A family vacation dredges up a boatload of trouble in the next witty, insightful novel from the acclaimed author of The Intermission.“An irresistible drama filled with humor and heart-tugging emotion about family and what it means to belong. I absolutely adore Friedland’s warm, witty writing!”—Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All We Ever WantedSink or swim. Or at least that’s … Wanted
Sink or swim. Or at least that’s what Annette Feldman tells herself when she books a cruise for her entire family. It’s been over a decade since the Feldman clan has spent more than twenty-four hours under the same roof, but Annette is determined to celebrate her seventieth birthday the right way. Just this once, they are going to behave like an actual family.
Too bad her kids didn’t get the memo.
Between the troublesome family secrets, old sibling rivalries, and her two teenage grandkids, Annette’s birthday vacation is looking more and more like the perfect storm. Adrift together on the open seas, the Feldmans will each face the truths they’ve been ignoring—and learn that the people they once thought most likely to sink them are actually the ones who help them stay afloat.
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An irresistible drama filled with humor and heart-tugging emotion about family and what it means to belong. I absolutely adore Friedland’s warm, witty writing!
anyone who has a family of more than one can relate to this book of a family of adults coming together for the matriarch’s 70th birthday, on a cruise no less, with no place to escape. The things you think you know turn out to be the things you don’t know very quickly. Great, entertaining and humorous read
What a wonderful read! Nothing says drama like an extended family in the confines of a cruise ship. I expected this to be campy, but Friedland dove into much deeper issues while treating them with the light touch that made it both heartfelt and entertaining. Additionally, she did what few authors do well – she wrote an extensive cast in which each character felt distinct, memorable, and real. I look forward to reading more from her!
Elyssa Friedland’s premise is perfect. Take three generations of an estranged family, put them on a boat—a forced cruise to celebrate the matriarch’s 70th birthday—and let the dysfunction fly. A pleasure to read.
The Feldmans are a dysfunctional family. They all have secrets from each other and no one seems to understand anything about the other members of the family. The novel is told in multiple voices and we get to hear everyone’s opinions on family issues and on each other.
Annette is turning 70 and decides that she and her recently retired husband, David, should take the family on a cruise to celebrate. Their two children can barely spend a few days with them so a week long cruise is going to be different for all of them. Their son has always been a mystery to them – he never reached the goals that they had set for him and has always felt underappreciated. He shows up for the cruise with his new much younger girlfriend. Annette’s daughter, Elsie is married with two teen age children. There is little to no communication between her and her children and she is keeping a major secret from her husband…but is he also keeping a secret from her? With all this deception going on, spending 7 days on a cruise is either going to make them or break them….
This compelling novel is about being part of a family and trying to accept each other. The dash of humor that’s thrown in, makes it all the more realistic.
Long a master of insightful books about modern life and relationships, Friedland turns her formidable talents to the family cruise. Uproariously funny, yet heartfelt and true, The Floating Feldmans will have each reader seeing her own family fun and foibles in the choppy waters, laughing and crying at the same time to the very last wonderful page.
This book was just fun to read. The characters were well developed and the story was interesting. I enjoyed it.
I thought I was not going to like it when I started; however, really glad I hung in there. Really good family drama story…probably more truth than not.
This is fun brain candy to relax with!
Too many stereotypes and cliches.
It took a while for me to get into the book, but once I did I found the characters interesting and all of the secrets they were keeping kept me guessing what would happen next.
I guess this book was supposed to be a funny look at a dysfunctional family, but I honestly didn’t laugh at all. I felt the book was trying too hard to make things seem outrageous, e.g. the first scene in the book and the scene with the Baked Alaska.
I really didn’t care about any of the characters, they were all absorbed in their own worlds.
The premise of the story is that Annette, the matriarch of the family, is turning 70, so she and her husband, David, invite their children and grandchildren to take a cruise together.
Elise and Freddy, siblings, haven’t seen each other in quite some time. Elise is married to Mitch, and they have 2 children, Rachel and Darius. Freddy has a young girlfriend named Natasha. Elise and Mitch are both hiding secrets. Freddy hasn’t told his family of his enormous success as the owner of a medical marijuana company. Annette hasn’t told the family that David is dying.
While on the cruise, the family continues to be self-absorbed, and eventually everything comes to a head and secrets are spilled.
I thought this book was mediocre, but it did have some OK parts, just not enough.
#TheFloatingFeldmans #ElyssaFriedland
Fun light read
didn’t match-up to reviews
An enjoyable read
I really enjoyed the story.
Did not enjoy
This was a great read–I couldn’t put it down! I want to read all her books now. I’m reading another one now.
Loved this booK!!! The characters were engaging, it was funny and entertaining!
Very enjoyable read. Very funny.