Book Review: When We Were Grownups

I loved the premise of Back When We Were Grownups. Anne Tyler introduces a woman who wonders if she has turned into the wrong person, a woman she never meant to be. I can relate to that sentiment. I often marvel at who I am now compared to who I expected to become at this point in time. Did events conspire against me to alter my true personality? Did I succumb to the pressures of living and lose myself? That is exactly how Rebecca Davitch feels. The trajectory of her life veered off into unexpected territory when she broke her engagement and married a man with three daughters. Now, at fifty-three, she looks back on who she has turned into and doesn't recognize herself anymore.

But, even with the similarities, I couldn't fully get behind this protagonist. I never grew to like or understand her. What's more, I kept expecting there to be a resolution or growth, yet the character ended the story in approximately the same condition she began. When her earlier love interest returns, I thought "this might be the game changer," but... no she doesn't find herself through that relationship. She throws parties for a living even though she cannot muster enthusiasm for the job. She may not appreciate who she has become, but she doesn't venture out to discover who she should be.

The back of the book promised one would "come away not only refreshed and delighted, but also infinitely wiser." Oh, if that had only been true! Instead, Rebecca remains stuck and I, as a reader, remain unconvinced of the book's merit.