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Workhorse

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About this listen

'Razor-sharp and deliciously wry' COCO MELLORS

'Funny, tender, thrillingly dark' HEATHER DARWENT

'Exhilarating, beguiling, beautiful' OLIVIA PETTER

An astonishing portrait of a city on the brink of a dizzying new era and a story about a young woman who will do anything to infiltrate the rarefied world of New York's fashion elite.

New York City, 2001.

Editorial Assistant Clodagh “Clo” Harmon wants nothing more than to rise through the ranks at the world’s most prestigious fashion magazine. But there’s just one problem: she doesn’t have the right pedigree. Clo is a ‘workhorse’ in a world of beautiful, wealthy, impossibly well-connected ‘show horses’ and it seems that her fortunes will never change. That is until Clo meets Harry Wood, a reporter with visions of his own media empire and the person who might be Clo’s ally in gaming the system…or is he the only thing standing between Clo and her rightful place at the top?

Clo begins to wade across boundaries, taking ever greater and more dangerous risks to become the Important Person she wants to be. But who is Clo under all the borrowed designer clothes and studied manners? And who are we if we share her desires?

As wickedly funny as it is darkly unsettling, Workhorse is an astonishing story of envy and ambition, set against the glamour and privilege of media and high society in New York at its height.

©2025 Caroline Palmer (P)2025 Macmillan Audio
City Life Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Urban Women's Fiction New York Funny

Editorial Review

Climbing the ladder never looked so messy
I’ve always had a soft spot for ambitious-yet-flawed heroines, and Workhorse introduces us to one I'm sure I'll never forget. Clo is a fashion magazine assistant in early 2000s New York City, and she's trying to claw her way up in a world built for legacy hires with unspoken rules. She borrows; she schemes; and she becomes someone she barely recognizes in her quest to get ahead. I was hooked the whole way. When I saw Helen Laser’s name on this project, I actually clapped. No one performs complicated women like she does, and this character and story feels tailor-made for her. You’ll root for Clo, then regret it—but you won’t stop listening.—Patty R., Audible Editor

All stars
Most relevant
This book was fab, laugh out loud funny at so many points. It’s definitely dark humour and won’t be to everyone’s taste but I loved it. I absolutely loved the characters and the narration was fantastic. Just the ending was a bit lack lustre for me felt a bit rushed and lots unanswered but overall would definitely recommend.

Great Read!

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Unexpected twists and turns. A few heart stopping moments. A great book, wish there were more from this author.

A great story

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Great narration, entertaining story. A bit of a soap opera but that’s no bad thing. I enjoyed the characters and the protagonist is hilarious

Quirky relatable funny

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