This was sadly a book I started and had to put down. I just couldn’t get into the story and found it to be slow to start. However I do plan to try again when the mood strikes.

"Who We Are Now" is an intensely readable, enjoyable story of 4 friends who come together and drift apart as they graduate college and find themselves in the real world. They are all flawed in some way, which I like, since it makes it that much more realistic. I could feel the tension between them as they grew older and more distant. Each one has their own dream, whether it be writing a novel, being a successful stand up comedian, or just surviving mid 20s life in a big city. It starts with a bit of a twist that I didn't think was entirely necessary, as it didn't add much on to the book itself.

This book follows four friends over the course of 12 years. We’re introduced to Rachel, Dev, Nate, and Clarissa on the day of their college graduation. Their group, together since freshman year, is splitting up. Clarissa is staying in Chicago to start her stand-up career. Nate got a job at a major financial group. Rachel got a job in publishing. Dev isn’t sure what he wants to do anymore, but eventually joins Nate at his place in New York while he figures it out. The book is broken into three parts of a year per chapter. And as we move from chapter to chapter, we switch characters, getting each voice and challenge as Ms. Chamberlain moves the story along. They show their jealousies and challenges. Nate goes through the 2008 financial crisis and falls apart as the years move on. Dev writes a book, making Rachel jealous (but happy for him) as she always thought she’d be the published author. Clarissa falls in love with Rebecca, but can’t bring herself to tell her religious family. Sometimes a slow read, but changing character viewpoints to move the story along really works here.

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

Graduation is a time of change. Graduation from high school is generally filled with optimism, as people rush off to spend their first years away from home. They form those revered stereotypical relationships in sororities and fraternities, finally finding the people that are “in your tribe”. People learn how to take care of themselves - fix meals, clean, do laundry, and party. For Rachel, Nate, Dev and Clarissa, Northwestern University brought them all together.

This novel, the sophomore effort from Lauryn Chamberlain, spans the fifteen year period in which the protagonists find success and failure. One even finds the end if their life.

Starting a novel off at a funeral isn’t always a good choice. Even though the deceased isn’t identified, I found it was pretty obvious from the jump. That gave me part of the who, but I didn’t know the why. I will give her kudos for the answer to that latter question not being obvious.

As someone way past my thirties, I can view this through a lens of nostalgia. I did go to university, but did not reside there, To be clear, this isn’t a novel where Someone Must Overcome Something. It’s simply a telling of what happens to four people who thought they’d be friends forever, and then discover that may not be the case.

It also shows that surrounding make a difference, None of these people really have to worry about money. It is more a novel about the upper and middle classes. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it actually does make for a much easier read. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as close to the characters as I wanted. Each chapter focuses on a different person, but the use of third person can alienate the reader. I think I would have preferred that, but then again, that’s also almost the norm now, There were also very few plot twists.

There is an irony in making the traditional new again. This was an entertaining, quick read. It may not have resonated with me permanently, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you just want to read about everyday people trying to figure it all out. And there is also solace is knowing that we all find our way and our own form of success however that is defined, That definition should also be a very personal one.

Also - the release date of August for this novel is perfect, as back-to-school is happening right now.

This was a great coming of age story of four college students. The story was beautifully written from the perspective of all four friends. The way that there lives changed, how their friendships changed. Some of them grew apart, some got closer. The author made all the characters relatable, the story flowed well and there was closer with all of the stories. There was no guessing what happened with any of the characters. I would definitely read another story by this author!

I just loved Who We Are Now!! A wonderfully endearing coming of age for a group of recent college grads. First jobs, first loves, alcohol, drug addiction, all the highs and lows that young people trying to figure out their place in the world.

Each chapter follows one of the four: Clarrisa, Rachel, Dev, and Nate, their particular struggles at the time but we also see the others and know how their lives are going. Told over more than a decade, it is easily relatable. I graduated from college many decades ago, but I can definitely remember the struggle to figure out my career and my personal life and how my choices differed or were in synch with certain friends.

Highly recommend this book and all the emotions that it brings.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Who We Are Now follows 4 college friends, from graduation day through the following 15 years. Each year is told from a different characters' perspective. I absolutely loved the way this book was set up! I also loved reliving history as the 4 friends dealt with addiction, sexuality, marriage, friendship, cancer, and the Wall Street crash. Sorta like a modern day Big Chill!

I loved the construction of this book with the chapters alternating between our four characters and the timeline advancing a year with each chapter. The story follows four best friends — two men and two women — as they transition from college into their late 20s and 30s. I enjoyed the themes of coming of age, discovering your identity, and the ebbs and flows of friendship. A solid character-driven novel.

This is such a relatable, honest, nostalgic, and coming of age novel. From college to becoming adults, Chamberlain takes you through 4 friends point of views, during 3 different decades. Decoding the “sliding doors” in life and rethinking decisions they made and the “what ifs” of life as you navigate growing up.

It was so real and raw. I especially enjoyed her talking about when you know a part of your life is ending and the future is looking great—however in that moment you can feel a grief almost. I think it’s not talked about as much that two emotions can exist at a time in a persons life. And she does an exceptional job at writing this.

Who We Are Now begins in 2006 and follows besties Rachel, Clarissa, Dev and Nate, moving ahead one year each chapter as their post-college lives unfold. Here’s a snippet from the synopsis:
“Each year is told from one character's point of view, and in that way, we stride swiftly through their lives. These four friends feel their twenties and thirties flying by, and suddenly small moments fast become regrets or unexpected decisions they'll spend years wishing they could undo and choices that come to define them.

I loved how Who We Are Now, is told through multiple points of view, Rachel, Clarissa, Dev, and Nate. All bringing to light their emotions and their truths in each of their friendships. The intense, close bonds somewhat shattered as they each went off into the world. Developing and emerging into the grownup version of themselves. Trying to bring their dreams to life. Trying to stay friends, when everything around them has been altered into a new reality. Their lives tightly entwined.

While generally entertaining, I did find some of the characters' storylines to be a bit tepid, vanilla, and predictable. You can see where their lives are headed from a million miles away, and as predicted, they follow down the exact path that you expected them to. While there is nothing inherently wrong with that, it doesn't make for the most exciting reading.

The story takes place between New York and Chicago. However, I think readers from other parts of the country can relate to the characters. If you enjoy character based novels, this is a good one.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this review

This book fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth, and the storylines were predictable. Others may enjoy it but it wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley + Dutton for this gifted eArc in exchange for my honest review!

I was approved for this title about 3 days before its pub date, so it took me a little time to get around to it, but it was, as suspected, a delightful read. There's something really special about a book that centers around female friendship and empowerment, and as someone who doesn't read women's fiction too often, this definitely had me wanting to read more in that genre.

I appreciated the four authentic and honest depictions of life after college because it truly looks different for everyone — and that's okay. Life has its ups and downs anyway, but the time right after college is uniquely difficult as you try to find your place in the world. Lauryn did an excellent job of making all of the characters experience, whether you personally had them or not, relatable, and worthy of sympathy and understanding.

The writing itself was very good as well, the story moving along at a good pace; I never once felt like it was dragging.

I look forward to reading more of Lauryn's writing in the future, especially if she continues to write female-centric stories.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

First we follow a group of four friends the weekend of their college graduation. As their time together comes to end, they each had to make the difficult situation of what they will do next? Grad School? Jobs? Stay local? We learn that 3 of them will be going to New York City and will quickly come to the realization that things aren't the same as they were in college. The book spans across multiple years following each of the four friends and how they relationships change. How career paths change and or aren't what they expected.

It is the eve of college graduation for Rachel, Nate, Dev and Clarissa are about to start their adult lives, some have everything mapped out, some are taking risks, some are playing it safe, but all of them have no idea what life will have in store for them. Each year is told from a different characters perspective. Dynamics between the characters will change, success comes from unexpected places. There will be regrets, triumphs, tragedy, and surprises. This is a story of friendship, growing up, and the realities of life.

I really enjoy books that really explore friendship, and becoming an adult. As someone entering their thirties, I related a lot to the challenges the characters dealt with in their twenties. How friendships change over time and under different circumstances. That success does not equal happiness. Career changes happen and it may be better for you. I didn't love everything about this story but a lot of it really made me feel seen and understood.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I don’t think this book is for me. I didn’t really enjoy reading it. It is a story about four friends and meanders through their 15 years after college. There wasn’t really anything exciting about the story. I also didn’t connect with any of the characters, and really didn’t like the male characters.

Don’t think I’ll recommend.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. While I wasn't immediately hooked, once I finally was able to meet all four of the main characters I found it impossible to put down. It was an incredible tale about friendship, chosen family, and how life doesn't always turn out the way you once planned.

This was my first Lauryn Chamberlain book, but now I immediately want to go back and read her debut.

I really wanted to love this book about 4 college roommates and the story of their lives over the next 10 years, but I just didn’t. For whatever reason, I just couldn’t engage with the characters at all. It fell flat for me which is strictly what I tend to label “just not my cup of tea.” However, I would not dissuade someone else from reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"It seemed to Rachel then that maybe there were an infinite number of lives she could have lived, but this, by sheer chance, was the one she had ended up with." This was my first Lauryn Chamberlain book and I really enjoyed it. The story shows how small decisions made in a moment can change the course and trajectory of your life and other lives forever. The story starts in 2006 with four best friends - Rachel, Clarissa, Dev, and Nate - sharing a house together in their senior year at Northwestern University. Each year from 2006 to 2019 is told in their alternating perspectives. Their friendships become strained as they struggle to figure out their careers and personal relationships. Lauryn Chamberlain's writing is very good, she perfectly highlights how the insecurities of people in their 20's and early 30's can result in actions with life-changing decisions. The book is quick and easy to read and I recommend it. Thanks to #netgalley #Dutton and #laurynchamberlain for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m trying to get all my August reviews out before the month ends so today let’s review this nostalgic, perfect for the summertime book about four best friends from college and their lives in the years after.

This was a real pleasant surprise for me and with the beautiful bright cover I was happy to read a pretty complex take on life after college. I REALLY struggled after college - my complete identity was revolved around who I was in college, my job and my group of friends. It was the highest point in my life. After I graduated, there were a lot of challenges and I thought this book did a great job of painting four very realistic post college experiences. I loved how the author wrote in four narratives, but she moved the story along very well and made sure you knew what was going on with everyone even when you weren’t reading about that particular character. This book could have easily gotten bogged down in too much detail in many ways and it didn’t. It moved along really smoothly.

As far as format goes, either will be great. I started the book in print, but switched to audio after the first 100 pages. The narrator was great. This is definitely a book worth your time!