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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This was a strong “meh” from me… I appreciated the Chicagoland references but the implosion of all the relationships was hard to enjoy
Nice book - nothing too serious. BTW - this is the book I learned what "Marrying the ketchups" means as well as what a "Sandwich Loaf" is. I'm thinking of making the "Sandwich Loaf"!
emotional
lighthearted
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
I usually love books that span a lot of time within the same family, but this one seemed really slow to me. It took until the last 50 pages for a change to really occur for any characters, so they seemed passive for the majority of the book.
Though there are aspects of this novel that reminded me of other family stories, this novel does stand out in my mind for the way that the author talks of the culture of 2016. She builds a tension into the relationships that she describes, into the air of what suddenly became our lives, and she is accurate in this. While other reviewers may complain of this focus, I don’t think she is wrong in her attention to politics. That is what that time was filled with. It was dividing.
At the same time, though, the author does move past this. Like the rest of us, her characters have to move on with their lives, more or less, and thus, the story is not solely about politics. This story is also about the elder millennial experience; it is about those who were reaching, within this era, that point in their adulthood when they were having to make tough decisions based on choices they had made when they were young. The realization that life isn’t always going to be what you thought it was when you were coming of age, when your future seemed bright and full of possibility, looms. While the characters do get whiny at times, I suppose it’s warranted. This can be a harsh snap to reality, but it is a fairly universal story. Thus, perhaps we should all try to offer these characters grace. I’m sure we all have aspects of our lives that have snuck up on us as they have changed, either suddenly or shockingly, subtly. It’s hard for things to always remain the same, even if we want them to, and these characters deal with that while attending to their family, friends, and careers.
At the same time, though, the author does move past this. Like the rest of us, her characters have to move on with their lives, more or less, and thus, the story is not solely about politics. This story is also about the elder millennial experience; it is about those who were reaching, within this era, that point in their adulthood when they were having to make tough decisions based on choices they had made when they were young. The realization that life isn’t always going to be what you thought it was when you were coming of age, when your future seemed bright and full of possibility, looms. While the characters do get whiny at times, I suppose it’s warranted. This can be a harsh snap to reality, but it is a fairly universal story. Thus, perhaps we should all try to offer these characters grace. I’m sure we all have aspects of our lives that have snuck up on us as they have changed, either suddenly or shockingly, subtly. It’s hard for things to always remain the same, even if we want them to, and these characters deal with that while attending to their family, friends, and careers.
Love a good family drama story. Easy to read and well written. I loved the characters.
I loved all of Jennifer Close's previous books and this one is her best so far. I laughed out loud multiple times and I didn't want this to end. Perfectly Chicago (and Oak Park and Lake Forest), set in the time period right after the Cubs 2016 World Series win (and I say that as a Cardinals fan) with flashbacks to Game 7, and relatable rage after the 2016 election. And I loved the family dynamics, particularly the sibling and cousin relationships.