As a career woman, wife and mom we all try to do it all. The perfect party, kids get i the right social group, the right activities, , do it all at work and still keep the house running like a well-oiled machine. Yes, our husband is there, but we all know who really runs the show. How do we handle the stress, we turn to our best friend, who can relate, recharge us, and commiserate. There's always that one friend that just seems to have it together and has the perfect life. But as we soon find out sometimes things aren't what they seem and perfection can lead to heartache. This book made me laugh, cry, and yell. It offers up what is a very real life look at common relationship issues within families and friendships, including the devastating effect that prescription drugs can have on individuals. I found this to be a very emotional, but satisfying read.

Author Camille Pagan has a way of turning real life crises into tongue and cheek humorous fodder. The protagonist in this book was super relatable and I enjoyed watching her go from a victim of life's circumstances to a rightful hero as she takes control of her life. Pagan is on my short list of one-click authors, and she's never let me down.

How many times has someone asked me how I am and I say "fine" when I am anything but. Its what we do, as women, as humans. No one really wants to hear about all those problems, how we aren't fine. I'm Fine and Neither are You examines these questions and more. I absolutely loved this thought provoking, at times emotional read. Every woman should read this book. I read this book in one sitting and it gave me all the feels. It was just what I needed to read and what I needed to remind myself. Kudos to [author:Camille Pagán|4462824] for fantastic characters and an incredible story. I highly recommend this book.

I LOVE each and every book Camille has written!! This one is amazing!! I read it in one day - but it has stayed with me ever since. She always nails it when it comes to what women are experiencing and the stories we tell!! This one answers the question - how honest should we be?

This was such a quick read for me, as I was drawn deeply into this book. The author expertly depicted a highly nuanced marriage that anyone, I feel, can relate to. The prose in this book was smooth, and the so many times, I laughed out loud. At the same time, some somber moments gave me pause--this book was well-balanced in that regard. Highly recommend!

Title Says It All. A lot of times when I write these reviews, the book didn't really hit home or I've given myself some time to process before writing or a singular theme arose from my read of the book or some other thing that kind of "ties the review together". None of that really applies here. This book hit hard on many levels, and I'm writing this review within just a couple of minutes of finishing it.

Ultimately, the title really does say it all. I'm fine - and neither are you. We're all messy, none of us are perfect. But most all of us are trying to do the right thing as best we can, even when life tries to keep us down. Sometimes we handle things amazingly, sometimes we run away and have a meltdown over something that should have been simple. It happens.

This is a fictional tale with a lot of real life issues thrown into the story and handled in a very realistic manner, to the level that the book comes dang close to veering into self help categories. This was my first book from Pagan, and it won't be my last.

I loved this book. Camille Pagán has become one of my favorite authors. Her books hold stories true to life. Never to let me down. The book starts out wit Penelope who is thinking about a drastic change in her personal
Life, when a tragedy of her best friend happens and Penny needs to stop and re evaluate what she wants out of life. Does she want to throw her marriage away? Save it? Exactly what does she want. Mother of 2, main provider for her family of 4, what can she change

Another great book by Camille Pagan, blew me away between the relationships we each have throughout our lives. Received this as an arc and it didn't disappoint me one bit. Kudos to Camille for an excellent book!

I’m Fine and Neither Are You is a marvelous, amazing book. It’s a story within a story within a story and will touch you on so many levels. I cried (a lot). I laughed (a lot, too). Penelope Ruiz-Kar is us, or someone we know; at times she’s scared or sad or mad, and she is pretty funny even when she doesn’t intend to be.

Pen feels like her head is barely above water. She is keeping it together as best she can, but most of the time it feels like she’s late, inadequate, angry without good reason, or just going along and going through the motions. Every woman who is a wife or mother knows the feeling. Is this what marriage, parenthood, suburbia do to you? Whatever happened to that perfect life she dreamed about and thought she would have with husband Sanjay? Oh, wait, her best friend Jenny has it. The handsome, successful, considerate, dynamic husband who adores her, the beautiful AND ALWAYS CLEAN house, the perfectly well-behaved child. And she’s a successful blogger to boot.

But when tragedy strikes Penelope is at a loss. So many lies. Everything she thought was true . . . wasn’t. So she decides that the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is what she and Sanjay need to revive their marriage. To save it. How is that going to work out though? Can there be such a thing as too much honesty?

It’s still pretty early in the year, but I think I’m Fine and Neither Are You is going to hold its place as one of the best books I’ll read in 2019. I could identify with Pen and her desire at times to think about her life and want to just run away. And with her envy and desire to have what Jenny has, until she realizes just what that perfection has cost Jenny. I could also identify with Jenny and that hamster wheel she was trapped in: once the world (or your girlfriends) decide you’re perfect, the model for the mom who can do it all, how can you back off or slow down? You can’t admit you’re only human, can you? Author Camille Pagán weaves the opioid crisis into the story with sensitivity and realism. We all think that is one of those things that can never happen to us, but I would venture a guess that most of us have experienced it, if only at a degree or two of separation. Pagán tells it just like it is.

I’m Fine and Neither Are You is an amazing book – a wonderful story with richly developed characters that touch your heart, and a plot that moves quickly and smoothly along, surprising you again and again. In the acknowledgments Camille Pagán thanks someone for helping her to “polish rock into diamond.” This book is evidence that that is exactly what she did. I received an advance copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I unhesitatingly recommend I’m Fine and Neither Are You to anyone and everyone. Camille Pagán is an author I will be reading again and again.

I adored this book! Penny is a busy working mom of two kids who doesn’t take any time for herself. When her best friend dies suddenly she takes a good hard look at her life and decides it needs some re-working. My favorite thing about this novel was how unfiltered Penny’s thoughts were. If you’ve ever wondered what moms are REALLY thinking this book lays it all out there. I found it all very validating! From the opening scene with Penny sitting on the toilet as her son barges in to complain about his big sister picking on him to the closing scene where….well you’ll just have to read it to find out!

Thank you to Camille Pagan and the Tall Poppy Writers group for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It turns out, the grass isn’t always greener and the truth doesn’t always set you free. Or does it?

Penelope is fine. Everything is fine. Jenny is her BFF, their kids play together, their marriages are grand, and life is how it should be. Or is it? When something terrible happens, Penny is struck with the thought and realization that maybe she saw everything wrong. Everything was clearly not fine. Not fine at all.

So you know what? She’s gonna fix it. She and her husband Sanjay are going to make this work, damnit. So what do they do? They give lists to each other on what they want the other to do or change. NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM LISTS, Y’ALL. That’s like opening Pandora’s Box. You know it, I know it. Penelope and Sanjay may know it. But they must make this work. They have to.

This poignant story covers what happens when you go through a tragedy and how it effects your life. I’m going to be honest, and I might get flack for this, but I actually ended up sympathizing more with Sanjay than Penelope. DON’T COME AT ME. I don’t want to give anything away, but damnit people, underneath his flaws, he’s an amazing father and husband. I’LL FIGHT YOU ON THAT.

I can absolutely see how most readers will identify with Penelope. I did as well and I felt for her (at times), but as her friend Jenny chirped in ear, I would be chirping too. Hell, maybe it’s the name? We Jen’s can be opinionated. In any case, no matter who you sympathized with more, this was a wonderful story with a couple you truly rooted for. There were real problems, real issues that are current in today’s climate. The marital and societal matters were very much on point and Pagan wrote herself another wonderful novel.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Wow!

Camille Pagán has written a book that is just so REAL! I love EVERYTHING about this book! EVERYTHING!

I was completely engrossed right from the very start. I needed to keep turning pages as fast as I could. These characters are so relatable that they jumped off the pages and planted themselves in my heart. I am so invested in them!

This story of heartbreak and healing touched my heart in a very personal way. Truly understanding these characters and understanding sometimes it’s okay to not be fine.

Wonderful, witty, warm-hearted with the perfect amount of honesty and real life. This makes for the ultimate read.

I am such a fan!! This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last! I need more of her!

After sharing 16 years of marriage and two children, Stevie and Miles, with Sanjay, Penny has just begun to consider a life without him when tragedy strikes her best friend, Jenny's, family. While dealing with the aftermath, she begins to see life differently and wonders if her marriage can be saved. What if she and Sanjay exchanged a list of things they'd like the other to improve upon? Would it be enough to fix their failing marriage? Is honesty always the best policy?

As usual, Ms. Pagán's unique and friendly writing style drew me in right from the beginning and made me feel like I was hanging out with my best friend. This story addresses the complexity of marriage and friendship, as well as other timely societal issues. It was extremely thought provoking and provided many powerful and important messages in which we can all relate to in some way or another. The ending made me tear up several times.

"It takes courage to be yourself when everyone expects you to be someone else."

Location: Michigan and NYC

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

"I only hoped she knew I had received her parting gift--the ability to look beyond what was missing and be grateful for all that remained."

I can honestly say that although at times my emotions were all over the place through this book, I adored it and respect it. I really respect Camilles writing about the loss of a friend and loved one and all of the fall out life goes through while dealing with grief, as well as the taboo subject of opiod abuse. I also love the "real-ness" that the main character goes through evaluating her life as a wife, mother, daughter, friends, and career woman. Ultimately coming to face to face with choices that I believe all people, at least moat women I know face at some point in life. This was very well written and I highly recommend it.

“I’m Fine and Neither are You” was a delightful novel that I could not put down. How many of us struggle to make our lives appear easy (and fine) on the outside, while behind the façade we are falling apart?

Penelope (Penny) is married to Sanjay, and they have two young children. But Happily Ever After has faded as the reality of work and kids have crept in. Sanjay and Penny met when they were both writers working for a NY publication. They moved to the Midwest when Sanjay started medical school while Penny, putting her writing on hold, took a job in university fundraising to support the family. But Sanjay discovered medical school was not for him and while he tried to figure out what he wanted to do next while taking on part-time writing assignments, Penny struggles under the weight of her demanding job, taking care of the house, and the kids.

Penny’s only respite is her friend, Jenny, who effortlessly raises her own daughter, writes for a popular blog, and is married to the ideal husband. But Jenny dies unexpectedly, and as Penelope discovers all the secrets Jenny had been hiding, she becomes determined not to head down Jenny’s path. Instead, she becomes determined to fix her marriage—husband and wife come up with “a list” of what they want the other to work on.

Penny is immediately relatable and likable. As she stumbles her way through fixing her marriage, you really emphasize with some of the mistakes that she makes.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks also to Lake Union Publishing and the author, Camille Pagan.

I'm Fine and Neither Are You is a current, relatable, flowing novel. A mother, wife, career-woman, and a friend finds herself at a personal breaking point, as a devastating tragedy strikes. Full of amazing characters, this novel is a fast read, and a very hard-to-put-down book. I highly recommend it. I received an early edition copy for my review, all opinions are my own.

"How are you?"
How often are we asked that question each day? And each time, how often do we automatically say "fine." Even if your world is crumbling, your marriage is crumbling, your health is questionable, your kids are driving you crazy, how often is the answer simply "fine?"
Odds are, if you're like most people, the answer is fairly often. Camille Pagan's "I'm Fine and Neither Are You" addresses this in a real-world, often-humorous, but very relevant way. The book is told through Penny's perspective. Penny is a mom in her late 30's, married ("happily" is in question), with two elementary-school aged children. She works full-time (beyond, given the number of hours she puts in) and makes good money ("happily" is also in question). This is important because her husband has been freelance writing, and not bringing home his share of the bacon.
When her best friend dies suddenly, Penny is forced to look at her life and what is really going on. She has to learn how to confront people, situations, and herself. Because taking a long, hard look at your own life isn't easy and it certainly isn't pretty. She needs to figure out what makes her happy in order for everyone else to be happy.
This book is great for anyone dealing with middle age, marriage, or just trying to find their own happiness in a real way.

fullsizeoutput_3c90Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “I’m Fine and Neither Are You” by Camille Pagan, Lake Union Publishing, 2019

Camille Pagan, Author of” I’m Fine and Neither Are You” has written a thought-provoking, intriguing, intense and heart-warming novel. The Genres for this story are Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. The time-line of this story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her characters as average everyday people who could be our neighbors. Each of the characters had their imperfections and set of problems.

After reading this novel, one of the questions that comes to mind, can there be too much honesty in a marriage or relationship? Another question that comes to mind is what makes all of us strive for perfection at any cost? These of course are my rhetorical questions, that I continue to think of after reading “I’m Fine and Neither Are You”. I appreciate that Camille Pagan discusses these issues that are extremely thought-provoking, and writes her story in such an amazing way.

Penelope Ruiz-Kar is a wife, mom,”breadwinner”, and an amazing organizer to the point of exhaustion. Her husband Sanjay is supposed to be a stay at home Dad, while writing, and trying to seek employment. Penelope’s job is extremely stressful, and she often takes work home and does more than she should. Somehow, Penelope doubts how well she is doing.

When a tragedy takes place, and Penelope loses a dear friend , who seemed to have it all together, she reflects on her life. Penelope and Sanjay agree to make lists and be honest with one another. Can you only imagine what happens next? I highly recommend this enthralling, page-turning, hard to put down book for readers that enjoy a thought-provoking novel. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

I loved this book, it was such a brilliantly observed read about the marriage dynamic. Having been in a similar 'slump' I could really feel the truth in the story, I believed the characters and really enjoyed the book.
I was already a fan of Camille Pagan and I was not disappointed.

I'm Fine and Neither Are You is an excellent read about best friends, marriages and knowing how to say no and ask for what you want / need.

Penny wasn't really doing any of that and was trying to be everything to everybody while she was slowly falling apart. In a totally different way, Jenny was doing the same thing, except she chose the path of Insta perfection, which is just as hard. I'm sure many readers will relate to both women and probably even feel like they are them. That's the beauty of this story. While a story of loss, it's also about gain, but the kind of gain that benefits everyone.

The author did such a wonderful job with the characters that it felt like Jenny, Penny, Matt and Sanjay could actually speak to me. They were people I'd enjoy knowing and that always makes a book much better.

Camille Pagan has written a very timely book that deals with big issues and specifically one that is topical. Well, the everything to everybody issue is also very much an issue in the age we live in now. The part that made me hopeful was how Matt chose to deal with the reality of Jenny's loss. I think many of us could take a leaf from his book and from how Penny and Sanjay chose to move ahead with their lives.

I so loved the way this story unfolded. At first I really disliked one of the main male characters, but he tried honesty also and he became someone I was cheering for. The author has done a great job focusing on issues our society should pay more attention to, but without making it seem like she's preaching. Well done!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC at my request. My thoughts in this review are my own.