Book Review: Sad Desk Salad

Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: October 2, 2012
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

As a writer for Chick Habit, an increasingly popular women’s website, Alex Lyons gets paid to be a bitch. She’s churning out several posts a day, and she saves her juiciest ones for blog prime time, when working women eat their sad desk salads in their offices. Alex tells herself she’s fulfilling her dream of being a professional writer; so what if it means being glued to her couch and her laptop from six a.m. to six p.m., scouring the web in search of the next big celebrity scandal? Since Chick Habit’s parent company keeps close tabs on page views, Alex knows her job is always at risk.

So when an anonymous tipster sends her the year’s most salacious story—a politico’s squeaky-clean Ivy League daughter caught in a very R-rated activity—it’s a no-brainer. But is Alex really willing to ruin the girl’s life by igniting the next Internet feeding frenzy? And what she doesn’t yet realize is how this big scoop is about to send her own life spiraling out of control.

I think that anyone who blogs will appreciate Alex’s story for sure, especially those who blog professionally. Internet and blogging ethics are still evolving and this book is a great commentary on the nebulous state of them today. Also, the author worked at both Slate and Jezebel so I assume that Alex’s story is fairly realistic as far as what it’s like working as an online writer.

Alex has to keep up on pop culture as part of her job and this book is full of pop culture references which was fun if you are an entertainment junkie like me. I love reading dirt about celebrities even though I know I shouldn’t. Alex feels twinges of guilt about her snarky posts just like I sometimes do when I read that kind of snark.

The author did a great job of making the stress that Alex feels palpable to the reader. I spent most of the book wishing Alex would take a shower! She wears the same ugly dress most every day and doesn’t have time for much personal grooming because she must be in front of her computer at her editor’s beck and call.

In addition to the ethics storyline, there is also a mystery element as someone is trying to sabotage Alex’s career. I already found the book fun to read and the mystery made it that much harder to put down.

If you spend a lot of time online (and who doesn’t these days?) and are looking for something quick and fun to read, then this would be a great book for you.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book. Check out the other tour stops:

Tuesday, October 2nd: A Bookworm’s World
Wednesday, October 3rd: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Thursday, October 4th: Book Journey
Tuesday, October 9th: My, My Book and the Couch
Wednesday, October 10th: It’s a Crazy, Beautiful Life
Thursday, October 11th: Seaside Book Nook
Friday, October 12th: Peppermint PhD
Monday, October 15th: Stephany Writes
Wednesday, October 17th: Kahakai Kitchen
Thursday, October 18th: Twisting the Lens
Wednesday, October 24th: Sweet Southern Home
Thurday, October 25th: Book Review by Molly
TBD: StephTheBookworm

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