First published 1961
Frank and April Wheeler believe they're destined for greatness. But as they settle into a stifling suburban life, their hopes and marriage slowly disintegrate. When April hatches a plan to move the family to Paris, Frank must confront the void beneath their comfortable facade. Yates's unflinching novel lays bare the quiet desperation and bitter compromises of the American Dream.
Genres: literary-fiction, domestic-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: disillusionment, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Connecticut
Period: 1955
463 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: depression, emotional-abuse, mental-illness