Invisible as Air

Starred review from August 1, 2019

Sylvie Snow is struggling, though it isn't apparent from the outside. She has a great career, a triathlete husband, and a fun and quirky son growing up way too quickly--wasn't it just yesterday he was a toddler? How is it already time to plan his bar mitzvah? Everything is strained for Sylvie, though. She can barely stand it when her husband breaks his ankle and relies on her for every. tiny. thing. She's disconnected from her family and friends, especially in these last three years since the stillbirth of daughter Delilah. On the anniversary of Delilah's death, facing another day of playing nursemaid to an increasingly cranky Paul, Sylvie decides to try just one of the hydrocodone pills he was prescribed. He refuses to take any; it won't be missed, and she's familiar with the "hillbilly heroin" stories. She is certain she won't become addicted, but soon Sylvie finds that she's a better person on the pills: nicer, happier, a better mom and wife. And she needs the pills to be the person she likes. VERDICT A fast-paced, compelling read, Fishman's latest (after Inheriting Edith) is an excellent choice for book clubs and recommended for fans of Jodi Picoult.--Julie Kane, Washington & Lee Lib., Lexington, VA

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 23, 2019
Fishman’s affecting latest (after Inheriting Edith) tracks the impact of opioid addiction on a grieving family in an Atlanta suburb. Sylvie Snow, 46; her triathlete husband, Paul; and 12-year-old-son, Teddy, mourn stillborn Delilah. On the third anniversary of Delilah’s death, Sylvie tries one of Paul’s Oxycodone pills, which a doctor prescribed for his broken ankle, but he never took. Sylvie discovers a more confident, seemingly capable version of herself, and finally commemorates Delilah’s death by lighting a yahrzeit candle. Noticing the change in Sylvie, Paul regrets the glut of workout gear bought to fill the void he felt from her distance and the loss of their daughter. Meanwhile, Teddy overcomes his escapist habit of watching movies alone after his girlfriend encourages him to host a movie night at a retirement home for his bar mitzvah project. After Sylvie speeds through Paul’s prescription and a refill, she resorts to drastic measures to acquire more pills, stealing them from a co-worker and sleeping with Paul’s best friend, and the family’s burst of renewal dims. Fishman’s lively prose, punctuated with volleys of incisive wit and mouthy irreverence, propels the gloomy story. This convincing portrayal of a struggling family will captivate readers.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
On the surface, Sylvie Snow has everything together. She lives in a comfortable suburban home, she's a member of the PTA, and she has a lovely family. Under the surface, Sylvie, her husband Paul, and their son, Teddy, are mourning the loss of a stillborn daughter, Delilah. Paul channeled his grief into a shopping addiction, buying every exercise gadget under the sun. Sylvie has buried most of her feelings, refusing to process her grief with the rest of her family. Facing the third anniversary of Delilah's death, desperate to numb the rising tide of emotions, Sylvie decides to try one of her husband's old pain pills. The pill's effects are sneakily sudden, turning an experiment into a full-blown addiction. As Sylvie descends further into the grip of addiction, she faces the stark reality of her choices. Fishman (Inheriting Edith, 2016) brings her signature style to a timely topic, illustrating the opioid epidemic in a realistic setting and allowing Sylvie's choices to speak for themselves. Largely narrated by Sylvie, with interjections from Paul and Teddy, Invisible as Air takes readers on a raw and wild ride. Fans of Liane Moriarty and Jessica Levine especially should take note.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)