Book Review - The Grown Up To-Do List by Jennifer Joyce

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Title: The Grown Up To-Do List

Author: Jennifer Joyce

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hera

Publication Date: 12th September 2024

Rating: 4 Stars

Her friends are bossing life - is she being left behind?

25-year-old Cleo is happy enough. She likes her job in the fish and chip shop in the North West seaside town where she grew up. But her world has become very small - all her friends couldn’t wait to leave home and are off, apparently crushing life. They have shiny careers and creative side-hustles, while she is still living with her mum and dad.

But when she learns that her dream childhood boyfriend is coming back to town for a party in three months, she decides she needs to start adulting to win him.

But what does being a grown-up really mean? And can she become one in three months?

A funny, life-affirming romcom perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane

Cleo, oh Cleo, what on earth are we going to do with you. You are fixated on a chance encounter from an old crush, and seem to think that when he is back in town in three months time that it will be the start of a whole new life with him - on the back of one conversation. 

You gotta love a dreamer, and Cleo is definitely relatable.  She in her attempts to be the person she claimed to be to Paul, decides she has a few months to get her life together and become what she believes is a grown up. 

Now some of the things on her list I definitely agree, probably do need to be done, and her utter cluelessness about things are a mix of irritating and utterly charming. She has a certain naivety to her, and it is lovely to see. 

Amongst other things she decides that she needs a "career" as all her friends from school have left her behind in the efforts of growing up and getting on with life., but she has no idea what she wants to do with her life, while its obvious she enjoys her current job in a fish and chip shop. 

She wants to learn to drive, and some of her descriptions of early lessons I can definitely identify with  from her early attempts.  She also amongst other things wants to move out of her parents home, and feels like she might need things like a hobby too! 

Now reading her growing "grown up to-do" list at the start of each chapter, I couldn't help by compare her 25 year old self, with myself and based on the majority of the entries - it's official at 40 years old I'm definitely not a grown up - ah well! 

I loved getting to know her friends, colleagues and family, especially her gran, and James, her gran's new lodger. Only Cleo is rather suspicious of James, well she does have an overactive imagination! 

This was a fun and light hearted story, that I was definitely entertained by.

Thank you to Hera and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.