The Smash-Up

A Novel

By Ali Benjamin | Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

About the book

Smart, sublime, and wickedly clever, The Smash-Up captures—then transcends—our current polarized moment
 
“An exhilarating ride . . . hilarious . . . a modern and energetic story about a marriage on the skids.”—The New York Times
 
Ethan has always been one of the good guys, and for years, nobody has appreciated this fact more than his wife, Zo. Until now. Jolted into activism by the 2016 election, Zo’s transformed their home into the headquarters for the local resistance, turning their comfortable decades-long marriage inside-out.

Meanwhile, their boisterous daughter, Alex, grows wilder by the day. Ethan’s former business partner needs help saving the media company they’d co-founded. Financial disaster looms. Enter a breezy, blue-haired millennial making her way through the gig economy. Suddenly Ethan faces a choice unlike any he’s ever had to make.
 
Unfolding over fivet urbulent days in 2018, The Smash-Up wrestles shrewdly with some of the biggest questions of our time: What, exactly, does it mean to be a good guy? What will it take for men to break the “bro code”? How does the world respond when a woman demands more?  Can we ever understand another's experiences… and what are the consequences of failing to try? Moving, funny, and cathartic, this portrait of a marriage—and a nation—under strain is, ultimately, a magic trick of empathy, one that will make you laugh and squirm until its final, breathless pages.

Editions of The Smash-Up

Hardcover
ISBN 9780593229651
Paperback
ISBN 9780593229675
Paperback
ISBN 9780593401415
EBook
ISBN 9780593229668
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9780593394007
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9780593394014

Read an Excerpt

Smart, sublime, and wickedly clever, The Smash-Up captures—then transcends—our current polarized moment
 
“An exhilarating ride . . . hilarious . . . a modern and energetic story about a marriage on the skids.”—The New York Times
 
Ethan has always been one of the good guys, and for years, nobody has appreciated this fact more than his wife, Zo. Until now. Jolted into activism by the 2016 election, Zo’s transformed their home into the headquarters for the local resistance, turning their comfortable decades-long marriage inside-out.

Meanwhile, their boisterous daughter, Alex, grows wilder by the day. Ethan’s former business partner needs help saving the media company they’d co-founded. Financial disaster looms. Enter a breezy, blue-haired millennial making her way through the gig economy. Suddenly Ethan faces a choice unlike any he’s ever had to make.
 
Unfolding over fivet urbulent days in 2018, The Smash-Up wrestles shrewdly with some of the biggest questions of our time: What, exactly, does it mean to be a good guy? What will it take for men to break the “bro code”? How does the world respond when a woman demands more?  Can we ever understand another's experiences… and what are the consequences of failing to try? Moving, funny, and cathartic, this portrait of a marriage—and a nation—under strain is, ultimately, a magic trick of empathy, one that will make you laugh and squirm until its final, breathless pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Smash-Up about?

Smart, sublime, and wickedly clever, The Smash-Up captures—then transcends—our current polarized moment
 
“An exhilarating ride . . . hilarious . . . a modern and energetic story about a marriage on the skids.”—The New York Times
 
Ethan has always been one of the good guys, and for years, nobody has appreciated this fact more than his wife, Zo. Until now. Jolted into activism by the 2016 election, Zo’s transformed their home into the headquarters for the local resistance, turning their comfortable decades-long marriage inside-out.

Meanwhile, their boisterous daughter, Alex, grows wilder by the day. Ethan’s former business partner needs help saving the media company they’d co-founded. Financial disaster looms. Enter a breezy, blue-haired millennial making her way through the gig economy. Suddenly Ethan faces a choice unlike any he’s ever had to make.
 
Unfolding over fivet urbulent days in 2018, The Smash-Up wrestles shrewdly with some of the biggest questions of our time: What, exactly, does it mean to be a good guy? What will it take for men to break the “bro code”? How does the world respond when a woman demands more?  Can we ever understand another's experiences… and what are the consequences of failing to try? Moving, funny, and cathartic, this portrait of a marriage—and a nation—under strain is, ultimately, a magic trick of empathy, one that will make you laugh and squirm until its final, breathless pages.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Smash-Up?

Fiction > Family life fiction / Stories about family

Where can I read a sample of The Smash-Up?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780593229651

Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Smash-Up?

Ali Benjamin

Who is the Publisher of the book The Smash-Up?

Random House Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

The Smash-Up is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780593229651) and paperback(ISBN 9780593229675) and paperback(ISBN 9780593401415) and ebook(ISBN 9780593229668) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780593394007) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780593394014)

Where can I buy The Smash-Up online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy The Smash-Up from below

Where can I buy The Smash-Up?