Grown Ups

I absolutely love this book. It’s basically a story or a slice of life of a family. The pettiness, love, angst in minutia. I was absolutely engrossed in the entire book. Highly recommend!

Grown Ups by Marie Aubert is about Ida, a single forty-year-old architect hoping for a shot at motherhood. Then she heads off to meet her family for her mother's 65th birthday, where her sister reveals some news of her own, which unfortunately sets off Ida.

I am in love with this novel. I read it in one sitting. It may be a short novel but it completely captures the complexities of familial relationships. That you can be jealous, hold grudges, be petty towards each other -- and still love and be supportive of each other.

There are many ways for us to live our lives. It doesn't have to look the same as everyone else.

The cover and “Venomous. Bitchy. Brilliant” pull quote on the cover drew me in! This was an enjoyable, incisive, and quick read.

Ida, our protagonist (or antagonist, depending on your perspective) is a 40-year-old architect. She single and thinking about freezing her eggs. Grown Ups takes place over a few days at Ida’s family cabin where she is joined by her mother, her mother’s partner, her younger sister, her sister’s husband and his six-year-old child. Ida was as venomous, bitchy, and brilliant as the pull quote promised, and was also sympathetically portrayed as someone struggling with loneliness and feeling overshadowed by her attention-grabbing sister.

Read this if you are looking for a well-written (and well-translated) novel about a flawed/human character trying to figure out her life.

This is a delightful gem of a novel by Marie Aubert which takes us through a summer visit to the family cabin. We follow the narrator one of two sisters who share ownership of the cabin and who have very differing relationships with the cabin and life more general. The narrator is far from a reliable one and we gradually see her world through not just only her own but through the eyes of others. It is an intriguing and engrossing tale and one that I most strongly recommend. It’s a concise but beautifully composed work.

Independent Ireland calls this book, "Venomous. Bitchy. Brilliant.". I would add, "Raw. Honest. Devastating.".

No one can love you like a sister... and no one knows how to cut you like a sister. There is a very specific, acidic animosity and tension that can arise between even the most loving of sisters, and I would not exactly call Marthe and Ida loving. Their relationship is clearly fraught with complication and as we move through the story we are gifted with flashbacks which help us to understand key moments throughout their history which have played into this dynamic. Of course we only see these moments from Ida's point of view, so they give us less if a complete understanding and more as if Ida has handpicked these memories as a showcase to justify her own feelings and actions.

*Spoilers*
When we part ways with Ida, she has essentially burned her life to the ground. She has shown us that withholding, or lack of action, can do just as much harm as actively doing something hurtful. We are left without a resolution. Will Ida have a phoenix moment and rise from the ashes, or will she continue down a path of drinking and desperation? There's no way for us to know (unless there is eventually a sequel) which for me causes this book to linger longer in my mind. There is no tidy resolution, no clear indication of either a bright or dark future. There is simply possibility.

*I received an Advance Copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

This was such a gripping read, it was well written with engaging storylines and well developed characters, I felt like I was part of the family.

An honest piece of relationship fiction about families. I will recommend it to people who enjoy relationship fiction, or women's literature but want a shorter read. The spare style of this story is beautiful in its simplicity.

Told from the perspective of Ida who has always been the sweet daughter and the supportive older sister in her family. When the family gathers amidst her own midlife struggles she starts to see the cracks in that role as her resentments boil up.

Ida is a flawed character who makes mistakes. If this book were very long, it would be exhausting. With the short period of time the book takes place in, the exceptional choice of events relayed, and the spare writing style, it is really wonderful. It felt like a reminder to assess oneself honestly in times of conflict to find that the source might be yourself.

I received an advanced copy of this book as a librarian. This review is my own honest opinion.

This is a beautifully written short novel that completely engrossed me. Set during a summer visit to a family cabin and explore the complexities of angst-ridden familial relationships. I loved and felt deeply sorry for the flawed narrator, her circumstance and her uneasy role within a family. The characters are well developed and structured creating a really beautiful novel.

Lovely read, very enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

This novel is a wonderful reflection on adulthood and how time affects familial relationships. Told wholly from Ida’s perspective it’s hard not to be completely invested in her and we can understand some of the actions she takes, even though they are questionable. It is emotional and raw and I really connected with some of the novel’s themes and ideas. Above all the book is so easy to read given how well it is written and how the story unfolds so naturally. I highly recommend this one.

One of the most amazing books I’ve read this year. It was complex but it mirrored how relationships change throughout the years. Not just the romantic relationships are the focus, but platonic friendships are discussed.

I adored this book. The writing is sharp and unflinching. It's about two sisters and the rivalry that's built into their relationship and how that dynamic plays out as they reach turning points in their lives. The simmering sibling resentment is perfectly captured early on as Ida watches her sister Marthe and recalls old, well-worn inequities: 'My jaw is stiff, she looks so stupid… standing there like that, I can't even look at her'.
Partner relationships are also dissected and picked away to their bare bones. Marthe and her husband Kristoffer are observed circling around each other, speaking with words that 'sound rehearsed' or chattering inanely to Kristoffer's daughter in sing-song voices, as if 'talking to a dog'.
Meanwhile, Ida remembers a failed Tinder date, one of many where her smile stayed frozen too wide for too long and she was bored stiff all night, yet still longed for him to say he'd call. Ida realises too late she's made a habit of self-sabotage and sabotaging relationships and watching this play out is painful and heartbreaking and also funny, as a wry humour also runs through this book.
Grown Ups is almost a novella length and every word is perfectly chosen by Aubert. She's an incredible writer who zooms in on moments of human frailty and never looks away.

Grown ups is a really interesting examination of the complexity of sibling relationships (especially sisterly bonds) and the idea that you never really stop wanting what the other has.

I really enjoy the fact that despite being told through Ida’s perspective, we’re never presented with the typical bad sister vs good sister - there are no sides to pick. We are just simply presented the story from all sides. I liked the nuances of sisters that were sprinkled throughout the book - the snide comments, the sly looks and the cruelties all felt very familiar and actually made me smile remembering similar conversations with my own sister.

I’m not usually a fan of the stream of consciousness style of writing but I think it worked really well in Grown Ups. It allowed every word in this book to be written with purpose - the book is small but no word feels wasted here.

Whilst there’s no tidy finish to the book, it was left in a place where I felt hopeful for both sisters. This book weirdly felt like a coming-of-age story despite the main narrator being 40 but I think that adds to the uniqueness of this book and adds to the room for hopefulness at the end.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to a friend. I can definitely see this sparking a debate amongst friends, family and book clubs alike.

This book is actually really life affirming, I felt that it was true to life as you really learn to like the main character Ida but you do also at many points along the way exasperatedly shake your head at her as she makes some very questionable choices. But isn't that what life is about as each and everyone of us at times does things that when we look back at it wish we hadn't done. It also expertly shows all the ups and downs in life, the exhilarating turns that we all navigate, the fun time and the devestating times that life has to bring you. It also shows how hard sibling rivalry can be we've all been there questioning why your life has taken you on a very different journey than your siblings and at times questioning what on earth the universe has in store for you and why it's so different to everyone else's. Who seem to have things really easy. But one thing I have learnt is that life is unexpected for all of us and we should never compare your life against someone else's. Because theirs is probably not as rosy as it seems.

In this book we meet Ida who is a 40 year old architect. Ida is single and starting to panic that she is never going to find the love of her life and have a family like everyone seems to have had come to them so easily. Ida is desperately trying to navigate a depressing Tinder. Contemplating if the best thing for her to do would be to freeze her eggs because time is passing her by without her getting the things she desperately desires.

All Ida keeps seeing in the world around her is other people who have exactly what she wants and children absolutely everywhere.

As covid comes knocking her desire just heightens and she finds herself stuck in the Norwegian countryside at a gathering of the family to mark her mother's sixty fifth birthday. She is faced with spending the time with her younger sister Marthe and her husband who seem to have everything that she desperately wants. As time moves on Ida is forced to mark out new milestones in her own life and to question the things that are really the most important to her.

Grown Ups by Marie Aubert is an engrossing family tale. It narrates the life of forty year old Ida who spends a few days with her family in the cabin. I liked reading about each characters and their individual struggles.

I rather enjoyed this interesting little (translated) novella. I went through a love-hate relationship with main character Ida - at times I sympathised with her for feeling she had failed in life being unmarried and childless at 40. Yet at other times I thought she was rather petty and cruel towards her sister Marthe!
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I loved the Scandavaian setting with the descriptions of the beach house and boat, it really made me want to go on holiday and lie in a hammock! I would recommend this book to fans of Olive. A nice easy read but I was hoping for just a tiny bit more from the ending.

Book Review: Grown Ups,

Does 'Life begin at 40'? wonders Ida....

This short novella from Ida's perspective centres on the family dynamics between Ida and her younger sister Marthe.
During a family weekend at their cabin to celebrate their mum's 65th birthday they find themselves again reverting to the childhood roles they assume around each other (Ida the people pleaser/protector/responsible one vs Marthe sensitive/weak/sickly) and Ida continually compares herself to Marthe; how their mum relates to them and their own hopes of becoming mothers being biggest issues of contention.

If you need your protagonists to be likeable this probably isn't for you; but I enjoyed this insight into the passive aggressive sibling rivalry between the two and being able to immerse yourself in Ida's psyche rather than a fluctuating point of view gave good continuity. Rather than rooting for Ida, she is increasingly irritating but I thought it ended on a more hopeful note. Not a read for escapism, but some honest if ugly truths that many will be able to relate to.

The tagline of “Venomous, Bitchy, Brilliant” summed it up perfectly!
A really refreshing take on the story of a single woman who is negotiating her feelings around her personal life - family, friends and fertility all included.
If you’re a fan of Olive by Emma Gannon and Pretending by Holly Bourne, this would be a perfect read for you as it’s full of the same kind of wit, sarcasm and self discovery.

I enjoyed this book throughout but the ending was a bit disappointing for me where it just ended with no result. I enjoyed how it felt like I was reading Ida's diary and the way she was thinking about things. The sisterly love hate relationship, the brother in law crush, the step niece relationship and her relationship with her mum and step dad were all portrayed well. Definitely some real life scenarios/likeness in there. I feel the term "grown ups" is jusf something we feel we should be and act grown up, whatever that is. It showed the childish sides of everyone.

Short but sweet- an insight into sibling rivalries and thoughts on motherhood. Very relatable and somewhat messy. Would be ideal for fans on Emma Straub and Olive by Emma Gannon. An enjoyable read!

This was a short novella which packed a powerful punch. Two sisters gather at their seaside cabin to celebrate the 65th birthday. of their mother. Ida, now 40 and wondering whether to freeze her eggs so she can have a child in the future, has had a series of short affairs with unavailable men, and has always felt less important than her younger sister, Marthe, whose health needs have meant she got her mother’s attention. Marthe is now with Kristoffer, awkward stepmum to his young daughter and with news of her own. The conflicts within the family all come to a head in a sharp, sometimes funny and deeply relateable snapshot of the ties that bind siblings, parents and children and the differences that drive them apart. The characters are flawed but realistic, and what becomes clear is that when it comes to our parents, we never fully grow up or away from those childhood experiences.

If you're looking for a nice, chill book to read, I would really recommend this!

Aubert makes all her characters in this book super relatable, particularly Ida, who feels like her life is speeding ahead of her. I think we all need reminding that we all go through different stages in our lives all at a different pace, which Aubert definitely demonstrates.

mIf you’re looking for a short read that will have you nod your head in agreement and make you think, “wow this is totally me”, this is the book for you! A super relatable book that i think anyone would enjoy picking up to read.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Pushkin Press and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I quite appreciate a title keeps me entertained and engaged throughout, mission accomplished.

Charming, witty characters mold this story. They come to life making it relatable.

This was a super fast read. But quite a thought provoking one. Two totally different sisters with different lives and a load of resentment from all sides.
I liked the fact that there wasn't a solid conclusion - showing that life is fluid and always changing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

This was a fast read, which I think is part of the reason that this works as well as it does. The relationships and thoughts that it provokes are fully fleshed out, which is a real feat with how short this is. Overall this has been one of the top surprise hits of the year for me.

Grown Ups by Marie Aubert is Ida's reckoning as she struggles with the reality that motherhood is likely behind her. On a family trip, she acts out before confronting her emotions. Compact, compelling.

What a wonderful read! Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read it! It was relatively short, yet, so captivating and real. "Grown Ups" is written from the perspective of Ida, the main protagonist, describing real struggles and emotions. It also includes other matters, like family dynamics. Really recommending!

Drily funny and emotionally gripping, another lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one.

I really enjoyed this book and it was a five star read for me! Grown Ups focuses on a family holiday at the seaside, narrated by Ida, a 40-year old woman who is grappling with the idea of motherhood - both whether she can have children and whether she should have children. Tensions are high between Ida and her sister, as well as the rest of the family, culminating in a clash between the whole family.

I very much connected with the themes of the novel - jealousy, sibling rivalries, dysfunctional families, and what it really means to be a ‘grown up’. I loved that these themes weren’t overexplained, and instead it was left to the reader to draw connections between Ida’s childhood relationship with her sister and the ways these patterns continued to manifest in their adult relationship.

None of the characters were likeable, but for me this made it so much more interesting to read. I felt that the characters were very realistic, and Ida’s sister’s stepdaughter Olea was a definite highlight for me. Ida herself was selfish and spiteful, but I could understand her reasoning and what made her that way, while still disagreeing with her actions.

The novel is quite short, at only 160 pages, which made it a quick but enjoyable read for me. I can see myself continuing to think about this novel for a long time afterwards. I would recommend it to fans of Kevin Wilson’s ‘Nothing to See Here,’ and anyone who enjoys short, character-driven novels.

Marie Aubert's Grown Ups is an interesting look at the relationship between siblings, and how it can flip between adoration and rivalry throughout life. Ida's just turned 40, and isn't quite sure what to do with herself. On a trip to the family beach house for her mother's 65th birthday, she continues this quest, facing interactions with her needy younger sister and her sister's husband, who seemingly understands her in a way her own family does not. She bonds easily with her step-niece, to her sister's chagrin, which causes her to question the kind of parent she would be. Ida's biggest test though, is reckoning with they way she thought her life would look at this age versus reality. Once her mother and step-father arrive to the beach house, tensions mount.
I enjoyed the dynamic between the two siblings, and think anyone who has a sister would enjoy reading this novel. It was an easy read, and would be the perfect trip for a weekend getaway or beach read. The author excels in engaging you in the innermost thoughts of Ida, flaws and all. I was actually left wanting more. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

Grown Ups is a short, sharp slice of family drama, taking place over a few days at an idyllic lakeside cabin in Norway. Translated from its original Norwegian by Rosie Hedger, Grown Ups was a one session read for me. I was highly engrossed in the detail and drama of sisters, Ida and Marthe.

Sometimes, there’s nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to get the truth to bubble to the surface. As is the case here, in Grown Ups. 40-year-old architect, Ida takes a trip to her family’s cabin to celebrate her mother’s 65th birthday.

Ida’s sister Marthe is already there with her husband, Kristoffer and her stepdaughter, Olea.

While Marthe has the husband and child boxes ticked, Ida is single and finds herself longing for a child. It’s hard not to compare her life with her younger sister’s and feel resentment while working out exactly what it is she wants. In short, when will she ever feel like a proper grown up?

What was so delicious and readable about this book was the simmering under-surface tension that merged with highly relatable moments of frustration, pain and pettiness. If you are someone who doesn’t always express their emotions in the best way, or has a sibling, you’ll really feel for Ida and her attempts to process her feelings.

From its insightful and concise exploration of family dynamics to its dry, often funny tone, sudden moments of heartache and the beautiful Norwegian countryside it conjured up in my head, I just loved everything about Grown Ups. rown Ups is a short, sharp slice of family drama, taking place over a few days at an idyllic lakeside cabin in Norway. Translated from its original Norwegian by Rosie Hedger, Grown Ups was a one session read for me. I was highly engrossed in the detail and drama of sisters, Ida and Marthe.


Opening sentence: Other people’s children, always, everywhere.

Sibling rivalry is real
Sometimes, there’s nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to get the truth to bubble to the surface. As is the case here, in Grown Ups. 40-year-old architect, Ida takes a trip to her family’s cabin to celebrate her mother’s 65th birthday.

Ida’s sister Marthe is already there with her husband, Kristoffer and her stepdaughter, Olea.

While Marthe has the husband and child boxes ticked, Ida is single and finds herself longing for a child. It’s hard not to compare her life with her younger sister’s and feel resentment while working out exactly what it is she wants. In short, when will she ever feel like a proper grown up?

She has Kristoffer, and soon she’ll have a baby of her own and still she complains.

A one session read
What was so delicious and readable about this book was the simmering under-surface tension that merged with highly relatable moments of frustration, pain and pettiness. If you are someone who doesn’t always express their emotions in the best way, or has a sibling, you’ll really feel for Ida and her attempts to process her feelings.

I feel the words on the tip of my tongue, eager to escape, they taste sweet and dark.

From its insightful and concise exploration of family dynamics to its dry, often funny tone, sudden moments of heartache and the beautiful Norwegian countryside it conjured up in my head, I just loved everything about Grown Ups. Also – special mention for that gorgeous cover.

Although this novel is short (I finished it in one sitting!), it is impactful. The characters are not particularly likeable, but their family dynamics are relatable. The author did a great job of portraying a complex relationship between two sisters while exploring themes of jealousy, expectation, and loneliness. Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I really enjoyed GROWN UPS by Marie Aubert, translated from Norwegian to English.

This character-driven novel is a heartfelt, quick read about sisters Ida and Marthe as they navigate motherhood and family drama, sisterhood and heartache. Aubert’s writing is dynamic and interesting, and I will look for more of her work in the future after thoroughly enjoying GROWN UPS.

Thank you the NetGalley for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.

Ida visits her family lakeside cabin in Norway to celebrate her mother's birthday. She is very unhappy in her life, and is forced to holiday with her sister at a time when she is least able to cope. Her unhappiness leads her to sabotage her sister's family dynamic, and revert to childhood sibling behaviours. A tense read, packing a lot of story in a short novel.

Pitched as 'venomous, bitchy and brilliant.' - I couldn't resist this.

Wickedly smart and dryly witty, this brilliant story reaches into the petty, bitter parts deep inside all of us and delves into the complicated dynamics that can grow in families even when you're all grown up. Anyone who's not quite sure where they're meant to be going, how they get there or what on earth they're doing with their life needs to read this.

Talk about an unhappy family! Set over the course of a weekend at a vacation cabin in Norway, this is very the story of Ida, who feels that her sister Marthe has always been the favored one. Marthe has a husband Kristoffe, a stepdaughter, and now she's pregnant after struggling with Crohn's and infertility. Their mother isn't especially kind to either one of them. She's got a partner, Stein, who is clear eyed about all of them. I felt for Marthe, not Ida,. It's a quick read and a different take on the family holiday novel. Thanks to netgalley for the Arc.

Ida is 40 and floundering. Her Tinder dates are disasters and she's now seriously considering freezing her eggs. She travels to her family's cabin in the countryside in Norway for her mother's birthday and the cracks start showing. When her sister Marthe announces some wonderful news, Ida starts to spiral more and acts reckless with some serious consquences

Despite being a shorter book, so much is explored. None of the adults in this story are very likeable people (except maybe the mother's new husband, who can see right through Ida but keeps his mouth shut for an easy life!). Ida is so jealous of her sister. She's always tried to be her mother's rock growing up, the older of the two sisters, to be perfect especially when her parents split up. She carries this into adulthood and she seethes when she sees Marthe breezing through life, making things about her and robbing Ida of attention and love. She's infantile at times, trying to make Marthe's stepdaughter to prefer her over Marthe and getting wound up over the fact Marthe has redecorated the cabin. It's almost funny at times to see how childish her thoughts are. That said, you can't help but feel for Ida, she's incredibly lonely and unable to communicate how she feels. As the oldest of all my siblings, I know it's really easy for childhood roles to carry over in adulthood and how these can add pressure in either keeping these roles up or trying to break them. The setting in the fjords in Norwary was really refreshing, I wanted to be lying on a boat in the fjord with the sun on my face.

An enjoyable summer novella with some unenjoyable people. If you prefer your summer reads to be full of family drama and dynamics over romance or thrillers, then this bite sized one is for you!

A quick breezy read about family ties through the lens of a woman tackling being single in her 40s. It's written in a straightforward yet beautiful manner. Never have I simultaneously related and NOT related to a main character. (3.5 stars rounded up)

40 year old Ida is single and concerned that time is running out for her to have a child. She investigates freezing her eggs, then heads off to her family's seaside cabin to celebrate her mother's 65th birthday. At the cabin, Ida struggles to respond positively to her sister Marthe's news and the sisters become stuck in the same dynamics that dominated their childhood - Ida sees herself as the accomplished, capable grown-up and Marthe as immature and helpless.

I loved this little book! Ida is a difficult character - she's selfish, reckless and cruel, especially towards Marthe. On the other hand, her loneliness is very skillfully handled by the writer and the insights into her and Marthe's childhood go a long way to explain her behaviour and the dynamics between the sisters. I would have liked a bit more attention given to how things might be within the family after the events of the weekend in the cabin but that's a minor criticism.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.

CW: Pregnancy, infertility, pregnancy loss, death of a parent, infidelity

Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Aubert, and Pushkin press for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed how realistic this story was for me. I loved the view into another family and all of the inner workings. I felt that this was a very immersive experience and I really felt as though the author was able to transport the reader into the family. At times, I forgot that I was reading the book. I am excited to see what other works the author publishes in the future.

I'm not 40 yet, but I felt like this was comparable to me in a way?? I think many women can relate to the character. This was a quick, easy, and slight cringey read (in a funny way).

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

A fairly ordinary story of a fairly ordinary family, but one which is so well-written, with such empathy and insight, that it’s far more than the “summer read” or the “escapism” it’s been described as. Quite the contrary. It’s a dark tale of sibling rivalry, jealousy, resentment, fertility, motherhood and life passing by. A far more complex read than it appears at first glance. Two sisters go to the family holiday cabin to celebrate their mother’s birthday with her and her second husband. The older sister is approaching 40, single and worrying about whether to try having a child by herself. Her younger sister is married and pregnant and all is not well with the marriage, one that is complicated by the presence of a step-daughter. None of the characters are likeable, all being self-centred, but that’s not the point. Families are held together by ties that sometimes defy comprehension and so it is here. They all seemed very real to me, however flawed, and their conflicts and rivalries, their regrets and longings, make this a poignant contemporary read.

Marie Aubert’s Grown Ups chronicles a family’s weekend in their cabin celebrating their mums 65th birthday, where sibling rivalries are in full swing. Ida, from whose perspective the story is being told, is forty, single, and coming to terms with the fact she most likely will not get to become a mother. Then there’s her sister Marthe, at the cabin with her partner Kristoffen, where she’s just told Ida she’s pregnant.

A story about growing older, Grown Ups really tackles family jealousy and rivalry in a beautiful way.

I loved how raw and honest this story which portrayed the struggles (and pettiness) you go through with family. The writing was sharp, witty and brilliant!