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The Startup Wife

Navigating love and ambition in the tech world

Tahmima Anam author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Canongate Books

Published:3rd Jun '21

Should be back in stock very soon

The Startup Wife cover

Asha’s life shifts dramatically in The Startup Wife when she reconnects with her high-school crush, leading to unexpected challenges in love and ambition.

In The Startup Wife, we follow Asha, a computer scientist who is halfway through her PhD and has her future meticulously planned. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she reconnects with her high-school crush, Cyrus, leading to a whirlwind romance that shifts her focus. Together with their friend Jules, they embark on an ambitious project to create a social networking app designed to bring meaning to the lives of many. Asha's innovative algorithm and Cyrus's charm propel the app to success, but this newfound fame comes with its own challenges.

As the app skyrockets, Asha finds herself grappling with feelings of invisibility in her own company. Decisions are made without her input, leaving her questioning her role and the dynamics of their partnership. The novel delves into the complexities of ambition, love, and the often-overlooked contributions of women in tech. Asha's journey is both relatable and inspiring, as she navigates the intricacies of her personal and professional life.

The Startup Wife is a witty and sharp exploration of modern relationships and the tech industry, highlighting the importance of standing up for oneself and advocating for change. With its blend of humor and insight, this story resonates with anyone who has ever felt sidelined in their pursuits. Asha's evolution is a testament to resilience and the power of friendship in the face of adversity.

Pulses with up-to-the-minute topicality . . . as high-octane entertainment that hits notes poignant as well as savagely witty, it soars * * Observer * *
Fresh, funny, brave, savage, smart - Tahmima Anam hits every note perfectly in this novel about our new reality and the age-old problems of men and women that no app can fix -- KAMILA SHAMSIE
Impossibly timely and bewilderingly smart -- ELIF SHAFAK
Excellent on the intricacies of sexism and racism (Asha is Bengali) and how migrant experiences differ . . . Anam's writing is stylish and funny . . . and she guides the reader deftly towards a satisfying conclusion * * Sunday Times * *
A sparkling comedy about love, work and the search for meaning in our lives, that is funny, tender, sometimes raunchy, always smart. It satirises these crazy times, but with compassion and elegance. A rambunctious, radiant riot of a novel -- MONICA ALI
[A] sparky satire of startup culture and the modern search for meaning . . . Smart and funny on culture clashes, male-female dynamics and the cult of wellness * * Guardian * *
An extremely enjoyable, feminist rom-com - gloriously readable, irresistibly funny and even smarter than you realise until you turn the final, triumphant page. I loved this novel -- GILLIAN ANDERSON
Well-observed and funny: Anam deftly skewers a world of polished concrete and exposed brick, deranged venture capitalists and apocalypse-obsessed entrepreneurs . . . zippy and smart * * Sunday Telegraph * *
Brilliant . . . if you enjoyed Self Care by Leigh Stein or Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener you'll love this. A modern novel about love, start-ups, technology, ambition and the future, all wrapped up in one. It's very clever, but also subtle and very funny too. That sort of dry wit that makes you snort. [I] loved it . . . the perfect escapism -- EMMA GANNON
I raced through this beautifully written, often hilarious and always thought-provoking book about big tech, love, faith and chasing dreams . . . fabulous * * Mail on Sunday * *

  • Short-listed for Comedy Women in Print Prize 2023 (UK)

ISBN: 9781838852481

Dimensions: 220mm x 144mm x 29mm

Weight: 418g

304 pages

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