Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
Meet the Newmans is Jennifer Niven’s first adult novel, following several young adult (YA) novels, including Breathless and the incredible All the Bright Places. But does her first adult novel live up to her YA offering? Let’s find out.
Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven summary
For twenty years, the Newmans have lived their lives with the world watching. Husband Del writes and directs their TV show, Meet the Newmans. Meanwhile, Dinah acts and lives as the perfect housewife while their sons, Guy and Shep, are adored by everyone. The line between fiction and reality is blurred for all of them, but they all have secrets hidden from the show and its viewers.
However, 1964 is very different to the 1940s, when the show began. As the boys become men and yearn to live lives they don’t have to hide, Dinah realises she’s far more than just a housewife. As their dissatisfaction bubbles beneath the surface, Del is hiding the fact that the show sponsors are pulling out, and the future of the show is in doubt.
Driving home from a meeting, Del has a terrible car accident and he’s put into a medical coma to help him survive. Left to fend for themselves, Dinah, Guy and Shep have the opportunity to say something real, change their lives and the face of modern television.
Top 3 Meet the Newmans quotes
“Why should a woman accept this picture of a half-life, instead of a share in the whole of human destiny?”
“Here’s the thing about girls — sometimes we’re stronger than you think…”
“It’s important to give of yourself, … But you have to keep something for yourself.”
Meet the Newmans review
This novel is going to draw obvious comparisons to The Truman Show, due to the reality TV aspect, even though the Newmans are fully aware of their situation. However, this is very much its own beast.
Meet the Newmans starts as a story about a classic cookie-cutter family TV show, but quickly exposes the cracks in its foundations. Dinah is the main focus of the novel. In her 40s, she’s feeling her body change and her family drifting away. She is taken for granted and underestimated by everyone. How can she go on portraying a perfect 40s housewife in the 60s, when that world doesn’t exist anymore? Just as she’s questioning it all, a female journalist inspires her to push for more. Instead of making women feel less than for not being perfect, she decides to highlight how much room there is for change.
Guy and Shep are also trapped between their lives on and off screen. Guy’s best friend is far more than a friend, and Shep’s desperate to make his own music while pining after the one woman he can’t have.
Del’s accident gives the three other family members a chance to assess what they want from their lives, and it’s a pleasure to go on that journey with them.
Is Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven worth reading?
I listened to the Meets the Newmans audiobook, and absolutely loved it. So yes, it’s definitely worth reading. Some may accuse it of being heavy handed with the feminist messaging at the end, and I wouldn’t disagree, but I still really enjoyed it.
The build up of Dinah’s rage at being fobbed off, ignored and underestimated boils your blood. Whereas Guy’s storyline filled me with sadness. Storylines about anyone hiding who they are really get to me. As for Shep, in short, he f*cked around and found out, so I didn’t have too much sympathy for him.
Overall, the characters are lovable and understandable, while the plot races on, always keeping you entertained. Funny, feisty and impactful, I hope you enjoy Meet the Newmans as much as I did.
If you like the sound of this, you’ll love my review of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.
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