"The personal is pertinently political in this insightful, entertaining sign-of-the-times debut centred on a young Black woman who falls in love while forging her way in the world."
Framed by Obama and Trump’s presidential elections, Cecilia Rabess’ Everything's Fine explores whether it’s possible to make a life with someone who sees the world very differently as it reels with romance that doesn’t run entirely smoothly, and insights into the prejudiced, cutthroat world of finance. More “could-they-should-they?” than “will-they-won’t-they?”, I raced through this in one sweeping sitting.
When Jess meets preppy Josh at their Ivy League college, she takes an instant dislike to his self-entitled confidence and conservatism. Post-graduation, after toying with the idea of working for a feminist magazine, Jess decides she wants “people to take her seriously”, and reckons having a million dollars in the bank might make that happen. So, she switches to a career in finance, only to discover that Josh is already rising through the ranks of Goldman Sachs when she joins his team.
Against an unfolding backstory of an abusive relationship from her past, Jess and Josh find themselves falling for each other. After following him to a new company, Jess also finds herself working for “garden-variety pompous asshats”, with her problems escalating when she’s told she’s “not a perfect culture fit”. When the worst happens at work and home, Jess faces a crucial question about their relationship: is Josh a “giant prick” (her words) or is he "really smitten", as her friends are inclined to believe?
“I’m black, you’re white. I’m liberal, you’re conservative…” Said that way it almost sounds like poetry. Opposites attract. The best kind of love story. But that’s not quite right”. So Jess ponders at a crucial point in a gripping story that explores whether you can love someone who holds opposing political views, and whether compromises could, or should, be made.
| Primary Genre | General Fiction |
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What have you got to lose when you fall in love?
When Jess first meets Josh at their Ivy League college she dislikes him immediately: an entitled guy in chinos, ready to take over the world. Meanwhile Jess is almost always the only Black woman in their class. And Josh can’t accept that life might be easier for him because he’s white.
After graduating, Jess and Josh end up working together in the same investment bank. As they lunch, spar and pick each other’s brains, Jess begins to see Josh in a different light.
Soon, their tempestuous friendship turns into an electrifying romance that shocks them both, and Jess finds herself questioning who she really is and whether she's willing to compromise that for love.
Cecilia Rabess' Everything's Fine is an utterly original and deeply moving take on an age-old question from a dazzling new voice: what have you got to lose when you fall in love?
Everything's Fine features in the following genres: General Fiction, Debuts, Romance / Relationship Stories, Modern and Contemporary romance, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Politics, Fiction, Recommendations, Fiction: narrative themes
Everything's Fine is available in Paperback, Hardback
Everything's Fine was written by Cecilia Rabess and published by Picador an imprint of Pan Macmillan
Everything's Fine has 326 pages
£15.29
