How to Be a Grown-Up

By: Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus

Narrated by: Tara Sands

Rory McGovern is entering the prime of her life when her husband loses his dream job and announces he feels like "taking a break". Rory was already spread thin and now, without warning, she is single-parenting two kids, juggling their science projects, flu season, and pajama days, while coming to terms with her disintegrating marriage. Without Blake, her only hope is to accept a full-time position working for two full-time 20-somethings.

A day out of b-school, these girls think they know it all and have been given the millions from venture capitalists to back up their delusion - that the future of digital media is a high-end "lifestyle" site - for kids! Rory must adapt to this hyper-digitized, over-glamorized, narcissistic world of millennials...whatever it takes.

©2015 Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (P)2015 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Just "ok"

What did you like best about How to Be a Grown-Up? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the realistic portrayal of a working single mom in today's society trying to provide it all for their children; however the character development was lacking and it was difficult to really engage with the characters.

Love, love, love!

The story is so light and easy. I didn't want to get out of the car and kept turning it on while in the house (which I never do). I love that it is simple and realistic. A story that you can relate to and doesn't seem so fairytale. The parenting rants made me laugh out loud and feel connected to Rory as if she was a girlfriend. Worst part is that it ended.

I loved it!

I really thought Rory was going to lose her shit! I'm sure I would have!

Loved it!!!

Love the main Character Rory. The struggle to juggle being a parent, having a career, and being a spouse is hard. The author made these characters seem real!!

Just okay ...

Any additional comments?

Meh, this book was entertaining but forgettable enough that I had to reread the summary before I wrote a review. In my opinion the narrator's voice didn't fit the main character at all so maybe it didn't translate well for me. A good light listen and not awful, but just not great.

Performance

I did not like the reader's voice for this story. It was whiny and annoying and took away from the story.

So fun

Just a great story about the reality of parenting alone during your break- up, and the pluses afterward

Great read!

Really captures grown up life and I loved listening to this story. I hope there is a sequel!!!

I truly wanted to like this book...

… But I did not! It was supposed to be about a couple's marriage breaking up but it was filled with too much of what I consider fluff and filler that really wasn't helpful. There were too many untold questions of why... I never understood the main character's job; I couldn't understand who the men in her life were and there was no clear definition. This book was a waste.

Too disgusted to continue

I picked this title because it looked lighthearted (and is for the most part) and because I really enjoyed The Nanny Diaries years ago. I'm a little old to relate to the characters' concerns, but I still thought I'd enjoy the story. Not so, unfortunately. I stopped at chapter 10 because I couldn't stomach any more of the story, and I wish I could get my credit back!

McLaughlin does a great job with writing snappy, uber-modern dialogue and characters. The story is uber-modern and hip, too. Good for her, because not everyone can do that, even younger writers. On the other hand, it's also kind of disgusting, and I don't think I'm just showing my age here. There are F-bombs every few paragraphs, other frequent vulgar language and references, characters who constantly want or do immoral things (like sleeping around), and just nasty, unlikable characters in general. I enjoy stories about wealthy people or people in glamourous settings, but this one just feels icky and shallow.

The narrator does a great job, and I hate to waste a credit, but I am going to just go with something out of the Plus catalog and let this one go. Sorry, "Nanny Returns". I was looking forward to you soon, but McLaughlin just isn't for me anymore, I guess.