by Robin Antalek Genres: Coming of Age, Women's Lit
Format: Paperback
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From the author of The Summer We Fell Apart, an evocative and emotionally resonant coming-of-age novel involving three friends that explores what it means to be happy, what it means to grow up, and how difficult it is to do both together
The summer he’s fifteen, Sam enjoys, for a few secret months, the unexpected attention of Suzie Epstein. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand, he and Suzie keep their budding relationship hidden from their close knit group of friends. But as the summer ends, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving to a new city to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons.
Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college and independence. Though she thinks of Sam, she deeply misses her closest friend Bella, but makes no attempt to reconnect, embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie called home. Years later, a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother will reunite her with both Sam and Bella - and force her to confront her past and her friends.
After losing Suzie, Bella finds her first real love in Sam. But Sam’s inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. In contrast, Bella’s old friend Suzie—and Sam’s older brother, Michael—seem to have worked it all out, leaving Bella to wonder where she went wrong.
Spanning over a decade, told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them.
Renee’s 5 Star Review:
Five Star Review
I was gifted a copy of this book the Summer Reading Challenge for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
I picked The Grown Ups Up not knowing a thing about it or the Author Robin Antalek. I pretty much went in blind because the description on the back of the book is pretty vague. It is also my first book for the Summer Reading Challenge. The bar is now set high with this being my first book.
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down, except when that pesky little thing called sleep was calling my name. The Grown Ups follows a group of friends that stay together into adulthood but focuses mainly on three friends Sara, Bella, and Sam. We see them as teens hanging out in Peters basement drinking alcohol stolen from their parents home and smoking Bella’s Moms “medication”. These characters are so lovable each in a different way and add so much to each other’s lives. The book deals with growing up and how you don’t want the relationships your parents have gone through or to make the same mistakes. Is college what your destined to do and if not is that ok? Can you forgive the one person In your life you never thought would let you down but has crushed your belief in them? Does true love conquer all and can you be forgiven for losing yourself along the way and running from the best thing that’s ever happened to you? The book deals with love, marriage, death, miscarriages, careers, finding out who you are, failed relationships, lost relationships with parents, running away when life gets crazy, finding your place in the world, caring for your parents as they age and so much more.
I loved all the characters but found myself really drawn to Bella at times but always always interested in Sam I loved his part of the story and devoured his chapters as the book is told in three different points of view. It will having you feeling all the feels in all the right places and shedding tears as you close the book. Probably because I’ve lived the way the book ends is why I got so emotional. It is certainly not a sad ending it just grabbed me and didn’t let go.
I’ve found a new Author I’d love to read more books from. It’s certainly a books that’s got a little something for everybody that I highly recommend.
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