[Just Like Proper Grown-Ups] [By: Hopkinson, Christina] [February, 2013]

by Christina Hopkinson

'You don't really grow up until you either have a kid or one of your parents dies.' Glamorously carefree and nearing forty, Tess shows no sign of settling down. That is, until she drops a bombshell on four of her she's pregnant, and has chosen them as godparents.Yet while they rally round the single mother, each one is struggling to face the realities of adulthood. Sierra may be only twenty-three but her mother is so irresponsible that she's had to grow up fast. Michael is too busy searching for Mrs Right to worry about collecting the essential accessories of spice racks or investment saucepans, while Owen eases the pain of a mid-life identity crisis with a string of unsuitable fiancées. Only Lucy has the trappings and offspring of a proper grown-up, but is terrified of ageing.On a challenging and hilarious journey through birth, Botox, bad sex and beyond, all five friends must discover that while growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional . . .

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just plain and simple bad. It focuses on five different characters, which I will discuss individually:

Tess, who has gotten pregnant via sperm donor, or so she says. She has never had any desire to have children, and has no maternal instinct whatsoever. She then asks the other four characters to be godparents.



Lucy is a mother of two, living with her younger partner, Jamie. He seems not to be interested in her at all, which leads to Lucy feeling unattractive and contemplating botox to make him want her. Lucy annoyed me in that she was quite controlling with her fellow godparents, constantly trying to organize them all and keep them in line, telling them what to do. She was just the typical mum, doing the day to day things: the school run, meeting up with fellow parents... she didn't really seem to have any character about her, nothing in the book showed that she had her own personality.



Michael is Tess' second cousin, a teacher. He didn't really have anything interesting to contribute to the book... It becomes clear later that he likes Tess, and later in the book he took the fathering role of Tess' baby, going to mother and partner classes with her and taking over, introducing himself as the father, without Tess' permission, which I found very rude and annoying. However, I also found Tess terribly ungrateful for the support she was receiving when she was clearly struggling, and not really bothered about her baby.



Owen is a rich ladies man, who has slept around a lot and been engaged with no intention to marry a number of times. He blames all of this behaviour on his being adopted, and his father being ill. Maybe it's just me but I think that to blame any of those things on being adopted is a terribly childish excuse. We do see him grow up a bit when Tess has the baby and his father dies, but it wasn't enough for me.



Now, lastly, we have Sierra. Sierra has lived a life where, although she has parents, they have not always been around. Her mother jetted off to Spain two years ago, constantly getting in trouble, getting involved in drug deals etc. Sierra has a horrible 'boyfriend', who appears to have no real feelings. I think that, although she could have been the most likeable of the characters, her story just wasn't good.



I also really didn't like some of the language used in the book, particularly in reference to some of the more explicit scenes. I understand that a major theme in the book is that they are not all 'grown up', but I just found it unbelievably immature. We see the characters grow up and learn about the people around them and their responsibilities.

I don't know, maybe I've been too harsh, maybe others will love this book. I just really didn't.

[Shayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Hopkinson introduces four adults who are linked by Tess' pregnancy. Tess is an independent perfectionist of a woman who has no desire to be a mother but shocks everyone when she gets pregnant by a donor, or so she claims.

The book delves into each of the five adults' story, making you laugh, sympathise and hate as you go along. Each character learns more about themselves, or confirm what they knew.

A good read and I look forward to reading many others.

[Tine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 ✨️ ofzoiets
Niet slecht hoor, gewoon ook niet heel goed

[Sarah Rue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Bleugh

[Dr.B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but some scenes really grossed me out. And not even the sex ones, the worst was another. I was reading during my lunch in a restaurant and I really lost my appetite. Seriously, that was wrong. Will avoid futher books from this writer, as I'm afraid she might describe similar scenes if she wants to describe 'edgy' characters. That was not necessary. I read on because of the rest of the story, because that was actually ok. However, the ending fell flat. Very much 'and they all lived happy ever after'...blugh.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a bunch of people who are invited by a mother-to-be to become godparents of her unborn child.
She tells them that she had always wanted a child, that this is the right time, she is not the youngest any more and failing the right partner she decided to use a donor.
In the course of the book all sorts of things become clear about the godparents and the mother-to-be, nice and not so nice.

[Christina Rochester · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed with this book. I was super excited going into it after the hype and roller coaster that was The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs, but I couldn't get into this one at all.

None of the characters are particularly likeable, apart from Lucy they've all slept with someone in the friendship group, or some cases more than one person, and it just didn't feel like it was really going anywhere.

[Aik6980 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an 'alright' book. I think the book is pretty entertaining, at least for the middle part.
I also think the climax came a bit too early, and the resolution has been dragging on for way too long.

Overall, I finished it and I learned one or two things, so I guess the book is alright.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. From start to finish, awful.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is true that people say you do only grow up properly when you've had a child. The addition to this in Christina Hopkinson's book is that you also become a proper grown up when you lose a parent and I suppose for the sake of the pretext of this novel that can be true also.

Tess brings four friends together to ask them if they will become Godparents to her unexpected unborn child. The friends, all strangers at this point, take to the task with surprising gusto even though they all have their own dilemmas to deal with.
Relationships are founded albeit through a process of tried and tested scenarios but which add levity and credence to their personalities.
I liked and loathed the characters in equal quantities as they are all infallible, trying to cope with their mistakes and learn from them. For anyone to read this and not recognise those mistakes as part of their growing maturity would be a challenge and one that I was happy to become embroiled in until the last page.

An entertaining and compelling light read!

[Sarah Obsesses over Books & Cookies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked The Pile At the Bottom of the Stairs and this one, although it started off sketchy with all the characters at once and not knowing what was what, flowed into a light read about people in their 20's and 30's and what it means to grow up with the center of the story rounding the upcoming birth of Gus.
We see how friends of Tess come together and get to know each other over the course of a year how they mingle and connect. It's a british read (my fav) and although light it still is infused with astute observations about life and good writing.
I can't wait for Ms. Hopkinson to come out with another.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing novel based around 5 very different people and how their lives became intertwined. As a young adult myself, this novel made the future seem not so scary after all as it shows that we all find our way in the end, and with a little love & support from friends and family life is so much better.

An enlightening read with a great insight into real life as an adult lightened with plenty of humour and subtle guidance for young adults and adults alike for times of hardship & confusion in life.

I would definitely recommend it.

[Rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book was bit boring, there were parts where the storyline didn't seem to be going anywhere. Although it was good to see towards the end of the book, Teodor the hospital porter being revealed as the Father of Tess's Baby, and he was involved in Gus's life. Was very pleased to finish the book, and won't be in a hurry to read anymore books by the author of this book!! Also, I found the chapters to be too long!!

[Michelle Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read comedy style novel about a group who get together to support their friend Tess as she discovers herself approaching 40 and pregnant without a father on the scene. The book covers the pregnancy and the months following the birth - so a period of about one year.

A bit crude in places, a quick read which didn't require much brain power. Ideal summer read.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engraçado,actual e sincero.

[Pinkyjoanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. So true to life. Very funny and yet serious in places. Brilliant and easy read.

[Jillianne Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a group of friends living their lives, finding love (trying to), having children. I don’t understand why this has such low reviews; I loved it!