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Workhorse
A richly drawn, unsettling, and wickedly funny story of envy and ambition set against the glamor and privilege of media and high society in New York City at its height.
At the turn of the millennium, editorial assistant Clodagh “Clo” Harmon wants nothing more than to rise through the ranks at the world’s most prestigious fashion magazine. There’s just one problem: She doesn’t have the right pedigree. Instead, Clo is a “workhorse” surrounded by beautiful, wealthy, impossibly well-connected “show horses” who get ahead without effort, including her beguiling cubicle-mate, Davis Lawrence, the daughter of a beloved but fading Broadway actress. Harry Wood, Davis’s boarding school classmate and a reporter with visions of his own media empire, might be Clo’s ally in gaming the system—or he might be the only thing standing between Clo and her rightful place at the top.
In a career punctuated by moments of high absurdity, sudden windfalls, and devastating reversals of fortune, Clo wades across boundaries, taking ever greater and more dangerous risks to become the important person she wants to be within the confines of a world where female ambition remains cloaked. But who really is Clo underneath all the borrowed designer clothes and studied manners—and who are we if we share her desires?
Hilariously observant and insightful, Workhorse is a brilliant page-turner about what it means to be in thrall to wealth, beauty, and influence, and the outrageous sacrifices women must make for the sake of success.
At the turn of the millennium, editorial assistant Clodagh “Clo” Harmon wants nothing more than to rise through the ranks at the world’s most prestigious fashion magazine. There’s just one problem: She doesn’t have the right pedigree. Instead, Clo is a “workhorse” surrounded by beautiful, wealthy, impossibly well-connected “show horses” who get ahead without effort, including her beguiling cubicle-mate, Davis Lawrence, the daughter of a beloved but fading Broadway actress. Harry Wood, Davis’s boarding school classmate and a reporter with visions of his own media empire, might be Clo’s ally in gaming the system—or he might be the only thing standing between Clo and her rightful place at the top.
In a career punctuated by moments of high absurdity, sudden windfalls, and devastating reversals of fortune, Clo wades across boundaries, taking ever greater and more dangerous risks to become the important person she wants to be within the confines of a world where female ambition remains cloaked. But who really is Clo underneath all the borrowed designer clothes and studied manners—and who are we if we share her desires?
Hilariously observant and insightful, Workhorse is a brilliant page-turner about what it means to be in thrall to wealth, beauty, and influence, and the outrageous sacrifices women must make for the sake of success.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2025
995 people are currently reading
14910 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
September 17, 2025
I can't believe how fascinating this story was.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolutely perfect. She gave so much life and depth to the main character that I think it really impacted how much I rooted for her.
Yes, the main character is a horrible person who does horrible things. But the writing is so good that was very easy for me to understand her.
The book starts off like a funny tale of an almost average young women trying to make it at a Vogue-like magazine in the early 2000, but after a third of the story is starts getting darker and darker, while still remaining funny and also extremely candid at times.
There are no good people here, and everyone is just trying to exploit everyone else.
I did not think I would love it that much.
Thank you so much Macmillan audio for this great ARC!
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolutely perfect. She gave so much life and depth to the main character that I think it really impacted how much I rooted for her.
Yes, the main character is a horrible person who does horrible things. But the writing is so good that was very easy for me to understand her.
The book starts off like a funny tale of an almost average young women trying to make it at a Vogue-like magazine in the early 2000, but after a third of the story is starts getting darker and darker, while still remaining funny and also extremely candid at times.
There are no good people here, and everyone is just trying to exploit everyone else.
I did not think I would love it that much.
Thank you so much Macmillan audio for this great ARC!
October 23, 2025
this. book. was. AWESOME!!!! how is this a debut? how is no one talking about it? WOW. 5 stars from me!!!
it’s my goal to put this on your radar 😎🥸
this was so good and unique, but felt like a combo of DEVIL WEARS PRADA, YELLOWFACE and THE GUEST. i'm so obsessed. it was like a train wreck i couldn't look away from and couldn't wait to keep reading.
read if you like:
- books set in early 2000
- NYC
- fashion / magazine era
- THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA movies
- good audiobooks
- main characters that are UNHINGED to the nth degree
- girls in their 20s being reckless
- a story that you have noooo idea how it’ll end
i went into this kind of blind and honestly recommend you do too, but this is my quick synopsis: a girl starts working for a fashion magazine and quickly realizes she's not like the elite (“showhorse”) that work there. and then she starts to do anything to fit in and survive... and her actions will SHOCK you 👀👀👀
Clo was a nightmare. Barbara was freaking hilarious but awful. Davis was your typical perfect NYC elite nepo baby. Harry was a wildcard. everyone played such an unreliable character and like messy raw person—they were all unlikeable but i was obsessed w them all!
i think some of the criticism this book is getting is valid w the length of it—its 500+ pages and did feel extremely long and that the author maybe had no idea how it was ending (because she did say in an article that figuring out the ending was the hardest thing for her which I did kind of feel). but honestly, the characters’ behavior and the plot were so freaking insane and captivating (and this girl kept getting messier and messier) that it turned out to work in the authors favor because as more unraveled, i was constantly wondering how on earth this book was going to end. all that to say… DONT PUT IT OFF BC ITS LONG LOL!
let’s just say, i’m glad the horse came back into the plot 👀 if you know you knowwww lol
!!! 🎧 also an EPIC audiobook thanks to the queen Helen Laser (my fave narrator ever) who brought it to life amazingly (especially Barbara lol!).
bravo!! can’t wait for more by this author!!!
it’s my goal to put this on your radar 😎🥸
this was so good and unique, but felt like a combo of DEVIL WEARS PRADA, YELLOWFACE and THE GUEST. i'm so obsessed. it was like a train wreck i couldn't look away from and couldn't wait to keep reading.
read if you like:
- books set in early 2000
- NYC
- fashion / magazine era
- THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA movies
- good audiobooks
- main characters that are UNHINGED to the nth degree
- girls in their 20s being reckless
- a story that you have noooo idea how it’ll end
i went into this kind of blind and honestly recommend you do too, but this is my quick synopsis: a girl starts working for a fashion magazine and quickly realizes she's not like the elite (“showhorse”) that work there. and then she starts to do anything to fit in and survive... and her actions will SHOCK you 👀👀👀
Clo was a nightmare. Barbara was freaking hilarious but awful. Davis was your typical perfect NYC elite nepo baby. Harry was a wildcard. everyone played such an unreliable character and like messy raw person—they were all unlikeable but i was obsessed w them all!
i think some of the criticism this book is getting is valid w the length of it—its 500+ pages and did feel extremely long and that the author maybe had no idea how it was ending (because she did say in an article that figuring out the ending was the hardest thing for her which I did kind of feel). but honestly, the characters’ behavior and the plot were so freaking insane and captivating (and this girl kept getting messier and messier) that it turned out to work in the authors favor because as more unraveled, i was constantly wondering how on earth this book was going to end. all that to say… DONT PUT IT OFF BC ITS LONG LOL!
let’s just say, i’m glad the horse came back into the plot 👀 if you know you knowwww lol
!!! 🎧 also an EPIC audiobook thanks to the queen Helen Laser (my fave narrator ever) who brought it to life amazingly (especially Barbara lol!).
bravo!! can’t wait for more by this author!!!
November 12, 2025
If you’ve ever read or watched The Devil Wears Prada and thought, “This would be so much better if ingenue protagonist Andy were a Tom Ripley-like sociopath!” - then this book is for you!
October 11, 2025
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC! Unfortunately this book didn’t do it for me. I was excited at the beginning because it was giving off Devil Wears Prada vibes, but from there it quickly devolved into a longer than necessary plotless story about a bunch of unlikable people. Despite neither relating to nor empathizing with anyone, I kept going in an attempt to discover the point of the book and was left underwhelmed. That said, I listened rather than read and seem to be in the minority per usual so take my words with a grain of salt!
September 20, 2025
Don’t ask me why because I can’t explain it but I had a great time
August 19, 2025
3 stars
It took me quite a while to finish this story but I never found myself willing to give up. Something kept me at it. Maybe it was Clodagh's tenacity, her zeal to climb up the ladder, or maybe it was the way I related to her giving in to her insecurities and making quick judgements that don't necessarily lead to the best outcomes.
Clodagh "Clo" Harmon is not the easiest person to like. Perhaps, that's because sometimes we are her, and sometimes we understand this is where we draw the line. There is a limit to the vileness within us, which makes us feel good about ourselves (Like Clo judges other's decisions to feel better about her own). Too often, we base our self-worth relative to others, which can trap us in a vicious cycle of self-hatred for not being enough, leaving us working overtime to fit in.
All these realizations aside, if it hadn't blown out of proportion at the end, I would have liked it better. It would have been more rooted in reality than the extraordinary circumstances that take place at the end. Unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!
It took me quite a while to finish this story but I never found myself willing to give up. Something kept me at it. Maybe it was Clodagh's tenacity, her zeal to climb up the ladder, or maybe it was the way I related to her giving in to her insecurities and making quick judgements that don't necessarily lead to the best outcomes.
Clodagh "Clo" Harmon is not the easiest person to like. Perhaps, that's because sometimes we are her, and sometimes we understand this is where we draw the line. There is a limit to the vileness within us, which makes us feel good about ourselves (Like Clo judges other's decisions to feel better about her own). Too often, we base our self-worth relative to others, which can trap us in a vicious cycle of self-hatred for not being enough, leaving us working overtime to fit in.
All these realizations aside, if it hadn't blown out of proportion at the end, I would have liked it better. It would have been more rooted in reality than the extraordinary circumstances that take place at the end. Unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!
November 7, 2025
Workhorse was a cringey trainwreck that I couldn’t look away from and while the book is long — some (self-included), might say a bit too long — I enjoyed the reading experience.
This is a workplace novel set in the early 2000s about Clo Harmon, a young woman desperate to fit in. Clo is employed as an editorial assistant at a fashion magazine. She recognizes there are workhorses, like herself, striving for a place to fit in, and showhorses, like her coworker Davis Lawrence, who are already beautiful and wealthy. Clo is allured by how the other half lives and partakes in the social scene of NYC.
As Clo learns through her work and ingratiates herself into Davis’ life, she’s exposed to more of the high society life she desires. She’s ambitious and not always in an admirable way. Clo was far from likable, I actually found most of the characters unlikable yet I couldn’t stop reading!
Though it felt a bit longer than necessary, Workhorse was a compelling debut about privilege and ambition, and I stayed curious to see how things would play out.
This is a workplace novel set in the early 2000s about Clo Harmon, a young woman desperate to fit in. Clo is employed as an editorial assistant at a fashion magazine. She recognizes there are workhorses, like herself, striving for a place to fit in, and showhorses, like her coworker Davis Lawrence, who are already beautiful and wealthy. Clo is allured by how the other half lives and partakes in the social scene of NYC.
As Clo learns through her work and ingratiates herself into Davis’ life, she’s exposed to more of the high society life she desires. She’s ambitious and not always in an admirable way. Clo was far from likable, I actually found most of the characters unlikable yet I couldn’t stop reading!
Though it felt a bit longer than necessary, Workhorse was a compelling debut about privilege and ambition, and I stayed curious to see how things would play out.
September 22, 2025
Mix Devil Wears Prada in with The Talented Mr. Ripley, and you have Workhorse. This novel tells the tale of ambition, greed, toxic friendships and the ugly side of parental abuse.
I was extremely impressed with Palmer’s abilities and the fact that this is a debut. I was sucked right on into the story. The character development is rich, the atmosphere lush and her previous experience in magazine work really shined. I found the whole job fascinating and the competitive nature of everyone so juicy. The toxic jealously between Clo and Davis was so detailed and relatable. The idea of Showhorses and Workhorses was a concept I had never heard of until this novel. The intricacies of the bygone world were also a nice nostalgic touch (expense reports, vouchers etc.)
This was a buddy read with of few of my booksta favs and most of us agreed that the only downfall was the editing. There was no need for the novel to be 500+ pages. It took away from the overall story and breathless shock value I would have gotten from Clo’s actions. I am very curious to see what Palmer cooks up next.
I was extremely impressed with Palmer’s abilities and the fact that this is a debut. I was sucked right on into the story. The character development is rich, the atmosphere lush and her previous experience in magazine work really shined. I found the whole job fascinating and the competitive nature of everyone so juicy. The toxic jealously between Clo and Davis was so detailed and relatable. The idea of Showhorses and Workhorses was a concept I had never heard of until this novel. The intricacies of the bygone world were also a nice nostalgic touch (expense reports, vouchers etc.)
This was a buddy read with of few of my booksta favs and most of us agreed that the only downfall was the editing. There was no need for the novel to be 500+ pages. It took away from the overall story and breathless shock value I would have gotten from Clo’s actions. I am very curious to see what Palmer cooks up next.
November 8, 2025
#ad much love for my finished copy @flatiron_books #partner
WORKHORSE
“Maybe these moments will seem small or meaningless one day, but from my current vantage point, I suspect it is precisely these odds and ends that add up to a life. So, yes, I want to go home, but I will stick this out. I will stay here in New York and wake up every morning with this searing, starving, relentless ball in my chest in the hope that one day it will dissipate, and that, one day, this strange and harsh and lonely land will feel a little bit more like a land that belongs to me,” (p. 67).
“We will not abandon each other, we say.
But deep down, I know there is no real safety in numbers. It's just us girls up against the world,” (p. 149).
“…but if she can be a bitch, I can be one,
too. And, trust me, I am better at it: I am on the fucking varsity team,” (p. 376).
“If you have ever gone properly crazy, you understand that it is difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint the exact moment you became an unreliable narrator to your own life,” (p. 487).
A love letter to our youth with our magazines. The book I never knew I needed in my life.
All a girl needs is a really good pair of heels 💁🏼♀️
There’s two types of people: Workhorses and Show Horses-
This book hooked me from the start and kept me hooked until the very last page! It never got boring - and for a 552 page book - THAT IS IMPRESSIVE! Devoured this book is 2 days.
I loved the fashion world plot, shady characters, and the writing is just brilliant. And while this isn’t a darker book nor a thriller, it totally reads like one. There’s this dark undertone that’s never really said but is felt throughout.
Just fabulous! Would make an excellent book club pick - lots to discuss here. There’s also a few laugh-out-loud moments that I just adored.
But … did I miss something? Who put Davis in the hospital?? Or is that up to us to determine?
Mem
Maine
$2-$5 per WORD 😱 I want that job!
Davis, Davis, Davis, Daaaaaaaa-vis 😂😂😂☠️ (audio was hilarious)!
WORKHORSE
“Maybe these moments will seem small or meaningless one day, but from my current vantage point, I suspect it is precisely these odds and ends that add up to a life. So, yes, I want to go home, but I will stick this out. I will stay here in New York and wake up every morning with this searing, starving, relentless ball in my chest in the hope that one day it will dissipate, and that, one day, this strange and harsh and lonely land will feel a little bit more like a land that belongs to me,” (p. 67).
“We will not abandon each other, we say.
But deep down, I know there is no real safety in numbers. It's just us girls up against the world,” (p. 149).
“…but if she can be a bitch, I can be one,
too. And, trust me, I am better at it: I am on the fucking varsity team,” (p. 376).
“If you have ever gone properly crazy, you understand that it is difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint the exact moment you became an unreliable narrator to your own life,” (p. 487).
A love letter to our youth with our magazines. The book I never knew I needed in my life.
All a girl needs is a really good pair of heels 💁🏼♀️
There’s two types of people: Workhorses and Show Horses-
This book hooked me from the start and kept me hooked until the very last page! It never got boring - and for a 552 page book - THAT IS IMPRESSIVE! Devoured this book is 2 days.
I loved the fashion world plot, shady characters, and the writing is just brilliant. And while this isn’t a darker book nor a thriller, it totally reads like one. There’s this dark undertone that’s never really said but is felt throughout.
Just fabulous! Would make an excellent book club pick - lots to discuss here. There’s also a few laugh-out-loud moments that I just adored.
But … did I miss something? Who put Davis in the hospital?? Or is that up to us to determine?
Mem
Maine
$2-$5 per WORD 😱 I want that job!
Davis, Davis, Davis, Daaaaaaaa-vis 😂😂😂☠️ (audio was hilarious)!
November 24, 2025
I will admit the sharp looking cover first caught my attention, but the 500+ page count held me back. I chose to pick it up after seeing a lot of great reviews and was craving something lighter to read. This book has been compared to one of my favorite comfort movies “The Devil Wears Prada.” I would say that is somewhat true, but a darker version. Our main character, Clo is hard-working but makes some awful decisions throughout the story. But, I couldn’t help wanting her to succeed. If books with a New York setting, inside look at the magazine publishing world, and cringe worthy characters appeal to you, I think you would enjoy the story. Again, it is long, but there were parts that I could skim and still keep up with the story. The writing was just great.
October 20, 2025
it’s a version of Emma Cline’s The Guest that’s more interesting in details and less interesting in practice
November 3, 2025
I could not finish this book. I hated the whining point of view of the main character, I hated the side characters, I hated the entitlement. Not a book for me
September 19, 2025
This book was a vibe, all the way through. The writing was page-turning, and for those two things alone, I want more from the author. However, there’s absolutely no reason that a book about a magazine employee needs to be 550 pages long. This could’ve been a 300 page book and been just as good. Regardless of that, j still thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and look forward to more from Palmer!
August 19, 2025
A huge thank you to Goodreads and Flatiron books for an ARC won through Goodreads giveaways!
Small-town Clodagh "Clo" Harmon is thrilled to have grasped a bottom rung of an entry level job at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City in late 2001. Desperate to rise through the ranks, she clearly realizes she does not have the pedigree or wealth required to ascend. In short, she is a workhorse, not a show horse around the office. She is enamored and deeply envious of her officemate Davis, who comes from a privileged background and for whom everything seems to come with ease. As time passes, Clo becomes increasingly willing to do whatever it takes to be accepted and perceived as one of the elites both within and outside of the office.
This novel was deeply immersive in the world of high fashion magazine life in the early 2000s. It is abundantly evident that the author has lived experience with this world and all the little details gave it such an authentic taste of the world in which Clo is living. She is living on a meager salary that barely covers her rent while enjoying under the counter luxury perks like borrowing designer clothes from the office, expensing many of her costs, and being invited to many spectacular events. In opening this book, you are transported to the world of a well-established institution that plays by unwritten but very defined rules but yet is threatened by emerging forces like the internet.
The heart of this novel is a tale of Clo's envy and ambition to claw her way to the top, no matter the cost. She has such a toxic relationship with Davis who she earnestly desires to be, but also passionately resents, all while ignoring all the haunting red flags about the dark side to Davis's life. Clo becomes increasingly dislikable as the novel goes on. Little white lies and small transgressions snowball into immense wrongs. Despite it all, Clo rarely seems to feel much guilt or shame for her increasingly poor choices.
I was particularly intrigued by Clo's absolutely overwhelmingly self-consciousness, particularly early on the novel, when she is fully aware of just how little she blends in with her surroundings. She is horrified by what she feels is the sheer enormity of her body compared to the miniscule physical bodies around her. She is constantly trying to minimize the size of her breasts and refers to her body at various points as a "redwood tree" (30) and later a "clumsy giraffe" (111). She is horrified by not innately knowing the way things are done like she would be had she been raised in this rarified environment. For instance, at one point she is invited to stay in Southampton for the weekend and shows up with her roller suitcase only to be horrified to find everyone else has packed a tote bag from L.L.Bean: "I silently despair that, despite great strides in my education, there are still so many little things I don't quite grasp" (171). Ironically, as the novel goes on, this self-conscious slowly fades away to a shocking lack of consciousness, where Clo seems to not self-reflect on any of her actions or the way she comes across to others, beyond being gratified that she now looks the part.
This is a thick novel that, at over 500 pages, will be daunting to some. Yet, I devoured it. It's mix of skillful, immersive writing and compelling plot left me feeling like it was far shorter than its heft suggests. This has many of the elements of The Devil Wears Prada but make it literary fiction with a dangerously unethical female lead and without a sweet love story or friend group.
Small-town Clodagh "Clo" Harmon is thrilled to have grasped a bottom rung of an entry level job at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City in late 2001. Desperate to rise through the ranks, she clearly realizes she does not have the pedigree or wealth required to ascend. In short, she is a workhorse, not a show horse around the office. She is enamored and deeply envious of her officemate Davis, who comes from a privileged background and for whom everything seems to come with ease. As time passes, Clo becomes increasingly willing to do whatever it takes to be accepted and perceived as one of the elites both within and outside of the office.
This novel was deeply immersive in the world of high fashion magazine life in the early 2000s. It is abundantly evident that the author has lived experience with this world and all the little details gave it such an authentic taste of the world in which Clo is living. She is living on a meager salary that barely covers her rent while enjoying under the counter luxury perks like borrowing designer clothes from the office, expensing many of her costs, and being invited to many spectacular events. In opening this book, you are transported to the world of a well-established institution that plays by unwritten but very defined rules but yet is threatened by emerging forces like the internet.
The heart of this novel is a tale of Clo's envy and ambition to claw her way to the top, no matter the cost. She has such a toxic relationship with Davis who she earnestly desires to be, but also passionately resents, all while ignoring all the haunting red flags about the dark side to Davis's life. Clo becomes increasingly dislikable as the novel goes on. Little white lies and small transgressions snowball into immense wrongs. Despite it all, Clo rarely seems to feel much guilt or shame for her increasingly poor choices.
I was particularly intrigued by Clo's absolutely overwhelmingly self-consciousness, particularly early on the novel, when she is fully aware of just how little she blends in with her surroundings. She is horrified by what she feels is the sheer enormity of her body compared to the miniscule physical bodies around her. She is constantly trying to minimize the size of her breasts and refers to her body at various points as a "redwood tree" (30) and later a "clumsy giraffe" (111). She is horrified by not innately knowing the way things are done like she would be had she been raised in this rarified environment. For instance, at one point she is invited to stay in Southampton for the weekend and shows up with her roller suitcase only to be horrified to find everyone else has packed a tote bag from L.L.Bean: "I silently despair that, despite great strides in my education, there are still so many little things I don't quite grasp" (171). Ironically, as the novel goes on, this self-conscious slowly fades away to a shocking lack of consciousness, where Clo seems to not self-reflect on any of her actions or the way she comes across to others, beyond being gratified that she now looks the part.
This is a thick novel that, at over 500 pages, will be daunting to some. Yet, I devoured it. It's mix of skillful, immersive writing and compelling plot left me feeling like it was far shorter than its heft suggests. This has many of the elements of The Devil Wears Prada but make it literary fiction with a dangerously unethical female lead and without a sweet love story or friend group.
November 7, 2025
The good: audiobook narrator was unique and well enunciated, lots of sardonic humor, throwback to the 90s and early 2000s is always fun
The bad: the main character is really whiny and also not a good person and I was not rooting for her or anyone in this story
The ugly: this book is 3 times longer than it should be. I honestly would have given it four stars if it was about half as long but holy smokes, LAND THE PLANE, my word. There was absolutely no reason for this to be 500+ pages. It began giving “I have to hit a certain word count” vibes the way it went on and on and on with absolutely no need to, and I completely lost interest. To the point where I got actively angry at it for just going on and on and on. Turned into a bad experience.
The bad: the main character is really whiny and also not a good person and I was not rooting for her or anyone in this story
The ugly: this book is 3 times longer than it should be. I honestly would have given it four stars if it was about half as long but holy smokes, LAND THE PLANE, my word. There was absolutely no reason for this to be 500+ pages. It began giving “I have to hit a certain word count” vibes the way it went on and on and on with absolutely no need to, and I completely lost interest. To the point where I got actively angry at it for just going on and on and on. Turned into a bad experience.
October 19, 2025
A woman perseverating about being “doughy” and having rolls that won’t fit into nice dresses after she reveals her BMI to be 21 is disgusting to me. She says her height and weight. Why am I reading something like this? It’s 2025 and I’d like to think we’ve learned more than this by now. As women and as human beings. I was curious about who would write something like this. And seeing the author glamorizing cigarette smoking all over her chic instagram posts like it’s 1996 didn’t help me get on board. The story could have been told in 150 pages. Not that it deserves to be told. I felt like I took 5 steps backward mentally while reading this and got stuck in 1996 body dysmorphia nicotine hell. The devil wears Prada is a dated concept that just doesn’t work in 2025 and I’m shocked if not horrified at all the rave reviews this is getting.
November 12, 2025
unbelievable typos in this thing. like spellcheck-should've-caught-that level typos ("silhouettte", for one, and "saturdays's", and do NOT even get me started on the punctuation). great, propulsive story, but there were definitely several points where the writing felt VERY overworked. i also think some of the character work was not especially consistent; certain traits were emphasized/de-emphasized (especially in Clo and Harry) for what felt like the benefit of a dramatic ending to a chapter or section, or to facilitate certain plot points happening, rather than because of any kind of consistency in their characters. i did like the ending, though. overall a fun read if you can forgive a few flaws, which i mostly could
September 20, 2025
DNF
thanks netgalley
thanks netgalley
November 29, 2025
4.5⭐️ — ate this right up & left no crumbs
September 13, 2025
I loved this book.
I was hooked from page one. As someone who also used to switch into heels right before getting into their office building, I instantly felt spiritually connected to Clo.
The early 2000s setting? Perfect. The unreliable, unlikeable narrator, that you're still kind of rooting for?? Even better. I kept waiting for a few more twists (especially around some moments I won’t spoil), but the ambiguity felt deliberate. The ending? Sure, it’s divisive, but I think that’s the point.
Palmer excelled at so many things in this book, from the contrast of Clo's appearance with the other women to her lack of knowledge about how to pronounce certain fashion terms, and her internal dialogue. It was truly excellent.
A sharp reminder that the rich can have everything and still be utterly miserable.
Thank you, Macmillan & NetGalley, for the ARC!
I was hooked from page one. As someone who also used to switch into heels right before getting into their office building, I instantly felt spiritually connected to Clo.
The early 2000s setting? Perfect. The unreliable, unlikeable narrator, that you're still kind of rooting for?? Even better. I kept waiting for a few more twists (especially around some moments I won’t spoil), but the ambiguity felt deliberate. The ending? Sure, it’s divisive, but I think that’s the point.
Palmer excelled at so many things in this book, from the contrast of Clo's appearance with the other women to her lack of knowledge about how to pronounce certain fashion terms, and her internal dialogue. It was truly excellent.
A sharp reminder that the rich can have everything and still be utterly miserable.
Thank you, Macmillan & NetGalley, for the ARC!
September 8, 2025
While the main character, "Clo," was sometimes funny and _occasionally_ sympathetic, I mostly found her whiny and annoying.
November 24, 2025
Devil Wears Prada meets The Talented Mr. Ripley meets hustle culture and I loved it.
November 4, 2025
It’s the heyday of fashion magazines in the early 2000s, where no one has any redeeming qualities and you’d exploit anyone to achieve a higher status. It’s definitely a chunky book with a 19 hour audiobook (could have been trimmed at least a little) though the narration was phenomenal. There are no likeable characters but this was still captivating to listen to. As the book progresses, Clo’s actions become more unhinged and you start rooting for some consequences to show themselves.
October 29, 2025
This book started off with such promise - reminded me a bit of Devil Wears Prada and I could relate to all of the fresh out of college in the early 2000's references. Then the book took a turn and just dragged on for me. I felt like this story could have been told in half of the length - over 500 pages was too much! The characters were unlikable but I stuck it out to see how it ended. I was underwhelmed.
July 9, 2025
Workhorse
Clodagh Harmon is a Work Horse and she knows it. But she is surrounded by Show Horses, people from the right background and with the right connections who apparently don’t need to have to work to get ahead. Davis, her cubicle mate and mentor, is one of the latter. At the turn of the century and in the wake of 9/11 they are both editorial assistants in New York’s magazine world. But it’s not long before Clodagh or ‘Clo’ is thrilled to see her name and job title appear on the magazines masthead, her climb to the top has begun.
She has a best friend, Allie Shaw, who she’s known for years. Allie also lives in the Big Apple, has left the corporate world and is now studying for a doctorate in Renaissance Literature at Columbia University on a full scholarship. She supports Clodagh as she navigates her way through as an outsider in her world of work and who wants desperately to achieve success as an editor in chief.
Clodagh ends up becoming part of Davis’s world and makes connections such as Harry Wood, another one determinedly climbing upwards. Will he help Clodagh or hinder her? Davis lives with her divorced mother, Barbara who was once a famous Broadway star and slowly Clodagh sees that their relationship is stifling and disturbing. But ultimately Clodagh is in thrall to her own ambition and nothing will stop her.
This is an ambitious novel set over the early 2000s to the present day. The rise and fall of print journalism as it succumbs to going online and how the role of editorial assistants alters was well portrayed. I recognised references to items of the time such as Rolodexes, once a must have in a busy office, vapes, Blackberries and a visit to the then notorious meatpacking district which is now gentrified.
However, I didn’t find Clodagh to be a likable character as she was willing to resort to theft and being paid by an outside source to sell ideas from her employer. But to her the end justifies the means. She has such envy for Davis and there is very disturbing scene in which she tried to drown her when they are out swimming together. And Clodagh abandons her after offering her the illusion of escape and discovering the real dynamics of her relationship with Barbara. They are both trapped within it. In fact, one character refers to it as a ‘Grey Gardens’ relationship.
I had thought that ‘Workhorse’ would be another ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ but whereas the latter was quite a lighthearted and fluffy read, by contrast, ‘Workhorse’ was much, much darker. The girl on the cover stares out looking quite truculent and put upon. But they had a common theme of the outsider entering a glittering world.
The fate of those who decide to ‘fake it until they make it’ such as a co-worker, Liddy, is to be instantly sacked or expelled. But Clodagh knows instinctively that she will never be a Showhorse and ultimately she pays the price. She always seems to be putting herself down all the time and making comparisons even as she rose within the magazine. Perhaps her self hatred is which propels her to act as she does. After all she already has a fake job on her CV.
There are some light hearted scenes such as her changing her shoes before entering the magazine’s building which did remind me of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ And also the toe curling scenes in Bergman Goodman when Clodagh is there with Barbara and Davis.
But I was fascinated by Clodagh and the actions that she takes in that I thought, ‘She’s not going to do that is she?’ It’s an honest account of ambition and class and resentment at having to work harder to achieve ambitions while others are given them. But people do help her such as her new manager, Isobel Fincher. The book is also a snapshot of a particular scene in time before things changed; expenses accounts, parties, rooms full of outfits and make-up to borrow or take. A bygone world.
I really enjoyed the book. I might not have liked Clodagh but as a portrait of a self made determined woman it was excellent.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
Clodagh Harmon is a Work Horse and she knows it. But she is surrounded by Show Horses, people from the right background and with the right connections who apparently don’t need to have to work to get ahead. Davis, her cubicle mate and mentor, is one of the latter. At the turn of the century and in the wake of 9/11 they are both editorial assistants in New York’s magazine world. But it’s not long before Clodagh or ‘Clo’ is thrilled to see her name and job title appear on the magazines masthead, her climb to the top has begun.
She has a best friend, Allie Shaw, who she’s known for years. Allie also lives in the Big Apple, has left the corporate world and is now studying for a doctorate in Renaissance Literature at Columbia University on a full scholarship. She supports Clodagh as she navigates her way through as an outsider in her world of work and who wants desperately to achieve success as an editor in chief.
Clodagh ends up becoming part of Davis’s world and makes connections such as Harry Wood, another one determinedly climbing upwards. Will he help Clodagh or hinder her? Davis lives with her divorced mother, Barbara who was once a famous Broadway star and slowly Clodagh sees that their relationship is stifling and disturbing. But ultimately Clodagh is in thrall to her own ambition and nothing will stop her.
This is an ambitious novel set over the early 2000s to the present day. The rise and fall of print journalism as it succumbs to going online and how the role of editorial assistants alters was well portrayed. I recognised references to items of the time such as Rolodexes, once a must have in a busy office, vapes, Blackberries and a visit to the then notorious meatpacking district which is now gentrified.
However, I didn’t find Clodagh to be a likable character as she was willing to resort to theft and being paid by an outside source to sell ideas from her employer. But to her the end justifies the means. She has such envy for Davis and there is very disturbing scene in which she tried to drown her when they are out swimming together. And Clodagh abandons her after offering her the illusion of escape and discovering the real dynamics of her relationship with Barbara. They are both trapped within it. In fact, one character refers to it as a ‘Grey Gardens’ relationship.
I had thought that ‘Workhorse’ would be another ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ but whereas the latter was quite a lighthearted and fluffy read, by contrast, ‘Workhorse’ was much, much darker. The girl on the cover stares out looking quite truculent and put upon. But they had a common theme of the outsider entering a glittering world.
The fate of those who decide to ‘fake it until they make it’ such as a co-worker, Liddy, is to be instantly sacked or expelled. But Clodagh knows instinctively that she will never be a Showhorse and ultimately she pays the price. She always seems to be putting herself down all the time and making comparisons even as she rose within the magazine. Perhaps her self hatred is which propels her to act as she does. After all she already has a fake job on her CV.
There are some light hearted scenes such as her changing her shoes before entering the magazine’s building which did remind me of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ And also the toe curling scenes in Bergman Goodman when Clodagh is there with Barbara and Davis.
But I was fascinated by Clodagh and the actions that she takes in that I thought, ‘She’s not going to do that is she?’ It’s an honest account of ambition and class and resentment at having to work harder to achieve ambitions while others are given them. But people do help her such as her new manager, Isobel Fincher. The book is also a snapshot of a particular scene in time before things changed; expenses accounts, parties, rooms full of outfits and make-up to borrow or take. A bygone world.
I really enjoyed the book. I might not have liked Clodagh but as a portrait of a self made determined woman it was excellent.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
September 17, 2025
This book surprised me. I originally picked it up to fulfill a challenge prompt, since Women’s Fiction isn’t a genre I normally reach for. But by the 20% mark, I found myself engaged, entertained, and even a little thought-provoked.
When I was choosing which book to use for the prompt, there were a few contenders that caught my eye, but ultimately it was the narrator—Helen Laser—that sealed the deal. I’ve listened to several audiobooks she’s narrated, and she’s always a highlight of the experience. This one was no different. Laser has a voice that immediately connects you to the material; she brings just enough “acting” to add personality without ever overdoing it, leaving space for the listener’s imagination. Her delivery feels conversational, almost like a friend telling you a story.
As for the prose itself, the FMC isn’t particularly likable—she comes across as a bit whiny at times—but I still found myself rooting for her. The story is rooted in societal challenges that feel especially relevant in 2025, and the author handled them with balance. It never felt heavy-handed, but it still managed to spark reflection.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and one I’m glad I gave a chance. It releases on October 14, 2025, for anyone looking to sink into something a little different.
I fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
When I was choosing which book to use for the prompt, there were a few contenders that caught my eye, but ultimately it was the narrator—Helen Laser—that sealed the deal. I’ve listened to several audiobooks she’s narrated, and she’s always a highlight of the experience. This one was no different. Laser has a voice that immediately connects you to the material; she brings just enough “acting” to add personality without ever overdoing it, leaving space for the listener’s imagination. Her delivery feels conversational, almost like a friend telling you a story.
As for the prose itself, the FMC isn’t particularly likable—she comes across as a bit whiny at times—but I still found myself rooting for her. The story is rooted in societal challenges that feel especially relevant in 2025, and the author handled them with balance. It never felt heavy-handed, but it still managed to spark reflection.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and one I’m glad I gave a chance. It releases on October 14, 2025, for anyone looking to sink into something a little different.
I fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
November 9, 2025
It was a workhorse to try to get through this book. Zero plot or any sort of character conflict in the first 100 pages. An incredibly unlikable main character. Boring and a slog to try to finish.
November 1, 2025
Was this the best book I’ve ever read? No. Did I wake up at 4:40am to read it before work? Yep. Make of that what you will. It’s absolutely longer than it needs to be, but I was entertained the whole time
October 13, 2025
I read this on audio. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced copy of this for my feedback!
This audiobook is LOOOONNNGGGG (over 17 hours at 1x speed) and the characters are devious and manipulative but gosh darn it, it worked and I ATE THIS UP.
Narrated by the fabulous Helen Laser, you get a mash up of The Devil Wears Prada and Mean Girls (for you 2000s movie fans).
It is witty and funny but also slightly dark and twisted. Don't go looking for a perfect character because these women are complex and privileged and will push boundaries to get what they want. Very entertaining stuff.
This audiobook is LOOOONNNGGGG (over 17 hours at 1x speed) and the characters are devious and manipulative but gosh darn it, it worked and I ATE THIS UP.
Narrated by the fabulous Helen Laser, you get a mash up of The Devil Wears Prada and Mean Girls (for you 2000s movie fans).
It is witty and funny but also slightly dark and twisted. Don't go looking for a perfect character because these women are complex and privileged and will push boundaries to get what they want. Very entertaining stuff.
December 5, 2025
I loved this book!
It’s NYC and fashion magazine in the early 2000s.
It’s a neurotic girl, Clo, trying to make it big.
It’s working girl/office girl stuff and I can never get enough of that.
The whole freaking 552 pages is narrated by her as she worms her way into the lives of the rich and famous as the workhorse.
Clo will stop at nothing to be noticed.
The book parents are The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. A crazy auntie will be The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.
My world synced up with this book. I’ve been on a Sex in The City bender on Netflix and sucked in The Vogue Documentary with Anna Wintour on Hulu all at the same time as reading this book.
This has been a truly contented couple of weeks over here.
It’s NYC and fashion magazine in the early 2000s.
It’s a neurotic girl, Clo, trying to make it big.
It’s working girl/office girl stuff and I can never get enough of that.
The whole freaking 552 pages is narrated by her as she worms her way into the lives of the rich and famous as the workhorse.
Clo will stop at nothing to be noticed.
The book parents are The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. A crazy auntie will be The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.
My world synced up with this book. I’ve been on a Sex in The City bender on Netflix and sucked in The Vogue Documentary with Anna Wintour on Hulu all at the same time as reading this book.
This has been a truly contented couple of weeks over here.
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