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Invisible as Air: A Novel Paperback – September 24, 2019
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Winner of the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year Award!
One of Booklist's Top 10 Books of the Year!
A provocative and timely new novel by the author of Inheriting Edith, one that will haunt you long after the final page is turned…
Sylvie Snow knows the pressures of expectations: a woman is supposed to work hard, but never be tired; age gracefully, but always be beautiful; fix the family problems, but always be carefree. Sylvie does the grocery shopping, the laundry, the scheduling, the schlepping and the PTA-ing, while planning her son’s Bar Mitzvah and cheerfully tending her husband, Paul, who’s been lying on the sofa with a broken ankle. She’s also secretly addicted to the Oxycontin intended for her husband.
For three years, Sylvie has repressed her grief about the heartbreaking stillbirth of her newborn daughter, Delilah. On the morning of the anniversary of her death, when she just can’t face doing one…more…thing: she takes one—just one—of her husband’s discarded pain pills. And suddenly she feels patient, kinder, and miraculously relaxed. She tells herself that the pills are temporary, just a gift, and that when the supply runs out she’ll go back to her regularly scheduled programming.
But days turn into weeks, and Sylvie slips slowly into a nightmare. At first, Paul and Teddy are completely unaware, but this changes quickly as her desperate choices reveal her desperate state. As the Bar Mitzvah nears, all three of them must face the void within themselves, both alone and together.
- Print length416 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWilliam Morrow Paperbacks
- Publication dateSeptember 24, 2019
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100062838237
- ISBN-13978-0062838230
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“The characters in Invisible as Air are so real; so flawed; so compelling and vulnerable. With her trademark wit and honesty, even in the face of sorrow, Fishman will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget.” — Greer Hendricks, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of An Anonymous Girl
“Though it speaks to one of the most difficult issues facing our nation with wisdom and deep grace, this is not an ‘issue’ book. This is a book about people, flawed but striving, broken but hopeful. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.” — Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Never Have I Ever
“With psychological acuity, Fishman...takes us to the place where there is beauty in brokenness, where there is light in the dark, and where we can find intimacy in our honesty...From the first stunning choice to the last, I could not put this novel down.” — Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis
“Zoe Fishman writes with tenderness and urgency, with an ear attuned to all the silences, secrets, and strain that frequently capsize modern family life. Invisible as Air is a memorable and compelling read about slipping into darkness and trying to find the light.” — Kristen Iskandrian, author of Motherest
“Fishman (Inheriting Edith, 2016) brings her signature style to a timely topic, illustrating the opioid epidemic in a realistic setting and allowing Sylvie’s choices to speak for themselves...Invisible as Air takes readers on a raw and wild ride. Fans of Liane Moriarty and Jessica Levine especially should take note.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Her writing creeps up on you, like a crescent moon that seems to mysteriously switch sides in the night sky during a drive down a winding highway — taunting, unsettling, beautiful.” — Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Fishman’s effective storytelling demonstrates the strength and also the vulnerability of family.” — Jewish Book Council
“Wickedly, powerhouse, badass!” — Decatur FM
Praise for Inheriting Edith: “Fishman deftly explores the intricate territory of mother-daughter relationships as well as the haunting specter of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for famously independent Edith...you have a delicious literary chicken soup for the soul.” — Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Weekenders
“A heartbreaking story about life, love, and friendship that you’ll want to devour in one sitting.” — Erin Duffy, author of Bond Girl and Lost Along the Way
“Inheriting Edith is a beautifully written story about what it means to remember and what it means to forget. Fishman masterfully portrays both a single mother and an older woman with Alzheimer’s, as they are both struggling to come to terms with their pasts, their futures, and each other.” — Jillian Cantor, author of Margot and The Hours Count
“A beautifully crafted story about second chances and life’s big surprises. Warm spirited and emotionally rich, Inheriting Edith celebrates the fine line between friendship and family. These characters will tug at your heart.” — Jamie Brenner, author of The Wedding Sisters
“A charming and warm story about new adventures and old friends and how this likable heroine learns to embrace them both.” — Shelly Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors
“At turns funny and poignant, Driving Lessons is a refreshingly honest and insightful story of a woman whose questions about the direction of her life follow her from the big city to small country roads.” — Meg Donohue, author of All The Summer Girls
“Fishman effectively balances humor and tension, crafting an involving portrayal of three women coping with the idea and obstacles of motherhood.” — Publishers Weekly
“Fishman deftly works a small love story around larger themes of loyalty, courage, and social justice, turning what begins as adolescent angst into a touching bildungsroman.” — Publishers Weekly
“Fishman strikes the right balance in her warm-fuzzy debut of rekindled friendship and self-empowerment.” — Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Zoe Fishman is the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year. She is the bestselling author of five previous novels and several awards including Booklist’s “Top 10 Books of the Year” and an IndieNext Pick.
She’s been featured on “City Lights” with Lois Reitzes, and in Publisher’s Weekly and The Atlanta Jewish Times among others. Her essays have been published in The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and Modern Loss.
Zoe was the Director of The Decatur Writers Studio and a visiting writer at SCAD Atlanta. She lives in Decatur with her two sons.
Product details
- Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks (September 24, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062838237
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062838230
- Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,973,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21,557 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction
- #36,478 in Contemporary Women Fiction
- #168,126 in Contemporary Romance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Zoe Fishman is the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year. She is the bestselling author of five previous novels and several awards including Booklist’s “Top 10 Books of the Year” and an IndieNext Pick.
She’s been featured on “City Lights” with Lois Reitzes, and in Publisher’s Weekly and The Atlanta Jewish Times among others. Her essays have been published in The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and Modern Loss.
Zoe was the Director of The Decatur Writers Studio and a visiting writer at SCAD Atlanta. She lives in Decatur with her two sons.
Customer reviews
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Customers find the book to be a compelling read with an uplifting story. One customer describes it as a literary triumph, while another notes its profound commentary on grief.
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Customers find the book a compelling read, with one describing it as a literary triumph and another noting its sharp wit.
"...While this book is all of that and more- it is still a quick, easy, enjoyable and some how relatable read...." Read more
"...Zoe's writing is so raw, honest, and real...." Read more
"I couldn't put it down. This book is both a compelling read and a profound commentary on grief, addiction, female anger and love...." Read more
"An amazing read and ultimate life lesson about the ease in which we end up with addictions. I'm crying writing this review...." Read more
Customers find the book's story uplifting, with one customer describing it as a profound commentary on grief and another noting it as an amazing story of self-destruction.
"...This book is both a compelling read and a profound commentary on grief, addiction, female anger and love...." Read more
"An amazing read and ultimate life lesson about the ease in which we end up with addictions. I'm crying writing this review...." Read more
"...A great read and a soulful look at grief." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2019We have all seen quotes that most likely everyone is struggling and has something but some people are just better at hiding it than others. Invisible As Air addresses just that. After Zoe Fishman, dives right in and weaves us in an out of character development thru chapters about Sylvie, her husband Paul and their son, Teddy, we quickly learn that this book addresses some serious issues and topics: Opioid addiction & other kinds of addiction, grief, depression, infidelity, family secrets, interfaith marriages, in-law relationships, the consequences of not communicating or getting the help one needs, and the complexities of feeling "invisible as air" whether you are a middle-aged woman or a young adolescent trying to find your way in society. While this book is all of that and more- it is still a quick, easy, enjoyable and some how relatable read. You find yourself rooting for these characters and sometimes simply wanting to snap some darn sense into them (all of them at various times!) as you see them making some bad choices and how it has a ripple affect on all those around. I have now read and enjoyed all of the books from this bestselling author, Zoe Fishman, including her latest one, Invisible As Air. What a page turner it was!
- Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019Invisible as Air by Zoe Fishman is a poignant portrait of a family struggling with grief over their stillborn baby.
Forty-six year old Sylvie Snow is not an easy woman to like. She makes no effort to hide her irritation and resentment of her husband, Paul. His broken ankle is just her latest frustration with his Triathlon training. On the third anniversary on the loss of their stillborn daughter, Delilah, Sylvie’s slippery slope of opioid dependency begins. Her curiosity over Paul’s description of how oxycontin makes him feel results with her taking the first pill. But the drug’s effects on her grief and negative emotions are why she continues taking them. Before long, Sylvie’s need for more pills leads to poor decisions that could have devastating effects on her life and marriage.
In the three years since their heartrending loss, Sylvie’s and Mark’s marriage has been on a downward spiral. Sylvie has closed herself off emotionally and seethes with anger over Mark’s ability to move on after losing Delilah. She is distant, bitter and clings tightly to the grief she believes only she is entitled to feel. Mark is dealing with his feelings of loss and emptiness by throwing himself into Triathlon training and online shopping. Their twelve year old son Teddy also deeply feels the loss of his sister but he is left to mourn on his own.
With chapters alternating between Sylvie’s, Mark’s and Teddy’s points of view, Invisible as Air is an engrossing novel with a topical storyline. Mark and Sylvie are not particularly likable characters but it is easy to feel empathy for their heartbreaking loss. Teddy is surprisingly mature for his age but he is shouldering burdens that no child should ever bear. Sylvie’s descent into addiction is an all too real problem in today’s world. Zoe Fishman brings the novel to a realistic conclusion that will leave readers pondering the Snow family’s future. An emotionally compelling novel that I truly enjoyed and highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019On the plus side the book was interesting, well written, and hit an original topic - opioid addiction in an upper middle class suburban wife. The portrayal of her downward slide from curiosity to addiction and desperation were very well portrayed, as well as the reactions of friends and family as they gradually discovered the truth.
What I didn’t like was the characters themselves. Sylvie was a spoiled, entitled, selfish brat. (She did realize this at the end, which is good, but all through the book I kept wondering why her husband didn’t just slip a little fentanyl into her pills, let her go peacefully, and find a woman who would treat him with respect.). Her husband seemed like he was a nice, hard working guy, but he was spineless and totally emasculates by his wife. I couldn’t stand Teddy - he was a spoiled little entitled brat. When he volunteered at the animal shelter ( which he quit because God forbid a child should never have to do anything he doesn’t enjoy) he made a crack about euthanized shelter animals going to that great pet pound in the sky , was that supposed to be funny? To show how edgy and hip little Teddy was? To me it just said he was a spoiled shallow little rich kid with no feelings for others. And all the apologizing the parents did about their failings to Teddy...please. Where did this idea come from that children are entitled to perfect parents? So... while the topic was timely and the writing was good, the book did not move me.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020Writing this review has taking me a while; not because I think my review is important, but because this book took me through a lot of difficult emotions. I had to stop and let out a few tears at less twice. I don't have an addiction myself, but I've lived my entire life watching someone else's and being a part of their story.
When the Sylvie makes what I consider the most terrible choice, I closed the book and thought, how can I continue? I felt her shame, sorrow and despair. It took me a long time to pick it back up, because I didn't see it ending well... for anyone.
Zoe's writing is so raw, honest, and real. When I finished reading, I sat and thought about what it must be like to feel so such grief and to wallow in it. I often spend time reflecting; not about anything good or bad, but just on what is. I admire Zoe's strength and her ability to tell something so difficult and so real.