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Fleishman Is in Trouble

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Fleishman Is in Trouble

By: Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
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About this listen

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020

Finally free from his nightmare of a marriage, Toby Fleishman is ready for a life of Tinder dating and weekend-only parental duties. But as he optimistically looks to a future of few responsibilities, his life turns upside down as his ex-wife Rachel suddenly disappears.

While Toby tries to find out what happened - juggling work, his kids and his new, app-assisted sexual popularity - his tidy narrative of a spurned husband is his sole consolation. But if he ever wants to really understand where Rachel went and what really happened to his marriage, he is going to have to consider that he might not have seen it all that clearly in the first place....

A blistering satirical novel about marriage, divorce and modern relationships, by one of the most exciting new voices in American fiction.

©2019 Taffy Brodesser-Akner (P)2019 Penguin Audio Literature & Fiction Satire Marriage Comedy Witty Dating Thought-Provoking Funny Fiction Divorce

Critic reviews

"Shrewdly observed, brimming with wisdom and utterly of this moment...Taffy Brodesser-Akner's debut is that rare and delicious treat: a page turner with heft." (Maria Semple)

"A marvel, full of shrewd observations, barbed wit, and deep insight...a remarkable debut novel from one of the most distinctive writers around." (Tom Perrotta)
All stars
Most relevant
Once you get past the repetitive body parts and constant sexual encounters it’s actually a great story albeit a bit long winded especially his swiping right (in more ways than you can imagine)

So much angst

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Great book, interesting, sometimes funny, feels true and important about marriage and life in general. Nightmarishly whiny reader whose pitch and choice of words to punch made the whole thing feel moany, shrill and generally like someone complaining about bad service in a restaurant, unjustly at that. Shame, because the you can still hear the text shine underneath. Just about.

Wish I'd read it instead of listened to it

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Really interesting take on marital breakdown from everyone's perspective. Beautifully conceived and written. I recommend it to you.

Really enjoyed

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This started out as a story which was engaging and intriguing. Believable characters- a good father and a terrifying ex-wife how he appears to be controlled and brow beaten and ignored- taken for granted etc. Eventually you hear her side of the story and then that’s where it goes from a half decent story to a soap box lecture on woman’s disappointments in life. I wish the story had had an ending but to me it just stopped without any real conclusion. Annoying and too long.

Started well but the last quarter ... yawn

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Having chosen to endure the ‘wokeness’ of this entire novel, I can only report that I made it to the end.
Bias declaration. I am old.
This much lack of self knowledge makes every character dull and utterly unsympathetic. Even the children’s experiences are dull and “I’ve heard it all before. So. Who cares?
Cultural bias declaration. I am not NY American. The upward inflection in every sentence was almost unbearable-perhaps it’s authentic but it is jarring. On top of that, there was little or no differentiation in the voices used for each character leading to confusion so often that it made me not care-again.

Groan level indulgence interspersed with some insights.

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