Adults

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Pub Date 30 Jan 2020 | Archive Date 1 Apr 2022

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Description

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘AN AMAZING WRITER’ Margot Robbie*
‘HILARIOUS’ Stylist
‘DAZZLING’ Marian Keyes
‘WITTY’ Guardian
‘HEARTBREAKING’ Dolly Alderton
‘INCREDIBLE’ Candice Carty-Williams

Jenny McLaine:
• can’t afford her mortgage since her ex moved out
• is about to get dumped by her best friend
• spends all day online-stalking women with picture-perfect lives

And now her mother has appeared on her doorstep, unbidden, to save the day…

Is Jenny ready to grow up and rescue herself this time?

UK’s #6 bestselling hardback, The Sunday Times chart 9th February 2020

*Margot Robbie talking about Adults, as quoted in CHANEL’s short film segment, ‘In the library with Margot Robbie’

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘AN AMAZING WRITER’ Margot Robbie*
‘HILARIOUS’ Stylist
‘DAZZLING’ Marian Keyes...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9780008334611
PRICE £2.99 (GBP)
PAGES 400

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Average rating from 164 members


Featured Reviews

This book is phenomenal. Grown up chick lit for this generation. Poignant, heartbreaking and meaningful, this book will resonate with every woman trying to juggle her own self identity and place in the world.
So glad I read this absolute game changer of a book.

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The third novel from the author of the critically acclaimed novel and film, Animals, I came to the novel through chatter on twitter. Oh, I thought, people are saying some great things about this book, I’d love to read it.

I haven’t read Animals or seen the film so I’m probably quite a rare reader of this novel, coming with fresh eyes, though I suspect, from reading a review of the film, that Animals has a similar approach to Adults, one that looks at its female characters not in terms of likeability but in terms of verisimilitude, warts and all.

What I’m going to say next is going to annoy some people. I didn’t always like the main character, Jenny. It’s an irritating thing to say because you could presume that this suggests I think female characters should be likeable. I don’t. I don’t want to read a novel in which I like all the characters, that would be boring, to say the least. However, the irritation I felt was palpable. Jenny is obsessed with her social media standing. She has a column in a magazine in Shoreditch. She has, or had, a very handsome and famous photographer boyfriend. She owns her own house. You just wonder what she has to moan about.

Slowly, over the course of the novel, regardless of any irritation you might feel, it is almost impossible not to be drawn in, not to recognise pieces of yourself in Jenny. Her anxiety about how to present herself online, about what impact that might have on her life, her career, and in particular her happiness, all feels understandable and tangible, especially as she begins to open up about what is going wrong in her life.

You could argue it’s a coming of age novel for the perennially youthful and millennials. You could say it is a novel about self-acceptance or an exploration of that complex mother-daughter relationship. However you look at it, Adults is an honest no-holes’-barred, rush of a ride into one woman’s desperate attempt to grow up. It’s hard not to be gripped by that ride and it would make an arresting film. I suspect it will. In fact, after listening to Emma Jane Unsworth speak at a Byte The Book event recently, I know she’s adapting it into a television series. I hope it will have that Fleabag feel. Listening to Emma made me want to go back to her earlier work and catch up. For those who are already fans of her work, I’ve no doubt you’ll love Adults. You can pre-order your copies now. It comes out in January 2020.

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Struggling to grow up and figure out your place and what it means to be an adult? Read this book. This is a no holds barred account of figuring out what it means to be an adult and all that goes with it. A worth while read that many can relate with.

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I was kindly given a DRC of Adults by @emjaneunsworth in exchange for an honest review, by @harpercollinsuk / @harperfiction and @netgalley
The Louise Rennison/Georgia Nicolson for women in their thirties, Adults tells the story of Jenny, recently single, social media addict, almost-dangerously-friendless, with a string of roommates and a morally ambiguous column job.
Reading this felt like a really long chat with a friend, half the time I felt myself responding to Jenny in my head, wanting to smack her phone out of her hand and physically cringing every time she spoke to her ex.
Even though in general this book is really, very funny, there are plenty of heart wrenching moments too. The difficulties of maintaining friendships when you’re so focused on your own shit that you’re just being selfish is a familiar feeling, and one that makes you feel guilty as you read - we have all been a rubbish friend at one point, whether we admit it or not. The way Jenny gets wrapped up in the Instagram of ‘Suzy Brambles’ - her perfect, styled life - is very telling of Instagram culture as a whole. We are all far too concerned with being liked by people who don’t really exist. When Jenny’s mum sees Suzy’s profile and points out that every post of Suzy’s is an attempt to sell herself, Jenny might miss the point, but as the reader, it definitely makes up question how much of your time and energy you put into your virtual world instead of the people physically around you.

I found some sections of Adults kind of confusing/hard to read, but I think that was more to do with the formatting of the proof than the writing. I’m looking forward to buying the special edition of the hardback (with sprayed edges!) when it comes out and re-reading then to see how it’s formatted on paper.
Adults reminded me of the Georgia Nicolson books because it’s written in a stream of conscious style prose, and throughout you feel like Jenny is saying everything with a nod and a wink, to you the reader. When I was 13/14 and read Louise Rennison for the first time, I felt seen. Now at 26 and reading Emma Jane Unsworth for the first time, I feel seen again.🥐 Adults is out 30/01/2020.

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I really enjoyed this book. Jenny our protagonist is mid thirties and going into melt down. Her relationship with a well known photographer has ended and she has become obsessed with her social media. Continually over thinking and editing her repsonses, checking her likes by the minute, obsessively following and catastrpghising over why Suzy Brambles has recently unfollowed her. Jenny's finances are in tatters and she has had to rent rooms in her house (lucky her owning a London house) to 3 twenty something youngsters. She drinks too much, takes drugs and parties whilst knowing as an introvert that deep down she really hates socialising. She is so obsessed that her closest friend who has "real life" problems is withdrawing. We follow Jenny through her impolsion, jumping back and forth across time, exploring her difficult relationship with her larger than life, medium mother, tracing her relationship with the handsome but vapid Art from its origins to aftermath and discovering the core of what causes her guilded life to disintegrate.

I have to say thatt after the first few chapters I was becoming quite frustrated with Jenny and didn't really like her or her circle of friends and employer. I almost gave up but I soon got drawn into the flow of the narrative and Jenny's crazy life. This was good stuff.

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I think this book was talking to me, ok maybe not, written for me, yeah also unlikely but that is exactly how I felt reading this. Struggling in the world to find your place, to be an adult, don’t feel like you are an adult , then this book is definitely for you. Filled with 100% relatable characters, a hilarious, touching, emotional and entertaining read. This is the first book I’d read in ‘chick lit’ where I felt it’s breaking new ground, it felt new and original and I haven’t had that feeling in forever. A highly recommended read and one of my favourites this year.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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I adored this book!

I hadn't read or watched Animals before going into Adults, so I had no idea what to expect. What I found was a hilarious and insightful look into social media and narcissism, with a cast of characters that makes you roll your eyes so much they're in danger of getting stuck.

Unsworth writes unapologetically, and delves deeply into her main character's psyche, particularly her addiction to social media, but presents it in such a frank and often hilarious manner.

I can see the movie adaptation already.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an advance read copy.

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Loved this book. The author sure can write a quirky character and is bang on with her portrayal of how people can obsess with social media and paint a completely inaccurate picture of their real life.

Well formed and interesting characters and a contemporary plot and story world make this an enjoyable and entertaining read.

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A smart, funny exploration of the evils of social media for those of us who didn't grow up with it - and so much more besides. I found the book insightful and was told off by my child for laughing too loudly whilst reading it. I loved the cultural references from Jenny's past, the characters (who each resemble someone we all know) and the sheer honesty of the protagonist. I related to much of this and it kinda startled me. "Adults" is a wake up call and a battle cry. Emma Jane Unsworth is the voice of a new wave of women's fiction, acknowledging that we can all be a bit hapless and hopeless but we are also nuanced and complex characters underneath.

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A Hilario warm wonderful read.A book everyone can relate to the struggle to become an adult find our place in the world.I will be recommending to all my friends those who are now truly adults and those who will relate to the struggle,#netgalley#harpercollinsuk.

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What a fabulous read! I loved the sound of this book and it did not disappoint. Whilst some of the characters are a bit much, I think it provides a really great insight into millennial life and the social media, superficial, “like-based” culture we live it. There are many serious issues raised as well (I won’t detail these as I don’t wish to spoilt thing). Overall I found this an insightful, modern, highly entertaining read and will most definitely be purchasing for friends upon release!

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I felt so lucky to be granted an ARC of this book, having just finished reading Animals. I love the way Emma Jane Unsworth writes, brutally honest and unflinching, often uncomfortable but always tonally spot on. Commenting on the pressures of social media, "grown up" relationships and mothers and daughters. Definitely recommend. Thanks NetGalley!

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I was looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed! Emma Jane Unsworth just hits the nail on the head every time. If you loved Animals, you'll love this!

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A truly superb read, and a fantastic follow-up to Unsworth's previous book 'Animals'. It's funny, painful, hilarious, sad, profound, real and raw. Few books are this relatable and empathetic towards love, friendships, relationships and social media. I binged it in less than a day. A must-read for 2020!

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When I started reading #Adults I wasn't sure it was for me. As a 55 year old social worker living in rural Gloucestershire I thought it was too young, too London, and too (social) media. There is no way I envisaged it was going to get a #NetGalley five star review from me. I was totally wrong , and I am so happy I persevered, because#Adults is an absolute treasure. Once I began to like it's main characters (thirty-something Jenny, her Mum, and her gorgeous best friend) I was hooked. It is a story about friendship, family, fear of failure (and growing older) and the pressures we put on ourselves. I completely related and I think most people will. I am going to buy this for my friends and for their daughters. I can't wait to see what they think.
I have just bought Emma Jayne Unsworth's previous novels. (I know, I am very late to the party.)
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Emma Jane Unsworth, the publishers and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

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Brilliant!! This book will take you through the complete range of emotions. Wasn't sure I was going to get in to it...but I was hooked. First I've read by Emma Jane Unsworth. Well written and brilliantly observed.

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A hilarious and relatable read.

This is not my usual book and it was good to get out of my comfort zone and I enjoyed being taken along for a ride in the characters life.

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I loved Animals, so I was excited to read this book. It didn't disappoint - it's bitingly funny, painfully honest and expertly executed. The main character, Jenny, is obsessed with how other people see her, spending more time crafting the perfect Instagram caption than paying attention to what's happening in her life. On the surface it looks quite frivolous, but there's a lot going on in this book and it's thought-provoking as well as funny as we explore the the relationships between Jenny, her mother, colleagues and friends, and the way she moves through the world. Also, Jenny's mother may well be one of my favourite characters ever.

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I enjoyed this so much! It was really entertaining, well written, poignant and heart warming.
I loved every second of it. I'm sure women will find a part of themselves in it.

Thanks a lot to netgalley and the publisher for this copy.

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A triumphant take on social media obsession, I loved Adults for its brutal honesty, laugh out loud turn of phrase and bare bulb spotlight on love, family and friendship.

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I'm not in the demographic audience for this book, however, I could still really relate to it. I think if you aren't into social media or understand it's significance for so many people, then a lot of this book will be lost on you.

As the book begins with Jenny agonising over a post for her Insta account - does she have the right filter?, has she got the #tag right? You may think this is going to be a lighthearted chick lit kind of aread, and you would be so wrong.

Once we begin to get to know Jenny and her foibles, a whole deeper world is unearthed and actually at one point I did have a little cry; not only for the wonderfully evocative writing, but a memory it stirred in me. Yet at the next moment I was laughing out loud at the reference to The Scottish Restaurant - do not say its name!

There are some wonderful characters in the book. The author develops them so well and the interactions so wonderfully crafted that it felt like I was stood there watching it all happening.

The story line does flip flop at times and not sequentially. However, it meanders around much like Jenny's mind and I really rather liked how it was all mapped out in a haphazard way. Although I realise now that the more painful memories were surfacing towards the end.

I think the author has a unique voice and I look forward to reading more of her books. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.My thanks to netgalley and Harperfiction for inviting me to read and review this book.

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Jenny has her life sorted, a successful columnist, a good boyfriend and fantastic best friend, that is until she lose her job, boy friend and Kelly and her mother moves in with her.

Jenny is obsessed with social media, how many comments and likes she will get. Jenny has become selfish, self righteous and inconsiderate towards those that love her most.

A fantastic book exploring the perils of social media obsession, and the effect it has on mental health.

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Emma Jane Unsworth does it again, her quick wit and ability to write female characters who represent women in the real world shines through.

Both hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measures, Adults is an exploration surrounding social media obsession, love, loss and belonging.

Adults is a departure from Animals, there is less drink, drugs and debauchery however it still shines a spotlight on those female relationships, the importance of them and how the early ones shape are adult experiences.

I highly recommend Adults.

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