In today’s hyper-connected world of emails, metrics, and Monday meetings, what truly goes unsaid? Shubham Saxena, in his powerful debut novel Dear Boss: What Employees Never Say Out Loud, answers this question with empathy, insight, and unflinching honesty. Through his protagonist, Anaya Sharma, he peels back the glossy surface of corporate culture to reveal the quiet emotional terrain beneath—where ambition meets exhaustion, and politeness hides pain.
The novel takes readers into the life of Anaya, a talented marketing professional at Empathix Digital, a Gurgaon-based firm that mirrors countless modern offices—filled with polite meetings, polished emails, and unspoken frustrations. On paper, her career seems ideal: promotions, praise, and professional polish. But behind the screen lies a world of subtle manipulation, invisible hierarchies, and mental fatigue. Shubham’s writing captures this atmosphere with striking realism, showing how overwork and underappreciation slowly eat away at confidence and self-worth.
Told in over fifty thematic chapters, Dear Boss reads like a diary of collective experience—each section reflecting a universal workplace injustice. From stolen credit to the weaponization of “feedback,” from emotional labor to quiet burnout, the novel resonates with anyone who has ever stayed silent in the face of unfairness. Yet, Anaya’s story isn’t one of bitterness—it’s one of awakening. Through heartbreak, introspection, and rediscovery, she learns that growth often means walking away, not climbing higher.
Beyond the boardrooms and project deadlines, Shubham also delves into Anaya’s personal life—her complex relationship with her ex, Rivan, and her gradual evolution from seeking approval to embracing authenticity. What makes this narrative powerful is not rebellion, but reflection—the courage to look inward and reclaim one’s voice in a system designed to silence it.
A graduate of Delhi Technological University (DTU) and a professional engineer at Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, Shubham Saxena bridges two worlds rarely seen together: the precision of engineering and the emotional depth of storytelling. His current pursuit of an M.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Communications from VNIT Nagpur further reflects his dual identity—a thinker equally at home in logic and empathy.
For Shubham, writing became a mirror to understand the unspoken—the quiet tensions between professionalism and personhood. His narrative sensitivity stems from his own observations of workplace dynamics, where technical expertise often overshadows emotional truth. Through Dear Boss, he gives shape to these silences, reminding readers that behind every corporate smile is a story untold.
Outside his professional and literary pursuits, Shubham is a passionate solo traveler. His 3,500-kilometer North India ride on his scooty, “Sundari,” exemplifies the same introspective courage that defines his writing—an urge to explore both the world and the self.
In Dear Boss, Shubham Saxena doesn’t just write about burnout or bureaucracy—he writes about being human in a system that often forgets humanity. It’s a book for every employee who has ever whispered their truth in the silence of their heart.
