It's hard to put into words how I feel about this book after completing it. My overall emotion, throughout, was uncomfortable. Both storylines made me so uncomfortable and on edge and I'm not entirely convinced that wasn't the point. I enjoyed it, I think? However, this did not feel like a comedy to me.

This was a good, character-driven novel where I loved the premise of the mixed-politics couple, but I wasn't as invested in the subplot. I was hoping for some biting political commentary and some interesting twists, but they never really materialized. Overall, it was a fun read with many bright spots and I look forward to reading what Harris does next.

3.5 rounded to 4

This novel gave a peek into the lives of families that were all connected with each other. Kate is close to her college friend, Gabe, who is married to Ethan, Kate’s brother. Nicole and her family live have moved back to the area after relocating, and she reconnects with Kate. Ethan wants to run for office and wants Gabe’s blessing, but he has switched parties and is running as a Republican while Gabe is very left-leaning politically. Gabe struggles with some of the values and priorities of the Republican Party but wants to support his husband.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s sister Kate is a political reporter who has been officially banned from reporting about, looking into or being involved in any way with the coverage of her brother’s race. But Kate’s mind is elsewhere as she sees more and more of Nicole. Nicole is wrestling with her own demons, as she is married and can’t quite figure out what she really wants.

I enjoyed this audiobook. I listened to it quickly because I was interested in hearing what happened next. There were some really funny parts, and some sections where I wanted to cry. Some parts posed more serious ethical questions.

I enjoyed the scenes featuring the interactions with adults and the kids. I especially liked the scenes with Nicole and her eight year old son, as Nicole squirmed to be the least incriminating when he quizzed her about her night out dancing. Nicole was probably the most infuriating character as she was so selfish and didn’t care about hurting other people. Among all of the characters, there were some really awkward moments, which were fun to read with Harris’s witty take. This book isn’t life changing, but it will grab you and pull you in with the fast paced look at these families lives. It’s not total brain fluff, there are some weightier topics touched on, but all with a bit of sarcasm and sass.

Thanks NetGalley for the free arc. These are my honest opinions

3 stars!

A juicy premise, but the follow-through fell pretty flat. Admittedly I'm pretty disappointed.

Gabe is a liberal, but his husband Ethan is a conservative and announces that he is running for congress as a far-right conservative. Ethan's sister Kate is a jaded reporter who rekindles a relationship with her ex Nicole, despite the fact that Nicole has a husband and kids. Sounds like the perfect setup for a massive amount of drama, right? Evidently, that's not really the road that the author decided to take. Instead, How to Sleep at Night reads like a sober recounting of this scenario that you might hear on the radio, with the emotional intensity of a mildly interesting article. You don't really get the sense of stakes, and these are genuinely pretty high stakes dynamics. The writing and story was solid, and it's possible that others will find the dry tone interesting, but I think it detracted from what could have been really strong commentary.

Not for me but maybe for you if you like your contemporary fiction a little more direct.

Thank you to Elizabeth Harris and HarperAudio for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

This debut book was sooo good!! I was sold simply from the description of a married gay man with a young daughter deciding to run for a Republican Congress seat in New Jersey. Told from multiple perspectives, this book is both a study in gay and straight marriage and the way queer identity, sexuality and desire can complicate things made even more complex by its examination of how opposing political views can cause conflict in relationships. An entertaining, FUNNY and thought-provoking read that I couldn't put down! Highly recommended and good on audio narrated by Gabra Zackman. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I thought the premise of this novel was so intriguing -- a gay man runs for state representative as a Republican, even though his husband is a progressive Democrat. I know there are lots of people who live in "mixed" marriages (myself included) and Elizabeth Harris explores this dynamic in a realistic, thoughtful manner. How to Sleep at Night is easy to read, the narration is fantastic, and themes are pertinent. This would make for an excellent book club discussion!