Fleishman Is in Trouble – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Fleishman Is in Trouble

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

84%

WISE Score

3.9

Amazon

A biting, brilliant post-mortem of a Manhattan marriage that proves there are always two sides to every divorce—and both of them are probably wrong.

Fleishman Is in Trouble

book

2019

84%

WISE Score

3.9

Amazon

A biting, brilliant post-mortem of a Manhattan marriage that proves there are always two sides to every divorce—and both of them are probably wrong.

3.9

Jump to

Also rated on

3.9

View →

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

Fleishman Is in Trouble is a top-tier novel for parents who want to feel seen in all their messy, exhausted glory. It’s not 'fun' in a lighthearted way, but it is deeply satisfying to read something this smart about the grind of middle age.

It’s a story about how we lose ourselves in our roles as spouses and parents. If you’re looking for a beach read that actually has some teeth, this is it. Just keep it on a high shelf so your middle-schooler doesn't accidentally learn way too much about Tinder.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults. It’s a 'midlife crisis' book that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by marriage or career, but it will be boring or confusing (and way too graphic) for anyone under 18.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a book about the messy, often ugly disintegration of a marriage. It deals with resentment, casual hookups, and the emotional fallout of divorce—hardly 'wholesome' in the traditional sense, though it's deeply human.

Imaginative

The narrative structure is where the magic happens. It starts as a typical 'man-child finds himself' story and then pulls the rug out from under you by flipping the perspective entirely. It's a clever way to explore the subjectivity of truth.

Safe

For kids? Not a chance. It’s packed with explicit descriptions of sexual encounters, dating app culture, and heavy adult language. For adults, it's 'safe' reading, but it's strictly 18+ content.

Enriching

It’s a masterclass in empathy. It forces you to look at the same set of facts from two completely different angles, exposing how we all cast ourselves as the hero of our own tragedies while ignoring everyone else's.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It offers a brutally honest look at the pressures of modern parenting and career ambition.
The mid-book perspective shift is a genuine 'aha' moment that changes everything you thought you knew.
Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s prose is sharp, funny, and incredibly observant about how rich people live and suffer.

⚠

What to Watch For

Very graphic depictions of sexual encounters and dating app interactions.
Heavy themes of postpartum depression, medical trauma, and parental abandonment.
The language is salty and constant; it’s written exactly how stressed-out New Yorkers actually talk.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Toby was so quick to assume Rachel was the 'villain' in their marriage?"
"Does professional success actually make anyone in this book happier, or is it just a treadmill?"
"How much of our memory of a relationship is actually just a story we tell ourselves to feel better?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Related Guides

Books for When You're Tired of Being the Strong One

Essential reads that validate parental burnout and offer practical tools to reclaim your mental health.

Writing about Fleishman Is in Trouble? Put this WISE score on your site