Wow! This book was a lot! A very verbose stream of consciousness at times that I just could not get into. This is the story of a marriage that is in trouble it. So what? There are so many books about this particular theme. This one is different, however. It really delves into the back story of the couple. Sometimes the story went too in depth and I frankly had to skim- the information about Facebook and its algorithms was just not interesting or readable. I did love the backstory about Evelyn. Overall I enjoyed the book but at times it really had me quite perplexed!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC on exchange for an honest review

While there were definitely times where the book felt too long and repetitive, overall I loved it. Jack and Elizabeth’s love story felt plucked from real life and I saw myself in Elizabeth more than I would like to admit. I very much loved the organization of the present and the past, the storytelling, and what felt like some historical education.

The chapter of Elizabeth worrying over Toby as a toddler, mixed with all the cited research she had read, made me feel more resolved than ever in our personal choice to not have children.

Nathan Hill is one of my favorite authors - his writing reminds me of John Irving. I love how long his novels are and savor every last word. I especially enjoy the stream of consciousness portions. His ability to dive deep into an issue without spoon-feeding the point is so rare. I am amazed at how many topics he included in this novel and look forward to discussing this book with my book club.

This was a long one, kids. I felt all 19 hours of this audiobook.

I liked the overall storyline of this novel, Jack and Elizabeth’s story. But I felt like there were a lot of tangents, things that could have been cut, things that felt a little preachy in some ways.

Some of it I felt was interesting, we got a real deep dive into Jack and Elizabeth’s back stories, but they were sort of scattered throughout the book jumping around.

The unraveling scene with Elizabeth was so good, I was STRESSED, and I was actually really fascinated by her job and her perspective on things and her research.

I thought after how long the novel was and the buildup to what’s going to happen with Jack and Elizabeth’s relationship, that the ending would also be long, but I felt like it ended pretty quickly.

Overall, I thought this book was really interesting, but it was just so long. And I don’t mind long books if it makes sense, but I really felt some of this could have been trimmed and tightened up.

Thank you @netgalley and @aaknopf for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I love this book so much. So much truth and so much humor. One of the things I appreciate is the way the narrative is constructed. Nathan Hill is a great story teller, drawing you down a path, veering off the path just far enough that you finally remember he was telling a different story and you want to know how it goes and then BAM - there you are, back in the original story but updated with a lot of great background information. It's very subtle and very effective.

This is the story of Jack and Elizabeth’s marriage, but it’s not just about their marriage. It’s about how their relationship and their identities shift as they move through life in a manipulative world. Alongside Jack and Elizabeth’s story, author Nathan Hill examines every aspect of this manipulation–in depth. From Elizabeth’s work as a scientist studying placebos (and then selling them), to the online algorithms that create and then reinforce beliefs, to art, to parenting, to health and the ways we try to hack our “wellness,” Hill leaves no stone unturned. He often veers into tangents in this 600+ page tome.

The book could have been shorter, but I was never bored. The cultural examinations kept me engaged, and just as they began to wear thin, he shifted back to his characters and how the things he examined affected them. This meandering book will not be for everyone, but readers up for literary experiments may want to give it a try.

Really, really enjoyable. Can't say I found it as captivating and incredible as The Nix (maybe my favorite book of all time) but I really enjoyed my experience with this book!

“jack thought about that winter, how for months they were separated by the distance of an alley. all they wanted back then was to eliminate the space between them. and now here they were, twenty years later, putting it back.”
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set against the vibrant backdrop of 1990’s chicago, nathan hill masterfully explores the intertwined lives of jack and elizabeth as they navigate the exhilarating yet rough terrain of young love and the overwhelming weight of childhood wounds. hills narrative unfolds over two decades, skillfully capturing the evolving dynamics of jack and elizabeth’s relationship as they transition from infatuated college students to bickering spouses and exhausted parents. wellness is a deeply intimate novel that dives deep into the complexities of marriage, self discovery, and the pursuit of personal identity.
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“our lives are bound by time, but our memories are not.
something that happens right now could take you back to something that happened twenty years ago. and for a moment, in your mind, the distance between them vanishes. it’s like there is no time.”
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wellness is a powerful novel that prompts readers to ponder the true essence of self awareness and the profound intricacies of the marital bond. although i have not experience marriage firsthand, the resonance of jack and elizabeth’s relationship felt remarkable genuine. the meticulous world building and character development instils the story with a sense of profound intimacy, as i immersed myself further in jack and elizabeth’s lives i found myself captivated by the raw vulnerability and authenticity that dripped off every page. wellness is a thought provoking novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
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“no, not bored. just no longer seduced by the mystery of it all. life’s big hard questions—what will happen? who will i become?—have largely been answered. and now i feel like there’s this huge absence where the mystery used to be. and i guess that’s really what i’m after.”
•

This was SUCH A good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

WOW did I love this book! While lengthy, I devoured it in a few days and felt completely invested in the characters' lives. I loved how unusual a story this was, and how well and uniquely it was written. For fans of The Leftovers or Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow, Wellness was one of my favorite books this year!

Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a great book by the author of The Nix that has absolutely lived up to its pre-publication hype. I'll definitely read more by Nathan Hill in the future!

I am not going to be able to review this incredible book in a way that does it justice. I find Hill’s writing to be borderline genius. I loved The Nix and I loved this even more.
This is the story of Jack and Elizabeth, who fall in love in Chicago in college and remained married to this day, with a son. The story jumps between their perspectives and in time, giving us a complete picture of who they are, why they are the way they are, and what they have become now in their middle lives. This book tackles so much, but my favorites were the Facebook/boomers discussion, The Unraveling, and thinking about absolutely everything about placebos.
This is the best book I have read in years and I cannot stop thinking about it, even days after finishing. Highly highly recommend it, so not be daunted by its length!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC.

Thank you to the author Nathan Hill, publishers Knopf, for an advance paperback copy of WELLNESS, and also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine.

Opening quotes: Perhaps falling for a placebo could be, in certain cases, helpful, useful, even ideal. Loc. 5458

And the only thing she was certain of was this: that between ourselves and the world are a million stories, and if we don’t know which among them are true, we might as well try out those that are most humane, most generous, most beautiful, most loving. Loc. 8942

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The concept of the Placebo Project is fascinating objectively and narratively. I'm really looking forward to more of this!

2. The shift in perspective to the actual book itself and the author I think (b) is some very excellent metafiction! Omg yummy!

3. I love some of the ideas presented in this book, like the eternal hyperlink book.

4. Adore the definition of the self relative to marriage: Who is this you? What version? At what time? In what place ? Which of your many funny reflections is the accurate one? Yesterday you were this person, today you’re that person, and tomorrow . . . who knows? But marriage promises consistency, certainty: you will be loved forever. And the moment we become certain of this is the moment it begins to slip away from us. Our certainty blinds us to how the world changes and changes and changes.” Loc. 8174

5. The idea of setting up a Placebo drug company is amazing. I mean, they work about as reliably as drugs that go to market, why not? This is such a great storyline.

6. Elizabeth and Jack's romance is maybe my favorite of all time. I relate so completely to them both, sometimes it feels as if they represent two halves of one character. Quote loc. 9008

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. He takes the "crazy mom" material a little far. Doesn't really matter how well written any of this is.

2. Holy shit how many perspectives and timelines is he going to introduce??

Rating: 💊💊💊💊 placebos
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Sep 26 23
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
📓 contemporary fiction
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏽 marriage stories

Wellness was a DNF for me. Here are my reasons.

I loved The Nix so this was on my list the second I heard it was coming. The Nix it is not. This is the story of a couple who stalk each other when they are 19 and have been together ever since. Now they are middle aged and looking to buy their first home in Chicago but are having major marital problem. One is a photographer who has lost his muse and instead teaches and a "scientist" who studies (and on occasion creates) the placebo effect.

I got about 60% through the book and found that I did not care at all about these two people, their lives, their troubles, their history. I have thought maybe I will go back and finish it but I DNF'd this back in October when it came out and I cannot force myself to pick this book back up. I have just gotten to the point where I will put a book down that just does not draw me in enough to want to finish it.

A nearly perfect book - this broke a months-long slump where nothing seemed right. Everything about this was right. I loved the characters and delighted in unraveling their story.

At first the satirical tone bothered me (and stressed me out TBH!) but then I found this very funny and even somewhat moving. It was very readable.

4.5 rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I really loved this book. The progression of a love story between two flawed individuals, this book goes deep into their fascinating backstories and how they continue to impact the characters’ lives and marriage.

I understand the criticism that the book is too long and Hill spends too much time teaching readers about extraneous topics. I, personally, was fascinated by the information impacted, whether it be art history or Facebook’s algorithms or the placebo effect.

Nathan Hill's Wellness is not just a novel; it's an experience. It's a sprawling, 600-page epic that delves into the depths of a long-term marriage, the absurdities of the "wellness" industry, and the complexities of human connection in the 21st century.

A Love Story Like No Other:

At its core, Wellness is a love story between Jack and Elizabeth, two kindred spirits who fall in love in the vibrant Chicago art scene of the 90s. Hill masterfully captures the initial spark, the passionate years, and the inevitable challenges that come with two decades of life together. He doesn't shy away from the messy realities of marriage, but also paints a tender and nuanced portrait of two people who are deeply connected, even as they struggle to understand each other.

Witty Satire Meets Profound Insights:

Hill's writing is a delight. He balances sharp wit and keen observation with moments of profound insight. He skewers the fads and follies of the wellness industry with hilarious accuracy, while also exploring the genuine human desire for well-being and connection. The book is peppered with laugh-out-loud moments, but it also leaves you pondering the big questions about life, love, and happiness.

Characters You'll Live With:

Jack and Elizabeth are beautifully flawed and relatable characters. You'll root for them, be frustrated by them, and ultimately feel like you know them inside and out. Hill also populates the novel with a rich cast of supporting characters, each adding their own unique voice and perspective to the story.

Beyond the Page:

Wellness is not just a story to read; it's a conversation starter. It will make you think about your own relationships, your own pursuit of well-being, and your place in the world. It's a book that stays with you long after you turn the final page.

Why 5 Stars?

Wellness is a masterfully crafted novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Hill's writing is both witty and insightful, his characters are relatable and complex, and the story is both thought-provoking and entertaining.
Wellness is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved, lost, or questioned their place in the world.
So, if you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, think, and feel, I urge you to pick up Wellness. You won't be disappointed.

This is a perfect novel. Nathan Hill's ability to write such incredible and moving chunky novels is unreal.

This book was so hyped, and by readers I really trust, that I was sure I'd love it. Plus the premise captured where my friend and I are now, in midlife. However, Hill's tone was a distraction, the almost satirical vibe of it kept me from feeling invested in the characters. Instead I was taken out of the story by the many tangents and supposed humor. After also not enjoying The Nix, I think I've realized Hill just isn't an author for me.