Not sure what to say about this book. I’ll start with the good thing…it was at times LOL funny, like a comic riff.

The not as good…it got old listening to Shelley worrying about money but then spending money like crazy for things they didn’t need.

The ending seemed abrupt, the story just fizzled.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book

This funny novel is all about money and how people spend it. Shelly Means is a busy stay-at-home New York City mom with anger management issues and dreams of owning a beach house in the Hamptons. Her husband, George, is a once-successful voice-over artist who is struggling to find work. He spends his time finding vintage furniture and clothing to resell. Twix is their twelve-pound dog who counsels Shelly about money and life. Shelly works with her anger management counselor, who is also a real estate agent, and a party planner, to design and build her affordable Hamptons beach home using repurposed shipping containers. The novel details how Shelly works through and all the hurdles she is presented while working with consultants, designers, and of course, Twix.
A good tongue-in-cheek fun read about human nature and how many things people need to be happy.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.

I was expecting a quirky, satirical read about a family trying to buy/build a Hampton's beach house on the cheap and their clashes with snooty neighbors, etc. This fell short of the mark for me though. The main character is whiny and entitled, she doesn't work and complains about their lack of funds yet they have "help" and have just sold one vacation home by a lake and are in the process of acquiring a beach home. The kids are barely present in the story, it's all about this dream of building a beach house out of old shipping containers. Halfway through for some reason the dog starts talking to the woman. Huh?

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance e copy of this title. The Means are a family that is NYC struggling, but probably would be considered well-off in another place. The book is narrated by Shelly, the wife/mother of the family. Shelly is a stay-at-home wife & mother who has a strange and complicated relationship with money. After a raccoon destroyed a house they owned upstate, George and Shelly sell that house, and buy a piece of land in East Hampton. Shelly becomes consumed with planning the house wants to build on the land. George suddenly finds himself out of work, and their financial situation takes a turn for the worse. Nevertheless, Shelly presses on with the house; ultimately persuading George to build a "container house" in hopes that it will be an income generator. Along the way, we get glimpses into Shelly's anger issues, her therapy, the family dog walker, the two children, and the homeowner group from East Hampton. The characters are not particularly likeable, but the plot moves nicely along, and is well-written. However, when the dog started talking to Shelly and the dog walker, the shark was jumped for me. I hung on until the end, although the conclusion was slightly unsatisfying.

The Means is a smart, funny book that will appeal to a certain niche of readers to which I belong: those who long for a beach house. Author Amy Fusselman turns this first world goal into a sharp social satire about a New York couple with seemingly no income that aspire to the Hamptons lifestyle. Along the way, we meet a charming dog, some wise teenagers, a crooked home owners association president and cynical architect. Snappy & on point.

I found it so interesting that this book tackles so many issues in neighborhoods these days. Everyone has an opinion and they are very willing to let people know what it is. This book covers the family and community differences with so much truth and humor!

Thank you #Netgalley for this advanced copy!

After the first few pages I questioned if this was a memoir/collection of essays as to the narrative of the story was so casual and felt like she was sharing with a friend. I was very impressed with this book and will be recommending! Shelly is a stay at home mom with lots of extra help, who is obsessed with building a beach house in the Hamptons. This obsession eventually starts to take over her day to day life, dreams of ToTo toilets, heated floors and so much more. While her husband is more concerned with finances and what is realistic. So many funny plot twists.

This is a quirky and fun beach read. The main character/ narrator is likable and definitely made me laugh out loud. For some reason I think her raccoon infested lake house might have been more amusing that her Hamptons Home made of storage containers.

I enjoyed the dialogue, the dog walker, and the author's musings on motherhood and marriage. I will admit they sort of lost me when the dog started talking, but overall this is escapism and just the thing for a warm afternoon!

This was not good, sadly. I don't know what the point of it is. It could have been a funny cute story about what? I dunno. The narrator, a woman who is whiny and can't decide if she's rich or not, that's the only coherent thread throughout the 'novel' - she thinks she is because they sold a lake house and are now on the way to owning a beach house- but then she thinks she's really not rich because said beach house is made of shipping containers. That's basically the story with a few "zany" side characters thrown in for the fun/eye rolling nature of it. She's married to a guy named George who stumbles into voice acting so they have money, although she doesn't know anything about it, just that it's there and she technically has kids but they are so 2 dimensional and seem to be used just so the author can write that because of the kids she has jobs, many jobs, like making lunches for her kids and paying the bills and making sure the dog walker comes to take out her dog.....her dog Twix that suddenly starts talking in the middle of the story to lecture her in little ways like a godmother which has no meaning at all, like it they say in writing when you write about a thing, a dog starting to talk, somewhere down the line there should be a reason for the dog to talk. Also the woman doesn't grow and change, in fact I'd argue she gets even more vapid throughout the "story". it's really just little vignette chapters that the author tries to write in a way where she fancies herself a comedian. I made myself finish the book just to be able to write what I had hoped would be a thoughtful review but I realize I'm just ranting. I dunno. It's silly and if you like silly but not done in a smart way, this might be enjoyable.

a story about a family trying to get a house in the Hamptons, but really can't afford it. great beach read

The Means by Amy Fusselman was a fun read about a mom who is trying to get a Hamptons beach house. She'd like for you to know it isn't quite as fancy as all that though. I enjoyed reading this book and think it would accompany a trip to the beach or pool quite well. Perfect for fans of This One is Mine by Maria Semple!

The satirical element for me was - is it still resiliency if it is accidental? I enjoyed every delightful, cotton candy page, not sure this was the high point read of my month, but it was exactly what I was in the mood for reading. Excellent for fans of Where Did You Go, Bernadette?

Smart and funny, The Means is an enjoyable read. The Haves and the Have-lesses go toe to toe in the Hamptons...but which is which? Lots of sly, wry commentary on American lives. Plus a wise dog, a Japanese toilet, and a tin can house.

The concept here is creative. A NYC family wants a home in the Hamptons but cannot afford it. They buy a lot and then decide to put up a home made of used shipping containers. The idea caught my interest but, for me, the execution was flawed. The book kept jumping back and forth from how the characters got to this point to where they are today. The main character was an unemployed writer and mom who wasn’t especially likable. She complains about lack of funds but has both a cleaning person and a dog walker. Her husband was a voice-over actor who stayed mainly in the background. There were two kids but little was known about them. It may just not be the right time for me for this book. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book made me laugh out loud in the first few pages and does not stop there. It’s funny and heartwarming. You want to be friends with the main character. Great story.

Quirky and fun. This modern drama will not disappoint..

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book and this protagonist's unique outlook on life. While the privilege is not always sympathetic, the humor is warm and makes these people easier to digest. 4.5 rounded up

I really liked this book. It’s definitely a book about real estate but I enjoyed the main character and her search for the perfect house and the perfect area.

The author writes in the fast-paced narrative style of many of my favorite authors, yet I found this getting boring. The bottom line is that the story lacked substance. Too many stereotypical Hamptons characters. Very hard to sympathize with her issues while building a house in the very trendy Hamptons. I understand it was only in The Springs, but certainly not an area where residents could be pitied. Having spent many years there, I simply couldn’t engage with these issues.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.