Literature & Fiction
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The Work Wife: A Novel
"A bold and wholly satisfying novel about power, ambition, and the price women must often pay for their dreams." -Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow
Three fierce women connected to a billionaire film mogul collide at a Hollywood party in this richly observed novel about female ambition, complicity, and privilege.
Zanne Klein never planned to be a personal assistant to Hollywood royalty Ted and Holly Stabler. But a decade in at thirty-eight, that's exactly how she spends her days, earning six figures to make sure the movie mogul and his family have everything they could ever dream of and more.
However, today is no ordinary day at the Stabler estate. Tonight, everyone who's anyone will be there for the Hollywood event of the season, and if the party's a success, that chief of staff job Zanne's been chasing may soon be hers. Which means she can buy a house, give her girlfriend the life she deserves, pay off her student loans.
Nothing's going to get in Zanne's way-not disgruntled staff, not a nosy reporter, not even a runaway hostess. But when Ted's former business partner, Phoebe Lee, unexpectedly shows up right before go time, Zanne suddenly has a catastrophe unfolding before her-one with explosive consequences. As the truth comes out and Zanne realizes how deeply entangled she's become in the Stablers' world, she must decide if the sacrifices she's made for the job are worth the moral price she has to pay.
"The Work Wife is that rare book that illuminates a world we never knew existed while also making us feel so much less alone in everyday life." -Julia Phillips, author of National Book Award finalist Disappearing Earth
Three fierce women connected to a billionaire film mogul collide at a Hollywood party in this richly observed novel about female ambition, complicity, and privilege.
Zanne Klein never planned to be a personal assistant to Hollywood royalty Ted and Holly Stabler. But a decade in at thirty-eight, that's exactly how she spends her days, earning six figures to make sure the movie mogul and his family have everything they could ever dream of and more.
However, today is no ordinary day at the Stabler estate. Tonight, everyone who's anyone will be there for the Hollywood event of the season, and if the party's a success, that chief of staff job Zanne's been chasing may soon be hers. Which means she can buy a house, give her girlfriend the life she deserves, pay off her student loans.
Nothing's going to get in Zanne's way-not disgruntled staff, not a nosy reporter, not even a runaway hostess. But when Ted's former business partner, Phoebe Lee, unexpectedly shows up right before go time, Zanne suddenly has a catastrophe unfolding before her-one with explosive consequences. As the truth comes out and Zanne realizes how deeply entangled she's become in the Stablers' world, she must decide if the sacrifices she's made for the job are worth the moral price she has to pay.
"The Work Wife is that rare book that illuminates a world we never knew existed while also making us feel so much less alone in everyday life." -Julia Phillips, author of National Book Award finalist Disappearing Earth
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Work Wife
A People Magazine Book of the Week * A New York Post Hottest Book of the Season * A Newsday Notable Book of Summer * A USA Today Book of the Week
"[A] knockout debut…. Vengefully delicious." -People, Book of the Week
"A page-turner, an eye-opener, a heartbreaker, a delight, The Work Wife is that rare book that illuminates a world we never knew existed while also making us feel so much less alone in everyday life."
-Julia Phillips, author of National Book Award finalist Disappearing Earth
"The Work Wife is a bold and wholly satisfying novel about power, ambition, and the price women must often pay for their dreams. I gobbled it up."
-Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of All Adults Here
"The Work Wife digs deep beneath Hollywood's glittery surface, exposing not just the messy lives of the ultra rich and the debt-saddled assistants who serve them, but the real cost of a world in which women's talents are routinely sacrificed to preserve male egos."
-Mira Jacob, author of National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Good Talk
"Written with great verve and flair, The Work Wife is a fascinating look at the sacrifices, challenges, and choices of three complicated women intertwined with a Hollywood mogul. A rewarding read, deeply satisfying from start to finish, this is truly one heck of a debut from Alison B. Hart."
-Jami Attenberg, New York Times bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours
"Alison B....
A People Magazine Book of the Week * A New York Post Hottest Book of the Season * A Newsday Notable Book of Summer * A USA Today Book of the Week
"[A] knockout debut…. Vengefully delicious." -People, Book of the Week
"A page-turner, an eye-opener, a heartbreaker, a delight, The Work Wife is that rare book that illuminates a world we never knew existed while also making us feel so much less alone in everyday life."
-Julia Phillips, author of National Book Award finalist Disappearing Earth
"The Work Wife is a bold and wholly satisfying novel about power, ambition, and the price women must often pay for their dreams. I gobbled it up."
-Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of All Adults Here
"The Work Wife digs deep beneath Hollywood's glittery surface, exposing not just the messy lives of the ultra rich and the debt-saddled assistants who serve them, but the real cost of a world in which women's talents are routinely sacrificed to preserve male egos."
-Mira Jacob, author of National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Good Talk
"Written with great verve and flair, The Work Wife is a fascinating look at the sacrifices, challenges, and choices of three complicated women intertwined with a Hollywood mogul. A rewarding read, deeply satisfying from start to finish, this is truly one heck of a debut from Alison B. Hart."
-Jami Attenberg, New York Times bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours
"Alison B....
Readers Top Reviews
BStullCompletely Sat
This novel was not at all what I was expecting. The cover and the blurb made me think it would be a light read, but it touched on some pretty deep topics. I struggled getting into the story, but it was worth the wait. Despite the fact that all of the book unfolds over one day through three different perspectives, the wife, ex-wife, and personal assistant (aka work wife) it seemed well thought out and flowed well. Zanne is a personal assistant to Ted Stabler, half of a Hollywood power couple. After battling her younger years as an addict, this role allowed her to afford to get out of debt and start a bit of a nest age. Unlike many jobs, there are some behaviors and situations that might make someone question their morals. Once Zanne uncovers some information that makes her question her choices to stay somewhere so compromising of her ideals, things begin to lock into place.
Sarah S.
The book weaves a story of one day in the lives of four different people but we only get three POVs. The story was captivating and kept me curious what would come next. “Seeing” the inside lives of a neurotic almost reclusive filmmaker and the personal assistant whom he relies too heavily on was very interesting. The ending fell a little flat for me because it was more open ended and I was hoping for more resolution. The author was able to turn two characters I liked throughout the book very quickly into people I no longer liked after some of their actions came to light. I like the way she paralleled this timing with Zanne’s self awakening. Overall I definitely recommend for a compelling read.
kathleen g
Zanne, Holly and Phoebe all have something- a lot- to say about Ted Stabler, a Hollywood mogul with a secret Phoebe knows. This takes place over the course of a day when Zanne is trying to manage a big fundraising party for Holly and Ted. Phoebe, his former producing partner who he had cast out of the fold, turns up and turns things sideways. Each of these women have their own story- Zanne's effort to get the top job and her relationship with a younger woman, Holly as the "trophy wife" dismissed by Ted's peers and their spouses, and Phoebe, oh Phoebe. In some ways, these people are all tropes but the story does take a few surprising turns. It's a tad slow to start but once it gets going, you'll be turning the pages. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For fans of Hollywood novels.
Kathleen Hughes
“Soon that bargain you made with yourself - do this to afford that - starts to look like a deal with the devil. And there are so many devils to choose from.” So ends the author’s notes in this eye-opening, riveting novel by Alison B. Hart that rips the dazzling sheen off Hollywood glamor. The story is told in the voices of three women during a day spent planning an extravagant party. Holly is mega producer, Hollywood legend Ted Stabler’s wife. Phoebe is his ex-wife and former producing partner. Zanne is his chief of staff, tied to her job by salary. Each women is ambitious in her own way and all have had their lives molded by men in power. By the party’s end, long hidden but suspected secrets are revealed and lives are changed forever. The Work Wife addresses the MeToo movement with a thinly veiled Harvey Weinstein character but also deals with more subtle emotional abuse and the other difficulties women experience in a male dominated profession. This is an emotional, thought-provoking read. 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Alison B. Hart for this ARC.
Jessica Stewart
I started this book by the pool, thinking I would spend the week reading it, but once I got started, I couldn't put it down. The characters drew me in, and I loved how the story unfolded over one day from three different point of views. The Work Wife was the perfect mix of fun Hollywood fiction and poignant reflection on our relationships with ourselves and our careers. Highlighting how women are treated in both business and their place in the world left me feeling both fired up and hopeful, it the best possible way. I can't wait for my friends to finish this book to we can talk about it! Highly recommend.
