Wellness

A Novel

By: Nathan Hill

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • The New York Times best-selling author of The Nix is back with a poignant and witty novel about a modern marriage and the bonds that keep people together. Mining the absurdities of contemporary society, Wellness reimagines the love story with a healthy dose of insight, irony, and heart.

"A stunning novel about the stories that we tell about our lives and our loves, and how we sustain relationships throughout time—it's beyond remarkable, both funny and heartbreaking, sometimes on the same page.” —NPR


When Jack and Elizabeth meet as college students in the gritty '90s Chicago art scene, the two quickly join forces and hold on tight, each eager to claim a place in the thriving underground scene with an appreciative kindred spirit. Fast-forward twenty years to suburban married life, and alongside the challenges of parenting, they encounter the often-baffling pursuits of health and happiness from polyamorous would-be suitors to home-renovation hysteria.

For the first time, Jack and Elizabeth struggle to recognize each other, and the no-longer-youthful dreamers are forced to face their demons, from unfulfilled career ambitions to childhood memories of their own dysfunctional families. In the process, Jack and Elizabeth must undertake separate, personal excavations, or risk losing the best thing in their lives: each other.

Chicagoland bliss

As a guy who tried to individualize while a college kid in Chicago in the 80s/90s, it was hard not to love it

I’m listening to it again right after I write this review

The most gorgeous, life affirming, heartbreaking and laugh out loud funny book I’ve ever read. If there is such a thing as perfect writing, this I think is it. Every word & phrase & idea touches you and then reaches out and sweeps you up and carries you into Jack and Elizabeth’s world, where the narrator and narration meet you, waiting to hold you,, captivated, and to dance with you and take you “with…..” and you just GO.

So GREAT!

This story was amazing. I can’t recommend it enough. AND the narrator!!! Was perfect! He really brought the characters to life. I think Ari Fliakos may even replace Tom Hank’s narration of The Dutch House as my favorite book narration.

Excellent

I did not want this book to end. It was fantastic. Great job on Audible too.

My read of the year

The narration drove the author's tone and pacing straight home and through the garage. The story itself encapsulated the current and noteworthy topics of Americana perfectly. The characters were so spot on from start to finish. It was beautiful and painful and an immensely relevant story.