Hmm… I’m not sure how I feel after reading this. I appreciated how alive and energetic the writing was. While I didn’t love any of the individual characters I was interested in their lives. And in how all of the lies and intrigue would play out among this group of friends (who don’t seem to like each other all that much). Recommended to readers looking for an exciting friendship and relationship drama that explores identity, gender roles, and starting over. 3.5 stars.

Thank you very much to FSG and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Good title, but the book itself isn’t as strong, instead solipsistic in an unconfiding way. Characters are smug and uninvolving, and the central themes seem to be addressed to them, not to us. Limited, in several ways.

*Something Rotten* by Andrew Lipstein is a sharp, witty exploration of ambition, morality, and literary fame. With clever prose and unexpected twists, Lipstein masterfully blends satire and suspense, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. It's a thought-provoking novel that delights and challenges in equal measure.

An interesting book with a solid hook. I found myself both hating the characters and wanting to know what was going to happen to them page to page.

Cecilie has been carrying the family since her husband Reuben was cancelled in New York. Tired of the grind, she packs up the family and they move to Copenhagen to stay with her mom. When they arrive, they learn that Jonas, Cecilie’s first love, is dying. The close knit group of friends do not know how to help him. There is one that stands out - Mikkel. Mikkel refuses to help Jonas and seems interested in befriending Reuben.

Lipstein draws us in slowly, painting a picture of isolation for Reuben -- for his mistake in NY, for his lack of Danish knowledge and language and his lack of masculinity in an American lense as the stay at home father. As Cecilie becomes more involved with her high school friends, Reuben drifts to follow the charming Mikkel. But as Mikkel has Reuben participate in stranger and stranger activities its clear that something has to give.

A twisty tale of mostly awful people! A car crash that you simply cannot look away from. Lipstein will draw you and grip you and shake you - not letting you go until you finish this haunting tale.
#farrarstraussgiroux #somethingrotten #andrewlipstein

Something Rotten was a random pick from Netgalley, a sort of challenge for myself to read something that’s way out of my comfort zone. And well, who could resist that crying baby cover which really piqued my curiosity? It’s not something that I get to encounter every day what with the SFF books that I usually prefer to read.

I’m glad that I picked Something Rotten because it gave my brain a new stimulation that’s not focused on who’s gonna usurp someone’s kingdom or will the boy/girl of destiny fulfil the prophecy. Something Rotten is not your typical contemporary-couple story wherein the wife and the husband are trying to make their relationship workout. It’s more of a story of introspection, authenticity, getting back up and crawling towards the sliver of light at the end of a tunnel.

Most of the characters were hateful and despicable and yet, I finished the book in just one sitting. There’s just something perversely brilliant about following the lives of characters who are not only unrepentant and unaware that they’re repugnant beyond measure. We have Reuben, our male leading character and a popular NPR host, who had fallen from grace due to a scandalous social faux pas and thus, forced to become house husband out of pure shame. He’s prolly a good father but emotionally weak, susceptible to deceit and has the tendency to please everybody regardless if said people are good or bad influences. And then, there is his wife, Cecilie, who is still hang up with her ex-boyfriend, Jonas. For Pete’s sake, she just gave birth to her and Reuben’s child but she just can’t stop herself from acting like a wife and at the same time, mom to Jonas. And then, there are her Danish friends who spout about the importance of individual freedom but can’t be bothered to show some love and sympathy for their dying friend. If they are this detached about each other, why are they even making the effort to hang out together and just get into passive-aggressive fights? And don’t get me start talking about Mikkel who’s probably the most interesting character in this book but I don’t know if it’s even morally right to be charmed by him because….uggggh, why did he do it?

Reading Something Rotten is like watching a TV series about snakes and sharks trying to outmanoeuvre each other. It’s disturbing but in that gratifying way. There’s fulfilment seeing all of them, their lives thrown into chaos as they hop from one bad choice to another. And amidst all the chaos, I was humbled by the surprising twists in the story and concepts of authenticity, masculinity, and the socio-political issues that are directly affecting the lives of our characters. It’s this profoundness that hooked me to the story all the way to the end. Because at the end of the day, our lives are not just made by our choices but are also influenced by things that are happening around us and by the people we interact with. This is the central lesson this book is trying to convey.

All in all, I cannot say that this book is for everyone but its exploration of human values and relationships surely held a certain charm that made me stick with it until the end. If you are hungry for something unconventional with a lot of hair pulling on the side and an eye-opening read, give this book a try.

Andrew Lipstein is becoming one of today's most reliably engaging authors. LAST RESORT is a modern classic, in my opinion, and THE VEGAN is an entertaining read tackling heady topics. SOMETHING ROTTEN, similarly, doesn't disappoint. It tells the story of Reuben, on the heels of a over-zealous/not totally justified cancellation involving an indiscretion over Zoom (featuring his wife Cecilie), off to a trip to Denmark with Cecilie, where they encounter her old group of friends who are mourning the recent health diagnosis of their friend Jonas. Also part of this friend group is Mikkel, who quickly takes Reuben under his wing. And off we go, the novel tackling questions of masculinity, ethics, home-coming/-making. Though neither of Lipstein's latest efforts, I think, match the muscularity of LAST RESORT, there's still something strangely reliable to a well-crafted novel like this one. My attention never wavered, but was kept enthralled by the dramas of Reuben, Cecilie, and Mikkel. Thanks to the publisher for the e-gallley.

Something Rotten by Andrew Lipstein explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities of personal decision-making with a gripping narrative. The story is told through the perspectives of Reuben, Cecilie, and Mikkel, giving readers insight into each character's viewpoint. The novel is engaging and thought-provoking, but it’s very clear that it was written by a man—particularly in the way sexual dynamics are portrayed, even from Cecilie’s perspective. Despite this, the book is an intriguing read with themes that resonate with anyone navigating similar life challenges.