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frasersimons 's review for:

Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
4.0

A really well done family drama that interrogates the ways in which adults get stuck in patterns established at youth. Even when they do deviate from it, they’re unaware of it and can’t seem to break free. A byproduct is a malaise that permeates most every character—but change, though painful, comes calling eventually. When it does, it showcases the adaptability and resilience of people thought broken.

I liked this a lot but I really like these ‘dysfunctional’ dramas centering a family full of secrets, stagnant, but pushed into frenetic change. The perspective switches often. The characterization feels well done. It’s funny and sad—actually landing the funny bits, a hard thing to do. Everyone is exposed for who they are and there is no capital V villain, though there are absolute assholes.

No one is spared. All very good.