The narrator of DISCONTENT has a familiar voice, one existing on the spectrum between Lauren Oyler and Ottessa Moshfegh: a woman in her thirties who is well-educated, sardonic, and stuck in life, amused by her own degradation that she can't seem to repair. Though the novel is light on plot, its humorous narrative voice and genuinely funny scenes make it a quick and enjoyable read. Though it thoughtfully examines young women's position in a society overdetermined by sexism and capitalism, it preaches a kind of smart quietism—a shelter of inner authenticity—that feels very characteristic of this literary genre.

This book is special. A fascinating and dark exploration of Marisa’s life that focuses on her work persona & inner turmoil. This is the first book I’ve ever read that perfectly captures the noise that the internet creates inside of all of our minds. (It’s suddenly fascinating to me that more books don’t attempt this?!). It also shows how vital our connections to other people are, especially in our darkest moments. A perfect depiction of modern consciousness.

“Maybe some people’s problems and by “some people,” I mean me—is that we think life is going to offer us something extraordinary when we least expect it. One day we’ll stumble across our smidgen of luck, and from then on, we’ll be happy, because everything around us will change without us having to lift a finger. No more Ativan for breakfast, no more empty feeling when you arrive home. No more unexpected weeping when you see a Coca-Cola ad; no more taking walks through the city hoping to find something that never finds you. That indeterminate but grandiose something that, in fact, more than finding you, seems to be fleeing from you.”

I really enjoyed Discontent and the journey it takes the reader on. Beatriz Serrano does a fantastic job of capturing what it feels like to be in your thirties today: the confusion, the searching, the moments of clarity, and the quiet disappointments. It's not melodramatic, but it is honest, and sometimes brutally so. The writing (and translation) handles this tone beautifully, balancing dry humor with real emotional insight.

While the plot itself might seem small or slow-moving to some readers, I found the inner life of Marisa and the richly observed emotional terrain to be the real focus, It's what made the book so compelling for me. The ending, especially, lands just right.

Highly recommended for fans of introspective, contemporary fiction with a psychological edge.

"Is this play about us?”

If you've worked a corporate job in any capacity, particularly in the marketing sector, you've most likely encountered a few of life's most ridiculous social requirements - acting like your job is the most important, serious thing you're ever set to accomplish. (But in actuality, how could you possibly compare your goal of selling a product and making frilly power points to the grueling hours surgeons put into their day to day saving lives and consider them equally important? they aren't. but for some reason we're expected to treat our cozy desk jobs as such).

Beatriz really nailed it with her description of what it is like working a 9-to-5 in an environment so at odds with the needs of human nature. (who ever thinks we were designed to thrive in dimly-lit shoebox cubicles and to sit in front of a computer screen for 40 hours a week, 50 weeks out of the year, until we're in our mid 60s or 70s is fooling themselves)


Marisa, the main character, approaches her work life with a facetious, superficial internal monologue that at times had me laughing at how accurate it was and I saw my own experiences and feeling reflected in her, to making me feel peeved - sometimes we're Marisa, other times we can for sure say we've had a coworker we've disliked who brough those same vibes to the office that she did.

Anyway, more often than not, I loved her cynicism and existential dread in the light of the mere idea of clocking in each day at her desk job. Been there, done that.

While the story of course goes off the rails and takes a wild turn that I can for certain say I obviously don't align with or can say I've done the same, it was very entertaining nonetheless.

this is another addition to the ✨generally malaised woman litfic✨ canon, and while I can't say that it necessarily brought anything new to the table, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! I loved the depictions of navigating new and old friendships as an adult, from the work-but-not-life best friend, to weird situationships, to reconnecting with people with whole you were once inseparable but have since grown apart. the depictions of the internet were far more realistic than many and didn't feel clunky or cringeworthy, which I appreciated, and there were quite a few underlinable lines and witty observations throughout.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

Well paced, uber relatable. Maybe I see myself in the MC a little too much? I hope Marisa gets to lay in bed and watch YT video essays for the rest of her life

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC!

Discontent is quick, funny, and weirdly comforting if you’ve ever sat through a pointless meeting wondering what you’re doing with your life. The main character is cynical, anxious, and totally over it, and I kind of loved her for that. She’s a mess, but a very relatable one.

It’s a fast read that hits a little too close to home if you’ve ever worked in an office. Would definitely recommend to anyone who’s ever side-eyed their inbox and thought, “This can’t be it.”

beatriz has been inside my brain i fear! very deeply millennial coded. I love Marisa and vehemently believe she's never done anything wrong ever!

I really enjoyed Discontent by Beatriz Serrano. I found it to be insanely relatable, in the best way. A slower pace, making it more of a cozy read, but I would recommend to those who enjoy the 'GOOD FOR HER' genre which seems to be my personal favorite. The slow burn of Discontent adds to the unease you get when rooting for this messed up FMC.

I absolutely loved this one. It was so easy to fall in love with Marisa and her approach and reflections on working. I laughed so many times and the ending was just unpredictable and so funny (the email portion was so so amusing.) I’d definitely recommend!!

Discontent follows Marisa, a chronically online woman trapped in the hamster wheel of corporate life, who congratulates herself on her strategies for working as little as possible while presenting as impossibly busy. Lately, due to a constant panic at the direction her life has taken, it’s getting harder to keep up her act. Her days start with tranquilizers and ideations of getting hit by a car on the walk to work. Her only reprieve comes from her friends-with-benefits arrangement with the downstairs neighbor, and a constant stream of YouTube videos.

Told in a playfully irreverent voice expertly translated from its original Spanish, Discontent is a madly relatable, concentrated burst of corporate millennial ennui.

I found Discontent amusing, and (as a former advertiser) so real. While on the surface it’s an absurd account of an office worker on the verge of a nervous breakdown, underneath that, it’s also a keen examination of internet culture, creativity, and isolation. While I found it a bit flat at times, there were hysterical moments that more than made up for it — an email exchange in part II comes to mind.

I would recommend this to anyone who has ever been disillusioned by an office job they stumbled into and occupied for too long.

Marisa seems to have it all. She lives in a beautiful apartment in Madrid, holds a sleek job in advertising, and a friends-with-benefits situation that suits her emotional detachment. But behind the glossy façade, she’s barely holding it together. The job is uninspiring, her coworkers blend into the background, and the sparkle of creativity is long gone. She passes the days pretending to care, hiding in her office, numbed by prescription pills, and lifting ideas from her students in the night classes she teaches.

Then comes a discovery: the private journal of a recently deceased coworker, filled with observations that suggest Marisa’s secrets aren’t so secret after all. As the retreat inches closer, Marisa spirals. Will she confess? Deflect? Implode?

With biting wit and psychological depth, Serrano crafts a slow-burning, anxiety-laced story of existential dread, and the unbearable pressure of pretending. This isn’t just a workplace novel and it’s impossible to look away.

#Discontent #BeatrizSerrano #Knopf #MadridNoir #OfficeDrama #PsychologicalFiction

A wild little firecracker that I devoured in two hours. This book is a quick read that is an office satire at the surface, and underneath is a powerful feminist/anti-corporate manifesto. I love when authors really have something important to say, and are able to weave an equally unhinged and fun story to adorn that message with. It was at times disjointed, but I think that’s due to the “no plot just vibes” style of writing. I had a really good time reading this.

This was an odd book but I enjoyed it. This wasn't a fast paced book or anything but the story was funny and I liked the characters. Overall I really enjoyed this weird little glimpse into the mc's life.

Discontent is sharply observant and deeply relatable. Its humor is dry and cutting, especially in the way Marisa moves through her days, taking Ativan like clockwork, sitting through hollow meetings, and drinking too much with an old friend just to feel a little less numb. It brought me right back to my own office days, where you do everything you're supposed to and still feel like something’s missing. The novel captures that quiet unraveling beneath the surface of a seemingly normal life. I laughed often, but it also left me thinking. A solid 4 stars.

A rip-roaring good time. This slim little book really packed a punch. The ending had my jaw on the floor. Talk about a full circle moment. The story takes place in Madrid. The translation is excellent, and the author has a snappy and witty sense of humor. I chuckled a few times and I could definitely relate to the protagonist, Marisa. She absolutely loathes her advertising corporate job. She also despises her co-workers and wishes she was rich so she could quit her job. I liked the tone of this novel. It was funny, sarcastic, and chop-full of smart observations when it comes to toxic work culture. The dialogue was fresh and razor-sharp. If you like quirky, weird girl fiction, then you will devour this. A pleasant surprise.

Fleabag in Spain. Absolutely loved this story, spooky how humanity’s shared disillusionment translates perfectly across languages and cultures.

Well written unique the daily work scene the interactions between coworkers totally relatable.Well written characters enjoyed from first to last page.#NetGalley #knopf

A darkly funny book about a woman who is depressed by the fact that she needs to work. There are reflections on how capitalism drains us and the absurdism of the behaviour we need to preform under capitalism and how little we are rewarded or remembered for that work.
The book is reflective and has a rather slow pace but I enjoyed Marisa’s inner thoughts enough to constantly be entertained.

I was fully dialed into this and as a creative at an ad agency it made it even more entertaining. Also, grateful I don't hate my job the way Marisa does though. The ending wrapped up pretty quick but it honestly felt right for the chaotic decisions she was making throughout the book. I wonder what Marisa's up to now...