Everything's Fine

De: Cecilia Rabess

Narrado por: Denée Benton

“Does love conquer all? Does it now? Did it ever? These are questions Cecilia Rabess asks in her nimble, discerning debut…The ending of Everything’s Fine is one of the best I’ve read in years.” —The New York Times

A painfully funny, painfully real love story for our time that doesn’t just ask will they, but…should they?

Jess is a senior in college, ambitious but aimless, when she meets Josh. He’s a privileged preppy in chinos, ready to inherit the world. She’s not expecting to inherit anything.

A year later, they’re both working at the same investment bank. And when Jess finds herself the sole Black woman on the floor, overlooked and underestimated, Josh shows up for her in surprising—if imperfect—ways. Before long, an unlikely friendship forms, tinged with undeniable chemistry. It gradually, and then suddenly, turns into an electrifying romance that shocks them both.

Despite their differences, the force of their attraction propels the relationship forward. But as the cultural and political landscape shifts underneath them, Jess is forced to consider if their disagreements run deeper than she can bear, what she’s willing to compromise for love, and whether, in fact, everything’s fine.

A stunning debut about “a love affair that turns inferno” (People), that is “extraordinarily brave…funny as hell,” (Zakiya Dalilah Harris) Cecilia Rabess’s Everything’s Fine is an incisive and moving portrait of a young woman who is just beginning to discover who she is and who she has the right to be. It is also a “subtle, ironic, wise, state-of-the-nation novel” (Nick Hornby) that asks big questions about the way we live now and “whether our choices stop and end with us” (The New York Times).

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Benton creates two distinct characters in Jess and Josh, and captures their personalities with finesse. When the dialogue starts to sizzle, Benton deftly narrates in a tone of intimacy. As Jess and Josh come together, part, and then regroup, Benton keeps up nicely."

Great listen

Couldn't wait to get my ears on this. Fun listen. Definitely add to your listening library.

Great for book clubs; dialogue starter

Pros:
This book discussed many issues around systemic racism. It was interesting that the story timeline coincides with the election of Obama and Trump. The ending is sort of left up to the reader. The narrator was engaging. This is a much needed book to start conversations among people in our communities and beyond.
Cons:
The back and forth between the couple was excessive. I wish there was more family history on Jess and Josh. It was an important factor in who they became and why they held certain beliefs. They touched on it but I wanted more.

A nuanced and complex love story

At first, I struggled with this audio book because Josh was such an insufferable and unlikeable caricature. As the story progressed, this book became a page-turner that I couldn’t put down. It still has me questioning if love can truly conquer two diametrically opposing worldviews and political ideologies.

Is love really enough??

This book touched something deep in my soul. While I was interested from the very beginning, I wasn’t quite sure where Cecilia was going with her story. As the book progressed I loved the conversation it ignited. Can we truly feel loved by someone who doesn’t really see all of us? Can we hold that expectation for our partner when we don’t truly understand ourselves? This book was so well written❤️ My gut was twisted and I didn’t want it to end.
I need a sequel!! My imagination is running wild with questions. Does Jess continue to grow and understand herself? Does she cultivate a community of black sisterhood? Does Josh ever see the world through someone else’s eyes? Can they make the relationship work?

Great ending!!

This book seemed like a typical summer read but had moments that were deeper. Worth reading, just not terribly challenging.