This book really stood out to me as being different from the norm. I really enjoyed that the characters are all so different, it also showed how you can spend everyday with a person and not really know them.

I think this would really resonate for someone who'd worked in retail, and I liked how it showed rather than told with the character studies. However, it was very logistical focussed and detailed for me.

Anyone who has worked in retail will immediately relate to this one, even if they worked on the floor. The depictions were spot on, and painfully so at times LOL However, this character driven plot was where it lost me some of the time. The pacing maybe? Because at times I was hooked and then it would lose me a bit. Which I think is part of the risk of a more character driven story. I didn't have any issues with finishing it though. I just think you'd have to have worked retail to get to that level of enjoyment. Narration was well done and I enjoyed that aspect of it immensely.

3.5 rounded to 4/5

Superstore/'large online retailer' back-office multi-character exposé.

I adored the America Ferrara series 'Superstore', and this felt very much in the same vein - a behind-the-storefront look at the working lives of the employees, the machinations to reach promotions, the personal lives and struggles of everyone, and a 'day in the life' of how a customer-facing shop still functions.

Faced with possible changes to management, we watch the politics at play from the start, start to form empathy for some more than others of our staff, see the different management styles at work, and what seems to be a very realistic workplace, in action. The conditions, subterfuge, poor pay and downright scandalous up-top decisions feel as though this is based on real experiences.

Loved this, a proper ensemble plot where nobody is our one protagonist or hero, and we are never sure how it's all going to turn out at Town Square.

Makes you appreciate whatever you have in your working life that's better than this!

Nicely read, and I didn't feel too confused with multiple characters.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

Brilliantly observationl book about a group of coworkers on the nightshirts as they work collectively and individually to improve their situation.

Funny but also sharp in its social commentary. Help Wanted was mundane, gentle, quiet and thoughful. Nothing much happened and I'm gutted this finished because I could have stayed in that little shop forever.

If there's such a genre as cosy work-opera then this would be centre stage.

My only criticism is that the character' dev relied on some pretty tired tropes and I'd have loved to see less stereotyping and more complexity in people's backgrounds and assumed abilities.

I'd still happily pick up the next one!

I read this as audio and really enjoyed it.

Thankyou Netgalley and Viper books for this ARC copy.

Help Wanted
by Adelle Walkman

In a big box store in upstate NY, Meredith is in line for a promotion which could mean a big opportunity for one of the team, so despite the fact that they really can't stand Meredith and think she'd be an awful manager, the team agree to big her up when Corporate announce they will interview everyone to get a feel for how she will stand up.

More than a few have their eyes on the prize and thanks to the company's view of itself as progressive and their drive for diversity, there is quite the mix of characters involved, and through rotating points of view, we soon learn their backgrounds, their ambitions, or lack thereof, and their often hilarious thoughts about each other.

If you ever spent any time in retail at any level you will recognise the dynamics working between all these individuals. The world of retail has changed so much over the past few decades, but the push to maximise output while shaving down costs, at the expense of the customer, the staff and ultimately the operation itself is laid out so entertaining and so authentic.

Loaded with judgment and social commentary touching on social status, education status, race and class dynamics, hierarchical perspectives, ambition and what it takes to throw someone under the bus.

I would highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator brings a wonderfully sarky tone to the reading which adds to the gossipy feel of the story.

Publication Date: 21st March 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #spotifyaudiobooks for the ALC

A fractured team works a warehouse unloading line at a large store, but when the store boss is promoted and the opportunity for promotion presents itself, the team come together (despite their differences) to achieve a common goal; get their dreadful manager promoted so she no longer makes their lives a misery.
The plot took a while to emerge from this one; at the beginning it was almost like a lesson in store logistics, there was quite a lot of detail about the packages and the unloading process. Then the story began to reveal each member of the team’s background and motivations. It was almost a management guide, in terms of how not to lead and what opportunities exist if you just get to know your team (and co-workers). I’d describe this as more character-driven than plot-driven, but while it was engaging, witty and entertaining it was difficult to warm to many of the characters as most were so self-centred and introspective. (Except Raymond who seemed like an under-appreciated sweetheart who was actually competent.)
While this story was all about the characters, it lacked character progression; I couldn’t really see an arc for the majority of the cast and for many of them this meant that they would ultimately repeat the same mistakes, which lacked satisfaction for me as a reader, hence the four stars rather than five.
It was kinda like watching a long soap-opera episode; an interesting insight into team dynamics and missed opportunities in a small, down-on-its-heels town, but ultimately nothing really changed.
The narrator (Amanda Ronconi) was excellent and really captured the mood of the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for a chance to listen to an ARC. Adelle Waldman’s Help Wanted releases today: 21 March.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this title and have to say it’s been an unexpected delight. It took me into a world that’s totally unknown to me with a cast of characters who feel like real people. It’s really well written and Adele Walkman is a master of acute social observation. She captures the nuances of interactions and character that take what’s basically a mundane story into something far more exciting.

The setting is a dismal area in a warehouse where the workers do a drudgy job for low lay. A promotion opportunity arises and they seek to place one of their own in the position. It doesn’t sound engaging , but within minutes of the narration starting, I was swept into their working life and routine. Incredibly, I found the mundane detail of the boxing section fascinating. Walkman explores the world of the low paid with sympathy and honesty. It’s an area rarely touched upon in fiction, but it’s a world experienced by millions daily. I really enjoyed this story with the plottings and dialogue which brought the place vividly to life and for me, this is a surprise hidden gem.

Narration throughout is excellent. Well balanced and delivers in a way that made it rather like eavesdropping on conversation at times.

This high quality audio centers on the day to day running of a big box store in a deprived area. The characters are well written and th.e narration delivered flourlessly. The story deals with a lot of tough day to day issuses including stereotyping,racism and prejudices. What i loved was the chatacters came together fir a common goal and their lives interwoven and diffucult issues are tackled through informed dualogue. This was a feel good story that was true to life. A short entertaining listen. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for thus 4 star liaten.

An interesting concept, telling the story of a team of employees in a "big box" store in New York, who plot to ensure the right person gets a promotion when they find out their current, popular manager is moving to another store.

These characters aren't really considered to be all that important - just ordinary people leading ordinary lives, but as we get to know them, their lives, their struggles and their triumphs, they become so much more than ordinary people. All very different and all important in their own way.

The narration by Amanda Ronconi was excellent.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Adelle Waldman and Spotify for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Given that millions of people spend most of their time in unglamorous, low paid jobs, it's surprising how few books are written set in such workplaces. There's a whole world of modern human experience that is barely represented in print. It could be argued that's because such jobs are not exciting to do, let alone read about someone else doing - but a good writer can make anything interesting and gripping. If anyone needs proof of that, here it is - Adelle Waldman's 'Help Wanted'.

The novel features a host of characters who work at a department store in down-on-its-luck US town. Most of them are in the 'movement' department - the snazzy new name given by the management to logistics. The team are responsible for unloading the delivery trucks, unpacking the crates, and displaying the goods, all in the small hours of the morning before the store opens. Like most workplaces, it is understaffed for economic reasons, and the employees work multiple jobs in order to scrape together enough cash to meet their basic needs.

Waldman doesn't shy away from explaining and describing the work, and I found it really interesting to get an insight into this area. It had never crossed my mind to think about how the goods I buy in the shops get from the delivery bay to the shelves, or about the lives of those who undertake the work. But it's not just descriptions of how to unpack crates efficiently - there's a good and gripping plot. When the store's manager announces he is leaving, the 'movement' team sees an opportunity to take advantage of the chain of promotions that will ensue. If they play their cards right, they could get rid of their selfish, lazy manager to the vacated role, where they won't see much of her. Then their likeable supervisor should get her current job, and even better, one of them should get his job. But first they have to find a way to make the unpleasant Meredith seem like the best candidate for the top job, over a much more likeable candidate.

I loved the characters and the writing is really strong, I could visualise all of them and the shop they worked in. I got very caught up in the storyline and was reluctant to stop listening until I found out how everything turned out. As well as being a great story, it's also a fine piece of social commentary that shows the reality of the lives of many people in the USA and other countries, working very hard at low income jobs and trying to make ends meet. Whilst the received wisdom is that anyone can work hard and succeed, this book demonstrates how that isn't necessarily the truth. The characters here certainly work hard, but opportunities just don't exist for them all, particularly when poverty and racism are factors holding them back. That said, it's not a preachy story and it doesn't labour any points - it doesn't need to. Show don't tell - the reader can come to their own conclusions.

The narration of the audiobook is well paced and the characters' voices distinct enough to be recognisable even before we're told who is speaking. It's an easy story to follow in audio form (as a more visual person, I find some stories with complicated or time-hopping narratives hard to absorb through listening).

I'd highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys literary fiction. It would be a great book group choice as well, as there's plenty of social topics explored here that could be discussed. I'll certainly be reading other books by Waldman, as she is clearly a gifted writer with the ability to make anything interesting and to create characters who are likeable.

Absolutely loved the audio. Great insight into the lived experience of people exploitated my marketing businesses via no hour contracts.
Brilliant idea & recommend to all friends.

Following the early shift workers at a large department store, Help Wanted gives a great insight into what it is like to work in retail. Set Iin an Target-style store in upstate NY, I could still relate to a lot of it based on a short stint a small UK supermarket!q

An easy read with some great characters!

A Quirky Commentary

🧡 This was a wry, quirky comedy about the modern workplace.
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SOUNDBITE

🎧 A fun, dryly funny performance by Amanda Ronconi.


Big thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for providing me with an ALC in return for an honest review.

Funny, poignant book that examines the lives of a group of people working at a retail store. Enjoyed listening to the audio version on my commute. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

This was plugged as a comedy. I must’ve lost all sense of humour entirely because I found it sad, depressing actually, the back biting, the worry, the stress of pay check to pay check depending on social security stamps to fill the kids bellies, with no heath care or benefits to speak of. It’s too much of a reality for far too many. Dreaming of better days. It felt pretty disingenuous in all honesty.

The narration was ok but a bit pitchy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify AB for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.