Hot Desk

Hot Desk takes place in the publishing world of both 2022 and the early 1980s. What differences do you notice in the two workplaces? Do you have work experience that has changed over the years? In what ways?

Did you have expectations about genre when you began reading? Based on what? Hot Desk is what's known in the publishing world as upmarket book club fiction,” but it s also been described as a romcom, literary mystery, workplace satire, historical fiction, comedy of manners, and feminist critique. Which ones of these categories ring the most true to you? What are your favorite genres and why?

Did you find yourself more drawn to one of the dual timelines? If so, which one and why? Where did you notice mirroring in the time lines, both explicit and implicit? What do you think was the purpose and effect of the mirroring?

Rebecca and Ben don't meet in person until over 2/3rds of the way through the book. What do you make of that authorial choice? How have the preceding chapters prepared you to believe that they are right for each other? Have you ever had a relationship that began with undeniable physical attraction? Do tell!

The story of Jane and Rose's friendship is a kind of romance in itself. Have you ever had a friendship that was as immediate, deep, and formative as theirs? Are you still friends? What do you think makes women's friendships so important?

One of the main themes of Hot Desk is how to reconcile great art with problematic artists, especially in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement. Are there artists in any genre whose personal behavior tainted your enjoyment of their work? How do you feel about separating the art from the artist? How should we navigate these issues in today's cultural climate?

Hot Desk makes use of many devices to show how people communicate: texts, emails, Post its, anonymous message boards, Instagram posts, Zoom meetings, newspaper articles, podcasts, magazine interviews, etc. Yet it also spends a great deal of time with people who love to read and write. Do you see that as a tension that needs to be resolved or as a reflection of the times we live in? What are your preferred methods of communication? Has your commitment to reading books suffered as the distractions of social media and technology increase?

There are many supporting characters in Hot Desk: friends, family, and work colleagues of the main characters. Do you have any favorites? Who are they and why? What do these characters show us specifically about Ben, Rebecca, Rose, and Jane?

Towards the end of the book, Jane remembers leaving New York City long ago: “Was it banishment or self exile? Even now, [she] couldn't say. What do you think about Jane's decisions forty years ago? Is there a decision you made in your youth that changed the course of your life? How do you feel about it now?

Although it raises serious issues, Hot Desk is primarily a comedy that resolves with a happy ending for all. Is humor a matter of taste? What are some of the funniest books you ve read? Do they tend to be written by women or by men?