Book Review: When We Grow Up by Angelica Baker
I couldn’t resist picking up When We Grow Up, Angelica Baker’s sophomore novel, especially after the engaging complexity of her debut, Our Little Racket. The premise—a group of friends converging for a vacation in idyllic Hawai’i—promised a dynamic exploration of relationships, nostalgia, and the messy process of growing up. What greeted me instead was a riveting, unflinching dive into the depths of friendship and self-awareness that resonated with my own experiences in this fragile stage of life.
Set against the backdrop of January 2018, amid political turmoil and a false missile alert that jolts the characters from their self-absorbed fog, Baker introduces us to Clare, a married writer wrestling with unfinished aspirations, and her five high school friends—each richly painted and painfully relatable. The tensions simmer just below the surface, and as the group navigates both the paradise of their surroundings and their turbulent relationships, it becomes evident that they are trapped in cycles of dependency and mutual antagonism. I found myself nodding along as Clare and Renzo, the charismatic heart of the group, hurl barbs that felt all too familiar: “You’re so proud of your own self-awareness…I liked you better…when you were tap-dancing.” Ouch!
Baker’s prose is mercilessly precise, cutting through the emotional fog to reveal the characters’ innermost struggles. Flashbacks to their teenage years in Los Angeles skillfully unravel their histories, highlighting both competition and camaraderie. Clare’s relationship with Renzo, marked by equal parts affection and critique, showcases the intricate dance of lifelong friendships. While their self-awareness is palpable, I was struck by how little it translated into real growth—a sentiment that feels disarmingly relevant for millennials navigating our chaotic world.
What really sets this novel apart is how it intertwines the personal with political commentary. The discussions around social issues like climate change often feel like echoes of their own self-image rather than genuine engagement. Baker paints a vivid picture of her characters grappling with their identities amidst societal expectations, notably in Mac’s haunting statement about not being able to fully "just be" around the group. Through such moments, Baker deftly underscores how friendships can sometimes falter under the weight of unrecognized complexity.
However, even as I reveled in Baker’s keen insight and emotional fearlessness, I found myself yearning for a bit more resolution. The open-endedness of the story could be frustrating to those seeking closure, and certain characters, like Kyle, felt underdeveloped. Still, these critiques didn’t overshadow the powerful themes of identity and the messy nature of adulthood that lingered long after I closed the book.
In sum, When We Grow Up is a poignant reflection on the chasms between who we aspire to be and who we ultimately are. It’s a novel I would recommend to anyone navigating the complicated waters of adulthood—those friendships that remain fraught yet vital. Baker invites us to embrace the contradictions of our lives, a sentiment I find profoundly refreshing in a world that often demands perfection. This book lingers, reminding us that existence is less about resolving every conflict and more about acknowledging the beautifully messy truth of our humanity.