The Gargoyle from General Management

Gleeful Goblin Review: I've loved every title in this series so far so when I say that this one is my favorite I want you to understand WHY. The narration is perfection and makes the experience very immersive. When I was listening to this audiobook it was **uncanny** how perfectly the author captures employee burnout and dissatisfaction around things that most big companies do in the wake of how Covid changed the work world. The surface level focus on "togetherness" for instance or how our FMC is talking about how being "on camera" during the all staff seance and looking like you're paying attention is WAY more energy than actually paying attention. And as a member of Team Neurospicy who works remotely and adores it...... BIG MOOD. When I heard this section for instance when our FMC is talking to her Chief Evil Overlord (CEO) about the new manager that's been hired **foreshadowing** about a pair of employees who are The Worst: “Yes, given their particular circumstances, I thought it was time they had new leadership. I sought out an expert in the field.” Oh, sure, an expert. Someone who is actually going to manage Kathy and Ted and their problems instead of letting all the emails I CC them on pile up in their inbox. He pauses, then adds with just a hint of excitement, “We snagged him from a much bigger company. You might have heard of him, Vladyr Grotesce.” “Oh. Wow,” I reply, unable to fake my enthusiasm. I wonder what kind of iron-fist type leadership guru Soven has in mind. Just one more thing I really can’t stand, the kind of weirdo who posts long, practically nonsensical spiels on business forums about how keeping employees in office is best for morale, and then thinks a policy change tacked to the break room wall will do all the work. Or possibly the worse option, someone who is actually hyper-competent and has centuries of experience under his belt, and a wall of awards and certificates to match. Just the thought of it makes me feel like I don't know enough to be here and that I’m going to have to bullshit about my own competency. Like his arrival means I've immediately forgotten how to do my job. The call ends mercifully, with this week’s prospects a little worse for wear. The last thing I want is to have to go through a thousand pages of complaint forms explaining Kathy and Ted’s particular dynamic to a big deal manager who would be able to solve their problems in a snap and ask me why it took so long." When I say I **felt** that dual dread of new management being EITHER incompetent and out of touch or actually effective and proving your Imposter Syndrome to be right Big Oof. The blend of real life subtle references mixed in with the escapism I'm looking for from my monster romances is sublime and made me endlessly amused because I listened to the book while writing out case notes at my Company Day Job where they actually do buy into the corporate attitude the author is skewering here so aptly. Now, luckily for both our MCs the company they work for actually cares about its employees more than IRL companies do which is part of that escapism that I so desperately crave. In terms of the interaction between our MCs I'd say a trope that fits best is probably forced proximity because they keep running into each other and not knowing who the other person is or how they're related to their employer which makes interactions like this one equal parts hilarious and relatable in a "please let the Earth swallow me whole" type of way: "I glance at my neighbor in the middle seat, and nearly break my neck on the double take. Him. Again. This is getting ridiculous. He's also dozed off, his chin in his hand, propped up on the arm rest between seats. At least he's not awake to register my reaction. I’m just about done squeezing the air out of my neck pillow until it’s as good as vacuum sealed in its bag, by the time the gargoyle I can’t seem to get rid of starts to stir. I pointedly look out the window and refuse to make eye contact, until I feel the row behind us start to shuffle out into the aisle to get off the plane. “You’re a sound sleeper,” he remarks, several minutes into us both being awake. He's turning on his phone to an email notification noise, placidly opening it as people start getting antsy about exiting the plane. “Yes, well...” I mumble, but stop myself before pointing out that I’ve embarrassed myself enough times in front of him already. A few times bumping into each other back in the terminal was enough, a whole four hours of sitting next to him probably would have chipped away at my remaining pride and revealed every overly personal detail about myself. He doesn’t let me trail off though. He raises a brow, and repeats, “Well?” “Um. That’s the advantage of traveling in your pj’s,” I shrug, and then bury my attention in my phone until we leave. I’m so done with this guy, handsome be-suited gargoyle or not. I’d like a little dignity to remain for tomorrow to pretend to enjoy my coworkers. The one good thing about these corporate retreats to far away locales is that anyone you bump into, you're pretty much guaranteed to never see again." GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS ON THAT FRONT THERE FRIEND. This office romance will shuffle you off this mortal coil with the combo pack of relatability, humor, second hand embarrassment, and steam filled fun. 5/5 Stars