Helpful Score: 1
I love books about books so my eye was drawn to the title and illustrated cover of Shauna Robinson's debut novel Must Love Books. Thankfully fellow readers alerted me that this isn't a romcom but an honest look at working in publishing. TW: suicidal thoughts
The premise: The main character is 20-something Nora who works for a publisher of business/non-fiction titles in NYC. She was so excited to be employed as an editorial assistant and dreamed of becoming an editor. However, five years later, she's stuck in the same position working on books that don't sell, mourning changes in the office environment, and doing the work of at least two (entry-level) positions. She's unhappy with her professional and personal life and begins to think everything would be easier if she wasn't around any longer.
Then a small mistake on a bestselling author's sandwich order gets Nora noticed, and things quickly get far more complicated than she could imagine. Can a good development in her personal life bring bad things to her career? Do "dream jobs" really exist?
My thoughts: I'm glad I went into this book with a hint of its mood and subject; it's definitely not a romcom. I appreciated the honest look at an industry that is often romanticized and the struggles its employees face, and I enjoyed the unique relationship between Nora and Andrew. I had issues keeping track of Nora's coworkers, and I was surprised by the mental health plotline - it seemed to come out of nowhere, but maybe that's what it's like for some who live it. I was grateful to read this via audiobook and thought Tyra Kennedy's narration captured Nora's personality well.
Many thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy; all thoughts are my own.
The premise: The main character is 20-something Nora who works for a publisher of business/non-fiction titles in NYC. She was so excited to be employed as an editorial assistant and dreamed of becoming an editor. However, five years later, she's stuck in the same position working on books that don't sell, mourning changes in the office environment, and doing the work of at least two (entry-level) positions. She's unhappy with her professional and personal life and begins to think everything would be easier if she wasn't around any longer.
Then a small mistake on a bestselling author's sandwich order gets Nora noticed, and things quickly get far more complicated than she could imagine. Can a good development in her personal life bring bad things to her career? Do "dream jobs" really exist?
My thoughts: I'm glad I went into this book with a hint of its mood and subject; it's definitely not a romcom. I appreciated the honest look at an industry that is often romanticized and the struggles its employees face, and I enjoyed the unique relationship between Nora and Andrew. I had issues keeping track of Nora's coworkers, and I was surprised by the mental health plotline - it seemed to come out of nowhere, but maybe that's what it's like for some who live it. I was grateful to read this via audiobook and thought Tyra Kennedy's narration captured Nora's personality well.
Many thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy; all thoughts are my own.
