Hot Desk by Zara Stoneley
ABOUT THE BOOK
Same desk, different days.
A post-it note is just the beginning…
Alice loves her job and wants to keep it – whatever the price. But then she’s told the company is switching to flexible working and hot desking…Alice’s desk might look a mess, but she knows exactly where everything is. Or she did. Until she found out she’s going to share it with the most annoying guy in the office.
Jamie can work from anywhere. He’s quite happy to sweep his work life into a box at the end of the working day. But can sharing a desk with Alice be as much fun as teasing her in person?
With no option but to try it and see, will their relationship turn into open warfare or will it ever progress beyond a post-it note?
MY REVIEW
I have been a fan of Zara Stoneley for a while now. Her characters are sweet and complex who work hard at bettering themselves and come together to tackle some difficult challenges.
Am I the only one that is horrified by this news? Did some people actually like working at home?
When Jamie and Alice are asked to hot desk for the new work-at-home policy, she panics. Her desk is her sanctuary, her breathing space, her escape. Her own private place full of her knick-knacks and things she holds dear. The one space she didn’t have to share with anyone else…until now. I guess it’s better than losing her job, right? Just barely.
You see, Alice has a major crush on Jamie. She first met him at a packed concert a few years ago and they shared a very memorable kiss. But here’s the kicker. Jamie doesn’t remember her. Apparently, she’s forgettable. In fact, they almost shared another kiss at a Christmas party at work and, yep, you guessed it, he didn’t remember. All he is now is someone who teases her and pushes her buttons. And, now he’s her hot desk mate. He’ll be touching her stuff. Sitting in her chair. It’s time for ground rules.
If you haven’t guessed by now, hot desking is sharing a space with a co-worker at different times. Alice is quirky at best with her obsession with her desk, but there is a reason. She has had to share space with her boundaryless sisters, her ex, and now with her housemates. They have no concept of privacy. Alice finally grows a pair and starts taking back her life instead of being a pushover. She gets a lock on her bedroom door, confronts her sister, housemates, and ex, and she agrees to a hilarious hot desk contract with Jamie. Jamie’s okay with it right away. He respects her privacy and starts to leave fun post-it notes on her desk. It appears everything is going fine, until one day Jamie fesses up about the kiss and reveals a shocking truth that could ruin everything. Jamie is loveable and supportive of Alice though he lied to her. His new situation is complicated at best, but with time and patience, they work it out. It’s going to be a challenge. As for the others, it takes time, but they step up and respect her wishes.
There are several supporting characters including Alice’s chaotic and warm and loving family, Alice’s co-worker and hilarious friend, Lou, and of course, Dave, Alice’s ex who is a complete knob.
I enjoyed this delightful tale of boundaries and taking back one’s life. I laughed out loud at the lovely post-it notes and I routed for two people who changed each other’s lives by one memorable kiss. Please see my reviews of The First Date and The Dog Sitter for more charming reads by Ms. Stoneley.
Thank you to Ms. Stoneley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Zara Stoneley was born in a small village in the UK. She wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up.
After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true, and more than half a million copies of her books have now been sold worldwide.
She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say ‘ahhh’.
Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo, a cocker spaniel puppy and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat.
Follow Zara on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, and Amazon.