All Grown Up

When it comes to books I hate leaving reviews that give away anything in the book. So, I won't be giving anything away with what happens in the book or anything about the book.

I have to say that I very much enjoyed this book. I loved how the author wrote the characters, developed them, and the story had me hook line and sinker from the very beginning. Every word kept me reading further and turning the page. I can't wait to read more from this author. Great book.

This very short "novel" comprises a collection of linked, fragmented episodes in the life of a single woman who's about to turn 40, has no husband, no kids, some good female friends and a lot of unsatisfying relationships with men. She drinks too much, occasionally does drugs, has an unfulfilling job in advertising and is still trying to "find" out who she is while maintaining a relationship with her widowed mother and brother. I didn't find the book funny, but really quite sad.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Andrea is considered unlikeable by lots of people (according to reviews I've seen). I don't think she is unlikeable, only very human. My main problems with this book were the writing style and I didn't like one of the main storylines. But even though this isn't the type of book I normally read (with lots of sex and drugs), I couldn't put it down. And maybe I'm supposed to end up feeling unsettled after finishing the book.

I really enjoyed this book. Jamie Attenbury is a brilliant writer. All Grown Up is written in first person as if the main character tells you a series of stories about her life and the people in it. In this way you come to know her and learn her story. It works extremely well.
I would love a sequel.

Growing up in the city with a dysfunctional, poor family and then careening through art school and a job that she hates but pays just enough not to quit. Bad boyfriends. Have heard the storyline before but it is in the telling.

Jami Attenberg came to talk at my college. I hadn't heard of her beforehand and thank God I attended this talk because All Grown Up is one of the best books of 2017 (in my opinion). It resonated with me especially as a person who doesn't really know what my exact plan is yet wanting to do... something. It's pithy, sharp, and (I'm borrowing this from BOTM's Judge Laia Garcia) a middle finger to "acting your age."

This book is depressing. The story recounts the experiences of a person suffering from loneliness/depression/anxiety made worse by life's hard breaks. The author does a good job of inserting humor throughout the story but beware - it is more depressing than it is funny.

Grown up in my opinion is owning yourself. Andrea faces gritty NYC situations and complicated family events. Her intelligence and capability and appreciation of life make this book a joy to read. Andrea realizes she is far from finished but all grown up. Loved it!

Absolutely terrific book. I am now and have always been fascinated by NYC. I've never been there and I am 68. Still on the old bucket list. This book is about a woman who is 40 but flashbacks give us a glimpse of her from childhood until that time.

She is a native New Yorker and doesn't want to be anything else. Heavy drinker, sexually promiscuous and drug user off and on, her adventures left me both laughing out loud and weeping.

If you don't read this book, you'll be sorry.

In short, this book triggered a minor mid-life crisis and made me consider finding a therapist. Not one feel good moment, no hopeful ending, no character development. The main character isn't particularly likeable but I found her kind of relatable, which was alarming. Not a hard read, but the content was just depressing. And not in an interesting or gritty way, just suffocatingly mundane.

My preference is to have more connection with characters than I got from this. The jumping through time was hard to follow. I think better editing would have tied the threads together to better showcase why she chose that order.

Scattered with no plot. Trashy subject matter. Read it through then unfortunately read an interview discussing how the author wished she had included the women’s march and a p@$$& hat for the mom/daughter relationship’s continuation.

I gave this book three stars because I liked this book. I didn't love it but it was still good. I actually related to the main character a whole lot. I just felt like everyone else except her bro and sister-in-law were weird. It would've been nice to have a description of her painting again as an epilogue at least.

I really loved this book. To create a character by unfolding her story in vignettes that encapsulated her life is refreshing and honest, because let's face it: life is not linear. Raw, honest, painful, beautiful and brave.

This novel appears to be such a depressing effort that I would suggest the author be in therapy. In beginning the book, it was so negative that I then did my version of "speed reading" and decided it definitely WAS NOT for me. Why one would waste their time on a negative distressing read I personally do not know. Definitely not my type of reading material!

All Grown Up is an insightful character study of a complicated 39 year old New Yorker who is single, does not want children, and comes with a lot of emotional baggage from childhood. Andrea Bern is self-destructive and frequently unhappy. She can also be funny and has a sensitive side which we are not privy to until later in the story. Andrea was a talented artist who has given up that dream and instead settles for an unsatisfying job in advertising…..to pay the rent. Some of the more important events of her life, teen-aged years through her early 40’s are written in short vignettes, in no exact order. It is all the more satisfying that all the pieces come together, to give us a composite picture of Andrea’s life, which is not lacking in an abundance of material….frequent hook-ups, unsatisfying relationships, lack of fulfillment at work, drugs and alcohol. For the most part, Andrea is unapologetic about her choices in life and does not look to make major changes. What happens in the lives of both her best-friend and her brother and sister-in-law, goes to show that life is a struggle for everyone and that what you see in front of you isn’t the whole story.

I really enjoyed this book. Jamie Attenbury is a brilliant writer. All Grown Up is written in first person as if the main character tells you a series of stories about her life and the people in it. In this way you come to know her and learn her story. It works extremely well.
I would love a sequel.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic! The writing kept me riveted even with the unpredictable time shifts. Characters were interesting and deftly portrayed. The author clearly has command of her craft.

So why didn’t I give a five star review? The story gave me the sick feeling you get when rubbernecking at a fatal car crash on your neighborhood street.

Andrea never came to terms with the loss of her career as an artist. Numerous other losses have piled up and seemingly defeated her. I’m left with the impression she is incapable of healing. Her life gives her chances to change, but she never does.

Am I the kind of reader who insists on a happy ending? Emphatically not. But I do insist on a glimmer of a chance for redemption.

I regard this novel as a stunning achievement for the writer and ultimately a disappointment for the reader.

Growing up in the city with a dysfunctional, poor family and then careening through art school and a job that she hates but pays just enough not to quit. Bad boyfriends. Have heard the storyline before but it is in the telling.

Scattered with no plot. Trashy subject matter. Read it through then unfortunately read an interview discussing how the author wished she had included the women’s march and a p@$$& hat for the mom/daughter relationship’s continuation.