What do you think?
Rate this book
Love and Other Hazards
Love and Other Hazards is a novel about urban singles stumbling toward fulfillment in an odyssey of sex, love, and parenting.
Glenda Fieldston is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her seven-year-old daughter, Astrid, when Eugene Lerman comes walking by with his eight-year-old daughter, Meredith, a schoolmate of Astrid’s. The families spot each other, Glenda and Eugene engage in long-range cursory assessments, and then they go their separate ways.
But not for long. Glenda and Eugene cross paths professionally soon after, and circumstances at work bring them into close association. So begins a friendship fraught with complications. Glenda’s independence is self-imposed and fierce. Eugene’s was foisted on him by a wife who left him. Although Glenda’s and Eugene’s personal demons are incompatible, their longings are, confoundedly, in harmony. Their cautious friendship is further inhibited by past and present relationships, and it remains to be seen if they can break out of their set ways to make a break for uncharted love.
Glenda Fieldston is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her seven-year-old daughter, Astrid, when Eugene Lerman comes walking by with his eight-year-old daughter, Meredith, a schoolmate of Astrid’s. The families spot each other, Glenda and Eugene engage in long-range cursory assessments, and then they go their separate ways.
But not for long. Glenda and Eugene cross paths professionally soon after, and circumstances at work bring them into close association. So begins a friendship fraught with complications. Glenda’s independence is self-imposed and fierce. Eugene’s was foisted on him by a wife who left him. Although Glenda’s and Eugene’s personal demons are incompatible, their longings are, confoundedly, in harmony. Their cautious friendship is further inhibited by past and present relationships, and it remains to be seen if they can break out of their set ways to make a break for uncharted love.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2017
1 person is currently reading
525 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 11, 2018
Made Me Feel Like I Was Right in NYC - Excellent Read!
A compelling story with rich characters that felt real. As a former NYer, the essence
of NYC was beautifully captured. Tugs at your heartstrings. Highly recommend!
A compelling story with rich characters that felt real. As a former NYer, the essence
of NYC was beautifully captured. Tugs at your heartstrings. Highly recommend!
Want to read
June 28, 2017Thanks to netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group River Grove Books for the ARC
from the author of
https://twitter.com/claudiariess
from the author of
https://twitter.com/claudiariess
Claudia Riess, a Vassar graduate, has worked in the editorial departments of The New Yorker and Holt, Rinehart, and Winston and has edited several art history monographs.
Advance Praise
Also by the author
Reclining Nude
“ . . . exquisite—and delicate . . . a most courageous book.”
—Oliver Sacks, author of Awakenings
Stolen Light
“ . . . complex and intriguing."
—Kirkus Reviews
Semblance of Guilt
“I had to go back to reread it just to satisfy my inner voice screaming for more.”
—Lunar Haven Reviews and Designs
September 3, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written and engaging novel about love, sex, avoiding both, and falling into one or the other. I'd best describe this as a rom-com for the literati set. It was amusing, deft, emotional, and endearing.
The main characters, Glenda and Eugene, are upper-middle-class New Yorkers with small daughters who attend the same school. The comedy of manners begins when one of their daughters is caught by the other parent fondling the private parts of one of the naked statues in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The comedy continues, through one odd run-in or another. Their paths cross several times in several situations, and a friendship of a kind develops. There are hints of a "Harry Met Sally" relationship here, complete with funny sidekicks in the friends category, and farcical situations that are comical in a Woody Allen-ish, rather than a Judd Apatow-ish, way.
The characters are well-drawn, sympathetic and endearing. Glenda's quirks, habits and personality are off-putting at the beginning, both for the reader as well as for other characters, but the story slowly reveals her backstory and emotional vulnerabilities, and soon she is endeared to us. Eugene is equally quirky, in different ways, and has similarly difficult histories that explain his own idiosyncrasies. Separately, they're likable enough, but together, they're magic, their repartee bubbling like newly opened champagne. I enjoyed their relationship, their self-awareness both as separate characters and as a couple, and their intellectual delving into their own and each other's foibles.
The author has a light and ironic touch, portraying her characters with wit, insight, and humor.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a review copy, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The main characters, Glenda and Eugene, are upper-middle-class New Yorkers with small daughters who attend the same school. The comedy of manners begins when one of their daughters is caught by the other parent fondling the private parts of one of the naked statues in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The comedy continues, through one odd run-in or another. Their paths cross several times in several situations, and a friendship of a kind develops. There are hints of a "Harry Met Sally" relationship here, complete with funny sidekicks in the friends category, and farcical situations that are comical in a Woody Allen-ish, rather than a Judd Apatow-ish, way.
The characters are well-drawn, sympathetic and endearing. Glenda's quirks, habits and personality are off-putting at the beginning, both for the reader as well as for other characters, but the story slowly reveals her backstory and emotional vulnerabilities, and soon she is endeared to us. Eugene is equally quirky, in different ways, and has similarly difficult histories that explain his own idiosyncrasies. Separately, they're likable enough, but together, they're magic, their repartee bubbling like newly opened champagne. I enjoyed their relationship, their self-awareness both as separate characters and as a couple, and their intellectual delving into their own and each other's foibles.
The author has a light and ironic touch, portraying her characters with wit, insight, and humor.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a review copy, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
November 17, 2017
This contemporary romance, with its unique and captivating set of characters, is witty and poignant at the same time. Its realistic treatment of issues of modern life makes it a believable, satisfying read.
The main character, Glenda, is a determinedly single modern woman who doesn’t lie and views sex as merely a physical function. As the story progresses, and the author reveals the reason for Glenda’s unwillingness to commit to a monogamous relationship, the reader can’t help but root for the strong, yet vulnerable character. Glenda’s emotional journey hooks the reader and draws her through the story, on a tempestuous route that eventually arrives at a satisfying conclusion.
Although I spend most of my time with characters from an earlier era, I thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing change of perspective. The story is complex and there isn’t an absolute, black and white solution to every quandary, but it’s an uplifting affirmation of the indomitable nature of the human spirit. I heartily recommend it to readers who enjoy a good story, even if they aren’t fans of love stories. Spend a few hours with Glenda and Eugene. It’ll be worth it.
The main character, Glenda, is a determinedly single modern woman who doesn’t lie and views sex as merely a physical function. As the story progresses, and the author reveals the reason for Glenda’s unwillingness to commit to a monogamous relationship, the reader can’t help but root for the strong, yet vulnerable character. Glenda’s emotional journey hooks the reader and draws her through the story, on a tempestuous route that eventually arrives at a satisfying conclusion.
Although I spend most of my time with characters from an earlier era, I thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing change of perspective. The story is complex and there isn’t an absolute, black and white solution to every quandary, but it’s an uplifting affirmation of the indomitable nature of the human spirit. I heartily recommend it to readers who enjoy a good story, even if they aren’t fans of love stories. Spend a few hours with Glenda and Eugene. It’ll be worth it.
November 6, 2017
Love and Other Hazards by Claudia Riess.
This book starts right in with adult situations although it's a little girl that is crawling all over a male unclothes statue.
Mother is there and uses it as a learning experience. There is also a man there with his little daughter and they realize both the kids go to the same school.
The adults are not compatible but they are thrown together at work.
Enjoyed learning about Russian foods at dinner and how the words are defined.
Didn't care for how some will have sex with others although seeing another. It's just the way I was brought up.
This is NY and you can feel the atmosphere of the locations of where each live. Misunderstandings occur and men are mishandled.
Discussing who the father is having sex with is just not my idea of a family talk. Sex itself doesn't really show they care much for the other as it's more an animal instinct to have sex.
There are a lot of characters and I got easily confused as to who was who.
This book starts right in with adult situations although it's a little girl that is crawling all over a male unclothes statue.
Mother is there and uses it as a learning experience. There is also a man there with his little daughter and they realize both the kids go to the same school.
The adults are not compatible but they are thrown together at work.
Enjoyed learning about Russian foods at dinner and how the words are defined.
Didn't care for how some will have sex with others although seeing another. It's just the way I was brought up.
This is NY and you can feel the atmosphere of the locations of where each live. Misunderstandings occur and men are mishandled.
Discussing who the father is having sex with is just not my idea of a family talk. Sex itself doesn't really show they care much for the other as it's more an animal instinct to have sex.
There are a lot of characters and I got easily confused as to who was who.
May 22, 2017
I received a NetGalley version of this book. I just did not like this book. The characters were flat and sections were so overwritten that it was truly unpleasant to try and follow. It seemed like there was a desire to throw challenging vocabulary words into the dialogue, which made the conversations between characters just plain silly. I think there was a good premise and I did finish it, but I cannot recommend this to anyone else.
June 3, 2017
Thanks NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group/River Grove Books for the advanced reading copy of Love and Other Hazards, by Claudia Riess. I enjoyed this book about relationships, parenting, love, being guarded and in control as well as letting go. This story takes place in NYC. The characters are interesting and feel realistic. A fast read.
June 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were well developed and the novel really made me reflect on life. I cared about the characters in a way that I have not in a really long time. If you want to read a novel that might be somewhat different than what you are used to then this is the novel for you. Enjoy! I received this book in advance from net galley.
June 6, 2017
A wonderful novel set in NYC.Acnovel about life love parenthood a really engrossing entertaining novel,
September 25, 2017
An interesting book ! I enjoyed reading it!
June 7, 2022
I love this book. The story, the writing, all so compelling and fascinating!!!! Wonderful book.
November 10, 2017
Glenda Fieldston lives for both her daughter and her work. Every day slips into the next, full of a monotony she does her best not to think about it. Part of her often wonders if this is it. If there's something more out there than the life she and her daughter have always known. All that changes when she comes across Eugene Lerman and his daughter while out one day.
Love And Other Hazards is a bittersweet, yet heart-warming story about the trials and tribulations of two people intent on living the lives they lead. We meet the independent Glenda, a woman who wants nothing more to provide for herself and her daughter. She's a woman who refuses to rely on others, often feeling awkward when it comes time to do just that.
Then, we have the shy, yet inquisitive Eugene. This is a man who's had to make do for himself and his daughter ever since his wife left them. Sometimes, he feels out of the place in the world around him. Though he does his best to assert himself, the unfamiliar causes him to slink into the shadows in order to make sense of it all.
Together, Glenda and Eugene complement other. Where one fails, the other picks up the pieces in the hopes of setting all wrongs to right. The two of them are constantly dealing with pain and heartache. They've learned to adapt and move on, even if that's hard to do sometimes. The fact that the past often pops up unexpectedly hinders the progress they've made between them. Nevertheless, they'll willing to try in the hopes of seeing where the road takes them.
Claudia has written such a stirring book. This is a story anyone can relate to. I know I can. We're given a myriad of characters, each striving to survive the adversities they encounter every step of the way. Though things seemed slow at the beginning, I liked the fact that she builds everything up with each step the characters take. I couldn't put the book down, and was disappointed to see things end. Such a wonderful read!
Love And Other Hazards is a bittersweet, yet heart-warming story about the trials and tribulations of two people intent on living the lives they lead. We meet the independent Glenda, a woman who wants nothing more to provide for herself and her daughter. She's a woman who refuses to rely on others, often feeling awkward when it comes time to do just that.
Then, we have the shy, yet inquisitive Eugene. This is a man who's had to make do for himself and his daughter ever since his wife left them. Sometimes, he feels out of the place in the world around him. Though he does his best to assert himself, the unfamiliar causes him to slink into the shadows in order to make sense of it all.
Together, Glenda and Eugene complement other. Where one fails, the other picks up the pieces in the hopes of setting all wrongs to right. The two of them are constantly dealing with pain and heartache. They've learned to adapt and move on, even if that's hard to do sometimes. The fact that the past often pops up unexpectedly hinders the progress they've made between them. Nevertheless, they'll willing to try in the hopes of seeing where the road takes them.
Claudia has written such a stirring book. This is a story anyone can relate to. I know I can. We're given a myriad of characters, each striving to survive the adversities they encounter every step of the way. Though things seemed slow at the beginning, I liked the fact that she builds everything up with each step the characters take. I couldn't put the book down, and was disappointed to see things end. Such a wonderful read!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews