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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Audio. Good romp with a family of messed-up people who are figuring out life.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just did not love this. It was mildly funny, which was the reason I kept up with it. The gist of it is this: a close knit family in Chicago begins to unravel when the patriarch that held them together passes away. Everything centers around the family restaurant and the Cubs winning the World Series. You mostly follow the perspectives of the three cousins. Teddy is a gay man trying to break free from a toxic relationship with his horrible ex and trying his best to be a good person and to help raise the tumultuous teenage half-sister that got dumped in his lap. Gretchen is belatedly trying to grow up after spending all of her adult life thus far in a 90s cover band in NYC with a loser of a boyfriend and develops a sense of responsibility and initiative for the first time. Jane is divorcing her husband and trying to raise two kids on her own and be a less passive person. I think Gretchen was my favorite, followed by Teddy. Everyone is jaded with how their lives have turned out at some point and there are a ton of side characters that aren’t family members that were a little tough to keep up with.
Something obnoxious about this book is that literally every other paragraph is peppered with political stuff. A huge part of the setting is Trump’s first term in office and his election (especially for Jane) is apparently just as devastating and deserving of grief as the death of her grandfather. All the characters are very liberal and worried about global warming and misogyny and love it when toddlers say things like “there is no such thing as boy and girl colors”. It’s just really extreme. The characters put all their hope and identity— literally all of it— in their government and political beliefs. I’m just glad the narrative stopped before 2020 so I didn’t have to read another book about the quarantine experience.
Something obnoxious about this book is that literally every other paragraph is peppered with political stuff. A huge part of the setting is Trump’s first term in office and his election (especially for Jane) is apparently just as devastating and deserving of grief as the death of her grandfather. All the characters are very liberal and worried about global warming and misogyny and love it when toddlers say things like “there is no such thing as boy and girl colors”. It’s just really extreme. The characters put all their hope and identity— literally all of it— in their government and political beliefs. I’m just glad the narrative stopped before 2020 so I didn’t have to read another book about the quarantine experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault
4.5, rounded up.
Yes, there was a lot of anti-orange-guy mentioned, and although it was never blatant, it was definitely there, and a little annoying. But I get it, especially when you realize when this book was written. Other than that, I loved this book.
Every single character was relatable and human, and no, nobody was perfect, not even the matriarch. I absolutely devoured it in no time.
Family dramas are right in my wheelhouse, especially when they have such a strong sense of place and the relationships are imperfect but not over-dramatically messy.
Such a great read!!
Yes, there was a lot of anti-orange-guy mentioned, and although it was never blatant, it was definitely there, and a little annoying. But I get it, especially when you realize when this book was written. Other than that, I loved this book.
Every single character was relatable and human, and no, nobody was perfect, not even the matriarch. I absolutely devoured it in no time.
Family dramas are right in my wheelhouse, especially when they have such a strong sense of place and the relationships are imperfect but not over-dramatically messy.
Such a great read!!
The premise and characters (and family drama!) are interesting, but for as long as the book is, I was expecting the author to go more in-depth with their storylines. The ending was rushed.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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 thought this would be right in my wheelhouse but reading it just felt like a chore.
I loved this book! Great story about multiple generations and members of a restaurant-owning family set post-2016 election. Funny but also poignant in spots. Also, how can you not love a book that featured bands named “Donna Martin Graduates” and “Brass Monkey”?
Author is a Boston College grad :)
I loved this story of 3 generations stemming from the grandparents who run a restaurant outside Chicago, their children who have varying levels of involvement in the restaurant, to the grandchildren trying to make their own ways but end up back at the restaurant.
I loved this story of 3 generations stemming from the grandparents who run a restaurant outside Chicago, their children who have varying levels of involvement in the restaurant, to the grandchildren trying to make their own ways but end up back at the restaurant.
A multigenerational family lives and works together in Chicago, with the center of their lives, being a beloved old restaurant . They go through various major life events; loss of loved ones, betrayal, divorce, career changes, new relationships, childhood and high school lives. They face the hassles of growing up and living in the same suburb, having to deal with high school acquaintances. It's nice to read the story of people dealing with modern politics, and other problems, with a great support system. A family that always has their back. A pleasant read!