This is my fist Ellen Feldman book and I enjoyed listening to her storytelling. The narrator Kathryn Markay was pleasing to the ear.

This is a post-war story that was centered around Fanny Fabricant, a young single mother due to being widowed. Her friendship her cousin Mimi was enduring. Fanny is living in a time where women are still very reliant on their husbands which is a problem because her husband has passed. Fanny reminds me somewhat of Elizabeth Zote from Lesson in Chemistry in that she does not let social norms get in her way.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction with a bit of a lighter tone than WW2 than this book is a great read for you. This will also appeal to those who love to root for the underdog.

Thank you #NetGalley and #RBMedia for the chance to preview #TheTroubleWithYou as an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

The ISBN would not link to Good Reads through Net Galley so I posted it this way: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6225040388

I really enjoyed this book. I have heard about the black lists before but didn't realize how bad it could get. It was an interesting story on how a woman lived back then. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot of the book.

I enjoyed this post WWII look at a widow navigating life. I found Fanny to be an interesting character and enjoyed the Red Scare aspect of the book. I listened to the audiobook which narrated wonderfully. I love historical fiction and was happy to see this was a different take on post war life. Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this advanced copy of the the audiobook.

This was a different take on WWII historical fiction. Post war, after the loss of her husband, Fanny must become something that is not "normal". A working, single mom. The first half of this book was a bit slow and I felt like there wasn't much to connect with the main character. The story grew to my rating in the second half. Overall, a pretty good, slightly different, women focus, historical fiction read..

This audiobook was absolutely incredible and a stark reminder of the era of McCarthyism whereby people were effectively censored, mainly those on the left, such as celebrities and media personalities, which is right were the novel takes place

Fanny seemed to have it all, a new home, a husband returned safe from WWII, a little girl, a picture postcard life, until one day, after driving home safely through a terrible winter storm, her husband goes into the cupboard to hang up his tie and passes away suddenly. She is alone, in a world prior to the womens liberation movement and one we certainly cannot return to

After the funeral, when sat in the park with Mimi, Fanny observes Jewish refugees, with the haunted looks from the concentration camps, and the subsequent quote landed in my heart like a pile of bricks on concrete;

"Grief is not a competition, the greater loss of others is no balm for your own"

Truly brilliant

The narration by Kathryn Markey was stunning throughout and suited well to Elen Feldmans compassionate and elegant writing. I absolutely adore this audiobook and it is a truly brilliant story of the strength and fortitude shown by women of the era. Essential reading

Thank you to NetGalley and RB edia for this incredible ALC. The views and opinions are my own and given voluntarily

Two great historical fiction reads in a row - if the genre keeps producing such strong storytellers I’ll have to reconsider my general avoidance of historical fiction!

Premise - a young mother is widowed after WWII and thus has to find work (shameful!). She’s surprised to find joy in working outside of the home, but then a new beau wants her to quit…

📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: historical fiction
📚 Target Age Group: adult
📚 Cliffhanger: no

✨ Will I Reread: maybe
✨ Recommended For: fans of historical fiction, women’s fiction, stories full of heart and hope and truth

💕 Characters: 4/5
💕 Writing: 5/5
💕 Plot: 4/5
💕 Pacing: 4/5
💕 Unputdownability: 4/5
💕 Enjoyment: 4/5
💕 Book Cover: 4/5

Thanks, NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media, Recorded Books, for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Kathryn Markey who does a wonderful job.

This story focuses on the Communist witch hunt or 'Red Scare' and House Un-American Activities Committee after WWII men returned home to their wives and the societal changes that happened as all adjusted to their new lives. It was a bit of a slow start and hard to get into but once it did get going, its an enjoyable read.

Fanny is a young widow with a daughter, and has a very close relationship with her Aunt Rose, an outspoken union organizer back in the day. Fanny is lost and at Rose's urging, takes a job as a secretary for a group of writers who do radio soap operas.

As the story unfolds, we watch Fanny begin to heal from her husband's death, she becomes engaged to a doctor who is a good man but one she is not entirely compatible with. There is another man that interests her, but he is a blacklisted writer who is a former member of the communist party.

Fanny needs to think about what she wants and what she stands for. How will things work out for her?

3.75 rounded to 4