‘Melting In The Middle’ by Andy Howden is an entertaining and thoughtful story that even manages to be funny too. It had me laughing and crying at times. A book that is almost a parody of the massive corporations of today’s world along with all the pitfalls of modern-day life. Divorce and job loss are par for the course today along with the hint of a new love, appearing like the sun slowly from behind the clouds. All this is rolled into one touching but also funny book.
Steve is a Marketing Director for Grimleys Sweets although divorced he is quite happy with his lot in life. Until the day the company is taken over by an American company by the name of Schmaltz! Steve is given the job of cutting his former marketing department’s headcount in half, all for a lot less than he was on before the changeover. He finds himself awkwardly working under his ex-fling, Carole (this fling ended his marriage) so Steve isn’t a happy bunny! Outside of work he discovers Rachel, this is a relationship that has possibilities for him, that is, when he smooths out a few problems that they have. The relationship between Rachel and Steve brings the exploration of belonging, commitment and belief too.
Will Steve manage to navigate his way through his minefield of a job and sort the issues with Rachel and find true happiness?
A story in which the dialogue is sharp, witty, convincing and it propels the story forward. Certain characters are almost caricatures of reality. The boss of Schmaltz is one such character, an evangelical with American brashness that we British find hard to swallow with the standoffishness we have perfected over the hundreds of years we had to practise before Americans came to ‘take over’ with their cheap chocolate!
An endearing story with a charm and poignancy as well as clever comedy throughout.
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Andy Howden for this lovely and funny book so I could give you my honest review today.
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 