Young Jane Young

Too many implausibilities in this book. Interesting characters are dropped and never returned to including Jane's mother and grandmother and even her daughter. Backtracks to the "blog" which we read enough about already. Had potential but missed the mark.

I love the way this woman writes and her characters are people I would like to know. Most often it's difficult to find a single likable character in a story. Even the most despicable were so well written that it was impossible to dislike them. I want to know what else is happening in their lives. Absolutely loved this book even more than an fikry and that was a personal favorite.

Just tired of all the constant body shaming in this book. There’s three instances just in the first chapter. I should have previewed so I could have saved my money. Otherwise, it’s fine, though not as feminist as it would like to be. Disappointedly the author.

I wasn’t crazy about the character changes, but I can understand the choice, and, after a few pages, I miss the previous character’s voice less. I wasn’t crazy about the last character’s tone. What got to me most about the book was the ending. It fit with the chapters (finishing, but leaving lots of loose strings, mimicking life), but I think we at least deserved 1-2 tied strings. Had I known the ending would be as empty as it was, I would have savored the preceding pages more. Points to the author for creating/maintaining unique voices, and for the unexpected twist or two.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.

Zevin’s last book, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (my review), was my favorite book of 2014, so I had high expectations going into Young Jane Young. And, I did love the first half. Young Jane Young is an “issue” book without feeling too much like an “issue” book. The storyline closely mirrors the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, which I was fascinated with when it happened. But, Young Jane Young explores the reverberating impact of a public scandal like this on the female cheatee…and how different it is from the impact on the male cheater. It illuminates the gross double standard that exists in today’s society and how that can truly wreck lives. Zevin had me glued through this point.

But, a gimmicky second half sent things sailing downhill. First, the writing style and tone of the story completely changed during the section told from Ruby’s (Aviva’s daughter) perspective (which was written in a one-sided email exchange with her pen pal). I didn’t like that we never heard from the pen pal either. But, what really sent me over the edge was the final section told from Aviva’s perspective that was written as a Choose Your Own Adventure story (yes, you read that correctly). What?!! There was a point to it, but it still didn’t work for me…mainly because I thought I was reading an adult novel, not a kids’ comic book. To be fair, this was clearly mentioned in the book’s blurb, but I must have skimmed right over that part. I imagine Young Jane Young will be a somewhat controversial read, so it would make a great book club selection even though it didn’t work for me.

Check out my blog, Sarah's Book Shelves, for more reviews.

There is an “event” in “Young Jane Young” by Gabrielle Zevin. A dramatic event that makes sensational headlines, brings unrelenting paparazzi, and causes punishing trauma, and stress. This book is not about the event, although it plays a pivotal role. “Young Jane Young is about the people, all the people, who are touched by this event. What happens to the players, their families, their acquaintances, and themselves? How they adapt, change, and cope? Can they move on?
Each section of book is told from a different point of view and each section is by person labeled for easy identification. The plot is mostly dialogue driven, and readers get to know all the players, and what those players think about everyone else. The writing style adapts to match the personality of each character, and includes first person narrative, third person, e-mail correspondence, even a “choose your own adventure.”
The casual conversational style draws readers into the characters, so it is almost like talking to friends who live next door. We meet Rachel, divorced, age 64, living in Florida, her daughter Aviva Grossman, who has a problem. We meet her neighbor, Embeth, her husband Aaron, the congressman, and Embeth’s parrot, El Meté. In addition, we meet Jane Young, an event planner who lives in in Maine and her daughter Ruby, who is participating in a “Friends Around the World” pen pal program.
What readers learn is that everyone has secrets, and that a little crisis for one mutates into big problems for others. Jane laments, “The past is never past. Only idiots think that.” Rachael sums it all up, “When someone tells you ‘it’s not what it looks like,’ it’s almost always exactly what it looks like. The key to happiness is knowing when to keep your mouth shut.”
I received a copy of “Young Jane Young” from Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Gabrielle Zevin, and Net Galley, and I absolutely loved it. The characters were compelling and believable. Zevin’s writing style kept each character and story segment appealing and engaging. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I adored Gabrielle Zevin's previous book, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry and was eager to read her just released novel, Young Jane Young.

We meet sixty four year old Rachel in the the opening chapters as she tries out online dating. I loved her sassy voice and dry sense of humour and found myself chuckling over her thoughts and comments. Her chapter then segues into the life of the next main character - her daughter Aviva. Aviva is working for a congressman - and crosses a line, having an affair with the married man. Her life goes off the rails from the fallout of this decision, until she decides to start over with a new name - Jane. She relocates in another state - and daughter Ruby is born. Jane's chapter segues into Ruby's. And the inevitable fate that awaits all three. The last viewpoint is that of the congressman's wife Embeth.

What a rich and varied story this was! Young Jane Young was an unexpected, unpredictable and yet very satisfying read. This one event effects all four leads in so many ways and their various outlooks, reactions and responses are dependent on each individual's age, experience and life philosophy. I loved each voice and was hard pressed to have a favourite. But, if forced to pick, I would have to say that I enjoyed Ruby the most. Her letters to her penpal are the basis for a lot of what she is feeling and doing and a lot of it is heartbreaking. I loved the insertion of epistolary elements. Zevin employs this for Aviva/Jane as well. We are privy to her journal, written in a Choose Your Own Adventure style. Choices are given and we see how and why her life took the path it did.

"The rub of the Choose Your Own Adventure stories is that if you don't make a few bad choices, the story will be terribly boring. If you do everything right and you're always good, the story will be very short."

Mother, daughters, friends, the path taken and not taken. The echoes of a choice made, the denial and acceptance that we can't change what has been done - only move forward.

Zevin's writing is wry, witty and peppered with truths.

I went into this book knowing very little about it, really only reading the above part of the blurb ( heavily edited from Goodreads which is full of spoilers ) and knowing I had to try this based on my love of her previous novel, The Storied Life of A.J Fikry. That book made my top 10 reads of 2016 so I was very excited to find out that Zevin had another book coming out this summer. I've decided to throw my overall thoughts at you early. Here goes...

Not at all meaning this to sound negative, but this was one of the strangest books I've read in a long time. I don't think I'm wrong in saying I predict this book will have polarizing viewpoints...many will love it and many will hate it. In fact, I actually have conflicting opinions myself...I LOVED the first half of this book and the second half...well, let's just say the second half seems like an experiment in gimmicks with the author trying to toss several in there to see what would stick. Really, it's almost like 2 separate books!  What's even stranger (for me), was reading the last couple sections and thinking...what in the world is going on here? I mean, I have 2 words for you...El Mete?...and for those who've read this you'll know what I'm referring to... but what was THAT all about?! BUT, for all my squabbles you've just read as well as for the fact that I felt this book NEEDED at least 50 more pages....I still really really enjoyed it!! How's that for weird?

I picked this up at the exact perfect time after several DNFs (Did Not Finish) and I was immediately taken with the voice of the first character, Rachel, who narrates a large section of the beginning of the book. She's funny, witty and slightly snarky and if I'm honest, I would've loved for her to narrate the WHOLE book. We get to know her and her daughter Aviva, whose affair with her older, married boss has Rachel at her wits end.  Needless to say, there's drama and things are said and done by all parties that can't be undone.

The narration then shifts to Jane who has such a strong voice as well and I found her to be engaging and a character I could absolutely get behind and root for. In my opinion, characters, their dialogue, behaviors, and thoughts, are where Zevin shines in her writing ability. Following Jane's perspective, we get Ruby, her teenage daughter who sometimes seemed to vacillate between acting like a small child and a young adult. Bottom line: She was ok.

The remainder of the book was told in separate sections by a young Aviva and Embeth, the wife of the older, married man who had the affair. In all honesty, for me, these sections were a bit of a mess and where the gimmicks really came alive. Aviva's section didn't at all work for me but I really did like Embeth; in fact, I really wanted to know more about her and what became of her. Overall, I really just needed/wanted more of this story all around but I will say that my very first thought when I realized I did, in fact, reach the end was...you know...I really liked this book. For me, this just proves that I can have issues with what happens (or doesn't) in a book and the story can feel like it may have jumped on the crazy train for a brief ride, but in the hands of an outstanding author like Gabrielle Zevin I can and will still recommend that you give this one a try, especially if you're in the mood for something a little different!

Sadly this book was a big disappointment to me. I LOVED the author's book The Storied Life of A. J. Fikrey, and was so eager to read her next work.

To me, the book felt as if it was made up of parts of several books. It lacked flow and felt choppy at times. And I found it too much of cliche for a character to be a young child and WILDLY precocious and articulate beyond her years. It's hard to imagine a mother getting a young child (7 or 8 years old) her own American Express card.

I thought the premise of a college student who gets caught in an affair with her much older boss who is a public figure and how she re-invents herself could be clever. I just had a difficult time relating to Aviva. Why would you write/post a blog about the affair if you did not want to be found out?

The part of the book where she is in Maine with a new life (I don't want to give too much away) was much more interesting.

I feel a good editor could have helped the author pull this story together....and saying all that, I'll still buy Zevin's next book!

This really was an amazing book by Gabrielle Zevin! From the very first page, I was absolutely engrossed with this funny, poignant, unique and very powerful feminist story about three generations of smart, witty Jewish women, Aviva/Jane, Rachel, her mother, and Ruby, her 13 year old daughter, as well as Embeth, wife to the congressman with who Aviva had her affair. The book follows all four of these women’s point of views as they tell their stories, which I thoroughly enjoyed since each woman had their own unique perspective not only on the sex scandal that ruined young Aviva Grossman’s life but on being a woman, a mother, a daughter, and a long-suffering wife and this, I believe gave the story its true heart and soul.

Aviva Grossman finds herself heavily embroiled in a sex scandal while working as a Congressional intern at age twenty, a scandal her mother Rachel tries very hard to help her avoid by strongly encouraging her to end the affair before it becomes public knowledge. Of course, Aviva doesn’t listen and the affair carries on until they are caught with their pants down, so to speak. Yet, while Congressman Levin walks away basically scot-free, is re-elected to office, and his wife Embeth remains supportively by his side, Aviva is horribly slut-shamed in the media and in the public eye. It doesn’t help that Aviva kept a blog of their affair, one she didn’t think anyone would read (or know would haunt her in the future-thank you Google!) that causes her name to become further fodder for public jokes and humiliations!

Aviva’s life is completely ruined. No one wants to hire her although she is a highly intelligent woman and a highly skilled political science graduate; nor will they even let her volunteer now that she is obviously a woman of no morals. After all, she slept with a married man! She must be a Jezebel! Just give her a huge Scarlet Letter A! After realizing that she cannot outrun her past indiscretions or people’s false thoughts about her, she decides she has to remake herself, start over, and become someone entirely new in a new place. So she does; she becomes Jane Young, an events planner in Maine—a young, single mother far away from Miami, her family, and her past.

There’s no denying that this novel draws a lot of parallels between the Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton sex scandal of the mid-90s when Lewinsky was humiliated for being the young intern involved with the older, married politician but there was a double standard for Clinton. He was re-elected to office just like Congressmen Levin, and Hillary stood by her man just like Embeth does in the book; but poor Monica, even today the jokes about her still fly during election season or every time a political sex scandal occurs! Oh yes, in this book Zevin gives such a fascinating portrayal of how misogyny is alive and well in our culture even though it is 2017!

But more than portray the double standards that are rampant today, Zevin depicts the power of women of every age and how feminism grows and develops from the youngest at age 13 to the oldest at age 64 (and older!). With humor and grace, she emphasizes these four women’s intelligence, independence, resiliency, confidence, strength, and female empowerment. I cannot express how much I loved these female characters—they all had something smart, endearing, and warm to impart to the reader that stresses how absolutely extraordinary women are: even Embeth, who I admit I at first thought of as weak for staying with her cheating husband but later saw as possessing her own remarkable strength of will and resilience.

There are so many great things in Young Jane Young about women and for women! Zevin unequivocally tosses slut-shaming where it needs to be—in the trash in this amazing book! This is a refreshing, quick, highly creative read that will have you laughing at times and make you fall in love with Zevin’s effortless writing style! I highly recommend it as a highly enjoyable read!

**Thank you Edelweiss, Algonquin Books, and Gabrielle Zevin for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. **

I started this novel thinking it would be a nice, funny, light read. It was that, certainly, but I ended up also thinking it was a timely and relevant social commentary piece. (Well played, Ms. Zevin!) Aviva becomes a pariah after her affair with a married congressman comes to light – she is slut-shamed out of classes, out of job prospects, out of her life. She has to completely start over from scratch. Meanwhile, the congressman publicly apologizes, gets patted on the back and forgiven by his constituents, and continues on his merry way. For two people who each equally participated in this affair, the complete inequality in the fallout was eye-opening and thought-provoking for me. It’s not that I didn’t know this sort of thing happened, it just sort of made me sit up and pay attention a little more. The characters in this novel are relatable and easy to get attached to. The author divided the book into sections told from the perspective of each of the main characters, which I really enjoyed -I always like seeing a story from multiple points of view!

How It All Stacked Up:
Solid 4 stars!
Come for the laughs and stay for the message! I really enjoyed this audiobook. The writing was engaging and very relevant, the characters genuine, the narration spot-on. The only issue I had was that I would have loved for the book to continue on just a bit longer so you could have more resolution with where the characters all ended up. Solid 4 stars.

Gabrielle Zevin’s Storied Life of AJ Fikry was one my favorites that I’ve read in the last several years so I was very excited to get to Young Jane Young. What a completely different book! If you were not hiding under a rock during the Clinton years then Aviva’s story will sound remarkably familiar to the Monica Lewinsky happenings. Aviva’s story is told in alternating perspectives from her own side of things as well as that of her mother, her daughter, and the wife of the cheating Congressman. Everyone’s life is rocked by the Congressman’s inability to keep his pants on, yet life just goes on for him. Aviva’s life can’t go on as it was thanks to the media coverage and so she changes it. She does what she has to do so that she can start to live again – becoming Jane Young.

Jane/Aviva’s part of the book is told in a kind of Choose Your Own Adventure format which I loved. Aviva knows as she’s diarying her life that she isn’t making great choices – we all sometimes know that though right? I appreciated that Zevin made Aviva smart enough that she had all her thoughts laid out and though she makes some truly bad choices she finds a way past them. I remember reading that Sarah at Sarah’s Book Shelves couldn’t get past the style so it wasn’t for everyone, but I thought it was a clever way to get inside Aviva’s head and decision making. I enjoyed following the repercussions of the affair through the other characters and over time.

Aviva’s story didn’t move me to tears like AJ Fikry but instead had me laughing at some of the snark. Definitely still a great read. Now I really have to get on to Gabrielle Zevin’s backlist of books.

Thank you Algonquin Books for this advance copy in exchange for a long overdue review!

Many thanks to Algonquin books and NetGalley for providing a copy for my honest review!

After reading the description of this novel, I couldn't help but think of Monica Lewinsky's extraordinarily powerful TED Talk. If you haven't heard it, I HIGHLY encourage giving it a listen. Yes, this is an issues book on feminism, politics and slut-shaming. But, the tone and structure made for a highly entertaining and informative read.

The majority of the book is told from the perspective of the women in Aviva's life, which I found refreshing and compelling. I think my favorite was the first, which is narrated by her mother. Rachel's voice sucked me in straightaway. Maybe it is because I am at an age where I am well past Aviva's point of view, and a mother myself. She also has a wonderfully witty and wry sense of humor that sets the general tone for the whole novel. The congressman's wife Embeth is similarly humorous and clever with a more somber, yet equally absorbing, tone. Ruby's perspective (Avivia's daughter) was tough to read - partly because it was in the form of a melodramatic one sided conversation of a 13 year old (with her school-assigned international pen pal) and partly because Zevin created such a full and clear picture of a heartbreakingly vulnerable girl.

In the end, we finally get some perspective from Avivia herself. I appreciate how Zevin doesn't paint her as a completely innocent martyr to gain our sympathy, and tells her side of the story with all it's complexities.

"The rub of the Choose Your Own Adventure stories is that if you don't make a few bad choices, the story will be terribly boring. If you do everything right and you're always good, the story will be very short."

As a kid who was obsessed with Choose Your Own Adventure books, I thought it was a perfect narrative device to illustrate Aviva's inner dialogue as she faced the moral dilemmas that would profoundly affect her life (and those around her). It added that wry sense of humor each of these women possessed. My only complaint with the end was that it went way too quickly. I kept looking down at my place in the book and thinking, "There's no way that there's only 3% left in this book!" I wish Avivia had a little more time to tell her story, and given us a little more of her life in the moments that came after the ending.

This is a powerful story, told with humor and heart that I have come to expect from Gabrielle Zevin.

Last summer I had the honor of meeting Gabrielle Zevin. She visited the Margaret Mitchell House to discuss her latest novel Young Jane Young. The subject matter revisits the subject of the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski affair. Gabrielle is very vocal about feminism and I feel that she would definitely be part of the #Metoo movement that began this past fall. Her story focuses on what would have happened to someone in Monica Lewinski’s position? Would they be able to move on or would it be a struggle because of the past?
Synopsis:
Aviva Grossman has taken a job with the prominent congressman in southern Florida. She will be interning for him, and is excited to begin. Her first day does not go as planned when Aviva is told that her wardrobe is quite inappropriate and yet she gets the attention of the congressman; who is married. Aviva then confesses to her mother that she is in love with the congressman. Her mother wants the relationship to end. Her mother feels that this will only end badly. What happens when an accident occurs and people find out about the affair? How will this affect Aviva’s family? Will she be able to move on?
Years later Aviva changes her identity and starts over as Jane Young the event planner. She runs the business with her young daughter Ruby. When an opportunity to work in politics occurs again will Jane choose to run? How will this affect her daughter?
My Thoughts:
I liked the novel. It is well written. I loved how Ms. Zevin took on the prospective of the female role, in the affair. I wonder if Ms. Zevin’s views have altered since the #Metoo movement has begun? I have read other novels on this subject and they tend to portray the female as weak and stupid. It was refreshing to have a strong female lead. The story is told from four different points of view Aviva, her mother, her daughter Ruby, and the congressman’s wife. I found the conclusion satisfying.

Being in a book club offers lots of positive experiences…for me, it frequently means I will read something I NEVER would have selected on my own! That was the case with Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. Why wouldn’t I have picked it? For starters, there is that weird title. Then the blurb, letting me know it was about a loner who owns a struggling bookstore…well, those weren’t exactly grabbers for me. But I loved the book, and after pondering why, it came down to the fact that it was just FUN to read. It entertained me and it made me THINK. So I was happy to receive a copy of Zevin’s new book Young Jane Young, from Algonquin Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Young Jane Young is the story of Aviva Grossman, a Congressional intern in Florida who has an affair with her boss and telling the story in her (supposed to be) anonymous blog. As is often the case, the guy is temporarily damaged by the scandal, but Aviva becomes notorious. Like Lewinsky, she is slut-shamed and her name becomes synonymous with the ick factor in politics in general.

Aviva changes her name to the generic Jane Young, moves to Maine, and starts over, with her daughter in tow. She becomes a successful small-town business owner, raising her daughter to be a strong, confident young woman. Everything goes well until Jane runs for public office and finds that Google provides an indelible scarlet A. It seems that in social media, the past is never gone. Ruby finds out her mother isn’t the person she had always thought she was, and as she confronts the reality of the world, she needs to decide how much this matters.
The novel follows three generations (Aviva’s mother, Aviva and Ruby) and uses rotating points of view to tell their stories, along with that of the Congressman’s wife. The characters are terrific: Aviva’s mother Rachel is the first one we meet, and she tells us (as she is talking about how her best friend Roz and her new husband spend time together) “I don’t particularly want a husband. They’re a lot of work, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone either, and it would be nice to have someone to go to classes with is what I’m saying.” Jane works hard on raising Ruby mindful of the lessons she absorbed from her own childhood: “I believed a mother must act like the woman she wanted here daughter to become.” And Ruby is just…amazing.

I loved how it entertained me with tons of humor, and made me think about how the world still wants to define women’s roles and possibilities. I’m kind of a political junkie, so that aspect of it appealed to me as well.

Sadly, double standards are still with us, and misogyny is rampant in politics and business. This is a fairly quick read, but anyone who cares about the issues will find the characters and their experiences rolling around in their brain long after the final chapter. Five stars. Hugely enjoyable, as was Fikry.

Aviva Grossman was an ambitious Congressional intern who made the huge mistake of having an affair with her boss, a beloved Congressman. The relationship was a secret for a long time, but one unfortunate event led Aviva to become the Monica Lewinsky of South Florida. Although the scandal was a local one, in the age of the internet and search applications, Aviva was unable to obtain employment even in states far away from Florida.

After yet another stupid mistake, Aviva decides to change her name, leave Florida and move to Allison Springs, Maine, where she has made a life for herself and her daughter. For more than 12 years, Aviva, now Jane Young, has been an event planner. Her political aspirations probably would have remained buried if not for the fact that Allison Springs needs a new mayor. After a bit of persuasion, Aviva decides to become a candidate. However, it is not easy to hide your past, especially in the political arena. What will she do once the forbidden affair comes to light?

The plot of YOUNG JANE YOUNG is very much inspired by the Lewinsky scandal. There are a number of similarities between the fictional and real-life storylines, including the media’s reaction, the intern’s life once all is out in the open, and the survival of the politician’s career. The affair is the central point around which Gabrielle Zevin knits her tale. She explains how and why it occurred, and how profoundly it affected the lives of Aviva, the Congressman and their loved ones. The novel resonates with a strong message regarding hypocrisy in our society, whereby men can commit a serious transgression with little or no consequences, while the women are left to take the fall. In that sense, Aviva is not the only female “victim”; her mother and daughter, as well as the Congressman’s wife, have all paid a hefty price.

The story is told by four different narrative voices: Aviva, Rachel (Aviva’s mother), Ruby (Aviva’s daughter) and Embeth (the Congressman’s wife). For me, the most powerful narrator was Embeth; I appreciated her brutal honesty and how she expressed the glory and misery of being a politician’s wife. Although these ladies have been through so much, they are not portrayed as weak victims; to the contrary, they are all remarkably strong and determined individuals.

YOUNG JANE YOUNG is smart, funny and, above all, an intelligent read. Zevin has penned an amazing story with fascinating female characters who made me laugh and cry, and is a magnificent portrait of women in and around politics.

Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderovic

Monica Lewinsky. Nearly everyone in America (and many outside it) knows that name. You might demonize her, you might feel bad for her, you may think you don't know the whole story and shouldn't judge... but when you hear that name, you have a reaction. This story is a fictional account of a young lady named Aviva Grossman, who is Florida's answer to Monica Lewinsky. A woman who made the papers for who she slept with... because that someone happened to be very married and very much in the spotlight.

Three and a half stars. I really enjoyed the story, but some parts about how it was told detracted from the experience for me. I wasn't that into the parts from Ruby's perspective, but I know that was a favorite for a lot of readers. I also wasn't in love with the "choose your own adventure" part towards the end, but I really enjoyed the rest from Rachel and Aviva/Jane. I laughed, I cringed. I shook my head and remembered how naive I was when I was Aviva's age.

Aviva wrote an anonymous blog about her life as a congressional intern. One day, it blows up for all the wrong reasons. Her affair with a senator has come to light, and someone has connected the two. It's just the right amount of sex and scandal that sells papers. She's infamous practically overnight and the bright light that was her future seems to have been turned off, leaving her in the dark. She's labeled the seductress, which the Congressman gets off relatively easily. Figures.

This story consists of how the affair started, the aftermath, and the new life Aviva makes for herself after she cuts ties, changes her name, and moves. We learn not only how the mistake she made when she was barely an adult affected her, but how it affected her mother... and later, her daughter. When she's urged to run for public office, it's only a matter of time before her big secret is known by everyone in town. Google never forgets.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Algonquin Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

Since this book is about Aviva I assumed that the story would be told by Aviva. So I was completely surprised when the book was in fact told from the point of view of her mother.  Pretty much right after I realized that her mother would be the continuing narrator, I disliked the novel.  I didn't really care about Aviva's mother, nor her opinion on her daughter. I wanted to know about Aviva from Aviva. That would have made much more sense.  

I thought this book would be about understanding her, and why she decided to have an affair, and then later why she kept her unborn child. But because the story is told by the mother, there's so much judgement and very little understanding. 

I quit reading this book 47 pages in because I hated every single character in the novel and was so frustrated I couldn't continue reading. Everyone is terrible, and makes stupid decisions. It was just too much for me to read. 

I gave this book 1 star on Goodreads. 

Reminiscent of the Monica Lewinsky scandal ... a young woman (Aviva) had an affair with a Congressman (Aaron Levin) while serving as his intern. Slut-shamed and unable to find a job, will Aviva ever be able to move on with her life?

"I'm a slut and you can't be acquitted of that," Aviva quipped.

After changing her name to Jane Young and moving to Maine, Aviva/Jane starts over, but when the secrets in her past resurface, how will she explain them to her daughter, Ruby? Can a huge mistake made in the naivety of youth ever be forgotten... and forgiven? Find out in this delightful, and thought provoking, story!

The story was narrated in turns by brave Aviva, sarcastic Rachel (Aviva's mother), precocious Ruby (Aviva's daughter), and surprisingly kind and funny Embeth (the Congressman's wife). The end of the book was told in a "Choose Your Own Adventure" style of writing, and I very much enjoyed it. I totally expected this book to be lighthearted and humorous ... and it was ... until it wasn't. Because oh my goodness. It was also so much more, exploring the timely topic of double standards that exist in politics and life in general. I would highly recommend it!

Young Jane Young is about Aviva Grossman, a fictional Monica Lewinsky. As a college-student intern, she has an affair with her boss (an attractive, married Congressman with two kids). Oh, and she naively decides to document their lurid affair in an “anonymous”–and very explicit–blog.

Like Lewinsky, when the affair becomes public knowledge, she is plunged into a sea of scandal and infamy. “Avivagate” is a huge news story in South Florida, but Aviva foolishly believes (hopes?) that if she ventures far from home, she can escape the fug of shame. No such luck. Google is not her friend. But, fret not! Aviva doesn’t let herself flounder and drown in that sea of scandal. Instead, she reinvents herself . . . as Jane Young, a strong, capable event planner/mom in the small, cold city of Allison Springs, Maine.

The book is told in five parts, each focused on one of the central characters, all of whom are female. They are all complex and realistic and interesting. Despite being seemingly stereotypical, they are multi-dimensional and a little bit surprising. And, although they are flawed, they are also likable.

Author Gabrielle Zevin wrote The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, which I enjoyed for its charm. The beauty of this book is that it has Fikry’s fun and breezy and fluffy feel, but it also has a strong message. Its focus is not on the scandal itself, but on the ability to overcome even the most embarrassing public shaming. Young Jane Young is a story of resurrection and perseverance. But it is not cheesy or schmaltzy. It is readable and enjoyable and funny.

I REALLY liked "Young Jane Young," by Gabrielle Zevin whose debut novel, "The Storied Life of AJ Fikrey" was equally liked. Zevin writes in a pitch perfect manner and is very clever and creative. "Young Jane Young," is nothing like its predecessor, but was equally enjoyable. My gripe, and my reason for four, rather than five stars, is that the ending was unfinished, had no closure, no tying up of loose pieces. I want to know more about Jane, whether or not she wins the political race in which she was running at the novel's end, and whether or not her daughter, Ruby, will ever know the entire truth about her own life and that of her mother. Aviva Grossman was a young Jewish college student who, decades ago, had an affair (of sorts) with Congressmen Levin, for whom she was interning at the age of 20. That story line was very reminiscent of the Monica Lewinsky debacle. Aviva's mother, Rachel Grossman, was the principal of a Jewish private school. Her father, a doctor, is also a philanderer, so not a good example for Aviva. All of this took place in Boca Raton, Florida. Fast forward a decade or so, to the story of Jane Young, living in Maine with her precocious eight year old daughter, Ruby, making a living as an event planner. These stories seem unconnected, but eventually the reader figures out the connection and follows a new story line. It's fun! It's a quick read. It will cause frustration on the part of the reader because we can see that Aviva HAD choices, over and over, to do the right thing, the smart thing, the thing which might save her, but she never makes the right choices. The book will hold your interest. If only the end were tidier. I really dislike an inconclusive ending, but the book is definitely worth reading. I now await another novel by this author, and hope it will not be too many years before one comes to be published.

Very enjoyable book. It's told in a few sections: each section is from the point of view of different characters. I liked the idea of speculating what life could be like for someone who was involved in a scandal who wanted to get away from that scandal. In this case, Aviva Grossman is a Monica Lewinsky, but with a Congressman rather than the President. Aviva does what Monica didn't and changed her name. The interesting question is will this work? Can one truly escape one's past when everyone knows who you are?

The characters were quite layered and intriguing. I liked that the points of view were all from women. At times, I questioned whether an 8 year old Ruby might actually say some of things written for her. I questioned what was up with Embeth and her parrot; this was particularly strange. I questioned the reveal about Ruby's father and Aviva's decision to keep that to herself. Beyond that, I loved Jane's strength and her smarts. Ruby was such a fun character, especially when she was paired with older female characters. Rachel's dating scenes were quite hilarious.

There is much to enjoy in this novel!

I was sent this book from the publisher. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I was not really sure if this was going to be for me, but I had heard great things about it. I ended up really enjoying this one. I actually listened to it on audiobook which I really loved as well.
This story is told in five different parts. I actually enjoyed all five parts. Each section is told from a different persons POV, but all of the characters are connected. The story flows well from part to part. I was not sure if I was going to like this format, but it really worked.
Part five is like a pick your own adventure novel, and I liked that. I wish it was really like that though. However; I still found myself picking my own option which normally followed the flow of what the author was going to pick anyway. I think this was a fun twist to the story.

I am taking off one star for that ending. I feel the story ended with so many more questions.

What happens in the aftermath of an intern and congressman’s affair? To the congressman, nothing. His career and marriage remains intact and life goes on pretty much as before. To the young intern, Aviva, everything changes. She’s the victim of slut-shaming and her job prospects dry up. A simple google search ensures her past will follow her everywhere.

So she starts her life over, moves to a different state, and legally changes her name to Jane Young. It’s now some years later and she’s a single mom to Ruby and the owner of a successful event planning business. But secrets have a way of being revealed sooner or late and so is Jane’s.

The chapters are split between Aviva/Jane, her daughter Ruby, and Embeth, the congressman’s wife, plus a short section by Aviva’s mother. The novel benefitted from hearing all perspectives. Weighty topics are tackled yet it remains heartfelt and humorous. It’s light but intelligent and filled with strong likable female characters. And funny. It’s very funny with snappy dialogue.

I do wish the author hadn’t resorted to the 'choose your own adventure' chapters at the end. The reader doesn’t really flip to different pages depending on the choices made, but it was used to drive home the point that each decision Aviva made affected the outcome of her future. As is true for all of us. But it felt gimmicky in a book that didn’t need it to drive that point home.

Despite my reservations over the ‘choose your own adventure’ section, the book is a smart, entertaining read that I highly recommend.

Clever, humorous, and highly entertaining!

Young Jane Young is an engaging, satisfying tale that reminds us that the internet although an invaluable source of information and a blessing is also often a curse where mistakes are never forgotten.

The story is divided into multiple sections and told from various perspectives; Rachel, Aviva's mother whose attempts at online dating is dismal at best; Jane/Aviva, a young events planner who has successfully carved out a new life and identity after falling in love with the wrong man; Ruby, Jane's inquisitive and direct teenage daughter; and Embeth, the congressman's forgiving and supportive wife.

The characters are strong, female, and resilient. The prose is smooth, fresh, and exceptionally witty. And the plot interweaves and unfolds effortlessly using unconventional, unique writing styles, such as emails and "choose your own adventure" to keep you intrigued and absorbed from start to finish.

Young Jane Young is ultimately a lighthearted, warm, enjoyable story about empowerment, survival, feminism, shame, acceptance, adultery, politics, scandals, and the unfair sexist stigma that still surrounds women and their sexual behaviour today.

After an affair, young Aviva's hopes for a political future are crushed while the congressman she was involved with continues to find success. This frustrating double standard leads Aviva to begin a new life as Jane Young, an event planner. YOUNG JANE YOUNG begins just before Jane/Aviva's affair and picks up again several years later. Told from the point of view of Jane/Aviva, her mother, and her daughter, Zevin gives these women smart, hilarious, and witty dialogue as well as several other strong female characters (the congressman's wife, her mother's best friend). Zevin also played with style and format in this novel and I loved it! Adding the modern epistolary form of emails and a Choose Your Own Adventure section (when I read about this section in the publicist's pitch I thought "How in the world is she gonna do that?" and when you see how, you will crack up! After loving THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY so much I was worried that YOUNG JANE YOUNG would not stand up to my high expectations. I was so pleased to be proven wrong!

***Disclaimer:: I was given a copy of this release in exchange for an honest review. I received no additional compensation. ***

You MUST read «Young Jane Young» because:

1 – DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW was a great accent of this story. In the beginning we follow Aviva’s mother many years after the events took place and see how they influenced her life. Later on we read from Ruby’s perspective (one of my favourite PoVs!), Aviva’s daughter as she writes these long and detailed e-mails to her PenPal. And finally by the end of the book we actually get to experience Aviva’s story and each chapter has a variety of options to follow.

2 – VERSATILE CHARACTERS. Gabrielle Zevin created amazing and well-developed personalities. I felt like each character, even the ones with the least appearances, contributed to the overall stories. Nothing felt wasted or over-written. Every dialog, every scene, every personality trait were thought through and perfectly executed.

3 – CHARACTER-DRIVEN STORY. This is a result of the previous point, but when the main events of the plot are known to us from the very beginning and even from the blurb, it is of utmost importance to have great characters that will captivate the reader to continue turning the pages.

4 – THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA SLUT-SHAMING AND HOW TO LIVE AFTER IT. The scandal is important, it draws attention – unwanted attention. But what are you supposed to do afterwards? There are still prejudiced and judgmental people, but life goes on. Are you supposed to close yourself up and refuse to live your life?

This story hit the ground running- well, walking briskly but with determination. I was halfway done before I knew it and was totally invested and engrossed. Who would've thought to start a book about a political sex scandal from the perspective of the intern's mother, years after the scandal? Genius.

I teared up at the end of this book. This is one of those books that snuck up on me and punched me in the face with great writing, multiple clear and heart-wrenching perspectives and characters so relatable it almost hurts to think about. I didn't realize the profound nature hidden amidst what I was reading until it was almost over. Solid, solid book.

Gabrielle Zevin is a fine writer. I liked her Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac book and I loved The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry so I very much looked forward to reading Young Jane Young. I even like the title. The book kept me wanting to read and I finished in one day, but in spite of all that I did not find it to be a favorite. The female characters show strength, the males do not, but one thing stands out about this book and that is the character of Ruby. She is smart, strong, serious and fun and I hope Ms Zevin, who ended this book rather suddenly, did so because we will meet Ruby in her own story soon.

Thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I started and finished this book in almost one sitting, and this book definitely exceeded any expectation I had. To be honest, I didn't know that much going into it; I loved The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and I knew this book was going to have a plot inspired by Monica Lewinsky, but that was about it.

There are three, perhaps four, narrators to this book with some switching formats and styles, but it flows very naturally. (I won't tell you who all the narrators are, because that would spoil the fun of discovery.) Everything is told primarily from today, looking back on events past and how Jane Young became Jane Young.

All I have to say is that Zevin did an amazing job with the voices of these strong women. It's a complicated book looking at women and feminism, and I can't wait to talk about this with friends. I wish I could share some of my favorite sections and paragraphs but it'll have to wait until I have a copy of the final book. There were so many great parts to this book, ranging from hilarious dialogue and witty remarks to thoughtful commentary on women and society. Zevin is also wonderful at writing frank, self-possessed young people and I think those who enjoyed The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry will really love this book too.

I do feel like the last 20% of the book seemed to wrap up fast while it started off more slowly and more in-depth, feeling a bit like there were things left unsaid. But perhaps that's the hallmark of a very good read – it leaves you wanting just a little something more.

Another winner by Gabrielle Zevin. I'd become a fan after reading The Storied life of A.J. Fikry, so two hits in a row makes her an author I'll seek out. Funny and heartwarming, this was told by the point of view of several women surround the scandal of a congressman with a young intern, and how that girl redesigns her life as an adult. But don't let the subject lead you to think that this is heavy material - it's actually quite charming.

YOUNG JANE YOUNG is a fantastic, character-driven story that kept my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed seeing the different perspectives of Aviva/Jane, her daughter, her mother, and the congressman's wife. These varied perspectives are the key to the story and really propel the plot forward. The passage of time is handled nicely as well. Overall, the novel is entertaining and whip smart - a fascinating look at how women see each other and how society views women in tough circumstances.

This book was just plain entertainment. It was not a heavy story, the plot was fairly straightforward, and there was no real suspense. The characters were engaging and light with some humor and some down to earth dialogue. It gets a four star review because it was fun to read. It kept my attention and it was a pleasant winter distraction. If that's what you're looking for, then this is a good read for you. I liked it.

A ridiculous, gimmicky book. Choppy and disjointed writing with characters all over the place. It was almost as if five different people wrote the chapters. This was my first book by this author and I won’t be wasting any more time on her books.

Pros: This book did a good job of presenting the view point of most persons impacted in an affair. There was also good real life advice for persons in all aspects of life.
Cons: Felt under developed at the end.
Summary: The book felt rushed at the end, but I hope that there is a part two which gives us more insight into the thought process of everyone involved in the book.

"Young Jane Young" is inspired by the Monica Lewinsky scandal of the late 90's. Here, Monica is played by Aviva Grossman, a 20-year-old congressional intern to Aaron Levin, an older, married man who is a friend of the family. She embarks on an affair with him, refusing to break things off when her mother advises her to. She continues to post about the relationship to the internet, albeit anonymously. One day the affair comes to light. Aviva's reputation is ruined. She changes her name and she flees to Maine to get away from the scrutiny and lack of job prospects. Even though she's a qualified graduate (Political Science and Spanish), she can't get a job anywhere because of her name. Meanwhile, Aaron goes on with his life, serving term after term as a congressman. At the end of the book, he is celebrating his 29th wedding anniversary.

I thought that the first half of the book was much stronger than the second half. It is told via four alternating viewpoints and up until we got to Ruby, Jane's daughter, I was enjoying this book immensely. I thought that Ruby was pretty awful, as were her actions, and the pen pal formatting of those chapters was distracting. Her actions set off the chain of events, bringing Jane back to the past she's desperately tried to run from.

I was also disheartened by Aviva and her mom losing in touch, which meant the loss of Rachel's warm, smart, funny voice. Additionally, I was put off by the "Choose Your Own Adventure" style at the end of the book. It was an entertaining read but too many parts of it didn't work for me.

Young Jane Young is one continuous story told from the perspective of four different women. Recent college grad Aviva Grossman has just begun an internship at the campaign offices of up-and-coming (and charming) Congressman Aaron Levin. Overwhelmed at first, she soon finds her groove---while also managing to catch the attention of Congressman Levin himself. Aviva is young, impressionable, and "romantic," as she says, and soon finds herself in a dicey situation. Though she attempts to make things right (several times), a string of poor choices inevitably forces her to face the consequences of her actions. Humiliated but determined to find a way to live her life again, Aviva abruptly flees the scandal and the limelight in her home town and attempts to start over with a clean slate.

 *   *   *   *   *

This is a light read without a whole lot of substance. Which is fine! Characters are superficial but sometimes funny. The story is predictable but sometimes not. Of course the whole Monica Lewinsky angle is salacious and gossipy, but it never gets gross or overly graphic.

I had no problem zipping through this novel, but I never really connected with the characters. In fact, it bothered me that they came across as incomplete, like caricatures acting a part. There were many points in the story when I thought, "Now would that character actually react in that way?" For example, Aviva's mother's response to Aviva's inappropriate relationship with the congressman was ludicrous. And Ruby's response to discovering certain things about her mother was incredibly odd, extreme, and out of character. 

I also had problems with the book's ambiguous and incomplete ending. What the heck happens next? There were so many unresolved relationship issues that I felt cheated. I get that I'm supposed to want to focus on Aviva's ability to move forward like the strong woman she is! But all I could think about were those loose ends. I had zero sense of closure when I finished the book, and that irritated me.

Ultimately, this ended up being a fine book, just not anything special.  

ARC provided through Net Galley.

This book threw me at first because it opens with the mother being the narrator. However, throughout the book you get the narratives of a few different characters. The only issue I have with the story is the scumbag congressman never suffers. The woman is ostracized, but he comes out smelling like a rose. Just like in real life.

I found the writing style to be easy yet captivating, and generally an enjoyable read from the start. I thought it was going to be predictable, but there were a couple details at the end which surprised me. The story is told from 4 different perspectives, each perspective that of a strong woman. I loved the feminist themes and the different mother-daughter relationships portrayed.

In this story we hear about Aviva Grossman. She's an intern for a Congressman as old as her parents and ends up having an affair with him and almost getting away with no one knowing, but then, of course, it comes to light. In the age of the internet, she can't get a job, so moves to Maine, changes her name, and has a kid. But what happens when she's approached to run for mayor of her tiny town? Will the past come back into the light?

Loved this book. There are five sections and each one is narrated by a different character, and each is mostly set in a different time period (before, after, or during the affair.) Her mother, her daughter, Aviva as Jane Young (after the affair), the Congressman's wife Embeth, and Aviva during the affair narrate for us. There's also some formatting fun; Ruby's (Jane Young/Aviva's daughter) section is told in emails to her penpal in another country, and Aviva's section (while she's having the affair) is told in a choose your own adventure style, though you only get to see the things she could have picked as crossed out choices.

I read through it in a day and loved it!