Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Wellness

I had few expectations (good or bad) going into Wellness, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tore through all 600-plus pages in a couple of days! I am someone who appreciates a compulsively readable story with interesting characters and a punchy plotline. I also appreciate deeply philosophical works that unabashedly discuss nuances of human nature and modern living. I very rarely get to read a book that does both—and does them well—but Wellness is one of those rare books.

The book switches perspectives a fair bit, and sometimes I worried that I would find a particular portion or POV to be a slog. I needn’t have worried, as Hill managed to hook me in every single time. He also has a gift for delivering delicious, surprising, and satisfying ‘twists’ so that each section of the novel sticks the landing. I would happily read 600 more pages of his writing, especially when it comes to his discussions on algorithms and the human tendency toward self-deception.

As much as I love Wellness, I do not think it is a perfect book. Hill tends to overindulge in his penchant for melodrama toward the end of the book, and one of the plotlines in particular struck me as too “Hollywood” for my liking. Similarly, Hill chose a more splashy, almost rom-com-esque conclusion instead of allowing the main characters, Elizabeth and Jack, to talk out their issues realistically and constructively. I also wish that Elizabeth received some sort of consequences for her egregious violation of research ethics in the Wellness organization. None of these imperfections dampened my love for the book as a whole, however, and I am so incredibly glad that I chose Wellness to start off my year.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like Wellness if . . .

· If you’re looking for a book that has “a little bit of everything”

· If you want a book that combines the heart of a romance novel, the philosophical musings of a classic, the gripping nature of a thriller, and the reflections on everyday life of a work of contemporary literary fiction

· If you want help working through your vague feeling of malaise in living in modern America

You might not like Wellness if . . .

· You dislike multi-POV stories or books that move back and forth in time

· You don’t want to read about slightly pretentious white liberal characters

· You want to read a book that is concise and sticks to the plot

Content Warnings

jrlibros's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

fkshg8465's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

The best part of this book was the ending for two reasons: 1) it was finally over and 2) it was truly the only part of the story I thought was well told. For the ray of the time, I kept wondering why this book was so damned long.

Content Warnings

melyssa57's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime

Wellness by Nathan Hill is being touted as the next great American novel. I am not sure if that is the case. I didn’t ready Hill’s debut, The Nix, but I will say he does a great job of writing an engaging story that compels the reader to still with the story until this end. And at more than 600 pages, it can take a while to get there. I enjoyed the journey, but I am still undecided on how I feel about the destination.

Wellness is a story of growth for main characters Jack and Elizabeth who meet in Chicago as young adults, fall in love, get married, have a child, and then realize they aren’t the people they were when they met. Through a series of flashbacks and present day scenarios the other illustrates the events that formed the characters into the people they are presently. In an attempt to discern who they are as mature adults, the two embark on a variety of tactics to save themselves and their marriage. Are they successful, I’m not quite sure, I think the ending can be left up to interpretation.

Even though this was a longer novel, it didn’t seem that way. I was invested and able to finish the story at a moderate pace. I enjoyed the flashbacks that gave the reader detailed background into the nuances of the characters. They were both clearly drawn together because they’d suffered horrible parenting. What I did not care for the overabundance of cited works references throughout a fiction book. It almost made it seem as though it was fiction purporting to be non-fiction. I think the story could have been just as strong with out and the dozens of reference works listed at the end.

Recommendation: I really wanted to enjoy this book. After hundred of pages, I was all in, but the ending kind of fell flat to me after all that build up. I think the author was struggling with bringing it all together, but I did enjoy his writing style. I may pick up The Nix or his next work, but sorry Oprah, I’m just unsure about the accolades that all the critics are giving this one.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime

Content Warnings

creativerunnings's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

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