Meet the Newmans

《Meet the Newmans》講述美國最受歡迎的電視家庭Newman一家，他們在螢光幕前永遠完美無瑕，而1964年，家中的先生Del Newman發生一場神秘車禍，這個事件撼動了原本和諧的形象，也讓家庭每個成員必須面對藏在光鮮外表下的苦楚，像是父親有不為人知的祕密、母親陷入情感麻木、長子隱藏真實愛情、次子則以搖滾明星的身份惹麻煩，節目收視率銳減、社會氛圍巨變，迫使他們決定以最真實的一面拍攝最後一集；年輕記者Juliet的加入，更讓這場家庭、愛、認同與真相的角力加劇。

全書以1960年代的媒體文化與時代轉型做為背景，用溫暖幽默筆調展現成長中的衝突與和解，讓讀者看到螢幕背後每個人真實的人生。

'I loved Meet the Newmans! The characters jump off the page. I appreciated the subtle feminist twist and the humor. Jennifer is always good but this is one of her best' – JUDY BLUME

You've seen the show. Now meet the woman behind the scenes . . .

From No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Jennifer Niven, a novel about America’s favorite TV family, whose perfect façade starts to crack, for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Los Angeles, 1964.

For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favourite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now the Sixties are in full swing, and the Newmans’ perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch.

Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and rock ‘n' roll idol Shep may finally be in real trouble.

When Del is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964 America.

Can Dinah Newman bring her family together to change television history?

Or will she be cancelled before she ever had the chance?

Maybe it’s time for perfection to fall out of style . . .

'This story of a famous fiction TV family in 1960's America and their subsequent unravelling is as thoughtful as it is entertaining. The writing thrums with energy, and the characters feel wholly believable. Definitely a recommend from me' – JENNIE GODFREY, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things