Published By: Sourcebooks Landmark
Pages: 336
Date Published: 18/01/2022
Date Read: 16/07/2021
Meet Nora Hughes–the overworked, underpaid, last bookish assistant standing. At least for now.
When Nora landed an editorial assistant position at Parsons Press, it was her first step towards The Dream Job. Because, honestly, is there anything dreamier than making books for a living? But after five years of lunch orders, finicky authors, and per my last emails, Nora has come to one grand conclusion: Dream Jobs do not exist.
With her life spiralling and the Parsons staff sinking, Nora gets hit with even worse news. Parson’s is cutting her already unliveable salary. Unable to afford her rent and without even the novels she once loved as a comfort, Nora decides to moonlight for a rival publisher to make ends meet…and maybe poach some Parson’s authors along the way.
But when Andrew Santos, a bestselling Parsons author no one can afford to lose is thrown into the mix, Nora has to decide where her loyalties lie. Her new dream job, ever-optimistic Andrew, or…herself and her future.
CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS
Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Shauna Robinson for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Is there anything better than reading a book about books? It’s like a joyful reading inception – now that’s a film I’d definitely watch. especially if it had Leonardo DiCaprio in it as well.
I felt such an affinity with Nora; the self-deprecation, the dreaming of working with books, depression feeling, that feeling of living pay check to pay check – it’s all me. Except I’m not having a secret dalliance with a famous author – more’s the pity.
I’ll be honest, it didn’t grab me to begin with like a lot of books I’ve read recently, but it was a pleasant read. It was warming and comforting with friendly, believable, oh-so-real characters. I felt it got better as it went along. Not to say it wasn’t enjoyable to begin with, it was, but I felt it was quite…plodding along, but things started to ramp up in the last third and shit (sorry mum) really did start to hit the fan.
As someone who has been out of work since October 2020, I love Shauna’s realistic views of job searching, and the optimism and positivity that comes alongside it, although it is often hidden.
Books By Your Bedside 