Author: Jennifer Newman
Year published: 2026
Category: Adult fiction
Pages: 400
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location: (my 2025 Google Reading map): USA (CA)
Summary: For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favorite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now it’s 1964, and the Newmans’ idealized apple-pie perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch. Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb―literally. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and the charmed luck of rock ‘n roll idol Shep may have finally run out.
When Del―the creative motor behind the show―is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken, impassioned young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964. Can the Newmans hold it together to change television history? Or will they be canceled before they ever have the chance?
Review: 1964? Television? Funny? Sold.
This novel really is a study in a moment in time: 1964 USA, a time when fashions, television (color TV was new!), music, and attitudes were changing. The Newmans are a great family to use to show these changes as they move (painfully) from the safe, proper, traditional family roles (in real life and in their television show about their family) to the faster-paced, rock n' roll, women's liberation, days of experimentation.
I liked the family dynamics, the issues that were raised (so many!), and watching the family morph into something new, but just as strong. Yes, it all happened too quickly, and yes, almost every social issue was covered, so it was a bit much, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I think the cover of the novel was well designed: it gives the feeling of the era and the fact that Dinah is blowing a bubble suggests sass. If you want a fun read that will make you laugh and cringe, this is a good one.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Alphabet (Author)--N
- Cover Lovers--a balloon (ok, it's a stretch, but she is blowing a bubble, and I am counting that for a balloon)
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