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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
MARRYING THE KETCHUPS by Jennifer Close is a family drama that I was lucky to win the paperback from #goodreadsgiveaway!
Now, I have to say, I had heard so many people go on and on about the love of this one. I had high expectations. In this case, I enjoyed the story, but I can't say I am in the love category.
⭐⭐⭐💫
I really enjoyed the way all the kids/cousins tried to leave the family business, only to filter back in. How they all fought to resist old patterns and roles was relatable. I have a bigger family and when the extended family gets together, I see familiar things happen. I also related to the difficulty of realizing that when we return to our roots, we automatically think things will be the same, but they never are. We try when we lose a pillar of the family like the Sullivans do!
My not favorite things: I got a bit tired and annoyed with the infidelity. I also didn't love the reminders of my own political angst of 2017. I may be a bit terrified it will happen again.
I do think this is a light family drama that most will enjoy. If you haven't read it yet, I would say to give it a chance!
Thank you to @vintagebooks for sharing this book with me through @goodreads !
Now, I have to say, I had heard so many people go on and on about the love of this one. I had high expectations. In this case, I enjoyed the story, but I can't say I am in the love category.
⭐⭐⭐💫
I really enjoyed the way all the kids/cousins tried to leave the family business, only to filter back in. How they all fought to resist old patterns and roles was relatable. I have a bigger family and when the extended family gets together, I see familiar things happen. I also related to the difficulty of realizing that when we return to our roots, we automatically think things will be the same, but they never are. We try when we lose a pillar of the family like the Sullivans do!
My not favorite things: I got a bit tired and annoyed with the infidelity. I also didn't love the reminders of my own political angst of 2017. I may be a bit terrified it will happen again.
I do think this is a light family drama that most will enjoy. If you haven't read it yet, I would say to give it a chance!
Thank you to @vintagebooks for sharing this book with me through @goodreads !
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one came highly recommended by a few of my favorite bookstagrammers and so maaaybe I hyped it up too much in my head.. I was so excited to read it, but it never really grabbed me. Moving between the characters felt a little bit like whiplash (I don't think there was a rhyme or reason to who's chapter came next?) and the short paragraphs, while nice to find a place to take a break from reading, never really felt connected and none of the chapters ended with me wanting to pick up that thread immediately. I liked the overall storyline, but the characters do tend to be pretty down, so I can't say I'll force this into anyone's hands to read.
I love family sagas and restaurant novels, so this novel was just right for me.
I listened on audio so it took me a bit to get all the characters straight. It might have been better on the page. The title description of marrying the ketchup was spot on as were all the descriptions of restaurant life.
All of the characters were interesting, but the grandmother was the best!
I'm really interested in novels where adult children of the '90s re-examine what was once thought to be "normal" behavior when they were young. I'm in my 40s and cringe when I think back to the horrid behavior of my male classmates cringe even harder when I think about my complacency.
I listened on audio so it took me a bit to get all the characters straight. It might have been better on the page. The title description of marrying the ketchup was spot on as were all the descriptions of restaurant life.
All of the characters were interesting, but the grandmother was the best!
I'm really interested in novels where adult children of the '90s re-examine what was once thought to be "normal" behavior when they were young. I'm in my 40s and cringe when I think back to the horrid behavior of my male classmates cringe even harder when I think about my complacency.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick fun read that made me nostalgic for Chicago and Chicago restaurants.
I LOVE family drama and when it has to do with food and restaurants, I’m sold.
Felt like this could have done without its very forced political backdrop; it felt half-assed and brimmed with white guilt without actually achieving much for the story
Felt like this could have done without its very forced political backdrop; it felt half-assed and brimmed with white guilt without actually achieving much for the story
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes