Ellen Barker’s upcoming novel Still Needs Work begins with a layoff.  Marianne wasn’t particularly invested in or passionate about her tech job, but it’s still a blow to be abruptly laid off in yet another tech company restructure, and find herself  back in her struggling her Kansas City neighborhood.

The overall atmosphere of Still Needs Work is of straightforward resilience in the face of setbacks. The writing is straightforward too, with a direct style and everyday detail. We hear a lot about what Marianne had for dinner, which household chores she did first, or who she called next, which was an unusual writing style, but worked well for Marianne’s character. She tries to consider her passions in life, like one is supposed to do after a layoff, but she’s much more about just getting on with things. 

Still Needs Work blends Marianne’s own story with wider social themes. Marianne personally loses her job and works through shady, twisty acquisitions, but that’s also the reality for many people in the tech world. The scenes of nameless suits who aren’t entirely sure what the company does yet, but are about to decide if Marianne will keep her job, gave me tech-job PTSD.  And Marianne — like so many of us — finds that the house she can afford is in a sketchy neighborhood, far from her high-paying tech job opportunities. As Marianne struggles with her career, her neighborhood, and her new identity, readers can’t help connecting to these wider pressures of work and capitalism. 

I received a copy of this novel through BookInfluencers. Opinions on my blog are always my own.