(Subdue) I'm Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan - 3 stars

[Ellen]

As the sole bread winner for her family of four, Penelope Ruiz-Kar has been feeling pressure to excel and anxiety when she feels that she has fallen short of the mark. Her husband Sanjay had moved the family from New York City to the Midwest in order to attend medical school. When he quickly realized that was not his dream career goal he dropped out and became a house husband, more or less. Most chores and child-rearing still fell to Penny as Sanjay spent his days writing and his evenings practicing with a garage band. Penny's high-pressure job and demanding boss feed into her ever deepening unhappiness. After a shocking tragedy involving Penny's best friend she decides that she and Sanjay need to fix their marriage if it is even salvageable. Each produces a list of what they want from one another with the main goal being complete honesty. Sometimes there can be too much honesty and Penny will need to decide if she is truly living her best life.

The premise of the book was interesting but the two main characters bothered me a bit. I can't imagine a man coasting through life with the burden of everything resting on his wife's shoulders. And why would she allow it? I suppose it happens all the time but I can't respect that attitude. It is a pleasant enough story with two people who are at least willing to change.