The Very Unremarkable Life of Mrs. Etty Bloom

by Talya Jankovits

In the insulated Hasidic community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, tradition and cultural norms are as sacred as religion. Childhood friendships are cultivated to climb social ladders, matchmakers dictate futures, and young girls are primed for marriage and motherhood. So, when Etty Greenberger, a headstrong redhead and the only child of Holocaust survivors, commits one ugly and thoughtless act, she believes she has sabotaged her opportunity to secure a desirable match. Reluctantly, she agrees to marry Benji Bloom, a fishmonger's son far below her marital aspirations, becoming Mrs. Etty Bloom. With each passing year, Etty grows further from the life she had hoped for, filled with disappointment and delusions of grandeur. As she grapples with loss, grief, and the challenges of motherhood, she also discovers friendship, love, and joy in the most unexpected places. It may take a lifetime, but Etty Bloom finally learns that an unremarkable life can be remarkable after all.

Genres: Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2026

About the author

Talya Jankovits is an award-winning writer of poetry, essays, and fiction. Her poetry collection, girl woman wife mother (Kelsay Books, 2024), received First Place in Contemporary Poetry in the 2024 Bookfest Awards. Her novel, The Very Unremarkable Life of Mrs. Etty Bloom, (Running Wild Press) is forthcoming in June 2026. She holds her MFA in Creative Writing and resides in Chicago with her husband and four daughters.

Reviews

[Marya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Kaye Publicity for providing me a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was so absolutely absorbed by this novel! In it, we get the story of Mrs. Etty Bloom’s life, taking us from her birth to her death, with so many emotional moments along the way. At its heart, it is such a *human* story; I felt so connected to this fictional character, even as someone who had previously been barely familiar with the Hasidic community.

Etty is born to parents who were survivors of the Holocaust, their only child, and their only living relative. This definitely has an impact on her life, as do the customs and the insular community she is a part of.

This novel read to me sort of like a series of essays of her life, with stories of growing up (and the mistakes we make along the way, that may haunt us forever more 😢), mothers and fathers, marriage, motherhood, fertility issues, and so much more. And even though her life was shaped so differently to mine, I still found myself relating to many of her experiences, and just fell so in love with Etty and her very real-feeling *personality*.

The writing was so strong throughout (and heads up, there’s a glossary in the back for anyone unfamiliar with Yiddish 👍). I really was hooked from page 1, and breezed through this novel as I found I couldn’t put it down.

(And when I tell you I really grew attached, I’m sitting here tearing up writing this review, remembering so many moments, especially after that *extremely* moving ending. [So realistic, so tread carefully if you’re in a delicate moment with parental/familial end of life.])

If you love character driven stories, and enjoy exploring life in a community you may not be familiar with, I highly recommend this one. Such a terrific read. I just loved Etty so much. 🫶

What this book is giving:
✅ Character Driven Novel
✅ Insulated Hasidic Community
✅ Williamsburg, Brooklyn
✅ From Birth to Death
✅ Childhood
✅ Families
✅ Marriage
✅ Motherhood

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

[Marleene · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page, and the entry of a loudly screaming red headed baby named Etty, the reader is captured with Jankovits’ novel. Her prose soars, displaying her talent and skills in crafting together sentences of magic - but it is her ability to construct a novel of immense beauty and wonder that awes her reader

Etty’s life is quiet and prosaic. She spends it entirely within a small neighborhood in Brooklyn that is home to Chassidic Jews, a group unfamiliar and exotic to the bulk of English readers. Uniquely with books of a similar background, Etty does not long to escape the confines of her society, but she does long to rise to the top of her social order, to be admired by her peers for her unique abilities. This is the driving force of her life, impacting her relationships with family, friends and community.

The novel unfolds Etty’s life layer upon layer, from her first words to her last breath. We are privy to her dreams and disappointments, her scheming, her remorse, her relentless drive to be unique and special. In this telling, Jankovits crafts a novel of quiet beauty and universal truths. The pages are filled with entirely believable characters, with compelling examinations of childhood, marriage, aging; with sly humor as well as a unique portrait of a social group that proudly steps to the beat of a unique drum.

Etty Bloom is a character that will resonate with each reader, one who steps out of the pages of a book and leaves an indelible portrait of a woman who is unforgettable and destined for immortality.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Etty Bloom, a woman growing up in Brooklyn's close-knit Hasidic community, as she navigates marriage, motherhood, family expectations, grief, and the gap between the life she imagined for herself and the life she actually gets.

What I enjoyed most about this book was Etty herself. She isn't always likable, and she makes plenty of mistakes, but she felt incredibly real. Following her through the decades felt like listening to someone tell the story of their life, complete with all the regrets, disappointments, joys, and lessons learned along the way.

The novel explores many aspects of life, from growing up as the child of Holocaust survivors to marriage, friendship, fertility struggles, parenthood, and the pressure to live up to expectations.

It was hard for me to connect with every part of the story fully but I was still invested in Etty's journey and found the ending both touching and satisfying.

A thoughtful and character-driven story about learning that a life doesn't have to look extraordinary to be meaningful.

Thank you so much Kaye Publicity & Talya Jankovits for the #gifted ecopy!
All opinions are my own 🖤

[Devorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became so attached to Talyas charachters. I loved every minute of this book. Some moments I laughed out loud. I cried. I got frustrated and angry with Etty..and for her. It was like a roller coaster of emotions spanning her life. And even though I knew it was coming.. I was so sad she died. I wanted more.
I found humor in the constant theme of her imagining her death in these remarkable and fascinating scenarios... Wished I had a Nonna neighbor. I felt the most for Sorala; she was the most grounded of them all, content with her lot despite all burdens she carried.
A fantastic debut novel for all readers of all backgrounds. For anyone who thinks they love an ordinary life and wish things were more remarkable.

[Catherine Norselli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Very Unremarkable Life of Mrs. Etty Bloom was a heartfelt and thought-provoking read. I especially enjoyed learning about the Hasidic community and seeing how the effects of World War II shaped the lives of Holocaust survivors as they built new homes and families in America. The story also explores how that trauma, tradition, and resilience impacted future generations. What stayed with me most was Etty’s journey. While she didn’t get the life she envisioned, she never stopped fighting to find happiness through her children, her faith, her traditions, and the life she created. A moving reminder that even an “unremarkable” life can be filled with meaning.

[Meg Richman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was remarkable. Jankovits takes us inside the skin, inside the mind, inside the heart of a profoundly flawed character who also has a host of admirable traits, and is capable of profound insights (even if she can't always hold on to them.) WE gain the insights: how a humble seeming man may be a great gift, how a disabled child may not be a punishment from God but rather a mark of respect for one's parenting ability, and how an absolutely normal life without celebrity or noticed accomplishment is like all our lives. Important, meaningful and even holy.

[Ellyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page of this book is like stepping into a Jewish home. You can smell the smells, feel the feelings, hear the sounds of the older generation and stories that you heard growing up. I will continue to pass this book on to my family members.

All Etty Bloom wanted out of life was a nice Jewish home and a loving Jewish family. The story unfolds in the way that we have all brought up, which is happiness and sadness, love and tears. It’s called LIFE!

This is a remarkable debut novel ❤️✡️📕

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable

Though Etty Bloom’s life seems unremarkable, author Talya Jankovits has captured the voice of the NY immigrant Jewish community very well. The smells of the traditional foods and superstitious beliefs of the time period .
The plot keeps you engaged until the end, always hoping maybe that Etty will find clarity and become a better person.
A wonderful lesson in humility, tzedukah and being your best self.

[sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one too insular. Writing was good but if you are not from the community it felt off putting

[Lynne Golodner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, funny, heartfelt, wrenching, and original novel that offered so many surprises!! I loved every minute of reading this truly unique story.