Helpful Score: 1
"That energy meant she could repair what was broken. They could start over. It was spring training and new election cycles. It was people marching, protesting, voting, and fighting. It was trying to raise good children. It was recycling scraps when there was already so much garbage clogging the world ... It was all shaky ground, but it was theirs to fight for." - Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
I was intrigued the moment I heard this novel's clever food-service-themed title and saw its engaging cover. When I discovered Cassandra Campbell, one of my all-time favorite narrators performed the audiobook, I was all in.
Marrying the Ketchups is a character-driven novel set in Chicago featuring three generations of the Sullivan family and the old-school full-service restaurant that's the family business.
The year is 2016 which was significant due to the Cubs (finally) winning the World Series and, of course, the outcome of the Presidential election; both events are woven throughout the story.
The meaning of 'home' is explored, and several types of family relationships are included (cousins, grandparents, siblings, married partners, in-laws, etc.) in the context of running the family restaurant.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cast of imperfect characters and was rooting for the entire Sullivan clan. So many life stages are represented, there's likely at least one character to which every reader can relate. My husband is a manager at a family-run restaurant and some of the challenges mentioned were familiar. This felt very personal, and I'm curious if the story has connections to the author's life.
I was intrigued the moment I heard this novel's clever food-service-themed title and saw its engaging cover. When I discovered Cassandra Campbell, one of my all-time favorite narrators performed the audiobook, I was all in.
Marrying the Ketchups is a character-driven novel set in Chicago featuring three generations of the Sullivan family and the old-school full-service restaurant that's the family business.
The year is 2016 which was significant due to the Cubs (finally) winning the World Series and, of course, the outcome of the Presidential election; both events are woven throughout the story.
The meaning of 'home' is explored, and several types of family relationships are included (cousins, grandparents, siblings, married partners, in-laws, etc.) in the context of running the family restaurant.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cast of imperfect characters and was rooting for the entire Sullivan clan. So many life stages are represented, there's likely at least one character to which every reader can relate. My husband is a manager at a family-run restaurant and some of the challenges mentioned were familiar. This felt very personal, and I'm curious if the story has connections to the author's life.
