Fleishman Is in Trouble cover art

Fleishman Is in Trouble

Now a major TV series starring Claire Danes & Jesse Eisenberg

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Fleishman Is in Trouble

By: Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £14.35

Buy Now for £14.35

'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

ONE OF ESQUIRE UK'S 'BOOKS WE CAN'T WAIT TO READ IN 2019' AND LITERARY HUB'S 'MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2019'

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, 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

'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

(P)2019 Penguin Audio©2019 Taffy Brodesser-Akner Literature & Fiction Satire Marriage Comedy Witty Dating Thought-Provoking Funny Fiction Divorce
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

From its opening pages, Fleishman is in Trouble is shrewdly observed, brimming with wisdom and utterly of this moment. Not until its explosive final pages are you fully aware of its cunning ferocity. 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. Taffy Brodesser-Akner reveals the twisted hearts of her characters - and the twisted soul of contemporary America - with an eye that is at once pitiless and full of compassion for our human foibles. This is a remarkable debut novel from one of the most distinctive writers around (Tom Perrotta)
You're going to want to read this one: Fleishman in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. I've long been a fan of Taffy's journalism; in fact, I relentlessly stalked her on social media and insisted that she become my friend. This novel is really special, reminiscent of Tom Perrotta's work . . . It centers on a man recently out of a marriage, but it's about everything - love, friendship, life, death. Or, to borrow what we will now call the Tayari Jones standard, a literary novel with a great plot (Laura Lippman)
This glorious debut has the humor of Maria Semple, the heart of Meg Wolitzer, the lustiness of Philip Roth, and a voice that is pure. It's wild and wonderful and goes in so many directions, each with profundity - my favorite thing that novels can do. How does one's favorite journalist become one's new favorite novelist? With this book (Emma Straub)
Blisteringly funny, feverishly smart, heart-breaking and true. Fleishman Is In Trouble is an essential read for anyone who's wondered how to navigate loving (and hating) the people we choose (Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney)
Known for her often-viral profiles of figures ranging from Gwyneth Paltrow to Tom Hiddleston, New York Times writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner's debut novel is eagerly awaited by her hordes of internet fans
I am a huge fan of Brodesser-Akner's razor sharp-yet-compassionate, delightfully self-deprecating profiles (if haven't read her excellent piece on Gwyneth Paltrow, please do so immediately), so I can't wait to read her debut novel. Its protagonist is a divorcé whose wife disappears one day, leaving him to navigate full-time parenthood as well as the mystery of where she's gone. I have no doubt it will be hilarious, painful, and gorgeous
All stars
Most relevant
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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
can't work out whether I really liked or really hated this book. I found I had no sympathy for the two main female protagonists (and I think I was supposed to) and the male lead Toby was such an over privileged whinge that I wanted to scream at times.
That said, some of the sentiment about marriage, divorce, starting again....was so close to the bone that I had to respect the author.
Finishing chapter was a diatribe on the fashionable #metoo topic which annoyed me although #metoo is very close to my heart.
You can see why I am in a dilemma about this book.

ambivalence..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well read book
Some interesting insights but...
Characters in this book appear very self absorbed ..

Navel gazing New Yorkers

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is her first book. It is just brilliant and I hope she writes another one soon. I really loved it. Thank you so much. Brilliant book with a brilliant ending.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The first half of the book was okay, fairly engaging. But then it just completely lost me. Took far too long to get anywhere. Gutted I used a credit on this one.

What a load of waffle

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews