I love a good opener set at a party; Bethany Ball’s THE PESSIMISTS begins on New Year’s Eve in Somerset, CT, as our six characters—Virginia and Tripp, Rachel and Gunter, and Margot and Richard—reveal to us their hidden anxieties. The quick cadence of the sentences and POV shifts hint at a sudden change from average get-together to total cluster. These seemingly nice and perfectly posh people are, in fact, rather messed up. Something happens rather quickly, and then another something, and then another… and from then on, we learn what these upper-middle-class suburbanites are really like and how their children get caught in the crossfires. And oh, let’s not forget to mention that the school at the center of these three families, the Petra School, is quite cultish. My feelings swung between pity and surprise, each chapter bringing in something even more ridiculous than the last, but I never was exhausted. Ball does a great job here portraying this deranged system and those who perpetuate it, and the denouement is fairly shocking.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Bethany Ball’s The Pessimists gives us a cutting, satirical look at American suburbia through the interlacing stories of three Connecticut couples. We first meet the protagonists during a New Year’s Eve party thrown by Virginia and her husband Tripp, who is obsessed with surviving the end times and keeps an arsenal of guns hidden in the basement. Virginia’s old friend Margot, an obsessive-compulsive “perfect” mother/housewife is there with her husband Richard, who has a not-so-secret crush on Virginia. Joining the circle of friends are Swedish architect Gunter and his much younger wife Rachel, who have recently moved from New York to provide their children with a quieter life. In the background there is the constant presence of the Petra School, a much-coveted local private educations institution which is looked up to as the epitome of progressive learning, but which might hide a darker history and methodology than is immediately apparent.

While in the first part of the book the characters are primarily presented as “couples”, the second partfocusses on the individuals. Like a magician shuffling a deck of cards and surprising the audience with sleight of hand, Ball has several twists up her sleeve. The result is an acerbic novel which is also unexpectedly gripping. I found it less of a laugh-out-load comedy than some other reviewers, but it is certainly a witty and thought-provoking satire.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for my eARC in exchange for my honest review of the novel.

This book will be published on October 12, 2021!

"The Pessimists" by Bethany Ball, in short, is a novel about a small white upper middle class community in Connecticut and their lives. It is essentially a slice-of-life novel about some not very sympathetic characters in my opinion.

I was very excited to read this and immediately started it as soon as I was approved. Unfortunately, I found myself struggling with reading this. The writing style works with the subject matter and as a result, creates a piece of satirical literary fiction that points out the issues with communities like this and the idea that a community like this is ideal and idyllic. The struggle for me came mainly from the fact that I didn't like or sympathize with any of the characters. Perhaps that's a positive point for Ball but for me as a reader, it made the novel difficult to get through.

I think this novel is brilliant because of Ball's execution and it is so clear that Ball knew what she was doing as a writer. That said, I didn't enjoy the novel for the aforementioned reasons. I would still recommend this book however because I think that it's written well and it accomplishes what it set out to do.

In the vein of Where’d You Go, Bernadette? And I Don’t Know How She Does It, The Pessimists takes a humorous but cutting look at suburban life. Strong character arcs, here.

What makes a “perfect” suburban life?

Is it wives, husbands, friends, the right addresses, and the right schools? Or is it the affairs, or the secret prepper plans, or the power plays to get your children into the best school?

We follow three couples with intertwining threads of ennui and alternating competition and support as they navigate a surface presentation of their lives and deeper interests, feelings, and unraveling below. (As an amusing ongoing device, letters from the exclusive school linking them all pepper the pages with letters home, written as directive bon mots from the headmistress, who admonishes parents who even think of competitive sports for their children, instead recommending chess.)

Although some of the plot points are more on the obvious side, this is well-written and offers a believable set of characters as they move through life a bit like cogs and a bit like humans.

I had a really hard time putting this one down. Seriously, I contemplated taking it into the shower with me. I was so engrossed from the get go, gobbling down the lives of the six protagonists in just two sittings.

The book opens at Virginia and Tripp's house, where they're hosting a 2013 New Year's Eve party. Right away, I felt I had this incredible insight into suburban life, and was getting some serious Desperate Housewives and The Stepford Wives vibes, which I absolutely loved.

I found the book dryly hilarious as times as I thought about each character and their ordinary routines. Things that might be boring and ritualistic otherwise, however, they weren't. Each character was so thoughtfully developed throughout the book, keeping me totally engaged. I felt like I could picture them in my mind, and they only grew more interesting as they developed with the plot.

Ball manages to capture the essence of suburban life with such accuracy, each detail of The Pessimists carefully constructed to create the perfect scenes. Bethany kept me captive, and like I said, I carried this book everywhere with me, practically inhaling it, so entirely absorbed by each of the individuals in the book.

I especially loved reading about The Petra School, which the book revolves around. Ball describes it so vividly and in so much detail that she brought it to life as though it were a real place. I wonder if such places exist in suburbia. I'm thinking that they do, but perhaps not quite as extreme as Petra. The descriptions of the school, and especially the "Dear Petra School Parents" notes at the end of each chapter had me in fits of laughter, each one giving me more insight into the current affairs at the school.

I found the characters of Margot and Rachel particularly interesting as their stories developed throughout. Margot reminds me, at times, of Bree Van De Camp, from Desperate Housewives. I loved reading about her rigidity, actions, and demeanor. Although I found her story quite sad at times, I thought she was a really quirky character that added more layers to the story. Rachel held me captive throughout as I read of her unravelling. She's a compelling character and I quite simply couldn't get enough of her.

It was truly interesting to get a glimpse of each character's perspective set out in different chapters in the book. Each one is facing their own challenges, holding their own hopes, dreams, fears, and secrets close to their hearts. There's an undercurrent of excitement and thrill throughout the book, with the Petra School at the center of it all.

It felt like a gift to be able to read this early, so thank you to PGC Books and Grove Atlantic for the advanced reader copy. I highly recommend this one - you won't regret it!

I loved this original debut novel by Bethany Ball depicting the lives of rich Connecticut residents in their bubble of wealth which comes undone as they are plunged into a state of disarray by their own making. The book shows just how flimsy appearances can be and that what really matters is deep inside.

This was a fantastic story. The character development was outstanding and I loved the dynamics of all the relationships. Great concept for a novel and would definitely recommend!

Satyrical, intriguing, poignant; "The Pessimists" examines and comments on the suburban absurdity and the societal structure of contemporary America.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. This was a surprise find of a book on Netgalley. It sounded interesting enough and then I found I couldn't put it down. A solid story about three wealthy families living in Connecticut - always a treat for me. What a glimpse of that world this is. The school where the well-to-do families send their children is completely outrageous and inspired much satire, and on my part, exasperation because I'm sure there are schools like that in existence. I was transfixed by Bethany Ball's ability to convey these characters. While maybe not being completely relatable to me, they were completely fascinating.
******4.5 stars*******

Books about rich people in Connecticut and their (ridiculous) lives are always fun to read and this one did not disappoint. Rich in satire and provocative in nature, I loved the characters and the tiny slivers of their true selves. Could a school like this exist? It bears consideration because there's no doubt that there are schools that could be models for this one. It makes you laugh and it makes you think. For me, that's a good read. Evilly delicious, shall we say?

Thank you to Net-Galley for this copy!
I enjoy satirist - dark - smart - contemporary fiction….and
It’s so darn wickedly-enjoyable —portraying suburban absurdity with such honesty….it reads with
funny-bone satisfaction along with a kind of respectful-resign to just how pathetic modern life is... Really Enjoyed this

I disliked the plot and found some of the characters troubling. I just couldn’t relate to the plot or the people in it. Just didn’t work for me.

Thank you Netgalley

Welcome to the really dysfunctional world of Virginia, Tripp, Margo and Richard in the Pessimists, Bethany Ball's delicious and addictive slice of American absurdity in suburbia. Suffice to say that I personally and thoroughly disliked those four half-baked morons who seemed incapable of growing up and their harebrained delusions of grandeur, their vacuous and pretentious aspirations and their totally messed up relationships. But like a big indolent moth, I got totally hypnotized by this fascinating story and all the hysterical trimmings that came along with it. I just loved this novel, its menacing undercurrent & all its characters' flaws. You will need to trust me and just go ahead & dive into that cesspool of absurdity. A crisp, tart and fiendishly satisfying read that left me wondering if America wasn't really losing it after all??? A delicious and perverse treat to be enjoyed without any moderation👍

Many thanks to the Netgalley and Grove for this crazy & terrific ARC

This brilliant seriocomedy — is undeniably deliciously hilarious and compelling!!!

I enjoy satirist - dark - smart - contemporary fiction….and
“The Pessimists” is pure perfection! It’s even better than “What To Do About The Solomons”, (which was a trip-of-a-novel that used up all my senses too)…….
but Bethany Ball outdid herself with her sophomore novel.
It’s so darn wickedly-enjoyable —portraying suburban absurdity with such honesty….it reads with
funny-bone satisfaction along with a kind of respectful-resign to just how pathetic modern life is.

The setting centered around three couples and their children, in a small town of Connecticut, (Somerset), reminded me of towns like Traverse City, in Michigan, or “The Gilmore Girls” : a white, upperclass, community.

Smiling parents were everywhere. They cheered their kids when playing basketball, or soccer. There was pizza and take-in Thai food. There were marriages, and second marriages.....families struggling under the surface of their privileged lives.
There was an emphasis on making happy Whole-Children.
Sacrifice was just part of the parenting deal.
As funny as many of the scenes were - Bethany Ball examines white suburban upper class nuttiness with razor sharp prose......
Parenting ‘right’ was not only exhausting, but was slowly ripping apart these couples own authentic happiness. They were stuck on the treadmill - dissatisfied, depressed, disillusioned couples.

Its embarrassing and shameful to admit, but I related with this meshugana culture. I’ve been blessed with my marriage ....but in the area of parenting, I saw an awful lot of this culture.
I was ‘part’ of it too, if I’m honest.
I’m now way past the age of child rearing....
but didn’t I, too, want to do everything right? Wasn’t I also a little too obsessive in parenting to perfection? I would’ve never admitted it at the time.... thinking I was very relaxed....but when our family began to unravel with our daughters eating disorder: anorexic, a huge awakening
hit me over the head like a ton of bricks.

Of course our individual family stories are different than the ones we read in “The Pessimists”, - but what makes this book soooo good, is that it’s rooted in collective discernment and perceptiveness.
With fine detail and development of the characters....every reader can identify with with at ‘least’ one of them ....and the issues explored.
I doubt there is a couple or parent in the world that couldn’t relate. It doesn’t matter if we were ‘as’ obsessed, ‘as’ wealthy, or even ‘as’ white as these families....if we raised children, we were often worried, and stressed about ‘something’.

Bethany Ball unthreaded the wounds of these couples inner pain with a keen eye — truthful, insightful, poignant.
One mother was hiding the discovery of a lump in her breast (it felt like the only thing that was fully her own).
An architect dad, secretly kept guns and boxes of ammunition in his basement. His wife knew nothing about it
[“Rough times ahead. The recession is nothing to what’s coming. Ice caps melting and filling the seas. Superstorms. Massive hurricanes. Poles shifting. Solar flares knocking out the electrical grid]

Stay-at-home mothers stayed at home, even after their kids were old enough to go to school. There were queen bees and cliques just like in high school. There were the popular moms with the good hair and fashionable clothes and there were the hurting lonely moms at the edges.

There were community parties, friends, secrets, likable and unlikable characters, jealously & legacy....money, expensive trips, private tennis lessons, swim lessons, extramarital affairs, yoga, spin classes,
and....
A very expensive private Garden of Eden pioneer type school where outdoor play, was the very foundation of children’s education.
At the Pricey Petra Private School, where learning was associated with pushing....they discouraged overstimulating, over scheduled and overwhelmed children with school work, sports, and obligations.
Smart phones were not allowed; no plastic toys.
They had no ADHD diagnosis, no dyslexia, no learning disabilities, no bullying, no eating disorders, of any kind.....
Ha....
and no reading until a child had lost two teeth.
“God forbid children should go to a public school— be thrown to the wolves”.
“Children have long recesses. They climb trees and build treehouses. They are outside no matter the weather”.

At Parents Night, parents are given an education of what to expect.
“We have a saying here at Petra: There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing! So please be sure to send your kids with extra clothing. A little later we will take you to see our chickens and our goat, Shelley. We have some expert goat milkers! The kids spend more time outside than in!”
Reading? Math? Don’t be silly! The Petra School’s Philosophy isn’t about pushing.
“Progress is another word ‘we’ do you not like here. It insinuates that education goes in a straight line from the uneducated to the educated”
“Does it not?” one father asked?
“The culture of competition is not what we like to promote here at the Petra School”.

Parents made sacrifices. They had sexless lives; low libidos. They took Prozac, drank wine and Red Bull. They struggled with the white, Waspish suburbia modern life rules, middle age, parenting, and self-fulfillment.

And there was this.....
THE MIND HAS AN INNER VOICE OF ITS OWN:
“Margot couldn’t get pregnant while their friends contended with the dreaded gas, colic, teething, eczema, and allergies. One friend hung up a rope from his ceiling and swang a baby car seat back and forth back and forth until their baby stopped crying. Others drove their babies around in their cars or took endless walks. They gave them baby Tylenol, amber teething beads, baby massage, drops of sugar water, rum smeared on gums,
homeopathic remedies from Whole Foods. One mom claimed she put the baby down in his room, shut the door, and tiptoed around the house wearing both earplugs and noisecanceling headphones for as long as she could stand it, before finally checking in to find her baby asleep or even, sometimes playing quietly with her toes”.
“How cruel, Margot told Richard. They weren’t going to be like that. They were going to be good, reasonable parents. They weren’t going to freak out, like Richard‘s coworkers had”.

These characters were pained and discombobulated ....nobody was truly happy. Not sober, anyway.
But....they were ‘deeply’ human. I was pulling them to find contentment and peacefulness.

My goodness ...”The Pessimists” would make a great movie or Netflix series.

This book will be released in stores in October.
Thank you Netgalley, Grove Atlantic, and Bethany Balls.

Book Review for The Pessimists
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