Hot Desk - two young book editors compete for a career-making opportunity after the death of a literary legend.

Rebecca Blume works as a mid-level editor at Avenue Publishing, which now shares its office space with Hawk Mills, another division of the company. Rebecca alternates days in the office, sharing a "hot desk" with Ben Heath, who is also building his career as a book editor. Although they have never met, they form an immediate dislike for one another. The recent death of literary legend Edward David Adams (known as “the Lion”) has put the two imprints in a fierce competition to acquire the rights to his estate, which includes an unpublished manuscript. When Rebecca is invited to meet with Rose, the Lion's widow, she discovers that her mother Jane has a hidden past with the late writer and Rose. The story alternates between the present and the 1980s when the Lion ruled New York's literary scene. Ben, who also has ties to the Lion, and Rebecca become rivals for this career-defining opportunity. 

Laura Dickerman's debut, Hot Desk, blends contemporary post-pandemic workplace dynamics with a nostalgic look at publishing and nightlife in the 1980s. The book's appeal lies in its focus on the world of publishing, both in the present day and forty years ago, along with an entertaining cast of secondary characters. I found it enjoyable.

Many thanks to Gallery Books for the advance.

Rated 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Adult Fiction.

Publication Date: September 2, 2025.

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