HELP WANTED

Amanda Ronconi deftly narrates Waldman's sophomore novel, which follows a big-box store's logistics team as they work the 4:00 a.m. shift, unloading trucks and hauling merchandise to the store's floor. When the store manager announces his departure, the team's ambitious, breezily offensive leader, Meredith, seems poised to take over. Meredith is undeniably awful, but the team soon realizes her promotion could mean good things for them. Ronconi perfectly delivers Meredith's strident voice, capturing her frenzied positivity and ill-concealed contempt for her subordinates. Ronconi's voicings of the rest of the team, all of whom contend with unpredictable schedules, crushingly poor pay, and limited opportunities, are varied and sensitive. A riveting audiobook that entertains even as it illuminates the grim realities of low-wage part-time work. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]