The Helpline
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4.1 • 7 Ratings
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
‘Nicely observed, with deft writing that makes it look easy. I think we all know someone like Germaine’ GRAEME SIMSION, bestselling author of The Rosie Project
Office life can be a minefield . . .
Germaine Johnson likes Sudoku, biscuits and maths. She is great with numbers and not so great with people. But after an incident at work leaves her jobless, she's forced to accept a position she's entirely wrong for: answering the phones of the Senior Citizen's Helpline.
However, it turns out that the role involves a more interesting secret project: to shut down the local community centre and stop the elderly 'troublemakers' in their tracks. Germaine initially believes she is the no-nonsense woman for the job - until she gets to know the very people she's trying to evict.
As the rebelling senior citiziens begin to open Germaine's eyes to a life outside boxes and numbers, she realises that she may be the only one capable of pulling their feuding community together . . .
Witty, big-hearted and hugely enjoyable, The Helpline is what you might get if you crossed The Rosie Project with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Australian author Collette debuts with the tale of the rather awkward Germaine Johnson as she does her part to assist a rundown senior center and its champions wage an existential struggle against the mayor and her schemes. Germaine isn't a people person, so her new job at the Australian town of Deepdene's Senior Citizen Helpline answering calls isn't a natural fit. She sees an opportunity for advancement when mayor Verity Bainbridge recruits her to oust the troublesome president of the local senior citizens center committee and then to write a building inspection report after Germaine lets slip to the mayor's friend Don Thomas, owner of the golf club adjoining the senior center, that the center is in poor repair. Germaine is also motivated by her crush on Don. To the end, Germaine has difficulty with feelings, which are, for her, "not only unpredictable" but "could be very unpleasant," but she does become fond of the people at the senior center, and so, naively, believes that the report will be used to make improvements rather than as justification to close the building and then sell the property to Don. When she discovers this, Germaine works with her new friends at the center and in the town's government to thwart the mayor. Readers who appreciate offbeat characters or a good David vs. Goliath tale should enjoy this.
