Scott Thomas, a 29-year-old TV news producer, is dumped by his activist girlfriend when his pursuit of fluffy, profit-driven news conflicts with her idealism. Fortunately, his latest assignment may help him prove he's not a dilettante. Because he's “bright, young enough to work in fast food, and nobody,” Scott is chosen to go undercover at a Gringo's Southwesten Mexican Grille, a chain owned by a nominee for U.S. secretary of labor. Scott tries to expose workplace abuses, but soon finds himself overwhelmed by a pervy boss, condescending training manuals, and the outsourcing of drive-thru jobs to Jamaica. His own hidden camera exposes his every failure, including his confused flirtation with a 19-year-old single mother who works the counter. Scott vows to save her from the sexual harassment of their boss, but she may not be the one who needs saving.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Molloy's debut stages a bittersweet love story against the backdrop of television news, and while it builds into a diatribe against the dumbing down of news, the book itself is about as sophisticated as a goofy prime-time sitcom. Scott Thomas, a 29-year-old field producer at an unnamed network, is recovering from a breakup when he's sent on an undercover assignment to a fast-food restaurant called Gringo's Southwestern Mexican Grille. Much of the novel is wasted on the tedium of uncovering the story, whether it's debating the linguistics of sanitation manuals with his fast-food boss or having sex with his boss from the network. Scott is not an easy character to spend time with; his do-goodery is incredibly annoying (as when he argues with a rental car agency employee for not giving him a Prius), and his transformation late in the story comes across as temporary and false. Many of the plot points that bring about the novel's close are as implausible as they are confusing. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Tim Molloy captures the sound of one heart breaking. His book is funny, mordant, sad and wise. I'll bet he cries like a girl, and I mean that in a good way." - Seth Greenland, author of SHINING CITY and THE BONES
"In his wisecracking and heartfelt debut, Tim Molloy takes the 'business of news' and puts it through the grinder, serving up something spicier than a fast-food taco with a satisfyingly greasy crunch." - Mark Haskell Smith, author of SALTY and MOIST
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Absurdly True,
By Anthony Breznican (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: How to Break Bad News (Paperback)
A really funny novel about a young journalist who got into the news business because he wanted to do good, but ends up making tacos. He's sent undercover at a Gringo's restaurant to expose health department and labor violations, but finds he likes working there better than his actual job. He hopes to reclaim his dignity by helping at least some of the minimum-wage workers but finds that trying to do the right thing is pretty hard when you don't know what that is. It's a great read and a lot of laughs. Especially funny: the opening celebrity murder trial, involving a rapper shot by a country music star at something called "The Concert for Traditional Marriage."
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relatable and hugely entertaining,,
By
This review is from: How to Break Bad News (Paperback)
I started reading this book on the recommendation of a film producer friend of mine. Wasn't sure what to expect, but it quickly brought me in and carried me throughout. It's one of those books where you don't feel like you're reading some bad fiction, but rather, reading a diary about your close friends -- which I love.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smart, enjoyable read with lots of sharp wit,
By
This review is from: How to Break Bad News (Paperback)
This book draws you in immediately with its compelling characters, who are authentic, brave, some times annoying and beautiful, like most of the people I know in real life. Those who like sharp humor will love this book.
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