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misskatz's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Marian Keyes writes wonderful characters, then and her fabulous storytelling kept me reading but, for me, there were far to many characters and storylines. It would have been nice to have focused on some stories more intensely.
My overriding feeling is that Grownups was way too long and needed a good edit.
My overriding feeling is that Grownups was way too long and needed a good edit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
moriak's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
mejisilliterate's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
immediately writing this after finishing the book and it’s HARD not to give it a five. But that’s because of the ending, and I know with some reflection it probably wouldn’t hold up.
the cast is actually amazing. with that many characters to keep track of, it’s hard to make sure every storyline stays consistently interesting. keyes did a wonderful job of this, with few faults, except maybe with the character of liam at times. i just found that he grew very flat by the end, which is a shame because i think to start he had really interesting complexity. also i think it’s a shame he’s the only major character whose storyline didn’t have a sufficient full stop. we don’t have a clue about his future, which going along with the fuller endings of the other characters, in comparison his conclusion felt, well, inconclusive.
some spoilers ahead
i ADORED the relationships that were endgame (which i include ferdia and nell into because i love them too much to not have hope for their future :,) Cara and Ed were my favourite couple and their storyline was the best in my opinion. heartbreaking, but yet hopeful. i’m a sop for love, so even though jessie and johnnys fight and reunite was a bit stretched, i still loved it anyway. and finally, ferdia and nell. the bittersweet to round off the saccharine. in my mind i know that it was both a great writing choice and character choice for nell to work on herself after a difficult and possibly traumatic marriage, and same goes for ferdias complete compliance and understanding of nell’s choice, which really is a masterful way to demonstrate his maturity. at first, when i started to sense that keyes was setting up a relationship between them, i was a bit unsure. However, ferdias character journey, which really should be studied because it was SO good, allowed the relationship to develop in a truly believably loving way (and in a hot way! man i was crushing on him a bit at the end…)
the cast is actually amazing. with that many characters to keep track of, it’s hard to make sure every storyline stays consistently interesting. keyes did a wonderful job of this, with few faults, except maybe with the character of liam at times. i just found that he grew very flat by the end, which is a shame because i think to start he had really interesting complexity. also i think it’s a shame he’s the only major character whose storyline didn’t have a sufficient full stop. we don’t have a clue about his future, which going along with the fuller endings of the other characters, in comparison his conclusion felt, well, inconclusive.
some spoilers ahead
i ADORED the relationships that were endgame (which i include ferdia and nell into because i love them too much to not have hope for their future :,) Cara and Ed were my favourite couple and their storyline was the best in my opinion. heartbreaking, but yet hopeful. i’m a sop for love, so even though jessie and johnnys fight and reunite was a bit stretched, i still loved it anyway. and finally, ferdia and nell. the bittersweet to round off the saccharine. in my mind i know that it was both a great writing choice and character choice for nell to work on herself after a difficult and possibly traumatic marriage, and same goes for ferdias complete compliance and understanding of nell’s choice, which really is a masterful way to demonstrate his maturity. at first, when i started to sense that keyes was setting up a relationship between them, i was a bit unsure. However, ferdias character journey, which really should be studied because it was SO good, allowed the relationship to develop in a truly believably loving way (and in a hot way! man i was crushing on him a bit at the end…)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
breadybooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
evekstanley's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
gelatolady's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
ceirid's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
Pleasant slice of life book that is a bit wandering
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Eating disorder
rworrall78's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Oh, just great. Funny, clever, charming and so smartly done. The fact that she can introduce a complicated family without it feeling like a chore. And the characters, they just feel real. I was properly invested in them. So enjoyable. Not a happy ever after or a sad ending. Just a real one, which is to say not quite an ending at all. But very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Sexual content and Death
Minor: Sexual harassment
hschaapkens's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder