Confessions of a Call Center Gal: a novel [Kindle Edition]

Lisa Lim (Author)

Book Description

* Shortlisted for Goodreads No Young Adult Best Chick Lit Reads *

<span><span>* Lisa Lim's latest chick lit release She's the Boss is my pick for best novel of 2012! ~ Chick Lit Central, Cindy Roesel *</span></span>

Bridget Jones's Diary meets The Office. Madison Lee is a fresh college grad, ready to take on the world of print media. But she has zero luck landing a job. Unemployment is at ten percent and on the rise. Desperate and left with no other options, she accepts a position as a service rep at a call center in Pocatello, Idaho. At the Lightning Speed call center in Spudsville, Maddy plunges into the wild and dysfunctional world of customer service where Sales is prided over Service and an eight hour shift is equivalent to eight hours of callers bashing her over the phone. Oh sure, the calls are bad. But Maddy manages to find humor on the phone and off the phone. And with all the salacious drama behind the calls, there is never a dull moment at the Lightning Speed call center.
Lately . . . Maddy has been pining for her smolderingly gorgeous co-worker Mika Harket. Now things are heating up on the phone--and elsewhere. Don't hang up on this novel. Working at a call center has never been this garish . . . or this delightful.

***DISCLAIMER: If you find politically incorrect shows like The Office, South Park and Chelsea Lately detestable, juvenile and offensive, then this book is probably NOT for you.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS:

A chick-lit approach to the call center. This book is a reminder that the call center predates globalization and outsourcing. ~The Wall Street Journal Online

This novel is chick lit at its best. ~Booksessed

Finally! A snarky, quick witted, relatable book with a dash of romance! ~Chick Lit=The New Black

A fun mix of Bridget Jones's Diary and The Office. ~Books Etc.

Think Chelsea Handler plus argyle sweater wearing Chuy plus The Office plus chick lit. Are you already laughing? ~Precision Reviews

A strong debut novel about real issues with lots of heart and humor. ~Chick Lit Club (AR)

The chick lit version of "Office Space" for a new generation. ~Melissa Amster, Chick Lit Central

Guaranteed to make you laugh-out-loud. Fans of Sophie Kinsella will love it. ~author Sibel Hodge

Real and relatable! So many traditional chick lit books tend to go off on a tangent to a life many of us will never have--Bond Street and Fifth Avenue are not a regular part of my routine. This book felt like a peak into a normal life, not some glitzy creation designed purely for the pages of a book! ~R.O.A

A hilarious account of life in a call center, with a little romance to spice things up. ~Bookerella

This novel reads like a season of The Office (with Ricky Gervais). I can really see this novel being turned into a sitcom on NBC and I'd be tuning in to every week to watch. ~Chick Litaholic

There are so many memorable episodes; if this book was adapted to film, it'd translate very well on screen. ~Bookmarked

A hilarious comedy with some snark and punk. ~Kritters Rambling

Full of humor and an addicting story, this is the perfect chick lit to curl up in bed with. ~Peace Love Books

Editorial Reviews

Review

A chick-lit approach to the call center. This book is a reminder that the call center predates globalization and outsourcing. ~The Wall Street Journal Online (IRT)

This novel is chick lit at its best. ~Booksessed

Finally! A snarky, quick witted, relatable book with a dash of romance! ~Chick Lit=The New Black

A fun mix of Bridget Jones's Diary and The Office. ~Books Etc.

Think Chelsea Handler plus argyle sweater wearing Chuy plus The Office plus chick lit. Are you already laughing? ~Precision Reviews

A strong debut novel about real issues with lots of heart and humor. ~Chick Lit Club (AR)

The chick lit version of "Office Space" for a new generation. ~Melissa Amster, Chick Lit Central

Guaranteed to make you laugh-out-loud. Fans of Sophie Kinsella will love it. ~author Sibel Hodge

Real and relatable! So many traditional chick lit books tend to go off on a tangent to a life many of us will never have--Bond Street and Fifth Avenue are not a regular part of my routine. This book felt like a peak into a normal life, not some glitzy creation designed purely for the pages of a book! ~R.O.A

A hilarious account of life in a call center, with a little romance to spice things up. ~Bookerella

This novel reads like a season of The Office (with Ricky Gervais). I can really see this novel being turned into a sitcom on NBC and I'd be tuning in to every week to watch. ~Chick Litaholic

There are so many memorable episodes; if this book was adapted to film, it'd translate very well on screen. ~Bookmarked

A hilarious comedy with some snark and punk. ~Kritters Rambling

Full of humor and an addicting story, this is the perfect chick lit to curl up in bed with. ~Peace Love Books

From the Author

***DISCLAIMER: If you find politically incorrect shows like The Office, South Park and Chelsea Lately detestable, juvenile and offensive, then this book is probably NOT for you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 679 KB
• Print Length: 312 pages
• Publisher: Giffin Press (February 25, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004PLMHYM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,427 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #15 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Parodies
  • #44 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Parodies
  • #69 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Essays

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "Office Space" meets "Avenue Q" in a hilarious new chick lit novel July 19, 2011

By eema2emma

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There was a time when I had some jobs I couldn't stand. What made it bearable were the friends I had at those jobs...and the eye candy. So I could definitely relate to Maddy, the heroine of "Confessions of a Call Center Gal" by Lisa Lim. Granted, I never worked at a call center, but it really encompassed any tedious and boring job I ever disliked in the past and gave me a lot to laugh about, as well.

Lisa Lim's debut novel opens with Madison (a.k.a. Maddy) getting frustrated by the lack of job interviews and the mountain of rejection letters. While visiting her best friend in Pocatello, Idaho, she applies for a job in a call center and receives an offer she probably should have refused. Soon she is in the throes of a nightmare, dealing with obscene and obnoxious callers who swear and yell at her all day long, along with a boss who constantly breathes down her neck. However, she also makes some unique new friends, bonds with her best friend and develops a crush on the office hunk. Through this job, Maddy learns a lot about herself and the essence of human nature (or how far someone will go to make someone else miserable).

There was a lot to like about this novel. It was both quirky and funny, and Maddy was easy to relate to. She had a mature voice for being fresh out of college but she also sounded realistic for her age. She's someone I could see befriending on the job. The dialogue was fun and conversations (or even inner monologues) didn't drag. Her use of description was great too. I could visualize everything perfectly. The sexual tension and chemistry between Maddy and her office crush was delightful. I also enjoyed the holiday scenes, all the pop culture references (including one to Adam Lambert), as well as the day to day annoyances and nuances of the job at hand.... It was like the chick lit version of "Office Space" for a new generation. What I really liked was the message that Ms. Lim put out there through Maddy's "voice," regarding jobs and customers treat service people. As I mentioned earlier, it reminded me a lot of my past jobs (almost a conglomeration of a few of them) and I found myself nodding and grinning along with what Maddy was saying. I even had (and still have) a friend like Truong (although slightly less offensive). Even if you haven't worked in a call center, it's easy to become sympathetic towards the person on the other end of the phone when you're calling to request a repair. It does for call center reps what "Waiting" does for restaurant staff. (Minus the gross scene in the kitchen though.)

This novel did leave me with some concerns though. Ms. Lim actually gave me a disclaimer for it recently, saying that people who get offended by "The Office" and "Chelsea Lately" should not be reading this novel. Luckily for her, I laughed the entire time at "Avenue Q" (the Tony Award winning musical about puppets who swear and have sex). This novel is more on that level of offensive humor. I was able to handle most of it and even laughed quite a bit. However, there are some lines that should not be crossed and if you're easily offended by any type of racist or ethnic humor, you may want to keep that in mind before reading this novel. This definitely falls under the rated-R category for language alone. I could handle her making Asian jokes, since Ms. Lim is of Asian descent. However, those who are not Jewish should not be cracking Holocaust jokes. (Jerry Seinfeld could have a "Soup Nazi" because he is Jewish. However, the "Not-Ready Nazi" related jokes in this story crossed a line for me.) I also did not like that she made fun of some disabilities (namely deafness). And the flatulence and scatological (or toilet-related) humor could probably have been toned down or written out altogether. Aside from that, Ms. Lim placed Maddy in her early 20's but wrote her like a 16 year-old. Maddy would talk in a "Facebook Status" style sometimes, which would have made more sense if she was doing it in an e-mail to her friend instead of a conversation. Finally, the transitions between scenes could have been set up better. It seemed like a scene would shift to another day or place within the same chapter, but there were no markings in between each scene.

Overall, I had a fun time reading "Confessions..." I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and was able to share in Maddy's frustration, as well as rejoice in her happiness. The other characters are vivid and memorable (even the crazy or detestable ones). It definitely made me think twice about how I treat people on the phone and also how I view my career path. I would love to see this as a movie, although some parts would need to be toned down. I think it would still be funny without those parts, thanks to Ms. Lim's unique and carefree writing style. While I have already been recommending it to some friends, I do share in Ms. Lim's disclaimer that you should prepare to be possibly offended. However, if you can handle a combination of "Avenue Q" and "Office Space," (probably more than "The Office" meets "Bridget Jones's Diary," as this novel has been described) then you can definitely handle reading this insightful look into the world of call center jobs. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars slow start February 10, 2013

By KimC

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

At first I almost wanted to stop reading, I wasn't a huge fan of the start of this book. I thought the way the characters talked and the names and whatnot were just silly. But I stuck with it and by like a third of the way through I was hooked. The characters got much better and I was intrigued to see what would happen. Overall I liked the book and I'm glad I stuck it out.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining February 8, 2013

By Stephanie Perez

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you have ever worked in a call center you will find this book funny and somewhat true to life. Very entertaining and fun read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Smart and Witty February 9, 2012

By Sarah

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book popped up as a recommendation based on other books in my wish list. Boy am I glad I read this, it was great! The writing was very smart and the main character, Maddy, was highly relatable. I cannot wait for the sequel!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If You've Ever Worked with Rude Customers, You'll Love This December 5, 2011

By Chicklitish

Format:Kindle Edition

If you've ever suffered obnoxious and rude customers then you'll certainly relate to this humorous novel. I couldn't help laughing along at the customer interactions, and Lisa Lim's fresh and fun writing made this a winner. It was nice to see a novel featuring a woman with a job many of us can relate to. Can't wait to read more from this author.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny June 27, 2011

By Tina

Format:Paperback

I am one of those people who has been bemoaning the fact that good chick lit is almost gone. Fortunately, I do, on occasion, come across a book that I somehow "missed" in my quests for "all things chick lit" and Confessions of a Call Center Gal is certainly one of those books.

Firstly, although I have never worked in a call center, I have always wondered what it must be like. In my role as a Human Resource Manager, I have had to hire several people during my career, but I have always shied away from positions where I would have to deal with "call center" hirings and, after reading this book, I will definitely be staying away.

The author does a wonderful job of showing us the "real" reality behind working in this type of environment and she does it with honesty and humour.

I found myself laughing out loud at some of the dialogue and actually went back to reread a few passages that I thought were very funny or, in my opinion, insightful.

The main character Maddie is alot of fun and gets herself into situations that were absolutely hilarious (and at times) touching to read about.

Reading this book was a joy. The only "somewhat" negative comment I would like to make is that I thought that, at times, the author went into too much detail about a situation. Otherwise, a great, great chick lit read that made my week!

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Decent idea . . . terrible book July 6, 2011

By Christopher Hagesfeld

Format:Paperback

I don't understand the rave reviews this book has received. I don't think I've ever been so mad about wasting 2.99. I think the reviews must all have been written by her, under different names!

This chick seriously needs to understand that just because she KNOWS something, doesn't mean she should write it down. Like, super, I'm glad you know what an Oedipal complex is. Congratulations. To you and EVERYBODY ELSE IN AMERICA.

Speaking of which, this book was written by an American, right? And the main character was certainly America. And it was set in America. So what was with all the (many hundreds of thousands of millions because this author never did an irritating thing just once) "lurrrrrve"s and "I fancy him"s and other weird British stuff?

And the writing was just weird sometimes. Like a character would "totter" to a table with eggs for breakfast. Were they drunk? Were they wearing high heels? Nope, but apparently the authors thesaurus had cycled around to "totter." It was actually really distracting because your would read the odd word and then have to go back because surely you have missed something because in the books I read, people don't totter around without a damn reason. And this happened over and over.

I feel like this could have been decent if, I don't know, she'd even had a good friend read it first. There weren't a ton a typos, but it still would have benefitted from some editing.

More About the Author

Lisa Lim writes fun chick lit and romantic comedies. Lisa's debut novel was shortlisted for Goodreads No Young Adult Best Chick Lit Reads and was featured on the Wall Street Journal online blog (IRT).

Her debut novel Confessions of a Call Center Gal has remained on Amazon's Top 100 in the Kindle Humor store. She's the Boss is her latest release and was Cindy Roesel of Chick Lit Central's pick for best novel of 2012.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her by email at: [e-mail]
You can follow Lisa on Twitter: @LisaLim8
Lisa blogs at: confessionsofacallcentergal.blogspot.com