JP Sullivan is the restaurant hub for the extended Sullivan family. While the family all appear in the book, the focus is on the 3 grandchildren--Jane, Teddy, Gretchen--and Riley, Teddy's half sister. As the three navigate their lives against the backdrop of the Trump election, the constancy of food and family provides a warm backdrop.

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.
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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! ( )