What a fantastic book this was that drew out every emotion.
Jaded explores the very difficult and all to common topic of sexual assault but the author handles this topic is a very sensitive and realistic way.
This is a raw and moving book that is difficult at times but also powerful and compelling.

This book !!
I honestly don't feel I can do this book justice in my review , I didn't expect a book with such a dark subject matter to be such an enjoyable read (it feels so wrong saying you enjoyed a book about sexual assault) . But what the writer does is use a contemporary sort of style in her approach which makes the novel so readable and current.
The book gets you to feel such a range of emotions but I did find that i was getting more and more angry throughout as you just know that what happened is such a common occurrence in top firms in the city. It will make your blood boil!
I adored Jade as a character from the onset. She is dealing with casual racism at work and from her friends, she is torn between cultures , she wants to please everyone , but she isn't annoying .
It's a book about identity, class privilege and trauma . You will love it yet hate it . It's a great debut and i can see this working great as a screen adaptation .

I loved this book so much! It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, it made my eyes water, my blood boil and smile at the strength of female friendships. Unfortunately the topic of the book is something too many women can identify with, and Ela Lee described all the emotions and intense fear and pain in such a real manner. I’m sure many of us felt seen reading this book and I hope the author and anyone reading heals with love in their heart.
Loved it so so much.

Jaded is a clever and captivating debut novel. This book tackles the difficult topic of sexual assault in a realistic and meaningful way. I felt this was handled really well and whilst this was a difficult read at times it also felt like an important and worthwhile one.
This book is beautifully written and does an excellent job of carefully examining complex topics such as SA, race, identity and relationships in an impactful and meaningful way.
There were times I had to take breaks from this book just because it felt so realistic but it is worth persevering.

"Jaded" is a captivating, introspective narrative that goes beyond mere entertainment and had me questioning everything.

Throughout the story, I found myself reevaluating my beliefs, allegiances, and cultural background and contemplating their implications for my future.

The characters' diverse struggles highlight various facets of resilience, evoking a range of emotions from empathy to frustration.
Additionally, the exploration of Turkish and Korean cultures offers a rich immersive experience, from culinary traditions to intricate family dynamics. The depth of these cultural insights left me craving more, especially as I pondered the backstory of Jade's parents.

With its intricate themes and compelling storytelling, "Jaded" is not just a page-turner but I think can also be a catalyst for positive change.

"Jaded" by Ela Lee is a captivating story; I can't believe it is a debut novel. Lee skillfully intertwines complex characters and intricate plotlines, keeping readers engaged throughout. The vivid descriptions and raw emotions create an immersive reading experience. Although the pacing may feel uneven at times, Lee's compelling storytelling more than makes up for it. The exploration of themes such as ambition, misogyny and identity adds depth to the narrative. Overall, "Jaded" is a commendable work that makes a lasting impression. I look forward to reading more of her work.

An intelligent and well written debut. There is a lot packed into this clever and original novel. It is not a light beach read, or one to read on the tube, but if you like a bit of emotional intelligence, complex themes and great storytelling this book will fill the gap. I found it a hard read emotionally, but afterwards I wanted to recommend it to others.

This was so well-written and I really tried to persevere with it but unfortunately I just found it a bit too triggering.

Clever, insightful and riven with a deep understanding of the world today, this book has all the hallmarks of a modern classic. It was brilliantly written and had engaging characters who felt fully three dimensional.

A difficult story to read. A woman who is the daughter of immigrants who works in a high intensity law firm, is sexually assaulted. Thanks for the early copy for a review.

I wasn't sure how I would find this book initially, however I really think the author did a great job at examining sexual assault, with the mental and physical toll that takes on a person as well as their other relationships. This book was not an easy read but it was done so well I have to commend the author for the way they handled topics such as sexism and racism. I wouldn't say this book is for everyone because of the themes, however if those things don't trigger you then I think you definitely give this a go.

Wow - funny, insightful, powerful, sad, scary, moving.
I quoted hilarious / cringe scenes to my friends, highlighted copious clever / meaningful lines about relationships, growing up, society, laughed and cried.
The contemporary, rom com style of the writing made a tough subject readable, I was keen to keep opening the book despite such a difficult topic which in other hands would have potentially been too depressing - and it felt accessible and real.
I loved it, it will stay with me for a long time - really powerful. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley & publishers for the opportunity to read.

I loved this debut!

Ela Lee has a way with words that makes the reader feel traumatised yet seen all at once. Her main character Ceyda, is struggling not just with being young and attempting to assimilate into a majority white country as someone of mixed heritage, but she's also struggling with her very corporate work environment.

I loved the journey we took with Ceyda throughout the novel. It's something that is experienced by many who will never voice what happened to them and oftentimes we can live in a state of denial until we 'wake up'. I loved how Ela also made this even moreso rooted in reality through the

I also loved Ceyda's relationship with her parents and how over time she came to understand her Omma depsite not wholly agreeing with her actions in dealing with the knowledge of Jade's assault.

I loved the way Ceyda and Kit's relationship unfolded. I feel like normally I'd be reaching through the book to shake Jade for letting so much slide but there was just something in her writing that meant she didn't need that yet but that section with her and Baba moving boxes, broke me.

Everyone should read this, not to live through the trauma of what happened to Ceyda, but to live through the aftermath with her.

I don’t know quite what I expected going into Jaded, only that it wasn’t this powerhouse of emotion, shrewd commentary and uncomfortable exposee of the aggressions (micro and macro, passive and active) that women face in the world. These are showcased through Jade (whose real name is Ceyda, but it seems that no one can spell or pronounce that), a young mixed race British-Turkish-Korean who is sexually assaulted by a colleague and discovers just how many hurdles there are between her and ‘justice’ (e.g. a shred of accountability and restoration).

Whilst working at a (predictably, majority male, majority white) law firm in London, Jade attends a dinner at which not only is one of the major directors of the firm behaving deeply inappropriately towards her (not allowing her to say no to alcohol, placing hands on her and suggesting that she come and stay with him), which ends in her being blackout drunk and escaping the party. But, after being helped home by another colleague, she wakes up feeling anxious and confused, with no memory and a deep, gnawing sense of dread. She spends the next days and weeks trying to peer through the haze to piece together what happened that night - and the impact it will have on her life from here on.

She turns to her boyfriend, Kit, for support and whilst he initially seems kind and supportive, as the story unfolds we learn slivers of information from past and present that highlight his total lack of cultural sensitivity, combined with virtue signaling and ‘remaining neutral’ as a means of ‘diffusing’ tension.

Whilst evidently the central event of this book is the sexual assault / rape that Ceyda suffers, the narrative also does a brilliant job of slipping in regular ‘throw away’ comments from characters (very much not just Kit!) which highlight just how ignorantly cavalier people can be with their casual xenophobia, how quickly they dismiss systems of oppression, or become more interested in white saviorism than actually challenging structural inequality or addressing their own biases.

This is a story of identity, politics, privilege, oppression, misogyny and feminism and I found it to be deeply moving, scream-inducingly aggravating and totally devastating - all whilst remaining accessible (obviously trigger warnings allowing!) and engaging throughout. Am so grateful for having been able to read this, and I highly highly recommend it.

Jaded is an incredibly heartfelt novel that follows Jade, a young professional, who is sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. It cleverly unfolds through the act and beyond, taking the reader on a journey of realisation that the pieces of her life are shattering, to the pieces being put back together. It cleverly encompasses many themes that seep through cleverly, subtly at first, and later in the novel becoming an active focus. It evokes strong emotions as it delves into trauma, racism, microaggressions and self-compassion. A truly enveloping read.
With many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, who shared an advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

Upon first seeing Jaded, I wondered if I should expose myself to another sexual assault narrative. These are heavy reading, and a reader is never sure just how much they will be affected by it. And yet, in this time of recognising sexual assault and keeping perpetrators accountable, every exploration of various milieus, environments, and cultures, is important.

Jaded explores the responses and cultures around the sexual assault of a young British-Turkish-Korean attorney. How does woke, young adult, corporate culture react when they are in direct proximity to sexism, racism, and classism? Can men who claim to be feminist put their money where their mouths are when it is time to speak up?

In a masterly complex novel, Ela Lee deftly combines the major conflict above, with further exploration of relationships, parent-child conflict, xenophobia, virtue signalling, privilege, and recovery. Of note, events and dialogues are painfully accurate - even Jade/Ceyda’s discussion of her attempts at “wellness culture”. Even though I have little in common with Ceyda - besides our age and sex - Lee’s writing enables a indelible feeling of connection with her protagonist. I expect Jaded will reach a wide audience to great applause, and quite likely be nominated for a prize or two. I certainly recommend it.

A rather bleak book, for which I need to issue a strong trigger warning for rape. It's mainly notable for its central character's Korean-Turkish family background, which is explored in detail as Ceyda (Starbucks name: Jade) and her posh, White English partner Kit, interact with her parents. Ceyda works in a big law firm and puts everything into it while dealing with constant microaggressions from colleagues and Kit's friendship group which are slowly revealed through the book. Thank goodness she has her best friends, Adele and Eve.

Jade holds everything in firm control and does it all right until, blind drunk, a collegue she previously liked coerces her ito a taxi and rapes her after a business event where even the big boss is pawing at her. The rest of the book explores her gradual realisation of what happened and the inevitable conclusions from this being done to a young woman of multiple heritage in a large, White, male law firm. The repercussions are strong, realistically, and "feminist", "anti-racist" Kit shows his true colours.

The book explores consent, complicit racism and City company culture and it has power, but would be very triggering for many and I don't think the book description of "sexual assault" really covers that.

A book that will restart the important topic of how we need to talk about trauma, silence will not make the situation better if anything makes it 100% worse. Difficult topics to read about but a book that needs to be written.

Are you in the mood to feel some feminine rage?

We follow Ceyda, or ‘Jade’ for the ease of her peers as she navigates what should be her idillic life. Perfect boyfriend, enviable career. Until one night the actions of another lead her reeling, questioning everything about who she is and the actions of those closest to her in the process.

Jaded is a heartbreaking, emotional book that honestly everyone should read. I know it will stay with me for a long time.


*please ensure you check trigger warnings in advance of reading this book.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC.

Jaded was one of my favourite reads of 2023. The book follows Jade, a young lawyer, who after a company event where she was inebriated, starts to piece together the events of the night that have been blocked out of her memory and realises she’s been sexually assaulted by a colleague.

The book was so tender and delicate considering the topic, you really felt everything Jade was going through, including the aftermath of the event and as a line is drawn in the sand between Jade and the perpetrator, where the people in her life fall on either side of that line.

The ending, while heartbreaking, felt very realistic and didn’t shy away from the unfortunate reality that many survivors face.

This book was an easy 5 stars for me.