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The Society of Shame
A viral photo of a politician's wife's “feminine hygiene malfunction” catapults her to unwanted fame in a story that's both a satire of social media stardom and internet activism, and a tender mother-daughter tale.
Kathleen Held’s life is turned upside down when she arrives home to find her house on fire and her husband on the front lawn in his underwear. But the scandal that emerges is not that Bill, who's running for Senate, is having a painfully clichéd affair with one of his young staffers: it's that the eyewitness photographing the scene accidentally captures a period stain on the back of Kathleen’s pants.
Overnight, Kathleen finds herself the unwitting figurehead for a social media–centered women’s right movement, #YesWeBleed. Humiliated, Kathleen tries to hide from the spotlight. But when she stumbles upon the Society of Shame—led by "canceled" author Danica Bellevue—Kathleen finds herself part of a group all working to change their lives after their own scandals. Using the teachings of the society, Kathleen channels her newfound fame as a means to reap the benefits of her humiliation and reclaim herself. But as she ascends to celebrity status, Kathleen's growing obsession with maintaining her popularity online threatens her most important relationship IRL: that with her budding activist daughter, Aggie.
Hilarious and heartfelt, The Society of Shame is a pitch-perfect, satirical romp through politics, media, and the perils of being "extremely online"—without losing your sanity or your true self.
Kathleen Held’s life is turned upside down when she arrives home to find her house on fire and her husband on the front lawn in his underwear. But the scandal that emerges is not that Bill, who's running for Senate, is having a painfully clichéd affair with one of his young staffers: it's that the eyewitness photographing the scene accidentally captures a period stain on the back of Kathleen’s pants.
Overnight, Kathleen finds herself the unwitting figurehead for a social media–centered women’s right movement, #YesWeBleed. Humiliated, Kathleen tries to hide from the spotlight. But when she stumbles upon the Society of Shame—led by "canceled" author Danica Bellevue—Kathleen finds herself part of a group all working to change their lives after their own scandals. Using the teachings of the society, Kathleen channels her newfound fame as a means to reap the benefits of her humiliation and reclaim herself. But as she ascends to celebrity status, Kathleen's growing obsession with maintaining her popularity online threatens her most important relationship IRL: that with her budding activist daughter, Aggie.
Hilarious and heartfelt, The Society of Shame is a pitch-perfect, satirical romp through politics, media, and the perils of being "extremely online"—without losing your sanity or your true self.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2023
About the author
Jane Roper
4 books240 followersJane Roper is the author of two novels, The Society of Shame and Eden Lake, and a memoir, Double Time: How I Surived—and Mostly Thrived—Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twints.
Jane’s writing has appeared in Salon, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Millions, Poets & Writers, The Rumpus, Cognoscenti, Writers’ Digest and elsewhere, and has been included in the anthology Labor Day: True Birth Stories by today’s Best Women Writers.
A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Williams College, Jane is married to singer/songwriter Alastair Moock. They live with their teenage twins just north of Boston in a drafty Victorian house on a hill. When she is not working, writing, parenting, cooking, hiking, rock climbing or wasting time on social media, Jane can be found trying to read and promptly falling asleep.
Jane’s writing has appeared in Salon, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Millions, Poets & Writers, The Rumpus, Cognoscenti, Writers’ Digest and elsewhere, and has been included in the anthology Labor Day: True Birth Stories by today’s Best Women Writers.
A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Williams College, Jane is married to singer/songwriter Alastair Moock. They live with their teenage twins just north of Boston in a drafty Victorian house on a hill. When she is not working, writing, parenting, cooking, hiking, rock climbing or wasting time on social media, Jane can be found trying to read and promptly falling asleep.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 463 reviews
April 11, 2023
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
This is a hilarious, ingenious satire about what I hesitate to call “cancel culture” or “viral hashtags” because to use those terms du jour is to use the language of the unthinking, un-nuanced, meme-driven, unfact-checked, knee-jerk righteousness of the single-note brand-obsessed public on social media. I prefer to call the object of this satire "mindless herd movements." Jane Roper slays them all.
And here, I join the society of shame by confessing, I am obsessed with understanding herd movements in human animals, and therefore there’s a part of me that is jealous of this book. Were I a lot younger and a different person, this is a book I’d be proud to have written. Alas, I’m of a different generation and I never could have written this.
But boy can I appreciate it.
And another shameful confession: I almost abandoned it because in the first scene, the protagonist, Kathleen, is less than respectful, let alone aware, of her dog. And this reaction on my part—to dump a whole book because I was turned off in my sensitive area about animals—is the very thing Jane Roper brilliantly presents and razzes. (And it turns out that initial dog problem is an important plot point! I'm hitting myself upside the head.)
I belly-laughed all the way through The Society of Shame and have signed up for Roper’s reading in NYC’s P+T Knitwear on April 17th. I can’t wait to see this comic genius in person and give her the standing ovation I erupted in on finishing the last inspired page.
And one more completely unshameful quasi-confession/beef: I write funny novels, or novels with humor in them, so I'm always on the lookout for other writers who write funny. I have an article in issue 010 of Oh Reader about how difficult it is to find female writers who deliver belly-laughs and substance, and now I can add Jane Roper to my list. However, either because there is a problem publishing and therefore finding a lot of wonderfully written books by women with authentic characters that are also deeply funny, marketing departments try to compare anything humorous, with a female point of view, to a few writers whose sarcastic shallow characters sell well. Roper's book does not belong in that category.
The Society of Shame has more in common with Richard Russo's Straight Man, if you must find a comparison. In her Goodreads review of that book, Roper writes, "As a writer (specifically, one who tries to write fiction with a healthy dose of humor) I am in awe of Russo's ability to blend the funny with the poignant." But Roper's book is not only grounded in a poignant mother/daughter relationship (Kathleen and her daughter, Aggie), but, way more complex than Russo's book as it slyly marries crazy satire (about a menstrual leak starting a whole social media movement, #YesWeBleed) with truth: menstrual shame is a real thing holding women back around the world. This marriage of absurdity with a sneaky vein of truth actually reminds me more of Percival Everett's iconoclastic Erasure (although the two books share almost nothing else so it would be wrong to use it as a comp for marketing purposes).
But I really dislike comparing books. The Society of Shame is its own animal and I wish that one day there will be so many female writers publishing funny one-of-a-kind material with real complex characters, moving plots (and I mean that as both speedy and emotionally affecting) with a cultural/social/political satirical purpose so that finding appropriate comparisons (for marketers) will not be a problem.
First page of Oh Reader article which unfortunately is not available online
This is a hilarious, ingenious satire about what I hesitate to call “cancel culture” or “viral hashtags” because to use those terms du jour is to use the language of the unthinking, un-nuanced, meme-driven, unfact-checked, knee-jerk righteousness of the single-note brand-obsessed public on social media. I prefer to call the object of this satire "mindless herd movements." Jane Roper slays them all.
And here, I join the society of shame by confessing, I am obsessed with understanding herd movements in human animals, and therefore there’s a part of me that is jealous of this book. Were I a lot younger and a different person, this is a book I’d be proud to have written. Alas, I’m of a different generation and I never could have written this.
But boy can I appreciate it.
And another shameful confession: I almost abandoned it because in the first scene, the protagonist, Kathleen, is less than respectful, let alone aware, of her dog. And this reaction on my part—to dump a whole book because I was turned off in my sensitive area about animals—is the very thing Jane Roper brilliantly presents and razzes. (And it turns out that initial dog problem is an important plot point! I'm hitting myself upside the head.)
I belly-laughed all the way through The Society of Shame and have signed up for Roper’s reading in NYC’s P+T Knitwear on April 17th. I can’t wait to see this comic genius in person and give her the standing ovation I erupted in on finishing the last inspired page.
And one more completely unshameful quasi-confession/beef: I write funny novels, or novels with humor in them, so I'm always on the lookout for other writers who write funny. I have an article in issue 010 of Oh Reader about how difficult it is to find female writers who deliver belly-laughs and substance, and now I can add Jane Roper to my list. However, either because there is a problem publishing and therefore finding a lot of wonderfully written books by women with authentic characters that are also deeply funny, marketing departments try to compare anything humorous, with a female point of view, to a few writers whose sarcastic shallow characters sell well. Roper's book does not belong in that category.
The Society of Shame has more in common with Richard Russo's Straight Man, if you must find a comparison. In her Goodreads review of that book, Roper writes, "As a writer (specifically, one who tries to write fiction with a healthy dose of humor) I am in awe of Russo's ability to blend the funny with the poignant." But Roper's book is not only grounded in a poignant mother/daughter relationship (Kathleen and her daughter, Aggie), but, way more complex than Russo's book as it slyly marries crazy satire (about a menstrual leak starting a whole social media movement, #YesWeBleed) with truth: menstrual shame is a real thing holding women back around the world. This marriage of absurdity with a sneaky vein of truth actually reminds me more of Percival Everett's iconoclastic Erasure (although the two books share almost nothing else so it would be wrong to use it as a comp for marketing purposes).
But I really dislike comparing books. The Society of Shame is its own animal and I wish that one day there will be so many female writers publishing funny one-of-a-kind material with real complex characters, moving plots (and I mean that as both speedy and emotionally affecting) with a cultural/social/political satirical purpose so that finding appropriate comparisons (for marketers) will not be a problem.
First page of Oh Reader article which unfortunately is not available online
March 12, 2023
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Had he not noticed the tampon and pad advertisements full of women frolicking in white pants and skimpy bathing suits and understood that feminine hygiene companies were appealing to every menstruating woman’s greatest wish: to be free from the fear of inadvertently revealing to the world that they were, in fact, menstruating?
This book was very unique in the fact that it deals with a subject matter not often talked about. I loved the way the author used humour to get her point across. We women need to be able to laugh at ourselves. I often joke about my hot flashes (as horribly uncomfortable as they are)
The book also has a funny take. social media, our online presence, cancel culture and the so-called "woke" mob. It's really satire about the whole thing. It was very thoughtful and provocative and I loved how Katherine/Kat came into her own and focused on her growth. I liked the format of the book and how it used texts and newspaper articles to help get the point across.
Ultimately though this was a mother-daughter bonding and getting to know each other story. Kate's twelve-year-old daughter, Aggie is prominent in the story and their relationship is the heart of the book, and I loved that
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
Had he not noticed the tampon and pad advertisements full of women frolicking in white pants and skimpy bathing suits and understood that feminine hygiene companies were appealing to every menstruating woman’s greatest wish: to be free from the fear of inadvertently revealing to the world that they were, in fact, menstruating?
This book was very unique in the fact that it deals with a subject matter not often talked about. I loved the way the author used humour to get her point across. We women need to be able to laugh at ourselves. I often joke about my hot flashes (as horribly uncomfortable as they are)
The book also has a funny take. social media, our online presence, cancel culture and the so-called "woke" mob. It's really satire about the whole thing. It was very thoughtful and provocative and I loved how Katherine/Kat came into her own and focused on her growth. I liked the format of the book and how it used texts and newspaper articles to help get the point across.
Ultimately though this was a mother-daughter bonding and getting to know each other story. Kate's twelve-year-old daughter, Aggie is prominent in the story and their relationship is the heart of the book, and I loved that
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
November 4, 2022
This book was a slam dunk for me. There were a couple of moments I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Ever since reading it, there's so many lines in it that are just rattling around in my head. I almost can't watch the news or look at Twitter without wondering what Roper's devilishly witty mind would do with the material. I'm a HUGE fan of satire like this...made me think of another favorite book of mine, THE SELLOUT by Paul Beatty. The author has written for McSweeneys and I can see why. A hilarious send up of cancel culture and also, in the end, a sneaky-great mother-daughter story.
Thank you Anchor Books for the Galley!
Thank you Anchor Books for the Galley!
February 5, 2023
I requested The Society of Shame, by Jane Roper because it was described as perfect for fans of Lessons in Chemistry, one of the best written feminist novels that I have read in decades, which is why it is still on the NYT Best Seller Hard Print Book list. The Society of Shame is exactly just the opposite of Lessons in Chemistry. Kathleen has spent her adult life never standing up for herself. She is a perpetual victim, whose singular episode of embarrassment creates so much shame and embarrassment that she combats her shame by ignoring her only child and turning herself into a media sensation. After selling herself far too cheaply, she becomes a cliche. Kathleen/Kat Held is not Elizabeth Zott, whose strength of character is inspiring. Zott is a real heroine, whose ability to turn true adversity into success is what turned Lessons in Chemistry into a novel loved by readers.
The Society of Shame is supposed to be funny, and while there is some humor near the beginning of the book, but the time I hit the 50% mark, I bored beyond belief. The characters are superficial, like an advertising promo for a very thin but far too long, story. The Society of Shame would have been far more successful as a brief novella. I never like feeling as if I had been sold something that doesn't exist. Bonnie Garmus should feel insulted. I feel that way on her behalf.
I do know that not all books are suited for all readers, and obviously, The Society of Shame is not well suited for me, but I do appreciate that the publisher provided this novel as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am sure there are readers who will exjoy The Society of Shame. I am just not one of those readers. Thank you to NetGalley for having sent this book to me to read.
The Society of Shame is supposed to be funny, and while there is some humor near the beginning of the book, but the time I hit the 50% mark, I bored beyond belief. The characters are superficial, like an advertising promo for a very thin but far too long, story. The Society of Shame would have been far more successful as a brief novella. I never like feeling as if I had been sold something that doesn't exist. Bonnie Garmus should feel insulted. I feel that way on her behalf.
I do know that not all books are suited for all readers, and obviously, The Society of Shame is not well suited for me, but I do appreciate that the publisher provided this novel as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am sure there are readers who will exjoy The Society of Shame. I am just not one of those readers. Thank you to NetGalley for having sent this book to me to read.
April 24, 2023
UPDATE:
After reading the inside jacket blurb, Roper's purpose was satire. I'll bump it to 3 solid stars for the accuracy of that!
Original Review:
I couldn't tell if the author was writing this as satire to social media and modern hashtag movements or serious about #shebleeds and all the feminist menstruating dialogue. I'm not sure! Personally, it became too much for me at about the halfway point. Critics said that if you liked "Lessons in Chemistry" that you'd love this book and I have to say, that is so far from the truth. Elizabeth Zott was a feminist in her own right but she was so confident and powerful and someone I wanted to be like. Kathleen Held was none of those things and I found her grating and a bit of a steamroller. She was a doormat at the beginning of the book and started to come into her own, which is always nice to see, but the ride to get there was rough. Did the author take on too much to make this an effective voice for removing the taboo talk of periods and using tampons/period cups? I'm not sure! I found the repetitive language quite exhausting. I'm all for normalizing the conversation about menstruating but reading 300+ pages about it and all the social movements got old.
After reading the inside jacket blurb, Roper's purpose was satire. I'll bump it to 3 solid stars for the accuracy of that!
Original Review:
I couldn't tell if the author was writing this as satire to social media and modern hashtag movements or serious about #shebleeds and all the feminist menstruating dialogue. I'm not sure! Personally, it became too much for me at about the halfway point. Critics said that if you liked "Lessons in Chemistry" that you'd love this book and I have to say, that is so far from the truth. Elizabeth Zott was a feminist in her own right but she was so confident and powerful and someone I wanted to be like. Kathleen Held was none of those things and I found her grating and a bit of a steamroller. She was a doormat at the beginning of the book and started to come into her own, which is always nice to see, but the ride to get there was rough. Did the author take on too much to make this an effective voice for removing the taboo talk of periods and using tampons/period cups? I'm not sure! I found the repetitive language quite exhausting. I'm all for normalizing the conversation about menstruating but reading 300+ pages about it and all the social movements got old.
November 19, 2022
Yes, she went there! Kathleen finds her world turned upside down by learning her husband is a cheat and her tampon leaked. Amazingly, it is the blood stain on her pants that becomes the inflection point that drives her future. Kathleen is, by turns, vilified and sanctified. This evidence of a menstrual mishap causes Kathleen and her daughter to become involved in the YES WE BLEED movement.
At this point the the novel becomes a satire of all the movements and social media that drive our current world. I enjoyed the start and end of the book, but I found it dragged in the middle. I really admire Roper’s use of menstruation as a centerpiece of this novel. It is thoughtful and provocative.
I highly recommend this to all my reading groups. I think the time has come to truly examine this issue and begin to make systemic changes to the way this body function is treated.
Bravo Jane Roper and thank you Netgalley for this extremely interesting ARC.
At this point the the novel becomes a satire of all the movements and social media that drive our current world. I enjoyed the start and end of the book, but I found it dragged in the middle. I really admire Roper’s use of menstruation as a centerpiece of this novel. It is thoughtful and provocative.
I highly recommend this to all my reading groups. I think the time has come to truly examine this issue and begin to make systemic changes to the way this body function is treated.
Bravo Jane Roper and thank you Netgalley for this extremely interesting ARC.
May 25, 2023
This book just did not work for me. I liked the premise and even the first few chapters, but it quickly fell apart. It was overly long and repetitious and I just didn’t find it funny, although I think it was supposed to be?
But more importantly, it just didn’t work as satire. I don’t think it added anything to the conversation about our media image obsessed society and cancel culture and only went after low-hanging fruit, which seemed to be women. Women’s issues were mocked, and women were depicted as either shrill lunatics, mean girls, or meek wallflowers. The “good moms” of the book were the ones home with their kids, prioritizing their children’s every need, and when the main character pursued a life of her own when reeling from her public embarrassment and marriage unraveling, she was suddenly painted as a terrible mom. Meanwhile the men — even the cheater who kicked off this whole story — were given a pass. Ick.
But more importantly, it just didn’t work as satire. I don’t think it added anything to the conversation about our media image obsessed society and cancel culture and only went after low-hanging fruit, which seemed to be women. Women’s issues were mocked, and women were depicted as either shrill lunatics, mean girls, or meek wallflowers. The “good moms” of the book were the ones home with their kids, prioritizing their children’s every need, and when the main character pursued a life of her own when reeling from her public embarrassment and marriage unraveling, she was suddenly painted as a terrible mom. Meanwhile the men — even the cheater who kicked off this whole story — were given a pass. Ick.
March 8, 2023
Kathleen Held is the hero we all need! How apropos that I finished reading this on National Women's Day? It's the book we all need right now, a light in a tunnel through a world that often seems dark and devoid of humor. THE SOCIETY OF SHAME is a funny and fun romp through the more ridiculous parts of the world in which we live--celebrity shame, viral hashtags #YesWeBleed...HA! and the dangerous side of our online lives. Roper's wit is spot on, and you'll find yourself laughing and laughing with every page (that you won't be able to stop turning). A truly hilarious book, right up there with Maria Semple's WHERE DID YOU GO BERNADETTE and Amy Poeppel's THE SWEET SPOT.
April 27, 2023
2.5
Thank you to @prhaudio for the complimentary audiobook.
This was not for me. I grew super weary of what I can only assume was satirical in nature, trying to prove a point. It all focused around a woman who was caught on camera with a period stain on the back of her pants...which then turns into this whole #yeswebleed movement...and I just did not care. I mean it went on and on. I presume there are intended to be some similarities to what women face in our real world today, but I didn't care to have a whole book written in this manner.
Thank you to @prhaudio for the complimentary audiobook.
This was not for me. I grew super weary of what I can only assume was satirical in nature, trying to prove a point. It all focused around a woman who was caught on camera with a period stain on the back of her pants...which then turns into this whole #yeswebleed movement...and I just did not care. I mean it went on and on. I presume there are intended to be some similarities to what women face in our real world today, but I didn't care to have a whole book written in this manner.
December 10, 2022
**Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
This book was a bit absurd/over-the-top, but I enjoyed it. I thought the author did a fantastic job of capturing our culture's obsession with social media and cultural movements. I found her critiques of twitter hashtags, liberal infighting, and men's insistence on inserting themselves into issues they know nothing about, spot-on and funny. I also appreciated that there was no romantic interest for the main character--the story was really focused on her growth as an individual and there was no man to get in the way. I initially picked this book up because of the senator/campaign angle, and there is actually very little of that in the plot, but that didn't change my enjoyment. Overall, this is a fun piece of women's fiction that is smarter and more biting than I expected.
This book was a bit absurd/over-the-top, but I enjoyed it. I thought the author did a fantastic job of capturing our culture's obsession with social media and cultural movements. I found her critiques of twitter hashtags, liberal infighting, and men's insistence on inserting themselves into issues they know nothing about, spot-on and funny. I also appreciated that there was no romantic interest for the main character--the story was really focused on her growth as an individual and there was no man to get in the way. I initially picked this book up because of the senator/campaign angle, and there is actually very little of that in the plot, but that didn't change my enjoyment. Overall, this is a fun piece of women's fiction that is smarter and more biting than I expected.
December 2, 2022
Read an advanced review copy via Edelweiss.
I loved this book!! In brief: It’s a story about a woman who’s married to a hotshot political candidate coming home one night to find her garage on fire and her husband half-naked with a mistress. If that wasn’t traumatizing enough, the neighbors are out to witness it all, and the taxi driver-turned-dog rescuer captures a damning photo of this moment. Unfortunately, the photo goes viral not so much for the infidelity (as you’d expect) but for the monstrous period stain on the back of our MC’s pants. What follows is an absurdly hilarious sequence of events that skewer our obsession with cancel culture and what it means to repair and redeem ourselves.
Bottom line: It’s a great satire that’s also not too far from reality. Roper is a sharp and funny writer who understands the sheep-like movements of society. The intermixing of news stories, texts, and other media within the chapters really draw us into this kooky world (of note are the trending hashtags that fuel the news cycles, including the primary one, #YesWeBleed)
I loved this book!! In brief: It’s a story about a woman who’s married to a hotshot political candidate coming home one night to find her garage on fire and her husband half-naked with a mistress. If that wasn’t traumatizing enough, the neighbors are out to witness it all, and the taxi driver-turned-dog rescuer captures a damning photo of this moment. Unfortunately, the photo goes viral not so much for the infidelity (as you’d expect) but for the monstrous period stain on the back of our MC’s pants. What follows is an absurdly hilarious sequence of events that skewer our obsession with cancel culture and what it means to repair and redeem ourselves.
Bottom line: It’s a great satire that’s also not too far from reality. Roper is a sharp and funny writer who understands the sheep-like movements of society. The intermixing of news stories, texts, and other media within the chapters really draw us into this kooky world (of note are the trending hashtags that fuel the news cycles, including the primary one, #YesWeBleed)
March 25, 2023
The book started off well and was able to hold my interest. Around the half-way point I grew tired of the #yes we bleed movement and it took me quite awhile to actually finish the book. It started picking up again towards the end and I was glad I actually stuck with it. This book could be considered a statement of our times, one #movement after the other, some more ridiculous than the others. Kathleen is not a likable person from the start—a doormat at work and at home who then becomes very self-important and inconsiderate. She does redeem herself at the end. Aggie, her daughter, is the victim throughout this book and I felt the most compassion for her. I could definitely say that each of the characters in this book engendered some kind of emotional response from me. To my mind, a book that carries the reader to another emotional plane, is doing its job. This book is a solid 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC. This review is my own.
April 21, 2023
This book is so well written and is really funny! It is satire of the internet, keyboard warriors, cancel culture, and rapidly changing social movements at its finest. I loved the multimedia format of the story (some of the tweets and hashtags were hysterical) which added to the story’s contemporary flair. The evolving relationship between Kat and her young preteen daughter Aggie was such a great part of the story.
“Maybe it distracted them from their own faults and hypocrisies to constantly point out hers. Why confront your own mistakes when you can attack other people’s instead?”
Hear, hear Jane Roper.
A gorgeous cover as well!
“Maybe it distracted them from their own faults and hypocrisies to constantly point out hers. Why confront your own mistakes when you can attack other people’s instead?”
Hear, hear Jane Roper.
A gorgeous cover as well!
April 20, 2023
This was a joy to read, as I giggled my way through it!
When Kathleen arrived home early from a trip, she discovered her garage was on fire and her taxi driver told her he would save her one eyed dog. Her husband the politician ran out with a fire extinguisher and another woman with her panties. A picture was taken of this threesome and the most embarrassing part was Kathleen, being perimenopausal, had a bad period that bled through. This gathered so much attention, that a feminist movement took charge proclaiming Yes We Bleed!!
As we watch Kathleen become Kat and become the spokesperson for this cause, her 12 year old daughter is truly the one who is all about supporting it.
Don’t miss out on this hilarious, realistic book that highlights the bond of mother/daughter relationships!
#YesWeBleed #UmYeahNo
When Kathleen arrived home early from a trip, she discovered her garage was on fire and her taxi driver told her he would save her one eyed dog. Her husband the politician ran out with a fire extinguisher and another woman with her panties. A picture was taken of this threesome and the most embarrassing part was Kathleen, being perimenopausal, had a bad period that bled through. This gathered so much attention, that a feminist movement took charge proclaiming Yes We Bleed!!
As we watch Kathleen become Kat and become the spokesperson for this cause, her 12 year old daughter is truly the one who is all about supporting it.
Don’t miss out on this hilarious, realistic book that highlights the bond of mother/daughter relationships!
#YesWeBleed #UmYeahNo
September 11, 2023
I don’t usually write reviews, but this book deserves the recognition for being unlike anything I’ve ever read. Should you pass it up? “Um. Yea. No!”
Its humorous critique of cancel culture and celebrity worship and social media activism is spot on, and the main character is complex and imperfect. Kat shows us that it’s ok to “just” try to figure it out as we go, and that the most important aspect of (even very public) failure is growth. What a relief to find a strong, female main character who has past regrets, unmet goals, a challenging relationship, and who worries about the problems her child will face in a society where kids grow up too fast and everything is caught on camera. If you are looking for something funny, light, and fictional, that also feels parallel to the universe in which we currently live, then this book is for you! So many great satirical current event-type Easter eggs, although I’m guessing the swan murder outrage in my own hometown (occurring after the book was published) was not on Jane Roper’s 2023 Bingo card!
Its humorous critique of cancel culture and celebrity worship and social media activism is spot on, and the main character is complex and imperfect. Kat shows us that it’s ok to “just” try to figure it out as we go, and that the most important aspect of (even very public) failure is growth. What a relief to find a strong, female main character who has past regrets, unmet goals, a challenging relationship, and who worries about the problems her child will face in a society where kids grow up too fast and everything is caught on camera. If you are looking for something funny, light, and fictional, that also feels parallel to the universe in which we currently live, then this book is for you! So many great satirical current event-type Easter eggs, although I’m guessing the swan murder outrage in my own hometown (occurring after the book was published) was not on Jane Roper’s 2023 Bingo card!
November 20, 2022
This book had me laughing out loud more times than I could count! It's a brilliant look at how fickle social media culture can be, how even a worthy cause can be corrupted, and the struggles of parents to prioritize their children even while on their own personal journeys. Spot-on hilarious cultural satire! I was completely hooked.
October 29, 2023
Told in the first person and using a variety of other media eg text messaging and social media. Kathleen Held is a politician's wife and mother who is caught on film as she discovers her husband cheating. The fact that she has a blood stain on her trousers, i.e. a menstrual accident, in the photo goes viral and catapults her into a rapidly growing social media storm.
This novel explores a number of very relevant themes including fame, social media, the media, menstruation, infidelity and more. It started well but unfortunately from about half way through I felt it really dragged, became repetitive and, at times, a little silly. It was just too long and was not the promised comic/satirical romp. The early promise got lost somewhere along the way.
This novel explores a number of very relevant themes including fame, social media, the media, menstruation, infidelity and more. It started well but unfortunately from about half way through I felt it really dragged, became repetitive and, at times, a little silly. It was just too long and was not the promised comic/satirical romp. The early promise got lost somewhere along the way.
January 20, 2023
Kathleen Held comes home from the airport to find her garage on fire, her husband—who happens to be running for U.S. Senate in his underwear outside, and a woman scaling her fence with her panties in her hand. But, when a photo of the incident goes viral, what really grabs the internet’s attention is the fact that Kathleen was on her period and had bled through her pants. Suddenly, Kathleen finds herself the face of the #YesWeBleed movement and caught up in a social media storm.
This book explores the power of the internet, cancel culture, the fickleness of social media loyalty, and tenets of modern feminism—though not in the most intersectional way. While by the middle, I was feeling like some period overload, I appreciated the messages and the satirical look at how movements are born, change, and can be squashed.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this advanced copy of the manuscript.
This book explores the power of the internet, cancel culture, the fickleness of social media loyalty, and tenets of modern feminism—though not in the most intersectional way. While by the middle, I was feeling like some period overload, I appreciated the messages and the satirical look at how movements are born, change, and can be squashed.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this advanced copy of the manuscript.
May 10, 2023
I was fortunate to receive a galley of this book before publication.
The Society of Shame is clever, funny, and wise. The mother-daughter connection is beautifully rendered. The observations about cancel culture, the Internet’s pull on us, and our obsession with the spotlight are smart and observant. This is bound to be a hot read of 2023. Loved it!
The Society of Shame is clever, funny, and wise. The mother-daughter connection is beautifully rendered. The observations about cancel culture, the Internet’s pull on us, and our obsession with the spotlight are smart and observant. This is bound to be a hot read of 2023. Loved it!
June 17, 2023
Oooo this was so fun! With such a fun premise, it also handled the complex conversations around cancel culture and social media activism surprisingly well (my PR brain was so enthralled). Plus all of side characters were well developed and so quirky, I’m obsessed.
October 24, 2023
Okay, this novel made me bust a gut multiple times, so the author definitely gets bonus points for that. I don’t even know how to describe this one, to be perfectly honest. It’s a mashup of: five minutes of internet fame/political scandal/cancel culture/feminist piece/mother-daughter story/menstruation overload. Lots and lots of period talk, so prepare yourself for that. Unfortunately, the plot just dragged on and on. This novel was way too long, in my opinion. I loved the premise, quickly got the point, but was kinda done by the halfway point. It just didn’t hold my attention very well, sadly.
May 11, 2024
This book was incredibly odd but also hilarious in an extended SNL skit sort of way. Not for everyone, but I enjoyed it!
October 11, 2024
It would have been better as a short story. It has a good premise, but halfway through, I just did not care anymore. It felt too repetitive, neverending and tiresome.
March 21, 2023
2.5/5⭐️
Without giving away too much, this story begins with two big events that will change Kathleen Held’s life as she knows it…her husband’s infidelity and a picture of her from behind which (though not intentionally) showcases a “monthly” leak…and goes viral.
Soon after, opening a mysterious invitation addressed to her estranged husband, she attends and is assimilated into and guided by “The Society of Shame” through a “reputation rehabilitation”. Thus begins her unsolicited notoriety and reluctant acceptance of steering the “#YesWeBleed” female narrative. We then follow her rise in public popularity/success while navigating her increasingly strained relationship with her 12-year-old daughter Aggie.
I waffled quite a bit on how I felt about this book, but unfortunately I think in the end it just wasn’t a good fit for me overall.
I had no issue with the ideals behind the movement, but while it could be quite humorous at times, most of the jokes/innuendos were over-the-top and just plain silly in places. I also felt the timeline of events in the story was unrealistic and too rushed, Kathleen was too naive in many ways, there was way too much political bashing, and unfortunately I ended up only connecting with her daughter Aggie, who along with Kathleen’s best friend Bobbie, were the only root-worthy of the bunch. I felt as if there were too many things trying to be covered…social media evils/rehabilitation, political bashing, naïveté/manipulation.
I guess the big takeaway was how invasive social media is and how divisive…but unfortunately that’s not exactly a surprise.
I’m sure others will find this book much more entertaining than I did.
My thanks to NetGalley and Anchor Books for providing the free early arc of The Society of Shame for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
Without giving away too much, this story begins with two big events that will change Kathleen Held’s life as she knows it…her husband’s infidelity and a picture of her from behind which (though not intentionally) showcases a “monthly” leak…and goes viral.
Soon after, opening a mysterious invitation addressed to her estranged husband, she attends and is assimilated into and guided by “The Society of Shame” through a “reputation rehabilitation”. Thus begins her unsolicited notoriety and reluctant acceptance of steering the “#YesWeBleed” female narrative. We then follow her rise in public popularity/success while navigating her increasingly strained relationship with her 12-year-old daughter Aggie.
I waffled quite a bit on how I felt about this book, but unfortunately I think in the end it just wasn’t a good fit for me overall.
I had no issue with the ideals behind the movement, but while it could be quite humorous at times, most of the jokes/innuendos were over-the-top and just plain silly in places. I also felt the timeline of events in the story was unrealistic and too rushed, Kathleen was too naive in many ways, there was way too much political bashing, and unfortunately I ended up only connecting with her daughter Aggie, who along with Kathleen’s best friend Bobbie, were the only root-worthy of the bunch. I felt as if there were too many things trying to be covered…social media evils/rehabilitation, political bashing, naïveté/manipulation.
I guess the big takeaway was how invasive social media is and how divisive…but unfortunately that’s not exactly a surprise.
I’m sure others will find this book much more entertaining than I did.
My thanks to NetGalley and Anchor Books for providing the free early arc of The Society of Shame for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
April 17, 2023
The Society of Shame is a heartfelt, witty, and hysterical satirical novel about Kathleen Held, a forty-seven-year-old perimenopausal wife and mom married to a very up-and-coming politician. Kathleen comes home one night to find her garage on fire, her husband in his underwear, and his messy mistress lying nearby. On the scene, a bystander snaps a photo. In the photo, you can see that Kathleen has a significant period stain on the back of her pants. The image, of course, promptly goes viral, and Kathleen is catapulted into unwanted fame. That's the thing people are fixated on, not that this senate candidate had an affair, but that Kathleen has this period stain. She becomes this unwitting hero of this new movement called #YesWeBleed to destigmatize menstruation. Then craziness ensues as she figures out how to manage her newfound fame.
Literally, from the first page, I was laughing so hard. The book is so brilliant. It isn't just about the effect of Kathleen's husband's shocking betrayal but also about navigating being a mom. At the same time, she had all these terrible things happening and then was unwittingly thrust into the public eye. Then an even bigger point is raised—what happens to everyone getting canceled all the time? The book asks, what about them?
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
Literally, from the first page, I was laughing so hard. The book is so brilliant. It isn't just about the effect of Kathleen's husband's shocking betrayal but also about navigating being a mom. At the same time, she had all these terrible things happening and then was unwittingly thrust into the public eye. Then an even bigger point is raised—what happens to everyone getting canceled all the time? The book asks, what about them?
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
March 23, 2023
3.5 stars
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I really liked the concept, but the actuality of social media was pretty demoralizing. I liked the mother/daughter relationship, but just wanted a bit more depth overall on the subject matter. Although as a statement on the artifice of pretty much everything in the news, it is pretty solid.
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I really liked the concept, but the actuality of social media was pretty demoralizing. I liked the mother/daughter relationship, but just wanted a bit more depth overall on the subject matter. Although as a statement on the artifice of pretty much everything in the news, it is pretty solid.
March 13, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for this clever and witty novel. The satirical prose had me laughing many times.
Kathleen (Kat) comes home to find her garage on fire and her husband in the precarious position of trying to douse the flames with his pants at his ankles and another woman in the background. Her taxi driver manages to capture it all on his phone and Kat’s life is never the same. To her horror, one of the pictures show her from behind with dried blood on her pants. Shortly thereafter, a new hashtag is born - #yeswebleed. Kat leans into her new role as a perimenopausal warrior alongside her 12-year-old daughter in the “Yes We Bleed” movement.
There are many aspects of today’s social media world portrayed in this book, the good, the bad and the ugly. Social media can be damaging to one’s psyche and it can elevate others to fame. This book shines a light on all of it. It’s the first book I’ve ever read that has a focus on menstruation and it’s done in a unique, mostly hilarious, way.
Kathleen (Kat) comes home to find her garage on fire and her husband in the precarious position of trying to douse the flames with his pants at his ankles and another woman in the background. Her taxi driver manages to capture it all on his phone and Kat’s life is never the same. To her horror, one of the pictures show her from behind with dried blood on her pants. Shortly thereafter, a new hashtag is born - #yeswebleed. Kat leans into her new role as a perimenopausal warrior alongside her 12-year-old daughter in the “Yes We Bleed” movement.
There are many aspects of today’s social media world portrayed in this book, the good, the bad and the ugly. Social media can be damaging to one’s psyche and it can elevate others to fame. This book shines a light on all of it. It’s the first book I’ve ever read that has a focus on menstruation and it’s done in a unique, mostly hilarious, way.
April 5, 2023
A very original story line with an original character that could be any one of us. With every second of a person's life available for posting or streaming, the fact that Kathleen's "leaky" tampon ends up as the news of the day just proves that so many people will post ANYTHING. Her original response is what most women's would be......embarrassment and confusion at why this could be newsworthy.
Jane Roper has pulled some very different threads together and given us an entertaining look at today's life and times in the media lane. As Kathleen tries to figure out how she will ever be able to face her neighbors again, we'll recognize the people and organizations that exist slightly off the mainstream. An unusual story that will leave you entertained and telling all of your reading friends......especially those that bleed......that they really need to read this book.
Jane Roper has pulled some very different threads together and given us an entertaining look at today's life and times in the media lane. As Kathleen tries to figure out how she will ever be able to face her neighbors again, we'll recognize the people and organizations that exist slightly off the mainstream. An unusual story that will leave you entertained and telling all of your reading friends......especially those that bleed......that they really need to read this book.
March 25, 2023
I really enjoyed the what I call quirky chaos (slightly satirical) vibe of The Society of Shame. I was onboard with the #yeswebleed themes but also felt that I was returning to characters I loved in Where'd you go Bernadette and Today Will be Different (Maria Semple books) in terms of women who march to their own beat but have a little chaos or unexpected hilarity unfold around them, in their wake. The commentary on social media was its own best worst enemy was also well done.
This one was a yes for me, I thought Jane Roper had deft touches with the plot and societal commentary. Thank you Knopf for the ebook via NetGalley.
This one was a yes for me, I thought Jane Roper had deft touches with the plot and societal commentary. Thank you Knopf for the ebook via NetGalley.
March 28, 2023
When Catherine “cat“ held found her husband cheating it was because their garage was on fire and he was trying to put it out while his pants were down around his ankles and his intern was sitting in the grass with her panties around her ankles and oh yes the cab driver was there and took a picture. What he also unknowingly photographed was that Catherine just started her period and although she is devastated that her husband was cheating she is totally embarrassed at the world can see proof of her monthly cycle. This starts a wave of hashtag movements but the most popular is hashtag yes we bleed. Catherine would rather live like an ostrich and put her head in the sand but her daughter as opposed to being bullied by it gets angry and decides to join The #yes we bleed club at her school they’re even creating gift bags for refugees with pads and tampons… They just need to find some refugees. Catherine is not down with this and tries to make her daughter quit the club but since she’s left her husband and join A group of other adults who suffered from scandal publicly she’s also gaining some confidence and decides not only to allow her daughter to be in the group but it’s going to advocate for the #GuessWeBleedMovement.HerBiggestFearWasHerDaughterWouldn’tTakeTheDivorceAndTheNewVersionOfTheirFamilyThatWellButItSeemsHerDaughterAndThisGroupOfLosers will wind up teaching Catherine all the great things she has in her life. This book was one of the funniest books I’ve read in a while I love this book from the one eyed dog nugget to the group leader to so much more and although I don’t think every situation should be a public discussion I do think the stigma for women’s periods is a pointless one. I’m myself I’m not embarrassed by my period and if it did happened I would’ve just shrugged it off, I mean life happens but I know some people take that seriously and I found it being The subject of a book hilarious. I love the people in the group I loved Catherine I thought her husband was an egomaniac this is such a great book and one I highly recommend if you just need a pick me up you definitely need to pick this book up first you will totally be laughing by the time you’re done. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review
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