I thoroughly enjoyed this book--an accessible and compulsively readable approach to complicated issues of race, class, power, gender dynamics, privilege, access to opportunity and more. Nothing is tied up in a neat bow and not everyone will be happy with it for that reason, I imagine, but I applaud the author for bravely choosing to portray her characters for all their strengths and flaws--they're smart people who make dumb mistakes, who unwittingly hurt those they love the most. It'd make a great book club read, sparking the types of engaging discussions we should be having these days.

Excuse me while I diverge from my usual format. This book is extremely problematic and I do not recommend! That being said, I was given an ARC by @netgalley in exchange for an honest review, so here we go.

The only reason I gave this book more than 1 star was because I genuinely wanted to know if the characters redeem themselves. Spoiler alert: they don’t. But the storytelling did. At first this book started out super choppy, but it gets more easily readable as you go on.

Jess, the main character, is a black young woman starting out in the finance world opposite a former classmate who hated her, Josh. There’s clearly sexual chemistry brewing, but Jess and Josh are still on opposing sides of politics and racism and the economy and everything that’s important. Despite all this, they get together, and fight all the time about their beliefs even though they love each other fiercely. Jess becomes increasingly more argumentative as she leaves the finance world to run data for a non-profit magazine, while Josh becomes more in favor of his ex-girlfriends uncle who runs the trust fund he works at.

During Trumps rise to power, the dividing lines between liberals and conservatives run really deep, and in many ways they continue to do so. However, we didn’t need a retelling of this time in history without the main characters resolving their issues, and just continuing to live in them and resent each other. It makes no sense to me why someone would write this story and have zero resolution. What was the point? To show us that people can still love each other across the aisle? If that’s the case, the author should have made both characters more likable and both concede their points of view at any point in the story, neither of which happened. Do not read!

Very compelling and an interesting POV. Everything's Fine shows the high stress world of finance and how navigating it is vastly different for not just men and women, but as a woman of color in a male-dominated environment. The reader is taken on an emotional journey during the years of the Obama administration. We see Jess's perspective more, but her struggle for balance and embracing her identity draws a reader in.

I was not a fan of the relationship and the book left me wanting as the story ended before the most dividing era of the 2016 election took place. This book shows the issues of interracial relationships and having a partner who despite the years together will never fully understand their partner's experience.

TBH not sure what to think about this one… overall felt problematic and eventually couldn’t stand the characters. Check out the reviews + thoughts of BIPOC readers before picking this one up.

I thought the writing was good, but I found the storyline problematic. I will not, however, be posting this online, as I don't want to negatively affect the writer's potential future works.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗲 by Cecelia Rabess
Published: June 6, 2023 by @simonbooks
Reviewed by: Mel
Format: eARC [thank you @simonbooks and @netgalley]

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Ok. Hear me out — this book has a 3.58 average currently on Goodreads with over 200 1 ★ reviews BUT I want to argue that the people that HATED it went in with the mindset that this was a romance.

It. Is. Not. A. Romance.

**LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK**

ITS NOT A ROMANCE. It’s a commentary on political and social differences in the world right now and how it manifests in the workplace, friendships, romantic relationships, even family relationships.

I also have to point out that it pinpoints the heightened emotions that everyone felt during the 2016 election and the turning point of both political sides no longer working together. It depicts the division that erupted, and the excessive hate that became emboldened.

It was incredibly enjoyable and I felt emotionally invested in Jess and Josh’s relationship — until I wasn’t.

This one definitely surprised me! Definitely an anti-Valentine’s day relationship read 😂🩷🫶🏻✌🏻

"Everything Is Fine" by Cecilia Rabess gives voice to the guilt driven existence of women. Jess, the main character, feels like she is never doing enough. She should be protesting in the streets, or standing up to her racist bosses, friends, co-workers, teachers, etc. She should be making money to justify her expensive education, but her work should benefit society. She was promised she could have it all, but she is finding out that having it all is not what it is cracked up to be. It is exhausting, but a very satisfying read.

Rabess does a wonderful job of capturing this moment in time and laying it out as a roadmap to adulthood, to understanding, and to allyship. While it may seen simplistic it is nevertheless very satisfying that Jess learns that through open communication she and those she loves can evolve and become better versions of themselves.

Everything's Fine isn't an easy read, and there's a good bit of controversy surrounding this book. That said, Cecilia Rabess is a brilliant writer who is grabbling with some really complex topics - topics that have torn apart families and a nation. In a microcosmatic way, she explores the way in which Jess, the sole Black woman working on her floor at Goldman Sachs, navigates her relationship with her "white conservative sparring partner from college, Josh." Set against the backdrop of the 2016 election, Rabess explores themes of race, identity, and politics.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I think this work is such a triggering topic but well done. A time in history where we try to get over our differences but get pushed away by who we support. Overall, I would recommend this to most of my peers/friends.

This is a tough one for me to review - I honestly am not sure if I liked it or not. Bear with me.
- I liked the character of Jess.
- I did not like her relationship with Josh.
- I liked the storyline of the relationship with her dad.
- I really, really hated the ending of this book and where Jess was at in her life on the last pages. But the ending - as terrible as it was - is reality. Shocking and on the page.

It's not a feel-good read. Sometimes I just wanted to yell at Jess. "What are you doing?!" So while I didn't ultimately like the end of the book, this may be Ms. Rabess' intention? I was definitely thinking about this book long after I read that last page.

Having said all of that - if I was rating this book on how much I actually *liked* it - it would probably be 2 stars. I mean, I hated the ending. But I would bet that Ms. Rabess hated the ending too. This book isn't a fantasy, it's fiction based on our world and our reality. So I'm going it 3.5 stars (rounded up) because she got me thinking and feeling, even if it wasn't the feeling that I wanted to walk away with.

This was a good read, but I just felt like shaking the protagonist, Jess, sometimes. I gave her some leeway, because she was on her early 20’s and at that age you are still trying to figure yourself out.

I don’t feel this should be marketed as a romance and funny 🤔 read, but more as a look at how your environment, race and privilege shape who you are.

i really really enjoyed this book it had powerful prose and the cover was absolutely beautiful. not my last rabess book looking forward to more releases :)

Hmm... I'm conflicted on this. If this is read strictly as a romance, this is awful. I was rooting against the couple the entire time. Their relationship is anything but healthy. I do think couples can have healthy relationships with political differences, but Josh and Jess are not one of those couples. There were too many fundamental differences in strongly held beliefs, and it also felt like Jess was the only one compromising.

If this is read as social critique or satire, I like it better but it's still uncomfortable. It's too subtle for my tastes, but at the same time, Josh is unlikeable from the beginning.

So, as a romance, this is problematic. As a satire, this wasn't for me, but I guess I could see other people liking it.

I really enjoyed this book and am so thankful to have an early copy! It really made me think about big social issues. Thank you so much to netgalley for this advanced readers copy!

Everything’s Fine is a frustrating book about two people whose are completely opposite and should avoid each other at all costs. I vascilated between annoyed, angry, shocked and bored…please make it stop. The writing is good, the author is trying to make a point, I just wasn’t interested.

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to provide a review of this book.

This was an insightful read and I was taken with the tough subject matter in a shocking way. I would reccomend this forsure.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me and was a DNF but I am sure other readers will feel differently! Thank you for the ARC!

The story and the characters felt flat and I didn't really connect with them. The main characters had no chemistry. I also felt like the storyline was too chaotic for my liking.

Everything's Fine by Cecilia Rabess is one of those books that just hooks you from the get-go. I was lucky to snag a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a review, and let me tell you, this novel was an absolute delight to read.

The story revolves around Jess, a smart and determined young woman who starts her career at Goldman Sachs. The catch? She's teamed up with Josh, a conservative guy who enjoys playing devil's advocate a little too much. Right from the beginning, you can sense the tension and differences between these two. Josh is basically Jess's polar opposite, and it's hard to imagine a worse team-up, at least from Jess's perspective.

But here's where the story gets interesting: as Jess becomes the sole Black woman on the floor, she's often overlooked and underestimated. And it's Josh, of all people, who unexpectedly steps up to support her. That's where the heart of this novel lies - the development of their unlikely friendship, laced with undeniable chemistry. Watching their relationship evolve is a rollercoaster ride, and it's both electrifying and captivating.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how it delves into the idea of compromise for love. It makes you question whether it's more important to be right or to be happy. The characters are complex, and their struggles and choices feel real. This book takes place in 2016, a year that brought significant cultural and political shifts, which adds another layer of depth to the story.

Cecilia Rabess has crafted a narrative that's not just about a love affair but a love affair that turns into an inferno. The prose is sharp, poignant, and often quite humorous. I found myself laughing out loud at some points and deeply contemplating life at others. Rabess isn't afraid to tackle important topics, and she does it with style.

What really sets Everything's Fine apart, though, is the backdrop of the story. The time period, the cultural shifts, and the dynamics of the characters all come together to create a powerful narrative. As someone who enjoys books set in specific time periods, I was thoroughly impressed by how Rabess captured the essence of 2016.

In the end, Everything's Fine is a stellar debut that I won't soon forget. It's a book that keeps you engaged, makes you think, and leaves a lasting impression. Cecilia Rabess delivers a compelling story with complex characters, and the book is laced with witty and thought-provoking commentary. If you're looking for a page-turner that's also brimming with hot takes on life, love, and the world around us, this is definitely a must-read. Trust me; it's more than fine; it's fantastic!

Thank you net galley for the ARC.
A relevant book about two people dating with different political views that draws in aspects of todays political climate. All Jess's life she believes "everythings fine' without processing things that are happening to her. I would not call this book a romance like it is listed but a thought provoking book that can encourage conversations of racial biases that occur day to day