I don’t think this book was quite what I was expecting.
It is accurate for its time period. I liked Fanny and Charlie. They seem to buck the system. I did think the story was a bit wordy at times and drawn out.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

THE TROUBLE WITH YOU by Ellen Feldman is an intriguing historical novel set in New York City just after World War II has ended. The men who have survived the war have come home and the women who held everything together in their absence are expected to go back to being housewives and mothers. Main character, Fanny Fabricant, is forced to reinvent her life when a sudden tragedy takes the life of her newly-returned husband, Max. She knows she has no choice but to work to support her daughter, Chloe. Fanny gets a job as a typist for a producer of radio serials and find she actually enjoys working despite being gossiped about by other women. She makes friends with the writer of the serials and an actress, but soon the wave of anti-Communist hysteria perpetrated by McCarthy and the HUAC is ruining lives and careers all around her due to blacklisting. It isn’t long before Fanny has to choose between playing it safe or doing the right thing, which comes with significant risks to her herself and her family. I enjoyed learning more about this time period. Fanny, her Aunt Rose, Ava and Charlie are great characters that came to life in this engaging story. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Pub Date February 20, 2024.

NYC after WWII. For many, life is finding a new normal. Fanny is a lucky one, her husband returns and life is wonderful! Until it isn’t. She has to face her new life and make a living for herself and her young daughter.

I was anxious to read more about the McCarthy and HUAC era, since I’ve never really read anything on it. This book does touch on the effects and the unfairness of it, but I was hoping for more. I found the book mostly about the coming of age of women in this time frame and the choices they were faced with. Think of it as the early awakening of the women's lib movement. I never really connected with Fannie, but I loved how she didn’t conform to others ideas and needed to search for what was right for her. I did enjoy some of the secondary characters much more. The story was slower moving for me, I found it easy to put down. The ending was predictable. While this book wasn’t what I hoped for, those readers that enjoy a romance with historical fiction thrown in, will definitely enjoy this read. This is a new author to me and I would definitely give her another try.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

The premise of this book (for a historical fiction lover) felt pretty unique! I haven’t often read a book set after the war that shows the impact of the political climate
In a woman. The exploration of HUAC and McCarthy politics was intriguing as were the motivations of the individual characters and what drove their behaviors.

Regardless of the time difference between the main character and contemporary life I found it easy, as a single mother, to identify with Fanny and her work ethic and her motivation to give her child a full and safe life.

I did think the book was a little slow however that seems to be a standard of historical fiction so I don’t let it deter my enjoyment.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this arc.

I seem to have recently acquired a liking for 1950s era books in which women find their ovaries and stand up to discrimination. Yay, it is. It is also a take-down of the HUAC that upended the lives of people across the US and not just in the entertainment industry. Fanny never sets out to “stick it to the Man” yet ends up doing just that.

The first part of the novel swept me along. I inhaled 130 pages and kept reading until I could barely hold my head up. The book was practically reading itself and I was along for the ride. Fanny’s life wasn’t all charming as she had to raise Chloe without a husband during the war, and all too soon she was a widow in a world that pities widows and doesn’t expect women to work. Somehow the work she eventually finds is something she comes to enjoy. Cousin Mimi wants another man to take care of her and chides Fanny for not latching onto a way back into being a woman who lunches but Fanny enjoys using her mind and, before long, her talent and what she learned in Barnard.

But the vague whispers of people being called before committees to account for their real or supposed communist beliefs becomes real as Fanny sees actors written out of soaps and writers kicked out of jobs. When Charlie comes to her with a proposal, Fanny has to decide what is more important – helping someone who has selflessly helped others or staying on her high horse of morals. That decision in turn makes her rethink what kind of relationship she’ll choose. She loved and lost once then crawled out of the heartbreak to make a life for herself and her daughter. Fanny knows it isn’t just herself who will be affected by the life choice she makes but Chloe, too.

I had a pretty good idea which way Fanny would go. I like that both men were actually good people but just with different views of life and that did make me a little annoyed at how wishy-washy Fanny got as she tried to choose. I could see her being torn for a while but after that, go or get off the pot Fanny. The historical details and setting are well done. The relationship between Fanny and Chloe is realistic but sweet, too. Aunt Rose is a pistol. It didn’t quite live up to what I hoped for but it came pretty darn close.

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman is a phenomenal historical fiction novel that weaved a story that kept me fascinated from beginning to end.
The story and the characters drew me in to this moving emotional book. I was drawn in to their lives.
Full of engaging characters, and wonderful descriptions this is a compelling story of resilience, determination, and hope.
The descriptions are so real that I felt transported to post WWII in New York City.
It’s gripping from page one. It will make you think and feel what these characters are feeling.
This story will stay with me for a long time. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction book set mainly in 1950s New York City that sees a widowed single mother trying to make a career as a writer in the radio play industry. Great characters, a moving story and highly relatable focus on trying to balance motherhood, marriage/dating and a career as well as the terrible censorship of McCarthy era America.

Great on audio too and definitely recommended for historical fiction fans looking for a great non-WWII era read. Fans of the movies, Mona Lisa Smile and Good night and good luck are sure to enjoy this novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Trouble With You by Ellen Feldman is a story that takes place in New York City right after World War II. The main character, Fanny Fabricant, was an inspiration to read about. In the beginning she’s married to a doctor, Max, who soon after coming home from the war, dies from a brain aneurysm. Being a young widow with a small child, Fanny has to find work to support her and her daughter. After giving it a try selling cosmetics behind a store counter, she takes on the position as secretary to a woman named Alice who works in the daytime serial business. What’s now known as Daytime Soap Operas. She befriends a couple of people, Ava, an actress and Charlie, a screen writer, who both end up being blacklisted. From there she takes on the role of writing scripts under her name when it’s really Charlie that’s doing all the writing. After a while that all changes. Throughout the story she becomes engaged to Ezra, another doctor but soon realizes it’s really Charlie Berlin that she has romantic feelings for. It’s a slow yet romantic love story that captured my full attention. I couldn’t wait to see where the storyline was going to go and if they’d ever get together and have their happily ever after. I thought this was a great read, one I really enjoyed and I’d like to thank Austin Adams, Marketing Assistant at St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the invite to read and NetGalley for the arc. At first I wasn’t sure if this was a book I would enjoy but I’m so glad I took a chance and read it. I loved all the characters and the storyline and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes reading historical fiction with romance thrown in. I’m going to give this book a 4.5 star rating!

Once I hit the half way mark I could not put this book down. The first half was very slow. The main character was very flat and boring. However, the story changed drastically and was fascinating. Following a post WWII widow who had to return to the work world. She finds herself having to make choices between what is right and what is not. All while making a life for herself and daughter.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Set in New York City in the aftermath of World War II, when the men were coming home, the women were exhaling in relief and everyone was having babies, this is the story of Fanny Fabricant. After her circumstances change and her life is turned upside down, she gets a job in radio serials (don't call them soaps!) and comes face-to-face with McCarthyism and the blacklist which is wrecking lives.

This book reminded me of some of those old movies produced in the 40s and 50s starring Cary Grant and the like. No bad language, cute wisecracks, and definitely any sex was behind closed doors and probably in twin beds! I enjoyed the book and the characters but it was a little predictable (probably from watching all those old movies). Simpler times but so much prejudice and so frightening for some due to HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) and the "Red Scare". I enjoyed the characters as well as the story itself. I even got a little teary-eyed at the end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing an advance copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: February 20, 2024

Ellen Feldman, the Author of “The Trouble With You” has written an intriguing and captivating Historical Fiction Novel. The genres for this well written novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Adult Fiction. The setting for this story is New York . The timeline for this story is set after World War Two, when men were returning from the War. Many women had to leave jobs that they had for the returning men. This was also the era of McCarthyism, and HUAC, House of Un-American Activities Committee. During this “Red Scare Period” the entertainment and many other areas were affected. People were “Blacklisted. This was also the period when parents were concerned about “Polio”, and children’s activities were restricted. The expectation was that men were the bread winners, and women should stay at home and take care of the children. Of course, this was not possible for many women.

Ellen Feldman vividly describes the historical significance, the setting, the landscape, and the dark and colorful characters. Fanny Fabricant and her young daughter return to New York City, after the death of her Physician husband. The protagonist, Fanny went to an esteemed college, and now faces the problems of going into the workplace, in what should be an appropriate job, with society’s expectations of her lifestyle at this time. Influenced by her free-spirited Aunt Rose, Fanny forms friendships and alliances. She works as a secretary in the entertaining industry during the time of “Radio Serials”.

Fanny loves her daughter and does want what is best for her, but is conflicted by doing what is expected, or what she feels is the right thing to do. I appreciate how the author discusses the conflicts and problems of the times. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and memorable book .

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, yet I have grown a bit weary of the WWII era which has been popular for so long. So when I saw that The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman was set in post WWII New York City, I was interested and excited to read about a character affected by the blacklist during the Red Scare. This book was everything I hoped for, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

With strong female characters, including Fanny who does not always recognize her own strength, Ellen Feldman has created a novel that illustrates the importance of our relationships, both family and romantic. It also shows the stark difference between expectations for men and women during the 1940's and 50's. I found it interesting, though not really surprising, the different reactions of people to a widowed woman with a child and a career. My favorite character was Fanny's aunt Rose, she was wise and interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman. The opinions in this review are my own.

The Trouble with You is a post WWII historical novel focusing on the McCarthy era of blacklisting screenwriters of radio shows, television shows and actors and actresses and women's evolving roles in this era, Ellen Feldman has written a blend of historical fiction and romance.
The book is compelling and the characters are likeable and well-written. Fanny Fabricant is a relatable main character whose torn between her heart, her ambition and the "time" that she is living in.
I enjoyed reading this book and congratulate the author, Ellen Feldman for tackling a subject that little has been written about in the women's fiction category.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin for the ARC!

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman is a stunning Historical Fiction novel set in post-WWII New York City. Families are reunited and started. But some aren't so lucky. Fanny's beloved husband Max survived the war only to die shortly after. His death tore Fanny into a million pieces but she had to learn to be present for their little girl, Chloe. Her resourcefulness, intelligence and stoic attitude led her to securing a job as a secretary in a radio serial company but she soon realized she was cut out for more. Accustomed to following rules, she learns to let go of things which hold her back. Chloe grieves her dad intensely and observes her mom's coping mechanisms with reticence.

Fanny eventually allows others to help her, including family and friends. I like the progression of her coming into her own as she re-discovers her self. Her courage and mettle are admirable and her raw sorrow really crushed me in the best way. Though characters don't always make the best choices, they are realistic in their flaws. Slow burns and character-driven stories like this are my wheelhouse, perfect to get lost in. Not for a second did the era feel unfeasible.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing and emotive novel.

This is an enlightening and thoughtful novel set in post WWII New York that explores not only attitudes toward women (especially widows) during the period but also the impact of the HUAC. Fanny's husband survived the war but dies tragically not long after they've settled into the house of their dreams with their little daughter Chloe. Luckily, she's got an intrepid aunt Rose who gets her an interview with the woman who writes three successful radio serials, setting Fanny down a path she never expected. Charlie, a writer, has a reckless attitude toward the HUAC- but it's Charlie who appreciates and engages Fanny. Fanny makes some tough choices (and you might not agree with all of them) but she's a realistic character. There are a few surprises here (both good and bad) so no spoilers from me. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling about a period and issues that desire attention.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Trouble with You is extremely well written, Ellen Feldman painted Fanny' pre, during, and post-war lives very vividly.

For myself, I found the book a bit slow. I often went back to other books I was reading between the chapters.

Not to say the book wasn't wonderful, it was. Just not for me

I was able to relate in many ways to this story. This was the story of my parents in many ways. My father a medic returned from WW2 and married my Mother. They built a life together but she never reached her full potential as she remained home as a Mother. How women were viewed was quite apparent in the book
Good for Fanny for finding her way. However, how lucky she was to have such supportive family and friends. Not everyone has such resources.
It was very easy to read this book
Quite enjoyable

THE TROUBLE WITH YOU
Ellen Feldman

This is the third Ellen Feldman historical fiction novel I have read. It will be released tomorrow, February 20, 2024. Have you heard of it? Will you be picking it up?

In THE TROUBLE WITH YOU, we are following Fannie (Florence). She met and married her husband Max with a second world war on the horizon. Her job when he shipped off was to give him something to fight for and someone to return to.

While he is gone, she does her best to be what she is supposed to be. Do what she is supposed to do. Amidst the struggle, she takes a job. Over time, it starts to feel like a career and something she sees value in.

One day after the war he returns, and she finds herself fighting a war between who she wants to be and who she needs to be. Will she take the path others have laid out for her or will she make her own?


THE TROUBLE WITH YOU is a long story, spanning an entire life. It felt like a huge chunk of time because it was. For the story to span such a long time there wasn’t much to it. The plot points are there: A country rebuilding itself, a woman defying gender role stereotypes, and how those two concepts run parallel. Something in the building of the world and the characters felt hollow.

I’ve read Feldman before, and she usually keeps it interesting. This one felt a little like doing homework. By the end of the audiobook, I became bored, and impatient, and regretted picking it up. It could have been the characters; it could have been how the storyline played out, but I was overall disconnected from both.

Next time will be better.

THE TROUBLE WITH YOU will be released tomorrow, February 20, 2024.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, RB Media, and Recorded Books for the advanced copies!

THE TROUBLE WITH YOU…⭐⭐⭐

The Trouble With You was an enjoyable read about Fanny, a young, suddenly widowed American mother working in radio serials during the McCarthy years of blacklisting and persecution of suspected communists,. Fanny is faced with a choice between a life of risk or safety, as represented by her relationship with two very different men - Charlie, an unconventional playwright or Ezra, a doctor living by the social norms of the times.

It was very interesting to read about the McCarthy blacklisting of writers and actors, the fear it raised and the impact it had on lives, as well as the strict societal norms of the time about the role of women, including whether married women should work outside the home. Fanny’s conflicts between safety or independence, between self-acceptance or following the crowd made her a very likeable, believable character. The secondary characters, particularly her aunt and daughter, enriched the story.

I would note that this is more of a character-driven story and I found that the middle moved a bit slowly. I also found the changes in points of view a few times between the mother and daughter within the same chapter a bit jarring. However, these did not take away from my overall enjoyment of this story and I recommend this as a very solid historical fiction read.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

In THE TROUBLE WITH YOU, Ellen Feldman tells the story of Fanny, a young woman faced with the terrible dilemmas suffered by women of intelligence in the 1950s, to be that prototypical ideal woman as wife and mother or to think for themselves, work outside the home, and create a rich and fascinating life for themselves. From the moment we meet her as six year old flower girl until she is raising a younger daughter of her own, Fanny is lively, entertaining company for a reader living the life and times she never knew. The book was so vivid, so sensual in details, so well-plotted and told that I felt like I was there, facing the indignities, the pleasures, the horrors of the McCarthy era and the magic of radio and people who believe in you when you have no idea what you're going to do next. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.