The Coworker

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses death by suicide.

Natalie Farrell is one of two protagonists and the chief narrator of the novel. It is through her viewpoint that most of the story is told. From the beginning of the narrative, the 30-year-old salesperson is portrayed as “[a] golden girl” (291). Adept at making social connections, Natalie is the most successful salesperson at the nutritional supplement company, Vixed. Her physical attractiveness is also highlighted throughout the novel, and Dawn describes Natalie in terms associated with perfection, stating, “Her hair is very healthy and shiny, and her skin always has this immaculate glow, like she’s an angel” (83).

In her first-person narration, Natalie is eager to present herself as likable and caring. She states that she owes her professional success to hard work, and she also emphasizes her selfless dedication to organizing a fun run for cerebral palsy each year. Expressing concern over Dawn’s disappearance, Natalie initially comes across as “a good coworker” (108). However, as her narrative progresses, cracks appear in the airbrushed portrait she presents of herself. Like her carefully maintained hair and nails, the image is revealed to be a façade, speaking to the novel’s theme of