The Grown Ups
Sam Turner’s fifteenth summer is a revelation. He receives the flirtatious attention of the girl next door, Suzie Epstein, and his mother abandons their family. His older brother Michael and their father appear to accept her absence without explanation. Sam, however, feels adrift, and struggles to understand how a parent you imagined would always be there can suddenly choose to leave.
Over the years, the childhood bonds between Sam and his tight knit group of friends prove to be remarkably resilient as they stumble into adulthood. In alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the deep connection that forms between friends as they navigate parents, siblings, lovers, and each other. A potent commentary on relationships familial and chosen, The Grown Ups is about that rush of discovery, a time in life when we realize the influences of the people we surround ourselves with has everything to do with who we will become.
In this vast, funny, and often profound novel, Antalek has given us more than just a good read -- she's painted a portrait of how youth evolves into age, and the loss and victory that comes with inevitable, hard-fought adulthood. From page one, these friends -- who become our friends -- are drawn with wisdom and poignancy by a writer who understands that the child continues to live inside the grown-up, with the same wide eyes and brittle hearts.”
— Susanna Daniel, author of Sea Creatures and Stiltsville
“The Grown Ups is one of those rare books that pulls you deeper into your own life and your own memories as you navigate Antalek's beautifully woven storyline. You'll hang on to this book like a photo album that you'll want to flip through again and again, if only to feel the poignant ache of nostalgia.”
— Jessica Anya Blau, author of The Wonder Bread Summer
Robin Antalek’s characters feel so vivid, so fully known, you’ll swear you grew up in their close-knit neighborhood along with them. Fans of Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings and Joanna Hershon’s A Dual Inheritance will love this thoughtful exploration of the warp and weft of our closest relationships. Here is a portrayal of that mystery at the heart of modern life: what it means, in a world of bad influences and clueless parenting, to actually become a grown-up.
— Amy Shearn, author of The Mermaid of Brooklyn and How Far Is The Ocean From Here
For teenagers Sam Turner, Suzie Epstein, and Bella Spade, life in a New York suburb is a jumble of friendships and young crushes, complicated but retaining some innocence. This insulated world collapses in the aftermath of family break ups and the path to becoming grown-ups is suddenly more complex. Over the next decade, Suzie and Bella barrel through college and into relationships. Sam drifts about switching jobs, and they all reshape their ties to aging parents. Despite stumbles and losses, each finds a way to adulthood, sometimes aided and sometimes held back by their childhood bonds. Verdict: like Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings, Antalek’s second novel (after The Summer We Fell Apart) is an engaging ensemble piece with revealing insights about friendships. A great choice for book clubs looking for new adult titles.
— Jan Blodgett, Davidson College Library North Carolina, The Library Journal Review