Unlikable characters but I loved the dual timelines and sometimes unlikable characters are the best!

Protests decades apart but still somehow connected reminds me of exactly what were seeing today.

I liked the premise of this one, but it just didn't deliver for me. It was a bit too slow and meandering before it got to the heart of Minnow's story, where she falls in love with a young activist in Paris. And by that time, I had lost interest.

This was a slow one for me. I did enjoy it. But like some other books with dual POV, it suffered from me caring about one and not the other. I found myself having a better time in the 1968 chapters than the 2018. Although neither character was exceptionally likeable.
Probably not one I will be picking up physically, but one I almost want to because get a look at that book cover. It's gorgeous!

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC. I have to say, this is one of the few books in recent memory that I DNF'd. I really wanted to like this book - the premise was super interesting, but I just couldn't get into the narration. There was just too much prose with too little action. I probably read 50% before I finally caved and put it down.

I received an ARC of There's Going to Be Trouble by Jen Silverman through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some intriguing elements, it didn't fully meet my expectations. The novel follows two intertwined timelines. In 2018, Minerva "Minnow" Hunter, a teacher in a small town, becomes the face of a scandal after helping a student. Facing death threats, she flees to Paris, where she falls into a passionate relationship with Charles, a young activist. As she gets involved in his protests, she unknowingly echoes a dangerous past from her family history. In 1968, Keen, a Harvard PhD student avoiding the Vietnam draft, falls in love with Olya, a fiery community organizer. His involvement in her protests leads to unforeseen and perilous consequences. The stories of Minnow and Keen explore themes of revolution, legacy, and the impact of personal and political decisions. There's Going to Be Trouble offers a compelling premise with its dual timelines and exploration of political activism across generations. The characters are well-developed, particularly Minnow and Keen, whose journeys are both poignant and thought-provoking. However, some plot twists felt predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. The transitions between the two timelines were sometimes jarring, which affected the overall flow of the narrative. Despite these shortcomings, the book's strong character development and the vivid depiction of historical and contemporary protests kept me engaged. Silverman's writing is evocative, capturing the tension and passion of the characters' struggles. Fans of historical fiction and stories about political activism might find this book an interesting read, even if it doesn't fully deliver on all fronts. I would consider reading more from Jen Silverman in the future. #netgalley #there'sgoingtobetrouble

Jen Silverman's "There's Going to Be Trouble" is a thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of radicalism, love, and the unintended consequences of political action. The story unfolds through two parallel narratives, one set in 1968 and the other in the present day, connected by a shared theme of youthful idealism and its often tragic aftermath.

Silverman's writing is both lyrical and sharp, capturing the intensity of youthful rebellion and the disillusionment that can follow. The characters are flawed and complex, making their choices and their mistakes all the more relatable. However, the novel's pacing can be uneven, with some sections feeling rushed while others linger unnecessarily.

While the novel's exploration of political activism and its personal costs is insightful, it sometimes veers into melodrama. The romantic subplot, though well-intentioned, can feel forced and predictable. Despite these minor flaws, "There's Going to Be Trouble" is a compelling read that raises important questions about the nature of change and the sacrifices we make in the pursuit of our ideals.

Underwhelming. I liked where the author was going but seemed like she couldn't land the plane. Did not finish the final third

While this was a compelling dual timeline historical fiction book set in the present and during the late 60s at the height of the student protests against the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights' movement, I just didn't find myself getting drawn into it like I had hoped I would. A bit more literary than I prefer but still a good read if you want to learn more about that period in history. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Rabdom House for the ARC! This was an interesting read but ultimately fell short for my interests. Maybe too political, maybe the duel timeline didn’t feel like it was serving the purpose to me. I think many readers will enjoy this!

i often think that in books with multiple perspectives, one is stronger than the other, and this was no exception — except it feels that the two traded places at the halfway point.

how surprising and addictive this book was!

Minnow, an American expatriate strikes up a relationship with a radical French activist involved in the gilets jaunes movement. for those unfamiliar, the movement that emerged in 2018 in France fought globally for improved living standards for the working and middle classes, fiscal and social justice, via, in particular, the resignation of the president of the republic, Emmanuel Macron. still living in france when this movement emerged it really hit close to home! I remember how bubbling the atmosphere was at the time. « there’s going to be trouble » embodies militant passion, revolt and fervor, while at the same time delivering an unsuspected love story between two characters with heavy, well-kept secrets. i was held in suspense from beginning to end. i chose to publish this review as a way of bouncing off current events in france, with the results of the european elections, the dissolution of the national assembly and new legislative elections, and the far-right party in france on the brink of coming to power through the front door💀. my review is rambling, but recent political events in france and the mobilization of the population, in reaction, of the french in france and elsewhere against the far-right is very real and brought this book back into my memory, and i absolutely had to talk about it.

Unique premise compared to what I normally gravitate to when I'm picking my next book to read. I thought the dual timeline was well done and balanced in a way where I didn't prefer one over the other. Thank you for the early copy!

Riveting, unique storyline. Often I was left wondering and wanting to know what happened to one character as if switched to another, but that just gave the story even more edge. I will say that having read it in ebook, it was much easier to translate the French as it wasn’t always clear through context clues what was being said during the brief French dialogue

There's Going to be Trouble was an absorbing read. I loved Jen Silverman's writing and would read more from her. I appreciated the risky political storyline as well as the romance.

"I am beginning to ask myself: What world do you want to live in? How must the people in that world be treated? What must you do to ensure that this is the version that comes to pass? We keep doing the same things again and again-- and your country, too, what I see in the news, its the same thing again and again. We go in circles, a hundred years pass and the same people are starving, the same people die. What if it could change?"

When i received the ARC Galley of There's Going to Be Trouble by Jen Silverman I was not expecting how starkly relevant it would be to what is going on in America/Canada right now. At the time I was reading this the University encampments were at their most active. Attacks from the police and Zionists at the worst. Although Silvermans work takes place primarily in Paris, France (dual timelines) the similarities to the protests going on at Ivy League Campuses in America- and across the world is almost eerie. Its interesting - as i find myself consuming work like this I wonder if they could have predicted this. They being- Jen. I found myself wondering the same thing the night I wanted the movie Civil War. I highlighted so many portions of this work- which I always find to indicative of the work being a living breathing thing. I really enjoyed the dynamic of Minnow being Activist minded and Keen being very logical and Scientific minded. It was personally relatable for me. The way their relationship played out was interesting and realistic. I had an inkling of what was going on with the two timelines however really enjoyed the mystery of it. As someone who recently connected with a group of Activists I loved seeing the friendship and family Minnow had crafted for herself.

The way depression was represented in this work was flawless. Thank you for that. The sex when it was represented was done in a way that was erotic and beautifully written.

I would read future works by this author.

This novel was a slow burn for me, taking considerable time to engage with and even longer to finish, leaving my feelings about it somewhat ambivalent. The writing is top-notch, and I appreciated the incisive social commentary on politics, protests, and activism.

Both timelines in this dual narrative were compelling and interconnected seamlessly, which is rare. However, the exploration of personal relationships, crucial to the book's themes, fell flat, with the romantic connections feeling particularly unconvincing.

The abrupt ending left much to be desired. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

i really really enjoyed this one. i found both the past and current storylines very engaging and i liked the political commentary , especially in the portions about the vietnam war. i look forward to reading whatever jen silverman writes next!

Increasingly intricate and secretive, this novel kept me intrigued and curious for almost it’s entirety, the dual timelines and convoluted chain of rebellion and individualization quite unique and fascinating.

I was excited about this story, thinking it'd be a book I loved. It took me a long time to get into and then a while to finish, I'm a bit conflicted about my experience with the book. The writing was solid, but overall I felt underwhelmed and didn't feel the storylines were delivering in the ways I expected. I will give the caveat that I'm a mood reader, and I feel like I might've forced this at the wrong time. I think some people will really enjoy this and some people will feel meh about it.

Protests serve as the framework for the dual storylines in this novel: the Vietnam War in the US and the more current Yellow Vests demonstrations in France. Needed change underpinned both movements, but a dark side is explored in this novel when frustration becomes anger and violence seems the logical next step. The anonymity crowds and chaos give cover to those who destroy storefronts and vehicles of innocent women and men. For others, it’s about a need to belong as is shown with Keen. In Minnow’s case, it seems she suffers from a predisposition to act without assessing the cost to others or the basic question of whether or not it is her fight. As it is with most of those who tangle in this book, their moral compass will be exposed when they are pressed to make a decision to face the consequences of their decisions or to pass the buck.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this eARC.