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Book Summary and Reviews of Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin

Young Jane Young

by Gabrielle Zevin

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  • Aug 2017, 320 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

From the author of the international bestseller The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry comes another novel that will have everyone talking.

Aviva Grossman, an ambitious congressional intern in Florida, makes the mistake of having an affair with her boss - and blogging about it. When the affair comes to light, the beloved congressman doesn't take the fall. But Aviva does, and her life is over before it hardly begins: slut-shamed, she becomes a late-night talk show punch line, anathema to politics.

She sees no way out but to change her name and move to a remote town in Maine. This time, she tries to be smarter about her life and strives to raise her daughter, Ruby, to be strong and confident. But when, at the urging of others, Aviva decides to run for public office herself, that long-ago mistake trails her via the Internet and catches up - an inescapable scarlet A. In the digital age, the past is never, ever, truly past. And it's only a matter of time until Ruby finds out who her mother was and is forced to reconcile that person with the one she knows.

Young Jane Young is a smart, funny, and moving novel about what it means to be a woman of any age, and captures not just the mood of our recent highly charged political season, but also the double standards alive and well in every aspect of life for women.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. This book will not only thoroughly entertain everyone who reads it; it is the most immaculate takedown of slut-shaming in literature or anywhere else. Cheers, and gratitude, to the author." - Kirkus

"Presenting a sharp send-up of our culture's obsession with scandal and blame, this novel pulls at the seams of misogyny from all angles, some of them sure to be uncomfortable for readers. Likely to be a popular book club pick." - Library Journal

"Zevin (The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry) offers a satisfying and entertaining story of reinvention and second chances in the wake of a political sex scandal." - Publishers Weekly

This information about Young Jane Young was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

Kathleen B. (Las Vegas, NV)

Great Read
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was so witty and well written. I think it would be an excellent book for book clubs. It is the story of a young woman who has an affair with a married congressman. They are found out and he gets off scott free and she is slut shamed and run out of town. She goes on to give a multi-generational perspective on these issues which I found very interesting. You'll have some laugh out loud moments and we find this a very enjoyable read.

Laurie H. (Stuart, FL)

Smart as a Whip and fun too
I loved "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and keep up the love with "Young Jane Young". There are so many facets that make up each person and dwelling on one facet keeps you form appreciating the whole person. Each of the characters presented in this novel have been "one faceted" if you will by everyone but each other. Told with wit and compassion, this tale shows that you can make your own way even in this age of internet history and judgment. Ruby by far was my favorite, wise beyond her years.

Becky S. (Springfield, MO)

Another winner for Zevin
This was such a fun book to read! I love Zevins easy writing style, it was witty and flowed. The topic was relevant to the times... politics are at the forefront of the news these days and the storyline of an illicit affair with a congressman oh so familiar. The way Aviva chooses to to raise her daughter is admirable . The story follows 3 generations of women.. and I liked them all! The story addresses double standards which continue to be a constant theme in every woman's life... no matter the age. I truly enjoyed this book! I love it when I become so involved, that I hate to see the story end.

Suzi Smith

Thoughtful yet fun
This book engaged me immediately, partly because of the style and partly because the subject matter struck home. Each of these characters was genuine and each viewpoint was thought-provoking without being a serious read. I have already passed my copy of this book along to friends and recommended it to my book club.

Sonja J. (Tupelo, MS)

Run Jane run !
Escaping the past...especially if your past involves a high profile political scandal...is not easy. Ask Jane Young, the small town wedding planner who is rearing her daughter as a single mother. This novel is endearing as it explores the long term consequences of a youthful mistake on a young woman, her mother and her daughter. Ms. Zevin has a gift for writing characters who are likeable in spite of or because of the emotional baggage they carry.

Andrew P. (Sherman Oaks, CA)

Sluts Are People Too
So much to love about this book. The unconventional story structure and 'roving' POV not only keeps the story fresh and active it's a great way to introduce a multi-generational perspective on an age old topic. The characters read incredibly real and accessible (wanted to hang out with them longer!) and manage to get their not insignificant points across in a manner that's fun, meaningful and not over-wrought. Zevin's take on the 'Scarlet Letter' is original, emotionally satisfying and worthily constructed for today's audience.

...34 more reader reviews

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Author Information

Gabrielle Zevin Author Biography

Gabrielle Zevin is an internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed author, whose books have been translated into thirty-nine languages.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent several months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction and the Japan Booksellers' Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. The Toronto Globe and Mail called the book "a powerful novel about the power of novels."

Her debut, Margarettown, was a selection of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers program and was long-listed for the ...

... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to Gabrielle Zevin's Website

Name Pronunciation
Gabrielle Zevin: First syllable of first name rhymes with cab

Other books by Gabrielle Zevin at BookBrowse
  • Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow jacket
  • The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry jacket

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