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Different Day
It’s been six months since the day the tiger got out.
The employees of Perkins Zoological Park are haunted by the memory of the animal escape that claimed the life of one of their own, and zookeeper Sid is no exception. Even before the mauling, the initial charm of his job had started to wear thin under the combined stress of menial pay and out-of-touch managers. The only things keeping him at Perkins are his birds and his fellow plucky zookeepers, including his best friend, he’s maybe definitely falling in love with.
While the zoo employees navigate varying degrees of trauma, the freshly appointed, ruthlessly upbeat zoo director is determined to forge ahead, smothering their pain and loss with a fresh coat of paint and a problematic new attraction. Sid has no doubt she will terminate each and every obstacle that stands in her way, and he’s fairly certain he and his friends are at the top of her shit list.
As things at the zoo go from bad to worse, Sid begins to spread his wings, using the turbulence around him as an updraft to rise to a new level of confidence. The question is, how will he use that newfound authority? To stand up for the welfare of the animals in his care no matter how detrimental to his mental health the task proves? Or to walk away from the passion he’s built his entire identity around?
DIFFERENT DAY is a contemporary millennial workplace drama. Content warnings can be found on the author's website.
The employees of Perkins Zoological Park are haunted by the memory of the animal escape that claimed the life of one of their own, and zookeeper Sid is no exception. Even before the mauling, the initial charm of his job had started to wear thin under the combined stress of menial pay and out-of-touch managers. The only things keeping him at Perkins are his birds and his fellow plucky zookeepers, including his best friend, he’s maybe definitely falling in love with.
While the zoo employees navigate varying degrees of trauma, the freshly appointed, ruthlessly upbeat zoo director is determined to forge ahead, smothering their pain and loss with a fresh coat of paint and a problematic new attraction. Sid has no doubt she will terminate each and every obstacle that stands in her way, and he’s fairly certain he and his friends are at the top of her shit list.
As things at the zoo go from bad to worse, Sid begins to spread his wings, using the turbulence around him as an updraft to rise to a new level of confidence. The question is, how will he use that newfound authority? To stand up for the welfare of the animals in his care no matter how detrimental to his mental health the task proves? Or to walk away from the passion he’s built his entire identity around?
DIFFERENT DAY is a contemporary millennial workplace drama. Content warnings can be found on the author's website.
342 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2023
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2452 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 23, 2023
I FEEL SEEN. This book is AMAZING.
I am a bird keeper. If you want to know what being a zookeeper is REALLY like, not just what we filter out to share or what you see on the zoo shows, then READ THIS BOOK. Casey was able to put into words and into this story what I have been unable to express about my job, especially when people tell me how awesome my job is. She shines a light on ALL of the fatigue, stress, and stupidity we put up with on a daily basis that I wish people knew and understood. That being said, I don't think this is just a "negative Nancy" book, but rather one of self discovery and growing. PLEASE READ THIS NOW!
I am a bird keeper. If you want to know what being a zookeeper is REALLY like, not just what we filter out to share or what you see on the zoo shows, then READ THIS BOOK. Casey was able to put into words and into this story what I have been unable to express about my job, especially when people tell me how awesome my job is. She shines a light on ALL of the fatigue, stress, and stupidity we put up with on a daily basis that I wish people knew and understood. That being said, I don't think this is just a "negative Nancy" book, but rather one of self discovery and growing. PLEASE READ THIS NOW!
October 9, 2023
O….M…..G!!! This was AMAZING!!! It was so engaging I just couldn’t put the book down. Working in a zoo, everything was so familiar to my everyday life. I felt like I knew many of these characters from my past and present. It was such a wild ride waiting to learn the story within the story. I don’t think I could recommend this novel enough! READ IT!!!! ASAP!!!
October 4, 2023
READ IF YOU ENJOY:
- millennial toxic workplace dramas
- friends to lovers smut
- knowing what the zookeepers are thinking
- millennial toxic workplace dramas
- friends to lovers smut
- knowing what the zookeepers are thinking
July 18, 2024
Pre-Read: Thank you to the author for sending this book! I'm so thankful for winning the giveaway and can't wait to start reading it!
Review:
4.25 stars
This book was honestly so good! I really loved hearing things from the perspective of a zookeeper and the workplace. It was funny, engaging, and I greatly enjoyed seeing the portrayal of toxic workplaces (mostly because while I never worked as a zookeeper, I have been in a toxic workplace and it kind of hits no matter what the job is because it's miserable all around).
Also the friends to lovers was chef's kiss.
Also I really want to thank the author for putting content warnings. It was nice to know what to expect and I really appreciate that. Definitely a recommend.
Read and reviewed by Callista from the ASU Three Rivers Library.
Review:
4.25 stars
This book was honestly so good! I really loved hearing things from the perspective of a zookeeper and the workplace. It was funny, engaging, and I greatly enjoyed seeing the portrayal of toxic workplaces (mostly because while I never worked as a zookeeper, I have been in a toxic workplace and it kind of hits no matter what the job is because it's miserable all around).
Also the friends to lovers was chef's kiss.
Also I really want to thank the author for putting content warnings. It was nice to know what to expect and I really appreciate that. Definitely a recommend.
Read and reviewed by Callista from the ASU Three Rivers Library.
December 6, 2024
Reread finished on December 5th, 2024:
This might become a new trend for me. I originally picked this up during my first full-time Zookeeping job because my partner read it and recommended it because a friend of his (now someone I get to call a friend of mine as well) is the author and we love to support the important people in our lives. What I didn’t know at the time was the impact it would have on me.
I related to Sid a lot throughout the novel, his feelings about his career and how tied it is to his personality, but also with the uncertainty of who that makes you. Are you only what you do? Or is there room for more?
I picked up my copy of Different Day this time because I want to experience the same growth in my life that Sid went through. Because I’m so much more than a keeper. And sometimes, a little reminder is helpful. So that’s was this book is to me. A reminder that I am so much more than a title and a paycheck.
Thanks for coming to my ted talk.
Original Review: November 21st, 2023
I literally could NOT put this down. I sobbed, I gasped, I cackled. Definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, maybe in a long time.
November 5, 2023
What a beautifully devastating book. I could not put down this novel. The main character was relatable and complex, the setting and story hit all too close to home, and the ending was so satisfying and tied up the plot points that were brought up along the way in a very emotional way. I could not stop recommending this book to my friends, and I will not stop recommending it to anyone who is interested in what it’s like in the zoo world.
October 31, 2023
“Zookeeping was, in many ways, just a series of heartbreaks you pushed through to find moments of satisfaction and fulfillment.”
Wow, where to begin. This was a fantastic book. Did I feel seen and called out? Yes. Did I relate to a lot of the characters and their experiences? Hell yes. Would I recommend this book to anyone wondering what it’s like to be a zookeeper? Also yes. Casey does a impeccable job describing different aspects of our job while also keeping the plot moving and intriguing. I loved the diversity of the characters and how much detail this fictional zoo had. I could see it perfectly in my head, the QR Code for the zoo map was a great addition.
Wow, where to begin. This was a fantastic book. Did I feel seen and called out? Yes. Did I relate to a lot of the characters and their experiences? Hell yes. Would I recommend this book to anyone wondering what it’s like to be a zookeeper? Also yes. Casey does a impeccable job describing different aspects of our job while also keeping the plot moving and intriguing. I loved the diversity of the characters and how much detail this fictional zoo had. I could see it perfectly in my head, the QR Code for the zoo map was a great addition.
August 28, 2025
It’s not often that books make me emotional but this book certainly hit that mark! Definitely a read for those in the animal care field!
November 8, 2023
This book made me laugh, made me cry, and made me anxious… 10/10… what a weird job we have
June 26, 2025
"Zookeeping was, in many ways, just a series of heartbreaks you pushed through to find moments of satisfaction and fulfillment."
This book is FANTASTIC! I first read it when I was an intern in the zoo field and loved it. Now that I'm a full-time zookeeper, I love and relate to this book even more than the first time I read it! It truly shines a light on what it means to be a zookeeper and the struggles we endure to find gratification in our work. I highly recommend this book and Casey's other works!
This book is FANTASTIC! I first read it when I was an intern in the zoo field and loved it. Now that I'm a full-time zookeeper, I love and relate to this book even more than the first time I read it! It truly shines a light on what it means to be a zookeeper and the struggles we endure to find gratification in our work. I highly recommend this book and Casey's other works!
June 29, 2024
The zoological aspects and details were really interesting and well put together. The characters conflicted with each other really naturally, which was neat to see. The main character underwent a sudden personality change in the last section, which was somewhat disorienting, though.
February 19, 2025
It took me a while to get into this book. Once I did I really enjoyed it. Didn’t understand the D&D parts as I have never played the game. It was interesting reading about the working life of a zoo keeper.
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December 4, 2023A book about a bird keeper 🥹 the good, the bad, the heartbreaking, the ugly. Captured the zookeeper humor, heartbreak, stress, and head-bashingly infuriating moments. I laughed and cried. Well done.
November 3, 2024
I was gripped by this book! It delves deep into what being a zookeeper is like and shed a light on the truly hard bits. I felt seen for sure. The diversity of characters and the intrigue of the plot are also main highlights. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews