First off, Emma Straub’s books always surprise me. I go into them thinking they will be light, fun reads, but then they also pack a punch of substance. Before this read, I would have said Modern Lovers was my favorite of her books; and while All Adults Here is similar in some ways to that story, it blows her previous work out of the water.

The book begins with Astrid Strick witnessing a school bus accident. The victim of the accident is a acquaintance and the accident sets off a wave of memory—and regret—for Astrid. Her three adult children are all drifting in their own ways, as is her granddaughter who has come to live with her—and she is unsure of how to help them. At the same time, she is coming to terms with her own identity as a partner and mother.

Through a series of alternating storylines that all eventually converge, Straub explores what it means to be a parent, a sibling, and a partner. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the strong LGBTQ characters into the story who played important roles. While the story maintains a relatively light tone throughout, it also touches on tough subjects while peeling back the complexity of the characters.

This is perfect if you like intergenerational family stories, with complex characters, great casual writing and a touch of humor!

Thanks to Riverhead Books for the free e-Galley in exchange for an honest review!