When Franny Stands Up is the story of female comics in Chicago after WW2. Initially I got Marvelous Mrs. Maisel vibes from the book, but as I read on, I found this wasn't the case. This was not the easy breezy book I thought this would be. This book deals with multiple subjects including PTSD, sexual assault and racism.

I am usually a big fan of the use of magical realism elements in a story. For me, I felt that the "showstopper" phenomenon in this book took away from the storyline.

I found this book to be very funny at times. Fanny and the other comics possessed a quick wit that makes me jealous. At times this story was heart wrenching in dealing with its serious topics.

Overall, I recommend this book. Just know that it is not a lighthearted romp, but in fact deals with some serious themes.

I wanted to like this novel, but alas it never grew on me.
I didn’t like any of the characters, nor could I relate,to any of them.
I did like the time frame and the setting.

Respectfully, way too much going on, which is a problem I have with a lot of historical fiction nowadays (especially the YA type). Keep the scope narrower!

This wasn’t the book for me. I don’t get what the rave reviews are all about. The comparisons to Mrs. Maisel are misleading. Woman Jewish comic? Well, she’s Jewish. I wouldn’t call our main character a comic... At no point is Franny remotely funny. We rarely see her do standup and when she does, it’s awkward and awful. I think the book covers some important topics, PTSD and sexual assault, but doesn’t flesh them out enough to feel meaningful. The fantasy aspect felt out of place and unnecessary. I had to force myself to get through the story and it took me ages.

I so wanted to love WHEN FRANNY STANDS UP, but there was too much going on in this chaotic story about an all-women's comedy club in Chicago. It's a different take on WWII, set in America where women have assumed many jobs once held by men. Elements of magical realism blend -- with mixed results -- with issues that might trigger readers (sexual assault, PTSD, antisemitism, racism.) An ambitious effort, certainly, but just not for me.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

It was a fascinating read that made me learn about historical fact I never knew and made me met a great character like FRanny.
There're some similarities to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel but this a novel that has a force of its own and kept me hooked.
Franny is a great characters, the fantasy aspects are light and entertaining, and I thoroughly
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine enjoyed it.

If you’re at all familiar with Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you’re probably going to be told that When Franny Stands Up, featuring a young Jewish woman in her twenties making her way in the world of stand-up comedy is a lot like it. But you should put those assumptions to one side. Fans of Midge’s journey will probably like this book’s heroine, but the author adds a huge sprinkle of magic to the brew, delving deep into the joys of comedy and the beauty of family and friendship, creating an entirely different character and an entirely different book, knocking my socks off in the process.

Franny Steinberg comes from a family of funny people who are hiding a lot of pain, but the fact that she’s enamored of the stand-up comedy world is a secret she keeps from them. The news that her brother Leon, drafted into the war, is MIA overseas and presumed dead still hangs over her head.

She’s only sixteen on Christmas Eve 1944 when she spends almost all the cash she has to illicitly witness a set by Boopsie Baxter, a notorious comic with a series of scandalous headlines behind her. Ensconced at the Empire Room of the Palmer Hotel in Chicago, Franny experiences what industry lingo terms A Showstopper – a magical, life-improving gift every female comic may bestow on the female members of her audience, depending on her talent. The least talented comics in the world give their audience members pleasant thoughts; Boopsie’s jokes give women so much joy they orgasm on the spot. To wit, Franny’s experiences her first right there in her seat. She flees the club.

Seven years later, Franny is serving as a bridesmaid at her high school best friend Mary Kate Finnegan’s wedding. She and Mary Kate have drifted apart since graduation, and Franny is at emotional sea. Post-school she’s been unable to find a profession that suits and is uninterested in being a housewife, no matter how many of her well-meaning neighbors try to set her up. She also bears the scars of a horrible secret – Kate’s brother, Peter, seen as a paragon by everyone around him, raped her on her birthday several years earlier. Her brother Leon did return from the war, but has PTSD and is filled with panic whenever he leaves the family home, often breaking down and screaming uncontrollably in public.

As a sort of bachelorette party, Mary Kate sneaks her bridal party out to the women-only Blue Moon Nightclub, where Boopsie is supposed to be appearing. A disaster ensues after she fails to show up for her set and Franny mouths off about her disappointment. After being forced to dance with Peter at the reception the next day, Franny breaks down and retreats back to the Blue Moon for a pick-me-up and to see Boopsie’s next set. Instead, she finds herself auditioning for a spot in the line-up under a stage name and in her bright green bridesmaid dress. She manages to impress the mob-inclined boss of the place, who agrees to give her a shot even though she hasn’t ever had to write her own original material. Realizing she wants to be a comic and find her own Showstopper, Franny clandestinely begins an odyssey which will force her to confront Peter, teach her some hard truths about the comedy business and cause her to explore her own gender presentation, sexuality and the racism and antisemitism around her.

When Franny Stands Up is a wonder of a novel; engrossing, beautiful, powerful. There are a couple of spots where you think it’s going to go one way, such as when Franny figures out her Showstopper, but then it veers in another direction and leaves you quite stunned.

This is Franny’s coming out story – from the shadows of what’s expected of her, and from the traumas that have hurt her. She is bold, funny and honest as she fumbles her way through these changes. Her father and mother are both lovable in different ways, and her complex, traumatized, but still acerbic brother manages to pop out in a colorful way as well.

There are several women and people in the club who fascinate and delight and occasionally aggravate, in a good way. Boopsie, Hal, Gal and Andy each step forward to hinder or aid Franny’s quest and take transformative measures of their own. At the center of it all is Lottie Marcone, mob wife and independent businesswoman, who’s struggling to keep the Blue Moon afloat in the postwar world.

This is not at all a love story, but it is about loving your art, yourself, and your family, found and not. It is the story of comedy in the postwar world. It’s about how racism – a Black family moves in across the street and experiences nonstop threats and even multiple firebombings - forced the Steinbergs to decide between stomaching the overt racism of the Finnegan family and watching in silence and supporting the Averys.

There are maybe a few minor flaws to the book, but not enough to stop me from giving it a straight-up A. When Franny Stands Up is a beautiful peach of a novel, worth sinking into and laughing along with, even if you hurt under your ribs just like Franny.

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I am a huge fan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. HUGE. By 20 pages in, this felt at first like a disappointing rip-off in a magical realism/urban fantasy setting. Like Midge, Franny is Jewish, uncensored, has a posturing lesbian mentor, and her idol, the infamous Boopsie Baxter, is a takeoff on Moms Mobley. Unlike Midge, Franny doesn’t have a husband or ex, but she does rails against some of the same 1950s era women’s rights issues in terms of labor and cultural expectations. This speculative fiction novel, grounded in a post WWII Jewish setting, quickly hits its stride.

Franny, in her late teens, escapes downtown in 1940s Manhattan to catch Boopsie’s act. Intrigued by an interview in which the comedianne talked about the IT quality that kills in the business that the paper doesn’t name, Franny sets out to discover just what a “Showstopper” is.

Fast forward a few years, and after an unsavory incident with her best friend’s brother in a back of car, Franny is so traumatized at being made to dance with him at wedding that she runs out, lands at a comedy club, and heckles until she’s tossed out (very similar to Midge’s showing up in her negligee after her husband asks for a divorce). One thing leads to another and soon she has been taken under the wing of a group of (possibly lesbian) stand up comics, trying to break into a career.

The food, slang, fashions and hairstyles of the WWII era add so much to the setting, and the writing is dreamy. The process of joke writing as emotional and physical catharsis for trauma is compelling and I cheered when Franny found her voice, took risks, defied convention and her parents, and spoke her truth. The novel addresses redlining, anti-Semitism, feminism, and family alongside the War.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #FrannyStandsUp from #NetGalley.

Wonderful drew me in from first page to last.Definite Mrs.Maizel vibes women comedians striking a path.So entertaining so interesting #netgalley#sourcebooks

Know that while this has thematic similarities to Mrs. Maisel, it also mimics the sometimes frantic and frenetic nature of the show- and that can become tiresome. Franny Steinberg discovers comedy as a child but it's when she's a teen that she realizes there's something more to it than just a laugh. I, and I suspect others, was a little surprised by what the Showstopper caused for Franny when she attended Boopie Baxter's show. This isn't all laughs- Franny's brother Leon comes home from WWII with a horrible case of PTSD, her BFF Mary Kate's brother Peter assaults her, and she struggles to find herself. Mary Kate's wedding exposes seams in post War Chicago- MK's family must pay the country club where the reception is held extra for the Steinbergs. The wedding is a disaster but it echoes into Franny's future because she flees it for a comedy club hosted by Lottie, wife of a crime boss. Lottie is a hoot (and dangerous). When this calms down (and it does), it's a good look at how Franny copes with her family, her own differences, her sexuality, and comedy. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. An interesting read.

This s a different twist on the recent rash of WWII novels. The story of women comics in Chicago is important, but this wasn’t my favorite read, mostly because I’m not a comedy fan and the WWII pieces took a backseat. Fans of standup will want to seek it out.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins is a debut historical novel that made me laugh, but, it’s so much more than just a comedy. It’s emotional, inspirational, and very unique. It has humor, and a bit of magical realism along with emotion, trauma, and found family.

Story Recap:
Franny Steinberg lives with her parents and older brother in a suburb of Chicago, a wealthy area of mostly Catholic families. The Steinbergs, a quiet Jewish Family, live in a strong Catholic neighborhood. One evening, Franny goes to the Blue Moon Club where she witnesses female comedians and experiences a “Showstopper”, a joke told so well that it gives the listener a sense of euphoria. A Showstopper only works on women, and only when told by a woman.

When Franny suffers a traumatic event at her friend's wedding, she escapes to the Blue Moon Club, and she goes onstage and discovers she has her own Showstopper. And that power can change her life. But will it?

My Thoughts:
When Franny Stands up was a very different story. I expected a romantic comedy but instead got a beautiful story about friends, found family, discrimination, personal trauma and so much more.

The humor was a bit hit or miss for me, and I think this is partially due to the time period of the story. What we found humorous in the early 1950s, doesn’t always translate well to modern times. What I did enjoy was the banter and humor of the friends and characters of the Blue Moon when they were off stage, their friendship and love for each other was the highlight of the story.

The book also tackles many of the issues of the day. First is Franny’s desire to tell jokes at a nightclub. That is certainly not a job for a proper woman of the time. Also, the book looks at discrimination and segregation and the effects of WWII. Leon, Franny’s older brother goes away to the war and comes back a shell of the boy who left.

When Franny Stands Up was a very unique, funny, and enjoyable read. This story will stay with me for a while.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend When Franny Stands Up to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately, I just did not get this one. I was so lost and confused. The fantasy element just felt so misplaced. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if the showstopper wasn't a part. There was enough good characters and plot that we really didn't need the weird fantasy element.

This book had a lot going on! I was expecting a light-hearted romp about a female comedian making her way and forming bonds of sisterhood with fellow female comedians, etc. etc. But many serious issues are raised -- sexual assault trauma, PTSD, racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, and developing lesbianism. The book was well-written but much weightier than I was expecting. Also, the Showstopper element was a little out there for me.

I guess I just didn’t get this book. I thought it would be different based on the description, about a woman (Franny) who tries to be a stand up comic and finds herself in this new avenue.

Instead, I found myself extremely confused, especially by the showstopper element. I had a hard time following the story, and I felt like Lottie was a horrible character. The part I understood the most was Franny’s experience with sexual assault. She described what happened to her and I could feel how she felt.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I’m clearly in the minority as many people love it, but I just didn’t get it.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If your looking for a book that gives you ' The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' vibes then this is for you! Set in 1944 this comedic read will have you laughing your socks off! I love nonchalant of this book. The female empowerment, and the giggles during a hard time of history! The sarcasm, jokes, and no nonsense given is amazing. This will be a perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves historical comedic fiction.

When Franny Stands Up is such a smart, fun, funny read! There are definite Mrs. Maisel vibes, but also magic, and grit, and queerness, and I loved it so so much!

3.5⭐

On Christmas Eve, 1944 Franny Steinberg, still a teenager, manages to gain entry to the Empire Room of the Palmer Hotel in Chicago to catch a performance by notable comedian Boopsie Baxter and experience the much talked about “Showstopper” that she had been curious about. Earlier, the same day, her family received a telegram informing them that her older brother, who was fighting in the War, was missing.

Fast forward seven years, Franny and her friends sneak off to the Blue Moon Cocktail Lounge to see a Boopsie Baxter show the day before her best friend’s wedding only to be thrown out because of Franny’s ill-timed comments. But Franny is back the next day after a traumatic memory leads to her leaving the wedding party. Franny knows what she wants – which is to follow in her idol’s footsteps and perform on stage!

As the narrative progresses, we meet Franny’s family, her fun-loving father who believes in the importance of laughter in the most difficult of times, her mother who is concerned about Franny’s future and would rather Franny find a suitable husband, her brother who returned from the war front in 1945 but suffers from PTSD, friends, neighbors, fellow performers and the wife of a mob Boss, who owns and operates the Blue Moon Lounge as she finds her way in life, at home and in the profession of her choice – healing her own wounds and those of others close to her with the magic of laughter.

“ ‘Stress and fear”—Papa poked his chest tenderly—“it breaks your heart. The heart needs to laugh.’”

To be honest, my interest in this book stemmed from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” vibes I got from the summary but there is so much more to this story than a young woman’s dreams to make it as a stand-up comedian - a profession that that attracted women performers and audiences during the war years but is now back to being dominated by men- both as performers and in the audience. The author give us a glimpse of what society was like in the 50s - times were changing and people were looking forward to more prosperous times since the war years but misogyny and gender politics , racism and bigotry and class distinction, anti-Semitism and discrimination were also woven into the narrative of day-to-day life. The Author’s Note at the end of the book mentions some of the true events that inspired certain segments in her novel.

" ‘Pressure can suffocate you. Comedians are like bottle openers. We relieve the pressure by making you laugh. Pressure can be painful, but it also has power. And potential. The world doesn't want us girls to have either.’"

With humor and insight, the author touches upon themes of family, friendship, PTSD, sexual identity, evolving societal norms of that era , expectations and gender roles and the healing power of laughter. With an interesting cast of characters and an endearing protagonist and elements of magic in a story that makes you smile, Eden Robin’s When Franny Stands Up is an engaging read.

Many thanks to Eden Robins, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be published on November 1, 2022.

I loved the story and the premise of this unique novel, but I’m only dropping at a point because some of the conversations and dialogue went on way too long for my taste. I would have preferred more scenes in the comedy club from the female comics.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Franny Steinberg lives in Chicago with her parents. Her brother Leon is away fighting during World War II. He goes missing for several days but eventually returns home. Leon has changed mentally and emotionally and Franny is often the one left dealing with him. During her best friend's wedding, something triggers a traumatic experience from her 21st birthday, and it sends her into a spiral. She ends up at The Blue Moon comedy club where her favorite comedian, Boopsie Baxter, sometimes performs. Franny is introduced to the other comedians and the formidable owner. The Blue Moon soon becomes her second home and secret.

The Showstopper is something unique that most women comedians have. It's individual and unique and only women can experience them. When Franny finally discovers hers, she is shocked. Franny is kind of a mess, she's still growing up and dealing with trauma that was never dealt with as well as her brother's issues. She uses comedy to make life bearable. But she has to dig deep and get personal to write her sets. Franny is also still developing her sexuality, which was kind of a big premise of the book that wasn't discussed in its description. I'm not a fan of LGBTQIA+ literature so I would have passed if I'd known.

This book also covers topics of racism, trauma from the War, Jews and prejudices against colored people. The book was not one of my favorites, I didn't really like Franny and the storyline seemed slow. 3.5 stars from me.