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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Emma Straub is a master at picking apart complex family dynamics and this book was very much in the vein of her others. She makes such sharp and unique observations about parents, children and siblings that I found myself highlighting so much of this book. Her characters are flawed but trying their best, perfectly imperfect humans. Some of the criticisms of this book have been about her everything-but-the-kitchensink approach to the plot, but I personally thought she handled an array of complex issues with dexterity and ultimately, optimism.
This book reminds me of those multi-cast montage movies where all the characters in the town are connected and related in some way. Love the different life stages represented but wish some of the storylines were a bit deeper than wider- it felt like the author was trying to cover or check too many boxes within one book.
I didn’t hate it. But it was a bit boring and nowhere near as good as “This Time Tomorrow”
This was my first book by Emma Straub. The plot summary reminded me of Elin Hilderbrand--a multi-generational family rapprochement. There was far more to it! I agree with other reviews that there is simply too much here for any one thing to be done well. I didn´t see that Astrid was such a horrible mother; rather she was a single mother doing the best she could. The difficulties between Astrid and her kids and between the siblings seemed overblown as a result. Sure, all of the storylines were thematically connected, but the plot was too busy.
2.5 stars. I enjoyed this only a mediocre amount and I probably won't remember it by next year. I had some problems with the editing and the quick changing perspectives (at one point a side character was surprisingly given a whole chaptwr). A lot of this book had ties that weren't too important to the plot of the book. Oh, and that weird chapter at the very end about a character that had never been given a chapter before. There is LGBTQ rep in this which I enjoyed. However, the way the author talks about the Trans person after we find out about her, did not seem like the best way to have gone about it.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe my favorite Emma Straub book! I loved the dynamics and am a sucker for adult children stories.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are times that I have trouble connecting with a book because the main characters are at a different life stage than I am. I'm well past the striving twenty-something stage, I'm past the harried new mom stage.
I enjoyed this book in large part because it focused on several generations that I could absolutely relate to -- adult children, aging parents, teenagers -- thus the title "All Adults Here." The family members look back on turning points, key conversations, good intentions and misunderstandings, all the stuff that defines a family. This is an easy, breezy read, nothing that will bring you down, a nice and comfortable escape from the heaviness of the world right now.
I enjoyed this book in large part because it focused on several generations that I could absolutely relate to -- adult children, aging parents, teenagers -- thus the title "All Adults Here." The family members look back on turning points, key conversations, good intentions and misunderstandings, all the stuff that defines a family. This is an easy, breezy read, nothing that will bring you down, a nice and comfortable escape from the heaviness of the world right now.