When Georgie’s boss-turned-lover, Nico, offers her a high-stakes job in Canada, she wants to say no. But burdened by debt and swayed by Nico’s promises that the gig will be quick and lucrative, Georgie feels she has no choice - even though it means leaving behind the people she loves the most.
Swapping an Australian mining town for the rugged Albertan oilfields, Georgie’s finally getting her life back on track. But as the stakes rise at work and at home, Georgie discovers the real reason she got the job - and just what she stands to lose.
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Boom Town Snap follows Georgie from Karratha to Canada, tackling corporate politics, relationships, and morality. As the story moves along, you can’t help but root for her, and hope she makes the choices that get her what she wants, whilst realising her worth. This story really highlights what it takes to be “successful” in the corporate world, especially if you are a woman. It will also make you think about how business is done, particularly when big dollars are at stake. A very enjoyable read. Chrissie, WA, 5 stars
Women conflicted by professional relationships and crossing the barriers to intimate should never be. This novel Boom Town Snap by Jay Martin navigates a fine line of morals being tested, broken, and tested again. I found the novel interesting in the comparisons made between mining projects in Australia and oil projects in Albertan Canada, along with the conflicts that Georgia experiences between her marriage, her affair with a professional lead, the job she does, her family and how she attempts to prove herself as a successful professional, all the while her family life is falling apart, and her niavety through out the entire challenging experience is sad. The novel explores a move from Australia to Canada, leaving behind loved ones, attempting to maintain relationships whilst struggling with a project that is being manipulated by narcissistic men. I found the novel compelling and one you should consider once it hits the shelves for sale. Sharon, QLD, 5 stars
In this masterpiece of story-telling we meet Georgia, a dedicated aunt and overworked consultancy worker who’s also experiencing a painful separation from her husband. Georgia is lured from WA to Canada to bid for Government contracts in the oil industry and is promised a lucrative promotion should they win. However, Georgia is consistently undermined by her manipulative boss, who not only appears to be obstructing her promotion but cynically uses diversity quotas against her. This book not only exposes the raw realities of sexism and workplace injustice but highlights the social injustices faced by Aboriginal communities, their marginalisation stark against the backdrop of resource extraction. For Georgia, that, along with the devastating environmental impact of oil industries on wildlife adds another layer of moral complexity for her. Despite her professional aspirations, Georgia’s integrity shines as she bravely walks away from the toxic environment, refusing to be bullied and belittled. Her return to WA and embrace of her sister and nephew, who are escaping an oppressive situation, offers a powerful testament to resilience and the importance of human connection. Boom Town Snap is a beautifully written, deeply insightful, essential read that seamlessly blends personal struggle with vital social and environmental issues. Diane, SA, 5 stars
I felt so much empathy for the main character, Georgia, in Boom Town Snap. Boom Town Snap explored some themes and social problems that I was unaware of previously. I found myself shaking my head at times while I read as I absolutely detested Georgia’s chauvinistic boss, Randy. This book highlighted that there is still a lot of inequality due to natural resources, money and power, especially for women and vulnerable communities. I loved the beautiful ending. Kelly, QLD, 5 stars
I felt myself fall deep in love with the past and present concept of this book. I like the way the author really transported you to country town in Australia and then to snowy Canada. I hope the author does a second book to find out where Georgie and Josh end up. Monica, VIC, 5 stars
Author Jay Martin delivers the perfect read in her latest novel Boom Town Snap. The story gives us insight into relationships and their dynamics, communities, and our impact on the world and environment. Georgie is offered a high stakes job in Canada – far away from her home in Western Australia but with the debts she has Georgie feels like she has no choice but to take on the job even though it means leaving her loved ones – particularly her sister and nephew who are stuck in a bad home environment. As her work in Canada becomes made increasingly difficult by those higher up, she is left questioning everything she once thought she knew in her personal life and at work. She reaches breaking point when it finally becomes clear what she truly wants and believes in, finally stepping up and out on her own, and boldly and unapologetically does it. Georgie is woman hear her roar! Catherine, NSW, 5 stars
Wow, this book has it all. From big greedy corporations to ineffectual governments and corporate hierarchy in between, who’d sell the souls of those around them to stay at the top. Cleverly written, we’re all taken along for the ride with Georgie as she travels from one side of the world to the other in her quest to become a partner in a global company and the demands of being at the beck and call of bigwigs with their own selfish and contrary agendas. Georgie eventually comes to the realisation that the risk of losing herself as well as everything that is most important to her is the price she’ll have to pay to join the big boys, and that perhaps it’s just not worth it. And that ducks really do matter….. Deanne, VIC, 5 stars
A thought provoking, sometimes disturbing, but ultimately, hopeful, story. I liked the dual locations and dual timelines, which merged seamlessly. I am always impressed by fiction informed by fact, and ‘seasoned’ with opinion! The characters were mostly believable and real, though Randy is an out and out bad guy I couldn’t imagine would have been in the position he was. The book ranged across the ethics of mining and government, misogyny, indigenous rights, coercive control, relationships and big business. A great read. Victoria, NSW, 5 stars
Boom Town Snap by Jay Martin is a compelling read that explores the emotional and professional turbulence faced by Georgia, an astute woman whose clear-eyed business acumen contrasts starkly with the complexities of her personal life. Confident in her ability to seal deals and deliver high-stakes proposals, Georgia nonetheless grapples with the persistent challenge of proving her worth in a male-dominated industry that often undervalues her contributions. Martin skilfully juxtaposes the raw, high-pressure world of Australia’s mining sector with the equally complex landscape of Canada’s oil industry, crafting a vivid and engaging backdrop for Georgia’s inner and outer conflicts. As she becomes increasingly uneasy with the murky ethical and environmental practices of the companies she works with, the story digs into the tension between professional ambition and personal integrity. Themes of betrayal, naivety, and the moral compromises women are sometimes faced with in male-dominated environments are handled with nuance and insight. Martin’s novel doesn’t just chart Georgia’s journey — it interrogates the cost of success, the weight of conscience, and the resilience required to survive and thrive when the rules of the game are stacked against you. Kylie, VIC, 4 stars
An engaging story about relationships, value and the community around us. Love how witty this is, and the exploration of bigger topics such as the environment. Loved the characters! Kathryn, VIC, 4 stars
An interesting read following main character Georgie based around her career in the mining industry. I didn’t know much about this industry and it was great to see a strong female in a male dominated field. Georgie faced many challenges, personally and professionally and her resilience was something to be admired. Karlee, QLD, 4 stars
A good introduction to Author Jay Martin. Would recommend and look forward to more work by Jay Martin in the future. Kelly, VIC, 4 stars
Boom Town Snap is a gripping story that captures ambition, survival and secrets blended with humour and drama. The twists and unexpected turns kept me engaged from start to end. Kody, QLD, 4 stars
Georgie takes a chance on a job opportunity in Canada. It’s her chance to make partner, which is what she has always wanted, or is it? Georgie represents a large proportion of corporate women in Australia. She’s ambitious and wants at all, but the more homely side of her is hustling to be seen and heard. The dual timeline builds suspense around Georgie’s decision to seize the opportunity and has you rooting for a happy ending. A great cast of characters feature, not all likeable. The past explores family dynamics and some confronting themes with her husband and her sister. The current timeline explores work relationships with her male superiors, and her team. Working in a large corporate environment, I found this book to be quite relatable. It deals with politics, imposter syndrome, gender bias, misconduct, diversity targets, sustainability goals, professional development, career progression and probity to name a few. I usually want to read books that help me escape from my daily grind, but I’m so glad I read this book as I found it highly entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast paced contemporary fiction. Kylie, QLD, 4 stars
Georgie moves to Canada and says goodbye to her old life from a small mining town in Australia. A funny story that centre’s around relationships and finding yourself and balancing family from far away. 4 out of 5 stars! Jacinda, NSW, 4 stars
What a great read! Georgia works for a consulting firm in Western Australia and is offered a lucrative job in Canada by her boss/lover. She doesn’t want to accept it as she prefers to stay on WA close to her loved ones. However, she has a mountain of debt and sees this as the best way to climb out of her “debt hole”. The book then switches between current day in Edmonton, Alberta and five years prior in Western Australia, the latter moving forward in subsequent chapters until it reaches the current day and then moves on to a year after the Canadian experience. In Canada Georgia grapples with a a boss who sets her a seemingly impossible task and is given only one assistant to accomplish this. However, Georgia manages to meet all the challenges she’s presented with. In the flash back chapters we learn of her private life – a husband no longer on the scene and a sister married to a controlling, abusive man, with a nephew trying to cope with this toxic, unsettling family situation. No spoilers here – you must read this book to discover how Georgia copes with both her Canadian experience and her Australian life. Elva, QLD, 4 stars
Set between Western Australia and Alberta, Canada, Boom Town Snap examines the impact of the mining industries on communities, the natural world and individual relationships. We follow Georgie and her sister Tara navigating work, relationships and deciding what ultimately brings meaning and fulfillment to their lives. It is a story of both heartache and hope while giving the reader an insight into an industry that impacts us all in varying ways. Holly, WA, 3 stars
As someone who lives in a mining town, I was really excited to read this book. While my local area is slightly different to WA, the similarities with the ‘miner’s mindset’ resonated with me. The author has captured the weaknesses, strengths, questionable motives, professional drive and personal growth so impressively, it’s hard not to feel some level of empathy for the female protagonist. The internal turmoil that she goes through with the breakdown of her relationships, and her own mind, is captured in such a raw, emotionally charged and fraught way that at times, I struggled to push through due to the anticipation of the inevitable ‘snap’ that you could feel building. The tension shone through in a way that made it hard to continue reading, if only because I wanted to scream at the main character and shake her until she saw the truth. A well written nod to the difficulties within the mining industry (both personal and professional), Boom Town Snap is a novel with great depth of character that captures the struggles of a female in a mainly male dominated world. Kristen, QLD, 3 stars
This book provided an engaging reading experience, though it was a bit of a mixed bag. I really appreciated the focus on the relationships and the gradual, well-paced reveal of Josh’s backstory—it kept me hooked. However, I found the extensive focus on the business side of things in Canada to be a bit of a detour. The detailed scenes in boardrooms and business meetings felt excessive, and I couldn’t help but feel that this detracted from the character development I was more invested in. Despite these distractions, I’m glad I stuck with it, as the ending left me satisfied. Overall, it was almost a DNF for me, but I’m happy I finished it in the end. Melanie, NSW, 3 stars
Boom Town Snap by Jay Martin is a different read for me. It’s a contemporary fiction which shares the tale of Georgie who is offered a job in Canada. Her boss is also her lover, Nico. Needing money to pay her debts in Western Australia Georgie agrees. She hopes that by swapping her life in a WA mining town and rolling the dice on a lucrative job in Alberta, Canada she will change her fortunes. But… women are still fighting for their rights in this male dominated world, minorities have to fight for every dollar and the power of government and big mining companies means stats and the bottom dollar are all that really count. Georgie is stifled in this cutthroat world but the one thing she is certain of is that she is good at her job and she has the love of her family. Both these beliefs are sorely tested as Georgie struggles with internal conflict. It gives the reader an insight into mining and the natural world, friendship, relationships and our role as part of a community. A modern and thought provoking read. Michelle, QLD, 3 stars
Boom Town Snap describes many challenges women in the workforce face while trying to climb their way up the ladder. The sacrifices and pressures to comply with unreasonable demands are unethical and I’m glad Georgia found her calling in the end. Sheree, NSW, 3 stars
I tried really hard to get into the story but it was definitely not something that I found interesting. I suppose if you are interested in mining and company politics you might enjoy it but it wasn’t for me. Lee, VIC, 2 stars
This book wasn’t for me. I found it very difficult to connect with the main characters and their actions. Mary, QLD, 2 stars
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