The Partner Track

A Novel

By: Helen Wan

Narrated by: Catherine Ho

Helen Wan's "engaging and suspenseful" (Wall Street Journal) debut novel, The Partner Track, is now a Netflix series!

Ingrid Yung's life is full of firsts. A first-generation Chinese American, the first lawyer in her family, she's about to collect the holy grail of "firsts" and become the first minority woman to make partner at the venerable old law firm Parsons Valentine & Hunt.

Ingrid has perfected the art of "passing" and seamlessly blends into the old-boy corporate culture. She gamely banters in the corporate cafeteria, plays in the firm softball league, and earnestly racks up her billable hours. But when an offensive incident at the summer outing threatens the firm's reputation, Ingrid's outsider status is suddenly thrown into sharp relief.

Scrambling to do damage control, Parsons Valentine announces a new Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, commanding Ingrid to spearhead the effort. Only she's about to close an enormous transaction that was to be her final step in securing partnership.

For the first time, Ingrid must question her place in the firm. Pitted against her colleagues, including her golden-boy boyfriend, Ingrid begins to wonder whether the prestige of partnership is worth breaching her ethics. But can she risk throwing away the American dream that is finally within her reach?

©2013 Helen Wan (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Engaging and suspenseful . . . She dissects the tokens of status in this world in a manner that's reminiscent of Tom Wolfe.” —Wall Street Journal

“Wan succeeds in exploring and fictionalizing the timely topics of sexism and racism in workplace politics in a fluent, thought-provoking, and compelling tale.” —Booklist

“Wan has written a sensitive story of discrimination faced in ‘old boy' law firms in particular but also in the world in general . . . intriguing and entertaining. This reviewer is looking to Wan's next novel.” —Library Journal

Lots of fun!

I chose this based on the fact that it was narrated by Catherine Ho and I was not disappointed. I loved this story. It’s a fun look at corporate law and the heroine’s experience as a woman of color in a notoriously white, male dominated “boys club.” Well done!

Relatable story for corporate attorneys

I was once an M&A associate, so I loved reading about so many situations and hearing all of the corporate buzzwords I experienced. I’m glad Ingrid ultimately found satisfaction in her career, but the ending seemed rushed and ho-hum. The narration was fine, but I found the articulation of syllables a bit rat-a-tat-tat and almost robotic at times.

It's not a romance book

Enjoyed the story very much! What a ride!
I thought it was going to be cringe and woke, which has some aspects of it in the story but it's not too over the top and somewhat eye-opening. I'm a woman of color, barely dealt with racism or sexism in the corporate world. We came a long way, and I owe it to the woman before me who fought for this. Forever grateful I don't have to deal with half the crap Ingrid dealt with.

Partner Track Audiobook: Deep, Engaging Drama

After watching and loving the Netflix series adaptation of Helen Wan's "The Partner Track," I was motivated to explore the original novel through its audiobook version. Helen Wan intricately paints the struggles of Ingrid Yung, a first-generation Chinese American lawyer striving for partnership at a traditional law firm. The novel delves deeper into the complexities of corporate culture and Ingrid's internal conflicts compared to the series. It tackles substantial themes such as discrimination and the moral dilemmas of conforming to corporate expectations. The audiobook enriches the narrative with a dynamic performance, making Ingrid's professional and ethical challenges even more engaging and relatable. This audiobook provides a suspenseful legal drama and a poignant discussion of the personal sacrifices in pursuing the American dream as a minority.

Loved it!

An entertaining story incorporating real world issues regarding encountering and overcoming sexism and racism in corporate America.

This was a ton of fun!

This book was exactly what I needed. I just graduated law school myself, and Ingrid inspired me. I thought about the story when I wasn’t listening and was pleased with how it ended. It was kind of predictable, but that didn’t bother me. Recommended!

The narrator was spot on fantastic!!

I loved this and could not stop listening to it . Tackled heavy topics in a fresh way that really helped me have a greater understanding.

Great Story!!

I’ll admit, I watched The Partner Track on Netflix and after the cliff hanger with Murph, I needed answers!! Luckily I got the answers I needed by listening to this book. Great narration! I really enjoyed seeing how the show differed from the original book. It’s refreshing to have a story from a woman’s perspective, especially in a male dominated field like law.

Far more realistic than the Show

As someone in Big Law, I found this far more realistic than the show, and just as entertaining. The narrator does an exquisite job.

Finished it in day!

Sitting at my desk one block over from 30 Rock in tears. Helen’s characters truly encompass the complexity of working in the city while navigating hostile workspaces.