This book could have been great. This book should have been loved by fans of Tom Perrotta, but I certainly didn’t find it appealing In fact, I found it confusing and FULL of names and characters and sub-plots and sub-sub-plots. OMG, and gratuitous sex that seems to point to sex as disgusting and unappetizing.

The author uses the old chestnut of reliving one’s high school experience through the eyes of a mature adult while masquerading as a teenager. This is an overused plot, but injecting inappropriate sex made me cringe.

So, for a novel that I was excited about reading, I am very disappointed. Characters with multiple names and little clarity are not a good idea.

I’m so sorry, but I really can’t recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley For providing me with this ARC.

Ellen is a very, very talented writer - which I want to make clear, because I think it was the format of the book that just didn’t work for me. There were too many voices to follow too quickly, so for me there was too much going on at once to enjoy the book properly - but Ellen’s writing is skilful, sharp and witty, so I’m sure many other readers will love this! Just not for me this time.