“The Trouble With You” is Ellen Feldman’s latest effort and lovers of both her work and historical fiction in general will not be disappointed.

I read a lot of WWII fiction, so I enjoyed the chance to focus on the period after the war when men returned to the Homefront and women had to step down from the jobs they’d grown to love. Here, we meet Fanny who is bucking tradition with the support of her plucky Aunt Rose. She gets a job in the entertainment industry and soon meets people who have blacklisted. Will she continue to go after what she believes in or yield to expectations?

While plenty of this novel was predictable (especially the two love interests for Fanny), I still found it enjoyable and was interested in this slice of history.

Three and a half out of five stars.

Thank you the Ellen Feldman, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

A woman is torn between marrying a doctor and giving up her career, or following her dream of writing and the man whose front she is.

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Oh my goodness! I absolutely adored this awesome book. I loved the characters, loved the scenes, and loved the overall feel of the piece. Read it practically in one sitting and definitely one day. Thanks.

I loved this book, it was a terrific read and i keep want to read another chapter even when I finshed it. I recommend it.

Very much enjoyed this book! It kept me wanting to read more and I could not put it down. I would recommend this book to my friends!

A welcome addition to public libraries' historical fiction collection. The Trouble with You tells the story of Fanny as she struggles to find her self and voice in the period after the second World War. She is left a widow to raise her young daughter. Given that she is a graduate of a prestigious college, educated to be a wife and mother, she finds a job in serialized radio (the soaps!) and finds she likes it. As it's the time of the Cold War she finds herself confronting the black list and how to deal with it. The author deftly weaves the backdrop of this fraught period of history with a compelling story. I enjoyed.

Although the story was predictable, I enjoyed the strong female characters (especially Rose). The book is set in the period immediately following WWII and I thought it was effective in conveying the societal changes of the period. Men were returning from service and women were expected to leave jobs they held during the war and become housewives and mothers. The McCarthy era and blacklisting of artists also plays a significant role. Those elements were enough to overcome my impatience with Fanny being unable to see which of two men was the better choice for her.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

I was invited to review this new-to-me author’s book and because I love history, I took a chance! Am I ever glad I did because this is a refreshingly, albeit predictable, unique story. The author brought something new to the table and I was eager and able to dive right in.

Swimming against the tide of traditionalism, Fanny Fabricant courageously carves out a life for herself and her daughter Chloe when life throws her a curveball.

One-word summary: reinvention

What I loved:
✔️strong female; secretary in radio serials (modern-day soap opera)
✔️woman willing to burst through societal constraints of the time
✔️resourceful woman whose plans for the future fell apart and she needed to pick up the pieces and move on
✔️spotlight on politics; McCarthyism, HUAC blacklisting authors, actors, etc.
✔️expertly written setting/atmosphere/social climate in post-war era
✔️personal growth
✔️spotlight on dating during 1950s

What I struggled with:
✔️pacing
✔️predictabiltiy

This was a fantastic historical fiction novel featuring a likable and courageous female and spotlighting a unique slice of our history. Bingeable historical fiction. Great cover.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Trouble with You explores the endearing character of Fanny Fabricant and the years following the death of her husband after the Second World War. It was a touching and fascinating story, and I loved how the feminist themes were articulated. Fanny gets her own job and grows as an individual through that environment, becoming a successful writer. I enjoyed seeing Fanny navigate the world as a working woman, defying the standard that postwar America had put on women. Another exciting element was the presence of McCarthyism, adding to the drama as many of her colleagues and friends were blacklisted.
The story was very slow, and I don't usually mind slow pacing when a story is so character-driven, but I found myself bored sometimes. Additionally, I think Feldman's writing style just didn't work with my brain and I often felt disconnected. It took me a long time to finish because I was not really thinking: "omg what's gonna happen next!?"
Overall, it was a beautiful and satisfying story with vivid characters. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

The Trouble With You is an enjoyable, easy read. Author Ellen Feldman does an enticing job of luring the reader into Fanny's world; her struggles and successes. Fanny is an easy-to-love character and perhaps even more importantly, an easy-to-relate to character; with the interesting spin on her encounters being that they are set in post-WWII New York City. Women are encouraged to be wives and mothers, and any work they embark upon is regarded as being out of necessity, rather than talent, drive and curiosity. Enter Fanny Fabricant who challenges her "Poor Fanny" stereotype as a working class girl and even surprises herself on various occasions when it comes to choosing between the safe or the more adventurous lover.

This book was very slow in the middle despite great dialogue and intriguing character relationships. I loved the dynamic between Fanny and her aunt Rose - her aunt being a bit of a rebel-of-the-times herself with all the exciting secrets that flow from a creative woman's heart. The banter and escapades between Fanny and Charlie - both personal and professional - were slow to escalate, resulting in me not feeling in any sort of rush or drive to see what happens next. The pace of the story sort of just plods along. Perhaps that is what Feldman hoped to achieve in this novel of worthwhile character exploration, but given the inviting setting and themes, the thrill factor could have been taken up a notch.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Trouble With You" and all opinions expressed are my own. This was an interesting book. I liked reading about Fanny and her decisions. Good characters in the story and I liked Aunt Rose. I enjoyed reading about this time period and all that went on in our country.

I so enjoyed this story of a very interesting time in history. The subjects of blacklisting and women's rights are covered as well as the main character's emotional recovery from a loss. I liked the independent thinking of many of the characters and how they broke from traditional roles in spite of opposition. The writing flowed nicely and kept my interest to the end. I was very involved in the story. This is a new to me author but I will be reading more of her books.

When the war ends and Fanny’s husband comes home safe she never dreams that she will become a young widow. Reeling from the loss of the man she loves she will have to solider on to provide for herself and her young daughter. Taking a job in entertainment she comes to know what the blacklist is and what it means for the people singled out to be on it. She will struggle to decide if she wants to be the girl she was raised to be or the girl her rebellious Aunt Rose believes she can be.
A romance set when woman were just starting to demand more from their lives then a home and a husband.
I enjoyed reading Ellen Feldman’s newest book. The first of her’s for me. I haven’t read a lot of books featuring the red scare and the blacklist but this was an interesting take on how it touched an industry. It doesn’t go too in-depth and really is a romance at its heart.
The Trouble With You hits shelves on Feb 20 2024.
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for allowing me to have an early copy in exchange for a review.
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I had to DNF this one unfortunately. I found the multiple POV without clear delineation at the beginning awkward. Also going back and forth in the timeline left me having to go back and forth multiple times to try and figure out where I was. I got to about 20% in and wasn't motivated to keep moving forward in the story...didn't feel like much was happening so I had to leave it be. I know this one has some pretty solid reviews, but I think it just wasn't for me! Thanks for the opportunity to give it a try!

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book on NetGalley.

Being a fan of Historical Fiction, especially in the WWII era, this book did not disappoint. A widowed women with an inspiring story about creating her own path. She has to make the decision between doing what is right and playing it safe.

I am a fan of this author and was excited to read her new novel. Set in the McCarthy years, this book highlights that time period when blacklisting authors, writers, actors , etc. was prevalent. The story begins when a recently widowed woman is hired as a secretary to a company that writes scripts for radio soap operas. When she meets several people who have been blacklisted, she chooses the path that she believes in. A fascinating history of that time in history, a must read for those who want to know more about the McCarthy era and how it affected so many lives.

Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity to read an ARC of The Trouble With You. The description of the book intrigued me as I enjoy historical fiction and specifically around the WWII period of time. The book centered around Fanny who lost her husband Max soon after he returned from serving in the military. She was widowed and had to figure out how to raise her daughter Chloe. Fanny starts working as a secretary with an office that does radio "soaps". She meets various people in the midst of Blacklists and Communist scares. She has to decide on her future with one of two men, one safe and stable but a little old fashioned, and one who really sees her for who she is and has become. It was a nice story but a little long and drawn out. It was a good palate cleanser from my usual thrillers. I would seek out other books by this author.

An interesting read with an alignment to women having careers and being black listed. In a post WWII, a widowed woman becomes a single parent and must find work. Through her struggles she finds her way to independence.

I’ve said before and I repeat, I was never very good at American History. But I do know that, in my day, any dark moments in US history, like the Salem Witch Trials, the Great Depression, Native American Studies, and the McCarthy era “red” hunt and the blacklisting that ruined so many lives (among so many other atrocities) were either glossed over or never even mentioned, in lieu of mindless memorization of dates of Civil War Battles and President’s names (not that those aren’t important as well, of course). So any historical fiction that can leave me with just a bit more knowledge, while still being a great story, is a keeper.
The Trouble with You is a beautifully written novel that combines one woman’s journey with a look at McCarthyism and blacklisting, focusing on the entertainment world.
At base, it’s the story of a woman coming into herself as an autonomous entity after her much beloved husband dies right after returning from WWII. Now a widow, with a child, Fanny is faced with being alone in a world where women are expected to be silent fixtures, homemakers, and mothers. Never working, only men work! Left alone to raise her daughter Chloe, Fanny is adrift. What now? Even though she holds a com laude degree from Barnard, no one will hire her to do anything she finds remotely interesting. And marriage? She just lost the love of her life! What’s a girl to do!? What can she do?!
Thank goodness Fanny has a strong female role model in her Aunt Rose (a favorite character, for sure). Rose helps Fanny secure a job as a secretary in radio serials (soap operas). There, Fanny meets an array of interesting characters (always juxtaposed with Fanny’s family members, who remain firmly in the early 1950s Stepford mindset), and comes face to face with the harsh realities of the McCarthy hunt.
Fanny’s two worlds are fully embodied in her two love interests; the traditional, old-fashioned Ezra, and the “wilder,” exciting, blacklisted Charlie. (Some may find this a bit of an obvious trope, but I didn’t mind it. I only minded that it seemed to take a long time in wrapping itself up.)
It’s a fascinating look at Fanny’s path, wrapped up in a historical lesson that still strikes uncomfortably close to home, even in 2023.
I was lucky to have a mother, raised in a stern Polish household from the 30s-50s, who braved her own path, defied her upbringing, went to NYC to follow a dream, married my Dad, brought up her children, and, even then, kept doing things she liked, always attempted new things, and never stopped trying to grow as a person.
This book reminded me of her is some ways, and it was so satisfying to watch Fanny weigh all of the pieces of her surroundings, upbringing, the times she lived in, and still break out and forge her own way.
Very satisfying, and highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and women’s fiction.
Book clubs are going to eat this one up.

Ellen Feldman's The Trouble with You is very satisfying. The characters jump off the page, the plot is believable - and interesting - and the historical research impeccable. Fanny could have been my mother or her friends. Highly recommended. (And I'll look for more Ellen Feldman!)