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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Some good quotes and observations about families. The story took awhile to get going and then fizzled at the end. Odd how they didn’t take a peak at Bud & Rose’s kids. The story was only told by the grandkids.
2.95/ I wanted to like this so much more than I did - complex family dramedy is my sweet spot. The writing was good, even the characterization - I just didn’t care about a single person, event, or storyline (and there was way too many of all three). I kept zoning out and needed to re-read pages. Oh well, some spark was just missing for my taste.
Love reading about mid life crises and changing your life but this just felt choppy and like not enough was happening to make it a story
Slow start, and I thought it would be like her other book I read, whiny and unlikable people. They redeemed themselves
3.75 stars.
This reminded me a bit of a J. Ryan Stradal novel, but with more bite.
This reminded me a bit of a J. Ryan Stradal novel, but with more bite.
A multigenerational family saga set in Chicago and the suburbs.....what's not to like? And add a lot of Cubs fanfare and this one was a can't miss for me. I loved reading about all the local hotspots. I loved the character development, and the directions the story went. I will definitely check out more by this author.
Overall a good book. A fast read. The book starts off in late 2016 and is about the Sullivan family who own a restaurant in Oak Park, IL. The patriarch dies days before the Cubs in the World Series and Trump is elected. The three events are intended to anchor the story but events 2016 aside, this story could take place any time as the three adult grandchildren are stuck in their lives and need to examine the choices they have made in life up till now.
Though messy and dramatic, Marrying the Ketchups was oddly comforting and cozy. Truth be told, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this as much as I did if I didn't have a tie to Chicago/Oak Park, but it was a great moment-in-time look at three generations and the trials that make/break family.
The novel takes place in the aftermath of the 2016 election; each member of the extended Sullivan family is affected in different ways. Whether it was coming to terms with toxic relationships or coming to terms with the need to graduate into adulthood, it was interesting to see political trauma unfold in different ways.
The novel takes place in the aftermath of the 2016 election; each member of the extended Sullivan family is affected in different ways. Whether it was coming to terms with toxic relationships or coming to terms with the need to graduate into adulthood, it was interesting to see political trauma unfold in different ways.
NetGalley ARC | For a fabulous book about restaurants set in Chicago, we just loved Close's Marrying the Ketchups.
Although different in many ways, readers and fans of Empire Falls might enjoy this one too.
Riley is by far one of our favorite characters of 2022, and we appreciate the political commentary. Like Jane, we felt pretty angry and helpless during T&$@p's term.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find one of our reviews for Marrying the Ketchups on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/novels-about-food/
Although different in many ways, readers and fans of Empire Falls might enjoy this one too.
Riley is by far one of our favorite characters of 2022, and we appreciate the political commentary. Like Jane, we felt pretty angry and helpless during T&$@p's term.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find one of our reviews for Marrying the Ketchups on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/novels-about-food/