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Table of Contents
About The Book
Younger meets Writers & Lovers in this wise, witty novel about friendship, ambition, and love.
In the post-pandemic publishing industry, two rival editors are forced to share a “hot desk” on alternating days of the week. Having never set eyes on each other, Rebecca Blume and Ben Heath begin leaving passive-aggressive Post-it notes on the pot of their shared cactus. But when revered literary legend Edward David Adams (known as “the Lion”) dies, leaving his estate up for grabs, they compete to land this career-making opportunity. As the battle heats up, Rebecca learns of a surprising connection between her mother, Jane, and the Lion from forty years earlier.
The story travels back to the early 1980s, when Jane arrives in Manhattan and meets the glamorous Rose, who soon becomes her best friend. These two talented young women try to make their mark in the publishing world at a time when art, the written word, and creative expression were at their height. But one fateful day during the April blizzard of 1982 will change the course of Jane’s life, and of their friendship, forever. As Rebecca learns more about her mother’s past, the storylines converge, and all three women must reconcile with the decisions they have made and come together to navigate the choices that lie ahead.
In the post-pandemic publishing industry, two rival editors are forced to share a “hot desk” on alternating days of the week. Having never set eyes on each other, Rebecca Blume and Ben Heath begin leaving passive-aggressive Post-it notes on the pot of their shared cactus. But when revered literary legend Edward David Adams (known as “the Lion”) dies, leaving his estate up for grabs, they compete to land this career-making opportunity. As the battle heats up, Rebecca learns of a surprising connection between her mother, Jane, and the Lion from forty years earlier.
The story travels back to the early 1980s, when Jane arrives in Manhattan and meets the glamorous Rose, who soon becomes her best friend. These two talented young women try to make their mark in the publishing world at a time when art, the written word, and creative expression were at their height. But one fateful day during the April blizzard of 1982 will change the course of Jane’s life, and of their friendship, forever. As Rebecca learns more about her mother’s past, the storylines converge, and all three women must reconcile with the decisions they have made and come together to navigate the choices that lie ahead.
About The Author
photo by Sophie Jacobson
Laura Dickerman has an MA in fiction from NYU and an MA in English from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. She was an intern at The Paris Review many, many years ago. She’s been a high school English teacher, a book club leader, a tutor, and a recipient of an NEH grant. Laura lives in Atlanta with her husband. Hot Desk is her first novel.
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (August 4, 2026)
- Length: 368 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668081105
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Raves and Reviews
"Dickerman leads readers on a funny, heartwarming journey through two generations’ involvement in the publishing industry... A unique, decades-spanning story of friendship, love, and literature."—Kirkus (Starred Review)
“A fun and funny immersion into the current generation of New Yorkers chasing big dreams in the world of book publishing. Amid all the laughs, a mother-daughter story emerges to touch the heart and deliver deep rewards.” —Eric Zicklin, writer and producer, Younger
"The funniest novel I've read in ages!! But also the most romantic!! Hot Desk had me, by turns, laughing and swooning. This is a comedy of manners for anyone who loves Curtis Sittenfeld, Nora Ephron, Alison Espach or, well, anyone. So spot-on in its depiction of literary world mores, I nearly sprained my neck nodding in recognition. I challenge any reader not to fall in love with this charming debut."—Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of MY SALINGER YEAR
“Hot Desk is a publishing meet-cute mash-up: both a revisionist story of literary fame and friendship and a gossipy, romantic romp full of heart.”—Betsy Lerner, author of THE SHRED SISTERS
"A fresh take on classic rom-coms, Laura Dickerman's clever comedy of manners captures the timeless romance of literary New York." —Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of WHEN WE WERE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
"Hot Desk is pure, grade-A, reader's delight. Dickerman's satire of the publishing industry across decades is pitch-perfect, revealing all of its blindspots and absurdities. But beneath all the laughs (and they're a lot of them) are serious and important questions about legacy, friendship, and who gets the right to tell a story. It's the sexiest, funniest book party you'll be invited to this year, and I promise you don't want to miss it." —Grant Ginder, author of THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING
"So charming, and so accomplished, HOT DESK is by turns hilarious, heart-breaking, satirical, cutting and FUN. I absolutely loved it, and got way more than I bargained for in this dual-timeline tale of love and lust in publishing." —Laura Jane Williams, bestselling author of OUR STOP
"A funny, deeply wise novel that captures all the thrills and aches of setting out in the world. Toggling seamlessly between 1981 and 2022 in New York City, Dickerman shows us that while Gen X and Gen Z may be very different, some things—friendship, ambition, the restorative magic of hangover takeout—are eternal." —Morgan Dick, author of THE FAVOURITE DAUGHTER
“With depth and verve, Dickerman's debut is sure to please lovers of Manhattan-set, lit-world stories.” —Booklist
"A snappy, entertaining read with a meaty backstory... Fiercely entertaining... its mix of historical fiction, comedy of manners, literary mystery, feminist examination of a beloved author and a splash of romance offers readers lots to love... Hot Desk is a colorful and satisfying debut." —BookPage
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Trade Paperback 9781668081105
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Author Photo (jpg): Laura Dickerman photo by Sophie Jacobson(0.1 MB)
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