Reviews

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

gracigoodin's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

loriluo's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 is a more accurate rating, but rounding down as I wouldn't personally recommend to friends. All Adults Here starts out promising, centering on Astrid Strick and her 3 adult children (and their children) and the reckoning that happens between parents and children as time passes. I get the sense that the author was trying to fill in as much as she could within just one novel, and that attempt to do everything really detracted from the second half of the book. While I certainly appreciate the extent of difficult topics covered, from detached parenting, changing and undefined sexuality, bullying, going against societal norms and expectations, etc. it felt like each character and storyline was never fully finished and fleshed out, which leaves the readers wanting. Overall, a great message and overall story, but not executed well in the writing.

ajura's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

sebollinger's review against another edition

2.0

Mehhh. This book was full of privilege and posturing. I just never got into the characters and I was pretty bored by their stories. Pass.

maliae's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

spookyri's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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

3.5

meganluck's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jenniferrose1118's review against another edition

funny tense

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

emilysmcbride's review against another edition

3.0

I found that All Adults Here fell short of Modern Lovers' legacy. I was excited to read another novel by Straub after falling in love with her first but whereas Modern Lovers felt well-rounded and complete, All Adults Here lacked the character depth and finished touches of its predecessor.

Both novels explored the themes of sexuality, especially the discovery of sexuality in later years, but All Adults Here went beyond this to try and include too many modern-day hot topics. I agree with another reviewer's comment that Straub tried to cram too much into one book: transgender coming-of-age struggles, internet predators, bisexuality, IVF and single motherhood, etc. and none of these topics received the attention and care that they deserve.

Not to mention that there were major plot points that were never resolved, I came close to not finishing because I simply didn't see the point. If you asked me to identify the main conflict...I couldn't because there are a dozen minuscule conflicts that never quite add up.

I wouldn't recommend this, but if she releases another novel, I'll certainly give it another go.

efenstermaker's review against another edition

3.0

This was a solid read, and there were some truly banger lines (ex adults adding layers of skin to forget that the bones underneath are the same, or something along those lines)…pretty standard “troubled family” fare, and I felt that Nicky was a bit underdeveloped compared to porter and Elliot. Reading it isn’t a waste of time, but you wouldn’t be massively missing out if you skip it.