Like many 20-something single women, Jeanie Callahan is
struggling with her barely-above-entry-level job.
Unfortunately for her, it's in the coupon selling industry.
It's about as boring as it sounds; Jeanie spends most of
her time cold-calling clients with the hopes they'll shell
out the dough for more than a batch of coupons worth 10%
off your next purchase of jelly donuts. Her company is
holding a contest for the most new customer sales during
the summer; the winner gets $1000 for 10 new clients and
$5000 for getting the most in the company. With a strategy
of "getting close to the business," Jeanie has to find
creative ways to land new accounts amidst backstabbing
coworkers and bankruptcy-ready business owners.
With the hopes of reeling in some new clients as well as
escaping from the drudgery of the every day 9-to-5, Jeanie
auditions for a community theater performance of The
Sound of Music. Hoping to be cast as Maria, be
discovered by a talent agent and get whisked off to
Hollywood where people would fall at her feet and worship
her awe inspiring glory... Well, let's just say that she's
going to need a miracle worker of a voice coach, several
million dollars in hush money or the entire world to fall
deaf. Luckily, Jeanie made the cut to be cast as "nun"
and "ballroom dancer," allowing her to stay "close to the
business" and while away her nights at the bar with her
cast mates after each disastrous rehearsal ends.
Over the course of the summer, Jeanie scores and loses a
number of sales, consoles her best friend Meg during her
pregnancy woes and tries to convince the director of the
play, Barton, that she really deserves to be Maria
and that they would make the most perfect couple in
the world (if he could just pay her back the money he owes,
stop sending her flowers that are left over from funerals
and manage to call her back once he promises he will). With
everything hanging perilously in the balance, will Jeanie
ever land the big deal both at work and in love?
With each chapter titled with a lyric from The Sound of
Music, Jeanie's ordinary life seems to have a
heightened sense of drama attached to it. The characters
read like people you'd meet down at the local pub -- good
ol' boys, shady mobsters with their back to the wall, women
who are trying too hard and others who just need a second
chance. Cute and funny with an unbelievable farce for an
ending, this is a nice debut novel by Ms. Motew.
No one can resist a little drama at work. But what happens
when drama is your work? You get COUPON GIRL, a riotous
debut novel that will capture the minds and hearts of the
Sex and the City generation. With the charm of Carrie
Bradshaw and the chutzpah of Samantha, this zany tale takes
readers on an unusual ride—one filled with characters both
colorful and true-to-life.
From the Back Cover
Hi, you’ve reached the voice mail of Jeanie Callahan. I'm
auditioning right now for the lead role in the The Sound
of Music. Hopefully, I am not throwing up or fainting.
Oh yes, if you're a business owner and would like to offer
your customers coupons, leave me a message. BEEP
"Hey, Jeanie. I can't give 25% off my donuts, so just
forget it." BEEP "Hi, it’s Meg—your soon-to-be-pregnant
best friend. Call me!" BEEP "Just wanted to let you know
that the fire department was over to get your grandfather
down from the roof. Don’t worry, he’s okay." BEEP "My name
Mike. You call." BEEP
Did you ever wish you could redeem your current life for a
completely new one? Believe me, I’m right there with you.
And if I've learned anything from selling coupons, it's
this: 10% off won't cut it. You have to go big. Large.
Whole hog. I say it to my customers every day. I just never
knew taking my own advice would prove so difficult.
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