The Helpline

June 1, 2019
This debut novel from Melbourne-based writer Collette replaces the chubby, clumsy rom-com heroine of yore with a mathematically smart, socially inept protagonist in need of redemption. Germaine's long tenure at an insurance company ends ignominiously, forcing her to take a job at the city-run Senior Citizens Helpline, where--in a self-guided attempt to decrease call times--she is farcically unhelpful. Regardless, Mayor Verity Bainbridge taps Germaine to help with a special project for a special friend. The friend, amazingly, is one of Germaine's heroes--disgraced sudoku champion Alan Cosgrove, now in charge of the local golf course. The project: reprimand the elderly managers of the nearby senior center who've recently put chains on the tires of golfers using the center's parking lot. Germaine, fancying herself friends with the mayor, is all too happy to comply; she also imagines a burgeoning romance with Alan Cosgrove. The only problem is that, as her interactions with the senior-center staff unfold, she finds her loyalties shifting. Or at least she feels increasingly uncomfortable with her civic role, which is nearly the best she can do in terms of self-awareness. Luckily, she has boatloads of supporters--co-workers, the seniors, a neighbor, her mother, and, obviously, a love interest--to prod her (painstakingly) toward morally and romantically positive outcomes. Writing from Germaine's perspective has pros: Readers get detailed explanations of her entertainingly particular logic while still seeing more poignant aspects of her inner life, and Collette includes enough clues about what's going on around Germaine to show the often very funny disconnect between the two. But because Germaine is not a naturally empathetic or kind character, it is difficult to know how her scrappy fan club determines she's worthy of their loyalty. Clever writing about an awkward character.

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August 19, 2019
Australian author Collette debuts with the tale of the rather awkward Germaine Johnson as she does her part to assist a rundown senior center and its champions wage an existential struggle against the mayor and her schemes. Germaine isn’t a people person, so her new job at the Australian town of Deepdene’s Senior Citizen Helpline answering calls isn’t a natural fit. She sees an opportunity for advancement when mayor Verity Bainbridge recruits her to oust the troublesome president of the local senior citizens center committee and then to write a building inspection report after Germaine lets slip to the mayor’s friend Don Thomas, owner of the golf club adjoining the senior center, that the center is in poor repair. Germaine is also motivated by her crush on Don. To the end, Germaine has difficulty with feelings, which are, for her, “not only unpredictable” but “could be very unpleasant,” but she does become fond of the people at the senior center, and so, naively, believes that the report will be used to make improvements rather than as justification to close the building and then sell the property to Don. When she discovers this, Germaine works with her new friends at the center and in the town’s government to thwart the mayor. Readers who appreciate offbeat characters or a good David vs. Goliath tale should enjoy this. Agent: David Forrer, InkWell Management.

June 1, 2019
Fans of The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will want to meet Germaine Johnson, the unexpected hero of Australian Collette's debut. After losing her job as a senior mathematician, Germaine finds herself working at the Council's Senior Citizens Hotline. This seems an unlikely fit, as Germaine is not known for her people skills, so she's thrilled when the mayor pulls her into a secret project to deal with the cranky members of the local community center. But when her spreadsheets and charts don't work, Germaine realizes there's more to the mayor's project than she thinks; and she begins to wonder which side she's really working for. Collette's use of first person allows the reader to understand Germaine's perception of herself and those around her. The lively and diverse secondary characters hold a mirror to Germaine's social awkwardness, highlighting differences found in everyone. While her directness occasionally makes Germaine a bit unlikeable, Collette's adept handling of Germaine's unawareness of others' hidden agendas makes for a charming character who grows over the course of the novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)