The last person Liz Alterman expects to hear from during her Thanksgiving prep is her husband, Rich. He never calls from his job at a busy Manhattan newsroom. And he never will again, because he’s just been laid off. Two months later, Liz is downsized, too.

At first, Rich is enchanted with his new leisurely lifestyle. But when he’s still unemployed six months later, his euphoric mood devolves into depression and despair. It falls to Liz to figure out how to support their family of five and keep up appearances in their well-to-do suburb, where even nannies drive the latest model Lexus.

Hi, I’m Liz Alterman, author of my memoir, Sad Sacked, the domestic suspense novel, The Perfect Neighborhood, and the young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting. My essays and humor pieces have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney’s, Parents, and other outlets. I live in New Jersey with my husband and three sons. I love meeting with readers in person and virtually. To learn more, visit lizalterman.com.

Given the current devastation across the media landscape, this is a timely tale that will resonate with anyone who’s ever worried about losing a job, found themselves unexpectedly unemployed, or wept over the rising cost of summer camps and avocados.

I hope this story will help others facing unemployment to know that they’re not alone.

Image Courtesy of Liz Alderman