Invincible Summer
Fiction
Little, Brown
June 28, 2016
Audiobook
295/ 9 hours
Publisher via BEA, Hachette audio
Four friends. Twenty years. One unexpected journey. Inseparable throughout college, Eva, Benedict, Sylvie, and Lucien graduate in 1997, into an exhilarating world on the brink of a new millennium. Hopelessly in love with playboy Lucien and eager to shrug off the socialist politics of her upbringing, Eva breaks away to work for a big bank. Benedict, a budding scientist who's pined for Eva for years, stays on to complete his PhD in physics, devoting his life to chasing particles as elusive as the object of his affection. Siblings Sylvie and Lucien, never much inclined toward mortgages or monogamy, pursue more bohemian existences-she as an aspiring artist and he as a club promoter and professional partyer. But as their twenties give way to their thirties, the group struggles to navigate their thwarted dreams. Scattered across Europe and no longer convinced they are truly the masters of their fates, the once close-knit friends find themselves filled with longing for their youth- and for one another. Broken hearts and broken careers draw the foursome together again, but in ways they never could have imagined.
A dazzling depiction of the highs and lows of adulthood, Invincible Summer is a story about finding the courage to carry on in the wake of disappointment, and a powerful testament to love and friendship as the constants in an ever-changing world.
My review:
I've had a lot of failures when it comes to books about twenty somethings trying to find their place in the world. My one exception was The Ramblers, and now this book. I think one of the main things that worked for me in this book is that it takes place over a twenty year period, so we are not left stagnating with a bunch of entitled whiny people upset that success isn't being handed to them (see, I told you I'm not usually a fan!). This book is a wonderful character study into the four college friends and what happens to each of them. It's pacing is great, stuff happens that you expect and don't expect, and the story flows really well through time. Lots of ups and downs, but you find yourself really rooting for these people despite some of them having flaws and taking a long time to learn from their mistakes. But learn they do, and the ending was a wonderful culmination of two decades that didn't feel at all contrived or too tidily finished up.
I listened to this book on audio, and I have no doubt that a huge part of my enjoyment came from the narration. The narrator has a British accent, and let me say that I could listen to that accent for hours and be enraptured! I would highly recommend the audio on this one if that is something that appeals to you.
I loved this two decade sojourn into the lives of four college friends, with the highs, lows, and in-betweens. Great character portrayal from this author, and fantastic audio.
Yes, I really liked The Ramblers! I'm not from NYC so I can't speak for the accuracy, but I've read other reviews that address this being the case. I definitely think it helped that these characters did not remain in their twenties throughout the entire book.
I've seen so many scathing reviews about this one, and I admit that I'm over the entitled, whiney 20-somethings, too. But I do like those books that catch up with friends after college (I always think A Little Life). I'm glad to see a good review for this one from someone I trust and have similar tastes.