What do you think?
Rate this book
Men at Work
Ian Greening loves his job at the Department of Work and Pensions. It might not be the best paid job in the world but it gives him lots of scope for fun. He loves his girlfriend, Emma, too. But when Emma is made redundant, and gets a temping job in Ian's office, he doesn't like it at all. Emma only knows Home Ian - and Work Ian is a different kettle of fish. Spending twenty-four hours a day together is too much of a good thing. But how can he tell her that without hurting her? Ian comes up with a plan to get things back the way they were. But it puts his relationship at risk and forces Ian to decide which really matters the job, or Emma. A sweet, funny novel about love and work.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2011
23 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Mike Gayle
49 books2,206 followersI was born in the 70s — the 70s were great. I would recommend them to anyone.
I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.
I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.
I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).
Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.
After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.
My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)
I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.
I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.
I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.
I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).
Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.
After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.
My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)
I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 10, 2011
Quick Read? More like Thick Read. Don't dumb down the plot and language just because you're writing a shorter book.
August 17, 2020
Ian Greening is quite happy in his easy job and loves the routine of it all, he has his little habits and rituals that he does every day. At work he jokes around and plays about, but at home he's a loving boyfriend to his girlfriend Emma. He is very supportive when Emma is made redundant and is all for helping her find a new job, but his work world is thrown off kilter when she lands a temp job at his office.
Ian is not happy with this, he has two totally different persona's Work Ian and Home Ian. He only wants Emma to know Home Ian, Work Ian is all for him. Ian tries hard to get Emma to leave of her own accord but when that doesn't happen he starts to hatch schemes that could be to the detriment of their very relationship.
Ian is not happy with this, he has two totally different persona's Work Ian and Home Ian. He only wants Emma to know Home Ian, Work Ian is all for him. Ian tries hard to get Emma to leave of her own accord but when that doesn't happen he starts to hatch schemes that could be to the detriment of their very relationship.
December 16, 2016
Is there such a thing as spending too much time with your loved one? Mike Gayle short and easy to read "Men at Work" is a story based upon one man's fear of losing his personal space at work when his live-in girl friend, Emma, has the opportunity to be his co-worker. In my opinion, the story-line spoke volumes of this one man's fear and the length he went to rid himself of his predicament. Moreover, the story-line needed more than a happy ending, it needed some sort of superficial resolve that would allow the reader to feel Emma and Ian will indeed be okay.
April 17, 2015
Short and sweet story about a man who's missus starts work in the same office. Passed an hour quite nicely.
April 18, 2022
This book is from the Quick Reads selection and is exactly that. Another good book from Mike Gayle.
May 18, 2020
Enjoyable, light quick read.
April 4, 2024
this book has aged really badly and is completely soulless. people do not actually speak how these characters speak and the whole plot was just dull.
side note : i picked this book up at the library because i’ve read most of their other quickreads books and was drawn in by this books bright cover and big font.
side note : i picked this book up at the library because i’ve read most of their other quickreads books and was drawn in by this books bright cover and big font.
January 1, 2015
Men at work was a surprising book for me, probably because it comes from a very male perspective. Mike Gayle creates a story that examines a man's connection with his job.
Gayle's main character, Ian loves his job, though really it is the camaraderie he loves. Ian enjoys being with people and the relationships with the other staff which often continues after work. He even refuses a promotion because he doesn't want to change the work relationships he currently experiences.
When his girlfriend, Emma loses her job and manages to pick up work in Ian's office he is deeply disturbed. He doesn't want Emma upsetting the status quo at work which, of course, she does.
Ian is desperate to not have Emma at this work place and goes to extraordinary lengths to convince her not to stay. Yet it is only when she leaves he realized that his love for Emma is greater than his job. Something he would never heave realized if she not accepted the job at his office.
An enlightening insight into a man's world.
Gayle's main character, Ian loves his job, though really it is the camaraderie he loves. Ian enjoys being with people and the relationships with the other staff which often continues after work. He even refuses a promotion because he doesn't want to change the work relationships he currently experiences.
When his girlfriend, Emma loses her job and manages to pick up work in Ian's office he is deeply disturbed. He doesn't want Emma upsetting the status quo at work which, of course, she does.
Ian is desperate to not have Emma at this work place and goes to extraordinary lengths to convince her not to stay. Yet it is only when she leaves he realized that his love for Emma is greater than his job. Something he would never heave realized if she not accepted the job at his office.
An enlightening insight into a man's world.
March 23, 2011
School sweethearts, Ian and Emma have been together 7 years, Ian loves his job, so much he won’t accept promotion, and is a bit of a joker, he likes a laugh and to be “one of the lads”.
One night after coming home from the Pub Emma announces she has lost her job, she is really upset.
Emma manages to get another job, but it is temping in Ian’s office, for a month, Ian is not impressed he is a different person at work and Emma is at the next desk to him, after her month she is offered a job permanently which she accepts, what can Ian do as he loves his job and Emma? And wouldn’t dream of losing any of them.
This is a really good book and funny, it is a quick read, I read it in an hour, and I would recommend this book.
One night after coming home from the Pub Emma announces she has lost her job, she is really upset.
Emma manages to get another job, but it is temping in Ian’s office, for a month, Ian is not impressed he is a different person at work and Emma is at the next desk to him, after her month she is offered a job permanently which she accepts, what can Ian do as he loves his job and Emma? And wouldn’t dream of losing any of them.
This is a really good book and funny, it is a quick read, I read it in an hour, and I would recommend this book.
June 22, 2011
A fun little quick read for those no brain moments.
Ian Greening loves his job. He loves it so much he won't even take a promotion. He'd rather much about with his workmates.
The other love of his life is girlfriend Emma. They've been together for years. The problems start when Emma loses her job and gets a new one in Ian's office. Ian doesn't like it at all. No more mucking about. No more flirting with the girls in admin. Ian wants her out. The question is, how? Can he do it without losing her or will it all end in tears?
Ian Greening loves his job. He loves it so much he won't even take a promotion. He'd rather much about with his workmates.
The other love of his life is girlfriend Emma. They've been together for years. The problems start when Emma loses her job and gets a new one in Ian's office. Ian doesn't like it at all. No more mucking about. No more flirting with the girls in admin. Ian wants her out. The question is, how? Can he do it without losing her or will it all end in tears?
May 12, 2011
Quick read. It was a real quick read:) A pity, that it was soooo quick. I could read Mike everyday, everytime. His usual light, but also deep, writing. I didn't like Emma at the beginning and I understood why Ian has done this what he's done, but at the end Emma has rehabilitated herself.
I really love Mike, after reading his book I can a little understand how are men's minds working and what they really think:) Waiting impatiently for his next book.
I really love Mike, after reading his book I can a little understand how are men's minds working and what they really think:) Waiting impatiently for his next book.
June 23, 2013
One of the Quick Reads series, a simple and somewhat predictable story but an amusing read nonetheless.
With elements of work, romance and human destruction thus may be short, but it is a good and fun read.
I've read Mike Gayle before and I enjoy his style of writing very much. If you haven't read Mike's books I suggest you give this one a try.
Thanks Mike for writing this, I'll look forward to reading more of your work soon.
With elements of work, romance and human destruction thus may be short, but it is a good and fun read.
I've read Mike Gayle before and I enjoy his style of writing very much. If you haven't read Mike's books I suggest you give this one a try.
Thanks Mike for writing this, I'll look forward to reading more of your work soon.
February 6, 2012
I found it a bit worrying when I enpathised with Ian in the story, about his need to have a separate work life to home life and his odd little routines,well I won't spoil it by saying what happens at the end, but what he did was not nice at all. I began to wonder about a follow up and began wondering what they would do next, I'll not say any more or I'll ruin it!
January 10, 2012
This was the first Mike Gayle book I have read and decided to start with a short story after reading loads of good reviews of his work.
I really enjoyed this book and was able to imagine the office and found it funny and heartwarming at the same time.
I will definitely be reading more from Mike Gayle and think my to-read list may have got a whole lot bigger!
I really enjoyed this book and was able to imagine the office and found it funny and heartwarming at the same time.
I will definitely be reading more from Mike Gayle and think my to-read list may have got a whole lot bigger!
March 29, 2011
A nice quick read in his usual easy style, and I suppose it's more a fault of the length of the book when I say that there's not much plot or character building (kind of obvious really!). The story is a good mini-version of his usual books though so a nice way to spend an hour. :)
July 22, 2013
A man loves his office job and the freedom that it offers him then his girlfriend gets a job there.
This short story will amuse anyone that works in an office and has an office persona / life that is separate from their home persona / life.
This short story will amuse anyone that works in an office and has an office persona / life that is separate from their home persona / life.
February 6, 2014
The thing that I love about Mike Gayle is that even something short, as Men at Work is, still has all of the tension of one of his lengthier lad-lit novels. Sometimes couples just have their own spaces, as this book proves.
April 9, 2015
Generally I adore Mike Gayle books and I was rather delighted to find this in the library for a quick reading session. The story is alright I suppose but sadly not written to the standard I expect from Mike Gayle.
July 25, 2020
This book just filled me with unfathomable irritation. The character Ian is just so beyond disgusting that he is completely unrelatable. Neither could I relate with the gf character.
Really put me in a bad mood.
Really put me in a bad mood.
April 16, 2011
A very nice read of about 85 pages one of the Quick Read books. Light hearted and funny with a serious theme going through it.
August 7, 2016
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog -
Debra's Book Cafe
Thank you
Debs
Debra's Book Cafe
Thank you
Debs
May 27, 2011
As the name says, a quick read. Also an enjoyable one, funny, sweet. As expected from good ol' Mike :)
June 7, 2011
Brilliant is all I can say!
December 13, 2011
A cute story at Gayle style. A couple where she,Emy loses her job and find one at his boyfruend same company. The equilibrium is broken now.
November 29, 2011
Mike Gayle :). Just love him!
Nice and small story and as always very true to my world.
Nice and small story and as always very true to my world.
May 18, 2012
Read all of Mike Gayle's novels! They're funny, well written and you can drop it once you've started, rather like Pringles!
June 23, 2012
Great quick read, read in a afternoon.
January 28, 2013
Really funny
March 12, 2013
Didn't like the storyline. Not sure I would read any more by him at the moment.
March 21, 2013
3.5 stars.
A good little read for those no brainier moments, like a flight! Easy to read writing style but the subject matter a little light.
A good little read for those no brainier moments, like a flight! Easy to read writing style but the subject matter a little light.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews