Meet the Newmans

Jennifer Niven's "Meet the Newmans" is a compelling historical novel set in 1964, exploring the hidden lives of America's most adored fictional TV family. As their show's ratings decline and societal norms shift, the Newman parents, Del and Dinah, and their sons, Guy and Shep, each grapple with personal secrets and the pressure of maintaining a flawless public image. When a mysterious accident occurs, Dinah enlists a young reporter to help craft a final episode, forcing a confrontation with their dual lives and the evolving roles of women and families. This rich, moving story delves into themes of identity, truth, and the complexities of family bonds, making it a thought-provoking read for adult audiences.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Niven, a novel about America’s favorite TV family, whose perfect façade cracks, for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favorite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now it’s 1964, and the Newmans’ idealized apple-pie 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—literally. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and the charmed luck of rock ‘n roll idol Shep may have finally run out. When Del—the creative motor behind the show—is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken, impassioned 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. Can the Newmans hold it together to change television history? Or will they be canceled before they ever have the chance? Funny, big-hearted, and deeply moving, Meet the Newmans is a rich family story about the dual lives we lead. Because even when our lives aren’t televised weekly, we all have a behind-the-scenes.