Help Wanted

A Novel

By: Adelle Waldman

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. comes a funny, eye-opening tale of work in contemporary America.

Every day at 3:55 a.m., members of Team Movement clock in for their shift at big-box store Town Square in a small upstate New York town. Under the eyes of a self-absorbed and barely competent boss, they empty the day’s truck of merchandise, stock the shelves, and scatter before the store opens and customers arrive. Their lives follow a familiar if grueling routine, but their real problem is that Town Square doesn’t schedule them for enough hours―most of them are barely getting by, even while working second or third jobs.

When store manager Big Will announces he is leaving, the members of Movement spot an opportunity. If they play their cards right, one of them just might land a management job, with all the stability and possibility for advancement that that implies. The members of Team Movement―including a comedy-obsessed oddball who acts half his age, a young woman clinging on to her “cool kid” status from high school, and a college football hopeful trying to find a new path―band together to set a just-so-crazy-it-might-work plot in motion.

Adelle Waldman’s debut novel was a breakout sensation, lauded by the Los Angeles Times as an “exacting character study” with “excellent and witty prose” and described as “incisive and very funny” by the Economist and “brilliant” by both NPR’s Fresh Air and the Washington Post. In her long-awaited follow-up, Waldman brings her unparalleled wit and astute social observation to the world of modern, low-wage work. A humane and darkly comic workplace caper that shines a light on the odds low-wage workers are up against in today’s economy, Help Wanted is a funny, moving tale of ordinary people trying to make a living.

©2024 Adelle Waldman (P)2024 Spotify Audiobooks

Just okay

I would say that the only reason it kept any interest at all, was that it was portrayed what people go through in their jobs, and how they feel about themselves. But as soon as you got to know each of the personalities, you wanted to know more about them. I felt the story ended too abruptly, and left too many open ends.

poignant entertaining ensemble story

set in a big box store, after hours. Thoughtprovoking discussion of life on the economic edge.

Funny and great character development

Really enjoyed the book and insights into life working at a big box store. Good read!

Fabulous, very real look at the retail sector and its workers

I loved how the author delved into each of the characters, so it seemed that they had their own unique personality. The story conveys the pathos of a town left behind, and set adrift by the corporate culture of America. It shows, dramatically I feel, how those still living there are trapped by poverty; the lacks and wants as ropes and cages. Without a private vehicle, flexible access to, or license to drive one in the increasingly car dependent landscapes of America is its own barrier. . “Help Wanted”also shows the living conditions in which the workers live - with only upper management fortunate enough to be able to afford houses, while the rank and file workers are left needing to rent a place to live and sleep. This entails the ability to pay upfront what the landlord asks; usually 3 months rent (first,and last month, plus a security deposit which usually is about a month’s rent as well). THEN there are the references needed … it’s a wonder how anyone gets anywhere without SOME kind of help. The book demonstrates how varied the help required is; from the first time worker to ex con.
The detail of one of the former managers seen applying for a job in a nearby chain store shows the barrenness of the retail environment in the town.
This was eye opening for a person who has worked in the food service and childcare sectors most of their life.

Alternative Facts

This important snapshot of one cast of characters in one town at one beief moment in time taught me more about America than I have learned in many years of being a news addict. Now I get it. Now I understand how divided we've become. Now I understand how we stopped seeing each other. Empathy has taken on a startling different meaning to me and I am grateful for the interesting writing and the brilliant character development.

Compelling story of life in retail

Not as much of a caper as I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and about the thin line the working poor walk.

Strong characters, boring story

For a story that delves into the mundanities of a common job, I was hoping for some amazing humor and/or clever plot elements. Given the good writing and character development, it felt like a missed opportunity. Come to think of it, it’s unconscionable that there could be a detailed scene of lead characters stocking socks and bras with ZERO humor, like if you asked a retail employee to describe that task they would make it funny…and yet the author just slogs through it.

I thought it was pretty boring

I didn’t care for the narrators voice. And didn’t end up caring about any of the car actors.