Wellness
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
624
Novel • Fiction
•
Historical Fiction•
RomanceChicago, Illinois • 2010s
•
Loneliness•
Love2023
Knopf
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Wellness by Nathan Hill, Jack and Elizabeth, a couple from the 1990s Chicago art scene, struggle with their faltering marriage and disconnection two decades later. As they navigate parenthood, career challenges, and their past traumas, their story alternates between key moments in their shared and individual histories, reflecting on how past experiences shape their present lives and relationships. Topics include infidelity, parental neglect, and unresolved familial grief.
Contemplative
Emotional
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
95,354 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Nathan Hill's Wellness is widely appreciated for its intricate narrative and deeply developed characters, blending humor and pathos effectively. Critics praise Hill's insightful exploration of contemporary relationships and societal challenges. However, some find the pacing uneven and the plot occasionally meandering. Overall, it's considered a thought-provoking and engaging read.
Who Should Read Wellness?
Readers who relish character-driven narratives about modern relationships will adore Nathan Hill's Wellness. With its nuanced exploration of marriage and personal growth, it appeals to fans of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom or Meg Wolitzer's The Interestings. Ideal for those seeking introspective and emotionally rich storytelling.
95,354 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Jack’s wife, who is highly independent and shaped by her wealthy upbringing, constantly seeks new interests and battles feelings of guilt and insecurity about her marriage and career.
A confident and controlling full-time parent with a strong sense of corporate professionalism, who actively participates in her community and holds conservative, religion-based views.
Jack's father, a traditional Midwestern rancher who struggles with emotional expression and connection with his son, ultimately seeking reconciliation as he faces health challenges.
624
Novel • Fiction
•
Historical Fiction•
RomanceChicago, Illinois • 2010s
•
Loneliness•
Love2023
Knopf
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 10,900+ additional titles.