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infinite_kay's review
3.0
I wasn't sure about The Smart One when I started reading it. Claire and Martha, Weezy's daughters, weren't characters I really liked or could really relate too. Both of them were clearly depressed (not clinically, just in a "life is hard" way) and there wasn't much joy in their life - which ironically, made them a bit judgmental.
But then we get to Cleo - and that's when I got really hooked into the novel. I guess it shows my current passion for YA fiction, since Cleo is the youngest of the girls. Still in college, she is the girlfriend of the youngest child in the family, Max. She wasn't perfect, either, keeping people at a distance and being slightly impulsive; but she also seemed to have a big heart and a head on her shoulders, so I was immediately drawn to her character.
I found it interesting that the author chose to write from the point of view of Cleo rather than Max. She's not part of the family, exactly; Weezy finds her too beautiful for her son (she will obviously break his heart!) and the sisters are sort of intimidated by her and a little bit distant. She's only the college girlfriend, after all! But having the narration telling her side of the story was very interesting. First, because it offered a different appreciation of the family, and second, because it made The Smart One less about family, and more about the different relationships between sisters, women, mothers and daughters. The men in the story are, in fact, very secondary to them all.
I think that, from the cover and the summary, I expected something a little lighter. It's a pleasant surprise though that Jennifer Close gave complexity to her characters. I do wish all of their anxieties would have been balanced by a few more happier or funnier moments. The book was surprisingly... cynical, I guess? For instance, I was expecting Claire to heal and get into a huge romance, but instead, she spends most of her time with a divorced guy who lives in his parents' basement. So the book was definitely more realistic, and less "romantic fantasy".
In the end, The Smart One was a pleasant read, even though its characters weren't always so pleasant (but that's life, too!) I think many women and young women could relate to the book, whether they are mothers, sisters, daughters - or a little of each.
But then we get to Cleo - and that's when I got really hooked into the novel. I guess it shows my current passion for YA fiction, since Cleo is the youngest of the girls. Still in college, she is the girlfriend of the youngest child in the family, Max. She wasn't perfect, either, keeping people at a distance and being slightly impulsive; but she also seemed to have a big heart and a head on her shoulders, so I was immediately drawn to her character.
I found it interesting that the author chose to write from the point of view of Cleo rather than Max. She's not part of the family, exactly; Weezy finds her too beautiful for her son (she will obviously break his heart!) and the sisters are sort of intimidated by her and a little bit distant. She's only the college girlfriend, after all! But having the narration telling her side of the story was very interesting. First, because it offered a different appreciation of the family, and second, because it made The Smart One less about family, and more about the different relationships between sisters, women, mothers and daughters. The men in the story are, in fact, very secondary to them all.
I think that, from the cover and the summary, I expected something a little lighter. It's a pleasant surprise though that Jennifer Close gave complexity to her characters. I do wish all of their anxieties would have been balanced by a few more happier or funnier moments. The book was surprisingly... cynical, I guess? For instance, I was expecting Claire to heal and get into a huge romance, but instead, she spends most of her time with a divorced guy who lives in his parents' basement. So the book was definitely more realistic, and less "romantic fantasy".
In the end, The Smart One was a pleasant read, even though its characters weren't always so pleasant (but that's life, too!) I think many women and young women could relate to the book, whether they are mothers, sisters, daughters - or a little of each.
brandidean's review
3.0
I didn't love the story, but the writing was good enough that I kept reading anyway. That's pretty unusual these days. More often I'm slugging through bad writing to see what happens with the story.
lcallihan's review
4.0
I picked this up over Christmas break for a light, fluffy read but honestly, the characters were hilarious and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would initially. Curling up with Claire and Weezy was just what I needed and I loved watching everyone try to placate the crazy, racist grandma as she antagonizes her alcoholic grandson and vegan/lesbian granddaughter in law. The Smart One reminded me that everyone's family is crazy, not just yours, and the way the Coffey clan deals with their issues is good reminder to laugh in the face of circumstances you just can't change.
zasadzkaa's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hammock_and_read's review
4.0
I liked how each chapter went to a different character that way you didn't get sick of them. the end wasn't as strong as I hoped it might be.
kle105's review
1.0
I couldn't wait for this book to end. It was the slowest I have read any book. I couldn't figure out why I was reading about this family. I wanted to like at least one character but not one was all that likable. I was waiting for something to happen. I just didn't get the relevance of reading about such a boring, normal family.
keen23's review
3.0
OK, but not great. It seems like a theme of books I've been reading lately. Woman in her late 20's/early 30's has a professional/personal crisis in NYC. Losses everything. Moves back to hometown and in with parents. Reconnects with high school friends/boyfriends. Realizes that things aren't better at home and you can't go home again. Does everything possible to move back to NYC.
As someone who would never want to live in NYC, the concept as a plot device is strained at best.
As someone who would never want to live in NYC, the concept as a plot device is strained at best.
judithdcollins's review
3.0
I have not read Jennifer’s earlier book “Girls in White Dresses” -- will try and read it later. I listened to the audio version of The Smart One and it was not my favorite and a little different than most of the books I read; however, I did enjoy the writing style. The author did an exceptional job with her characterization, and details. I think the narrator could have done a little better job as she was kind of blah.
The novel is centered around family (Weezy and Will Coffey’s grown children have all moved back home just when she thinks she will be empty nest) – all with problems and issues – totally different personalities. Martha the oldest (30) with plenty of issues, Claire (middle child who has money issues and broken off her engagement), and youngest Max who gets his girlfriend pregnant.
The story is told from different perspectives of each of the characters bridging the gap between old and young. With other drama from elderly mother Bets and sister, Maureen – what a crew! The book would be fitting for young and old alike; however, be prepared for a lot of self-pity, depression, and whining.
The novel is centered around family (Weezy and Will Coffey’s grown children have all moved back home just when she thinks she will be empty nest) – all with problems and issues – totally different personalities. Martha the oldest (30) with plenty of issues, Claire (middle child who has money issues and broken off her engagement), and youngest Max who gets his girlfriend pregnant.
The story is told from different perspectives of each of the characters bridging the gap between old and young. With other drama from elderly mother Bets and sister, Maureen – what a crew! The book would be fitting for young and old alike; however, be prepared for a lot of self-pity, depression, and whining.
mbrandmaier's review
3.0
A great summer read! This is one of those novels that spends a lot of time constructing the characters. Another reviewer commented that Martha seems to have Asperger's and I agree. I related strongly to aspects of both Claire and Cleo's lives and was rooting for both of them during this story.