Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner

Disappointed, like the others. Not as bad as "If you Were Here", but the recycled content really was irritating. I hope she's not past her prime, I continue to enjoy her blog, and re-read the first few books and still find them funny. Come back to us, Jen!!!

I started reading this book the night before my husband and I left for Mexico for vacation. When I got to Mexico I realized I'd forgotten this book so I quickly ordered the kindle version! It's a hard book to put down and I laughed the whole time!

I'm a huge Jen Lancaster fan. I follow her on Facebook and Twitter. I read [...]. That's why I'm so disappointed. These are the same stories we've heard for years with some new ones sprinkled in. I'm struggling to get through it. Thanksgiving, the house hunt, the fuzzy pink bathrobe. If I were new to Jen's writing I would LOVE this book. I'm frustrated that I had to pay for something I could read for free on her blog. I have high hopes that her next book will be filled with anecdotes that no one has heard before. Now, that would be a wonderful treat for her loyal fans.

Be careful when reading this book in public. The snorting and laughing this book causes may bring you unwanted attention. But it is totally worth it. Jen Lancaster is to my generation what Erma Bombeck was to the previous one. She tells it like it is, and isn't afraid to let the world know her quirks. She makes it ok to be a bit "off". Just make sure not to have a mouth full of coffee when reading, as you may end up with it spurting out your nose when least expected.

I love Jen Lancaster and have read every one of her books. This being said, do yourself a favor and buy/read any version of her latest book except the Kindle. Jen uses a lot of footnotes in her writing, and the Kindle version bundles all of the footnotes at the end of each chapter instead of the bottom of each page. The wit and effectiveness of her footnotes is totally lost with this practice. I gave this review 3 stars because I, unfortunately, am reading it on my Kindle, and I truly believe that this book would have read much better off the Kindle.

I've read all of Jen's books and have really enjoyed them .... some more than others. This was funny for sure. A book about growing up and responsibility and how it's not so bad. Plenty of laugh at loud moments. Great book. Thanks!

If you're a fan of Jen Lancaster, then you may be familiar with some of the content of this book. I suppose if you want to be 100% surprised by everything in a book of memoirs, you might want to reconsider following the author on his or blog or social media sites.

Maybe I'm annoyed by 40 year-olds who want to pretend that they are still 21. Maybe I've come to the realization that sometimes it's good to actually pay attention to my health and the things I eat. Maybe I have actually come to enjoy the idea of having dinner parties and a house that allows for such events. Maybe I want to move to the suburbs and exchange my whacking shovel for a digging shovel. Whatever the reason, I identified with the overall theme of this book and loved it!

I look forward to her next book and will continue to read her blog to tide me over until it is released. If I have to read about a particularly entertaining incident twice due to that then I consider that well worth the price.

Charming. Witty. Snarky. Entertaining. These are just some of the words used to describe author Jen Lancaster. I kept up with Jen's journey since her first memoir. Now in Jeneration X, this is Jen's toughest challenge yet...acting like an adult. Ha! Pretty funny, right?

Just take a moment to read the subtitle: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development, or Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner. She volunteers, gets life insurance, has a mortgage and more adult-like responsibilities. The stories are well told, but too many were from her blog. I would have liked more new material. Nevertheless, it was fun to revisit the stories.

If you're also a Jen Lancaster fan, then you know what to expect out of this latest release: LOL moments. I swear she's my favorite neighbor-in-my-head. I cannot wait to read more of her real-life experiences. If you are new to Jennsylvania, then start with her first memoir, Bitter is the New Black.

Literary Marie of Precision Reviews

Love Jen, love her blog, her books, and her family (both furry and human). But the last book which was fiction was a big disappointment for me. It was too close to her real life that I just wanted it to be Jen and Fletch, not Mac and Mia. Thankfully, Jen's back to memoirs. She and Fletch are funny enough that they don't need to be fictionalized. She has a footnote about Bravo making a mistake by not casting her in a reality show. Amen to that. I would watch her and her daily escapades.

If you're a faithful Jennsylvania blog reader, you'll see some familiar stories. Still, those have much more detail in the book and those aren't the majority of the book. Most of the pieces are new. I laughed out loud many a time, almost as much as Bitter.

Loved it and as in years past, I'm bummed when it's over. Have to wait another year. I'll probably pull out Bitter and Bright Lights soon just for more adventures with Jen.

This is classic Jen. She does and says the things I am thinking but wouldn't do. This book had me laughing out loud. I am glad future books won't have her blog in it. That's the only think I didn't like. Her life lessons were so funny. She is down to earth and witty.

I'm a big fan of Jen Lancaster and her books. I have all of them. I've bought them as gifts. Her latest, JENERATION X, chronicles her "growing up" as she is in her early 40s and doing "adult" things, like getting a mammogram. I won't spoil it for you, but this one chapter made me snort with laughter. Maybe it's because we are close to the same age that I can identify with this book, but mostly it's because she's hilarious. She has a life lesson at the end of each chapter. It's an easy book to read here and there. You can read her books all in one sitting, or like me, slowly and spread out over a couple of weeks. So, pick up a copy of this book and have a good laugh. You might just learn a thing or two along the way.

I really love Jen and I have read all her books, but this was a dissapointment. Almost all the material has been covered in previous books. I think releasing this book shows how little she respects her loyal readers. I will think long and hard before spending anymore money on her books.

As always, I just love Jen Lancaster's books. She never fails to amuse me. I look forward to all of her releases. This book is just as entertaining as the others. It keeps you going pretty easy and there is always a good laugh in each chapter. I relate well with Jen because I am part of the Gen X and she is an animal lover. If you like a funny and quirky memoir, you will love Jen Lancaster!

I was reluctant after reading many negative reviews... but, I just couldn't restrain myself. I had waited so long...and delightfully was NOT disappointed! Yes there were a few things that rang a bell to me that I had read in Jen's blog, but this version was expanded and I didn't feel as though it was repetitive. And yes, this is definitely her same old "schtick", which quite honestly I LOVE! I found myself laughing outloud at inopportune times and getting that tense feeling all over that the end was coming way too soon. I've read them all, and will continue to do so because this girl from my hometown makes me laugh! No one does it quite like she does...and the line about "passing the dutchie to the left-hand side" gives her genius status in my humble opinion. Buy the book, she does not disappoint.

I'm a Jen Lancaster fan. I've read and re-read many of her books. This one is ridiculous though. I'm reading chapters that are directly from her blog. Which is free. And I've already read. So I have to now pay to re-read these stories?

Save your money. This is not a good one.

I'm pretty sure the objective is the book is to guide people through acting like adults, but the real reason I love Jen is because she makes me feel better about being a bossy control freak with too many pets.

As always, Lancaster provides humor mixed with ego and humility, cats and the perils of buying a home. The only problem with the book is I read it to fast and I now have to wait for her next.

I don't understand all the gripes from other reviewers. Yes, some of the topics covered in this book have been referenced in other books/blog posts, but what else do you expect from a woman who writes humorous memoirs about her life? After six of them, you're going to come across some of the same issues/characters/Barbie toys more than once. But like all her memoirs, Jen Lancaster hit a home run with "Jeneration X." It's clever, outrageous, and just an all around riot. Jen's life-lessons on adulthood are honest, self-deprecating, and always hilarious. The one and only thing I don't like about the book is the way Jen disses green nail polish. Bold and unexpected nail colors are the new black, Jen! (Well, except for yellow, because that's just too much even for me.) Anyway, definitely pick up a copy of this book if you're looking for a fun read.

I've read all of Jen's books and this one was another good one. I love her books so much that I don't buy the ereader versions because the covers are just so pretty and fun, also until now the footnotes weren't easy to read. Jen writes in a way that we as readers can connect and feel like she is someone we could see ourselves being friends with. I have been to events and she is just as personable and real as she comes across online. This one was personally nostalgic and a fun trip for those who grew up in the 80's.

I started reading Jen's memoirs a few years ago and am a lurker of Jennsylvania and her Facebook fan page. Therefore, when I found out she had a new memoir coming out, I pre-ordered that sucker as soon as I could on the store. This memoir follows suit with the others although I really appreciated the life lesson theme. There are laugh out loud portions of this book (the frozen opossum) and always spectacular quotes ("the rapiest rape that ever raped" - in reference to a sketchy parking garage). I took note to invest in a 'good whackin' shovel'.

If you're a fan of Jen's books this memoir will not disappoint. I tore through the book and was sad when I finished. This makes an excellent, light beach read or an anytime read for anyone who needs a good laugh and an author to relate to.

Thank heavens!Jen is still the fun crazy friend we want and she's not afraid of tackling problems. Great way to share perspective without turning sour & YES! Forty is better than twenty! More choices with better options. Really need a campaign to spread the word to the young, maybe they wouldn't be so glum ;)

Long ago, I got hooked on Jen Lancaster's blog, Jennsylvania.com and her memoirs, starting with Bitter is the New Black. Five books followed, each funnier than the next. So, when she announced her next book was going to be a "I'm an adult, how the hell did that happen" kind of book, I immediately pre-ordered it (Hey, Jen! Where's my signed bookplate? Come on, girl!).

And, when it arrived yesterday, finished it in one night.

Oh, Jen. You, with your eccentric and tolerant husband, Fletch and band of rescued, misfit, completely hilarious critters (three dogs--two "lick you to death" pitbulls and one shamefully confused half-poodle--and a plethora of cats--a dirty old man and a cranky old lady who sadly take their leave before the book is finished, and multiple feral kittens-cum-snugglebunnies, nicknamed the Thundercats, a story in and of itself). You with your snark and obsession with all things preppy, plaid, and pearls. You make me laugh.

Of course, it could never work between us. Our political views butt heads, you being so staunchly Republican and me...not. But we could still shop together at Target and Whole Foods, you could ramble on about the vagaries of suburban (Lake Forest) versus urban (Chicago--Logan Square) lifestyles, and we'd laugh at the ridiculousness of our respective critters. Then we could knock back a couple of your killer cocktails and belt out some Journey at the top of our lungs while embarrassing poor Fletch. It'd be awesome.

Or, hey, you could come down to South Carolina and I'll take you to the Carolina Cup, where every girl's dressed to the nines (Lily Pulitzer is a favorite) and most of the guys don seersucker and bowties. Then we'll knock back some of my killer cocktails while wondering if there are horses at this horse race (SC joke). You in?

I really love Jen Lancaster's books and this one was no disappointment. She has made me laugh out loud every time and I am always sad when I get to the end and it is over. I try to pace myself to make the book last longer but alas I have no self-control. I highly recommend all of her books, including this one, and she also had a blog which is just as much fun to read as her books.

This book is a great follow up for all the Jen-lovers. It sort of a review for those of us that follow Jen on fb and her website, but that's what makes it such a fun read. I read it by the pool, the "learning experiences" are short and it's easy to pick up and put down/ get back to.

Im not even half way through this one and I feel like throwing in the towel. I feel like Jen has nothing new to write about so she's rehashing old stories. I have anticipated all of her books, but after if you were here I stopped. After days of going back and forth on wether or not to buy this one I gave in and now regret it. Save your money, borrow it from someone or the library!

I have read all of her books and this one was by far my favorite. I actually "LOL'd" many times while reading this book (sometimes in public) and I'm not much of an "LOL'er." I'm buying an extra copy for my sister.

I have read many of Jen's books but this did not disappoint me. I laughed so hard in spots that I lost my breath. I guess this is in opposition to some of the other reviews but I stand by my opinion. The animals, the move, being nosy, just funny.

I love this book just as good as the rest! Totally recommend this book if you're looking for a good laugh!! But don't just read this book by Jen Lancaster make sure to check out her other ones they are just as funny!!

One of my favorite things about Jen's writing is that she never fails to make me laugh so hard I cry. Another is that I feel like she is a more grown-up version of me. This book did not disappoint in either of those arenas. I can't say enough good things about Jen's books. She's so funny, extremely relatable, and never fails to see the humor in the ridiculous.

I Love Jen Lancaster! I have now read all of her books! I really enjoyed this one! She is so funny that I always laugh out loud and she always provides me with a book I don't want to end!
I can't wait for the next book! I hope I don't have to wait until next May!

Wow. All of the stingy, one star reviews are what's disappointing. Jen is funny as ever, and I love her books. Yes, she does include stories she blogs. However, in her books she expands the stories and adds details that are not included in the original blog. In my opinion, that makes the situation all the more entertaining, and I get to laugh for a second time! Great job Jen, keep it coming and thank you for sharing your life with us!

I have been a fan of Jen Lancaster since Bitter and this is my least favorite of her memoirs and I'm glad I got it from the library and did not actually buy it. While the idea of writing about the struggles of becoming a full-fledged adult and acting like one was a great concept, it was poorly executed. I was put off by how she decided to become an adult in her 40's and then constantly complained about how lazy my generation, the "millenials," are and how we expect everything to be handed to us. The inflated idea of self-entitlement that people have can be found in every generation and has a lot more to do with what is in someone's bank account and even age/maturity level than what actual year they were born. She makes this point clear in the opening paragraph about the valet parking attendant. I admit I may have taken these jabs at the younger generation a bit personal but it's hard not to when it is a constant theme throughout the book. Overall, I felt a large portion of the book felt condescending.

I could also do without the constant advertisements for her other books within the pages of her book. It's like watching Star Wars (or something else with a lot of sequels) and having advertisements for the other Star Wars movies as part of the movie you're watching. It's unnecessary, distracting and not very classy. If I like your book enough, then I will do my own research to find your other books and read them. I do not need them forced upon me. I have not read any other author who does this (outside of a text book) and if anyone else has please let me know so I can avoid them.

I will confess there were parts of the book that I actually liked. There were a few times when I caught myself laughing out loud, which is why I started reading her books in the first place. I like her relaxed style of writing. It's like having a conversation without all of the actual "dialogue" and I LOVE the footnotes. They are often the best parts of the stories (except for when they are advertisements for her or her friends' books). I enjoyed the entire section on the new puppy and it reminded me of my own "pound puppy" with whom I could not imagine my life without.

So overall while I did enjoy parts of it, it mostly left me disappointed and it will probably be a while before I pick up another of her books.
Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner

Like other reviewers, I found this book very disappointing.

But let me start at the beginning. Ah, the beginning - when Bitter Is The New Black and Bright Lights, Big Ass made you laugh so hard you were definitely acting like what Jen would probably have considered an a**hat. In public. The reason I remember them so well and so fondly isn't just because of the obvious: the side-splitting laughter, the entirely unladylike snorting. No, they were so funny I actually read passages to other people (thankfully only ones I knew). Yes, those books were THAT funny.

This book? Not so much. You see, when you read the first two books mentioned above, Jen is struggling. She's eating humble pie. She's trying not to feel like a total heel while carrying her Prade purse to the unemployment office. However, after once again finding success and financial freedom - albeit well deserved since it didn't just fall in her lap, let's face it - this book seems really ingratious and ungrateful. And disingenious - like she's trying too hard: you know, when someone is writing a report for school on a subject they're not really remotely interested in or they've already moved onto the next thing.

Her acerbic wit is missing, her snarkasm seems to have taken on an air of "Once again, I'm better than the rest of you! HAH!" - but then, I supposed, we can't have it both ways...

Either way, if you're new to her writing, I would definitely go with the first two books. Skip Pretty in Plaid altogether, it's almost worse than this one.

It's been a couple years since I've read a book by this author ... this is the seventh I've read by her.

In this book, Jen and Fletch have just bought a house and are settling in to country life. She recounts her experiences in wanting to become a volunteer, adopting a rescue puppy, going to a Glee concert, experiencing power outages, getting a salon blowout in Texas, meeting with an estate planner and more. At the end of each chapter there is a "reluctant adult lesson" learned.

I liked the writing style ... it's funny and sarcastic. It was a fun read if you don't it too seriously. As a head's up, there is swearing.

I'm sure she'd be fun to be around, though it sounds like she has a big personality. She seems caring of her friends and is a huge animal lover. She spends a fair bit of time promoting her friend, Stacey's books ... I've read one and gave it 1/5 so this didn't reflect well on Jen.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2015/01/book-jeneration-x-2012-jen-lancaster.html

So I realized something sad when I started to read Jeneration X: I think I've outgrown it. This is equal parts sad and odd because a) I used to love her non fiction titles and b) I'm at least a decade younger than she is. At some point between My Fair Lazy and the latest chapter in her "I'm a fancy author and now so is my friend Stacey and I have to remind you every other page", I got bored. Also sad, it look me four weeks to get through this book when I used to plow through her early ones. I think the biggest issue with this one was a lack of filter or editor. Seriously, a book shouldn't read like a blog, and there's a reason I don't read her blog. That said, there were some funnies in this book as well as some things I identified with -- unfortunately they were somewhat drowned out by her egotism. Midway through the book when talking about eBay she identified herself as "hypercompetitive ____" (which the store won't let me say despite it being a direct quote). At least she knows her shortcomings.

This woman has greatly improved my life. First of all, before I encountered her first book I was boring and only read non-fiction. Second of all, I never thought I could read a book by a person that sounded just like myself. I crack up in nearly every single paragraph and almost ever single sentence. I started reading this particular book in the library and disturbed several people just standing in the aisle and reading a few pages! Then I sat down and read 3 chapters before I even checked it out. I couldn't wait until I at least got to the car. No joke, I'm only at page 86 right now and can tell you with 100% certainty that it's worth the price for this book just to read those pages. This book is honestly helping me cope with a world that is now becoming dominated by a new generation that doesn't understand having patience for dial up or the value of earning your keep.

I was a big fan of Jen Lancaster's first three memoirs. They were funny, honest (sometimes too much, but you have to love someone who isn't afraid to put it all out there) and had a good message. Don't be materialistic. Crazy exists in Chicago, too. Love yourself. Then, it seemed she ran out of stories to tell. Instead of focusing on living her life, using the lessons she gleamed in her previous books, Lancaster forced herself to keep writing, turning out memoir after memoir of lesser quality, humor and insights at each turn. I stopped buying them after Such a Pretty Fat and stopped reading them after My Fair Lazy. But, as I was killing time at the library this weekend, I picked up Jeneration X and decided to give it a shot. Being a Gen Xer myself, I thought I could relate to some of what Lancaster has to say, but I was wrong.

The woman who realized spending money doesn't equate to happiness in Bitter is the New Black is long gone. Flushed with success, cash and time, Lancaster has morphed into who she was before, but worse. If she's not bragging about the things she buys, the car she drives, the home she owns, her husband who no longer works, etc., she's making catty comments in an effort to be funny that comes off as bitchy. She is no longer someone I want to hang out with, but someone I would go out of my way to avoid. In fact, my distaste for Lancaster after reading this book is so great that I don't feel right recommending her books to anyone -- even those I really enjoyed.

Also, she's mentioned no longer talking to her family several times, but feel frees to take shots at them when she chooses. No family is without drama and perhaps cutting ties is best -- I don't know the whole story -- but to keep bringing it up, hoping to showcase your side in sympathetic light is sad. Let it go, Jen.

I haven't read Lancaster's attempts at writing fiction, nor have I picked up her latest memoir (which seems like it was gleaned from Jen's whole Thanksgiving experience). I think I've outgrown Jen Lancaster, which makes my attempt at being an adult way more successful than hers.

I write this review with a heavy heart because Jen Lancaster was one of the freshest, funniest writers when I first picked up her memoir, "Such a Pretty Fat." I laughed out loud throughout the book. I was so happy to see that she had written two previous books and I ordered both sight unseen and enjoyed them as well. I started getting very disenchanted with "Pretty in Plaid" and my disappointment grew with (I can't even remember the name of the book now). I wouldn't have bought her first novel but a friend bought it for me for my birthday--knowing that I had loved her early books. And I would not have bought this one but the same friend bought it for me--and I thought, maybe that snarky girl who shouted obscenities and threatened her neighbors with a shovel will have returned. Sadly, she didn't.

Jen's writing has just become old and stale. The jokes seem forced and many are plain recycled. Sadly, unless I see rave reviews from people I trust, I will not be reading any more of her books. There are just too many other good options.

I was always a huge fan of Jen Lancaster's. "Bitter is the New Black" was one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed "Such a Pretty Fat". Jeneration X was way off the mark. The chapters felt disjointed and the author just had such an air of self importance.

Something is just not right with her family. Who breaks off all communication with parents and a sibling? And Fletch does not talk to his family? I just felt she threw her family members under the bus (I have a feeling that it was her mother who crashed her book signing). I am not sure what else to say that has not been said. I will still read her books, but will use the library. They are just not worth purchasing and reading over again twice.

The Tao of Martha was a little bit better; only because I also have a dog named Maisey that I adore. Sorry for your loss. That was very genuine and that was what brought me to her books to begin with.

My very first Jen Lancaster book was "Such a Pretty Fat" I picked it up at Borders by the cover alone, loved it so much, I went out and immediately bought at the time her other two books... "Bitter..." and "Bright Lights..." LOVED them. Laughed so hard I cried, and began to follow her in all the social media outlets available.

So when her next book came out, "Pretty in Plaid" I bought it immediately, and was pretty letdown and slightly bored, but I chalked it up to being a retelling of her earlier life that didn't make it as engrossing as her previous ones.

Then came "My Fair Lazy" and I was much happier with than the one before, and I thought finally we are back on track.

Then came her atrocious(in my opinion) work of fiction which was nothing more than a huge exaggeration of her own life and I didn't love that one either.

But yet when "Jeneration X" came out I thought okay, it's a memoir, it's current, this should be great! This is what Jen is great at!

And maybe I need to say 3 strikes I'm out...because this one was a huge miss for me too! As others have pointed out this book felt largely recycled. I've read these stories before! And while yes, they are funny, if I wanted to read that again I'd read the specific book again that it happened in the first time. It also felt disjointed in the sense that I didn't see the objective as clearly Yes, she was learning to "grow up" but it never felt like I was leaning towards that progress as it seemed to be with all her other books. It felt as these funny stories were just tied together to make a book. Maybe I'm expecting too much(probably) to want new material from an author who writes primarily about her life, but if I'm shelling out the money for a new book from an author I don't want to feel like I've been there, read that....

I never buy Jen books on my kindle because of the footnotes(which I do love!) and usually opt to go to my regular bookstore and pick up the hard copy(and she is probably the only person I buy hard copies of anymore in general), but after this one I just felt so bummed I wanted to take it back.

Hopefully Jen has some interesting things planned for her next novels, because after three books I didn't care for so much I'm definitely not buying another Jen book, but if good I could always check it out from the library.

Like most, I've been a Lancaster fan since first reading "Such a Pretty Fat" (and then immediately consuming "Bitter" and "Bright Lights". I found the blog and read as far back as I could. I followed her on FB and twitter (but have been blocked from that one by her because of the auto dealer incident).

Anywho, I had found an author whose books I enjoyed. Pretty in Plaid came out and I thought "eh, its okay. I know its hard to write from an 8 year old's vantage point without trying to sound like a 40-year-old-trying-to-sound-like-an-8-year-old. "My Fair Lazy" was alright, again, not as funny as previous books. Then there was the abomination called "If You Were Here". It took me forever to get through the book, mainly because I'd find myself cleaning, exercising or clipping my toenails rather than sitting down for a good read w/that one.

So now "Jeneration X" is out and its back to the "memoir" style we all know and love. But....its all so familiar. Like straight-from-her-blog familiar. Oh, but she did put in the extra "lesson learned" at the end of stories like "Fuzzy lip" and the like. Which leave me wondering - what the hell is she doing between books? I realize there is book promo tour which takes up a good deal of time. But really, what is she doing with her time? Rolling in hundred dollar bills in her big suburban mansion? I guess since she's basically laid out all her funny life stories in the previous books, its harder to come up with ideas that don't seem contrived.

I haven't enjoyed a book as much as this one in a looooong time! As I read each chapter, I found myself saying over and over again how much I agreed with Jen and laughing out loud (both of which caused my family to look at me like I was a nut). But that's ok. I now know I'm not alone. Now please excuse me while I see what my neighbors are having delivered and yell at some kids to get out of my yard! ;-)

Like most, I've been a Lancaster fan since first reading "Such a Pretty Fat" (and then immediately consuming "Bitter" and "Bright Lights". I found the blog and read as far back as I could. I followed her on FB and twitter (but have been blocked from that one by her because of the auto dealer incident).

Anywho, I had found an author whose books I enjoyed. Pretty in Plaid came out and I thought "eh, its okay. I know its hard to write from an 8 year old's vantage point without trying to sound like a 40-year-old-trying-to-sound-like-an-8-year-old. "My Fair Lazy" was alright, again, not as funny as previous books. Then there was the abomination called "If You Were Here". It took me forever to get through the book, mainly because I'd find myself cleaning, exercising or clipping my toenails rather than sitting down for a good read w/that one.

So now "Jeneration X" is out and its back to the "memoir" style we all know and love. But....its all so familiar. Like straight-from-her-blog familiar. Oh, but she did put in the extra "lesson learned" at the end of stories like "Fuzzy lip" and the like. Which leave me wondering - what the hell is she doing between books? I realize there is book promo tour which takes up a good deal of time. But really, what is she doing with her time? Rolling in hundred dollar bills in her big suburban mansion? I guess since she's basically laid out all her funny life stories in the previous books, its harder to come up with ideas that don't seem contrived.

I haven't enjoyed a book as much as this one in a looooong time! As I read each chapter, I found myself saying over and over again how much I agreed with Jen and laughing out loud (both of which caused my family to look at me like I was a nut). But that's ok. I now know I'm not alone. Now please excuse me while I see what my neighbors are having delivered and yell at some kids to get out of my yard! ;-)

I have read all of Jen's books and really enjoyed them! I also have met her in person and she is very friendly/nice. Being a fan, I was excited for this book to come out. However, instead of trying not to laugh-out-loud, I was just left disappointed. Other reviews are right that it's recycled stories, and the stories come across as really selfish. If you are new to Jen Lancaster, start with "Bitter is the new black" rather than this one. What a dud!

When I first started reading, I was sure I would be disappointed. Many of the first chapters felt like they were being retold. I don't frequent her blog page that much, but enough to notice that I had read some of these stories before. I was quickly becoming irritated. Just I was was giving up hope, I felt the old Jen was coming back.
I started reading Lancasters work when I found a copy of Such a Prety Fat one day and absolutely loved it. I immediately went out and bought her first two books and enjoyed them very much. However, I felt like all of the others published after that had lost their edge.
Halfway through the book, I felt I was getting the quality of Lancasters finer memoirs.
Yes, some of the stories are repeated. And yes, I too find it somewhat irritating, but overall I enjoyed the book and do believe it's worth giving a try.

Borrrrrrrrring. These are recycled events you will recognize from her most recent fiction. I'm tired of reading about her dogs, old apartment, new house, etc... When I read "Bitter is the New Black," and her next two titles, I'd be caught in public laughing out loud. She was so entertaining. I finished this book because there was nothing else in the house to read. Don't waste your money.

I had high hopes for this book. I was excited to read Jen's latest memoir...and really looked forward to her foray back into non fiction. I was so disappointed with Wish You Were Here and was hoping Jen would redeem herself going back to her original format. After about 15 minutes of reading all I can say is that Jen seems to have lost her touch. She comes across as a whiny, intolerant ass**** who looks down her nose at anyone who doesn't share the same beliefs she has. Her schtick is getting old. Some of the things she writes are totally contrived (her big takeaway lesson in volunteering is that you sometimes need to break down and wear the T-shirt?? Really??) and quite frankly embarrassing. She writes about leaving a hotel in the wee hours of the morning, the front desk staffers obviously assumed she was a highly paid call girl because her car was so fabulous, how could she not be? That was weird. We get it...she was poor and now she is fabulously wealthy. I feel like she keeps hitting us over the head with the same stuff....maybe it is because of her blog, but she needs to get some new material (that doesn't include a Barbie Head, monkey wallpaper, her sick dog, her "bat****" family, her fabulous colonial mansion in Lake County, etc etc).

If you don't read Jen Lancaster's blog Jennsylvania or don't read her columns online, then you might be happy with this. After reading about 50 pages, I wondered if I'd walked into the Twilight Zone because I just knew I'd read this before. Yes, I had. ON HER BLOG. I'm very disappointed and will actually try to return my copy as I feel ripped off in buying a book that was already available in bits online for free.

I love Jennifer Lancaster. I can not get enough. Reading her books is like sitting down with a good friend and laughing and talking (mostly laughing). I would recommend this book. I do feel like to read this book you might need to have a little background on her. Maybe start with one of her earlier books to get to know her a little first.

It's my own fault - I should have know better. Jen Lancaster had 2 maybe 2 and half good books in her. This is book 5. Bitter is the New Black is laugh out loud and embarrass your self in an airport funny. So was this author's 2nd book. The 3rd not so much and the 4th was recycled, snarky and mean spirited. This book is just like the 4th. Seems too familiar as if you have read it before because you have. In her previous books.

We get it. Your dogs and cats are ill-mannered and you think that is cute; Fletch is bemused at the bitch he is married to; and you hold pretty much everyone in contempt. None of that is amusing enough or fresh enough to sustain a whole book. Again.

So while this dreadful read is my own fault at least I have stopped buying the books and now get them from the library. Next step is to stop reading these nasty train wreck books altogether. Suggest you do the same.

Unlike many of the other reviewers, I'd never heard of Jen Lancaster before I picked up this book in the public library (no disappointed, "That was already on her blog" from me). The cover looked interesting, so I sat down to take a look while the kids were finishing up their bookhunts. A half hour later I was rocking from side to side in my chair, holding my belly while tears of laughter ran down my cheeks; my completely embarrassed thirteen year old tugged the book out of my hands and hurried us out of the library... but not without my book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only am I in the same age group as Lancaster (the nostalgia angle of a modern set of witty observations never hurts), but we share a similar snarky outlook on life. I wouldn't call this a memoir any more than I would call A.J. Jacobs' books memoirs--this is a collected set of observations about everyday events, presented much like a stand up comedy act. Not everything hangs together, and not everything is chronologically linear, and that's okay. It's like having a conversation with a friend: one thing sometimes brings up another and the topic wanders for a while before coming back to the original point. Again, that's okay.

There are occasional passages where Lancaster steps out from behind her 'class clown' shield, and those are a bit jarring. Perhaps she doesn't have the personal distance to write about trying to protect herself from a stalker, or losing a beloved pet, or to talk about family dysfunction--the humor in those passages comes across as brittle, taut, thin. Then again, that also follows along the lines of a conversation with a good friend. Sometimes we laugh to keep from crying, and a good friend will see that and play along.

My BS meter is set to sensitive, so there were passages that made me snort: the references to her wealth and position (though it was refreshing to see her call herself on her own snobbishness) and the repeated "Thank goodness we don't have kids" (anyone who gives so much attention to something they're against comes across as longing for that thing)were the main offenders. Neither were enough to make me toss the book down in disgust.

"Jeneration X" made me laugh more than anything I've read this year. It also made me want to look up her other books.

But I'll skip the blog, thank you. I want to thoroughly enjoy the next book, too.

Jeneration X begins with so much promise- an homage to the true Gen-X, those stuck in the middle, references to Douglas Coupland, and the assertion that our generation is the only one behaving as grown-ups (an act of rebellion, according to Lancaster). I love this, and had this book followed down this promising path, this would be an entirely different review. However, the book turns quickly to anecdotes we've heard before- ambien, eBay, and "Remember that time I was poor?" Has success spoiled Jen Lancaster? I think it has. (That's a subtle Rick Springfield reference there.) I've read every single one of her books, and the last two have left me disappointed. She obviously has a style that works, but how about some new material?

This is the first kindle book I have ever returned. It is also the first book that I have never finished, unless you count Beloved (which is a whole other rant).

About 1/4 way into the book I felt that this book was a bitchy summary of all the books she had written before. Yes, we loyal readers know that you purchased a giant barbie head while looped up on Ambien. We also know all about your house hunting and purchasing antics from your novel "If You Were Here" which was really just exaggerated memoir (although entertaining).

Sadly, for as much as I love her writing, I just can't get behind paying for a book, when I've already read parts and pieces of it in all her other books and novels that I had already purchased!

As a previous review had mentioned, this book is largely recycled stories from her blog and Facebook page. Unfortunately I had already purchased it so I thought, well, I have a long flight and a few vacation days to waste. Sadly I also recognized many of her stories from past posts, and her new stories aren't that funny. Fletch (as usual, saving the day) has the only three funny lines in the entire book. AND I think he got downsized in this book vs. past books (BOO!). The "Margo" story in the preview? It is the only original, somewhat humorous story. Jen lives in the north shore of Chicago, her neighborhood alone should be tons of fodder for good tales. Shoot, she can even borrow my own favorite story of watching a woman walk into a North Shore Starbucks wearing a ratty gym suit and shoes, but with a full length fur coat thrown over it. I loved Jen's first books and they still make me laugh even though I have read them many, many times. The writing in this book is beyond lazy, the stories are not fleshed out ("My Mailer" could have been awesome, I thought the book would finally ramp up here but nope), and the reader leaves disappointed. I hated "Wish You Were Here" because her characters were so sappy. No more JL books for me. Don't buy this one unless you are a die hard JL fan or it's out in paperback. Go buy Jenny Lawson's book instead for LOL reading.

If I could give this more than a 5 I totally would!

So if any of you haven't heard of Jen Lancaster, or read any of her novels, you are definitely missing out. She is one of the most hilarious writers that I've also had the pleasure of meeting a couple of years ago at a New York City book signing. Speaking of meeting Jen, she is going to be doing an event with Jennifer Weiner at Bryant Park in New York City on Wednesday June 6th. Stay tuned for more details as the date gets closer.

"Jeneration X" is Jen's 6th memoir where she "gives herself and her generation - a kick in the X by facing her greatest challenge to date: acting her age."

I loved Jen's description and hilarious times she has when she's in Whole Foods. Just like Jen, I LOVE Whole Foods and man, would I love to visit the Lincoln Park store in Chicago. None of the stores near me have as many do-it-yourself food bars as this Chicago one does. I've never had the pleasure (nor do I want to) to stand behind a spoiled and picky kid ordering sushi, or deal with the crazies who come to shop after work...I'd rather shoot myself in the head.

All I know is if Jen Lancaster can go make an appointment to get a mammogram, and actually go through with it, then so can I. Now do I want to? Um no... I hear your boobs get crushed...several times. However because both my sides of the family have breast cancer, I think it's time.

You have to admit that a lot of grown-up activities, like writing and executing a will or refinancing a mortgage, can be pretty scary. Who wants to think about who should get all of their possessions when they die? And no, Jen, you can't just sign a cocktail napkin saying your dog gets all of your things...I wish life was that easy.

I picked this book up off the library `new books' shelf on a whim. I don't often read humor books, but the description sounded fun- a late coming of age story. I figured I'd read the book a little at a time, in between bouts with a history of China book. Instead, I found myself addicted, ignored the serious book, and read this straight through.

Each of the 27 chapters describes events - some pivotal, some simply ludicrous- as the author is dragged, kicking and screaming, into late onset adulthood. Buying a house, buying life insurance, finally training the dogs that have the manners of very friendly ferals; nothing seems to happen to her without disasters, which, luckily for her, she sees the humor in. And so did I.

It's odd; she and I have pretty much nothing in common other than being females of the human species. She's comfortably well off (now; at one point, she lived in poverty), lives in a high class neighborhood, carries designer handbags and can afford a cleaning woman. But she can describe a situation in such a funny way that, even though I've certainly never been in that situation, I can feel how she saw it and feel for her- and laugh until I nearly cried.

After reading the book, I found that Lancaster has written several other books and has a blog, and that many readers were upset because much of what is in Jen X is taken from those. Coming at the book as a new reader, I am able to say that the book is hilarious.

I've read all of JL's books. Have purchased many many copies of the first two as gifts. This book and the last two have just about done me in. The novel was a signing deal made with the publisher, clearly. There's no way that would have ever been published on its own merit. This last one, well. It's bad, kids. Randomness cobbled together to make a book to satisfy an annual contract. There is nothing here, I can't even remember what I have read. I'm embarrassed I purchased this. Beyond the fluff and fake lessons blahblah, there's also the end result problem of this character we've known for so long. I know it's non-fiction, but really, this is a character, her shtick. And while it felt authentic in the first couple of books - now it's just a mess. She doesn't know where to go with it and the lack of long term planning by her editor is laughable. Over and over we see them trying to add some "sympathetic" to an unlikeable unsympathetic character. Oh, you're an angry, pushy biotch. But you give to charity! And you like animals! Oh oh, and you CONSTANTLY refer to yourself as overweight - that will make us like you!! Everyone likes a self-deprecating chubby person! Whatever. Go big or go home. You can't have it both ways. And the repeated references to wealth, FANS (who, especially a non-fiction writer, refers to their readers as FANS?), success... it's so obnoxious. Oh but wait, you then remind us that you used to be broke. Ok, now you have wealth, but before you didn't. So you can brag endlessly but yet shame-shame-shame on the reader if she is annoyed, because you did suffer ten years ago (as you keep reminding us over and over). It's so disrespectful to the people paying for your new lifestyle. And additionally, the repeated reminders of HOW VERY HARD you work. It was actually hilarious, I laughed every time, I just couldn't believe it. Oh, JL, this is non-fiction here, so you talk about yourself, I get it. But what are you giving us? What will we take away from this time we spend with you? A contrived wrap up at the end of a four page repurposed essay, oh... it's a lesson! No, it isn't. There are no intentional lessons here. No takeaways. This is clearly a writer and publisher milking something for all it's worth. I don't mind it, everyone wants to make money - but call it what it is and don't pretend it has value to anyone beyond those cashing the checks. Going forward - JL's books should be published in paperback only and sell for $8 max. Otherwise the joke is intentionally on us. That's our lesson here.

Like several other people, I was very excited to read this book. Jen's other books have been wonderful. Honestly? I think she just wrote this one in a hurry so she could get paid. The stories lacked the witty, sarcastic content of her previous books.
After this book, I doubt I will buy any of her future books. That is, if she writes more books in the future, as it seems Jen has run out of ideas.

I gave this boring tripe almost three chapters before throwing it away. I only made it that far because I was on holiday and had nothing else to read. Maybe I would have found it funnier if I was a fat wealthy woman.

I am beginning to think Jen Lancaster is a one hit wonder. Maybe two hits? Bitter and Bright Lights made me laugh so hard, and I could so relate to her and wanted to be her best friend. This shows a selfish side that makes me honestly not like her. It started with My Fair Lazy and Pretty in Plaid not that great, at least those were slightly funny, but this book has nothing new. I would not recommend. And PLEASE do not write a YA zombie book.

I loved her other memoirs. Novel not good, she made me just not care about their remodel. But I thought another memoir would be good. I was wrong. I am just glad I got this from the library so it was free. I know Jen is still funny, her blog and pictures are great. But she just has run out of steam on the book front. That makes me sad.

I have to disagree with the lot that seem to think this is just a recycled version of her previous books. I've read them all and though she does make mention of past events that were explained at length in her previous books, they never go over 1-2 sentences. She is not filling up pages with old stuff, rather she reminds us of a few past stories in order to set us up for her next story. I find that 99.5% of this book is completely new material and it's some of her best stuff. I find her first book, Bitter, to be the best but this one is also excellent. I love the idea of giving us her lessons learned. They are hilarious and her wit shines through the best in this book.

Thanks for another great book! keep them coming.

I want the 3 hours I wasted reading this dreck back! Look, we get it. You're wacky, you're snarky, you love cats, and you love your Barbie head. How about giving us something new? Her schtick was amusing the first time I read it...in her other, better books. Yawn. So disappointed. If you must read, save your money and borrow it from someone.

Love Jen Lancaster's books....all of them. When you need a good laugh, her books are the ons to read. Laugh out loud fun with a girl we can relate to. The swim dress story....totally me!! Cant wait for The Tao of Martha to come out!

I love all of Jen Lancaster's books; she is hilarious, smart, and very talented. Although many have commented that they found too much of this book to have previously appeared on her blog, I still found it funny, original, refreshing, and couldn't sput it down! If you don't read her blog regularly, then this will definitely have you choking back laughter, if you do read it, then you will love this book as well. She does have a very distinct sense of humor and writing style, and as soon as you tap into that and understand it, you will not be able to put this book down. She has said that her next novels will all be new material (as in none of it will appear on her blog beforehand), and I can't wait to read them. I think we can all relate somewhat to her stories, logic, and her reasoning. This is definitely a book you should read. 4.5 stars

Like others, I have been a fan of Jen Lancaster for a very long time. I was beyond excited for her new book to come out, because I've been drowning in school work and in desperate need of something fun to read this summer.... Unfortunately, as many others have said - I feel like I have heard these stories before. They are either rehashed stories from other books or her blog, or they seem to be "behind the scenes" stories from other books. It doesn't flow. There is no real theme to speak of. I normally fly through her books in a matter of hours. I've been trying to read this one for a week, but I think I've finally given up.

Simply put - I love Jen Lancaster. I've devoured every single one of her books (even If You Were Here). Some are better than others - of course - but I still love them all. And I'm not even a Generation X-er. I'm one of the dreaded Generation Y/Millennials.... you know - the ones who receive trophies just for showing up.

Here's the thing..... regardless of my age, I am a huge fan. I read her blog from time to time, but I'm not as demanding as some of her other followers. I know she doesn't update as often as I am sure people want her to, but..... well, she's a writer. She writes memoris. Memoirs are autobiographical. If she updates her blog as often as people want her to, there would be no material left over for a book. I'm sick and tired of these "fans" complaining how they were disappointed in her latest memoirs because some of the stories are recycled from her blog. When you write about your life - which (to stress again) is non-fiction - there's only SO MUCH material you have to work with. I've read comments from "fans" on her blog and on her Facebook - demanding that she update her blog more often. These are more likely than not the same people who then read her books and write negative reviews saying how they've heard all these stories before. Seriously, people? Get a life. Her memoirs rock! If they didn't - you wouldn't still be reading them.

Jen writes with a sharp wit and a brutal honesty. Her books are LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY. All of them. I dare you to read one without laughing. Ever seen a video of her? Yup. She writes exactly how she speaks.

I'm dying to meet her in person. I'd even come wearing khakis and an alligator shirt if she wanted me to. I for one, think Jeneration X was fantastic. I love hearing snipets of her life, told in her voice - I love the footnotes. Heck - I love everything about all of her stories. (And I especially love that so many of her stories revolve around her pets, as I am also completely obsessive over mine). So...... the point of my rant? If you like to laugh and you're not easily offended by real day-to-day life and events - pick up Jeneration X. Or, do what I did, and read every single one of her memoirs in order, and then go back and re-read them whenever you need to be cheered up.

Normally I enjoy Jen Lancaster's books. I've read all of her previous memoirs (I skipped her fiction book because I felt like it was just an exagerated version of her memoirs--what's the point in that?). I really feel like she's lost her touch with this book. It wasn't funny, it was just mean. I enjoyed her previous books so much and this one was really disappointing.

I have read all of Jen's books and highly recommend them ALL. Well, all of her memoirs anyway. I wasn't crazy about her novel "Wish You Were Here", but all of the others are "fall off the chair laughing" hilarious and Jeneration X is no exception. Every time I read one of her memoirs, I want to be her best friend. Crazy, I know, but you need to read them to find out how I feel.

I came across her books by accident on the store and I have been a fan ever since. I know the writing is similar throughout her books but they are her memoirs so this is her day to day life. I have enjoyed all of her books and this one was no different. I read it on the train on my way to and from work and found myself laughing out loud. Keep writing Jen!

She did it again! Just like EVERY BOOK she has written, Jen Lancaster is hilarious in her new book. I pre-ordered this book because I was THAT excited to read it. She writes about becoming an adult and letting go of things she can't do anymore (like eating Froot Loops for dinner) as well as other coming of age situations. If you are new to Jen Lancaster I strongly suggest you pick up every book she has written and start from the beginning. Even if you haven't followed her from the first book, this book will keep you laughing and wanting to read more.

I love Jen Lancaster. I find her work to be thoughtful and funny, which is a rare combination. Her voice is unique. I read her blog and follow her on Facebook, so some of the stories felt a little stale but she helps to rectify this by elaborating more on the situation.

After reading the drivel that was 50 Shades of Grey, I decided to treat myself to the new Jen Lancaster book. It was money very well spent. I have loved all of Jen's books, and Jeneration X is no exception. If you are a fan of Ms. Lancaster's work, or a fan of great writing and laughter in general, I highly recommend Jeneration X.

I love Jen Lancaster. I find her work to be thoughtful and funny, which is a rare combination. Her voice is unique. I read her blog and follow her on Facebook, so some of the stories felt a little stale but she helps to rectify this by elaborating more on the situation.

After reading the drivel that was 50 Shades of Grey, I decided to treat myself to the new Jen Lancaster book. It was money very well spent. I have loved all of Jen's books, and Jeneration X is no exception. If you are a fan of Ms. Lancaster's work, or a fan of great writing and laughter in general, I highly recommend Jeneration X.

if you try to go on vacation someplace tropica or even attempt to lay poolside without this book alarms should go off. read in two days on the beaches of honolulu and laughed so hard and often other beachgoers thought i was insane upshot is no one crowded by prim beach spot.

not even close to a repeat of her other books. reads like shes having lunch with you and making you snort diet coke from laughing

I love Jan Lancaster's writing and own all her books, in spite of being vehemently opposed to her political point of view. I howl with laughter when I read about her adventures with her animals and her husband's antics. But this latest book ended with a political diatribe, which made me so angry I just can't give the book a good rating. Completely mischaracterizing the Occupy movement as a bunch of whiners is so out of touch with what is happening in this country it literally made me sick. I will definitely think twice about purchasing another book of hers; checking it out of the library will probably be the choice for me.