Pristine mid-century Americana vibes! 1950s housewife Kathleen stays home from church one day, saying she feels unwell. When her husband, Virgil, returns home, she is in their apartment complex’s pool and refuses to get out. The story takes place over the course of a single day, but as we unravel what led Kathleen to the pool, we’re treated to a rich backstory that reveals the secrets Kathleen and Virgil are each hiding.

I absolutely loved this book and the way it explored the yearning beneath the surface of a middle class, mid-century marriage. Both main characters are flawed and complex. The author’s attention to detail made me feel like I had travelled back in a time machine. Overall, this whole story was achingly beautiful, and I loved spending time in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.. loved everything about this-- just wish it were longer! EXCELLENT writing!

For fans of Claire Keegan, for sure! I enjoyed the experience of reading this, and found it easy to immerse myself in the world. The repetition was surprising for such a short book, but I didn't mind it and I liked the style. The only thing I didn't like was the use of the phrase "smooching her clavicle" which I don't believe should ever have been written, lol. I guess it's mainly that the word smooching, which sounds like such a joke word, seems to have been used with seriousness, but it's also that it's extra weird paired with something so formal - clavicle. Perhaps that was the point, but I'm not sure I've ever been taken out of a scene so quickly!!

Smooching aside, an enjoyable read and I would definitely seek out Jessica Anthony again.

3.5 rounded down.

this book is a story of a marriage and how it unfolds and folds into itself and comes apart and together and then just is.
i enjoyed the different perspective between husband and wife, and the kind of underlying depressing tone of marriage. the length was pretty perfect for the story, but ultimately i felt like this book was going to put me in a reading slump

I requested this novella based on an early review I read and I am so glad I did. Jessica Anthony crafted an intense, detailed portrait of a marriage in the late 1950s.

While the story itself happens on one unusually warm day in November, the shifting perspectives provide insight into this marriage from the before the characters met through to present day. Going into this, I didn’t think I would feel for these characters so intensely with only 144 pages, but Jessica Anthony had a way of meandering (in a great way!) from one topic to another to provide perspective and detail from many stages of this couple’s marriage.

Highly recommend enjoying this one on a warm day near some water if you’re able to, and buckle in to get to know these incredibly flawed characters who are bound to each other in marriage.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover design and description. It’s a pretty short read but I found myself reading only a little at a time before taking long breaks. It was definitely well-written and I enjoyed the seeing the story from both characters’ perspectives. Ultimately though, I didn’t find it an enjoyable read. It was just a bit depressing to see their marriage for all that it was. From the outside, they had a happy little family, but both partners were ultimately unfulfilled and discontent. And maybe this is more realistic than most marriage stories, but I didn’t love reading it. I think maybe it just wasn’t the right book for me, but I’m sure others will enjoy it.

This beautifully written novella takes place in the late 1950's and was not at all what I had envisioned it from the blurb. I am happy to say though, that I enjoyed it even more that I had anticipated. This story is about Kathleen and Virgil, a married couple with two sons. In the 144 pages of this book, the author Jessica Anthony manages to give you so much backstory and information about the couple, their family, their past, their present. It doesn't feel at all like info dumping and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride! Their marriage definitely seemed to me to be one of convenience, and they both were realizing it throughout this story. I think it shows how easy marriage can become a sacrifice of one's self and sometimes in the blink of an eye, nine years go by and you never intended to lose yourself completely. This book would be great for a book club I'd personally love to hear what other's picked up that I missed!

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

This was really interesting read. A story about a marriage, honesty and a reflection on choices… It kind of reminded me of reading The Awakening when I was in high school.

~ ARC provided through NetGalley ~

"The Most" is such a perfectly crafted novella. I picked it up based on the cover and an early review, but I was completely draw in by the Stepford Wives vibes. While at times this reads like a very modern novel, I loved the ways it dissected womanhood and the nuclear family during the 1950s. It felt anchored in the time period, while also undoing some of the tried and true stereotypes one would expect. The two central characters, Virgil and Kathy, are messy and complex. Jessica Anthony would make any contemporary writer of 500+ word family drama blush with how succinct and direct she is. Everything feels expertly placed and situated as the story progresses, and the result is super satisfying. I want this so badly to be turned into a weird, creeping art haus film (think "Safe" (1995) or "The Swimmer" (1968)).

Also, I am shook to my core that this book has under 150 reviews. The BookTok girlies who keep the unwell women novels in business are going to gobble this up.

Jessica Anthony harnessed two lives, thoughts, actions, and desires in 150 pages. The Most is a powerful novel with Kathleen and Virgil at the center, a middle-class couple living in Delaware. Neither is happy or satisfied, and each POV section explains why. The novel defies the assumed bored housewife theory. Anthony gives so much more, explaining two lives in an afternoon. A more potent punch in the gut isn't possible.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book. The book will be published in July.

"The Most" by Jessica Anthony is a fast, highly addictive read and a master class in character development and deconstruction. It's a book that I immediately wanted to reread upon reaching the final page (144 in all) and haven't stopped thinking about since finishing it last night. Kathleen and Virgil Beckett's marriage is the central focus of the book (with depth and detail added via a small cast of outside characters, descriptions of world events, and shifting geographical locations). The novella seems deceptively simple at the beginning, told from Virgil's point-of-view, as he begins to lay out the setting and circumstances in which the story starts.. It is a surprisingly warm, almost summer-like, day in November of 1957. The day holds the promise of great things -- a last hurrah before winter descends. The author, through well-crafted writing and word choice, effectively transported me back to the mid 40's and 50's.. I had to check that the book wasn't a reprint from an earlier time.

The book's POV then alternates, by chapter, between Virgil and Kathleen--each providing additional clues, perspectives, and a handful of (very unexpected!!) secrets, pulling the reader along in the process. Honestly, I can't say enough about this book. It takes place over a decade, give or take, and packs a psychological wallop -- above all confirming that we can never truly know another person (including, at times, ourselves). Whether the marriage (the couple) is unraveling or coming together is for you to discover.

In the meantime, I cannot wait to dive into everything Jessica Anthony has written and I'm so grateful to #NetGalley and to #LittleBrownandCo for the chance to enjoy, and review, this book!

'The Most' by Jessica Anthony is a shorter novella about a married couple reconciling their feelings about life and marriage, and then also coming to terms with their expectations within it. I enjoyed the writing itself in this book, I really appreciated the visual aspect of it and how easy it was to get sucked in. I did think that this book felt more like a glimpse of an idea or concept rather then a whole story. There really wasn't any resolution, and that was a little tricky for me to reconcile. I was a little confused with the MC's intentions, and what their motivations were. I didn't exactly know who to root for, and as a result I think the ending fell flat. There were so many loose threads! It killed me! But the book itself was well written, even if it wasn't fully developed. Maybe I'm just not that evolved as a reader.

Thanks to Netgalley and to Little, Brown and Company for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
This novella started off so strong for me, I was sure it would be a 5 star. As I kept reading, I started to lose interest in the characters. The jumping in timelines confused me at times, and I found it hard to get into. However, I did love the premise! I also love a story where every question isn’t answered, and The Most did a wonderful job of leaving interpretation up to the reader of many parts.

I absolutely adored this bite sized, mid-century novella. Katheen's story is a timeless tale of the roles we take as women in motherhood and being a wife.
I thought the style of writing was captivating and I had a hard time putting it down.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Picture this: A fine November day of 60 degree weather. Two phone calls. A pool freshly cleaned. A woman who refuses to get out of it.

It’s one pivotal day in Virgil and Kathleen Beckett’s relationship. They recently uprooted their lives to move into a small apartment complex in Delaware. Virgil is barely left with a job, and Kathleen is stuck in her “what if” musings of her dead tennis career. Each chapter volleys back and forth between the perspectives of Virgil and Kathleen, sharing a bit of their history and their infidelities.

As you read the novel, you’re waiting for something, but you’re unsure what. It’s a bit unsettling. The pace gets faster and faster and more secrets come to light as the couple unknowingly starts playing “the Most”, getting them closer and closer to the bridge.

I really enjoyed the little breadcrumbs you were given in every chapter that helped drive the story along. Each character had their flaws, but this novel was not about character development– oh no, this novel was about coming closer and closer to ruin. As their stories weave in and out of the present day, you begin to start asking questions that you’re unsure you really want answered in the end.

Anthony did a great job not being overbearing with details, especially because this is just a novella. It’s a quick read, compelling read set about 70 years ago that can still be resonated with today. The pacing is solid throughout, swiftly bringing the reader to the bridge with the characters.

The only thing that took me out of the story was that I felt it was a little repetitive towards the beginning and middle. However, I’ll say that I didn’t feel this way in the second half of the book, which felt like the pacing was much faster.

This is a captivating little novel that I’d say is perfect for a quick poolside read (though maybe not on a November day in Delaware).

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for allowing me to read this book ahead of time in exchange for an honest review.

The Most is a short story, about 144 pages. The nice thing about short stories is that there aren't any parts that "get slow" or boring. I loved how this story flowed and how information was provided (and I thought the ending was perfect).

Kathy is married with two young boys and a handsome husband. She's not feeling well when the family gets ready to go to church. When they return, she is lounging in the apartment pool ... and decides to spend the day there.

In regards to rating, I think there are a couple of (minor) editing errors in reading the advance read copy; I'm providing that feedback to the publisher directly and i'm assuming that will be corrected by the July 2024 release date. Rounding up to 5 stars. "List price" for the 144 page short story seems to be $25; maybe a little high? ** updated ** due to the editing error, I've decided to change rating from 4 star to 3 star.

This was my first read by author Jessica Anthony. Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to another "new to me author". Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Little, Brown and Company for approving my request to read the advance read copy of The Most in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of Kathleen and Virgil - a married couple who live in an apartment in Delaware with their two sons in the late 50’s. One day while the boys and Virgil are at church, Kathleen gets in the pool and refuses to come back out to play her role in their daily routine. No coaxing from her husband will suffice, and she floats the November day away.
We learn so much about Kathleen, Virgil, others in their lives and their pasts. We see their stories from both Kathleen and Virgil’s perspectives, and witness so much about them both.
Kathleen was a seasoned tennis player in college that could have made a career for herself, but chose to marry Virgil. Virgil was - and still is - a super handsome man that could have any woman he wanted, but married Kathleen. This marriage of theirs is truly one of convenience and we watch them both look back on their decisions with yearning. And now, they have to face the jazz music and tell the truth.
Beautifully written, delicate, and a worthy novella about how our choices shape us and craft our lives. I wouldn’t leave the pool either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of The Most via Netgalley prior to its publication!

And I’m so glad that I did.
This novella follows Kathleen and Virgil, a married couple living with their two boys in a Delaware apartment complex when one day, inexplicably, Kathleen doesn’t want to get out of the pool.
My first thought was that this would be an outrageous unhinged woman thing (like REALLY would not get out of the pool), but instead it was a domestic drama set in the 1950s, alternating perspectives from husband and wife, expertly crafting a story about the narratives we tell ourselves about the choices we make.
I loved the way that Jessica Anthony told the same stories from both Virgil’s and Kathleen’s perspectives. The way they explained some of the same people with acute precision, but from such different lenses. Each character felt entirely different.
The way Jessica Anthony explored power dynamics and the male/female roles and expectations was— chefs kiss— 👩‍🍳💋
I loved this so much!

The novella "The Most" by Jessica Anthony offers a compelling exploration of an unhappy marriage set in the 1950s. The alternating perspectives between the husband and wife provide unique insight into the couple’s relationship. The themes of betrayal and regret are woven through the story, and a tennis move adds an interesting layer of symbolism. Despite the tragic undertones, there is also sense of hopefulness in the story. Kathleen's character defies expectations, showcasing a surprising level of self-awareness and power. For a short story her character is very well developed. Overall, this novella successfully navigates complex emotions and relationships within a concise format, making it a worthwhile read even for those, like me, who typically prefer longer novels.

Would I recommend it? Yes! It is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you @littlebrown and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced e copy of this novella. Thank you to @entertheanthony for writing one of the best novella’s I have ever read.

I was so excited to read this when I was approved for an ARC because I thought it was going to be a story about an unhinged woman, but it was actually about a woman very much in control and I very much enjoyed it! I don't want to give away too many details since it's a novella but it's about a married couple going through the throes of marriage, both with their own secrets. It takes place over the course of a day and the events are told through alternating viewpoints. Highly recommend.