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lilaclicoricetissie's review
4.0
Meet Alice: a woman who loves her job, doesn’t like to share her things, and has an annoying ex.
Meet Jamie: a man who has some secrets, doesn’t mind sharing, and is not that enthusiastic to return to the office.
They both work for the same company, and when they’re forced to hot desk, they start communicating via notes.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
Meet Jamie: a man who has some secrets, doesn’t mind sharing, and is not that enthusiastic to return to the office.
They both work for the same company, and when they’re forced to hot desk, they start communicating via notes.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
lauratoria's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
julianna_marie's review
3.0
Hot Desk by Zara Stoneley was a fun little office romance, with the flirting done through a series of sticky notes and messages left for one another. However, it did take me until I was at the 35% mark to get into this book. Even then, I felt it as mediocre... I really didn't connect much with either character and a lot of the plot line seemed repetitive which took away from the cute relationship forming between our main characters. Overall, an okay read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins One More Chapter for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins One More Chapter for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
eecorreia's review
2.0
I would give this a 2.5 if half stars were possible - it was overall just really okay.
Alice was excited to finally get back to working in an office, until on her first day back the company shared a new WFH policy. She not only would be in the office on a different day than her friends, but she now would have to share a desk with her work rival, Jamie. Through a series of post it notes, the two become close, but some plot twists keep it interesting.
Overall, the book would have made a much better straight to Netflix movie. It was a cute story, but nothing amazing. The book was a bit slow in places, with what felt like a lot of filler fluff to give the book length.
I expected this to be an adult office version of Dash and Lilly, but unfortunately it wasn’t. The book was by no means bad, but it just wasn’t great either.
Alice was excited to finally get back to working in an office, until on her first day back the company shared a new WFH policy. She not only would be in the office on a different day than her friends, but she now would have to share a desk with her work rival, Jamie. Through a series of post it notes, the two become close, but some plot twists keep it interesting.
Overall, the book would have made a much better straight to Netflix movie. It was a cute story, but nothing amazing. The book was a bit slow in places, with what felt like a lot of filler fluff to give the book length.
I expected this to be an adult office version of Dash and Lilly, but unfortunately it wasn’t. The book was by no means bad, but it just wasn’t great either.
reading_in_brussels's review
2.0
Couple of thoughts:
This book needs a trigger warning: covid. It's too soon to be reading about it.
Although her thoughts and thinking process had me snickering several times, especially in the start, the ramblings became too much and exhausting. I found myself skimming over those parts to get to the notes and Alice & Jamie's interactions.
I loved how Alice learnt to stick up for her decisions once she made them and drew the lines.
I loved the relationship between Alice and Sophie.
Overall, it was a good read. I usually don't hesitate to DNF books I don't like, so although I had a couple of issues with it, the fact that I did not DNF it, for me, means that it had more good parts than bad.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange of a honest review.
This book needs a trigger warning: covid. It's too soon to be reading about it.
Although her thoughts and thinking process had me snickering several times, especially in the start, the ramblings became too much and exhausting. I found myself skimming over those parts to get to the notes and Alice & Jamie's interactions.
I loved how Alice learnt to stick up for her decisions once she made them and drew the lines.
I loved the relationship between Alice and Sophie.
Overall, it was a good read. I usually don't hesitate to DNF books I don't like, so although I had a couple of issues with it, the fact that I did not DNF it, for me, means that it had more good parts than bad.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange of a honest review.
sarah_likes_to_read's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.
Hot Desk was an okay read for me. The premise of sharing a desk with a coworker and splitting half your workweek working from home was interesting. Throw together a pack rat with a minimalist who shared a kiss in college was cute. The notes they left for each other to find was adorable.
However, a good chunk of the book was the innermost thoughts of the main character and the fact that she doesn’t like people touching her stuff. After a while, it got really old. I did appreciate that as the book got on, we start to see her learn to set boundaries.
Hot Desk was an okay read for me. The premise of sharing a desk with a coworker and splitting half your workweek working from home was interesting. Throw together a pack rat with a minimalist who shared a kiss in college was cute. The notes they left for each other to find was adorable.
However, a good chunk of the book was the innermost thoughts of the main character and the fact that she doesn’t like people touching her stuff. After a while, it got really old. I did appreciate that as the book got on, we start to see her learn to set boundaries.
kba76's review
3.0
Post-COVID and it’s time to return to work. Most were/are nervous about this, but Alice can’t wait because her housemates are loud and working from home just wasn’t the same. However, due to budget issues her company is reducing jobs. Everyone is worried about being sacked, so an emergency meeting is high on tension. Given the news they’re introducing hot-desking, most are relieved but not Alice.
When Alice learns she’s sharing her desk with Jamie, it shocks her. It’s not just because she has a huge crush on him…it’s because Jamie is the one she kissed years ago at Reading and for the last couple of years they’ve worked together he has shown no signs of knowing her.
The book focuses on giving us an insight into Alice and Jamie, their developing friendship and the stuff going on around them. Their feelings were obvious from the start. Things are placed in their way, but they’re only minor obstacles. Being inside Alice’s head was quite exhausting, and it got irritating waiting for them to sort things out.
When Alice learns she’s sharing her desk with Jamie, it shocks her. It’s not just because she has a huge crush on him…it’s because Jamie is the one she kissed years ago at Reading and for the last couple of years they’ve worked together he has shown no signs of knowing her.
The book focuses on giving us an insight into Alice and Jamie, their developing friendship and the stuff going on around them. Their feelings were obvious from the start. Things are placed in their way, but they’re only minor obstacles. Being inside Alice’s head was quite exhausting, and it got irritating waiting for them to sort things out.
energyrae's review against another edition
4.0
Hot Desk is tricky for me to review because where it starts weak, Stoneley finds her groove in writing, and it quickly gathers momentum into a book to love. Alice has spent so much time putting herself last that she doesn’t quite know how to stand up for herself. Used to a sister who takes advantage of Alice’s lack of boundaries and a controlling boyfriend trying to mold Alice into his ideal, she learns how to find her strength and voice.
As I stated at the start of my review, and I’ve seen other reviewers mention, Alice’s constant running internal monologue at the beginning of the book is a bit tough to get through. If the thought occurs, we, as the readers, hear it. But then we meet Jamie, and their friendship unfolds. If there ever was a book boyfriend for readers, it’s Jamie. Except for a few hiccups, he’s pretty ideal and a perfect balance to Alice. I cheered her on as she found her voice and the strength to set some desperately needed boundaries. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
As I stated at the start of my review, and I’ve seen other reviewers mention, Alice’s constant running internal monologue at the beginning of the book is a bit tough to get through. If the thought occurs, we, as the readers, hear it. But then we meet Jamie, and their friendship unfolds. If there ever was a book boyfriend for readers, it’s Jamie. Except for a few hiccups, he’s pretty ideal and a perfect balance to Alice. I cheered her on as she found her voice and the strength to set some desperately needed boundaries. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
readwithcatriona's review
1.0
So when I first received my email that I was getting to read this arc through NetGalley I was super excited. Office romance is one of my favourite troupes. However, this book disappointed me greatly, so much so it took me over a week to try read the whole thing (I usually read books in one sitting)
For the first few chapters all you got was Alice moaning about covid and lockdown and how adjusting to home working was a nightmare. I didn’t realise that including covid would bother me but it did…because for the middle of the book it’s not as prominent as the start plus if it supposed to be last summer the whole concept of hot desking wouldn’t have been a thing.
Secondly, Alice rambles. I don’t mean the character is a bit of a mess (i mean she is) but for a massive chunk of the book all the reader got was a day to day documentary of office life, nothing exiciting, just Alice narrating her boring day.
The romance with Jamie would have been cute… but again the author butchered that too with the whole “complicated issues”. It wasn’t complicated, he just didn’t know how to communicate. And if I had to read Alice explaining the whole Dave and her belongings issue one more time, I swear to god I was going to DNF the book. We get it, your desk is your safe space, you are a pushover and let everyone dictate your life and take your things… don’t know why every deep conversation you have with your crush has to be about that…
Overall, I really didn’t like this book. The plot just didn’t do it for me - really cute cover though!
For the first few chapters all you got was Alice moaning about covid and lockdown and how adjusting to home working was a nightmare. I didn’t realise that including covid would bother me but it did…because for the middle of the book it’s not as prominent as the start plus if it supposed to be last summer the whole concept of hot desking wouldn’t have been a thing.
Secondly, Alice rambles. I don’t mean the character is a bit of a mess (i mean she is) but for a massive chunk of the book all the reader got was a day to day documentary of office life, nothing exiciting, just Alice narrating her boring day.
The romance with Jamie would have been cute… but again the author butchered that too with the whole “complicated issues”. It wasn’t complicated, he just didn’t know how to communicate. And if I had to read Alice explaining the whole Dave and her belongings issue one more time, I swear to god I was going to DNF the book. We get it, your desk is your safe space, you are a pushover and let everyone dictate your life and take your things… don’t know why every deep conversation you have with your crush has to be about that…
Overall, I really didn’t like this book. The plot just didn’t do it for me - really cute cover though!