Title: The Smash-Up
Author: Ali Benjamin
Genre: Contemporary Adult Fiction
Published On: February 23, 2021
Publisher: Random House
Source: digital (Netgalley)
Pages: 352
Synopsis:
A family is upended when their small-town life becomes the latest battlefield in the culture wars in this of-the-moment novel for readers of Meg Wolitzer and Fleishman Is in Trouble.
Life for Ethan and Zo used to be simple. Ethan co-founded a lucrative media start-up, and Zo was well on her way to becoming a successful filmmaker. Then they moved to a rural community for a little more tranquility—or so they thought.
When newfound political activism transforms Zo into a barely recognizable ball of outrage and #MeToo allegations rock his old firm, Ethan finds himself a misfit in his own life. Enter a houseguest who is young, fun, and not at all concerned with the real world, and Ethan is abruptly forced to question everything: his past, his future, his marriage, and what he values most.
Startling, witty, thought-provoking, and wise, Ali Benjamin’s exciting debut novel offers the shock of recognition as it deftly illuminates some of the biggest issues of our time. Taking inspiration from a classic Edith Wharton tale about a small-town love triangle, The Smash-Up is a wholly contemporary exploration of how the things we fail to see can fracture a life, a family, a community, and a nation.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
The Smash-Up is a loose modernization of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton—a novella that ignited my love of reading literature when I was in high school. It may seem strange that such a sad, stark, and lonely book would be the story that would pique a teenager’s interest, but I became intrigued by Wharton’s writing, the very adult-like themes, and the morally grey characters. And all that snow! While The Smash-Up lacks the snow, the author still succeeds in keeping Wharton’s bleak tone and questionable characters.
“These things aren’t untruths, but they aren’t exactly truths, either. They’re truth twisted inside out, turned into whatever evidence you need in the Choose Your Own Reality game that the world has become.“
Ali Benjamin, The Smash-Up
I first read Ali Benjamin years ago when I was approved for an ARC of her middle grade book, The Thing About Jellyfish. And I was so impressed with it. It didn’t read like a middle grade book at all. The writing was beautiful and the characters were fleshed out. While that’s about the only similarities I can find between these two books—even though it has been years since I read Jellyfish—I was once again impressed with the depth and clarity the author brought to the story.
The Smash-Up will probably be a divisive book. Most of the characters may be considered unlikeable, but for me that was the point. Much like Ethan Frome. But Benjamin has brought these characters into the turbulent present.
Ethan is a bit aimless, relying on his past accomplishments, lacking much desire to create something new, spending most of his time focused on his exuberant daughter diagnosed with ADHD. Zo, his wife, a filmmaker who hasn’t created anything new herself, is devoting all her time and energy to her friends and their efforts to support the #MeToo movement. And Maddy is the young woman they have invited into their home to help with their daughter.
“Once, when he was young, he’d thought that life would unfold the way the books he loved always did: from emotion to emotion, a vast stretch of grand feelings, like an endless strand of pearls laid out before him. He’d imagined moving from one bead to the next, pausing at each to feel its full contours, its weight and heft, before moving to the next pearl, and the one after that. These days, though, Ethan feels like he goes for weeks, months, even—feeling nothing whatsoever. Just an endless line of empty string in his hand, not a pearl in sight.”
Ali Benjamin, The Smash-Up
Ethan feels pulled toward Maddy’s carefree ways, missing the closeness he used to have with Zo who no longer makes time for him. When their daughter’s private school is ready to push her out, Zo is gearing up for a protest rally, and Ethan’s past comes back to haunt him, things come to a boiling point for this family.
Even though it’s not a happy novel, I did enjoy this one. There’s much to think and debate about. It would make an excellent book club book. My past college student self would have enjoyed researching and writing an essay comparing The Smash-Up with its original inspiration.
I hope readers give this one a chance and don’t immediately close themselves off to it. It’s a reminder that we’re all human. And while it’s easy to think we should avoid those who think and believe differently than we do, it’s really not the healthy thing to do. It only perpetuates the circle of ignorance and apathy toward each other.
Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
A Song For A Book
On Bookstagram I created a hashtag for when I include a song that reminds me of the book I’m sharing, #ASongForABook, I thought I’d make it a regular feature on my reviews, too.
The Smash-Up mentioned many songs and artists throughout the story. I’ve chosen “With a Little Luck” by Wings. The lyrics were just too perfect. Random House also released a playlist on Spotify, which I’ve included below!
With a little luck we can help it out
We can make this whole damn thing work out
With a little love we can lay it down
Can’t you feel the town exploding
There is no end to what we can do together
There is no end
The willow turns his back on inclement weather
And if he can do it we can do it…
Have you read The Smash-Up? Will you be adding it to your TBR? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
