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ksoles
Jul 04, 2013ksoles rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Jennifer Close's new novel depicts a trio of grown offspring who return to the nest: Martha, a lapsed nurse who manages a J. Crew store, resents her therapist and gets dumped by her real-estate agent; Claire, who, after breaking up with her fiancé, lives in her New York apartment until her bank account dries up; and Max, the charming college senior who has a gorgeous girlfriend and a bright future until he gets his girlfriend pregnant. Meanwhile, Weezy, the well-meaning but neurotic matriarch, shoulders the blame for the shortcomings of her children, all of whom now reside under her roof along with her oblivious husband, Will. It becomes obvious that Weezy cared for her children too well; they have grown into clueless adults incapable of hunting for real estate, paying bills and cleaning up after themselves. "The Smart One" provides a light, entertaining summer read. Close displays her talent with spare but satisfying prose and unflinchingly describes her characters with a sense of immediacy. These characters neither undergo spectacular redemption nor do they emerge as heroes. But, eventually, they do eventually manage to embrace their true selves and find some happiness in the process. What else can a mother hope for?