How to Be a Better Adult

How to Be a Better Adult #1

by Jacque Aye

"Another day of corporate drudgery"Hope Obiako, disillusioned by her mundane existence as a lowly account specialist, discovers a mysterious handbook that drastically changes her life.

Hope is a master performer, making a show of her competence and compliance. And while she really is both competent and compliant, no one at William Hensley & Associates seems to see it. But what they never saw coming, behind her quiet and agreeable personality, is Hope’s drive to “make it” by any magical means necessary.

This book is "Sorry to Bother You" meets the surrealism of "Atlanta", plus some "Awkward Black Girl" mixed in for good measure! An afro-surrealist tale with magical undertones. If you like the themes in the work of Sayaka Murata and the magical realism of Haruki Murakami you'll enjoy this read.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Queer, LGBT, Contemporary, Lesbian

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2023

About the author

As a woman who suffers from depression and social anxiety, I’ve made it my mission to candidly share my experiences with the hopes of helping others dealing with the same. This extends into my fiction work, where I pen tales about woeful women trying their best, with a surrealist, magical touch. Inspired by surrealist authors like Haruki Murakami, Sayaka Murata, and Lemony Snicket, my stories are dark and humorous with a hint…well, a bunch…of absurdity.

Reviews

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the author, so, I'm biased! But I enjoyed writing this story and being able to release my frustrations through creativity. I hope you enjoy the characters, the weird world, and the journey the character takes.

Thank you for reading!

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hope Obiako is a young Nigerian American woman who is unsure of where she's headed in life. Her father sees her as someone who should be doing better. It feels like everyone else her age is successful in life while she's working at a job she hates. She's eager to prove her worth to the company and move up the corporate ladder. One day she receives what she thinks is a guidebook on adulthood that ends up taking her on a journey of discovery.

So this book reads like a manga which was a little bit of an adjustment for me at some parts. At some parts I found myself wishing it was one because I think the more outlandish parts like Hope jumping into the ring to literally fight "The Fear" would've been a better fit. But despite the light tone and sometimes absurd scenarios it does touch on some very real feelings surrounding dealing with depression. And it does so in a very relatable way that shows how it manifests in different ways and doesn't feel like therapist speak. I liked the friendship in this book and the spark of potential romance. I thought Hope's child of immigrants experience was very relatable.

Hope makes questionable decisions but at the same time there were moments in this story that reminded me of my own journey in the workplace. Anyone who has worked in an office environment with multiple people has come across a coworker like Alex who will do anything to get that promotion. There were a lot of funny moments sprinkled throughout.

https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

[RainbowReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The first half was funny and a little odd but this was definitely one of those books that you finish in one sitting. I flew through it and loved almost every page. I really relate to Hope just as an over anxious pushover who struggles to be an adult sometimes and I wish we got to know more about Mona her character was really intriguing. Overall I enjoyed most of this book and it would have been a five star book but after the 70% my interest dropped a bit with the magic plot. That being said I still love the characters and the emotions I felt while reading this. I would definitely still recommend it.

[scthoughts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat of a fever dream. It's decent but the writing style and structure were blowing my mind. The way the scenes (chapters) ended and new ones started always felt abrupt further disorienting the plots. A good quarter of the story went by before it finally picked up. I know the book is in the genre of magical realism but with some of the actions and dialogue, especially from Hope (the fMC), it seemed as if the book was meant to be a graphic novel. There were a lot of times where it was very hard to take her seriously. lol I honestly believe that the change of format would’ve elevated the story immensely. I mean, it already has the great cover to match one.

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surreal and silly as it cuts through darker, more sinister subject matter being explored, How to Be a Better Adult is a wonderfully written story of a young 20-something stumbling through adulthood and being gifted a magic self-help book from the mysterious beyond.

Hope is a young professional being mistreated, overlooked, and wildly under-appreciated in her corporate job. After trying her best in spite of being set up for failure, she loses her job at a point in her life where she’s already burnt out and hanging on by a thread.

And then a mysterious book appears.

And then her life improves in ways that are simply absurd.

This novel is delightful and ridiculous, but not in any way that distracts from some serious moments regarding depression and poor mental health—especially as it relates to toxic work environments.

Although I wish certain resolutions with certain characters would’ve been drawn out and expanded upon more to avoid feeling rushed to wrap up a happy ending, the novel truly stands to be memorable, unique, and a constant source of smiles.

CW: depression, toxic workplace environment, micro aggressions, brief implication of suicidal ideation, toxic/verbally abusive parent

[Kimora Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

How To Be a Better Adult

As I finished this book. I became hyper aware of how much characters like Hope mean to me. I love the self discovery! I wish there was more to Hope's story though.

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super weird book but also kinda really enjoyable. There's something about Hope that is just really lovable!

Got a little mental health exploration
Got a lot of black girl magic
Got a little LGBTQIA
Got a lot of twists

You should definitely read this!

[Donttouchmypoodle✨]

DNF at 32%. Boring and took wayyy too long to get the gist of it.

[Odunze Oguguo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her unique style of writing and generally like stories that make me question the narrative's reality in fun ways.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, to say the least. I'd like to start by talking about how fabulous this cover is, omg!! I absolutely adore illustrated covers and this one really takes the cake. Half of the time, I only picked this back up because I wanted to see the cover again.

Now, onto the actual contents of this book. I had a hard time getting into this at first, I'd say it took me til about 20% to actually start vibing with what was going on. It was a bit silly goofy, I liked how everything was connecting and watching Hope deal with everything thrown her way. This middle section was my absolute favourite, watching Hope become increasingly unhinged. The end, however...I found myself underwhelmed and unsatisfied. Things kinda just fizzled out. Sure, there were some enjoyable bits but I found myself skimming for the most part, I felt as though the book suddenly lost all direction.

I'm still confused about a few things so I will be doing a deep dive into the reviews to try and gain a bit more ground. This has been compared to Sorry to Bother You which I get wholeheartedly, but definitely fell flat in comparison. The whole magical aspect also felt odd and didn't quite land as well as it should have. It all just felt a bit too vague, and I'm not saying it needs to be on the nose but a little bit more of a clue would have been nice.

Overall, this was a decent read. It felt quite smart at times, just needs some more polishing as far as I'm concerned.

[Benecia Ponder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

Hope's journey to figure out adulthood is very much like mine, and so many other people I know. Oh, how I wish there was a manual!

This book is fun and lighthearted but also has a really important message. I highly recommend this book!

[Michelle Vandepol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet autistically coded read by a ND debut novelist. Humourous tackling of corporate setting and fun addition of fantasy elements. A good fit for fans of The Maid, Eleanor Oliphant, and The Very Nice Box.

[Lauren Adegoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I needed

As a 25 yr old adult, this is the book I was missing! Life is challenging and this whimsical, charming book really gave me some Hope!

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable bisexual female character, magic book with an author who is trying their best, and always ready Girl Scouts. A+++++++++.

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I didn't know if I would like it, kind of weird to me. Made me chuckle a few times and glad about the ending.

[Dresilla Apple · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good quick read that really sucked me in. It definitely took an odd and unexpected turn but I enjoyed the randomness of it all. The ending was abrupt but oddly satisfying.

[Aly ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an oddball of a book but I found myself really enjoying it. Lots of small relatable moments about being an adult that doesn’t feel “adult” enough in between plenty of magical realism that kept me interested in how it was going to end

[Carolina Familia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Probably because I can relate to the main character and feel like I also am failing as an adult. Hope is unsatisfied with her life in the corporate world and seeks to change it, with the help of a magic book she finds. Hope is quiet and doesn’t express her mind, but we see that change throughout the book. This was enjoyable to read, although sad at times (trigger warning- suicide thoughts). First book I’ve read in awhile that let me disconnect from my reality and just enjoy reading. Looking forward to a story about Mona.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like Hope is all of us. Really just trying her best and not realizing how to do it. I am really excited to see Jacque Aye grow as a writer. Sometimes you need a weird read to get you back into the swing of things.

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: suicide

I have such mixed feelings about this book. This is not my typical genre and some parts just didn’t hit w me. The story at times felt disconnected and all over the place. But there were also times that were fun/funny, and it was nice to read a story w a neurodiverse Black main character. The end tied most things together, but there were still some unknown details that were never fully explained that felt a little… confusing? Disappointing? Idk, I wanted to know all the details of their long closed-door mtg.

The book also includes suicidal ideation and an interrupted attempt. I was not expecting that, and wish there was a brief warning at the beginning of the book or with the synopsis (unless I missed it?!?). I like that it was included, I think it makes it more relatable for folks who identify w the difficulties that Hope experiences, just wish there was a warning about it. Her reasons for not going through w the attempt or attempting again within the book does do a nice job of showing how important it is to have trusted people around and things to look forward to as a protective factor. Possible death comes up again for another character towards the end of the book, but it’s not clear if it’s related to suicide.

The times that Hope let herself be true to what she wanted and stood up for herself were great to see. I also loved the openness of Hope exploring love and sexuality and was really hoping for a queer love story within this book, maybe in book 2?? I really enjoyed Hope and Mona together!

Overall, it’s a nice quick read and venture into Afro-surrealism.

[Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

so cute, so gentle, so tender, so lovely

[Florence Migga · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, but I can’t bring myself to round up.

Every book has its reader, and this one just wasn’t for me.

I liked the unexpected twist.

I found the idea of Futurists interesting.

I can see how this maybe will appeal more to early 20 something year olds. Maybe I’m just not the right audience, and that’s okay.

It had a few good takeaway lines.

The Girl Scouts stole the story, basically.

[Domonique Battle-Baber · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a black woman struggling in the corporate world it was refreshing to read about it at such an interesting angle. A good bridge between reality and nonsense. I truly enjoyed this read.

[❝ rachel ❞ · Rating 2 out of 5]

a cute and silly little story about sticking up for yourself and finding your way through adulthood that, ultimately, just didn’t land for me. while i liked the underlying themes and the humor sometimes worked for me, the whole thing was just a little too lighthearted for my cynical self.

[Erica brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read likable mc

This was a fun read! The MC was wonderfully written and I love the way mental health was handled and represented

[Courtnie Pollard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.3 ⭐️

In her mid-twenties, Hope Obiako feels as though she slacking in the adulting department and not on par with her peers: her dishes are never washed, she’s unmarried, her apartment is a “shit hole” with malfunctioning plumbing and half chartreuse walls, she’s stuck in an unimportant position at her company, and she’s hearing a voice and seeing passages in books and on documents that aren’t really there. Having a job at one of the most prestigious advertising agency would hopefully help her out in the long run, but it’s an unpleasant, soul-sucking, long, mundane, and strict environment where she’s the only black person. She does every thing she can to stay likable and positive, but still ends up fired and experiences a series of unfortunate events.
A book lands itself on her doorstep that seems like the answer to her problems, as it’s titled “How to Be a Better Adult,” but the passages don’t show up until it’s time for her to complete the step. Hope follows the instructions literally, leading her to absurd encounters, unanticipated allies, and a different perspective of her life.

[Slight Spoilers Ahead]
The rating is mostly a reflection of the fact that this book isn’t what I was expecting at all. I thought it was going to be somewhat similar to Maame, but it’s more of an Eleanor Oliphant meets Scott Pilgram meets Stranger Than Fiction with a queer twist and slight commentary on big corporate. The story lost me in the end, as we were introduced to 8 steps in the “self-help” book, but only 3 were expressly discussed, and it seemed like money was the answer to all of Hope’s problems. Money would definitely solve a lot of my problems, but it seemed like a bit of a cop out and/or possibly rushed. There were some very relatable quotes about what it means to be an adult, but the story just didn’t give what I was expecting it to give.

[Amy Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! It’s short- 223 pages- a breezy read with well-developed characters and such an authentic vibe. I had a lump in my throat, a held breath, a giant grin, or a quiet chuckle on rotation while reading this gem. I’m a new fan of Jacque Aye! So good!

[brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i couldn’t put it down!

Jacque Aye seriously wrote an excellent piece. Hope is so many young adults/adults that are just trying to figure out life.

[Lowarn Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, this is going to be a review where I don't go into spoilers, but this is an adorably absurdist story and well worth reading.

Hope is trying her best to give off the impression of a well-adjusted adult, but she's not doing too well. And, I mean, same. I'm recently 25 and absolutely feel, in my soul, the pressure to be doing... better? somehow? She's working an office job that doesn't appreciate her, and she can't get her head around the bullshit of office politics - she just knows she's not being appreciated or even given the room to fulfil her own potential.

She starts reading and hearing messages directed at her in places they shouldn't be, and, after receiving what she thinks is a gag gift of a blank book entitled "How To Be A Better Adult", starts trying new and bizarre tactics to improve her life.

It feels like this book would have been so much fun to write. I love Hope. I love Mona, a beautiful futurist (as in the job, not the art movement). The ways that phrases like "Punch Fear In The Face" end up coming to fruition are hilarious, and even though the book does traverse into some dark and serious territory, its silliness doesn't detract from the honesty of the novel as a whole.

The end of the book felt a little rushed to me in terms of pacing (although I still enjoyed the events that occurred, if that makes sense), but it leaves Hope in an interesting place. It seems that a sequel is likely, and I really hope that's the case!!