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Adults
Jenny McLaine is an adult. Supposedly. At thirty-five she owns her own house, writes for a cool magazine and has hilarious friends just a message away.
But the thing is:
• She can’t actually afford her house since her criminally sexy ex-boyfriend Art left,
• her best friend Kelly is clearly trying to break up with her,
• she's so frazzled trying to keep up with everything you can practically hear her nerves jangling,
• she spends all day online-stalking women with beautiful lives as her career goes down the drain.
And now her mother has appeared on her doorstep, unbidden, to save the day…
Is Jenny ready to grow up and save herself this time?
Deliciously candid and gloriously heartfelt, Adults is the story of one woman learning how to fall back in love with her life. It will remind you that when the world throws you a curve ball (or nine), it may take friendship, gin & tonics or even your mother to bring you back…
But the thing is:
• She can’t actually afford her house since her criminally sexy ex-boyfriend Art left,
• her best friend Kelly is clearly trying to break up with her,
• she's so frazzled trying to keep up with everything you can practically hear her nerves jangling,
• she spends all day online-stalking women with beautiful lives as her career goes down the drain.
And now her mother has appeared on her doorstep, unbidden, to save the day…
Is Jenny ready to grow up and save herself this time?
Deliciously candid and gloriously heartfelt, Adults is the story of one woman learning how to fall back in love with her life. It will remind you that when the world throws you a curve ball (or nine), it may take friendship, gin & tonics or even your mother to bring you back…
400 pages, ebook
First published January 30, 2020
884 people are currently reading
22536 people want to read
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May 15, 2024
‘We’re comforting ourselves, aren’t we, you and I? We’re living in repeats and circles because they’re reassuring that there’ll be no surprises. No more hurt.’
Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth is an exploration of the complexities of modern adulthood, friendship, and identity. The novel follows Jenny McLaine as she navigates the often conflicting demands of work, relationships, and self discovery. Her character is refreshingly flawed, and I found myself both empathizing with her struggles and cringing at her missteps.
Unsworth's writing is sharp, witty, and brutally honest, capturing the essence of modern urban life with authenticity and depth. Her portrayal of contemporary culture is both satirical and incisive. From social media obsession to the pressures of maintaining a perfect image, she exposes the absurdity and pitfalls of modern life with razor sharp precision.
Unsworth's keen observations and dark humor make for a compelling narrative that is as entertaining as it is insightful. This novel offers a touching reflection on the universal quest for meaning and fulfillment in a world that often seems determined to thwart our best efforts.
I Highly Recommend.
Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth is an exploration of the complexities of modern adulthood, friendship, and identity. The novel follows Jenny McLaine as she navigates the often conflicting demands of work, relationships, and self discovery. Her character is refreshingly flawed, and I found myself both empathizing with her struggles and cringing at her missteps.
Unsworth's writing is sharp, witty, and brutally honest, capturing the essence of modern urban life with authenticity and depth. Her portrayal of contemporary culture is both satirical and incisive. From social media obsession to the pressures of maintaining a perfect image, she exposes the absurdity and pitfalls of modern life with razor sharp precision.
Unsworth's keen observations and dark humor make for a compelling narrative that is as entertaining as it is insightful. This novel offers a touching reflection on the universal quest for meaning and fulfillment in a world that often seems determined to thwart our best efforts.
I Highly Recommend.
December 19, 2019
Emma Jane Unsworth depicts a realistic, problematic and humorous picture of our contemporary disease of social media addiction and its pressures, its pitfalls and repercussions through the life of 35 year old Jenny McLaine. On the surface, Jenny is living the perfect successful life. She is a columnist on a online magazine, owns her own home but delve a little deeper and her life is a car crash, unravelling at a rapid rate. Her manipulative photographer boyfriend, Art, has broken up with her and found a replacement girlfriend so very quickly, her job is going down the pan, and her best friend, single mother Kelly has had enough of her and her selfishness, and her offbeat psychic mother has come to stay. Jenny is anxious, insecure, lacking any form of self awareness, with a constant need for validation. Instead of paying attention to the issues and people close to her, she obsessively follows on social media those living perfect lives, like Suzy Brambles, which feeds her sense of failure as a woman. As Jenny surveys the wreckage of her life around, she knows things must change.
This is a comic, if heartbreaking, character driven read of a Jenny having to face up to the need to grow up. I found it an occasionally discomfiting read, and Jenny can be really irritating, but it is such a relevant read. It provides an insightful look at mother and daughter relationships, the damage that social media addiction can do and the perils of neglecting real life, and the people who matter. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
This is a comic, if heartbreaking, character driven read of a Jenny having to face up to the need to grow up. I found it an occasionally discomfiting read, and Jenny can be really irritating, but it is such a relevant read. It provides an insightful look at mother and daughter relationships, the damage that social media addiction can do and the perils of neglecting real life, and the people who matter. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
December 7, 2019
Brutally honest, hilarious and insightful, Adults tells a story of a thirty-five year old Jenny who is obsessed with social media. Jenny is bright and funny but not coping well with the break-up with her boyfriend who seems to have found a replacement for Jenny in no time.
If you are in a mood for something witty to make you laugh, this might be the right book. That is not to say Adults have no serious moments. It makes accurate observations of today's obsessions of young generations with presenting glamorous lifestyle on social media even if the reality is far from perfect.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you are in a mood for something witty to make you laugh, this might be the right book. That is not to say Adults have no serious moments. It makes accurate observations of today's obsessions of young generations with presenting glamorous lifestyle on social media even if the reality is far from perfect.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2020
Grown Ups is one of those books that's a little hard to explain. If I tell you it's a novel about a thirtysomething blogger who's obsessed with social media and how she appears on it, will you roll your eyes and assume it's not for you? Will you dismiss it as chick lit? [Side note: Why do people describe books as "chick lit" when they seem to mean that the book is stupid, or shallow, or too fluffy? Why not just say that instead of applying a gendered term disparagingly? Anyway.] The fact is that there are all kinds of people in the world and, in the right hands, most of them would be an interesting subject for a novel. This immersive tale of Jenny McLaine, the aforementioned blogger, unfolds gradually with a fair amount of smart humor, a vivid setting [must go to London one of these days], and those moments of insight that you appreciate all the more because you weren't quite expecting them. I felt like I knew all of the characters, even the ones who were really just texts at the other end of the smartphone. And as for Jenny herself, she could be annoying sometimes, but ugh, I rooted for her so much. I don't think I've read anything quite like this, and I didn't just enjoy it, I was impressed by it. Need to read more Unsworth ASAP.
I won this book in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you to the publisher. As always, my opinions are my own.
I won this book in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you to the publisher. As always, my opinions are my own.
May 15, 2020
Addictions and compulsions come in all sort of forms. Thirty-five-year-old Jenny McLaine is addicted to social media. She's much more concerned with her online image and with how others may or may not perceive her. Going down the social media rabbit hole... Sounds familiar, right? It may not come as a surprise to most of you that more women are addicted (using that broadly) to social media than men.
Jenny's got issues, who doesn't? Her mum is an "interesting" type, a psychic medium and former actor. Jenny's never known her father. She's whipsmart and observant and speaks her mind. Most of the times. Unless she's trying to act "interesting". When her long time boyfriend leaves her, many other aspects of her life unravel. Sometimes one needs to hit rock bottom in order to act and change.
Adults or Grown Ups {I'm rolling my eyes at the name change} was a well-executed novel. I enjoyed its tone (kudos to Chloe Massey, the narrator of this audiobook), its sharp observations and the fact that there's plenty of character growth. This novel was authentic and extremely contemporary.
Jenny's got issues, who doesn't? Her mum is an "interesting" type, a psychic medium and former actor. Jenny's never known her father. She's whipsmart and observant and speaks her mind. Most of the times. Unless she's trying to act "interesting". When her long time boyfriend leaves her, many other aspects of her life unravel. Sometimes one needs to hit rock bottom in order to act and change.
Adults or Grown Ups {I'm rolling my eyes at the name change} was a well-executed novel. I enjoyed its tone (kudos to Chloe Massey, the narrator of this audiobook), its sharp observations and the fact that there's plenty of character growth. This novel was authentic and extremely contemporary.
February 20, 2020
There are some witty, insightful bits in this novel. Lines like, “When oh when will they create a Breathalyzer app that disables your phone when you’re over the limit?” Unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult to care about a character is so spectacularly concerned about herself and absolutely no one else. It’s remarkable that she was able to maintain a relationship with a man for any length of time.
Over the course to the book, Jenny McClaine lets the readers know about her complicated relationship with her mother, and that’s apparently why she needs adoration from people she doesn’t know on social media. The character is twelve years younger than me, and it’s fun when something you post gets a lot of likes, but I can’t identify at all with someone who is constantly on her phone with pretend friendships, spending HOURS debating about the wording of a Tweet and how many kisses (Xs) she should leave on a DM.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Over the course to the book, Jenny McClaine lets the readers know about her complicated relationship with her mother, and that’s apparently why she needs adoration from people she doesn’t know on social media. The character is twelve years younger than me, and it’s fun when something you post gets a lot of likes, but I can’t identify at all with someone who is constantly on her phone with pretend friendships, spending HOURS debating about the wording of a Tweet and how many kisses (Xs) she should leave on a DM.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
April 15, 2020
1.5*
The premise was good, the book proper waste of time. It’s like sad Bridget Jones with complicated mother living in Sally Rooney’s Conversation with friends.
I am same generation like Jenny, it is totally ridiculous! Nobody behaves like that.
Don’t waste your money or time. Plain, dull, absolutely unrealistic and overdramatic
The premise was good, the book proper waste of time. It’s like sad Bridget Jones with complicated mother living in Sally Rooney’s Conversation with friends.
I am same generation like Jenny, it is totally ridiculous! Nobody behaves like that.
Don’t waste your money or time. Plain, dull, absolutely unrealistic and overdramatic
January 30, 2020
Emma Jane Unsworth's breakout novel
Animals
featured two main characters – Laura and Tyler – and as with Zoes and Zeldas, you're either one or the other. I'm definitely a Laura, and Animals was powerfully resonant for me partly because of that. Adults, on the other hand, is narrated by the equivalent of a Tyler: Jenny, a loud, selfish character whose brashness is often a mask for uncertainty or loneliness. The opening scene sets the tone, as Jenny obsesses about how to caption a photo on Instagram: 'I am creating a social media post about a croissant that I am pretty sure will define me as a human.'
Adults follows Jenny as she stumbles through life, trying to get over her ex-boyfriend Art and thinking about her personal brand every five seconds. She's 35, so we're at the very tail end of the 'millennial woman figuring herself out' thing here, and that's kind of the point. This book's Laura, Jenny's more reasonable friend Kelly, is often relegated to the background. (We hear from her when she texts Jenny – pleas that often go unanswered – or when Jenny needs to bounce something off her. Like an email to Art or yet another Instagram caption.) The more important relationship here is between Jenny and her eccentric mother Carmen, a flighty and often neglectful fortune-teller who swoops in and out of Jenny's life and, it quickly becomes clear, is responsible for a lot of her neuroses.
There's more of a chick-lit vibe here than in Animals. If I hadn't known who'd written it, I'd have guessed Lisa Owens (Not Working) or Lauren Berry (Living the Dream). Jenny's narration is sparky and entertaining – and pretty exhausting too. I read the book quickly not because I was loving it, but because spending more time with Jenny felt detrimental. She's a solipsistic and arrogant character who's hard to like, even when her insecurities are laid bare. The very current tone of the satire doesn't really help: some of it already seems dated (especially the bits about the online women's magazine Jenny writes for). I did like the ending, and Jenny's various relationships are all wrapped up in ways that feel both satisfying and plausible.
I read Animals three years ago. There are lines and moments from that book I still think about regularly. I don't think I will remember the details of Adults beyond the next couple of weeks. I don't mean to be harsh; it's enjoyable, I guess it just didn't really speak to me. There's too much gloss and not enough grit.
I received an advance review copy of Adults from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter
Adults follows Jenny as she stumbles through life, trying to get over her ex-boyfriend Art and thinking about her personal brand every five seconds. She's 35, so we're at the very tail end of the 'millennial woman figuring herself out' thing here, and that's kind of the point. This book's Laura, Jenny's more reasonable friend Kelly, is often relegated to the background. (We hear from her when she texts Jenny – pleas that often go unanswered – or when Jenny needs to bounce something off her. Like an email to Art or yet another Instagram caption.) The more important relationship here is between Jenny and her eccentric mother Carmen, a flighty and often neglectful fortune-teller who swoops in and out of Jenny's life and, it quickly becomes clear, is responsible for a lot of her neuroses.
There's more of a chick-lit vibe here than in Animals. If I hadn't known who'd written it, I'd have guessed Lisa Owens (Not Working) or Lauren Berry (Living the Dream). Jenny's narration is sparky and entertaining – and pretty exhausting too. I read the book quickly not because I was loving it, but because spending more time with Jenny felt detrimental. She's a solipsistic and arrogant character who's hard to like, even when her insecurities are laid bare. The very current tone of the satire doesn't really help: some of it already seems dated (especially the bits about the online women's magazine Jenny writes for). I did like the ending, and Jenny's various relationships are all wrapped up in ways that feel both satisfying and plausible.
I read Animals three years ago. There are lines and moments from that book I still think about regularly. I don't think I will remember the details of Adults beyond the next couple of weeks. I don't mean to be harsh; it's enjoyable, I guess it just didn't really speak to me. There's too much gloss and not enough grit.
I received an advance review copy of Adults from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter
October 27, 2023
Rating : 2.5
I was very very invested in the book after the first chapter but was quite disappointed with how it shaped out. The first chapter is about our Instagram-crazy protagonist thinking and rethinking about posting a picture of a croissant—the filter, the angle, the caption, the hashtags. She worries about likes, It was funny. Slightly overdone but the right kind for me to make me laugh out loud and get curious about her life. I love Instagram and I kept thinking—Finally! A novel about people on which Instagram has a huge impact.
But then on, the novel just repeats this scene in various forms. Instead of adding to the drama it becomes tedious. She worries about reception of posts, has an unhealthy obsession with an influencer (I loved this angle but I wish it was explored in a stronger way), she stalks pictures of ex-es and others (like we all do), and is worked up when her favourite influencer unfollows her. The heroine becomes an annoying, unlikeable character. Of course, such characters in books are the best kind because they have so much to offer to a reader. But here, the barrage of text messages with friends interspersed with the actual narrative was jarring.
There isn't much plot, neither is there a strong character arc to grab your attention. This is a book I desperately wanted to like and was very intrigued by the premise but sadly it fell flat for me.
Much thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
I was very very invested in the book after the first chapter but was quite disappointed with how it shaped out. The first chapter is about our Instagram-crazy protagonist thinking and rethinking about posting a picture of a croissant—the filter, the angle, the caption, the hashtags. She worries about likes, It was funny. Slightly overdone but the right kind for me to make me laugh out loud and get curious about her life. I love Instagram and I kept thinking—Finally! A novel about people on which Instagram has a huge impact.
But then on, the novel just repeats this scene in various forms. Instead of adding to the drama it becomes tedious. She worries about reception of posts, has an unhealthy obsession with an influencer (I loved this angle but I wish it was explored in a stronger way), she stalks pictures of ex-es and others (like we all do), and is worked up when her favourite influencer unfollows her. The heroine becomes an annoying, unlikeable character. Of course, such characters in books are the best kind because they have so much to offer to a reader. But here, the barrage of text messages with friends interspersed with the actual narrative was jarring.
There isn't much plot, neither is there a strong character arc to grab your attention. This is a book I desperately wanted to like and was very intrigued by the premise but sadly it fell flat for me.
Much thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
January 29, 2020
Jenny is obsessed with social media and seeing how many likes and comments she receives. It ends up ruining her life. It's starting to spiral out of control so her mother, Carmen, comes to stay.
There were parts of this book I enjoyed and others not so much. I struggled to connect with the main character, Jenny, but she did grown on me as the story progressed. There are some funny one liners that will make you laugh out loud. The book covers how social media can take over your life. I liked the authors style in writing this story. Adults is a relevant topic just now.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Emma Jane Unsworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were parts of this book I enjoyed and others not so much. I struggled to connect with the main character, Jenny, but she did grown on me as the story progressed. There are some funny one liners that will make you laugh out loud. The book covers how social media can take over your life. I liked the authors style in writing this story. Adults is a relevant topic just now.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Emma Jane Unsworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2020
Known as Adults in every other country (but this is her originally intended title so we win!), Grown Ups is about a 30-something named Jenny trying to navigate her relationships, as seen through social media (including some very funny drunk Tweets and email drafts) and more. I went to an author event this past weekend with her as well and several people discussed how various characters would handle the pandemic. It's a great capture of how people communicate (and don't). Most of it is just fun to discover so I will leave it there.
April 4, 2020
4 NEUROTIC, REALISTIC, IMAGINATIVE, IMMERSIVE STARS!
My initial impression was that the life of Jenny McLaine was most like seeing a car accident ahead of you on the road. It's painful but you can't help watching, you must watch! Then midway, you are wondering why you are still paying attention, why it is the writing of course! Emma Jane Unsworth puts you right in the middle of this mess of a life. It is so real, I kept thinking of a certain friendship of mine that crumbled for the same reasons that cause her and her bff to have a falling out as the story propels forward.
First and foremost, this story exams the current era and the isolation technology creates in our modern society. Jenny is our case study! She is a career woman with a job writing for a modern day magazine. She is the ultimate commentator on current trends. She owns a house and from the outside, she looks like she has accomplished so much. The problem is she is terribly lonely. And isolated. And rudderless. And estranged from her only family, her mother. And she suffers anxiety. And she has no future plans. She meets a successful photographer and they both seem a bit to narcissistic to stay together but they find a way - for a while. Until an unfortunate event dissolves them. Now, crippled by heartbreak, other things fall away that barely kept Jenny tethered to sanity. Amazingly, the story ends on a high note, although it is a tad unlikely in my book, there is a slow change in Jenny that is appealing.
The writing is right on the mark. Written in journal form (though not set-up as a diary), at one point, I stopped to check if I had been wrong in believing this was fiction, since it seemed to be so realistic. Alas, it is a spoof on today's world. If you liked "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" this will be most likely your style. I liked this far better (I didn't finish WTGB), please don't hate me. Though Jenny can be a tad to self-absorbed, she is harmless and she wouldn't be someone you disliked upon meeting her, although, you may not want to join her later for drinks either. After all it is very obvious, that she is just SOOO needy. This stems from her lack of emotional support as a child but the story doesn't dwell there, it is an observation. The author does a terrific job of showing and not telling. The author does a fine job giving us insight into the addiction to being "liked" on social media. Particularly, when it becomes the focus of our inner world. I would definitely read her future work as her talent comes across on every page.
This will definitely appeal to those under 40 crowd. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! It resounds with great credibility.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher, Gallery Books and the author, Emma Jane Unsworth for a free ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
My initial impression was that the life of Jenny McLaine was most like seeing a car accident ahead of you on the road. It's painful but you can't help watching, you must watch! Then midway, you are wondering why you are still paying attention, why it is the writing of course! Emma Jane Unsworth puts you right in the middle of this mess of a life. It is so real, I kept thinking of a certain friendship of mine that crumbled for the same reasons that cause her and her bff to have a falling out as the story propels forward.
First and foremost, this story exams the current era and the isolation technology creates in our modern society. Jenny is our case study! She is a career woman with a job writing for a modern day magazine. She is the ultimate commentator on current trends. She owns a house and from the outside, she looks like she has accomplished so much. The problem is she is terribly lonely. And isolated. And rudderless. And estranged from her only family, her mother. And she suffers anxiety. And she has no future plans. She meets a successful photographer and they both seem a bit to narcissistic to stay together but they find a way - for a while. Until an unfortunate event dissolves them. Now, crippled by heartbreak, other things fall away that barely kept Jenny tethered to sanity. Amazingly, the story ends on a high note, although it is a tad unlikely in my book, there is a slow change in Jenny that is appealing.
The writing is right on the mark. Written in journal form (though not set-up as a diary), at one point, I stopped to check if I had been wrong in believing this was fiction, since it seemed to be so realistic. Alas, it is a spoof on today's world. If you liked "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" this will be most likely your style. I liked this far better (I didn't finish WTGB), please don't hate me. Though Jenny can be a tad to self-absorbed, she is harmless and she wouldn't be someone you disliked upon meeting her, although, you may not want to join her later for drinks either. After all it is very obvious, that she is just SOOO needy. This stems from her lack of emotional support as a child but the story doesn't dwell there, it is an observation. The author does a terrific job of showing and not telling. The author does a fine job giving us insight into the addiction to being "liked" on social media. Particularly, when it becomes the focus of our inner world. I would definitely read her future work as her talent comes across on every page.
This will definitely appeal to those under 40 crowd. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! It resounds with great credibility.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher, Gallery Books and the author, Emma Jane Unsworth for a free ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
December 31, 2021
Want an embarrassing confession? I received and read an ARC of this back in 2020 and really liked it. And then never wrote a review (typical). Then I came across it again and noticed the low rating so I read it AGAIN in September of this year in order to know what I was talking about when I finally reviewed it. And then I still never wrote a review . . . .
I mean you ain’t kiddin’! Dear Authors: Want help selling absolutely ZERO copies of your latest release? Well then give ol’ Kelly an early copy and watch her do nothing with it!
So obviously at 3.32 this one wasn’t for everyone, but if you occasionally enjoy reading not-so-enjoyable people and can ride it out knowing that Jenny’s behaviour will be explained/she will get her redemption arc I highly recommend this take on arrested development. I’ll happily be the wrongreader here with my love for this one.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
I mean you ain’t kiddin’! Dear Authors: Want help selling absolutely ZERO copies of your latest release? Well then give ol’ Kelly an early copy and watch her do nothing with it!
So obviously at 3.32 this one wasn’t for everyone, but if you occasionally enjoy reading not-so-enjoyable people and can ride it out knowing that Jenny’s behaviour will be explained/she will get her redemption arc I highly recommend this take on arrested development. I’ll happily be the wrongreader here with my love for this one.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
April 24, 2022
4.5 rounded up
January 14, 2020
Adults (also published as Grown Ups) is the third novel by British author, Emma Jane Unsworth.
Meet Jenny McLaine: Single. 35 years old. Radical feminist online magazine columnist.
First impression: Obsessed with social media. Agonises over the image she projects. The epitome of shallow. Overthinks everything. Excessively needy. Endlessly seeks approval. Constantly second-guesses every nuance. Thinks IMPORTANT things in SHOUTY CAPITALS! Begs her friend to proof-read emails to her new boyfriend. Priorities severely distorted. Radiates insecurity.
“I interrogate myself. That’s what the midthirties should be about, after all: constant self-interrogation . Acquiring the courage to change what you can, and the therapist to accept what you can’t.”
All this even before she loses her job, her best friend and her boyfriend. How did she get like that? An unconventional upbringing by quirky single mother may have played a part… By the time the reader reaches the halfway mark, enough interactions between Jenny and boyfriend, Art, and Jenny and best friend, Kelly, have been described for it to be clear why they might want a break from her.
Jenny’s mother, Carmen turns up; she and Jenny don’t have a good relationship, but despite her self-promotional leaflets in the neighbourhood letterboxes (Carmen McLaine— Spiritual Healer and Psychic–Medium. Specialist advice on Love and Relationships , Family Matters, Exams, Careers, Jobs, Luck, Death, and more. 25 years’ expertise in dealing with Spirit. Pay after results) it’s clear her intentions and her instincts are good. “You wonder why you’re anxious —when you constantly stare at a device that beams nightmares into your eyes.”
On rare occasions, Jenny has a flash of insight into her own behaviour: “It’s so hard to be spontaneous and thoughtful at the same time. This is why you’re generally better off staying in and watching TV or interacting safely on the Internet behind a semi-affected persona. The outside world demands too much reality. And I find reality stressful in the extreme. Reality doesn’t give a person enough thinking time. It renders one ill-prepared.”
“I don’t know who to trust because I don’t know who I am. At thirty-five years old, at halfway, I am still waiting for my life to start.” Will Jenny survive the challenges life has thrown her? Will she join the adults?
As well as Jenny’s rambling inner monologue, the format comprises emails and draft emails, Instagram posts, texts, imagined play scripts, letters, tweets, psychology therapy session transcripts, Google searches, and a suicide note. Unsworth has a talent for descriptive rose: “A huge man comes out of the lounge. He has earlobes like medallions of beef.”
Although a little disjointed, this novel has some blackly funny scenes, and some very perceptive observations on today’s world. It will likely tick a lot of boxes, and not just for millennials.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books, Better Reading Preview and Harper Collins Australia
Meet Jenny McLaine: Single. 35 years old. Radical feminist online magazine columnist.
First impression: Obsessed with social media. Agonises over the image she projects. The epitome of shallow. Overthinks everything. Excessively needy. Endlessly seeks approval. Constantly second-guesses every nuance. Thinks IMPORTANT things in SHOUTY CAPITALS! Begs her friend to proof-read emails to her new boyfriend. Priorities severely distorted. Radiates insecurity.
“I interrogate myself. That’s what the midthirties should be about, after all: constant self-interrogation . Acquiring the courage to change what you can, and the therapist to accept what you can’t.”
All this even before she loses her job, her best friend and her boyfriend. How did she get like that? An unconventional upbringing by quirky single mother may have played a part… By the time the reader reaches the halfway mark, enough interactions between Jenny and boyfriend, Art, and Jenny and best friend, Kelly, have been described for it to be clear why they might want a break from her.
Jenny’s mother, Carmen turns up; she and Jenny don’t have a good relationship, but despite her self-promotional leaflets in the neighbourhood letterboxes (Carmen McLaine— Spiritual Healer and Psychic–Medium. Specialist advice on Love and Relationships , Family Matters, Exams, Careers, Jobs, Luck, Death, and more. 25 years’ expertise in dealing with Spirit. Pay after results) it’s clear her intentions and her instincts are good. “You wonder why you’re anxious —when you constantly stare at a device that beams nightmares into your eyes.”
On rare occasions, Jenny has a flash of insight into her own behaviour: “It’s so hard to be spontaneous and thoughtful at the same time. This is why you’re generally better off staying in and watching TV or interacting safely on the Internet behind a semi-affected persona. The outside world demands too much reality. And I find reality stressful in the extreme. Reality doesn’t give a person enough thinking time. It renders one ill-prepared.”
“I don’t know who to trust because I don’t know who I am. At thirty-five years old, at halfway, I am still waiting for my life to start.” Will Jenny survive the challenges life has thrown her? Will she join the adults?
As well as Jenny’s rambling inner monologue, the format comprises emails and draft emails, Instagram posts, texts, imagined play scripts, letters, tweets, psychology therapy session transcripts, Google searches, and a suicide note. Unsworth has a talent for descriptive rose: “A huge man comes out of the lounge. He has earlobes like medallions of beef.”
Although a little disjointed, this novel has some blackly funny scenes, and some very perceptive observations on today’s world. It will likely tick a lot of boxes, and not just for millennials.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books, Better Reading Preview and Harper Collins Australia
May 6, 2022
fantastic infuriating and fun
September 4, 2020
A break up. A breakdown. A social media obsession. A manipulative ex. A crazy mother. a supportive friend. This was an entertaining story about Jenny 30 something and still trying to figure things out. This is one of those books that I still am not sure I liked or not? I thought it was relevant and humorous. Jenny’s obsessive need to appear perfect on her Instagram feed was cringe worthy. It’s seriously took the girl over an hour to take a picture of a croissant. Her friends added some levity to the story, because Jenny had no self-awareness. Her mom added some laughs, although I’m not certain I would want her for a mom, she was a bit nuts. An interesting timely story.
December 6, 2019
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for sending me an ARC copy of this book. All views and opinions discussed here are my own.
I feel like i've read something different to all of the other reviews for this book because I did not enjoy it one bit. I didn't find it funny at any point and I really didn't find it relatable.
I found the main character Jenny to be extremely unlikable. I felt sad for her at times; especially when her mum left her alone at Christmas. But heartbreaking? No. She seems to be a terrible friend; only contacting her friends when she has issues in her own life and completely dismissing anything that's going on with them. And worst of it is that they end up apologising to her! As if they've been in the wrong when it's clearly Jenny. I don't get it.
I found the writing style to be extremely pretentious; it was obvious they were trying to be witty but it just came across as trying too hard and made it really awkward and stilted. I didn't feel like Jenny was relatable because no one I have ever met acts or speaks like she does. There was also very little plot; it's very much like a family drama style book and I just didn't enjoy it.
Not relatable or humorous for me. I don't think I could recommend this one.
I feel like i've read something different to all of the other reviews for this book because I did not enjoy it one bit. I didn't find it funny at any point and I really didn't find it relatable.
I found the main character Jenny to be extremely unlikable. I felt sad for her at times; especially when her mum left her alone at Christmas. But heartbreaking? No. She seems to be a terrible friend; only contacting her friends when she has issues in her own life and completely dismissing anything that's going on with them. And worst of it is that they end up apologising to her! As if they've been in the wrong when it's clearly Jenny. I don't get it.
I found the writing style to be extremely pretentious; it was obvious they were trying to be witty but it just came across as trying too hard and made it really awkward and stilted. I didn't feel like Jenny was relatable because no one I have ever met acts or speaks like she does. There was also very little plot; it's very much like a family drama style book and I just didn't enjoy it.
Not relatable or humorous for me. I don't think I could recommend this one.
August 17, 2020
This book only goes to show how self centered and vain social media makes people. Perhaps I'm too old for it..
January 26, 2020
Social media addiction overload!
I couldn’t relate to the protagonist, but I’m sure there’s a younger generation out there that will love this well written tale of a young woman struggling to be an adult in her social media addicted bubble! It is a most relevant story in today’s society as we all know someone like Jenny!
Jenny McLaine is in her mid thirties, she’s works as a columnist for an online magazine. Jenny’s career is taking a nose-dive, she loses her handsome boyfriend Art who quickly replaces her and now she’s almost losing her best friend who has lost patience with Jenny.
This is an insightful look at the problems of today created by social media addiction and the neglect of things that are more important like physically relating to people. Jenny requires constant validation on social media and overthinks everything.
Although I found the character of Jenny annoying at times, I did enjoy the other characters especially the hilarious character of Jenny’s offbeat and quirky mother Carmen who Jenny blamed for having to be in therapy.
I wish to thank Better Reading & Borough Press for generously sending me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
I couldn’t relate to the protagonist, but I’m sure there’s a younger generation out there that will love this well written tale of a young woman struggling to be an adult in her social media addicted bubble! It is a most relevant story in today’s society as we all know someone like Jenny!
Jenny McLaine is in her mid thirties, she’s works as a columnist for an online magazine. Jenny’s career is taking a nose-dive, she loses her handsome boyfriend Art who quickly replaces her and now she’s almost losing her best friend who has lost patience with Jenny.
This is an insightful look at the problems of today created by social media addiction and the neglect of things that are more important like physically relating to people. Jenny requires constant validation on social media and overthinks everything.
Although I found the character of Jenny annoying at times, I did enjoy the other characters especially the hilarious character of Jenny’s offbeat and quirky mother Carmen who Jenny blamed for having to be in therapy.
I wish to thank Better Reading & Borough Press for generously sending me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
July 16, 2020
“I see that I have been in an oubliette of self regard.”
So observes our protagonist Jenny, who is a sort of feminist version of a Woody Allen character.
Pathologically image conscious and self obsessed, Jenny narrates her neurotic tale with a mix of humor that ranges from the quirky and clever (the characters refer to McDonalds as “that Scottish restaurant”) to the delightfully awful (if you’re going to have a miscarriage, do it at a performance of Macbeth).
The book manages to be both darkly, cringily humorous and endearingly sweet. Which is how you might describe Jenny herself. From her social media addiction to her interactions with her loopy, faux-psychic mother, Jenny is at once painfully, hilariously naive, yet startlingly observant.
I wish the book hadn’t included a pregnancy plotline (or had at least approached the topic differently). Are we really still tying motherhood to self worth, even in a sharp, feminist novel? Otherwise, I had no complaints.
There are so few darkly comedic novels for women and by women that Grownups feels like a real find. I look forward to reading more from Unsworth in the future.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
So observes our protagonist Jenny, who is a sort of feminist version of a Woody Allen character.
Pathologically image conscious and self obsessed, Jenny narrates her neurotic tale with a mix of humor that ranges from the quirky and clever (the characters refer to McDonalds as “that Scottish restaurant”) to the delightfully awful (if you’re going to have a miscarriage, do it at a performance of Macbeth).
The book manages to be both darkly, cringily humorous and endearingly sweet. Which is how you might describe Jenny herself. From her social media addiction to her interactions with her loopy, faux-psychic mother, Jenny is at once painfully, hilariously naive, yet startlingly observant.
I wish the book hadn’t included a pregnancy plotline (or had at least approached the topic differently). Are we really still tying motherhood to self worth, even in a sharp, feminist novel? Otherwise, I had no complaints.
There are so few darkly comedic novels for women and by women that Grownups feels like a real find. I look forward to reading more from Unsworth in the future.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 30, 2020
Jenny is obsessed with social media and seeing how many likes and comments she receives. It ends up ruining her life. It's starting to spiral out of control so her mother, Carmen, comes to stay.
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed and others not so much. I struggled to connect with the main character, Jenny, ut she did grow on me as the story progressed. There are some funny one liners that will make you laugh out loud. The book covers how social media can take over your life. I liked the authors style in writing this story. Adults is a relevant topic just now.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Emma Jane Unsworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed and others not so much. I struggled to connect with the main character, Jenny, ut she did grow on me as the story progressed. There are some funny one liners that will make you laugh out loud. The book covers how social media can take over your life. I liked the authors style in writing this story. Adults is a relevant topic just now.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Emma Jane Unsworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2020
I really wanted to like this but I couldn’t even get to the halfway point. I could see what it was trying to do, but it was trying too hard and I was bored senseless.
January 6, 2026
I’m not sure I was the right reader for this one. I went in expecting something more reflective, but instead found a story about trying to be yourself in the age of social media.
The novel offers a realistic and sometimes problematic portrait of our obsession with online life. What stands out, though, is its depiction of the complicated relationships between women—the mix of love, rivalry, and camaraderie. It’s a reminder of the importance of kindness; we’re not competing with each other, we’re all navigating the same rough path.
I usually enjoy this kind of humor, but I couldn’t get into it—honestly, I didn’t even think it was funny. Perhaps it was the execution, or maybe I’m just a bit old school.
Overall, Adults is clever and honest, but it didn’t quite click for me.
2.5 stars
The novel offers a realistic and sometimes problematic portrait of our obsession with online life. What stands out, though, is its depiction of the complicated relationships between women—the mix of love, rivalry, and camaraderie. It’s a reminder of the importance of kindness; we’re not competing with each other, we’re all navigating the same rough path.
I usually enjoy this kind of humor, but I couldn’t get into it—honestly, I didn’t even think it was funny. Perhaps it was the execution, or maybe I’m just a bit old school.
Overall, Adults is clever and honest, but it didn’t quite click for me.
2.5 stars
December 1, 2019
Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth
I received an email invite from #harpercollinsuk to read #adults🙃 by #emmajaneunsworth, and them saying “powerful and hilarious” was enough to entice me.
As soon as I started reading I knew I was going to love it! Jenny is 35 and is *supposedly* an adult... yet her life is shambolic to say the least.
Her ex-boyfriend is SUCH A DICK! God, I hated Art so much. If I met him in person I would have to walk away, his physical presence would offend me that much!
Whilst Jenny is coping with being friends with her ex she is also having a crap time in her job and therefore her escape seems to be social media. In particular she is becoming increasingly obsessed with showcasing a perfect insta life.
Her actual real life friendships begin to suffer as a result of her insecurities, the way that she interacts and, quite frankly, her utter self-involvement. I think we’ve all known people like Jenny, who when you’re talking to them, you know full well they’re just waiting for you to stop talking so they can get their thoughts out, regardless of what you are talking about, and it takes a lot of patience to put up with that and not tell them to get a grip! That facet of the story alone makes it incredibly relatable, and yet Jenny’s thoughts are so funny and candid that I couldn’t help root for her.
The relationship with her mum is hilariously fractious, and her mum was easily my favourite character in the novel. It’s easy to see where Jenny got her selfishness from, and yet I believe it stems from self-preservation, and we all need to do what we have to in order to cope with life so I can’t really blame her (although I think Kelly has the patience of a saint!).
I don’t want to give any of the actual plot away, I didn’t know much about the book going in, and it was really enjoyable to just get caught up in Jenny’s life. It’s the perfect book for fans of #hollybourne #fleabag #girls
Some of my favourite quotes were;
“Darling, who needs a man when you have a detached house, a personal trainer and a Teasmade?”
“‘You’ve got to watch guilt. It’s a tricksy one.Too often it’s just narcissism incognito.”
“Argh! Why was it always necessary to actually fuck up before you saw your gravest fuck-ups?”
I received an email invite from #harpercollinsuk to read #adults🙃 by #emmajaneunsworth, and them saying “powerful and hilarious” was enough to entice me.
As soon as I started reading I knew I was going to love it! Jenny is 35 and is *supposedly* an adult... yet her life is shambolic to say the least.
Her ex-boyfriend is SUCH A DICK! God, I hated Art so much. If I met him in person I would have to walk away, his physical presence would offend me that much!
Whilst Jenny is coping with being friends with her ex she is also having a crap time in her job and therefore her escape seems to be social media. In particular she is becoming increasingly obsessed with showcasing a perfect insta life.
Her actual real life friendships begin to suffer as a result of her insecurities, the way that she interacts and, quite frankly, her utter self-involvement. I think we’ve all known people like Jenny, who when you’re talking to them, you know full well they’re just waiting for you to stop talking so they can get their thoughts out, regardless of what you are talking about, and it takes a lot of patience to put up with that and not tell them to get a grip! That facet of the story alone makes it incredibly relatable, and yet Jenny’s thoughts are so funny and candid that I couldn’t help root for her.
The relationship with her mum is hilariously fractious, and her mum was easily my favourite character in the novel. It’s easy to see where Jenny got her selfishness from, and yet I believe it stems from self-preservation, and we all need to do what we have to in order to cope with life so I can’t really blame her (although I think Kelly has the patience of a saint!).
I don’t want to give any of the actual plot away, I didn’t know much about the book going in, and it was really enjoyable to just get caught up in Jenny’s life. It’s the perfect book for fans of #hollybourne #fleabag #girls
Some of my favourite quotes were;
“Darling, who needs a man when you have a detached house, a personal trainer and a Teasmade?”
“‘You’ve got to watch guilt. It’s a tricksy one.Too often it’s just narcissism incognito.”
“Argh! Why was it always necessary to actually fuck up before you saw your gravest fuck-ups?”
February 9, 2020
Most novels about the internet are terrible (Sympathy and Rubik are two exceptions). I hated this until I loved it. I see books as my escape from digital anxiety so to read a novel so deeply plugged in to online ennui took me a while to accept. There is more to this than there seems to be initially and it’s worth persevering. It’s written from a place of feminist rage which is one of my favourite places for books to come from. Millenial digital anxieties used to reveal how deeply difficult the world is for women to move through.
March 12, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
*POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #7 A Book about or involving social media.
‘You’ve been in my life so long, I can’t remember anything else. I used to think it was about motherhood. Now I know it’s about social media.’
Adults is a story penned by the award winning writer of Animals. Emma Jane Unsworth is an acclaimed author and screenwriter. Her latest piece of fiction offers a scathing account into the life of a thirty something woman dealing with love, life, relationships, friendships, work and above all social media. This is definitely a book that speaks for the current generation of young adults, negotiating a tech savvy and social media obsessed world.
Emma Jane Unsworth casts a critical eye on the term ‘adult’ through the guise of her complicated lead, Jenny McLaine in her latest book. Jenny is a thirty five year old that has a job many would envy, a gaggle of friends and she owns her own home. But everything comes crashing down for Jenny in a spectacular heap when all facets of her life take a nosedive at the same time. From the demise of her relationship, to her fed up best friend, the arrival of her frantic mother and a career crisis means that Jenny’s perfected formed life begins to shatter. Adults looks at the images we project of ourselves to others across social media channels and the dramas of real life. It is a novel that interrogates contemporary womanhood.
Whether we choose to embrace social media, or completely hide away from it, there is no denying its influence in present day society. Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth, looks at the social media phenomenon, movement and obsession, through the narrative of a thirty year old woman who is a social media fiend. Unsworth’s book is definitely a book for our times, it is pointed and insightful.
Jenny McLaine is our guide for the duration of Adults. Jenny is a somewhat typical young woman, she has a successful career, she has a good collection of friends, a relationship and overall things appear very peachy for Jenny. However, the image she presents to others via her carefully ordered social media posts is threatened by a series of setbacks. The problems Jenny deals with as the book progresses are situations and challenges we have all faced, or someone we know has faced. Adults presents a realistic narrative.
As Adults is a book based on the complexities of social media, Unsworth presents her readers with a rather busy narrative that is comprised of social media posts, feeds, emails, messages, trolling and even therapy session content. This format felt a little hurried at times and I had to work hard to connect to the overall story. I think I also felt some distance and age difference to the lead, which made it hard to really appreciate this book. However, I do feel it offers a good reflection of our behaviours and fixation on social media in our lives.
Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth offers a cutting glimpse into the world of a woman dealing with romance, friendships, family life, job pressures and loss. It is sharp and witty, but also a little manic at times. Adults will resonate with contemporary fiction readers and those who don’t mind a rather scathing glimpse into the influence of social media in our lives.
*POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #7 A Book about or involving social media.
‘You’ve been in my life so long, I can’t remember anything else. I used to think it was about motherhood. Now I know it’s about social media.’
Adults is a story penned by the award winning writer of Animals. Emma Jane Unsworth is an acclaimed author and screenwriter. Her latest piece of fiction offers a scathing account into the life of a thirty something woman dealing with love, life, relationships, friendships, work and above all social media. This is definitely a book that speaks for the current generation of young adults, negotiating a tech savvy and social media obsessed world.
Emma Jane Unsworth casts a critical eye on the term ‘adult’ through the guise of her complicated lead, Jenny McLaine in her latest book. Jenny is a thirty five year old that has a job many would envy, a gaggle of friends and she owns her own home. But everything comes crashing down for Jenny in a spectacular heap when all facets of her life take a nosedive at the same time. From the demise of her relationship, to her fed up best friend, the arrival of her frantic mother and a career crisis means that Jenny’s perfected formed life begins to shatter. Adults looks at the images we project of ourselves to others across social media channels and the dramas of real life. It is a novel that interrogates contemporary womanhood.
Whether we choose to embrace social media, or completely hide away from it, there is no denying its influence in present day society. Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth, looks at the social media phenomenon, movement and obsession, through the narrative of a thirty year old woman who is a social media fiend. Unsworth’s book is definitely a book for our times, it is pointed and insightful.
Jenny McLaine is our guide for the duration of Adults. Jenny is a somewhat typical young woman, she has a successful career, she has a good collection of friends, a relationship and overall things appear very peachy for Jenny. However, the image she presents to others via her carefully ordered social media posts is threatened by a series of setbacks. The problems Jenny deals with as the book progresses are situations and challenges we have all faced, or someone we know has faced. Adults presents a realistic narrative.
As Adults is a book based on the complexities of social media, Unsworth presents her readers with a rather busy narrative that is comprised of social media posts, feeds, emails, messages, trolling and even therapy session content. This format felt a little hurried at times and I had to work hard to connect to the overall story. I think I also felt some distance and age difference to the lead, which made it hard to really appreciate this book. However, I do feel it offers a good reflection of our behaviours and fixation on social media in our lives.
Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth offers a cutting glimpse into the world of a woman dealing with romance, friendships, family life, job pressures and loss. It is sharp and witty, but also a little manic at times. Adults will resonate with contemporary fiction readers and those who don’t mind a rather scathing glimpse into the influence of social media in our lives.
October 22, 2020
“If you put something on social media and no one likes it, do you even exist?” Jenny McLaine is a social media addict in her mid-thirties. She loses her hipster photographer boyfriend and her columnist job in quick succession, at which point her mother, an exuberant psychic who’d be played by Alison Steadman in any adaptation worth its salt, moves in, forcing Jenny to face up to issues she’s let fester for too long.
This is a lot like Queenie: Jenny is amusingly neurotic, and I liked the mixture of formats (text messages, Instagram captions and comments, drafts of unsent e-mails, etc.). Like Queenie, Jenny gradually gets her life sorted out and trades some unhealthy relationships for better ones. Ultimately, though, there wasn’t a lot for me to relate to and I was relieved to get out of Jenny’s head – the novel could easily have been 100 pages shorter, though I enjoyed her relationships with her mother and her best friend, single mum Kelly.
If you’re wondering whether you want to try this, ask whether you can withstand 15 pages of dithering over the Instagram caption to a photograph of a croissant.
Some favorite lines:
“I’ve told Kelly that we have to respect social media more than the younger generations because we’re not digital natives. We were raised in print. … we weren’t brought up natural broadcasters. We’ve had to catch up, and too quickly.”
“Oh, to be fearless in terrible shoes again, oh so fearless and able to tolerate the cheapest of drinks and the cheapest of shoes.”
“This culture of constant checking, of feeling as though everything can be instantly sorted, and accounted for, and validated, and gratified – that has to rub off on us psychically, doesn’t it?”
This is a lot like Queenie: Jenny is amusingly neurotic, and I liked the mixture of formats (text messages, Instagram captions and comments, drafts of unsent e-mails, etc.). Like Queenie, Jenny gradually gets her life sorted out and trades some unhealthy relationships for better ones. Ultimately, though, there wasn’t a lot for me to relate to and I was relieved to get out of Jenny’s head – the novel could easily have been 100 pages shorter, though I enjoyed her relationships with her mother and her best friend, single mum Kelly.
If you’re wondering whether you want to try this, ask whether you can withstand 15 pages of dithering over the Instagram caption to a photograph of a croissant.
Some favorite lines:
“I’ve told Kelly that we have to respect social media more than the younger generations because we’re not digital natives. We were raised in print. … we weren’t brought up natural broadcasters. We’ve had to catch up, and too quickly.”
“Oh, to be fearless in terrible shoes again, oh so fearless and able to tolerate the cheapest of drinks and the cheapest of shoes.”
“This culture of constant checking, of feeling as though everything can be instantly sorted, and accounted for, and validated, and gratified – that has to rub off on us psychically, doesn’t it?”
February 25, 2022
3.5 stars. I wasn't sure about this audiobook as I read it but the last bit of the book won me over. It was quite the odd book but somehow weirdly compelling. Not a new favorite but I'm glad I read it
August 11, 2020
1,5 pq no final fica um pouco menos insuportável, mas não o suficiente para 2 estrelas.
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