1/5 stars
Half of this book takes place in the good ol’ Buckeye State I call home, but that fact alone couldn’t save it.
I am striking out in fiction this year. This may be the year of nonfiction for me, which isn’t good or bad, or even surprising, because I like both fiction and nonfiction equally. I guess there is a lot of year left, so we’ll see how it goes. But I do know that I didn’t like my latest fiction read, I’m Glad About You by Theresa Rebeck. This, however, is why I often review new books that people haven’t read yet (and which are sometimes terrible) – so you don’t have to!
I always choose books with synopses that interest me, but there is always the chance that they will be duds. Rebeck’s book was on my Most Anticipated list, and my blurb on it was prophetic: “I’m hoping I don’t get too frustrated with (the main characters’) bad decisions before I find out how their story ends.” This story didn’t leave me frustrated as much as it left me with little emotion at all. There was no laughter or tears or hope for page after page of what I’d call “Midwestern Catholics Behaving Badly.” The author was born and raised in Ohio and, even though I’m a midwestern girl myself, her jokes and comments about its inhabitants were a little overplayed, especially in the midst of such distracting decision making by her characters.
There were no characters to root for here. In fact, they were all really despicable, sex-crazed alcoholics who made one unhealthy choice after another. What could have been a romantic story about growing up and growing apart was instead an unsatisfying look at characters who just can’t let go of their vices. Kyle rushes into marriage and having children with a wife he doesn’t love while working at a job he also doesn’t love. Alison throws herself into acting in New York, a dream that she reaches by having sex with anyone who may help her image and career. They seem to learn nothing from their mistakes and don’t really evolve, either for better or for worse.
I wanted to like the book for its potential to showcase midwestern values in ugly and unfortunate scenarios. Unfortunately, these values never really come into play, and readers are left with a book where, on the last page, you’re thinking, “Wait, that’s it? I just read nearly 400 pages of debauchery for that conclusion?” In addition to writing books, Rebeck is a successful New York play/TV/film producer and writer. I can kind of see that in her writing, but her skills don’t seem to translate well to novels. Save your time and money by skipping this one. Again, this is me reading bad books so you don’t have to. You’re welcome?
Release Date: February 23, 2016 (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
Disheveled Shelf 