I was recommended Grown Ups at a bookstore and it was sold to me as a lighthearted, hilarious, quick read. While it was a quick read, it was definitely not lighthearted or hilarious. 

My main issue with this book was the main character. She is borderline detestable, which can work when handled right. Unfortunately, I also could not relate, empathize, or connect with her or really anyone else in the book. The things that she says and does that are supposed to be quirky and funny really just come across as cruel and insensitive. I know that this was translated from Norwegian, so maybe something was lost in translation?

I will say that the actual writing quality was very good. The story flowed at a steady pace and it was a relatively quick read. The dialogue was handled well and there was enough description to create strong images. The emotional impact was there too. I definitely felt myself feeling discomfort at several points which means it provoked a reaction.

All in all, this want what I expected, but it wasn’t a bad read. If you enjoy difficult characters, messy family relationships, and character driven stories, you may enjoy this one. 

A short novel about what it means to be an adult (it's less straightforward than you might think), expanded to the ideas of family, relationships, motherhood and social expectations.

The characters were really unlikable though, drowning in jealousy, competing against each other inside the family and thinking only about themselves. Their relationships were highly dysfunctional and affected the kids around, making you wonder about the real meaning of being a "grown-up".

I received an early review copy from the publisher. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson meets Motherhood by Sheila Heti.