Ratings56
Average rating3.7
It took me two weeks to get through this one. Let me be polite: it's not the worst book I have ever read (not even top 10 worst).
It started out okay. It had me questioning: what is success and what does it look like to different people?
Then, to sum it up, the book becomes “rich people problems”. If the reader identifies with that, great, I don't and have a hard time not rolling my eyes. Let's see someone living paycheck to paycheck having a breakdown and disappearing on her kids for 3 weeks. Let's see what happens in that situation. Breakdowns are a luxury.
I absolutely hated what Brodesser-Akner had to say about feminism, thanks for throwing my one of my core values under the bus. The worst part is, I don't believe SHE believes that- I think she's doing it for shock value and that sickens me. Look at me, I'm a female writer who writes from the POV of the establishment! There is not one female character in this story with any redeeming qualities (except maybe Joanie- who has enough brains to be a doctor and to avoid the hot mess that is Toby).
Fleishman is a too long novel about people without real problems who have no clue what life is really about and wander around in it's pages sorting out their hedonistic needs and bitching about their jobs.
I cannot believe the rave reviews it is getting. Most of those reviews claim the novel is funny. I didn't laugh once. It's not a funny book. It's not even satirical.
Should this have been on the TOB Short list? Hell no. I can think of 3 titles that would have been a better choice.
Also, I'm from New Jersey not via New York. Don't worry, we don't like you either.