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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
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
This was a light enjoyable read with an array of characters within a large, tight knit family.
Sometimes you think you’re gonna love a book and then you do.
When I picked this book up, I thought I was getting a fairly light and funny fiction story about a family that runs a restaurant in Chicago.
Instead, what I got was a VERY liberal Trump-bashing story about a rather unlikable family. I would feel just as annoyed if this was a conservative Hillary-bashing story as I DESPISE politics, and I have zero tolerance for other people shoving their opinions (whatever they may be) down my throat, especially when they're planted in a novel being touted as an 'An irresistible comedy of manners about three generations of a Chicago restaurant family'. So keep that in mind if you choose to read this. Extreme left-wing liberals will love this (which is very obviously what Jennifer Close is), and extreme right-wing conservatives will hate it. Also, this is no comedy. Not by a long shot.
As for the family, they were irritating and immature. Gretchen is in her mid-30's with no direction and the maturity of a teenager.
Teddy is also mid 30's and extremely judgemental and snobby for someone carrying on an affair with his soon-to-be-married ex-boyfriend.
Jane is in her early 40's (I think), and for someone who's so 'progressive' and all for women's rights and carrying on about how women need to make their voices heard, she sure does roll over and take her husbands' crappy behavior for a huge chunk of the book.
Riley is an out-of-control 16-year-old high schooler who needs some SERIOUS therapy and is basically abandoned by her mother, though no one seems to address this. Her story has no conclusion and is completely unnecessary to the book.
The rest of the cast is faceless parents and friends, all of whom were very difficult to keep track of. I could never remember which parents belonged to which character or who were cousins and who were siblings.
Overall, this was a very disappointing story that seemed to lack any direction whatsoever, and the ONLY reason I didn't DNF it (which I almost did every time political opinions were shoved down my throat) was to see where these people ended up.
It is a decision I now regret.
Instead, what I got was a VERY liberal Trump-bashing story about a rather unlikable family. I would feel just as annoyed if this was a conservative Hillary-bashing story as I DESPISE politics, and I have zero tolerance for other people shoving their opinions (whatever they may be) down my throat, especially when they're planted in a novel being touted as an 'An irresistible comedy of manners about three generations of a Chicago restaurant family'. So keep that in mind if you choose to read this. Extreme left-wing liberals will love this (which is very obviously what Jennifer Close is), and extreme right-wing conservatives will hate it. Also, this is no comedy. Not by a long shot.
As for the family, they were irritating and immature. Gretchen is in her mid-30's with no direction and the maturity of a teenager.
Teddy is also mid 30's and extremely judgemental and snobby for someone carrying on an affair with his soon-to-be-married ex-boyfriend.
Jane is in her early 40's (I think), and for someone who's so 'progressive' and all for women's rights and carrying on about how women need to make their voices heard, she sure does roll over and take her husbands' crappy behavior for a huge chunk of the book.
Riley is an out-of-control 16-year-old high schooler who needs some SERIOUS therapy and is basically abandoned by her mother, though no one seems to address this. Her story has no conclusion and is completely unnecessary to the book.
The rest of the cast is faceless parents and friends, all of whom were very difficult to keep track of. I could never remember which parents belonged to which character or who were cousins and who were siblings.
Overall, this was a very disappointing story that seemed to lack any direction whatsoever, and the ONLY reason I didn't DNF it (which I almost did every time political opinions were shoved down my throat) was to see where these people ended up.
It is a decision I now regret.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is this the best book I’ve ever read? No. Is it still an entertaining book? Yes.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to love this book, I tried, but it did not hold my interest it took me 4 days just to get to page 50. I just wasn’t excited to keep reading it unfortunately
The Sullivan’s are a staple in the Chicago restaurant business. But in the span of 2 weeks - Bud Sullivan dies, the Cubs win the World Series and Trump wins the election. All hell has broke loose.
4 stars
What a great character driven book about a city I love and a baseball team I grew up watching. I can remember the night the Cubs won with such clarity. We had all been waiting so long!
This book did a great job capturing all the feelings from the 2016 election and the tone of everything that happened afterward. I appreciate the memorializing of such a polarizing time in history through a heart warming story about a family restaurant.
I loved reading about places I was so familiar with in Chicagoland and I really loved the Sullivans and their restaurant. Each character felt so real, honest, and relatable. This book is for everyone, but especially for those who have ever worked in a restaurant. Loved it!
What a great character driven book about a city I love and a baseball team I grew up watching. I can remember the night the Cubs won with such clarity. We had all been waiting so long!
This book did a great job capturing all the feelings from the 2016 election and the tone of everything that happened afterward. I appreciate the memorializing of such a polarizing time in history through a heart warming story about a family restaurant.
I loved reading about places I was so familiar with in Chicagoland and I really loved the Sullivans and their restaurant. Each character felt so real, honest, and relatable. This book is for everyone, but especially for those who have ever worked in a restaurant. Loved it!