Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Everything's Fine

I started Everything's Fine not realizing what a divide it had caused on social media, and so for the first third of the book I thought: "This definitely isn't a romance. Nothing about this relationship is romanticized. It feels like it should be a disaster girl novel, but Jess has it together. Josh is an ass who is, like, sooo obviously racist. But a Black girl in a primarily dude's world is kind of bad ass. I dig it." Then, I saw the horrible reviews and watched the hot takes online.

After spending the last few days trying to get a better picture of this book and its wide array of opinions, I think it's important to note what Black women, in particular (since that's who our main character is and, really, who the story is about), are saying about this book. It doesn't really matter what I think, as a white left-leaning reader, but I found mostly two camps: (1) It was very triggering and this book shouldn't exist, and (2) it was very triggering but I have never felt more seen. I think, no matter your feelings on this book, they're valid. But I do think writing a one-star review before reading is doing this book a disservice.

For those of us walking in the world with white privilege and fragility, this book holds up a very clear mirror to the ways in which we make BIPOC walk on eggshells in every possible way. I felt so uncomfortable for Jess, who was trying her best and was still making two steps backward for every one step forward. There were cyclical arguments between Jess and her love interest, Josh that highlighted his white privilege and lack of perspective. He infantilizes her and her very real anger and sadness. Yes, there were cringe conversations, but those cringe conversations I've heard my actual family members say those kinds of things. I felt like, as a white reader, the nuances in this book that made me stop and think would be nothing new to Black people who inherently know and live the racism, misogyny, sexism, identity struggles, and social and economic conversations that were introduced here.

I think, if you go into this book expecting it to be an escape or a romance, your expectation should be changed into one of expecting discussion. This isn't a romanticized love story about people from two sides of the political spectrum. I think it's a story about the very real struggles BIPOC go through daily, but especially how Black women have to navigate this world and how much the Trump years and leading up to it really did a lot of social, emotional, and mental damage. How white privilege and fragility are harming and hateful, and how we as a society really need to work on how we treat each other and how we listen to each other.

I'm glad I read this book. I thought it was worth the read, and it's been worth listening to and engaging in the discussions that are happening because of it. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This title publishes June 6, 2023 in the US.

Content Warnings

thevioletfoxbookshop's review

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challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book absolutely floored me! I devoured the entire thing in one weekend. It's a fast read, but don't let that fool you - it's jam packed with heavy emotion, big issues, and uncomfortable truths.

Everything's Fine is the debut novel by Cecilia Rabess that will leave you unsettled, eyes wide, knowing one thing for certain - everything is definitely not fine. It's the story of a young Black woman, her career in New York City finance, and her relationship with Josh, a white conservative man. So it is about a relationship, but it's more of an enemies to questionable friends to toxic relationship lovers, but still kind of enemies all along kind of story. It's about racism, politics, class, sexism, capitalism, identity, and so much more. There's so much to unpack and consider in this book and it is incredibly difficult to read on an emotional level because it can be very triggering.

I'll be honest - I've typed and deleted paragraphs of this review over and over. It's difficult to find the words. I think it's going to make a big splash when it hits shelves - people are either going to rave or rage about it. I'm not going to pretend that I understood all of it (because I can never fully understand what it's like to be a Black woman in the US), but I will say that this book has made me THINK. And that more than anything - the thinking and consideration - is important.

This book is such a mix of opposites. A black liberal woman in a relationship with a white conservative man. So simply put yet so complex and layered. an absolute page-turner somehow dealing with numerous divisive issues. It's about what unites us and what divides us. It is simultaneously vulnerable and scathing. It's both analytical and deeply personal. You'll get it, but you won't. You'll keep turning the pages wanting more, but it will also make you sick. You'll feel a lot like Jess - you know you shouldn't and it's not good for you, but you can't help yourself.

I know this book has been very controversial. But here's the thing - in my opinion - just because the book deal with difficult, uncomfortable, ugly stuff, does not mean it was a bad book. The controversy means conversation is happening about this stuff and I think that matters.

Content Warnings

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