“Liza Palmer’s voice is fresh, exciting, and necessary. She’s a must-read author.” –Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & the Six Charmingly candid, hilarious, and deeply moving, The Nobodies is a novel about failing but never losing the core of yourself, from a beloved writer at the top of her game. If there’s one thing Joan Dixon knows about herself, it’s that she is a damn good … herself, it’s that she is a damn good journalist. But when she is laid off from yet another soon-to-be-shuttered newspaper, and even the soulless, listicle-writing online jobs have dried up, she is left with few options. Closer to 40 than 30, single, living with her parents again, Joan decides she needs to reinvent herself. She goes to work as a junior copywriter at Bloom, a Los Angeles startup where her bosses are all a decade younger and snacks and cans of fizzy water flow freely.
For once, Joan has a steady paycheck and a stable job. She befriends a group of misfit coworkers and even begins a real relationship, after years of false starts. But once a journalist, always a journalist, and as Joan starts to poke beneath Bloom’s bright surface, she realizes that she may have accidentally stumbled onto the scoop of her lifetime. Is it worth risking everything for the sake of the story?
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Liza Palmer’s new book is for anyone who has had to start over and find their way in a new and changing world. Joan Dixon’s wry observations, witty narrative and her own self-effacing humor make her a heroine we all need in our lives. Her journey is one many of us have traveled and Joan helps us believe that the trip is well worth it. Wonderful story.
The Nobodies is a must-read for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves. Both wildly humorous and incredibly touching, the latest from Liza Palmer really spoke to me both as a forty-something woman, and as someone whose worked at a questionable Internet company in her life.
Thank you to Flatiron and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Nobodies
By: Liza Palmer
*REVIEW*
The Nobodies is a story of doubt and acceptance. Joan is a single woman in her late thirties who has lost her job and is living with her parents. Joan is less than thrilled and feels like a failure. She was a journalist before and wants to be again. Opportunities are extremely slim. She questions whether she ever had any talent at all. Joan ends up as a junior copywriter at a hip tech start up called Bloom where the differences between millennials and late thirties are obvious. Joan is lost but fortunate to work with a small pod of people whom she likes, including a romantic intrest with a younger man. Joan asks a question at a company meeting, and the two founders, Chris and Asher, dance around an answer. Later, they meet with her. Joan suspects something is wrong at Bloom. The founders know her background and are assessing Joan as possibly undercover. I wanted to scream while reading this! Chris demeans Joan in the worst way saying she’s definitely not a threat. Chris makes Joan feel small, insignificant and angry. Honestly, to appreciate his level of condescension you have to read it yourself. Chris is the classic millennial entitled rich better than you guy. I hate this character with a vengeance. Joan is positive these guys are lying. With the help of coworkers and friends, Joan investigates Bloom to find out if the company is what it claims. I wonder if Joan really wants answers, or is she looking to restart her career? Joan finds answers about Bloom and herself. She realizes she is too critical and negative about herself. She’s made mistakes, but you can’t unring the bell. There is nothing to do but accept and keep moving. Joan can be a somebody if she will allow herself to just be who she is without wondering what might have been. She is good enough. Don’t we all do this? I loved this story. Finally, I’ve read something authentic about the almost, or already, 40ish generation. I laughed at so many things I relate to at this age. I felt everything Joan felt. So many of us are lost in the tech world and feel like nobodies who have been left behind. Self doubt is creeping up. We were important, once. But, y’all, we are somebodies! Think about all the knowledge and life skills you possess that millennials are lacking. Tech can’t solve everything. I’m older, but I do matter. So do you! The Nobodies is a must read full of thought provoking questions, humor, a bit of romance and pure delight. Read this book!
The Nobodies was a 5 star read for me. I thought that Joan’s character was exceptionally written. I felt that if I met her in real life, we would bond and connect instantaneously. Joan is no fluff, she is as real as it gets, and has a heart of gold with a strong moral compass. Straight out of high school, as a brilliant journalist, she lands a job at the LA Times, which she unfortunately gets laid off. Now, she is in her late 30’s and has completely lost her mojo – her once tough, go getter, and super confident persona has slipped to the wayside, and so has her writing and her edge! After almost a year of searching for a job and moving back to her parent’s home, she lands a job as a junior copywriter in a tech start up where her nose for a story leads her to some big decisions to make. What in the world would Joan do? Save the masses or save herself?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the fun protagonist and the cast of characters all with their special quirk which adds to the fun of this book. It gives hope for people who have to restart their career or job that they may have been too comfortable in, until one day, a change had to be forced – like a layoff or a life change. I think the writing and prose was amazing. I love how Palmer is able to describe even the most mundane of life experiences, such as riding a bus or simply just making coffee and making it a hilarious read.
This is my first Liza Palmer and definitely not my last.
Thank you to Flatiron Books for providing me an ARC for my honest and objective review and feedback.