Genre: Historical Fiction

The Trouble With You by Ellen Feldman begins with a family wedding on a snowy night. Dad is dazzled by his beautiful daughter and wife. Celebration and dancing abound followed by a treacherous drive home. The tension and foreshadow created here are some of the finest I’ve read recently (and I read sooo much!). When Fanny loses her husband just after his safe return from duty in WWII, she is faced with profound grief and what seem to be impossible decisions in the living of her life and the raising of her daughter.

Feldman evokes the 1950s setting in a remarkable way. She captures the spirit of the wives and husbands in the wake of World War II. She explores the unique challenges of being a widow in this time period. Poor Mimi…Poor Fanny…these women become a sort of caricature in their communities after losing their husbands. The job that Fanny takes - as a typist for a radio serial illustrates the entertainment industry of the time. The characters - actors and writers are fully fleshed out - and their dialogue resonates with the time.Ultimately, we are exposed to the red scare of the 1950s led by Senator McCartney and see its impact not only in the entertainment industry but also in the personal life of Fanny. I love the glimpse into this time period through this novel. The people surrounding Fanny are as well developed as the setting. Mimi, Fanny’s cousin, represents the conservative view of woman hood. Rose, Fanny’s aunt, represents a more nontraditional forward thinking view of woman hood. Both women love and support her, but both also create conflict for her. The men in her life are thoughtful and complex as well. I am not a huge fan of the triangle trope, but this one is well done and quite believable. We even get glimpses of her daughter and how she felt about her father and feels about her life without him. Fanny’s success for me as a character is in her struggle. I appreciate her thoughtful consideration - her concern for her daughter - her indecision.

I wrestle with change…and with decisions. I’ve had a great deal of both lately. I guess that is part of why I appreciate Fanny’s struggle. I am always just a bit surprised when I am reading about the limited options women had in my mom’s lifetime (very nearly mine!) I know the facts intellectually of course, but Feldman brings the struggle alive in The Trouble With You. If you’ve read my reviews, you know that I can get frustrated with characters - but even though she wavers - for a long time - and changes her mind, I am not frustrated with Fanny. Her journey feels real and complicated and one with which I can empathize. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I will say that I can continue to work toward being the kind of woman who makes a decision with certainty and presses forward. From the incredibly engaging start to the epilogue, I thoroughly enjoyed The Trouble With You by Ellen Feldman. Thank you to NetGalley and Griffin Publishing for the ARC In exchange for an honest review. Grab your copy on publication day, February 20, 2024.