All Afternoon: A Novel

by Susan Kleinman

Warmhearted, funny, and relatable, All Afternoon is a powerful debut about the quiet ache of losing yourself and the courageous work of finding your way back.

River Ridge, New Jersey, 1978:

As feminism takes root in this tight-knit Jewish community, women are opening businesses, rethinking their marriages, and challenging their synagogue’s long-standing rules.

Not Marilyn Weisfeld.

Once a promising writer, Marilyn gave up her literary dreams twenty years ago when she married Jerry, a self-important professor of economics. Now, she’s too busy raising children, braiding challahs, and entertaining her husband’s insufferable colleagues to think about what else her life might have held… until the night an old friend comes to dinner.

Bestselling author Henry Goldfarb remembers Marilyn's early short stories. He remembers HER. When he encourages her to start writing again, she catches glimpses of a more fulfilling life she could be living – if only she can find the courage to reach for it.

Caught between the comfort of old rhythms and the thrill of new possibilities, she will have to decide exactly what price she’s willing to pay to live bravely, authentically, and without regret.<

Genres: Historical Fiction, Jewish, Fiction, Literary Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

I'm the author of ALL AFTERNOON, recently published as an Amazon "hot new release" in Jewish American Fiction, a top-10 release in Suburban Fiction, and a Bookstagrammer favorite.

Before writing my novel, I had short stories published in The American Literary Review, The Baltimore Review, CRAFT Literary, and JewishFiction.com, and my articles have run in dozens of publications in the U.S. and abroad, including The New York Times, New York Magazine, House Beautiful, Cosmopolitan, and Hadassah. (Yep: I am both a “Cosmo Girl” AND a “Hadassah Lady.”)

I earned my BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and I was a Kathryn Gurfein Writing Fellow at Sarah Lawrence College, where I later taught fiction writing and workshops on overcoming writer’s block.

The mother of two grown-and-flown children, I live with my husband in the suburbs of New York, where I write in an office the color of Harold’s Purple Crayon. I highly recommend it. Life is too short for beige.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful debut novel from the extremely talented Susan Kleinman. I stretched out the reading of this book because I wanted it to last. Loved the protagonist Marilyn and rooted for her until the very last page. Her husband Jerry was perfectly detestable. The references to life in the 1970s brought me right back to my childhood. Marilyn made the hard choices that were so much more difficult in the 70s. She’s a truly relatable character and I so enjoyed following her journey. Highly recommend!

[robin polin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!! I don’t usually reach for books like this, so I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I was rooting for Marilyn until the very end, and I can imagine how relatable other women in that time must have felt. Her journey of self-discovery really stayed with me and how she learned how to choose herself without losing her beliefs and her care for others. I can’t wait to see what comes next!!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is set in 1978 in a small town in New Jersey. Main character Marilyn is a wife and mom to 4 who went to college and wanted to be a writer but gave that all up when she married young. But between her husband’s total lack of appreciation, the movement for side hustles for women and bat mitzvahs for girls in her family and community, and her growing friendship with a writer friend of her husband’s, she starts to wonder if she wants more from her life than being the consummate homemaker.

I loved this one! Marilyn was a terrific character and I really felt for her and was vigorously rooting for her to have a feminist awakening! As someone who grew up in NJ in the 1970s (though I was quite young, only the age of Marilyn’s youngest daughter), the setting really felt spot on. And I absolutely loved the Jewish representation which was so wonderfully woven throughout the book.

So glad I met Susan at a book event last year which put this book on my radar and many thanks to her for a very cute package including this book. All opinions are my own.

[Galia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the writing the characters and the pacing. The way they all balance but don’t take over the plot lines everything was just so balanced. The ending was perfect. It made me cry which is rare in a book for me. I loved this and will read it again and again!

[Brenna P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Stayed up way too late just to finish this and it left me so emotional at the end. Marilyn is one of the most achingly real characters I’ve read in a long time. I wanted to hug her and shake her and cheer her on. And yell at her to just call Henry already!!
Such a beautiful book

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

We follow Marilyn, a modern orthodox Jewish woman, 39 in the late 70s set in NJ. As a good wife and mother she is the perfect homemaker to her husband Jerry and four daughters.
She slowly starts to rediscover her own wants, needs and ambitions. An author friend Henry opens her eyes to new possibilities. She is mostly overlooked and undervalued, but you really root for her. Unhappy with her marriage, but unable to leave because of social pressure and a lack of funds.
I found it a pity that Jerry has no redeemable qualities. I wish there was a glimpse of why she married him, and stayed married to him.
The relationship between her and her sister Bernice is so beautiful and supportive.
The book is very tender, melancholy but still witty and gives a beautiful vignette into what it is like to be a homemaker.
I really enjoyed reading this book and commend Kleinman on writing a book about Jewish joy.

[Elisheva Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of All Afternoon, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I really felt for Marilyn and loved watching her grow into herself, rather than staying confined to the role she’d ended up in. Jerry made me so angry - wow. I also loved all the Jewish references, which felt really different and fun for me in a book. I’m excited to see what Susan Kleinman writes next!

[sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down. Really good read Two thumbs up

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Kleinman's All Afternoon is a compelling novel about Marilyn, who is part of the orthodox community, discovering her true self and trying to live her best life. I was rooting for Marilyn from page one. This debut novel is beautifully written with well developed characters. I can hardly wait for Ms. Kleinman's next book!

[Books With Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author, and I'm so glad I did! This book is wonderful and had me turning pages so fast. This is the story of an Orthodox housewife in the 1970s who realizes that life can be more than what she's allowing in. I loved that the ending was expected yet unexpected at the same time - I can't say much more without giving spoilers. This is a great read for anyone looking for something that's just so enjoyable, encouraging, and feminist ♥️

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.75 stars)
Thank you so much to Susan Kleinman, the author, for allowing me the privilege of reading an advance copy of her fabulous debut novel, All Afternoon. I devoured it as quickly as I could and yet I wanted to draw out the experience just a little longer because I really didn’t want to leave these characters!

The story revolves around Marilyn, who is turning 40 in 1978. She’s married with four daughters, ranging from a teenager to a 4-year-old, and living in suburban New Jersey. She lives a modern Orthodox Jewish life, with her husband, Jerome/Jerry, an economics professor at the local college. He got his PhD at Columbia (which he tells everyone all the time) but is frustrated because he couldn’t get a position at an Ivy League school. I have to admit that I absolutely could NOT stand Jerry and was amazed at how much Marilyn put up with. He was the worst, totally taking her for granted. Marilyn graduated college and wanted to be a writer, but wound up supporting her husband and raising the kids, cleaning the house (and I do mean cleaning - she cleaned stuff you can’t imagine!), cooking gourmet meals that he didn’t appreciate, for him and for formal dinner parties for his colleagues. The man is the epitome of the phrase “male chauvinist pig.” I’ve never been so grateful for my wonderful husband!!

Anyway, as Bob Dylan sang (more than a decade before this book took place), The Times They Are A-Changing. And Marilyn is slowly realizing that she wants more out of life. Her peers are starting home-based businesses like gift baskets and calligraphy. (I remember my older cousin doing the same thing! She even opened a store with a friend.) And she reconnects with an old friend of Jerry’s, Henry, who is a famous writer. He gives her an advance copy of his upcoming book to read and critique, and he encourages her to resume her writing, remembering how good her short stories were. This turns into Marilyn escaping her everyday existence and taking the train into Manhattan every Wednesday to meet up with Henry. (She has to make a LOT of arrangements in order to get this time for herself.) They talk and eat tuna sandwiches, but a closeness grows. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone, so I’ll leave it there. Read it and see what I’m talking about!

I just adored Marilyn’s second oldest daughter, Sharon. She was so inventive, making up lyrics to familiar tunes at a moment’s notice. There’s a section on the new-ish idea of girls having a Bat Mitzvah ceremony of sorts that causes controversy in this Orthodox community. Sharon is the right age for this and this sub-story just broke my heart. (My Reform synagogue didn’t do Bat Mitzvahs either, back when, so I related hard to this.)

Marilyn is so conflicted, wanting to be a wonderful wife and mother and yet chafing at how she is viewed and the restrictions on her life. This book should appeal to everyone, whether they remember the 1970s or not.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful that I got a chance to read All Afternoon. I enjoyed so much about it and found a lot of things relatable (except for the absolute prick of a husband). I felt emotionally connected and picked it up every chance I got. It was nice to read about a character a bit closer in age who is also Modern Orthodox. There were lots of Jewish references and scenes set during Shabbat and holidays. 

There's an aspect of this novel that reminds me of the movie Waitress. When you read it, I think you'll know what I'm talking about. 

What I liked a lot was that things weren't perfect for Marilyn. The story went in a different direction than I expected, but it also felt realistic to go in that direction. I also like that this story takes place in the late seventies, which was a simpler time and didn't push the characters into being on social media. They had to communicate by actually picking up a phone to call someone. Or by sending a letter in the mail. 

Jerry was so awful that I kept sending messages to Susan Kleinman to tell her how much I couldn't stand him. And he was the husband! That's the sign of a well-written villain. I even told my husband how I was annoyed that this man sang "Eshet Chayil" but then disrespected his wife so often.

Overall, an impressive debut with great dialogue and lots of humor. I especially loved the song parodies. It's perfect for fans of Sara Goodman Confino. I even feel inspired to write short stories again and I am now participating in a writing challenge as a result. (Here is my first short story.)

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Marilyn: Yael Stone
Jerry: Jason Schwartzman
Henry: John Magaro (Funny enough, I think he and Yael were paired up in Orange is the New Black)
Bernice: Jane Levy

Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*
TW: Death of parents, death of sibling, emotional abuse, emotional infidelity

[Cheryl Sokoloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I received my advanced release copy of All Afternoon from Susan Kleinman, I said I would read the book slowly, after all publication day was months away. So I cracked it open. I even let Susan know I was at Chapter six (the first day). But as it turned out, I could not put Susan's debut novel aside when. I picked it up again the next day.

I was completely drawn up into the world of Marilyn Weisfeld. In 1978, Marilyn is trying to make the best of her life as a housewife living in New Jersey. Before marrying her (detestable) husband, Dr. Jerry Weisfeld (phD), Marilyn was an aspiring author, with a couple of published short stories. As fate would have it, marriage steered her life away from a career in writing, into, the realm of domesticity.

Four children later, Marilyn's thoughts return to her unfulfilled dreams, when Jerry's (very successful) author friend, Henry (you just have to love Henry), is invited to the Weisfeld's for dinner. Henry rekindles a spark in Marilyn. She begins to wonder is it even possible for her to consider going back to writing? What about her family? What would her modern orthodox Jewish community think of her changing course, with a husband and four daughters (those daughters, they are all so different, but each one, is so loveable). What will Marilyn choose?

As you can tell, I loved all the characters Susan created for this book. By the way, I would feel awful if I did not mention Bernice, Marilyn's beloved sister. All the characters in the book are, as they say, fully fleshed out. There is also lots of humor in this book. Susan is very witty (I could tell, even from her instagram account) and, for example, the youngest daughter attends Torah Tots Nursery School (love it). But there are serious and heartbreaking moments in the book as well.

All Afternoon is a beautiful, heartfelt, coming of age story and I feel so fortunate to have received an ARC from the author. Pre-order your copy now so you can start reading All Afternoon on Publication Day: April 21st, 2026. By then the seders (and Passover) will be done. Treat yourself to a reward!

[kglibrarian (Karin Greenberg) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading bliss: the feeling of settling into a novel whose sentences fill you with a sense of wellbeing and anticipation. That’s the only way I can begin to describe my experience reading All Afternoon. Nostalgic, with humor and intelligence woven into every page, it’s a book that beautifully captures the human experiences of sacrifice, longing, and love.

Marilyn Weisfeld is a housewife in the suburb of River Ridge, New Jersey in the late 70s. In her Orthodox Jewish community, women do what’s expected of them. Cooking dinner, overseeing the children’s’ schedules, and above all, making sure their husbands are taken care of.

Though Marilyn is devoted to her four daughters, she can’t help but think back to her brief career as a writer. As she tolerates her husband, Jerry’s, praise of his young female colleagues at the local university, her lost dreams begin to resurface more often. When Henry, an old friend of Jerry’s, convinces Marilyn to give him feedback for his novel, his attention sparks something within her.

Marilyn begins to take secret trips into Manhattan to help Henry edit his writing. Not only do these little excursions awaken a sense of freedom in her, but they also cause her to question every aspect of her life. Feminism is beginning to spread, even in Marilyn’s religious community. When the women in her neighborhood start challenging the norms by creating businesses and pushing back against their gender roles, Marilyn is emboldened. She steals moments to write, reminding herself that she has the power to express herself in ways that go beyond what Jerry demands.

Funny, clever, romantic, and original, All Afternoon is an absolute delight to read. It reminded me of the Laurie Colwin books I devoured in the 90s and of the beloved All-Of-A-Kind family series I adored as a child. I loved this book so much and cant wait for Susan Kleinman to write her next one!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved All Afternoon. The story revolves around a Modern Orthodox woman who's dreams were crushed by society's expectations and a self centered husband. Set in the late 1970's, all around her, Marilyn's friends and neighbors are breaking free of the role of housewife and going to college or creating cottage businesses. But Marilyn, who actually graduated from college, had given up her dream of a career as a writer and traded it for cleaning things no one notices and making gourmet dinners that no one appreciates. Her husband Jerry is a self centered chauvinist, who takes her for granted. When she reconnects with one of her husband's old friends who happens to be a famous author, she finds someone who appreciates her opinions and her writing. The world opens up as she starts spending days with Henry who teaches her about writing. The author keeps the reader in suspense wondering weather Marilyn's friendship with Henry will evolve into something else, and even if it doesn't will ever leave her husband who only cares for himself.

The story has a lot of details of Jewish life with shabbat dinners, and holidays. There is a secondary plot that follows the recent movement for Bat Mitzvah. It was interesting that it was the feminists in the area who were pushing to have Bat Mitzvahs for their daughters. Jerry's disregard for his daughter's wishes to have one was heartbreaking for me. Having grown up in a reform congregation, I had no idea that a Bat Mitzvah was not yet a common practice in many orthodox congregations.

This moving story did not completely follow the plot line that I expected, what she wrote was a realistic story with a satisfying conclusion. I was riveted and spent all night reading "All Afternoon." I can't wait to read what this author dreams up next.

[Kelly - readinginthe419 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut novel from author Susan Kleinman! It's 1978 and Marilyn has settled into her life as a devoted homemaker, mother, and wife in her suburban neighborhood in New Jersey. Her dreams of a writing career are long in her past. Then an unexpected encounter with her husband's childhood friend lets her begin to think those dreams could still come true. After all, women from her neighborhood are starting new businesses and rethinking marriage, and girls are beginning to have bat mitzvahs. Gradually, Marilyn begins to understand that she's the only one who can make change happen.

I absolutely adored the protagonist Marilyn and cheered her on to the very last page. Her daughters were quite believable as well--rebellious oldest daughter Tammy, creative and musical Sharon (and my favorite as well as Marilyn's), good girl/people pleasing Deborah, and youngest daughter Elana. Her husband Jerry was a very stereotypical, absent father more concerned with himself and impressing colleagues than with caring about his family. There was plenty of 1970s nostalgia too, from lengthy phone cords to the AMC Pacer (which my mom really wanted, LOL)

While there are plenty of tense, sad moments through the story, it is full of warmth and humor and completely delightful as Marilyn's determination shines through. I appreciated the focus on Jewish life, traditions, and beliefs. Rounding up to 4.5 starts.

Thank you so much to Susan Kleinman sending me an advanced readers copy of this book. I highly recommend it to readers interested in the near history as women like Marilyn began to come into their own.

[Reader]

All Afternoon is an engaging, emotionally perceptive debut novel about marriage, ambition, religion, timing, and the lives people slowly realize they might have wanted for themselves. Set largely in the world of suburban Jewish academia, it follows Marilyn Weisfeld, a bright, talented woman who has spent years subsuming herself to the needs and ego of her husband, Jerry, an economics professor whose professional disappointments have curdled into resentment.

Into that life walks Henry Goldfarb, a successful writer and old family friend who recognizes Marilyn’s intelligence and creative gifts long before she fully allows herself to recognize them, too. What develops between them is less a conventional romance than a decades-long emotional connection built on conversation, longing, missed opportunities, and restraint.

What I especially admired was the novel’s sharp social observation and quiet humor. The faculty dinner parties, academic pretensions, family obligations, and rhythms of Orthodox Jewish life all feel richly lived-in and authentic. Kleinman is particularly good at capturing the accumulation of small compromises and disappointments that shape a marriage over time.

The prose is accessible and warm rather than showy, and the characters feel fully human—flawed, funny, frustrating, and sympathetic all at once. Most of all, this is a thoughtful, satisfying story about rediscovering oneself in midlife, and about the enduring possibility of connection, even after years have passed.

A very enjoyable read.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely flew through this wonderful debut novel. In All Afternoon, Susan Kleinman writes with remarkable honesty and clarity, bringing extraordinary attention, emotional nuance and precise detail to her story. She vividly evokes the late 1970s through Marilyn, a devoted mother of four daughters and the increasingly exasperated wife of the thankless Jerry, living in a Modern Orthodox Jewish community in New Jersey.

Marilyn faithfully fulfills her roles as housewife, hostess, and community member, yet she quietly observes as other women around her begin to explore their own identities and ambitions during a time when women are stepping into their power, finding meaningful work and leaving unsatisfying marriages.

As Marilyn reflects on her own abandoned dreams of being a writer, she realizes that her has never disappeared, and she is gently encouraged by Jerry’s best friend Henry, a celebrated author. They begin meeting one afternoon a week so Henry can hear Marilyn’s writing, which ofcouse complicates her life. But sometimes, clarity comes from
complication.

The pacing and structure of this novel are pitch-perfect, and the writing is tight, evocative, and emotionally resonant. I adored the cast of characters, all sharply drawn and distinct, especially Marilyn’s devoted sister, Bernice.

Kleinman inhabits Marilyn so fully that it’s hard to believe she isn’t real. I was invested in Marilyn’s journey every step of the way, and the ending felt both earned and deeply satisfying.

This is thoughtful and immersive must-read! Thank you Susan, for the honor of reading an advance copy!

5 giant, shiny 🌟 for this one!

[✦ Ellen’s Reviews ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the #gifted copy of 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻. It’s out now!

This warm and engrossing story, set in 1978, follows housewife Marilyn Weisfeld, who is beginning to have a feminist awakening. She once had promise as a writer but instead married right after college and began raising her four children in the New Jersey suburbs.

She is a devoted mother and wife to her very traditional husband Jerry who does not at all appreciate her efforts in the household. He is a self-important professor at the nearby college, and barely lifts a finger to help with the children or the household chores.

Marilyn’s daily life revolves around baking, cooking, preparing for weekly Shabbos dinners and caring for her daughters. Her insulated world shifts when bestselling author Henry Goldfarb reenters her orbit, stirring up her passion for writing.

This debut novel brilliantly captures the struggles of women redefining their roles amid the rise of feminism. I loved the descriptions of Marilyn’s close-knit Jewish community, and fondly remembered many of these same women from my own childhood.

This is a funny, relatable and inspiring story. Highly recommend!

[Stacey B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis writes that this book is "warmhearted, funny, and relatable." All true.
Set in 1978, there are so many topics woven through this book. Aside from being an observant jewish woman and mother with all responsibilities that go with it, one of these topics that took the lead for me recognizes our protagonist Marilyn as she makes the transformation in becoming her own person. She has been "standing by her man" every which way, regardless of degrading insults by her husband and his fellow professors, and her acquaintances. The author does an outstanding job with character development and description. In that regard, Marilyn is now paying attention to murmurs she hears from people and strangers about her husband Jerry's reputation.
An unlikable man who has a self inflated importance- truly a jerk. Ha, they should only know how he treats his wife.
I cant tell you how many times throughout this book I was rooting for Marilyn to leave. The story will set that stage as well.
What does it take to get to the point where you dont care anymore what people think?
And what do you do in the meantime.

[Rainywoods · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Afternoon by Susan Kleinman. I was engaged from start to finish. In the beginning of the book, I found myself laughing.  The 1970s references were familiar and laugh out loud funny.  From telephone cords and answering machines to Gunny Sax and Pacers... the number of times I cackled with amusement were many.  But as the story unfolded, I found myself feeling the weight of Marilyn's predicament.  As someone who came into adulthood during the 1970s, I witnessed the juxtaposition of tradition and independence.  I remember the joy of getting my first credit card... not until after my father co-signed.  The drum of second-wave feminism was still beating, but tradition is a powerful force, and Marilyn Weisfeld was caught between the two. But All Afternoon is about so much more... independence, relationships, commitment, responsibility, what we yearn for, and what we dread.  Ultimately, it's a love story... a self-love story... and while set in the 70s, it's a self-love story for the ages.  All Afternoon is scheduled for release on April 21st.

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I'm a fan of historical fiction, and loved even more that this one had Jewish representation and was also set in my home country of New Jersey. Marilyn was a great FMC, and I really got the 70s vibes Kleinman was trying to invoke. She was a housewife and a mother who tried to maintain society's expectations of her. I loved her growth throughout the book and how she came back to her passion for writing. I was iffy going in because it sounded like a cheating premise, but I actually really enjoyed how Kleinman set up the story. Jerry was terrible the entire time, and I genuinely wanted to punch him in the face, but it made sense to have him as the antagonist. I flew through this one and felt like I couldn't put it down. Bernice was a great side character, and I adored her and Marilyn's relationship. The self-discovery was so well done, and I couldn't believe this is Susan's first book. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy to read and review!

[Carrie Cappiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends - this book is an absolute delight! I read it from cover to cover on a flight from San Diego to New York. I love that I read this on my way to the city that Marilyn found happiness in. I rooted for her through every page.

This is a coming of age story for a middle aged mother of 4. As her female neighbors begin creating businesses and identities for themselves, Marilyn is stuck being an under appreciated homemaker for an absolute jerk of a man.

There is so much more to her story than preparing the weekly shabbos dinner, though. She’s beautiful and smart and a writer with a story to tell and a love story to create. Her darling sister is her cheerleader. Her charming middle daughter almost steals the show with the original showtunes she sings to narrate different situations. This was such a fun read that left me with a smile on my face.

If you’re a fan of books by Sara Goodman, I guarantee you’ll love this one, too.

[Jacqueline Friedland · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Afternoon by Susan Kleinman is a quietly powerful portrait of self-discovery set in the late 1970s. Through the eyes of Marilyn, a Jewish homemaker who has long lived in the shadow of her self-important husband, Kleinman captures the yearning for purpose and identity that stirs when a friend awakens long-buried ambitions. With insight, wit, and emotional honesty, All Afternoon explores the courage it takes to step out from the sidelines and claim a life that feels truly one’s own. Readers who enjoyed Marie Botswick’s The Bookclub for Troublesome Women or Catherine Newman’s Sandwichwill rejoice at this charming and captivating story of a woman rediscovering her voice. An intimate, thought-provoking novel that lingers long after the last page.

[Milena · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Afternoon is a terrific debut about a woman chafing against traditional gender roles and expectations, and the danger of losing oneself in marriage and motherhood. I found the main heroine, Marilyn, likeable and relatable, and her husband simply dreadful, a perfect character to hate. I loved following Marilyn's growth and her journey to reclaim her identity and happiness. I appreciated the Jewish representation, the descriptions of community life, and Jewish customs. The writing and the story reminded me of books by one of my favorite authors, Sara Goodman Confino, with themes of feminism and women’s empowerment, written with humor and wit. I loved All Afternoon and cannot recommend it enough!

*I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing you notice about Susan Kleinman’s writing is her humor. Smart and sassy, her wit is so sharp that it catches you off guard and repeatedly reminds you how much fun this author is to read. But beneath the humor in ALL AFTERNOON is a moving, incisive story of a woman asked to squeeze into a lifestyle that no longer fits. Marilyn is the matriarch of an observant Jewish family, but she’s also Every Woman – fighting within herself to be “good” even as she struggles against those who limit her. The story is fresh and compelling, and the ending is surprising and satisfying. A delightful read!

[Briann Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Afternnoon takes by the reader on a sensitive journey through the mind and heart of Marilyn, who, like so many young women of her time (1970s) is dedicated to her life as a wife and mother. She loves her family and dutifully fulfills her role, but we see clearly that not much attention is paid to Marilyn—by those around her or by herself. The author beautifully captures the soul of Marilyn as she comes to realize that something is missing, but hesitates in making changes that might make her happy, but would be difficult on others—her husband and her daughters. Kleinman has written a beautiful, admirable character, a woman who is strong, but takes some time to realize her strength.

[MicheleReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Marilyn Weisfeld. It's 1978 and she's 39 years old with four daughters, living in the Modern Orthodox Jewish community of River Ridge, New Jersey, close to New York City. Although she graduated summa cum laude from City College with aspirations of becoming a writer, Marilyn is a homemaker, caring for her children and supporting her egotistical husband Jerry, an economics professor at a local college, by hosting dinner parties and managing everything for him. But what about Marilyn's needs? As other women in the community begin launching their own businesses, Marilyn is reminded of her unrealized dreams. Henry Goldfarb, an old friend of Jerry's and a successful author, encourages Marilyn to start writing again. She finds reasons to travel into the city each week to secretly meet with Henry, who assists her. And because of her passionless marriage, Henry awakens forbidden feelings in Marilyn. 

All Afternoon is Susan Kleiman's impressive debut novel. She has created a poignant story about a woman facing a huge dilemma. Can Marilyn's hopes and dreams take precedence over her family's? While a serious story, Kleiman has also added humor. Marilyn's daughter Sharon, with her love for musical theater, creates charming lyrics for every occasion, drawing inspiration from shows like A Chorus Line and The Sound of Music. But when Sharon expresses her fear of divorce to her mother after a friend's parents split up, Marilyn's anguish feels very real. Amid all the turmoil, Kleiman has done a great job recreating the period, which, for some of us, is not just historical, but vivid memories. 

Many thanks to the author for providing an advance of her insightful and delightful book.

4.5 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Reyna Gentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Kleiman's debut novel covered so many topics that are close to my heart: the 1970s, Judaism of the modern orthodox variety, motherhood and marriage, creativity and becoming a writer. Kleiman turns a keen eye on all of them, with a sense of humor occasionally bordering on satire, and with a love for her main character that is compelling. I turned the pages only barely aware of what I thought would or could happen in the end, but recognizing the inevitability of the story when I reached the conclusion.

[Kim Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Kleinman’s debut novel is one of those books you can’t put down. Set in the 1970s and steeped in Orthodox Jewish life, the main character, Marilyn, is relatable to any of us who struggle with losing our identity following marriage, children, or the passage of time. Kleinman’s writing is beautiful. She is able to bring each character to life through her literary artistry. I can’t wait to read her next novel.