Workhorse

A Novel

By: Caroline Palmer

Narrated by: Helen Laser

"Narrated with wry undertones by Helen Laser... [who] takes Clo’s wry and self-injurious attitude and makes her relatable instead of unlikeable. [Laser] can fluidly vacillate from the “showhorse” privileged voice of Davis to the “workhorses” like Clo who endure dysmorphia and private insecurities." — Booklist

"Fierce, funny and unflinching."—Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Sisters

A richly drawn, unsettling, and wickedly funny story of envy and ambition set against the glamor and privilege of media and high society in New York City at its height.

At the turn of the millennium, Editorial Assistant Clodagh “Clo” Harmon wants nothing more than to rise through the ranks at the world’s most prestigious fashion magazine. There’s just one problem: she doesn’t have the right pedigree. Instead, Clo is a “workhorse” surrounded by beautiful, wealthy, impossibly well-connected “show horses” who get ahead without effort, including her beguiling cubicle-mate, Davis Lawrence, the daughter of a beloved but fading Broadway actress. Harry Wood, Davis’s boarding school classmate and a reporter with visions of his own media empire, might be Clo’s ally in gaming the system—or he might be the only thing standing between Clo and her rightful place at the top.

In a career punctuated by moments of high absurdity, sudden windfalls, and devastating reversals of fortune, Clo wades across boundaries, taking ever greater and more dangerous risks to become the important person she wants to be within the confines of a world where female ambition remains cloaked. But who really is Clo underneath all the borrowed designer clothes and studied manners—and who are we if we share her desires?

Hilariously observant and insightful, Workhorse is a brilliant listen about what it means to be in thrall to wealth, beauty, and influence, and the outrageous sacrifices women must make for the sake of success.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

Engrossing

This was a great listen! I really enjoyed the narrator and the storyline kept me intrigued.

a peek into the life and mind of a young career woman in NY

A character driven plot from the pov of a young career woman who moved to NY, coming from a middle class background with big dreams. what would you be willing to do to get ahead? apparently Cloda,Clo to her friends, will do anything though she makes excuses for her behavior usually. she's borderline psychotic... with very poor impulse control. desiring a high level career at a magazine publishing house, she works her way up from lowly assistant to editor on the backs of anyone standing in her way.

Worst main character

I just did not like or respect the main character at all. I really enjoyed the story but I wish I was told from anyone else’s point of view. She was honestly so terrible I did not care how she ended up or what happened to her so the grueling hours got tiresome.

fun and nostalgic with a twist

Could not put this down! If you were young in New York, this is a must read.

It started out great

It was hard to cheer for the main character because she was a person of low integrity and it was painful at times to read.