Fleishman is in Trouble

Fleishman Is in Trouble: A Novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Dr. Fleishman is a short in stature hepatologist who is getting a divorce. He is spending time on dating apps and finding it easy to meet and engage in sexual relations with women (the details of which are described in too much detail.) He also reconnects with a few old friends - the womanizing guy and the writer turned housewife woman. His ex drops off the kids earlier than she was supposed to. He adjusts his work and child care schedules to be able to watch them. Then his ex doesn't show up for over a week after she was supposed to pick them up. He has more child care challenges and is required to take time off.  Alas, this happened to be the time he was due a promotion to subdivision head. He ends up not getting it, in part due to his lack of dedication to a job, even though he managed to care for a woman with a rare liver disease while dealing with his home issues.

Through the novel, we learn their history. He came from a good-sized Jewish family with many doctors. His wife, Rachel, was reluctantly raised by her grandmother after her father left and her mother died at a young age. He liked her because she was not weird. She seeks after wealth and status and has built up a creative agency. (She had gone on her own after she was turned down for promotion when she was pregnant - she tried to hide it, but people her upset with her for not telling.) She likes to hang with the wealthy. They have a house in the Hamptons and send their kids to a wealthy school. He would much rather keep things simple - he likes caring for patients rather than getting a high paying job. He has also done most of the childcare and cooking.

We also learn about their friends and family and see the events through their views. Many of his friends spent time together as exchange students in Israel. They have different challenges with their careers and relationships. His children are having issues growing up as tweens in the ages of technology.  

The book focuses on Fleishman's history. Rachel comes off as absolutely horrible, despite his efforts to support her. Then at the end, we she is up to. She lost her best client, had a nervous breakdown and was doing very poorly. From her side, she didn't want a divorce, but did not feel she her husband was properly supporting her. 

The different views help to see the challenges in communication and relationships. It is not easy. Both sides seem to be correct in isolation. There need to make the requisite sacrifices. The book would have been better if it were not set in such wealthy circles with so much vulgarity.