Audible Book Review: This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

 

If you enjoy stories about dysfunctional families meandering through life, you will want to grab This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman. 

With a title taken from something one of the characters said, this story opens with many of the Rubenstiens huddled around Sylvia and Helen's youngest sister, Jeanne, who is dying of cancer. A misunderstanding over an apple cake after Jeanne's death leads to a decade during which Sylvia and Helen do not speak to one another. As life burbles along, some family members divorce, others rediscover lost passions, and some find love again. Filled with angst and conflict, This is Not About Us will tug at your heartstrings. 

This is Not About Us is the first book I've read by Goodman. I found it overflowing with so many characters that I didn't care for, that despite hearing that Isola is wonderful, I'm not sure I want to try again. Family drama is engaging. Dysfunction is okay, but some of these characters, like Helen, are insufferable. And because there are so many characters to keep track of, it made the book drag for me. I wonder if I would feel differently if I had a printed book than the Audible version. The narrator wasn't my favorite in the beginning, but she did grow on me. 

Out of all the characters, the only one that kept me reading is Violet, who receives a special gift from her aunt Jeanne. Watching Violet's transformation throughout the story was a true glimmer of joy and hope in a world filled with discontent. 

Goodman's This is Not About Us offers a family drama that might be too realistic for my tastes. Other readers have truly enjoyed it, so give it a shot if its premise sounds promising. 

Listening Length	12 hours and 11 minutes
Author	Allegra Goodman
Narrator	Kimberly Farr
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	February 10, 2026
Publisher	Random House Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0FKTPFNFT

I own a copy of this book on Audible. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.