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judithdcollins's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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.
surlymanor's review against another edition
4.0
Shelve this one on : I relate to these characters in matters of the mind. Not in matters of how they act, but that New England restrained 'this is what you should be like' sensibility.
Also shelve it on : despicable characters, embarrassing covers, more than meets the eye.
Also shelve it on : despicable characters, embarrassing covers, more than meets the eye.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
If you have a sibling, have you ever been compared or compared yourself to them? I don't know if there is a soul out there that doesn't feel a little sibling rivalry. The Smart One by Jennifer Close has two generations of sibling rivalry and what can happen when a family of adult children are all brought back home for an extended amount of time.
If you have a sibling, have you ever been compared or compared yourself to them? I don't know if there is a soul out there that doesn't feel a little sibling rivalry. The Smart One by Jennifer Close has two generations of sibling rivalry and what can happen when a family of adult children are all brought back home for an extended amount of time.
doublearegee's review against another edition
4.0
Really 3.75 instead of 4 stars. I liked this book. The overlap and repetition of the smart vs. pretty theme was a grounding force in this book, and the choices made by everyone were honest ones I felt I would make too. Somehow I imagined Becky Newton as Cleo, no clue why.
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
While I didn't always like every character in this book, I certainly recognized myself in them. I think that is what elevated Jennifer Close's writing for me in this novel- her ability to take four women going through different aspects of their lives and make them incredibly relatable to the reader.
As this book drew to a close, I was preparing myself to criticize Ms. Close for not including more character development in her writing. However, the final sentence of the book stopped me. It reads, "And then she recovered and went on." I think that is the theme of this entire novel: four women recovering from different things. Some recover quickly, while others go more slowly. So while there might not have been the loud or showy character development I was looking for, each character did develop the ability to rebound from a difficult situation, which made this book less of a fictitious story and more like real life.
While I didn't always like every character in this book, I certainly recognized myself in them. I think that is what elevated Jennifer Close's writing for me in this novel- her ability to take four women going through different aspects of their lives and make them incredibly relatable to the reader.
As this book drew to a close, I was preparing myself to criticize Ms. Close for not including more character development in her writing. However, the final sentence of the book stopped me. It reads, "And then she recovered and went on." I think that is the theme of this entire novel: four women recovering from different things. Some recover quickly, while others go more slowly. So while there might not have been the loud or showy character development I was looking for, each character did develop the ability to rebound from a difficult situation, which made this book less of a fictitious story and more like real life.
ajmarrs's review against another edition
4.0
You have to know what you're getting into with Close's writing style. It's different. It's detached. It has special moments of belly laughter. I enjoyed this book more than her first, GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES, probably because family, in its roots, is something everyone can relate to. There's silent judgement; there are failures; there are mistakes and mistakes that become blessings.
I like to think of this book as a narrative on family relationships and dynamics. It's not so much a story, as you would expect, but like a look into this one family and how these characters interact with one another. From crazy Martha (who admittedly got on my nerves, which I think was done on purpose) to racist grandma Bets, the characters are flawed and wildly entertaining. The best part? It's not just this one family Close is writing about. Ultimately, it spans to give the reader a subtle look into other family dynamics to show us that, yeah, every one's family is just a little nutty.
I like to think of this book as a narrative on family relationships and dynamics. It's not so much a story, as you would expect, but like a look into this one family and how these characters interact with one another. From crazy Martha (who admittedly got on my nerves, which I think was done on purpose) to racist grandma Bets, the characters are flawed and wildly entertaining. The best part? It's not just this one family Close is writing about. Ultimately, it spans to give the reader a subtle look into other family dynamics to show us that, yeah, every one's family is just a little nutty.
laurenfish's review against another edition
4.0
I love Jennifer Close’s writing. Her characters are complex and flawed, sometimes frustratingly annoying, but they feel real - like you really know them inside and out. It was entertaining to be inside their heads, as each chapter rotates perspectives, and try to understand their thoughts and actions.
The storylines are a bit depressing and it felt like a train wreck at times, but I enjoyed being a fly on the wall and witnessing these characters’ stories play out on their own and together with one another.
The storylines are a bit depressing and it felt like a train wreck at times, but I enjoyed being a fly on the wall and witnessing these characters’ stories play out on their own and together with one another.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
3.0
Jennifer Close's novel, The Smart One is a story of shifting family dynamics and growing-up. The Smart One follows the Coffey family, as three of the adult children have left and returned to the nest.
Claire moves back home after her fiancé leaves her and she is drowning in a pile of credit card debt. Max has just graduated from college and his girlfriend is pregnant, creating a situation where his parent's basement has been converted into a mini-apartment for the new arrival. Martha has mental issues that prompted her to quit her nursing job and have kept her stuck in retail employment, not earning enough to live on her own. The Coffey family struggles to redefine their family dynamic and boundaries with their new circumstances.
Close's subject is sure to hit home with many adults finding themselves having to move back home with their parents due to the tough economy. The situations presented in this story and the way that the characters react, feel very real and very relevant. The story reads as a slice-of-life, without any earth shattering plot twists or a dramatic story arc. Close writes a story that is very much character driven.
I most related to Claire, who finds herself in a desperate situation after making a decent stab at independent living in New York City. Claire has a good job, a nice apartment and is months away from getting married, when her fiancé dumps her. She cannot afford to live on her own and just curls up in a ball and relies on credit cards to get her through, until the debt piles up and everything has spiraled out of control. She lets her depression control the situation. When she moves back home, she gets a basic job to pay off the debt, but starts seeing a guy from her high school that is in a similar situation himself. They fall into a quasi-relationship that basically doesn't extend beyond the boundaries of his parent's basement. I wanted to ring Claire's neck and get her out of her funk, but at the same time, I could totally relate. The circumstances have been different, but I've acted out in similar ways to Claire. It was frustrating to read.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I thought that Close is a solid writer and keen observer of human behavior. There was one thing that really bothered me. Normally, I don't give a lot of thought to the title of the book, but with this story, I couldn't let it go. I couldn't quite figure out what or who the title referenced. I think that it may have been intentionally vague, like it sort of fits all of the characters and is a statement on the fact that everyone's contribution to a family dynamic is unique. There is no such thing as "The Smart" kid. However, the vagueness of the title just drove me a bit batty. I felt like it made me lose my focus towards the story or that I spent an unnecessary amount of time thinking about it, more than the author would have intended.
Finally, as Thanksgiving is tomorrow, this book was a timely read. Family dynamics can be bumpy and the story was a good reminder to remember that just because you're blood, doesn't mean that you are necessarily are similar. Sometimes time apart makes it easier to spend time together and to appreciate the differences. The Smart One is a great book to read if you are having trouble connecting with your own family. The fictional Coffey family gave me a sense of ease and perspective.
Like my Review? Check out my blog!
Claire moves back home after her fiancé leaves her and she is drowning in a pile of credit card debt. Max has just graduated from college and his girlfriend is pregnant, creating a situation where his parent's basement has been converted into a mini-apartment for the new arrival. Martha has mental issues that prompted her to quit her nursing job and have kept her stuck in retail employment, not earning enough to live on her own. The Coffey family struggles to redefine their family dynamic and boundaries with their new circumstances.
Close's subject is sure to hit home with many adults finding themselves having to move back home with their parents due to the tough economy. The situations presented in this story and the way that the characters react, feel very real and very relevant. The story reads as a slice-of-life, without any earth shattering plot twists or a dramatic story arc. Close writes a story that is very much character driven.
I most related to Claire, who finds herself in a desperate situation after making a decent stab at independent living in New York City. Claire has a good job, a nice apartment and is months away from getting married, when her fiancé dumps her. She cannot afford to live on her own and just curls up in a ball and relies on credit cards to get her through, until the debt piles up and everything has spiraled out of control. She lets her depression control the situation. When she moves back home, she gets a basic job to pay off the debt, but starts seeing a guy from her high school that is in a similar situation himself. They fall into a quasi-relationship that basically doesn't extend beyond the boundaries of his parent's basement. I wanted to ring Claire's neck and get her out of her funk, but at the same time, I could totally relate. The circumstances have been different, but I've acted out in similar ways to Claire. It was frustrating to read.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I thought that Close is a solid writer and keen observer of human behavior. There was one thing that really bothered me. Normally, I don't give a lot of thought to the title of the book, but with this story, I couldn't let it go. I couldn't quite figure out what or who the title referenced. I think that it may have been intentionally vague, like it sort of fits all of the characters and is a statement on the fact that everyone's contribution to a family dynamic is unique. There is no such thing as "The Smart" kid. However, the vagueness of the title just drove me a bit batty. I felt like it made me lose my focus towards the story or that I spent an unnecessary amount of time thinking about it, more than the author would have intended.
Finally, as Thanksgiving is tomorrow, this book was a timely read. Family dynamics can be bumpy and the story was a good reminder to remember that just because you're blood, doesn't mean that you are necessarily are similar. Sometimes time apart makes it easier to spend time together and to appreciate the differences. The Smart One is a great book to read if you are having trouble connecting with your own family. The fictional Coffey family gave me a sense of ease and perspective.
Like my Review? Check out my blog!
alexlemley's review against another edition
3.0
Love Close's second novel. Highly recommend her first, "Girls in White Dresses".