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Low Hanging Fruit
Carla Person just started her dream job at Endayze, the world's most prestigious tech company. By the end of her first morning, the CEO has fired someone using a typewriter and she has performed improv with an engineer as an onboarding activity.
It only gets worse from there.
At Endayze, the kombucha is free, the swans are dangerous, and the corporate culture is a masterclass in organizational dysfunction. Carla is smart, resourceful, and great at her job.
And that's exactly the problem.
In a company where "psychological safety" is a performance metric and "Thinkstorms" have replaced actual thinking, competence is treated as a threat. As an executive admin navigating a gaslighting boss, a cutthroat clique of colleagues, and a parade of bizarre corporate rituals, Carla has to keep her head down and survive, or fight back and risk it all. Join her as she navigates the invisible hurdles of a male-dominated tech company, a place where her sanity is worn thin by endless calendar updates and her intelligence is a liability. Can she find her voice and avoid burning out before her stock options vest? Or will she succumb to the inevitable pressure of another work week just around the corner?
Stop circling back and start experiencing some catharsis. Just be sure to complete the mandatory swan safety training.
LOW HANGING FRUIT is a sharp, laugh-out-loud workplace comedy for anyone who has ever survived a meeting that should have been an email, a boss who peaked in middle management, or a company that calls itself a "family."
Book 1 of the AT THE END OF THE DAY series.
Who this book is for:
The Big Tech Exhausted: Anyone who is tired of hearing how AI is going to steal all our jobs, has a boss who acts like a caricature of a leader, or enjoys seeing a male bully get humbled by a strong woman.
Professional Women: Carla is sharp enough to architect the future, but at Endayze she's only expected to schedule it.
The Underestimated: So-called "non-technical" workers who navigate toxic workplaces, put up with petty insults, and know they are capable of more. They will see their reality reflected with biting intelligence and the potential for a satisfying outcome.
It only gets worse from there.
At Endayze, the kombucha is free, the swans are dangerous, and the corporate culture is a masterclass in organizational dysfunction. Carla is smart, resourceful, and great at her job.
And that's exactly the problem.
In a company where "psychological safety" is a performance metric and "Thinkstorms" have replaced actual thinking, competence is treated as a threat. As an executive admin navigating a gaslighting boss, a cutthroat clique of colleagues, and a parade of bizarre corporate rituals, Carla has to keep her head down and survive, or fight back and risk it all. Join her as she navigates the invisible hurdles of a male-dominated tech company, a place where her sanity is worn thin by endless calendar updates and her intelligence is a liability. Can she find her voice and avoid burning out before her stock options vest? Or will she succumb to the inevitable pressure of another work week just around the corner?
Stop circling back and start experiencing some catharsis. Just be sure to complete the mandatory swan safety training.
LOW HANGING FRUIT is a sharp, laugh-out-loud workplace comedy for anyone who has ever survived a meeting that should have been an email, a boss who peaked in middle management, or a company that calls itself a "family."
Book 1 of the AT THE END OF THE DAY series.
Who this book is for:
The Big Tech Exhausted: Anyone who is tired of hearing how AI is going to steal all our jobs, has a boss who acts like a caricature of a leader, or enjoys seeing a male bully get humbled by a strong woman.
Professional Women: Carla is sharp enough to architect the future, but at Endayze she's only expected to schedule it.
The Underestimated: So-called "non-technical" workers who navigate toxic workplaces, put up with petty insults, and know they are capable of more. They will see their reality reflected with biting intelligence and the potential for a satisfying outcome.
- GenresHumor
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2026
About the author
Alex Thayer
1 book19 followersAlex Thayer has worked in the tech industry for more than twenty years. During that time, he has written thousands of emails, survived multiple reorgs, and consumed an inadvisable amount of microkitchen snacks.
Low Hanging Fruit, his debut novel, is a workplace comedy drawn from the absurd, intense, and occasionally soul-crushing reality of modern corporate life. It is the first book in the At the End of the Day series.
Alex has spent years in the tech industry studying how people work with technology. He holds a PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington. He lives in California and is currently in a meeting.
Low Hanging Fruit, his debut novel, is a workplace comedy drawn from the absurd, intense, and occasionally soul-crushing reality of modern corporate life. It is the first book in the At the End of the Day series.
Alex has spent years in the tech industry studying how people work with technology. He holds a PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington. He lives in California and is currently in a meeting.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 3, 2026
Loved it! I’ve worked in IT for almost 20 years, and as a woman in tech, I’ve been in those meetings with those coworkers. I’ve read those emails and sifted through those chats. Instead of being triggering, this book was like homeopathy…and it most certainly couldn’t have been an email. My only gripe is that I finished it.
June 23, 2026
Low Hanging Fruit by Alex Thayer is a sharply executed piece of workplace satire that understands something many books in this space miss: humor is most effective when it reveals rather than exaggerates.
What makes this novel stand out is its control. The absurdities of corporate culture—performative language, hollow metrics, ritualized meetings—are not presented as caricature, but as recognizable patterns. That grounding allows the satire to land with precision rather than noise.
Carla’s perspective anchors the narrative effectively. Her competence, set against an environment that treats capability as a liability, creates a tension that feels both immediate and authentic. The result is not just humor, but a form of narrative catharsis for readers who have navigated similar systems.
The novel also demonstrates a clear understanding of modern workplace dynamics, particularly within tech-driven environments. It captures the language, the posturing, and the quiet contradictions that define contemporary corporate life, without losing narrative momentum.
This is a book that knows exactly what it is doing. It is controlled, observant, and deliberate in its execution—delivering humor that resonates because it is rooted in truth rather than exaggeration.
A precise and highly readable satire that will feel uncomfortably familiar to many—and that is exactly its strength.
What makes this novel stand out is its control. The absurdities of corporate culture—performative language, hollow metrics, ritualized meetings—are not presented as caricature, but as recognizable patterns. That grounding allows the satire to land with precision rather than noise.
Carla’s perspective anchors the narrative effectively. Her competence, set against an environment that treats capability as a liability, creates a tension that feels both immediate and authentic. The result is not just humor, but a form of narrative catharsis for readers who have navigated similar systems.
The novel also demonstrates a clear understanding of modern workplace dynamics, particularly within tech-driven environments. It captures the language, the posturing, and the quiet contradictions that define contemporary corporate life, without losing narrative momentum.
This is a book that knows exactly what it is doing. It is controlled, observant, and deliberate in its execution—delivering humor that resonates because it is rooted in truth rather than exaggeration.
A precise and highly readable satire that will feel uncomfortably familiar to many—and that is exactly its strength.
June 8, 2026
unique story with some quirks
Reading this book felt like watching The Office and reading the Work Chronicles calendars. It is a unique story and I am not sure exactly where it is heading, but it was entertaining. It’s set as an administrative assistant is starting her new job at a tech company and follows her on her first 26 weeks on the job. There are plenty of odd characters who work for this company and most of the mysteries that are presented are left unresolved by the last page. I’m assuming that they will be addressed in further books, since this is listed as book one in the At the End of the Day series.
The thing that really bugged me is that the author chose not to use quotation marks in a story with a lot of dialog and that made it difficult to figure out what was spoken aloud, what things were thoughts, and who was saying what in group conversations. This was a huge detriment to the enjoyment of the story.
If you like quirky stories about strange tech companies, are an administrative assistant working for people who don’t appreciate you, or are looking for a series starter that is similar to a mockumentary, this one might be your next read.
Reading this book felt like watching The Office and reading the Work Chronicles calendars. It is a unique story and I am not sure exactly where it is heading, but it was entertaining. It’s set as an administrative assistant is starting her new job at a tech company and follows her on her first 26 weeks on the job. There are plenty of odd characters who work for this company and most of the mysteries that are presented are left unresolved by the last page. I’m assuming that they will be addressed in further books, since this is listed as book one in the At the End of the Day series.
The thing that really bugged me is that the author chose not to use quotation marks in a story with a lot of dialog and that made it difficult to figure out what was spoken aloud, what things were thoughts, and who was saying what in group conversations. This was a huge detriment to the enjoyment of the story.
If you like quirky stories about strange tech companies, are an administrative assistant working for people who don’t appreciate you, or are looking for a series starter that is similar to a mockumentary, this one might be your next read.
April 15, 2026
Funny, Relatable, and a Really Strong Debut
This book was such a fun read and had me laughing right from the beginning.
What really stood out is how true-to-life it feels. Anyone who’s spent time in tech or a large company will recognize so many of these moments, and that’s what makes it so funny. The onboarding scenes especially do a great job setting the tone and drawing you in early.
It’s an easy book to get into and the pacing keeps things moving. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next. The characters feel recognizable in a way that makes everything hit even more. I especially loved and related to the strong female characters.
Overall, it’s a smart, entertaining, and very readable book. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light but thoughtful, and I’m excited to see what comes next in the series. It’s a really strong debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Alex writes next.
This book was such a fun read and had me laughing right from the beginning.
What really stood out is how true-to-life it feels. Anyone who’s spent time in tech or a large company will recognize so many of these moments, and that’s what makes it so funny. The onboarding scenes especially do a great job setting the tone and drawing you in early.
It’s an easy book to get into and the pacing keeps things moving. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next. The characters feel recognizable in a way that makes everything hit even more. I especially loved and related to the strong female characters.
Overall, it’s a smart, entertaining, and very readable book. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light but thoughtful, and I’m excited to see what comes next in the series. It’s a really strong debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Alex writes next.
May 11, 2026
Hilarious, relatable, and surprisingly deep.
I could not put this book down. "Low Hanging Fruit" is a hilarious look at the ridiculousness of modern tech culture, but it also has a surprising amount of depth.
The story follows Carla, a new administrative assistant who gets a front-row seat to the madness of a fictitious tech company. The author perfectly nails the corporate theatre, including the meaningless brainstorms and the bizarrely out-of-touch executives. In fact, one particular scene involving an executive's "heritage" had me laughing out loud. However, the story also tackles the darker side of the workplace, like sexual harassment and power dynamics, in a way that feels very real.
Carla is a fantastic protagonist. She is strong, witty, and easy to root for as she navigates the strange mysteries happening at her new job. If you want a book that is as smart as it is funny, pick this one up. Highly recommended!
I could not put this book down. "Low Hanging Fruit" is a hilarious look at the ridiculousness of modern tech culture, but it also has a surprising amount of depth.
The story follows Carla, a new administrative assistant who gets a front-row seat to the madness of a fictitious tech company. The author perfectly nails the corporate theatre, including the meaningless brainstorms and the bizarrely out-of-touch executives. In fact, one particular scene involving an executive's "heritage" had me laughing out loud. However, the story also tackles the darker side of the workplace, like sexual harassment and power dynamics, in a way that feels very real.
Carla is a fantastic protagonist. She is strong, witty, and easy to root for as she navigates the strange mysteries happening at her new job. If you want a book that is as smart as it is funny, pick this one up. Highly recommended!
April 15, 2026
Strong woman suffers no fools in tech satire
I worked in the dot com bubble and a few other tech zeitgeists. I saw talented women and men driven out of engineering teams or emotionally damaged by toxic work environments. This tale reminds me of those times and yet puts a smile on my face with its Hogan's Heroes humor inside the prison.
If you ever had to infer what was going on by Outlook schedule stalking or repeated industry jargon until it made word soup, then you will recognize protaganist, Carla Person. If you have ever had a job you had to suffer to keep your way of life, then you will know her drive. Her quest is human dignity in a tech grind, and clinging to the mantra that you work to live and not the other way around.
A strong debut by Alex Thayer. I look forward to reading his next work.
I worked in the dot com bubble and a few other tech zeitgeists. I saw talented women and men driven out of engineering teams or emotionally damaged by toxic work environments. This tale reminds me of those times and yet puts a smile on my face with its Hogan's Heroes humor inside the prison.
If you ever had to infer what was going on by Outlook schedule stalking or repeated industry jargon until it made word soup, then you will recognize protaganist, Carla Person. If you have ever had a job you had to suffer to keep your way of life, then you will know her drive. Her quest is human dignity in a tech grind, and clinging to the mantra that you work to live and not the other way around.
A strong debut by Alex Thayer. I look forward to reading his next work.
April 20, 2026
Low Hanging Fruit was one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a while.
It's funny and witty in a way that feels effortless, and it moves fast. What made it stick for me is that even when things get pretty outlandish, there's an underlying truth to it that anyone who's spent time in a big company will recognize immediately. Working in tech myself, I found myself laughing and wincing in equal measure.
More than anything, it's just really cathartic. Sometimes you want to read something that gets it, the absurdity, the politics, the grind of it all, and this delivers with a lot of humor and heart. Highly recommend, especially if corporate life has ever made you question your sanity!
It's funny and witty in a way that feels effortless, and it moves fast. What made it stick for me is that even when things get pretty outlandish, there's an underlying truth to it that anyone who's spent time in a big company will recognize immediately. Working in tech myself, I found myself laughing and wincing in equal measure.
More than anything, it's just really cathartic. Sometimes you want to read something that gets it, the absurdity, the politics, the grind of it all, and this delivers with a lot of humor and heart. Highly recommend, especially if corporate life has ever made you question your sanity!
May 20, 2026
If you are looking for a great satirical, often humorous, but other times very serious read, this is the book for you. Alex Thayer's debut novel lampoons high tech, with clueless engineers, managers full of self importance, and a robotic impersonal HR department unable to deal with the serious issues affecting their employees. You find yourself rooting for Carla and her fellow admins as they try to work their way through this dysfunctional mess. The surprising ending leaves you on edge and waiting for the next installment in the series.
June 9, 2026
Received this as a free book via goodreads.
This book is enjoyable if you have worked in a large corporation as it really expounds on the stereotype of large corporations and/or admin assistants.
My biggest pet peeve was the lack of quotation marks to mark speech verses description, it was difficult for my brain to interpret.
I however did not enjoy the ending. It left me wanting to know what actually happened next. (I don't want to leave any more of a "spoiler" than that).
This book is enjoyable if you have worked in a large corporation as it really expounds on the stereotype of large corporations and/or admin assistants.
My biggest pet peeve was the lack of quotation marks to mark speech verses description, it was difficult for my brain to interpret.
I however did not enjoy the ending. It left me wanting to know what actually happened next. (I don't want to leave any more of a "spoiler" than that).
Did Not Finish
June 9, 2026DNF @ 3% — I was intrigued by the premise, and while I appreciate the free ebook from the Goodreads giveaway, neither the subject matter nor writing style hooked me enough to get over the pretty egregious choice of eschewing quotation marks for dialogue. I can imagine a scenario where this would be an appropriate artistic choice, but this is definitely not one of those instances IMHO. Not for me but hopefully others will enjoy! 🙏
May 27, 2026
Silicon Valley meets Severance. I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway and it delivered exactly what it promised. It is a deeply funny lampooning of the tech industry and corporate cultures. I laughed throughout the book and am invested in the mysteries not yet answered. Very much looking forward to the next installment!
April 15, 2026
This was a fun read. I enjoyed the satire and humor. There is also a good story here, and I got to learn about what goes on in those big tech campuses. This is the first in a series. I look forward to the next.
July 18, 2026
Need to reclassify as "horror"
100% I worked for this company and it’s "leadership" (I see you in these pages chulig, chupa, carter, graff, and the hellbeast).
Received as a Goodreads Giveaway
100% I worked for this company and it’s "leadership" (I see you in these pages chulig, chupa, carter, graff, and the hellbeast).
Received as a Goodreads Giveaway
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I’m looking forward to the release of Low Hanging Fruit and to reading it.
May 14, 2026
Really fun good book! I normally don’t like any book set in a workplace but this one made me laugh out loud and kept me engaged the whole time
June 7, 2026
🤣😂🤣😂😁😀😃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026I DNF this due to the non-use of quotations. I can't get past it.
June 16, 2026
Highly recommend! Great read!
June 21, 2026
I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway. It was a bit like The Office in book form.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews