truths about what it means to be complicit.

This isn't the first book I've read that came from the Me Too movement and no doubt it won't be the last, but there was something about this one that I loved. The charaterisation was beautifully done, and I liked that we were able to sympathise with Sarah's choices even as we judged her for them (and judge I did...easy from the comfort of your own sofa!)

This is an engaging and intelligent look at not just the Me Too movement but the murky side of the entertainment business in general, and I found myself completely immersed. Five easy stars, and definitely one I will be recommending.

Thank you to NetGalley, and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting read and well written. The story is narrated from the principal character's view who works in the film industry. She tells her story to a well known journalist who is investigating the exploitation of a billionaire who invested in the company she worked for and who exploited his power over young actresses to sexually abuse them.