Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book!

I definitely liked this one more than I was expecting. It actually reminded me quite a lot of All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover, a book I absolutely loved. The two books deal with the same general topic, a tragic event forces a married couple to reassess their relationship. In All Your Perfects, the tragic event was infertility. In I'm Fine and Neither Are You, it's something completely different, which I won't say because of spoilers. It's something I wasn't expecting and so took me by surprise.

Although All Your Perfects took me on MUCH more of an emotional roller coaster than this book, hence that book getting 5 stars and this one 4, I've got to say I really liked the story here and the characters. Penny and Sanjay were relatable and dealt with such real struggles. It makes the point that marriage is hard work but definitely not impossible when both mates are committed to making it work.

The writing style was really compelling too. I definitely could have seen myself finishing this all in one day on a different day. Although nothing mind blowing happened it was just a GOOD book about marriage with well-written, relatable characters that dealt with real challenges. Camille Pagán is not quite Colleen Hoover, but I see them having a similar audience. I'd be interested in checking out more of her books.

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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc in exchange for my review.

This book was just Meh for me and I am part of the target audience!. The book started out good. It really did. I was actually pretty excited to keep going and then it sort of fell apart for me. Penny was a little too whiney for me which took away from the story. There was some heavy stuff mentioned but I don't know, something was lacking in the book for me.

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This book was great! The author really nailed how t feels to be a working mom with kids and a good career. It felt so real that sometimes I got stressed out until I realized this wasn’t my life. Very good.

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I enjoyed this book however the cover does not match the storyline at all. Some people may pick this book up thinking it is a light read by the cover which this book is not. A good read if a person wants a book that is deep.

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Wasn't sure how I felt about the concept of this one, but overall I enjoyed it. I thought the cover was attractive and I was looking forward to reading this one. It took me awhile to start and finish but I overall enjoyed it. I think it's ag ood story that would make you think and is different from other books that I like.

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Wow. There's not much more that I can say, other than....wow. This book left me all sorts of shook up. What a goosebump-initiating look into marriage, friendships, depression and all the obstacles that come with them. I have read all of Camille Pagan's books and by far this is my favorite. It forced me to look at what I can do to improve my own relationships. 5 stars. Read this book. You won't regret it.

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Story of a busy working mom who is at the end of her rope. Penelope is supporting her family, doing the lions share of the child rearing, and housework while her husband persues his writing career. When a tragedy befalls her best friend, Penelope realizes something has got to give. Honest portrayal of a marriage that is strained by everyday life. Courageous, excellent writing.

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I'm Fine and Neither Are You is wonderfully written protrayal of a woman struggling to juggle all her roles as a best friend, wife, mother, and employee. When she suddenly loses her closest friend, she begins to question her happiness and her marriage. Penny is completely relatable and I connected immediately to her situation as many of my friends could as well. I especially loved the ending because her realization of being authentic was important but difficult is exactly where I am in my life. Sometime, reading about someone else's experiences can provide insight into your own.

Iappreciate Netgalley for providing me with this advanced copy.

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This book was interesting! It had a really realistic portrayal of marriage, and of the role a woman often ends up playing in her home when her dreams were very different. I was a little bit disappointed with the storyline about the best friend because it didn't hold quite as much gravitas as it could have--and we never really get any answers, but the story itself, one about marriage struggles between two people who used to be madly in love, is real and one of the most accurate descriptions I've ever read about two people fighting to make things work.

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This was not my type of book and I was very disappointed in it.
I had such high hopes for this book

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In everyone’s life, a single event can make us pause, re-evaluate and change course. In this novel, Penny experiences such a pivotal event when her best friend dies unexpectedly. As more details emerge about the death, the more Penny realizes the damage that lies and self-deception can cause. She determines that she and her husband, Sanjay, should strive to live lives that are all about truth. They struggle with it but develop and mature with the effort. I was a bit fearful that this was going to be too naïve and there were some aspects that were glib, but overall a well-written read.

When I read the premise of this book, I was interested to see how the author would spin the tale. It was not what I expected. I half expected it to be mildly humorous, but it was thoughtful and thought provoking. And, while I think I am not part of the target demographic for the audience, I found ideas to ponder in my own life. I had not read this author before and will probably look up another of her titles.

I want to thank NetGallery , the publisher and the author for a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I'm Fine and Neither Are You is a realistic fiction novel that is very relatable. How often to we say "I'm Fine" when asked , tho often we are not? How many women suffer from burn out? From trying to do it all while it "all" spins out of control? Stale marriage, unspired in your job? The story of two friends and the aftermath when one of them suddenly dies. Her last text to her best friend told her to make changes if she didn't like the way things were going. And so many changes come! Well written and realistic, poignant, sometimes difficult, and inspiring. The cover does not convey the depth of this book.

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There was something about this book - I think it was the brutal honesty of the writing that made me connect with the main character. A lot of hard topics were covered - complicated family relationships, marriage, work, friendships and a bit about addiction. At the same time, I didn't find it depressing but more uplifting.

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Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. I read I'm Fine and Neither Are You in 24 hours. It was such a fun and relatable read about Penelope Ruiz-Kar who is a mom, wife, breadwinner, and intentional friend. When Penelope receives heartbreaking news, it opens to her life to her true feelings about her careers and marriage. She and her husband decide to recommit to their marriage and try to figure out what truly makes them happy.
You will simply devour this book.

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3.5 stars

Penny feels stuck. She's not particularly in love with her job, her life, or her husband. When her best friend suddenly dies, it's a wakeup call for her. She and her husband agree to each compile a list of things they'd like the other to work on in an effort to save their stale marriage. While the lists jump-start some major transformations, in the end, it's Penny forcing herself to be more honest with herself and those around her that really make the biggest impact. One thing I liked was how social media was mentioned, and the pressure one feels to present a perfect persona; how that can bleed into your "real" life and possibly prevent you from reaching out and admitting you're not doing as well as that facade indicates. This book is a good reminder that, not only is it never too late to make a change in your life, it's something that's vital to your happiness.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC! This review will be posted on Goodreads and to Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's websites.

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As a single, non-mom, I don't think I'm the target audience for this book, But I did think Pagan's writing was witty and smart and tackled issues of motherhood and marriage in an interesting yet light way. It's a quick read and worth it, especially if you fit into these categories or just need a break from heavier literature.

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“I’m Fine and Neither are you” by Camille Pagán was not entirely what I was expecting. It focused on some very tough issues, some of which I could relate to myself. I’m trying to not get into too many details because I’m a firm believer in the less you know , the more you will enjoy. This was a very thought-provoking novel. I will be sure to check out more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a good book. I expected it to be a piece of fluff but I got much more.

The main character is surprised by the apparent accidental death or suicide of her best friend. It causes her to look more closely at the life both of them led and how happiness and perfection are sometimes not what they seemed. Good writing overall.

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Penelope believes her life as a wife and mother inferior to her always perfectly put together friend Jenny, whose daughter is just as seemingly pristine as her mother. She is blindsided by the tragedy of her friend’s life, causing her to re-evaluate her own marriage and motherhood. Pagan brilliantly portrays the chaos that is raising children, with an opening scene of Penelope in the bathroom asking if she will ever have a moment of peace. The disconnect between spouses blares from the pages as they discuss who’s to blame for the lack of toilet paper, and Penelope notes that Sanjay barely looks at her to confirm that her appearance is satisfactory. Her re-evaluation puts them on a bumpy road back to each other and a cohesive family unit. Pagan juxtaposes the consequences of social comparison and lack of connection with an ever-increasing social problem in a credible and empathetic manner. This story is a reminder to pay closer attention to the ones you love. It’s a 5-star lesson in life.

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Thank you NetGalley & Lake Union for the advanced copy of I’m Fine and Neither Are You.
I found this book extremely relatable, which made for a quick and easy read. I connected to the characters easily and loved the storyline.
I definitely will be speaking my mind more and being more honest with myself from now on.
Five stars.

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