In this short, bittersweet Norwegian novel we encounter two sisters who are on different paths in life but constantly find behaviours following patterns established in childhood. With one sister married and pregnant and the other nearing 40 and single, all the little resentments that have built up over time get played out at the summer cabin that both sisters have inherited from their mother. A well-written and expertly translated slice of modern life. Would thoroughly recommend.

Ida is a woman in her early 40s who is a bit unmoored and unsure what she wants from her life, leading her to try and freeze her eggs in case she wants children. She's unpredictable, wilder than her strait-laced sister, and craves the attention of her family even if it's for the wrong reasons.

Marthe is her sister, the one who seems to have it more together. Ida joins Marthe, her husband, and Marthe's a bright young step-daughter at their family's cabin for their mother's 65th birthday where tensions arise.

This is a short one but it packs a punch. It explores dysfunctional family dynamics through these different layers of family, especially when there's someone like Ida who's often willing to light the match. It looks at the pressures around having children and the expected course of womanhood, especially now where women are meant to have it all. It also shows how secrets wind their way around family life in seemingly innocuous ways until the right thing comes along to bring them to the surface.

I didn't feel quite like the target audience for this but I think for the right person, it'll really speak to them. Whether you're an Ida or a Marthe or something in between.

Grown Ups reminded me of Anna Hope’s ‘Expectations’ as it explores themes of comparison, jealousy and the goals you should have accomplished once you reach a certain age. It’s a book about the complex relationship between two sisters, which isn’t talked about enough. The narrator’s younger sister has a loving partner and is expecting a baby, and it makes the narrator feel like she’s failed at life. The Scandinavian setting was the icing on the cake, it was the perfect escapism!

Thank you for early sight of this book. I have posted about it on Twitter and Instagram. I have reviewed on the Waterstones website and will review on amazon when possible.

It's amazing to me that this book is only 160 pages long, as it covers so much ground. Grown Ups is ostensibly about modern life as a single woman contemplating motherhood, but it's also about families, ageing, relationships, parenting and all the complexities of each. It's funny, elegant, and unexpectedly dark. A brilliant little book that I know I will return to.

I don’t often read translation fiction (if ever) and this really surprised me. A short jam packed storyline shining a spotlight on a slightly dysfunctional family. It is set in a wonderful setting. Would have enjoyed more of it and to see the rest of their stories.

Grown Ups by Marie Aubert is a short novel about sisters, family dynamics, childlessness. The main character is deeply flawed but refreshingly real.

BOOK REVIEW

Grown ups by Marie Aubert
Translated by Rosie Hedger

👙👙👙👙

4 / 5

A pacy page-turner depicting a modern dysfunctional family on a trip to the family seaside cabin.

Ida is a forty-year-old architect, single and struggling with the feeling of panic as she realises her chances of motherhood are rapidly falling away from her.

The book seemed more like a tableau, a moment in time of Ida’s life, rather than a story. But I enjoyed it nonetheless!

The pace is just perfect pulling you through the book like a tide. I was really shocked when it ended as I didn’t feel the story slowing at all. This meant the ending was a little abrupt.

It’s a portrait of a modern family and has characters in it that are incredibly unlikeable. But sometimes I enjoy having a character to dislike in a narrative. And this was one of those times.

Ida herself was the perfect balance of light and shade. I did find myself sympathising with her even when I knew she was in the wrong. The way Ida looks at 40 is a bit like the way I look at turning 30 - watching friends around me get married start families or even commit to getting a pet - I could see a little of myself in Ida which I think added to my enjoyment.

This is a great summer read, perfect for dipping in and out of or reading next to the pool on holiday (fingers crossed that can happen in 2021)!

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A short and entertaining read about sisterhood, having children and what it’s like to grow up.

Not my favourite, but definitely an easy way to pass the time and get some insight into summer life in Scandinavia.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

A well translated, enjoyable short novel.

I was compelled to feel sorry for the main character throughout the book but there were several points where I felt angry about her actions. She seems like she has lost her way and is so caught up with where she thinks her life should be that she's forgotten to live the life she has.

The storyline is simple and overall the book was an enjoyable read although the end doesn't feel quite final, I wanted more closure. Perhaps there will be another book to carry on the tale.

This is a slice of life book. A family with adult children, Mother and Mothers partner plus step grandchildren, spend a weekend celebrating the mother’s birthday in the families holiday cabin.

No one in the family I found particularly likeable however I think that was because it was narrated through one family members point of view. Alcohol flows, emotions rise arguments are had. Honest moments are shared.