Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

This is the second book I've read by this author and really enjoy her writing. I found this to be really interesting in seeing how everyday people were affected by the Communist red scares in the 50's. I had heard about it but never realized how crazy the US was over this and how everyone was suspicious of everyone else. I enjoyed the main character of Fanny and her spunk.
While the ending was not a surprise, it was the right ending.

Somehow this book got lost in my shuffle so I'm a little late with the review. At first I thought ''oh no' another WWII historical fiction", but it is not that at all. The author very aptly addresses issues that plagued the mothers of us Boomer's--a woman's place in the home during the 50's and 60's with just a touch of the 1945-1950 post wartime. The great debate of women working outside the home, having a career, owning her own business or being a housewife / mother and property of a husband to do all his bidding. She cover womens roles with a variety of interesting ladies. It also addresses the role of women as single mothers by choice or as a widow during that time period. Really makes one think about what women had to go through to get to where we are today. It is not preachy or judgemental but shows aauthor,pe of each and how they faired in that time period. Read and enjoy!
I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book takes place in the post-WW2 era. Fanny is a college graduate, at a time when college was regarded as a place to get a “Mrs” degree. Her husband returned home after the war, only to die soon, leaving Fanny with her daughter Chloe. Her cousin, Mimi has followed the plan, marrying soon after college and starting a family. Although she has no marketable skills, she obtains a job as a secretary to “The Queen of Soaps” which were very popular at the time. Fanny is encouraged by her Aunt Rose, a single working woman. The McCarthy era begins, keeping everyone in the business frightened. Fanny must make some decisions about loyalty and what is right and wrong and the ramifications of what that means. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

This is a captivating exploration of a woman's journey towards independence in the post-World War II era. Fanny, a young widow, defies societal expectations as she navigates the complexities of single motherhood and career aspirations in a world that often restricts women to domesticity.

Feldman masterfully captures the spirit of the time, painting a vivid picture of New York City in the throes of change. The novel delves into the challenges faced by women as they sought to redefine their roles in a rapidly evolving society. Fanny's character is both relatable and inspiring, as she grapples with grief, societal pressures, and her own desires for fulfillment.

Ultimately, *The Trouble with You* is a heartwarming story about resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Feldman's writing is both poignant and entertaining, making this novel a must-read for those interested in historical fiction and the complexities of the human spirit.

Having grown up in the 1950's, this novel evoked that time period for me. If for no other reason, I enjoyed reading this book. Readers who enjoy a historical novel about women in the aftermath of World War II will most likely find this a satisfying reading experience.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The Trouble with You gave me a new perspective of WWII and the years following the war, and the repercussions of losing so many men. Fanny's life is upheaved soon after the war, and what follows is her trying to figure out how to survive in a world that is breaking gender norms. A slow burn of a historical fiction that looks at many perspectives of American history.

"The Trouble with You" by Ellen Feldman, was excellent! A strong woman, making the best of her difficult circumstances, working hard, exploring her talent, finding new loves, mothering, and following her heart despite strict social expectations in the post WWII times in NYC. Interesting and captivating, especially the Red Scare politics sprinkled through. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars as I vacillate on my thoughts on this book. On one hand, I really enjoyed this look at women’s treatment in American society in the late 1940s-1950s. On the other, I never felt particularly connected to the characters or the story.
I appreciated seeing so many of the injustices women faced, and a strong female character fighting some of those ridiculous standards. Reading about McCarthyism was interesting, as was seeing what people did to get around being blacklisted. And every few pages I hit up my dictionary app because of Feldman’s rich vocabulary.
But there was something cold and distant in the feel of the novel that really took away from the pleasure of reading.

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Set in New York City after WWII, The Trouble with You is the story of Fannie Fabricant, who finds herself a war widow and new mother needing to support herself with few options. A Barnard College graduate, she finds a position as a secretary, enjoying the work and her growing friendships with her colleagues, one of whom is particularly aggravating but also quite charming. Fannie has largely inherited her grit and independence from her Aunt Rose, a former union organizer. She is torn between the safe and traditional course and following her talents and her heart. I especially liked the portrayal of post-war New York - the diners and automats, alleys and men with hats. The first third of the book lagged and it was hard to tell where the story was going or be invested in the characters, particularly in Fannie. Overall I enjoyed this easy read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Griffin, for an ARC in exchange for a frank review.

Set in post WWII, a woman must decide what she wants to do with her life.

I struggled to get into this one. I think part of it was the way it was written just made it seem like a description of Fanny rather than her really as the protagonist. historical fiction can be hit or miss for me though so others might enjoy this more.

Solid, well written book. I enjoyed it as the characters were complex. Great for discussions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC #sponsored

Fanny Fabricant’s life changed unexpectedly after World War II. Fanny learns to live as a single mother, taking care of herself & her daughter Chloe & also working again, which is almost unheard of for a mother in the ‘50s. She’s also learning to date & listen to her heart again after loss - leaving her stuck between two men. This book displays a strong female lead, the politics from after the war, along with the stereotypes of women & their roles at that time. I haven’t read much from just after WWII, so it was a different perspective from what I’m used to reading. Good historical fiction read overall!

The book a historical fiction mostly takes place in the post WWII. It touches on topics of the time, a women’s place is in the home vs women in the workplace, McCarthyism and censorship and family. Fanny is a widow raising a daughter, Chloe and trying to make the correct decisions for their lives. Rose is Fanny’s liberal Aunt and is always there for them. I enjoyed the book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartin’sPress, #EllenFeldman and #TheTroublewithYou for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

The Trouble with You takes place after World War II when the men are returning and reclaiming the jobs the women held down. Fanny Fabricant is navigating life as a career woman, wife and mother while holding herself together after a life shattering event.

I enjoyed the book as well as the characters however, the pace was too slow for me, and I found myself becoming uninterested at times. It did pick up near the end and I flew through those chapters as they were more on the exciting side. The historical fiction aspect I found took a back seat in this story while it focused more so on Fanny’s journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC.

Set in the 1950's this book was mainly about the women's place and role they played in that era; their struggles and emotions when they were replaced in jobs held for the returning soldiers after WWII. All this is centered around a recently widowed young woman and her life after the death of her young husband. For me it was slow paced and not as enjoyable as I would have liked it to be. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

Ellen Feldman's new novel, The Trouble with You centers on Fanny as she finds her way through WWII and the postwar world. During the war women were welcomed in the business world with the clear expectation that they would return home when the men returned. The novel has a backdrop of the blacklisting era as well. I enjoyed Fanny and Charlie's friendship and especially was drawn to the character of Aunt Rose(a novel centering on her would also be interesting). I appreciated that the author shows us what happens over the years with the characters but it did feel a bit rushed. All in all a satisfying read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest opinion. The Trouble With You is available now.

Once again, I found myself totally engrossed in an Ellen Feldman novel about the past. I love her historical fiction stories.

The Trouble with You takes us into the life of Fanny Fabricant, a single mom just trying to make ends meet. When she takes a job working for a radio serial producer, she is introduced to a whole different world from the sheltered life she had led.

And once again, Ms. Feldman introduced me to a part of history that I wasn't that familiar with—the blacklisting of the writers and others after the war. Ms. Feldman writes so well and makes each story enjoyable, with her interesting characters and beautifully written prose. Each story is educational, while also entertaining.

The Trouble with You is the perfect story for all historical fiction lovers. Highly recommend.

There is no doubt that much of what Ellen Feldman had her characters spewing was the absolute truth of the role of women in the 1950’s in the good old USA. It is also true that there was so much stereotypical depiction that it ruined the story for me. Yes, the quotes were factual and disturbing if not nauseating for their attributes. Ms. Feldman’s points were well taken, but the story could have been so much more. Some of the dialog was smart and snappy which held my interest but the constant I’ll think about it or handle it tomorrow” was just a lengthening device that put me off each time it was used.

There were several important topics that I thought were going to form the meat of the story but ultimately turned out to be more window dressing and back drop to a widow’s grief and prospective love interests. The story would have been stronger with a deeper dive into the damage the McCarthy era and his blacklisting created on a creative populace and the voices we lost.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a copy.

In this historical fiction novel, readers explore the lives of New York women in the post-World War II world. Readers follow Fanny and her young daughter after her husband’s death as Fanny finds a job and deals with the stigma of being a single working mother. With the constant support of her aunt Rose and the competitive, status-quo following dynamic with her cousin Mimi, Fanny takes on a job in the radio serial business at the height of McCarthyism and the Red Scare when it is dangerous to work in entertainment. As the novel progresses, Fanny finds herself and takes on new roles and becomes more comfortable with her current, socially dubious positions. A realistic but empowering novel, Fanny’s struggles are relatable and indicative of the period, and they reflect larger social and economic trends of the immediate postwar period in the United States. Feldman’s characters are fantastically developed, with complex motivations and unique, detailed backstories, and the relationships between Fanny and the other women (Mimi, Rose, Alice, her daughter, and her mother) are enjoyable to read. As the novel progresses, readers will find more reasons to enjoy this novel and the characters in this wonderful midcentury historical fiction novel.