This is the first novel I've read that uses radio as part of the plot. I really enjoyed Fanny's story of growing into her role at the radio station when her husband dies.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is the first book I've read by Ellen Feldman and will definitely be looking at her other titles. It took a few chapters to hook me but once I was into it, I really enjoyed the journey. Feldman covers some very heavy topics with care and I learned a lot about this time period, which is something I always appreciate from a historical fiction novel. Keep me entertained and teach me something. :)

While WWII era historical fiction is my favorite genre within the genre, I'm quickly becoming a fan of post WWII era historical fiction. It's a period of time I haven't given much thought to until reading novels like The Trouble With you, and now I'm beginning to appreciate that era more because of novels like this.

Thank you Netgalley, St-Martin’s Press and Ellen Feldman
I enjoyed this novel, and the characters but I found it a bit long and at times I had a hard time wanting to pick it up.
Overall 3 stars

I really enjoyed the plot in this book. It has a strong 'Pro-Women's Rights' vibe. The characters were likeable and the romance aspect was original and held my attention without being corny. A great read for Historical Fiction lovers, especially those that love the WWII era.

I did struggle a bit with the writing style. I feel some parts were very well written, while others were wordy and confusing at times. It caused me to need to reread some sentences, just to make sense of them. It was also a bit hard to follow the switch in narration when it switched to the daughter, Chloe.

Wonderful story for everyone to enjoy. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy reading!

I got an ARC of this book.

I am a little behind on ARCs, so when I stayed home from work sick yesterday I binged this. I read 85% of it. I then snuck the rest in at work. Every time I was alone in my office, I read a few more pages. I needed to finish it. Feldman ensnared me yet again.

This is a perfect sick day book. A book you read on a rainy day when you are exhausted and just want to live somewhere else. It isn’t full of action, instead it is full of longing and growth. It is full of Rose being the coolest aunt ever. What I wouldn’t give to learn more about Rose. Every time she opened her mouth I was ready to email the author and the publisher and demand a prequel that just explains all of Rose and what her life really was. There is so much depth hidden away in that seamstress.

The romance wasn’t intense, but it wasn’t flat. Instead it felt like two people who wanted each other, but knew what was happening and why. They were logical. They were full of emotions and reasons. The more I saw the two main love interests with Fanny, the more I had a clear favorite. I was, thankfully, in good company. I knew I had made the right choice when I got the feeling that Rose was on the same team. I think I know exactly what it was like for Fanny when it came to Rose. I wanted Rose to be impressed by me and want to be in my life. Rose was clever and very much an influence on Fanny, even if Fanny would deny it at points.

This is the first book I have read that features the blacklist. So seeing it so intimately, but not actually seeing it at all was fascinating. I adored each little detail of this story. I wanted to know every character as intensely as I knew Fanny and Chloe. I felt wrapped in a blanket of family comfort, even while they were fighting to grieve. The voice of the narration was just perfect for this story. It really made it feel unique and intense, while not being exhausting.

Overall, I loved this book. I need to read more by Feldman. This was only my second by her, but they have only gotten better.

3.5*
Fanny is a young widow. Her husband returned from WWII only to die suddenly, leaving her alone with her little girl. With the war over, the many women who had filled jobs for the men serving overseas, are now expected to return to their roles as housekeepers and wives. But as a single parent, Fannie is forced to find a way to support herself. Living in New York City, she gets hired as a typist for a radio drama where she meets creative people and finds her own talents recognized.

Amidst the story of Fanny’s challenges is the background story of the turbulent times due to the McCarthy hearings. Many in the entertainment business have been targeted for suspicious behavior and have even been blacklisted. Fannie’s co-workers live in fear of being investigated.

The characters are likeable and the relationships work. Fanny's little girl is adorable and adds charm to the plot. Fanny evolves quite a bit, making the story more satisfying. She discovers her own voice and becomes more assertive. Fanny’s interactions with one of her co-workers shows her ability to trade witty banter with the best. Feldman brings the story of a strong woman set in the trying times of the “Red Scare” to light. It’s entertaining and totally engaging.

This is a good historical novel that focuses on the impact of McCarthyism from more of an individual-level and the roles of females post WWII. Fanny, our main character, is a strong female character and provides the reader with insight into what it is like to be a female taking a more non-traditional path. My only challenge with the book was it seemed to be slow-paced especially at the beginning. However, I would still recommend it because of its historical insight, focus on post-WWII and strong female characters.

Fanny is married to the love of her life and is following more of a traditional role of wife and mother in post WWII. However, tragedy strikes her world in such a way that causes her to question her true purpose. Fanny finds herself influenced by her cousin Mimi who thrives in a more traditional female role and her aunt Rose, who is unmarried and a known risk-taker.

Fanny is employed in the world of radio serials (what we would refer to as today's soap operas) where she meets some interesting characters. As a backdrop to all of this is McCarthyism and the infamous red scare, where Fanny sees people's lives ruined for being on a blacklist. Will Fanny take risks and go against the traditional female role and find herself on a blacklist, impacting her and her daughter's future, or will she play it safe?

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.
#TheTroubleWithYou #EllenFeldman

Fanny is so happy with her little girl and husband in 1945. They live in New York City and their lives are wonderful, that is until her husband leaves for the war. Something tragic happens to Fanny in the coming years and she finds herself looking for work. She ends up getting a job with a serial writer. She comes face to face with the blacklist that's destroying peoples careers.
This novel didn't end up being what I thought it was going to be and I really didn't like it very much The 1st part I actually loved which is why it's getting 3 stars and I really did actually like the ending

Max and Fanny fall in love and get married while Max is in medical school. (Interesting fact I learned from this book: they shortened medical school for doctors as they were needed in WWII). Fanny felt like she was missing a limb when he was gone, although Baby Chloe kept her busy. Max comes home from war but soon passes away, leaving Fanny a widow. I became absorbed in this book with its history of women. After WWII, women weren't expected to work anymore--they were wives and mothers--and the ones that needed to work could only find menial jobs that did not pay well. The term latch-key children came into place during this time. McCarthyism reared its ugly head. Women's lib began to flourish. I very much enjoyed the historical aspect of the book. I didn't much care for Fanny choosing to play the role of "Poor Fanny" as long as she did. This colored my opinion of the book. Three stars. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for the digital ARC. This opinion is entirely my own.

It was okay, but I just could not get into it. I felt it was predictable. A nice story and dedinitely in tune with how things were during that time period.

The characters are everything in this novel, This book was wonderful in its discussion and development of Women's rights issue with the backdrop of World War II. The cover could really draw you to the book, but the writing will enlighten you.

I recommend this if you love Historical Fiction.

While The Trouble with You takes place in post-WWII New York City leading up to the era of McCarthyism, this novel has aspects of censorship that can also be seen in present day America. Ellen Feldman's writing is so profound and thought provoking that I found myself re reading passages just to appreciate the sentiments fully.

Fanny Fabricant was relieved to have her husband come home from war only to lose him in a sudden moment. Now she has to walk the line between being a "proper housewife and woman" and creating a living salary for herself and her young daughter. Once she finds work behind the scenes at a radio station, she realizes there is more to life than trying to snare a husband "outside the engineering school" and the world around her is certainly spiraling into a darkness she and her co-workers aren't fully ready to accept.

Ellen Feldman's take on 1950's New York City is filled with insight and curiosity. This novel is perfect for fans of historical fiction and for anyone who is questioning their current situation; wondering just how much courage it takes to make a change in their own lives. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this novel.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this story by Ellen Feldman. It was a little difficult to get in to, but once I got further in and more invested in the story, I enjoyed it. I did enjoy watching Fanny grow throughout the story as she had to discover herself as a widow and find her new place in life.

I have mixed feelings about Ellen Feldman's The Trouble with You. At first, I had a hard time getting into the story. The book was a bit slow to start, especially as Fanny lost her husband soon after he returned home from the war. I wish more about their relationship had been shown/discussed before he died, as I had a hard time deciding whether they really were passionately in love or if they just had a wartime romance and got married, so... it was hard for me to believe the rest of the storyline about Fanny's grief and loss journey, as well as her relationship with work, her daughter, and the subsequent romantic relationships. I had a hard time really grasping whether the initial love story was believable. Finally, Fanny was cast as an independent woman, ahead of her time. This is so relevant to conversations about women, our roles, and life today... almost too convenient. I wondered if Fanny's life and choices could be considered historically significant. It's hard to tell.

Overall, there were enjoyable elements to the story - particularly, the description of life after World War II, the plot lines about the House Un-American Activities Committee/McCarthyism, and the influence Fanny's Aunt Rose had on her. While I am glad I read this book, especially because it made me think, I came away from it with more questions than answers so it's hard to know how strongly to recommend it to others.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

"In an exuberant post WWII New York City, a young woman is forced to reinvent her life and choose between the safe and the ethical, and the men who represent each..."


WWII is my first choice in historical fiction. Strong female characters are my jam. Well, this book contains both. When Fanny Fabricant suddenly loses her doctor husband and is faced with not only grieving her husband but figuring out how to provide for her young daughter - she is at a loss. Jobs are hard to come by as men are returning from war and taking over the jobs that women did in their absence. Fanny uses her family connections to get a job as a secretary to a woman who produces radio shows. She enjoys her job and the people she meets.

There are many references to historical events of the time. The story starts out a little slow but I felt it picked up for me. The characters are interesting and the story is well woven.

The Trouble With You is about choosing. Making choices best for oneself or for those who influence decisions. Readers are swept along the bustling sidewalks of 1940’s New York City when radios were the focus for home entertainment and news. The radio series or ‘soaps’ is where Fanny finds herself working as a secretary.
Author Ellen Feldman’s narrative is filled with conflict between characters through Fanny’s personal interactions and business relationships. Feldman does an excellent job illuminating the struggle Fanny experiences in finding a personal and work life balance, connecting with modern day dilemmas. Fanny’s daily and long-term choices are influenced by her daughter, Chloe, her cousin, Mimi, and her Aunt Rose. Feldman overlaps these familial influences with world social, cultural, and political events of the 1950’s and ‘60’s. The evolving popularity of television replacing radios for entertainment and news sources and the fear of polio has a direct impact on decisions involving Chloe. The mainstream news reporting on Senator Joseph McCarthy and the undercurrent of suspicions circulating in NYC and Hollywood regarding a Blacklist of alleged Soviet spies and sympathizers by the House Un-American Activities Committee, HUAC, has immediate and lifelong impact on Fanny’s decisions when/if she chooses a husband and how she declares her independence.
Feldman creates tension and relief through dialogue, activities, and decisions with the men in Fanny’s life, Max, Ezra, and Charlie. Max is the love of Fanny’s life and is an omniscient character with great influence over Fanny’s relationships. Will Fanny make her choice based on what’s best for herself or for others? In this post World War ll novel, Fanny is “raising the future” while forging a new life.

I LOVED this book. It’s set starting in 1947 and really hits home the expectations that women had after WWII ended.

In this book the main character, Fanny Fabricant (how great is that name?), is an unexpected young widow who ends up enjoying the job she has to get in order to support her daughter, Chloe, and herself. I LOVED Fanny as we go through her growth as a woman living in a world where women had a set of expectations to stay home and cater to her family.

This book also deals heavily with the writers and actors being blacklisted in the wake of the “Red Scare”. I don’t know that I’ve read much about this part of history in a fiction book. I found this subplot to be really interesting and adds a lot to Fanny’s persona.

This also makes me want to go back and listen to some classic radio soaps.

I’m giving this a highly recommend to historical fiction fans and fans of women empowerment reads.

After World War II, Fanny Fabricant is happy to have her happy life back - her husband Max returned from war and working as a physician, her young daughter Chloe, and their new home. But things change suddenly and Fanny needs to make a new plan. She begins working as a secretary at a radio serial. As she tries to expand her career, she also encounters the blacklist. Her friendships and the blacklist change her life in ways she never expected.

I wanted to read The Trouble With You because I love historical fiction. I read a lot of novels set during World War II, and was intrigued that this novel was set in the post-WWII period. I knew very little about the blacklist, so that was also interesting.

This is my favorite read of the year! It started slowly for me, but then I became absorbed in the story of Fanny (and her daughter Chloe as well) and I stayed up late to read just another chapter more. The setting of NYC was lovely, and the author did a fine job of period details that made the time period come alive. I found the radio serial and blacklist storyline particularly interesting. I knew a little about the blacklist as it effected movie actors/writers, but had never thought about it effecting the radio medium too. I liked the details about radio production, like actors who voiced several characters, and ways that sound effects were achieved.

Fanny's story is one of personal goals and achievement in a time when women were not expected to work (especially if they were married or aspired to marriage). There is also an interesting romantic triangle that develops ... and I especially liked the unexpected man in that triangle.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough for fans of historical fiction. It is a lovely read, beautifully written, with details that evoke nostalgia for another time and place, while at the same time spotlighting social difficulties during that same time and place. Five enthusiastic stars from me!