# The Assistants

By Camille Perri

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/the-assistants-05b2e215/

Tina Fontana handles expenses for a media billionaire while chipping away at her own student loans. A reimbursement mistake could wipe out what she owes, so she keeps the money. Then Emily Johnson in accounting spots the error and wants Tina to do for her what she did for herself.

## What makes it funny?

Robert’s private jet breaks down, leaving him with the dreadful prospect of flying commercial. He tells Tina to have the airline clear the seats around him and give him the ticket for free.

### The comedy at work

Perri gives Tina the point of view of someone who knows what her boss drinks and how his office actually works. A sum that could change her life barely registers in his expenses. She’s the one in a position to notice.

### Try this if…

The scheme keeps getting bigger as more assistants find out what Tina and Emily are doing. Their partnership gives you a quiet instigator and a much flashier accomplice, with another coworker always ready to ask for a cut.

### Good to know

Student debt and the gender politics of the office give this caper its stakes. There’s also a romance with one of the company’s lawyers.

## What to expect

- Genre: Contemporary
- On the shelf: Workplace comedy
- Kind of humor: Banter · Satire
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Audience: Adult
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2016

## A few distinguishing details

- An expense account that could pay off a student loan

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Putnam paperback and excerpt](https://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/book?isbn=9780399185175)
- Review: [Kirkus review](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/camille-perri/the-assistants-perri)
- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780399172540)
- Publisher: [Putnam ebook listing](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317172/the-assistants-by-camille-perri/9780698180802)