Jennifer Close (1)Rezensionen

From the first page, I felt like I was sitting down with a friend and commiserating about all that seemed to be going wrong with the world (especially with all the post-2016 election talk). There was also enough 1990s-nostalgia that there were moments when I felt like I was simultaneously watching those pioneer episodes of The Real World and the cult classic Reality Bites. Regardless of friend or fantastic ‘90s entertainment, I felt right at home from the beginning of this middle-America drama about a family (the Sullivans, not the Ketchups) who is living through several implausible moments: the sudden death of their beloved patriarch, Bud Sullivan; the World Series win of their revered Chicago Cubs; and the unthinkable, unimaginable 2016 election results. Through each of these episodes, we watch how one family responds to life—all those magical moments married together with those cruel moments, learning how to move forward in the midst of such change.

There was so much that worked for me with this book (even though I was reluctant due to under-stellar GoodReads reviews; shame on me, I know), but I’m so glad I gave it a go because it had me laughing out loud through so much of it. As someone who worked as a waitress through college, I loved the authentic restaurant atmosphere—the camaraderie and dysfunction of a full wait staff. The three primary perspectives—Jane, Gretchen, and Teddy—were all witty and relatable and complex. The family drama and political conversations also engaged me throughout it all. It was honestly a five-star read until the end. Endings are so crucial, and this one just stayed a bit stagnant. In a world where our reality can seem like it’s going nowhere (good), I wanted some solid resolutions—cheating partners and abusive, high school jocks to get what they deserved. I want it real, yes, but maybe because it hit so close to home, I wanted a bit of fantasy, too.

I read this book primarily because of the cover (super cute) and my current obsession with politics but really expected to dislike it because I disliked the author's other book (Girls in White Dresses) so much.

Much to my surprise I got swept up in this story of two young couples in DC and the path they take towards elected positions. I got caught up on their friendship and their ambitions and enjoyed the ride even if some of it was bittersweet.

I co-worker of mine knows the author of this book. She told me that it was awful. I didn't believe her, but I should have. It really is not good.

I feel sorry for Jennifer Close because if she really feels the way the characters in this book feel about men and marriage she must be leading a really sad life.

I could barely tell the difference between any of the characters. I wasn't sure how they knew each other or which ones were friends or even WHY they were friends. Then random women would pop in for chapters out of nowhere -- like the girl we never heard of until the last 1/4 of the book but then had to hear about her 6 bridal showers -- and do nothing but be even more unpleasant than our main characters.

All the men are pot-heads, social misfits, or milquetoast momma's boys. The best one, I guess, is Harrison, and he evidently doesn't want to commit to our heroine since he can't even say I love you after living with his girlfriend for years.

Review to come, maybe. Kept getting distracted by the author's insertion of politics. Since 2016 (and definitely since the pandemic), much of my reading has turned to fiction, give my brain a chance to escape what is being offered in the news. Though the author's political views overlap with mine, I just didn't want that element in my reading. It's the opposite of relaxing and healing and colored my opinion of the book. I do not feel I can give the writing and the story a fair rating.

I had heard good things about this from my former director & a few of the library patrons. The recommendation was right on. Hits the spot. I would compare this to “Young Jane Young” A by Gabrielle Zevin. But I was more in tune with this story. Perhaps it was the time period of the story or that I am/was the same age ish at that moment in time. It was sharp, on point, well told, & funny.

All I can say over and over again about this book is I beg Jennifer Close to have a sequel for the story of this family and their spectacular restaurant. I also can't believe what a gifted and funny writer she is, I haven't laughed out loud like that forever!

3.5 stars. Multiple generations. A family restaurant. Many different characters as the narrator, all going through their own crisis. An enjoyable read.

First world problems. Amazing what you can do if you have family money. Everyone was so whinny. However, some of the background parts of the story were great.½

Well written, fun read about a restaurant family in Chicago. A perfect light book with a variety of characters.

a good read

When the patriarch and heart of their family restaurant, Bud Sullivan, passes away, the rest of the family struggles to keep it all together. Marrying the Ketchups follows Bud’s three grandchildren — Jane, Gretchen, and Teddy — as they try to figure out their careers, love lives, and the family dynamics at the Chicago restaurant. Marrying the Ketchups is a funny, thoughtful family novel for readers who enjoy Emma Straub, Kevin Wilson, and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I really enjoyed this story about a Chicago restaurant family. It was full of funny and true observations.

Sometimes a fluff book is exactly what you need to read and that is what this was. I did find parts of my self in several of the characters which made it fun to read.

Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close is a recommended family drama.

The Sullivans are a Chicago restaurant family who are all under crisis. Bud, the patriarch and founder of JP Sullivan’s is thrilled when the Cubs win the world series and then he dies 23 minutes later. Adding to their distress is Trump being elected president, and concern about the family matriarch Rose, who is in an assisted living facility. The novel focuses on Bud's three grandchildren. Gretchen, a lead singer for a 90's cover band is reassessing the direction her life is taking after a breakup and heads home. Her older sister, Jane is sure her husband is having an affair and is questioning her entitled lifestyle and her marriage. Their cousin Teddy is the manager who would like to take over JP Sullivans and is wondering why his ex keeps showing up at the restaurant.

Marrying the Ketchups is a very character-driven novel which requires that the characters all be portrayed as realistic and unique individuals, which Close does very well. Readers will be interested in following their lives and will feel invested in what happens to them. The characters all experience growth as they adapt to the changes they encounter along the way. The situations and problems all the characters are experiencing are basically commonplace occurrences. Family dynamics, transitions, and grief all play a large role in the novel. The writing shines in the depiction of the characters.

The plot is rather slow paced without a whole lot of drama aside from the normal family interactions. Don't expect a huge twist or surprise. Much of your enjoyment may hinge on how much you enjoy family dramas and, more predominately, how much very polarizing political talk you can accept in a novel. Unless you are writing historical fiction this dates the novel immediately as occurring during a specific time period. There are pros and cons to this and generally I caution an author to keep their ardent personal political/social views to themselves as it diminishes and dates the novel. Other than the immediate division the political aspects take, Marrying the Ketchups is an engaging examination of a family.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/04/marrying-ketchups.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4667159507

This book was not incredibly fabulous. However, it was readable, and even though a lot of it made me very angry and I was ready to give up at 50%, I kept reading, thinking there would be a great ending since so many people loved this book. I was wrong.

Politics and being woke were brought up just too many times to seem natural. In my opinion, hatred on either side of the political parties shouldn't be so extreme in a book that is supposed to be fun to read.

Most of the characters were supposed to be adults. But, unfortunately, they didn't act that way, and they didn't grow very much.

*ARC provided by Netgalley, the publisher Knopf/Penguin Random House, and the author.

I absolutely loved this. Set against the backdrop of the Cubs World Series win, the Sullivan’s run a restaurant that is a mainstay in their Oak Park, Illinois neighborhood. The Sullivan’s struggle with their own interpersonal demons and are often contentious in their relationships with each other. What I loved about this is how relatable the characters are and the humor that runs through this is delightful

I usually try to find some redeeming qualities, but this book was a major disappointment to me. In the beginning, I thought I could relate to the narrator, but she was so incredibly passive- she never actually "did" anything; things happened to her. To be fair, most of the events of the book were anticlimactic. As a side note, as a midwesterner and an adoptive daughter of Wisconsin, I find it absolutely obnoxious when authors oversimplify characters from the Midwest, especially Wisconsin, like life is simpler and easier there. It's as though being driven and being from Madison are mutually exclusive. Shame on you! Rant over.

I stumbled upon this book at exactly the right moment.

Funny. I really enjoyed reading this New York-centric short story/novel hybrid. My favorite characters are Isabella, Lauren, and Mary.

A great summer read! The story of the Coffeys feels very real, but no less interesting. I loved experiencing the action through each woman's eyes. How interesting that the men, while central characters to the plot, still remained on the periphery.

Not sure why I read this when I didn't love Jennifer Close's other novel, Girls in White Dresses. There again is not a lot of plot as much as observations about the lives of the people in the novel and how they gradually change over time. Which is interesting at the end, but can be a slog to get through at times.

This book has no plot, the characters are indistinguishable from one another, and I found it pretty boring most of the way through.

But then I got to the end and realized I kind of liked it. It is a book about growing up. About how your life completely changes from the time you are 22 and just out of college to when you are 30 and all your friends are married with kids and how you never really noticed yourself changing, it just happens.

This author needs a new editor- too lengthy in many parts- geesh!

Sweet. Easy read

This reads like a collection of short stories. I never quite figured out who the three women are as I listened to the whole book. As in, couldn't tell you their names or describe them in any way really. The stories are fairly entertaining and sometimes humorous though.