Review: In Office Hours

Well, this was a dishy little novel.

In Office Hoursis about two women who have affairs. One, Stella, is a higher up at a ginormous oil company in London. She starts sleeping with a 27 year old male new hire – yes, she’s married, but not to him. The other is Bella, a 20-something single mom who works at the same company and starts banging her married boss.

In each case, we only get inside the woman’s head. It’s the kind of book that makes me wonder why ANYONE would have an affair. They both seem to know it won’t end well, but they forge ahead anyway. But why? It’s not that author Lucy Kellaway doesn’t explain the (gravely flawed) rationale for their actions…but maybe it’s me.

Kellaway is an editor and columnist at the Financial Times, which is why the office part of this book is spot on. That, combined with the British melodrama feel of the book, makes for a light read. I’d have enjoyed this on vacation if I was away.