WHEN WE GROW UP by Angelica Baker
9781250345776
2/25/25
Flatiron Books
Fiction / Friendship / Literary
In WHEN WE GROW UP, the complexities of adulthood collide with the nostalgic pull of old friendships when six longtime friends, on the verge of 30, gather in a vacation house in Hawai’i for a week.
The novel unfolds through Clare’s perspective, chapters shifting between the current vacation and flashbacks to Clare’s past with each friend, revealing layers of shared history while also probing questions about identity, privilege, morality, and the sustainability of relationships made in a world that no longer exists. Though they once depended on each other completely, that dynamic has faded over the years, and when a shocking news alert disrupts their retreat, old tensions resurface, forcing them to confront how much they’ve all changed.
I really liked how this book is a character-driven novel, allowing for a deeper exploration of each individual’s journey. Angelika Baker takes time to develop each friend’s backstory, revealing their struggles, desires, and the emotional nuances, which fuel both heated banter and more serious discussions throughout the story. While reading, I found myself reflecting on the dynamics of my own friendships as the story unfolded.
WHEN WE GROW UP will have readers reflecting on their own relationships, the choices that define adulthood, and the ways we navigate the inevitable changes in ourselves and those we love. It’s a must-read for fans of stories about rekindled friendships, complex dynamics, and those navigating the crossroads of adulthood.
“Will appeal to readers who gravitate toward dramatic relationship fiction, a sort of cross between Hanya Yanihariga’s A LITTLE LIFE and the 1985 Brat Pack movie St. Elmo’s Fire.”—Library Journal, starred review
“WHEN WE GROW UP is novel as anthropological investigation, a study of the class of people for whom adulthood begins at thirty. I laughed, I winced, and I saw much I recognized in Baker’s exploration of how the self is forged not only by the circumstances of our birth and family and education but by our peers and friends.”—Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Entitlement and Leave the World Behind
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