Grown Ups

By: Emma Jane Unsworth

Narrated by: Chloe Massey

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
“[E]ssential reading for our dismal times.” —The Wall Street Journal
One of Bustle’s “Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2020”
Good Housekeeping’s “25 New Fall Books You Have to Read This Season”
Lit Hub’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2020”

Fleabag meets Conversations with Friends in this brutally honest, observant, original novel about a woman going through a breakup…but really having more of a breakdown.

Jenny McLaine’s life is falling apart. Her friendships are flagging. Her body has failed her. She’s just lost her column at The Foof because she isn’t the fierce voice new feminism needs. Her ex has gotten together with another woman. And worst of all: Jenny’s mother is about to move in. Having left home at eighteen to remake herself as a self-sufficient millennial, Jenny is now in her thirties and nothing is as she thought it would be. Least of all adulthood.

Told in live-wire prose, texts, emails, script dialogue, and social media messages, Grown Ups is a neurotic dramedy of 21st-century manners for the digital age. It reckons with what it means to exist in a woman’s body: to sing and dance and work and mother and sparkle and equalize and not complain and be beautiful and love your imperfections and stay strong and show your vulnerability and bake and box…

But, despite our impossible expectations of women, Emma Jane Unsworth never lets Jenny off the hook. Jenny’s life is falling apart at her own hands and whether or not she has help from her mother or her friends, Jenny is the only one who will be able to pick up the pieces and learn how to, more or less, grow up. Or will she?

Critic reviews

"Chloe Massey's nuanced narration is perfect for a story about older millennials whose lives are dominated by social media, feminist principles, and relationships. Jenny's life is falling apart. She's lost her newspaper column, her friends, and her roommates. What's worse, her ex-boyfriend is now with a woman she's been obsessed with on Instagram, and Jenny's mother is moving in to help out. Massey emphatically groans out 'ergs' and 'ergs,' making relatable moments even more so. A frantic pace puts the listener in Jenny's shoes, adding to the intentionally exhausting vibe of the story. The relief Jenny feels when things go right is palpable. Vicious draft messages never sent and read in aggressive tones enhance this comedic and touching book about emotional growing pains."

A bit erratic

The point of the story was a bit hard to pinpoint. I thought the humor was good and pace was nice but never really fell in love with the characters.