The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.

April 8, 2013
Brooklynite Nathaniel Piven, “a product of a postfeminist, 1980s childhood,” is the modern male—inheritor of a dating world where the enduring gender imbalance gives him the upper hand. But when it comes to relationships, he’s achingly aware of the hidden traps and unsought responsibility of this power. Nate hates feeling guilty over the many women he hurts (female tears in this novel flow with a tenacious persistence, to Nate’s irritation). His well-intentioned missteps with reporter Juliet and editorial assistant Elisa earn him tireless tsk-tsk reprimands and a rep for being “the kind of guy women call an asshole.” When he begins dating a seemingly perfect-for-him writer named Hannah, we wonder whether Nate will adapt or strike out yet again. Hannah is nice, smart, and makes him feel “at home,” but will Nate, who seems to feed off misconnecting with women, make the right relationship move—or is it yet another “dick move”? An acute study of present-day struggles with intimacy, Waldman seems to suggest that love is too constricting a tie for the 21st century, and that, perhaps, a different kind of connection might better define the contemporary couple. She navigates the male psyche and a highly entertaining hipster mindset, and sneaks in an unexpected, understated ending that brings this pulpy read a satisfying poignancy. Agent: Elyse Cheney, the Elyse Cheney Agency.

April 1, 2013
Nate Piven's affairs are convoluted, to say the least, and some of his relationships seem to come right out of Seinfeld episodes. Where to begin...well, there's Juliet, who meets Nate after a hiatus and castigates him for his insensitivity, for he'd gotten her pregnant, paid for an abortion and then effectively dumped her. We also meet Elisa, a former girlfriend who renews her interest in Nate now that he's about to have a book published. At a dinner party, Nate briefly meets Hannah, whom he finds attractive and who later becomes his "serious" girlfriend. They get along great, and Hannah even goes toe-to-toe with Jason, Nate's overly intellectual best friend. Nate and Hannah settle into a comfortable relationship, both sexual and social, but then (inevitably?) become moody and begin to drift apart. Nate knows the relationship's over when Hannah sends him a long email detailing the depth and complexity of her feelings, and he fails to respond with a similar email, so he then receives a much shorter and angrier one dismissing him as a jerk. On the rebound, Nate hooks up with Greer, another friend of Hannah's, and the novel ends with Nate and Greer moving in together. While on the surface things are fine, the relationship is fraught with the usual vulnerabilities and anxieties that characterize all of Nate's relationships. Throughout the narrative, Waldman also flashes us back to Nate's earlier girlfriends, pals and hookups. The characters that populate Waldman's world are artistic, creative, funny and intelligent--except when it comes to matters of the heart, for they are constitutionally incapable of making long-term commitments. It would be refreshing to find one mature adult.

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June 1, 2013

Nathaniel P. is a type-A guy readers have previously encountered in many a chick lit novel. The sensitive, artistic sort who secretly turns out to be passive-aggressive and adverse to long-term commitment, this archetype is usually the stumbling block to true romance, appearing in early chapters but quickly dispatched to make room for the hero. Waldman's debut differs in that she makes this character the protagonist, and she builds such a solid point of view for her creation that the reader is drawn in despite the somewhat depressing subject matter (commitment-adverse Brooklyn writer finds perfect girl and proceeds to play mind games with her before ultimately learning important life lessons that he may then forget). The plot is the book's weakness. Tales of relationship struggles are common, and for readers' who enjoy that kind of narrative, this story provides plenty of angst. For those who are not fans of couple drama, the strong characterization will appeal. Waldman takes a cliche and turns it on its ear, and while the book may not be a breezy summer read, Nathaniel P. certainly makes an impression. VERDICT For fans of relationship literature and those who prefer their summer reading sour instead of sweet. [Library marketing.]--Julie Elliott, Indiana Univ. Lib., South Bend

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2013
In this sharply written first novel, Waldman homes in on a self-absorbed writer living in New York City. Nate Piven is still basking in the glow of having sold his first book after years of struggling to support himself with freelance work. His newfound success has given his love life a boost, and a number of women are pursuing him, including his beautiful ex-girlfriend Elisa and brainy Hannah, also a writer. As Hannah and Nate's relationship gets more serious, Nate is quick to blame any communication snafus on Hannah, whose calm and self-confidence begin to evaporate. Although Nate thinks of himself as enlightened, a product of a postfeminist, 1980s childhood and a politically correct, 1990s college education, his actions continually belie that self-image. Nate is constantly jockeying for status among his friends and critiquing women's bodies, clothes, and looks even as he tries to figure out why his relationships never last. The novel is most likely to appeal to twentysomethings, who will no doubt recognize the preening male so thoroughly skewered here, but older readers may be put off by such an unlikable lead character.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)