All Adults Here is the brand new novel from Emma Straub, the New York Times bestselling author of Modern Lovers and The Vacationers. Known for her wisdom and humour, Emma takes on family divides and unspoken truths in her latest novel, published by the Michael Joseph imprint of Penguin Books.


SYNOPSIS
Now in her seventies, Astrid Strick has decided to be honest with her three children. She’d done her best to learn from her mistakes with every child she had; trying to keep up with their needs but never feeling like she quite got it right. After seeing a lifelong acquaintance being knocked down and killed by a school bus, Astrid’s no longer happy keeping her relationship with her hairdresser, Birdie, a secret any longer. Her children will have to learn to accept she’s in love with a woman, but it also means she has an apology to make to one of her sons.


Astrid isn’t the only member of the family with secrets; her daughter Porter is hiding her pregnancy, her eldest son Elliot is more worried about image than happiness and her youngest, Nicky, is sending his daughter to live with Astrid after getting into trouble at school. They all have their own problems, and even their shared ones are handled very differently.




REVIEW
All Adults Here incorporates several issues and changes facing families daily; sexuality, gender, sibling rivalry, choosing solo parenting and more.


Focusing on one family, Emma Straub captures some gloriously witty and painfully on-point insights into all ages and family dynamics. Her writing is so fluid and full of warmth that it makes for effortless, enjoyable reading. One of the themes I really enjoyed was how situations could be seen differently from various perspectives. For example, the older brother, Elliot feels that Astrid was tougher on him than anyone else. From Astrid’s perspective, she learnt to be slightly softer and ended up going easier on her son Nicky, only reinforcing everyone’s impressions that he was the favourite child.


My favourite character was Cecelia, Nicky’s daughter who he sends to live with his mother. She’s a wonderful catalyst and has an absolute heart of gold. People find her easy to talk to, and she often struggles with knowing so much, but whenever she gets in trouble, it’s always for a good reason.


All Adults Here is a heartwarming novel of family, friendship and honesty with some truly wonderful characters. I’ve read so much crime recently that this has made a refreshing change of pace that has still managed to keep me engrossed.

This was an incredibly thoughtful and sensitive book, focused on family and emotional connections. This was a perfect read for a therapist to delve into. In Clapham, based in the Hudson Valley, we meet the family matriarch Astrid. Her story starts with a dramatic fatal accident as Astrid witnesses someone hit by a car, while on her way to the hair and beauty salon. Astrid knows the victim and experiences a weird mix of emotions because it is someone she thinks about a lot, but really doesn’t like very much. She goes on to the salon where her friend Birdie is ready to comfort her, revealing that they are much more than friends. Slowly we are then introduced to the rest of Astrid’s family and the various dynamics within their relationships.

We meet Astrid’s granddaughter Cecelia, who is facing a big change as she moves towards her grandmother. Cecelia is almost expelled from school and Astrid’s son Nicky is sure that New York is not the best environment for his daughter. His wife Juliette is a dancer and they need to be based in the city, so they decide to send Cecelia to live with Astrid up state. Elliot, the older sibling, is married to Wendy and they’re coping with the birth of twin sons. The middle sibling, Porter, would love to have a baby but doesn’t have a man - well not one she should have. She’s occupied mainly with her goat farm but lives in the valley closer to Astrid.

Each individual family unit has its own issues, but I was most invested with Astrid herself and Cecelia. I loved that Astrid had a relationship with Birdie and the focus of embracing your sexuality and your true self, without judgements. Cecelia has a lot of her grandmother in her. She doesn’t always do the right thing with regard to school and rules, but she has an innate sense of justice and is usually doing the wrong thing on someone else’s behalf. She makes a true friend in August and would stand up for her, which becomes very important when August reveals she’s transgender. Often she’s more mature than others in the family. For Astrid, the accident she witnesses is a catalyst for her to re-evaluate life and some of her decisions, especially towards her children. She decides to open up about her choice of life partner in Birdie. She also thinks about decisions she’s made or behaviour she’s had towards her children, and starts making apologies. She wonders whether she was too hard on them, and whether they’ve become good people as adults.

Having grown up in a small village I understand the dilemma her children have felt on whether to stay in the valley or whether they’re only seen as successful if they get out to the big city like Nicky. All of the siblings were real and well rounded characters who could have easily populated their own novel. The author is clearly a keen observer of human nature. She’s very perceptive too as it’s almost as if she can read people’s thoughts. These characters have a rich inner life! She really throws issues and problems at them too, only some of which their mother is aware of. Yet the tone of the novel remains bright and lively, which is an incredible skill. My only criticism is that I think a more focused book on just Astrid and Cecilia’s storylines might have worked better, especially considering the contrasting societal pressures when Astrid was younger. This was an intelligent and absorbing read, full of psychological insight and wisdom.

When I look back on my notes on this book, my first sentence was… ‘what an opening chapter!’ and I wasn’t joking. The opening chapter was so gripping that I had to carry on to find out more.

There are a lot of characters in this book but that is what I loved most about it. As I don’t come from a big family myself, I love reading books that focus on big families. All Adults Here is a great story that definitely focuses on the trials and tribulations of a modern family.

The more I read the book, the more I fell in love with each of the characters because they each added something unique to the story. I find it hard to choose my favourite character because they all leave you feeling something. I think out of them all, my favourites had to be Astrid and Porter because they are both independent women who have had to live within society’s expectations and had to hide their true selves.

I also loved how Emma Straub featured LGBTQIA narratives from both a young and old character, allowing us as readers to understand how members of the LGBTQIA society struggle in all different ways.

I also enjoyed the discussion around new fathers and how there doesn’t seem to be any support for dads of new-borns. They are just expected to ‘get on with it’ and get back to work. Elliot’s narrative gave us an insight into the highs and lows of being a new parent.

I think out of all the characters, Cecilia offers something for everyone in the book. In my opinion, she is the true heroine in the story because she helps all the other characters to realise their full potential.

Emma Straub brilliantly writes about how families and family traditions are adjusting to modern life and ultimately creates a funny, honest and gripping story that made my heart feel full.

Astrid Strick is the matriarch of a middle-class family in Clapham, a small town in New York State. She is having an ordinary day until she is confronted by the sudden death of a neighbour who she didn’t even consider a friend.

This brush with mortality leads her to make a life-changing decision which has implications for all her family. Meanwhile her children and granddaughter are going through crises of their own. The events of the coming weeks cause them all to reassess their relationships.

All Adults Here is a light and engaging read, but it is by no means trivial. It asks some profound questions about identity, how we’re shaped by our past and how the love of family and community can be a bind as well as a joy.

Astrid’s eldest child, Elliott, runs a business in the town. He is successful but somehow not the person he thought he would be. He feels unable to escape people’s expectations of him, particularly in a small town where everyone has known him all his life.

His sister, Porter, also has a very different business and lives nearby. Porter is single but is thinking now is her last chance to have a child. Looking forward to parenthood leads her to have one final fling with her past.

Nicky, the son who got away, has his identity trapped in a different way. As a young man he starred in a small independent movie which gained a cult following, and everywhere he goes he is recognised, forever viewed as the character he played.

All Adults Here asks some searching questions about parenthood. Elliott is struggling to adjust to life with baby twins. Nicky, the father of a teenager, thinks his charm and easy-going manner are enough to get him through. Porter is preparing a life for her child that will be different from her own conventional upbringing.

For Astrid, parenthood seems to be life without parole. She is still intimately involved with her children’s lives, or, in the case of Nicky, wishing she was. She is eaten up with regrets for things said and done – or things she failed to say and do.


There are a lot of novels about (and by!) children who think their lives have been ruined by their messed-up parents but not so many about the reverse. In All Adults Here, the eternal burden of being a parent is laid bare.

The ending was perhaps a little too sweet and neat for my taste. While I’m quite prepared to believe that people have life-changing moments, it’s a little convenient when half-a-dozen of them all have one at the same time.

However this is, as the New York Times blurb says, literary sunshine rather than social realism. If you’re looking for a holiday read which is light and engaging but also has some substance, this would be a good choice.
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I received a copy of All Adults Here from the publisher via Netgalley.

This is my first book by this author, and I thought this was very well written. Very relatable family life.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

After reading Emma Straub's previous novels, this one shot to the top of my wishlist as I just love immersing myself in the world and characters she creates.

After witnessing the untimely death of a member of her community, Astrid Strick is thrown a little off axis and begins questioning her past and her future all at once.

Unbeknownst to Astrid, her three adult children are all experiencing their own crises.

Elliot is married with kids, successful in business, does everything the right way, but still wants more. Porter is having a baby alone by choice, but hasn't stopped pining for a boy she once loved. And Nicky is living free and easy, but has no idea how to parent his teenager, Cecelia, who turns out to be the wisest of the lot.

All Adults Here tenderly explores ancient family dynamics, community, friendships old and new, sexuality, identity, motherhood, and what it means to live a good life.

Straub has such a talent for capturing the ebb and flow of relationships, the distance we often feel from our loved ones, the things we might keep from them, the precious moments that draw us closer together again.

I love, love, loved it. Can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

Story of the messiness of family life illustrating how childhood dynamics carry over into adulthood . When Astrid witnesses the death of an acquaintance whilst she is having her hair done it causes her to rethink her life in terms of family dynamics and to question what sort of a mother she was/is. You will be sucked into the intricacies and minutiae of the life of both the Strick family and the small town where Astrid still lives A thoroughly enjoyable read

All Adults Here is a story of a dysfunctional family and is a beautiful depiction of sibling and parental dynamics. I was pulled into the story from the start, loved the characters and the description of a small American town. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

"It happened before you could blink. Her children had been children, and now they were adults; they were all adults here, now."

All Adults Here is about the dysfunctional dynamics of the Strick family. Every adult in this novel seems to be going through a mid-life coming-of-age and dealing with their own crises; Elliot wants to be seen as successful and craves the acceptance of his family, Porter is pregnant but worried about raising the baby on her own and Nicky is a weed-smoking hippie who, not knowing how to deal with his daughter Cecelia, sends her to live with her grandma Astrid, the matriarch of the family. After being a widow for many years Astrid has found love again, but hasn't plucked up the courage to tell her family yet.

One day Astrid sees her acquaintance Barbara Baker get knocked down and killed by the local school bus. Not only does she think about the fact that it could have been her, it also makes her re-evaluate her whole life. Did she make mistakes in parenting her children? Are there times when she could have done things differently?

All Adults Here is an in-depth study of a modern American family - full of well-written and well-rounded characters who are flawed in many ways - but the book is all about a family learning that life is too short for secrets, that we don't always understand those closest to us and that we have to accept people for who they are. I thought All Adults Here was a warm and enjoyable piece of domestic fiction and I look forward to reading more of Emma Straub's work.

Witnessing a fatal accident involving an acquaintance of hers, on the same day that her granddaughter arrives for a prolonged stay, proves to be a watershed moment not only for Astrid Strick but also her family in All Adults Here, the latest novel from Emma Straub.

There’s nothing quite like the shock of a sudden death to make you re-evaluate your own life or for a new arrival to effect a change in the status quo. Ordinarily, one of these might be enough to make a difference but here both happen on the same day to one woman in a small town in upstate New York.

For Astrid Strick, it’s a chance to look at her life and be more open about what she wants from it and who she needs in it; she reflects on long-held grievances and whether there were ever valid reasons for them, and tries to repair some of the damage caused by perceived past mistakes on her part.

Just as the accident affects Astrid, her own change in behaviour, and the decisions she makes as a result, create a ripple effect throughout the family. Her granddaughter, Cecelia, also plays her part upon arriving in town for an extended stay of unknown duration, after leaving New York under a cloud. It was refreshing to see a teenager who was shy but not moody or stroppy in her new environment, and to see how sensitive she is to those around her. She often seems to have more about her than the grown ups.

Each family member has a different viewpoint and I like that we don’t only see things from Astrid’s in All Adults Here; Emma Straub moves the story along well by switching perspective from one to another of the family, and sometimes straying into their friends’ circle, so that the reader has a more complete picture and better understands the personalities and family dynamics at play by the end of the novel.

And just as each family member has a different perspective, they’re all having to deal with their own insecurities and struggles, which we gain an insight into throughout the book. There is so much going on that I can see how some readers might think Emma Straub has put too many issues into this novel but, in response, I’ll only say that if those same people stepped back for a moment and considered their own nearest and dearest, they’d no doubt come to realise that this is inherent in family groups, especially ones of this size.

All Adults Here covers a range of issues, showing human beings at their worst and best or somewhere in between on that scale, with some certainly questioning themselves more than others, people simply doing the best they can under the circumstances, and a few not even trying. It shows the importance of good communication, telling people how we feel, what we need, or that we believe in them and support them.

Emma Straub not only keeps her narrative moving forward with ease but she also injects humour and compassion into it, which lends it a lightness of touch, saving it from becoming too earnest or didactic.

There’s so much of this book which struck a chord with me, made me laugh (or cringe, equally as much), that is quotable or seems to speak a truth about life and how we either learn from past mistakes or continue in the same pattern of behaviour. All Adults Here is a novel about doing the best we can, questioning our behaviour and how we don’t always understand or know the people closest to us as well as we think we do, and their relationships with us and others.

One of my favourite scenes in this book is where Astrid is trying to right a perceived wrong she did to her eldest child, Elliott, only to have him turn around and demand an apology for something else, wholly unrelated to that incident. It just goes to show how much weight we can attach to a past event, how our memory expands it to become a millstone over time, yet it can be almost completely insignificant to the other person concerned.

Despite the issues it covers and the web of relationships and family roles contained within the book, All Adults Here is a joy to read; it fizzes with wit and bubbles with life, and longing, and love. And having read it, I now want to read Emma Straub’s entire back catalogue, which means I have three novels and a short story collection to keep me happy for a while. If you enjoyed reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng or Ask Again, Yes by May Beth Keane, I think you’ll enjoy this.

All Adults Here is a book that addresses many themes, and does it in an honest way – characters discuss and are exposed to a lot of different issues (which I won’t list here, incase I spoil some of the story) without overdramatisation or insincerity. I think Emma Straub addresses them all well.

I really liked most of the characters, despite their faults – or perhaps because of their faults, as it shows they were human and believable as people – but the plot felt a little confused to me. I really enjoyed the storyline about August, and how it was addressed, and the new and very different (for her) relationship that Astrid has entered into, but I felt like a lot of the rest of the story failed to truly grasp my attention (though I still found it interesting enough). Perhaps there was just too much going on…

However I was also aware that this perfectly depicted the often messy, confused nature of life, relationships and families, something I do feel this book does really well. It’s still a solid, enjoyable read and I really like Emma Straub’s writing style, but I think the plot just didn’t grasp me quite as much as I expected.

Astrid, a 68-year old widower, mother of three adult children, and grandmother, witnesses the sudden death of an acquaintance, and it throws her life into perspective. She realises that she may not have been the best mother and puts herself on a path of correction. This touching story features a dysfunctional family who go through a process of realisation, setting themselves ways to overcome childish tendencies and issues that have weighed them down. Read the book and follow their paths!

Very strong, relatable and funny characters explore and experience important real-life social issues including adultery, artificial insemination, bullying, sexuality, and gender identity, within their own narratives. There were some heart-warming moments, especially between mother, father and children, but also between siblings. Family relationships can be hard to maintain, especially when lives can be hectic, but these characters go through a fantastic journey of dealing with their lives whilst reconciliating their relationships, and this made the book particularly enjoyable to follow. The narratives of these adults were also complemented by the lives of school children and the issues they were faced with, with a particularly moving friendship of two people who closely support each other; I wish I had a true friendship like theirs during my school years. These different story lines, all important in their own right, worked together wonderfully to keep you invested in the characters and their lives, their relationships, their issues, to make sure you kept turning each page. The final part of the book- the epilogue- was a satisfying way to end the book.

Yet even though there were many strengths, there were also some underlying weaknesses that meant this book didn’t quite achieve 5 stars from me. Even though these important issues being explored was something that was great to see, it also felt that they needed to be presented in much greater depth. This perhaps wouldn’t have been possible to achieve given that there were a lot of issues embedded into the narratives of the characters that felt a little too much. These issues also tended to be solved very quickly which didn’t quite feel realistic. Even though I enjoyed the plot as a whole, there needed to be something more to drive it forward, and this may not have been a problem if each character’s issues and progressions were explored in greater depth.

I enjoy reading books that leave me reflecting on important messages, and that is exactly what Emma Straub achieves. It reminded me that life is unpredictable, and that you should make the most of it; fix your mistakes, don’t build up your feelings of resentment until they weigh you down and make you miserable, and to just be your true self, the self that makes you happy and who you want to be. If you’re interested in stories of family dysfunction and reconciliation, of lessons of friendship and love, then this book is for you, and make sure to buckle up ready for the chaotic journey of the Strick family!

A big thank you to Gaby Young from Michael Joseph Books for providing me with a copy of this book and a spot on the blog tour in exchange for my honest review.

68-years-old Astrid is the head of the Strick family and just saw an old acquaintance die. The death itself doesn’t shake her as it probably should, but it does make Astrid think – of rights and wrongs, of her children and her own upbringing, and of the fact that life is, actually, quite short. Little does Astrid know that her children are all more or less in midst of smaller and bigger crises themselves.

A multi-generational, multi-layered contemporary novel revolving around a family and all its secrets, problems, ups and downs set in a small town in upstate New York.

The author’s writing is quite engaging, despite the fact that the story is a bit all over the place sometimes. Second guesses, problems and regrets are coupled with love, family and second chances in this family drama, as I would call it, and I really like following the Stricks and their multiple stories. 4 stars from me – and I can’t wait to find out more about the author!

All adults here is an novel of family dynamics, the way we interact with our siblings and parents and vice verse. It’s about growing up, accepting ourselves for who we really are, acknowledging our limitations and about always trying to do the right thing by our fellow human beings. This novel, which is full of wry humour celebrates all the complexities and diversities within a modern family, placing love and friendship at the top of its agenda. All of these themes are explored through the eyes of one family living in the American small town of Clapham. Astrid Strick presides over her three children’s lives,despite the fact they are all grown up and it is fascinating to have an insight into what makes this particular family tick.

There are two incidents that are instrumental in changing Astrid’s life in this storyline. One, is witnessing Barbara Baker’s sudden death, mown down by the town’s bus driver and secondly taking guardianship of her granddaughter Cecilia who has been expelled from her school. Reading the first few pages I was reminded slightly of Fannie Flagg’s writing, sensing the warmth within the words with an almost anecdotal feel to the narrative. Astrid has been keeping a secret from her family for too long and it’s with these two momentous events that she’s finally given the push she needs to come clean.

Astrid’s eldest son Elliott is still living in Clapham, married to Wendy with young twins who are more than a handful. He’s lost his way in life, lacking in self confidence and feels ridiculed by his siblings. He feels the weight of expectation from his parents (father Russell deceased)on his shoulders,believing he has fallen way short and therefore in his mother’s eyes is not worthy of her love. Elliott is such an identifiable character for those of us who feel we grew up overshadowed by a sibling and therefore made to feel lesser in the eyes of our parents. I think those feelings are hard to extinguish, so ingrained in our personalities and for that reason I did have a smidgeon of sympathy for this man. Ultimately I didn’t particularly like him, finding his long held grudges to be past their sell by date and that maybe he’d be happier to move on and embrace family life in the present. Easier said than done!

Then there’s middle child Porter, pregnant thanks to the use of a sperm donor, desperately wanting this child but burdened by the impending sense of responsibility, unsure and terrified she won’t be a good mother. Despite living in this small town which must be a hotbed for gossip and rumour, Porter is still conducting an on off relationship with childhood sweetheart Jeremy who is married. To me Porter suffers from an inability to grow up and embrace adulthood which may be the result of being the middle child, sandwiched between her two brothers. For all their rivalries/disagreements Elliott and Nicky prove loyal to their sister as the developing storyline will highlight. Irrespective of her dubious moral compass I really liked Porter’s character.

Finally there is the baby of the family, Nicky who I found to be a bit of an enigma. Married to Juliette, he became father to their only child Cecelia at a young age but I don’t feel I ever got to grips with his character. Apart from knowing he leads quite a bohemian, hippy lifestyle, travelling all over the world, his physical role in the storyline is kept to a minimum. However the essence of Nicky is very much alive throughout, and I was left in no doubt that he was the favoured, mollycoddled son who could do no wrong. I think I felt that by sending Cecilia to live with her grandmother, he was absolving himself of his parental responsibilities, passing the buck until such a time when problems were resolved and he could resume his fatherly duties. That to me didn’t seem like the actions of a true grown up, more that of a spoilt child!

Probably it is Cecilia who won my heart, with her resolve to try and do what is right whilst standing up for her beliefs and in this case her friend August. I loved how their friendship blossomed and how gradually Cecelia fitted in to her new surroundings. She shows a real sense of maturity which puts the adults to shame and it is this maturity that helps her friend August to have confidence in his own skin.

Astrid, head of the family is just as messed up and confused as her children but in her I recognised that motherly instinct to protect her children, whilst at times not being able to do or say the right thing. Like any parent she has only ever tried to do her best, with varying results and you can’t solely blame her for her childrens inadequacies. Unfortunately we all F***up our children, despite our best intentions and I felt with acknowledging her relationship with Birdie she was finally setting a good example of the necessity to be true to yourself, however difficult that path may be.

With a glorious cast of characters, I enjoyed familiarising myself with each member of the Strick family. Any novel of this nature instantly has appeal since we are reminded of our own family dynamics with sibling tensions that strangely never seem to change from childhood through to adulthood, at least not in my opinion! It made me explore my own feelings towards my family recognising the misconceptions and misunderstandings that go hand in hand with poor communication, as is the case for the Strick family. So it’s impossible not to find this novel hugely relatable. I loved the wry humour in the author’s writing with the references to Barbara Baker amusing. Although she’s dead from the start, this woman has a lot to answer for!!
Intelligently written and heartwarming I grew to love this family, warts and all so can highly recommend.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

This story is set in a small town of Clapham in Hudson Valley, and tells the story of Astrid & her 3 grown up children, Nicky, Elliott & Porter.

The family have grown up in the town where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows your business..

I really enjoyed reading this book with all the twist and turn the story takes and would recommend it.

With thanks to Netgalley & Michael Joseph for the review copy. #alladultshere

I love stories about dysfunctional families, it makes mine look some what normal! All Adults Here focuses on Astrid Strick and her family. Whether it’s Porter who refuses to grow up, despite being pregnant or Astrid questioning every parental choice she ever made, each character has their issues and all are hiding their true selves from the world and each other. Suffice to say Emma Straub has created an interesting and funny mix of characters!

I thought Astrid was an interesting main character and loved seeing how she developed through her crisis. In my opinion she was the person who had learnt the most about herself by then end and was seeking forgiveness, understanding and trying to make amends. Whilst I liked most of the characters I did have a weak spot for Cecelia, Robin and Birdie. Cecelia and Robin were loyal, brave and honest whilst Birdie was that character who remained in the background but had a way of calming everyone. She didn’t throw herself into the family and make waves she just rippled her way through slowing bringing them all into her flow.

Emma Straub tackles a lot of issues within this book and the added LGBTQIA element gave this story its modern edge, it almost had a Gilmore Girl’s feel to it. The story was quirky, fun, heartwarming and it left me with a smile on my face. The perfect contemporary read to lighten up the day.

Serendipitous moments don’t happen to me very often but how I ended up being on the blog tour and reading this was a very happy accident. A crossed wire, a complete misunderstanding, oh and my ability to not pay proper attention.

So I opened the book and was joyfully surprised by how attention grabbing the first chapter was. The fact that it was titled The quick death and lead with the protagonists nemesis being hit by a bus meant this book was playing my favourite tune and I was more than happy to sing along.

After our protagonist Astrid, a 68 year old widow, witnesses the accident she profoundly comes to the conclusion that life is short and questions her parenting of her children. Are her children’s faults because of her? So she takes it upon herself to get to know them better.

What then proceeds is getting to know the Strick family and all their issues. Lots of current topics, including IVF, sexual preferences and gender identity are amongst them. The families complicated relationship dynamics are the strength of this book. In particular the young boy coming out as transgender was beautifully written.

This book will make you look at your own family dynamics and parenting style. How we parent each child differently as what works for one won’t necessarily work for another. It seems funny that when you get a car it comes with a handbook, when you have kids you have no idea what you are doing and just bumble along and cross your fingers that it will all be okay. But nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes.

The writing in itself constantly brought a smile to my face with its descriptions “Astrid thought of her as human sunshine: bright, warm, sometimes harsh, but always good for one’s mood.”

One thing I will say about this book is there isn’t really a plot. That’s not a criticism by any means as it didn’t really need one. If anything it shone because of the lack of it. Instead this is a glimpse into the heart of the Strick family and this crazy ride we are all on called life. Where we just do the best we can and hope that it’s enough.

I read this for a blog tour.

This is a clever, funny, warm book about family, the mistakes we make, finding your place and love.

Robin and Cecelia were my favourite characters, I wanted to give them both a hug and cheer on the festival float along with the family Strick.

I really liked the way this was written, moving between the different family members, their pasts and presents.

I really enjoyed this book. Weaving together the stories of Astrid, widowed and in a new relationship; her three grown-up children, who each have troubles of their own; and her grand-daughter, slung out of school for an offence that's not identified until quite late in the book, it's funny and warm-hearted, but it also has profound things to say about families, and how we so often don't really know the people closest to us, creating misunderstandings and mistakes that echo down the years.

I'm a huge fan of Anne Tyler, and this reminded me of one of hers - Emma Straub has a similar knack of creating characters who are quirky enough to be interesting, but ordinary enough to be convincing, and of observing the everyday details of their environment and their lives so beautifully that you feel you're there with them. And I love her elegant, perfectly restrained style - never a word out of place, never a pretentious turn of phrase, just clean, beautiful and witty writing.

3.5

Emma Straub is one of my favourite authors - I loved her book Modern Lovers and I’m always recommending it. When I got the chance by the publisher to read this one for review, I jumped on the opportunity.

Now I love a family drama so this one is right up my street. I really enjoyed the different characters within the book and the different storylines and subplots.

However, I felt the book tried to unpack a lot of social issues such as sexuality, adultery abortion etc and I feel like it tried to do too much and was over-ambitious and not well executed.

That being said, the writing is great and Emma does a fantastic job of fleshing out the different characters. It was an entertaining read but not Straub’s best.