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From backcover: Fans of the cult classic movie “Secretary” will appreciate this homage, although the setting and story are quite different. When Emily Robinson lands a good job with Bonham Industries, she's desperate to keep it and works hard to please her strict boss, Edward Caudry. She quickly learns even the tiniest typos infuriate him and he threatens her with dismissal. One day, after yet another typo, Caudry gives Emily a choice - she can be fired or submit to a “punishment” that will better help her focus -- a spanking! While part of Emily rebels at such treatment another part of her is secretly aroused by it. Despite her misgivings, she decides to allow Caudry to continue her punishments -- at least until she feels more secure in her job. But Caudry keeps pushing Emily further along she finds herself drawn in to the highly erotic nature of their new relationship.

Review written by Daemon Grendl

This book was a chore to read, like being forced to eat bad vegetables. The only reason I even bothered to finish the book was to be able to write a fair review of how awful this book is. I wonder why Mary Gaitskill doesn't protest more.

Unlike the movie, that the author claims to honor, this story is absolutely ridiculous and offensive to the senses. In the movie version of Secretary, Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a damaged woman working for a damaged lawyer in a private one-man agency. In this story, the normal secretary works for a top salesman in a large company with an Human Resources department. It's a poor attempt to rewrite the movie as erotic instead of sensual.

The obvious flaw in the book is complacency by the HR department and the recognition that laws are being violated and yet Emily continues to be abused by Mr. Grey. At least in the movie, the girl had a mental problem and the small company had no HR department which left her fewer options.

In the movie they have a very professional, non-sexual, relationship and the Domination/Submission is a subtext. Lee, the secretary, recognizes the need for punishment as emotional, not sexual. She's been punishing herself through cutting for years and Mr. Grey's spanking is a good external substitute to help change her behavior and help her over come her problems.

Conversely in this book, the boss clearly takes advantage of a naive girl's fear and desperation - Exactly what the HR department and the law is there to prevent. The premise, that Emily likes corporal punishment is irrelevant because she is not capable of consenting - She is in financial desperation. That makes the situation abuse, not love, and ruined the book for me.

Furthermore, throughout the narration, the main character clearly states that he is abusing his position by forcing his secretaries to submit to his kinky behavior. It's ridiculous to believe that any company would put up with his behavior and continue to assign him female assistants after having to pay out lawsuits and hush money.

The writing isn't bad and if you only care about spanking scenes, you might like this book. Book if you're bothered by impossible scenes like a boss demanding a morning blow-job, inspecting underwear choices and loud spankings in a crowded office you can skip this book.

I though the book was awful and do not recommend anyone buy or read this terrible story. Go rent the movie Secretary with Maggie Gyllenhaal instead - It is a much better story.

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