Confessions of a Call Center Gal

Jun 01, 2011 Jenn (Booksessed) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Part of the reason that this book appealed to me, was because I used to work in a call center. Unlike Maddy, I was outgoing calls rather than incoming. Like the characters in the book, you do form a camaraderie with your fellow floor mates, and there's always, ALWAYS one person on the floor that gets dubbed The Nazi. (In my case, it was the person who sat beside me for four joyless months). I think this novel is chick lit at it's best; it has best friends that are like sisters, gay best friends...more Part of the reason that this book appealed to me, was because I used to work in a call center. Unlike Maddy, I was outgoing calls rather than incoming. Like the characters in the book, you do form a camaraderie with your fellow floor mates, and there's always, ALWAYS one person on the floor that gets dubbed The Nazi. (In my case, it was the person who sat beside me for four joyless months). I think this novel is chick lit at it's best; it has best friends that are like sisters, gay best friends (because we all have one) and a cute, sweet guy with an accent. What's not to like?

The characters are so realistic. I kept thinking, "I know these people!!" Karsynn and Maddy are excellent as best friends. They don't always agree, or even get along, but you always know that the love is there. I adore the character of Truong. He has the best lines and I kind of wish he wasn't a fictional character. Then there's Mika. Oh, Mika. If you've read any of my previous posts, you may have an inkling to how I feel about sweet men with accents.

Mika is no different. He's sweet, charming, studious and from Belgium. Oh, and he likes "girls with a healthy appetite." Sa-woon. There are certain fictional men who are so wonderful within the pages of a book, that I threaten my boyfriend with something along the lines of "if he were a real person, you'd be in trouble." Mika has joined that list. He may even be jostling for the top spot.

The novel is a very quick read. It's not so much due to the number of pages, but to the fact that it's engaging and hysterical. I had several instances where I was laughing out loud. I was that annoying person who disturbs an otherwise quiet environment. Mostly, because I sometimes snort when I laugh. The novel does start out a little slow, but all the background information that you get before the action picks up makes the ending really flow and not seemed rushed. The romantic aspect of the novel is wonderfully paced, sweet and realistic. I may or may not be jealous of a first date.

What I really took away from the novel was that yes, your life may not be going in the direction that you want it to be, but that doesn't mean that you won't end up somewhere completely amazing. Hopefully the people you encounter on that journey will be as wonderful as Maddy, Karsynn, Truong and Mika.

Speaking of amazing and wonderful, the author Lisa Lim, wanted me to mention in my blog that the second printing of the (paperback) novel is coming up in June, and she wants you to wait for that edition. Why, you ask? Because the second printing will cost less than the copies that are left of the currently out of print first edition. Isn't that lovely of her? I think so. In the mean time, I am providing a link for the kindle edition. (I'll update with the second edition paperback as soon as it drops.)

If you want to know more about Lisa (and why wouldn't you?) you can check out her blog http://confessionsofacallcentergal.bl... She writes a lot about fashion including fitting room reviews and outfits of the day. Who doesn't love fashion and shopping, really? If you love chick lit, I'm sure that you'll love her book. I have no complaints what-so-ever.

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Jun 30, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to say I absolutely adored this book - despite putting in crazy hours in work just recently, juggling guests, kids end of school events and trying to fit far too much into a far too short day, I found myself reaching for my Kindle, and this book, even when I could barely keep my eyes open!

The beauty of Amazon and the Kindle, is a chance to read books from authors that may otherwise remain hidden! In this case, this author deserves to have her name out there so this and future publications...more I have to say I absolutely adored this book - despite putting in crazy hours in work just recently, juggling guests, kids end of school events and trying to fit far too much into a far too short day, I found myself reaching for my Kindle, and this book, even when I could barely keep my eyes open!

The beauty of Amazon and the Kindle, is a chance to read books from authors that may otherwise remain hidden! In this case, this author deserves to have her name out there so this and future publications do not get overlooked!

I loved this book because it was real and relatable! So many traditional chick lit books tend to go off on a tangent to a life many of us will never have - Bond Street and Fifth Avenue are not a regular part of my routine. However, leaving college with a degree in one hand and hopes of that dream job only to find yourself with an hourly job that is not exactly creative or appealing but pays the bills -well that is something I can certainly relate to! Like both the author and Maddy, the title character - I decided on a degree in Journalism. Now my path turned out a little differently when those plans turned into a social science degree but my first job was in a hospital not the glamourous office and fancy paycheck that I had dreamed of!

In this book, Maddy, fed up with one rejection letter after another (and many of us have been there when we first come out of College) takes a job in a call center. The job is well presented with the stresses and general unpleasantness of the callers; and also services as a little FYI that we have all been on those calls and might want to take a quick breather and respect the person on the other end of the line! (The last chapter takes a slightly different and may I say excellent turn for a few pages when it leaves the humor alone and talks about the folks from all walks of life , all education levels, all career levels who did not plan to but ended up in a call center as a means to pay the bills - food for thought)

The books follows her work days, the friendships she has and those she develops, the anticipation of the 'will they, won't they' potential relationship with co-worker Mika which certainly kept me reading! I like the fact that things do not wrap up too early! It was just so well written, it felt like a peak into a normal life, not some glitzy creation designed purely for the pages of a book! There was a good deal of humor injected and I found myself laughing out load several times - the Christmas recap when the calls and alcohol were not the best mix was so funny!!

I loved being able to relate to that first job out of college - it is sometimes not what you want to do - I worked long hours in a hospital - but it is a job that teaches you more than you will ever know and those friendships developed there are ones you will never forget! And this book captured that so perfectly!!

Lisa, please hurry up and write a new book! I loved this and cannot wait to see what you come up with next! Now it makes those Shopaholic books seem , well, so fake (and those were my faves until this came along) (less)

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Jun 10, 2011 Loosheesh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, favorites, calibred-n-own, chicklit, reflects, heroines-i-like, amazon-reviews

"It’s a dirty job, even worse than scrubbing toilets. A toilet doesn’t talk back. But the callers do."

Almost all of us have been there – fresh out of school, wanting to take on the world but having to make do with that evil job. Maddy, who dreams of becoming a writer (working in print media) but has little prospects in a down economy, settles on a call center job, along with her best friend, Kars. Along the way, there's loads of fun, funny moments and growing up as she navigates the challenges o...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, chick-lit

Maddy is a recent college graduate and having trouble finding a job. So, she heads to rural (hey it seems rural to me at least) of Idaho to visit her best friend from College. During her visit Maddy and Kars end up each landing jobs at the Lightning Speed call center and Maddy is staying. The book is written from Maddy's view and follows her through training and onto the phone. We learn about the friends that Maddy makes of the coworkers around her and gives us a little insight into the callers...more Maddy is a recent college graduate and having trouble finding a job. So, she heads to rural (hey it seems rural to me at least) of Idaho to visit her best friend from College. During her visit Maddy and Kars end up each landing jobs at the Lightning Speed call center and Maddy is staying. The book is written from Maddy's view and follows her through training and onto the phone. We learn about the friends that Maddy makes of the coworkers around her and gives us a little insight into the callers that Maddy gets to help. As she grows as a call receiver at a call center and the stigma that goes with that in her personal life. Then there is Mika her friend at the call center, but maybe there could be more.

I was asked to review this book by the author and little did she know at the time, this is kind of a great book for me to review. After all where do I work? In a call center, but I know that the call center that I work in is very different then any other call center. So, I will take that part worth a grain of salt in comparing my experiences.

I did enjoy reading this book, I am kind of starting to get into the kindle. There were great passages that I highlighted to go back to or I felt really reflected how I felt about situations. The writing was great and really insightful in many ways. That being said there were on times when we were moving back and forth between Maddy at the call center and her personal life that I felt we didn't get as to know Maddy as much as we could have since we were going back and forth and moments of life were left out. We learned about the important parts pertinent to moving the plot on, but I wanted to know more about Maddy as a person outside of her relationships with these friends and the call center, who was she. Maybe, this is because I could relate to Maddy that I wanted more about her. Overall, I would say that I really enjoyed this novel. I would read more from Lisa Lim and would recommend this to other readers. The only warning I would give is don't read it while you are still working/at work at the call center, for me it got a little depressing to be living it while reading about it.

It does make me wonder how many of us chick lit readers are out there reading and writing being our dream, but are hiding out in call centers right now?

E

I was provided a copy of the book for review, but the summary and thoughts on the book are mine.(less)

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Aug 18, 2011 LiteraryMarie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like so many fresh college graduates, Madison Lee is ready to apply her skills at a job. Unfortunately, she doesn't have luck finding a job right away due to the economy. She visits Pocatello, Idaho and accepts a job position at a call center. It is better than unemployment, right?

I've never worked in a call center before, though I used to work in retail and customer service. I've got stories for days. But the stories told by the main character were unbelievably funny and unique. The outrageous...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Fanda VIXXIO rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit, my-editing-work

Not like any other chicklit novels I've read, this book is based on the true life of a call center girl. Yes, Lisa Lim used to work in a call center office. No wonder, the story feels natural, as if I'm reading a diary.

I love Maddy, she's just like me, loves reading and writing, has a dream and a courage to follow it. Like Maddy, I love to read Agatha Christie, classic books, and...Pillars of the Earth! It feels like meeting a friend with the same interests in books.

On top of that, this book has...more

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May 05, 2012 Hilary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Confessions of a Call Center Gal is a humorous (and politically incorrect) novel about complex friendships and the stress and stigmas associated with bad jobs. Maddie and Karsynn (how FAB is her name) are your typical 20-somethings, fresh out of college and searching for a job. Instead of sulking and going into debt they decide to work in a call center. What follows is a hilarious adventure with EXTREMELY realistic characters and life lessons.

I've personally worked in a call center for 5 years...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Al rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, read-2012

I found this book to be both funny and, while a little over-the-top in some regards (often the case with much fiction and a lot of good humor), an accurate enough portrayal of working in a call center for anyone not familiar with what this can be like.

I’ll get back to the positive, but first I’ll tell you a few reasons why some people wouldn’t like "Confessions of a Call Center Gal." The first is an idiosyncratic approach to emphasis. This includes occasionally capitalizing all the letters in a...more I found this book to be both funny and, while a little over-the-top in some regards (often the case with much fiction and a lot of good humor), an accurate enough portrayal of working in a call center for anyone not familiar with what this can be like.

I’ll get back to the positive, but first I’ll tell you a few reasons why some people wouldn’t like "Confessions of a Call Center Gal." The first is an idiosyncratic approach to emphasis. This includes occasionally capitalizing all the letters in a word and frequent use of “?!?” as sentence ending punctuation. There are venues where this might be appropriate (informal emails to friends or some internet forums), but in general your words should make the emphasis, if it is needed. A novel isn’t the place to use this technique. Even if it was, the technique loses its effect if overused, which was the case here.

The second issue won’t be a consideration for most people. When a novel is set in a real place, it is important to get the details correct. It doesn’t matter for a reader who isn’t familiar with the town, but it might be for those who are. If these details are integral to the story or plot, it becomes critical.

Anyone familiar with the town where "Confessions" is set is going to spot numerous things that don’t ring true and some complete errors of fact. For example, the apartment Madison moves into is at least twice as tall as any building in town. None of this is integral to the story and most readers won’t recognize any of the issues I spotted as unrealistic. However, using a fictional town would have worked just as well and would probably have been a better choice. Had the book been set in a large city such as New York or Chicago, it would matter that much more.

It feels like after writing this much negative, I shouldn’t have liked "Confessions," yet I did. Although it has been a while since I’ve had to work in one of those low-paid, thankless jobs largely populated by students and recent graduates trying to pay the bills until they can jumpstart their career, I remember enough about what it was like to know Lim nailed it. It is a mixture of fun and frustration, camaraderie and infighting, and experiences both satisfying and infuriating. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid a call center job, but from working with people responsible for those functions, and hearing stories from numerous friends and family members who have worked in call centers (several in the city where this book takes place), Madison’s experiences are realistic (no matter how farfetched some might seem). Last, the rest of the story ingredients needed to transform this from a fictionalized memoir into an entertaining and humorous piece of chick-lit are all in place.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **(less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Cherise rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, real-to-life-fiction

I don’t take pleasure in writing negative reviews. I especially dislike writing them for first time authors or self published authors. I really really dislike writing negative reviews for books the author has gifted me in order to receive a review. That being said I really wanted to like this book, I really wish I could write a glowing review. Unfortunately, I am unable to.

The premise of this story caught my eye because I used to work in a call center first as a customer service rep, then as a t...more I don’t take pleasure in writing negative reviews. I especially dislike writing them for first time authors or self published authors. I really really dislike writing negative reviews for books the author has gifted me in order to receive a review. That being said I really wanted to like this book, I really wish I could write a glowing review. Unfortunately, I am unable to.

The premise of this story caught my eye because I used to work in a call center first as a customer service rep, then as a team lead over customer service reps. It really is a whole other world in that environment. The other thing that attracted me to this story was the promise of humor. I believe the book description mentioned Bridget Jones meets The Office. Should be hilarious, right? That was my hopes anyways.

My main problem with the story was the humor. There was none. I was able to identify the parts where the author was attempting to be humorous, unfortunately it never worked. The delivery was all wrong. All the humor was forced and contrived. Nothing felt natural. There is one part in the book where one of the characters sends an email joke. That was funny. Halfway through the book and that was the only thing that brought a smile to my face and made me chuckle a little. Some of the jokes were so not funny that it was like watching a stand-up comedian flounder on stage. Painful.

My other problem was that while the call center is the center of the story, some of the details get too repetitive and add too much detail. There are irate customers who call and we get the entire dialogue. It was unnecessary filler.

Then there is the relationship between Mika and Maddy. The intimate portion took way too long to develop. The characters are mooning over each other from page one, yet don’t get together till the last few pages of the book. Then when Maddy FINALLY gets what she wants, she worries that they are moving too fast. Are you kidding? Any slower and their first date would have been in the retirement home.

I really hated the first half of the book and it was really hard for me to read on. The second half of the book picks up some momentum, and the writing style relaxes a bit. Making a few humorous things happen, naturally. Unfortunately it was a little too late.

On a positive note, the author nails the call center life. I felt like I was back to work, especially with the NOT READY button. I wish the author the best of luck and hope with her next book she doesn’t try so hard to make laughs where there are none, and just concentrate on writing the story and letting what happens, happen. I think the ideas, and the talent are there. I just think the delivery needs some polishing.

Cherise Everhard, January 2012
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Oct 31, 2011 Jenny Winters rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I hope the $0.99 I put into Lisa Lim's virtual pocket is used for writing lessons. If not, I want it back.

Lim's plot, full of holes, should have been marked "for 20-somethings only" because only those of her generation are privy to the huge percentage of slang she uses in and out of dialog. The vocabulary otherwise was non-creative. (How can one know when one "furrows" their own brow?)

And here's my personal beef, as if Lim's atrocious writing wasn't enough ("Where IS her editor?" my husband aske...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I was asked if I would be interested in reading this book, I was given fair warning. The humor could be hard to swallow at times, and there were a few not so friendly words used. So, what do I say . . Right up my alley! Sure.

I had absolutely no clue at what I was REALLY getting myself into, and half way through it . . I was struck with the feeling of, how do I write a review for this book?!?!

So, I'm going to give you five reasons you should read this book.

#1. "If a tree falls in a forest an...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Tracy Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the big city of Chicago to Pocatello, Idaho come the "Confessions of a Call Center Gal."

Madison Lee, a recent journalistic college graduate, is pounding the pavement in search of that all-elusive position out in the wide world of media in print. Facing many rejection letters, she decides to move in with her BFF from college, Kars, and together they land jobs at Lightning Speed Communications, the local call center. Not the greatest positions in the world, but it brings in steady pay and on...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To be honest, I had my apprehensions. The story is candidly told from Maddy's point of view, and Maddy and Karsynn were a bit too loud and excitable for my taste, especially when they were conversing with each other.
Reading on, I was relieved to find that the shrillness tones down after the first few chapters, and that enough flattering descriptions of Mika are given so the image of a Belgian hunk eventually materializes.
While I think the general storyline could have been tighter, I really enjoy...more To be honest, I had my apprehensions. The story is candidly told from Maddy's point of view, and Maddy and Karsynn were a bit too loud and excitable for my taste, especially when they were conversing with each other.
Reading on, I was relieved to find that the shrillness tones down after the first few chapters, and that enough flattering descriptions of Mika are given so the image of a Belgian hunk eventually materializes.
While I think the general storyline could have been tighter, I really enjoyed the dynamics of the friendships in this book. Maddy and Karsynn band together with their fellow bottom-rung customer service reps, the cute but clueless Ingeborg and the fabulously gay Truong Nguyen (hands down my favorite character!), and they keep each other sane (with office gossip, fried rice, sushi rolls, fruity popsicles, and the occasional bootleg liquor) amidst the "escalations" (aka irate callers) and the pervs, the Feminazi team lead, the holiday work, and average handle times. Maddy also strikes up a friendship with Mika, whom she is tutoring in English as he is working on his college thesis, and things move along (slowly but) steadily in that department.
The gang has a lot of great moments together, including Maddy and Karynn's big fight (and reconciliation of course), a very sloshed Christmas (that was one of the most hilarious episodes in the book, ever!), Truong's catfight with the snooty fake-tanned Tatiana, and my favorite: Valentine's Day, when Maddy gets a heart shaped cinnamon roll from Mika (Easter egg: Maddy refers to it as her Denny and George scarf moment, an expression only a true Shopaholic fan will recognize). There are so many memorable episodes in this novel -- if this book was adapted to film, I think it would translate very well on the screen. Blooey of Bookmarked
What I appreciated most in this book, however, is the insight into the world of call centers. I have never worked at a call center (although I used to illustrate a weekly newspaper column anonymously written by a disgrunted call center rep), and it was interesting to find out what happens on the other end of the phone line. I think this is where the novel succeeds: in putting a face to the disembodied voice of a customer service rep. (less)

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Jun 27, 2011 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am one of those people who has been bemoaning the fact that good chick lit is almost gone. Fortunately, I do, on occasion, come across a book that I somehow "missed" in my quests for "all things chick lit" and Confessions of a Call Center Gal is certainly one of those books.

Firstly, although I have never worked in a call center, I have always wondered what it must be like. In my role as a Human Resource Manager, I have had to hire several people during my career, but I have always shied away...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maddy decides to come visit her friend Karsynn in Pocatello, Idaho for a mini vacation. Since, she has nothing better to do, as she is unemployed. Just her lot, she and Kar end up getting jobs as Customer Service Representatives for Lightning Speed Communications. Maddy and Kar had to go through about six weeks of training. Before you knew it, they were ready to take phone calls. It was not long before Maddy started rethinking if the money was worth the headaches...the cussing callers, the const...more

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May 22, 2011 Brenda Rupp rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Author Lisa Lim has hit it out of the park with a slice of life novel of the entertaining and some times oh so relatable life working in a service related job. Madison Lee, Maddy has problems finding work and finally finds a place where she and her friend can go and get training in working for Lightning Speed in the call center to assist customers with problems with their Internet. They soon find at the end of their training for the position that they must not only assist the clients, they must...more Author Lisa Lim has hit it out of the park with a slice of life novel of the entertaining and some times oh so relatable life working in a service related job. Madison Lee, Maddy has problems finding work and finally finds a place where she and her friend can go and get training in working for Lightning Speed in the call center to assist customers with problems with their Internet. They soon find at the end of their training for the position that they must not only assist the clients, they must also try to sell products to every single person they speak too! Not quite what they had planned, selling other services to those calling in, irate already because their computers aren't working the way they feel they should. Some times helping customers that don't even know what a "desktop" is. I've found so many places in her book where I could absolutely relate with the problems Maddy runs into with the customers, her co-workers, and her immediate supervisor. Maddy also falls for a co-worker, something she thought she would never do, and I wondered through the entire book whether the gorgeous Mika was going to return her secret feelings.
The book certainly had it's humour and I laughed out loud at some of it, and kept telling myself, just a few more pages, and I'll go and .....it's easy to get caught up in this very believable story.
In the end I found out what I suspected was true, the author did work for years in a service center and was writing from her heart the story's she could see happening not only in front of her but in her head. Thanks Lisa!
Here is the description of the book I found on Amazon that would probably come from the back of the book:

Madison Lee is a fresh college grad, ready to take on the world of print media. But she has zero luck landing a job. Unemployment is at ten percent and on the rise. Desperate and left with no other options, she accepts a position as a service rep at a call center in Pocatello, Idaho. At the Lightning Speed call centtrer in Spudsville, Maddy plunges into the wild and dysfunctional world of customer service where Sales is prided over Service and an eight hour shift is equivalent to eight hours of callers bashing her over the phone. Oh sure, the calls are bad. But Maddy manages to find humor on the phone and off the phone. And with all the salacious drama behind the calls, there is never a dull moment at the Lightning Speed call center.
Lately . . . Maddy has been pining for her smolderingly gorgeous co-worker Mika Harket. Now things are heating up on the phone--and elsewhere. Don't hang up on this novel. Working at a call center has never been this garish . . . or this delightful
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Sep 01, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Confessions of a Call Center Gal is the debut novel of author Lisa Lim, and it is a fantastic start to what I hope is a long line of books. I loved just about everything about this book! I was hooked from the very beginning and just couldn't put it down. The book is a wonderful mix of humor and even some sadness and bittersweet moments. Maddy and her best friend Karsynn are fresh out of college and neither girl can find a job. Sick of living off of her mother and completely bored, Maddy decides...more Confessions of a Call Center Gal is the debut novel of author Lisa Lim, and it is a fantastic start to what I hope is a long line of books. I loved just about everything about this book! I was hooked from the very beginning and just couldn't put it down. The book is a wonderful mix of humor and even some sadness and bittersweet moments. Maddy and her best friend Karsynn are fresh out of college and neither girl can find a job. Sick of living off of her mother and completely bored, Maddy decides to visit Kars in Idaho, and that visit becomes a permanent move when the girls get jobs as customer service reps in a call center.

There were times when I was just laughing out loud at some of the phone calls Maddy recieves in the call center. I frequently went back and reread them just to giggle some more. There were others that were sweet and cute, even some that were heartachingly sad. Much of the book centers around the call center itself, and the people Maddy meets there, but there is plenty to the story outside of it as well. Maddy's crush on Mika, a co-worker, was fun to read about, although there were times that I just wanted to scream at them to get to it and get together! But the inevitable bad timing and misunderstandings just added to the anticipation of the story. There was a subplot with Kars that injected a bit of seriousness and no small amount of sadness into the story, and my heart wanted to break for her.

The characters in this book were wonderful and easily believable. Definately in the light-spirited tone of the book, near the end of the book there was a memo sent out in the call center that had character names that had me laughing hysterically. All of the characters were great, although I think Truong and Hilary were among my favorites of the supporting cast. I had a perfect mental image of Hilary that stayed trhoughout the book, and Truong had me laughing out loud!

This is a fabulously fun read that I highly recommend! The characters are great and the call center stories will give you an entirely different point of view. A really fun book!
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Jun 03, 2011 Jamie Kline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-review

As soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was going to be a humorous, light-hearted read. It did not disappoint! We first meet Madison, Maddy for short, who is unemployed and looking for a job with her best friend Karsynn. They both get jobs working for a call center and that's where the hilarity ensues! They soon realize that the call center is like a war zone, full angry customers squawking in their ears and nazi bosses looming over their shoulders. The one bright spot of the workday is Mika,...more As soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was going to be a humorous, light-hearted read. It did not disappoint! We first meet Madison, Maddy for short, who is unemployed and looking for a job with her best friend Karsynn. They both get jobs working for a call center and that's where the hilarity ensues! They soon realize that the call center is like a war zone, full angry customers squawking in their ears and nazi bosses looming over their shoulders. The one bright spot of the workday is Mika, a guy who's not only nice but nice to look at; Maddy is instantly drawn to him. Will she be able to snag her man or will she be doomed to admire him from afar...and will she ever escape that darned call center?

I absolutely adored the characters in this book. You can easily envision being friends with each and every one of them. Especially Maddy, she's like your witty, sarcastic, sometimes foul mouthed best friend. Karsynn's personality is a bit extreme and she makes some not good life choices on a pretty regular basis, but you can't help but love her; her and Maddy complement each other nicely, it's obvious that they've been friends for a long time. Then of course there's sexy Mika - who doesn't wish they had a sensitive, funny, smart guy with a great personality in their office? The supporting character I loved the most was Truong, a flamboyant Vietnamese man with an often-times dirty sense of humor. Many of his witty remarks made me laugh, along with his inability to pronounce the letter "r".

My favorite parts of this book by far were the calls that Maddy would take while at her job. Some customers are irate, some are clueless, and some are just downright creepy! Most of them had me laughing out loud. Two in particular are "Poida" and "Mr. Spelling Bee". You'll just have to read the book to find out what was so funny; I'm pretty sure I'm going to name my next pet "Poida" though.

The little love story beneath it all between Mika and Maddy starts out slowly and I feel like that made it more believable. They really get to know each other and become good friends; I just couldn't wait for them to finally become a couple, they were so cute together!

This was such a fast, fun read; I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lisa Lim did an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of life at a call center and kept the story interesting and hilarious throughout. And at only $2.99 it's a steal! Make sure you check this little gem out, I promise you won't be disappointed!

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Feb 06, 2012 Stefanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-book-challenge-2012, i-own-a-copy, translated-fiction, family, friendship, romance, novel

Buku ini bercerita tentang seorang gadis bernama Madison Lee. Ia baru saja menyelesaikan kuliahnya dan hendak memulai pekerjaan di dunia media massa. Namun, apa daya ketika ia tidak diterima bekerja di manapun ia melamar pekerjaan. Hal ini membawanya kepada sebuah pilihan, pilihan yang kemudian mempertemukannya dengan banyak orang, dan juga mengajarkannya tentang banyak hal. Madison Lee akhirnya bekerja sebagai seorang gadis call center.

Maddy - panggilan akrab Madison - bekerja di Lightning Spee...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Reads4Pleasure rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit-of-color-challenge

Okay, before I tell you about this hilarious read, I have to share with you a disclaimer I received from the author when she saw I was reading it on Goodreads.

***DISCLOSURES: If you find politically incorrect shows like The Office, South Park and Chelsea Lately detestable, childish and offensive, then my book is probably NOT for you. But I don't write with malice, it's meant to be lighthearted, snarky and harmless.

I'm a Chinese gal and I lightly poke fun at all races, including my own. Growin

...more Okay, before I tell you about this hilarious read, I have to share with you a disclaimer I received from the author when she saw I was reading it on Goodreads.

***DISCLOSURES: If you find politically incorrect shows like The Office, South Park and Chelsea Lately detestable, childish and offensive, then my book is probably NOT for you. But I don't write with malice, it's meant to be lighthearted, snarky and harmless.

I'm a Chinese gal and I lightly poke fun at all races, including my own. Growing up in Malaysia, people were a lot more tolerant and a little less sensitive about that topic. And sometimes I think it's healthy to be able to laugh at yourself, as long as it doesn't cross a line or go over the top.

It really did make me cackle that she felt the need to defend her work prior to me reading it. I can't tell you how many times I wished authors who've written horribly bad books would send me a notice of disclosure before I picked up their book. I'm not easily offended and though I don't watch The Office or South Park, I've read a few Chelsea Handler books and enjoyed them.

Recent college graduate Madison Lee can't find a job, though she doesn't seem to be trying too hard. So when her best friend, Karsynn Higginbotham, invites her to come visit her in the hotbed of excitement that is Pocatello, Idaho, Maddy takes her up on it. The modern day Laverne & Shirley find themselves jobs in a call center, of all things, and that's where the fun begins.

You might think that there's nothing funny about answering phones all day, but Lim does a great job of keeping the dialogue light, funny and moving at a pace reminiscent of The Gilmore Girls. Not only are the main characters well developed, so are the secondary characters. I don't think Lisa Lim has anything to worry about when it comes to finding an audience for Confessions.

What did you like about this book?
Reading this book was really like watching a sitcom. Though Lim doesn't go into a lot of detail about the character's setting, their voices ring through loud and clear giving you a full impression of who they are and allowing you to visualize the characters and the call center.

I also love how the author intertwines popular culture references.

What didn't you like about this book?
It didn't bother me, but there are some jokes that others might find slightly offensive.

What could the author do to improve this book?
I would have loved a synopsis at the end giving updates on Karsynn, Truong and the rest of the crew.(less)

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Jul 14, 2011 Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kritter-reviewed-2011

A hilarious comedy with some snark and punk. I fell in love with our maine character Maddison from the very beginning and just couldn't wait to find out where she was headed. Her fun adventure included curious characters, a prime location - the dreadful floor of a customer service call center and witty banter. I flipped right through the pages wanting to know what kind of caller would be on the line next or what insane corporate mandate would come down the pipeline.

I have some quasi call center...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Felicia Velia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, my-kindle-ebooks, my-lendable-kindle

This was recommended to me on Amazon. I don't know why. Maybe someone told Amazon I work in a call center. Originally I didn't want to read this book because I don't really like chick lit. After some thought I convinced myself to buy it and then it sat on the Kindle for about 4 months before I finally opened it up. I am glad I read it. I actually enjoyed it very much so.

I mostly relate to the call center part of the storyline. I work in a call center for social services and where its incoming ca...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Georgina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Confessions of a Call Center Gal was recommended to me by a friend and as soon as I heard the title it reminded me of two things. The first made me think about all the jobs I have had, which I hated and would love to be able to write a book about. And the second? Well unless you are British I doubt you will understand why I had this second thought but I thought of the TV show Confessions of a Call Girl with Billie Piper. Probably because the titles are so similar but also because they are both a...more Confessions of a Call Center Gal was recommended to me by a friend and as soon as I heard the title it reminded me of two things. The first made me think about all the jobs I have had, which I hated and would love to be able to write a book about. And the second? Well unless you are British I doubt you will understand why I had this second thought but I thought of the TV show Confessions of a Call Girl with Billie Piper. Probably because the titles are so similar but also because they are both an hilarious look at industries we don’t get to see much of. Well Lisa Lim lets us delve right into the life of this Call Center Gal.

Maddy has just graduated from college, with a journalism degree and is ready to begin her career in print media. There’s just one problem Maddy seems to have no luck finding a job she wants. With unemployment being so high and the economy in such a state, Maddy has only two options left - working as a service rep at a call center in Pocatello, Idaho or staying unemployed. Maddy chooses the first option and is plunged into the wild and dysfunctional world of customer service at the Lightning Speed call center in ‘Spudsville.’ At the call center she must deal with obnoxious callers who abuse her all day long and an evil boss who won’t get off her case. Maddy manages to find a way to survive and that comes in her smouldering gorgeous co-worker Mika, who Maddy has an enormous crush on. Along with a close group of hilarious friends and a lot of patience. Don’t hang up on this novel, as Maddy learns about herself and just why everyone looks down on call center workers.

I loved the character of Maddy and found her so relatable. In fact Maddy reminded me of one of my closest friends, with her witty sense of humour, and unique dialogue. She is someone who I would be friends with very easily, and defiantly a lot of fun to be around. I found myself laughing out loud as well as cringing along with her throughout the novel. I also really liked Maddy’s unique quirky look at the situations she was placed in, finding that she sounded the age she should without coming across as immature. The way Lisa Lim brought in her own voice and views on call center’s and the way staff are treated by customers to be very refreshing and with her humour added in very entertaining. Even if you have never worked in a call center, you will be able to relate to the way Maddy is feeling. I have worked in hotels and restaurants and found many of the situations to ring true with these professions as well. Anyone who has ever worked in customer service will find something that can agree with from a personal standpoint. There are so many hilarious scenes in the novel which will literally have you laughing out loud, one of my favourites being the ‘how to speak Chinese’. Maddy’s group of friends in the novel are ones who I wish I could be friends with, everyone needs a friends like Troung, Kars, Ingeborg and Mika.

Even though this novel is hilarious, there are times in the novel where humour is used that some readers may find a little offensive. I personally didn’t find any of the novel offensive, seeing the humour for what it is and that no harm is meant. If you are sensitive to toilet, racial or religious humour then you may want to take caution with reader this novel, as a lot of this type of humour is thrown in. Lisa does state though that if you are offended by shows like ‘Chelsea Lately’ then you may not like the novel. In some places of the novel I did find that some of these types of humour could be toned down, especially the toilet humour, but so long as you take it with a pinch of salt you were laugh at almost all of this novel. The only other issue I had with the novel was the use of slang that Lisa sometimes used which made her characters appear younger than they actually were. If you are fresh out of college then this type of slang is perhaps relatable, if you are any older than that, you probably won’t enjoy it. I felt as though at type it made Maddy seem as though she was younger than she was.

What did I think of the novel overall? Well I have to say I really enjoyed it. Confessions Of A Call Center Gal, reads like a season of the Office (the British Office with Ricky Gervais, which I find a lot funnier than the American version) with a dash of chick lit thrown in. I could really see this novel being made into a sitcom on NBC, it would fit right in and I would be tuning in every week to watch. The characters are all hilarious while still being relatable, the storyline honest and Lisa Lim’s writing style witty. I was recommended this novel by a friend and have now been letting all my friends, who love chick lit and comedy, know about this novel. If you want to read something a little different from your typical chick lit novel then this is the novel for you. In Lisa Lim’s own words ‘don’t hang up on this novel.

Georgina
http://chicklitaholic.blogspot.com (less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

Wow. I loved every single freaking thing about this book! I could relate to Maddy like she was an older me, someone who loves Zac Efron (because trust me, I LOVE Zac Efron) and a night in watching reality tv. And Bridget Jones being one of my favorite movies, I fell in love with Maddy's Bridget-esque personality, never being able to get things to go exactly her way. There were parts where I would find myself laughing out loud and other times cheering Maddy on in her trials as a call center gal....more

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Mar 14, 2012 Angela Noviana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit, contemporary-romance, giveaway, own

Yeaaayyyy... Akhirnya selesai juga baca nih novel. Hwhwhhwhw..

Ini adalah novel chicklit yang aku baca setelah sekian lama, terakhir bacanya Sophie Kinsella. Aku juga sudah mulai bergeser dari chicklit ke Historical Romance. Makanya agak merasa "aneh" dengan bahasa di buku ini yang menggunakan bahasa gaul dan seperti menulis diary. Hehehehehehe..
Tapi tentunya tidak menyurutkan mintaku untuk membaca.

By the way, novel ini aku peroleh dari quiz giveaway Mbak Fanda. Makasih ya, Mbak =)

Jadi gini cerit...more Yeaaayyyy... Akhirnya selesai juga baca nih novel. Hwhwhhwhw..

Ini adalah novel chicklit yang aku baca setelah sekian lama, terakhir bacanya Sophie Kinsella. Aku juga sudah mulai bergeser dari chicklit ke Historical Romance. Makanya agak merasa "aneh" dengan bahasa di buku ini yang menggunakan bahasa gaul dan seperti menulis diary. Hehehehehehe..
Tapi tentunya tidak menyurutkan mintaku untuk membaca.

By the way, novel ini aku peroleh dari quiz giveaway Mbak Fanda. Makasih ya, Mbak =)

Jadi gini ceritanya:
Madison Lee, seorang mahasiswi yang baru saja lulus dari jurnalistik di Chicago, berharap dia dapat memperoleh pekerjaan yang sesuai dengan bidangnya. Tapi, yang terjadi adalah media cetak sedang dalam masa kejatuhan sehingga pekerjaan yang dilamarnya, tak ada yang diterima.

Karena stress, Maddy menyetujui untuk mengunjungi dan mencari kerja di tempat sahabatnya, Kars, di Pocatello. Mereka melamar menjadi seorang operator telepon. Oke, jauh banget kan dari bidang Maddy? Tapi buatnya, yang penting ada kerjaan dulu deh...

Dia memiliki teman seperti Truong si homo Vietnam yang kocak, Ingeborg yang memiliki aksen seksi dan berpacaran dengan Mika si pria Belgia yang tampan, serta sahabatnya Kars. Sepanjang cerita aku kalau gak tertawa, pasti tersenyum melihat tingkah laku tim ini. Ditambah lagi dengan Supervisor Maddy, Hillary, yang kejam dan bengis. Hahahahahha..

Cerita ini benar-benar membawaku ke dunia operator yang super sibuk dan memakan emosi jiwa. Dari sini sebenarnya aku belajar bahwa benar adanya pelanggan tidak mungkin menelepon operator jika sedang dalam keadaan senang, pasti dalam keadaan marah atau orang tersebut gila.

Aku salut dengan orang yang bekerja di bidang ini karena butuh kesabaran extra untuk menghadapi pelanggan, belum lagi tuntutan pekerjaan. Kadang ada pelanggan yang langsung mencaci maki si operator, ada yang telepon karena iseng, bahkan kadang ada yang menyebalkan. Tapi tidak sedikit pula pelanggan yang baik.

Tapi benar-benar acungin jempol deh buat Lisa Lim karena bisa menggambarkan dunia operator dengan segala drama di dalamnya serta mendeskripsikan pekerjaan Maddy dengan baik.

Cerita ini tidak hanya menawarkan penggambaran mengenai dunia operator, tapi dunia sosial Maddy juga. Mulai dari persahabatan (Maddy dan Kars), rasa cinta dan cemburu (Maddy dan Mika), dan sebuah usaha sekeras apapun pasti menghasilkan sesuatu asal tidak menyerah.

Overall, Confession of A Call Center Gal merupakan cerita yang lucu dan menyegarkan buat kamu yang pengen tahu seperti apa dunia operator itu.(less)

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Feb 23, 2012 Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was another book reviewed on Big Al's, and it sounded interesting and was inexpensive so I tossed it into my queue. It's a coming-of-age tale in a very recent and modern setting, despite the location of Wisconsin, as the main character Maddie and her friends have graduated from college yet cannot find jobs in the economic downturn, so she and her best friend Kars end up working in a call center for an internet provider. The author does a good job of portraying the insanity of working in a c...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Erika rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Absolutely no one

Finally, it's over. But only after the unnecessary wrap-up chapter.

This book was the epitome of "telling" rather than showing. It's rare for me to give a book one star, but the writing was that bad. It was like the author went "let me throw in as many pop-culture references as possible," and then spent the next two paragraphs explaining the jokes and remarks. She even had a scene on Michigan Ave at Thanksgiving that failed to evoke any emotion. Chicago is an amazing city and after they light Mic...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Naomi rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I reviewed this book for the author. Normally, I am pretty selective regarding the books that I take on for review. I don't want to have to give a book that an author has asked me to review a negative review, but am not willing to give a dishonest review either.

I went into this book with the anticipation that it would have the female British wit that I absolutely love in books of that "chick lit" genre. Unfortunately, I found this book to be incredibly "silly" but not in a good way. It was almo...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"How on earth did I wind up stuck here in Pocatello, Idaho?!?"

With that opening line I was hooked on Lisa Lim's debut novel. As a former resident of Idaho and a former call center employee, I knew from the synopsis that this book was going to appeal to me. I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. The lead character, Maddy, was completely likable and easy to relate to with what she was going through, both in her personal life and her professional life. The full cast of supporting characters are in...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Chanpreet rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finally got around to reading this book! Thanks Lisa for offering it to me to read and review! This book is funny and definitely not for one with delicate sensibilities. It is definitely not a politically correct book, but somehow it doesn't go over the top. And half of the world, if not more is mentioned in the book in one way or the other. The romance between Maddy and Mika wasn't a very big part of the book, but Maddy's life and all of her interactions at the call center were. I liked that....more

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