Millie’s boss is a nightmare. She’s demanding to the extreme and would put Miranda Priestly to shame. When on a business trip together, a man dies in the same hotel. It’s not the first time it has happened though. When there are three deaths where Freya has been each time, Millie decides there’s more to it than coincidence. As she begins to look into the matter, things become dangerous. Can Millie find the truth before anyone else dies?

This is a funny, twisty mystery, with plenty of surprises. Millie had to be careful, as she didn’t know for sure what Freya was capable of. With some help, she went down a scary rabbit hole. Who could she trust? Why were all these men dying? It wasn’t a simple answer and I didn’t see it coming. The story was clever and surprising and a total revelation.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant and unusual read!

This was a fun and quirky story, written from mainly two perspectives, with a little mystery thrown in.

Millie finds herself unexpectedly promoted, after her colleague goes missing suddenly. She throws herself into the demands of her new role with her exceptionally unlikeable and nasty boss, Freya.

Millie travels with Freya to Paris and sees suspicious behavior from Freya. She then receives anonymous texts hinting at suspicious goings on and she really starts to suspect that her boss is, in fact, a serial killer.

As the story develops, more questions arrive and Millie and her friend Lissa, start to become more involved in the investigation and events as they unfurl. There is much travel and Millie finds herself becoming closer to events then she ever imagined.

This was such a unique, fun story, with quite a lot of dark humour. For most of the story there was an element of unpredictability which made it quite refreshing. The characters were well written, Millie and Freya were very creditable and believable. Freya particularly, I found myself loathing her, and immediately feeling relieved that she wasn’t my own killer boss!

There was much content included here, with particular showcase of how women are viewed in the workplace and how their careers are affected. It was wonderful to see this highlighted in so many ways.

I would thoroughly recommend this book and gave it 4 stars. It lost a star due to a small disconnect when changing perspectives and believability. That being said, I really enjoyed the book and will look to read more from the author.

Told in parts by Millie and Freya’s perspectives, no break in time, flows from one’s view to the other when changing. When Sam mysteriously disappears from the work place, Millie’s employment suddenly changes, working even closer with Freya. After a work trip Freya’s behavior raises suspicions with Millie, then leading to her doing her own detective work to solve what’s going on each time she travels….

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I’ve not read anything from this author before but look forward to reading more in this genre. A definite should read, great for fans of Katy Brent and Bella Mackie.

How to Slay at Work by Sarah Bonner

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When your boss is at a conference in a city where there's a suspicious death, it's unlucky.

If it happens twice, it's odd.

But when she's in the same city at the same time as a third unexplained death . . .

Could she be a stone-cold killer?

Millie's always known her boss Freya is a psycho – the demanding and ever-changing coffee orders, the cryptic instructions, the apparently expected mind reading and don't even start on the insistence that Millie wears heels . . . All. The. Time.

But it only extends as far as exacting office standards. Right?

As Freya's assistant, Millie has privileged access to her diary and travel history and when a pattern emerges of men (who seem to have no connection to each other) dying in cities where Freya is travelling, Millie is determined to figure out what's going on.

After all, a stone-cold killer could be exactly what Millie needs . . .

My Opinion

I went into this book without knowing what it was about, I picked this based entirely on the cover and the title. I was surprised - this was definitely not what I expected. I definitely was not prepared for the plot.

Sarah Bonner has written a book filled with twists and it was a real page-turner. It is difficult to say what I loved about this book without giving away any spoilers, so instead I am going to suggest that you give this book a read and find out for yourself.

Rating 4/5

After getting an unexpected promotion, Millie finds herself having to work closely with her boss, Freya. One day, Millie noticed some suspicious behavior from Freya and decided to investigate further, which leads her to discovering a pattern: during most of Freya's work trips, people always seem to be dying, But it has to be a coincidence, right?

This book immediately grabbed my attention as I found the plot so interesting, and it was such a fun read. It got a bit too silly towards the end as twists and turns kept dropping on me and kinda took me out of the story for a bit at times, but I still really enjoyed it a lot and had a truly fun time with it.

The characters are so interesting and very very different, so switching from Millie to Freya's POV was always interesting and provided a fresh change in perspective as the story progressed. I did like Millie's chapters more and I found myself wishing we'd go back quite often during Freya's, but it was still interesting to see her side of things, especially as things started clicking into place. I liked Lissa as a side character, and I do wish we could've seen more of her.

Overall, it was a fun, fast paced read and it did keep me hooked enough the entire time. The writing was very easy to get into and follow along, and the style did a great job at pulling you in even when at its weakest points.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Millie finds herself getting an unexpected but unpaid promotion, which means she has to travel around the world with her nightmare boss, Freya. On her first trip away there is a suspicious death but then she realises that there are unexplained deaths in other locations Freya has travelled to. Could her boss actually be a serial killer?

This was a really fun, quick read. The dark comedy, female serial killer storyline has been a popular trope recently, however the author has managed to make this feel fresh and stand out in the field. There were plenty of unexpected turns and it was a wild ride to the ending. The characters were created well and even though I hated Freya’s personality I found her very entertaining. I will definitely be reading more by this author! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

When Millie is promoted with no extra pay and longer hours, she gets access to her boss Freya’s diary. Millie notices that whenever her boss is in certain cities, men start showing up dead. Millie starts to investigate if this is a coincidence or something more sinister. This book was like The Devil Wears Prada, only with a very dark side.
Told in dual POV (Millie and her boss Freya) this novel is a fun and entertaining read.
Short chapters and well-paced, this is a well-written novel that will keep you turning the pages.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I loved How to Slay at Work from the first page. We start with the POV of Millie, who has been promoted to chief dogsbody to demanding Freya (very Devil Wears Prada). Whilst on a business trip to Paris, Millie spots some suspicious behaviour from Freya, and the news of a dead body in the same hotel and an anonymous text message pique her interest. Could Freya be responsible for a string of deaths?

Told from the POVs of Freya and Millie, How to Slay at Work is at times dark and humourful, and makes for an excellent read.

A really great, twisty thriller. I really enjoyed the writing style and it felt like you were part of the journey. Brilliantly written. The was a first read for me of this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very Devils wear Pravda vibes at the start. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

How to Slay at Work was such a fun and unpredictable read! It has a little bit of everything... drama, thriller, humor, and a whole lot of twists and turns you don't see coming.
The story is told from two POVs, Millie and her demanding boss Freya. What I loved the most was how we are able to get deep inside their minds and how the two POVs blend together, telling a very dark and unexpected story.

Sarah Bonner’s How to Slay at Work is a fast-paced, darkly humorous thriller that blends office politics with a murder mystery. The story centers on Millie, the long-suffering assistant to the demanding and enigmatic Freya, who seems to be at the scene of multiple suspicious deaths. As Millie digs deeper into Freya’s travel history, a disturbing pattern emerges. Could Freya actually be a cold-blooded killer, or is there more to these coincidences? Millie’s role as the observant, reluctant detective offers readers a suspenseful and entertaining journey as she tries to piece together the truth.

The novel shines with its blend of workplace satire and mystery, making Freya a boss who is equal parts terrifying and fascinating. Bonner’s sharp writing keeps the tension high while injecting doses of wit, particularly through Millie’s internal monologue as she navigates her increasingly dangerous and bizarre situation. While some plot points stretch believability, How to Slay at Work is an addictive and fun read that keeps you guessing. A solid 4-star thriller for anyone who enjoys a mix of workplace drama and suspense.

I loved this book as it was a great mix of humour and darkness, I was hooked right away and knew I wouldn't be able to put it down,

I’ve read and enjoyed Sarah Bonner’s other books and was delighted to receive a copy of her latest novel, How to Slay at Work. The cover is bright and eye catching and I would definitely pick it up if I saw it on a bookshelf.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book and thought it might be a bit naff. Fortunately, I was proved wrong. I got into the story quickly and it’s definitely a fun read. Mainly told from the points of view of Freya, a difficult manager, and Millie, her glorified PA.

After Sam suddenly leaves her role, Millie is forced to step in. Amongst trying to keep Freya happy, she receives anonymous messages encouraging her to look into Freya’s many work trips. With the help of her best friend Lissa, they begin to piece together what’s really going on. Could Freya be a serial killer?

There’s a lot more depth to this book than I expected and I enjoyed it. The author has thought of something a bit different for the plot. The characters are good and the author is expert at manipulating your feelings for them. It’s not all doom and gloom and there are some funny moments.

I recommend this book, it would be a good holiday read. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

✨ How to Slay at Work is the story of protagonist Millie Brooks as she shares her experiences with her terrible and inconsiderate boss, Freya Ellwood-Winter. Millie is micromanaged, bullied, and overworked by Freya, but because of her lifetime goal—one for which she has risked everything to achieve—she will never give up and will show Freya what she is capable of. As she struggles to find the good in Freya, she notices something strange about her during a trip, which leads Millie to become suspicious. That's when she begins questioning Freya's actions and whereabouts and starts investigating her.


✨ Wow! While reading How to Slay at Work, I was reminded of how I felt when I read Freida McFadden's books; it was intense and made me want to finish it in one sitting. I love how the author's prose is straightforward, and the character development is terrific. The plot twist is both predictable and unpredictable simultaneously. I also found myself shipping Millie and Kieran. I love the friendship Millie and Lissa have built over the years. The dual point of view, showing both Millie’s and Freya’s perspectives, added depth to the story. It was an easy read.

✨ I rated this 4 stars because I was really disappointed with how it all ended. I was expecting more from Millie, Freya, Lucas, and Lissa, but it felt like the story ended too quickly and without any emotion. It’s like watching your favorite movie after waiting for years, and then, when you finally reach the climax, it ends on a cliffhanger. You find yourself questioning, "Is that it?"

✨ Overall, this was such a wild experience! I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of thrillers and mysteries.

✨ Huge thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book!

✨ WHAT I LIKED:
📌 The platonic friendship between Millie and Lissa
📌 When Millie fell in love with Kieran
📌 The truth was finally revealed! WAHHHH!
📌 Millie's lifelong dream
📌 Millie's patience with her boss and how she doesn’t give up even when she is micromanaged

✨TROPES:
📌 FOUND FAMILY
📌 CHARACTERS SEEKING REVENGE
📌 WORKPLACE RIVALRY
📌 ROMANTIC SUBPLOT
📌 DUAL PERSPECTIVES
📌 PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE
📌 A SUBTLE HINT OF SPICE

🖥️ GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6837711296

💻 BLOG REVIEW: https://kimthebookdragon.wordpress.com/2024/09/22/arc-review-how-to-slay-at-work-by-sarah-bonner/

This book was such a fun! Thanks for NetGalley and Boldwood for the ARC.
How to Slay at Work starts with a strong The Devil wears Prada vibe and got me so involved on the mystery that I use all of my free time to read it.
I really enjoyed that it has more than one character as a narrator, that helps to understand better each one of them.
The synopsis made me think that I knew what was going to happen, and sometimes I did, but it had a few plot twists that I wasn't expecting at all.
I can see How to Slay at Work becoming a movie or a show one day, and I'm sure if it happens it'll be great and successful.

A fast-paced novel which has twists and a mystery element. The gradual disclosure keeps the attention and the ending is unexpected.

This is a masterfully twisted and highly entertaining read. The intricate workplace dynamics, puzzling clues, and psychological mind games were gripping from start to finish. With its dark humor adding depth, this became an irresistible page turner.

The book is wrote from the POV from both Mille and Freya, I liked Millie from the get go, she was very easy to root for. Freya is an absolute bitch, but the kind of character you love to hate. Both characters made the journey enjoyable, I liked how the contrasting viewpoints helped build a clearer, more complete picture of what was happening.

This book was very snappy with short chapters that are quick and to the long. The fun and playful writing style complemented the characters brilliantly.

Overall this book is really fun, super easy to binge and has a lot of personality which I absolutely loved.

How to Slay at Work is the wild, new novel from Sarah Bonner

"Millie discovers a strange coincidence with her psycho, demanding boss. Men are being murdered in the cities she has been in for 'work'. Is her boss a serial killer? Who does she tell?
Because a killer is what Millie needs..."

This is not a story where every male is awful and should be killed, although there are plenty of unlikable, untrustworthy men here. Bonner leads you on with this story and then BOOM! The twists start coming - all the way to the end. Lots of surprises, lots of dark humor and a wild ending.

Wildly entertaining book from Bonner.

Millie works under Freya. Following a recent promotion at work Millie starts to travel with her boss. She soon begins to realise that deaths are happening in the places that Freya visits. Could her boss possibly be involved. Millie puts on her investigative head on and looks for clue.
But that is not where the story ends. There is another story within the story. I don’t want to give too much away but it’s safe to say this is a fast paced and witty read.

Millie is the new assistant for Freya in a glamorous cosmetics company, which involves international business trips. She is recently promoted after Sam, the previous assistant suddenly disappeared. Millie notices some odd things going on when she is in Paris with Freya, and with her friend and flatmate, Lissa tries to work out what is going on - can Freya really be a serial killer?
Millie also has an agenda, and becomes mixed up with Freya's plans, but they don't trust each other, so they are both at risk from each other. The story is told in chapters by Mille and Freya, which explains the reason for their actions, but with twists to come.
It took a while to read, as I didn't find it held my attention, and it is a bit long.