You Could Be Home By Now

by Tracy Manaster

An hour and a half outside Tucson, Arizona, The Commons is a luxury retirement community where no full-time resident under the age of fifty-five is permitted. Young professionals Seth and Alison Collier accept jobs there as a means of dealing (badly) with a recent loss. When a struggling resident, underwater on her mortgage and unable to relocate due to the nation’s ongoing housing crisis, is discovered to be raising her grandson in secret, the story--with the help of a well-meaning teenaged beauty blogger and a retiree with reasons of his own to seek the spotlight--goes viral. You Could Be Home By Now explores the fallout for all involved, taking on the themes of grief and memory, aspiration and social class, self-deception, and the drive in all of us to find a place to belong.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2014

Reviews

[Larry H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd rate this 2.5 stars.

Alison and Seth Collier are high school teachers (she teaches history, he teaches journalism) who are dealing (badly) with a terrible loss. In an effort to try and regain some balance and try to rebuild their lives, they decide to move across the country to Arizona, where they both take jobs at The Commons, a high-end retirement community. Alison will be the community historian, as the CEO wants to create a sense of history (even if it's not quite true), and Seth will be the editor of the community newspaper.

But while Alison quickly gets acclimated to their new life and her new job, Seth continues struggling. And if covering birth announcements of the residents' grandchildren isn't stimulating enough, he is rather underwhelmed by the community's biggest scandal—one longtime resident is discovered to be housing her young grandchild, despite community rules that no children are allowed to live there. Some residents feel that she should be allowed to continue given the circumstances; others believe in following the letter of community rules, while the CEO is most concerned about the effect the scandal may have on property values.

Not only does You Could Be Home By Now follow Seth and Alison's efforts to regain control of their lives, it also provides the perspective of Ben, a community resident dealing with the aftereffects of his own personal tragedy—which come to light in a peculiar way; and Lily, the teenage granddaughter of Ben's neighbor and a self-proclaimed "beauty blogger" who has been banned from social media by her parents. Each has a different viewpoint onto the scandal in The Commons, and has their own issues to cope with as well.

This book struck me as a bit quirky, although I think it was perhaps intended to be a satirical look at the constricting nature of homeowners' associations. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and found it started off really well, but while many of Tracy Manaster's characters are well-drawn, ultimately I found too many of them to be unlikeable, and thus difficult to remain engaged in their stories. Manaster had an interesting approach to dialogue in that her characters didn't quite say what they meant to say, or at times you needed to figure out what they were saying.

In the end, disappointingly, this book didn't resonate for me, although given the nearly 5-star rating it has on Amazon (and a fairly strong rating on Goodreads as well), perhaps I missed something, so I wouldn't dissuade you from giving this a try just because of my opinion.

See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....

[Sigrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING!!! If you think gay people are evil, divorce is wrong, and life's big questions have risk-free answers, skip this book!

If you are an actual human being that enjoys captivating journeys through well-realized characters' lives, buy it. NOW!

Buy it for you, or a friend, or your mom, or your grandfather! There is someone for everyone to root for in this book. Who will be *your* favorite protagonist? You won't know unless you read it!

Mine is Lily, the perfectly coifed beauty expert who just so happens to be into girls. I love that she gets to be a real gay teenager, with the self-involvement of that age without being a "noble homo" or "fairy godmother" or "cautionary tale." Plus, I'm using some of her beauty tips now. Sometimes when I look in the mirror I wonder "What would Lily say to me?" and I make better choices.

Of course, Lily is my favorite but I identify the most with Seth, who is trying to heal from a devastating blow while also working to ward of the more devastating blow of losing his connection to his wife. His sections are almost painful to read--but in the lance the boil, treat the infection, go through the crap so that healing can begin sort of way.

Also, we get to look into the seedy (or at least somewhat less than perfectly manicured) underbelly of a retirement community, and who hasn't wondered what they get up to in those places? This book is going to go under the tree for a lot of people, which vastly simplifies my present-buying. After all, who wants to be desperately wandering around the mall when You Could Be Home By Now?

[Xena! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written that it is difficult to believe it is truly a debut novel. The language is beautiful and the interwoven plots are believable. The story easily flows among the multiple characters and each of their challenges. What makes the book so remarkable is the facility the author displays in finding an equally accurate voice for her disparate characters: a typically self-centered somewhat snarky lesbian teen who is neither as worldly nor clever as she thinks, a protective and straightforward grandmother ("this is no ordinary grandmother you're dealing with"), a silently heartbroken male neighbor who is slowly disintegrating, and a young couple struggling separately to overcome personal tragedy. At any one time you may not "like" any of these characters, but it is hard not to love them all. It is, in my long experience as a reader, uncommon for an author to so accurately depict and speak for not only both genders, but also such a wide range of ages. I commend the author for this accomplishment and look forward to reading more of her work.

[Rachel Jagoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be fascinating to have someone read this book without looking at the name or picture of the author, and then ask them to describe their vision of who was behind the book. A recent college graduate, with easy access to the melodramatic details of high school in diary form? A widow reflecting on the quirks of her cantankerous late husband? A young professional facing unspeakable loss? I'd be shocked if they hit the nail on the head and recognized that this diverse conclave of ruthlessly realistic characters was derived from the brain of a Portland thirtysomething mother of two.

The first page hits like a punch to the solar plexus, and could have spun into a cliché piece full of Meaning and Lessons. Instead, the well thought out tale jumps gracefully from character to character, each of them dealing with their own loss. Some of those losses (children, be warned) are gut wrenching, while others (internet access) seem mundane but are as much of critical, if flawed, community as the retiree development at the center of the book.

I have to admit, I didn't find the book funny as much as deeply comforting. Like all people, the characters are flawed. Some of them are even downright nasty. But all of them are loved.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

There are a few different stories going on in this book all set within a luxury retirement community. There is Seth and Alison, a young couple, who take jobs at The Commons as a way to run away from the grief of losing their baby at birth. Ben is a retired veterinarian who lives in the community and struggles with the disappearance of his daughter years earlier and his divorce. There is also Lily who comes to stay with her Gran when she finds herself in trouble at home. She is sent to stay under the pretext that she is there to help her Gran get through the one year anniversary of her Grandfather's death. Finally there are the Rosko's, a Grandmother who is raising her grandson in the community even though children are not allowed to live there.

I have to admit that I wasn't sure what to think of this book at first. There are many characters and it took me a little while to sort who was who. After that it kind of started growing on me. It is uniquely written and uses a bit a humour to deal with difficult situations. Basically it is a story about the struggles of a bunch of different people within one community and how they deal with it.

I did have a few issues with the characters in that I didn't really like most of them. Perhaps this was because in difficult or challenging situations we don't necessarily get to see the pretty side of people. Maybe it was intentional. I didn't hate them, except Lily, but I didn't love them either which made it hard for me to route for them and care about the outcome.

In the end, it was a unique story about a group of different people in the same setting with unique sets of problems and what happens when they are all co-existing in the same community. The way Manaster gets inside these characters heads and is able to articulate these thoughts on the pages is what really won me over in the end. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it.

[Sigrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING!!! If you think gay people are evil, divorce is wrong, and life's big questions have risk-free answers, skip this book!
If you are an actual human being that enjoys captivating journeys through well-realized characters' lives, buy it. NOW!

Buy it for you, or a friend, or your mom, or your grandfather! There is someone for everyone to root for in this book. Who will be *your* favorite protagonist? You won't know unless you read it!

Mine is Lily, the perfectly coifed beauty expert who just so happens to be into girls. I love that she gets to be a real gay teenager, with the self-involvement of that age without being a "noble homo" or "fairy godmother" or "cautionary tale." Plus, I'm using some of her beauty tips now. Sometimes when I look in the mirror I wonder "What would Lily say to me?" and I make better choices.

Of course, Lily is my favorite but I identify the most with Seth, who is trying to heal from a devastating blow while also working to ward of the more devastating blow of losing his connection to his wife. His sections are almost painful to read--but in the lance the boil, treat the infection, go through the crap so that healing can begin sort of way.

Also, we get to look into the seedy (or at least somewhat less than perfectly manicured) underbelly of a retirement community, and who hasn't wondered what they get up to in those places? This book is going to go under the tree for a lot of people, which vastly simplifies my present-buying. After all, who wants to be desperately wandering around the mall when You Could Be Home By Now?

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how Tracy Manaster explored the love/hate relationships and secret thoughts humans have towards each other within each interaction. Every relationship she fleshed out carried so much of both sides. It was a fascinating—and pretty accurate—illustration of what happens in our minds and hearts, in making those decisions of whom to love, whom to trust, and how to go about doing so. Every split second, a decision, such turmoil! I was uncomfortable and confused and concerned and I had to keep reading, had to know how it turned out. I also loved how she employed so much wordplay and even created words of her own. Some examples? Oblivibitch, fuckupitude, faux-cidentally, and de-gay-ifying. She never shied away from a word because it evoked emotion. Also, the story didn't end with everything clearly delineated and perfect and loose-end-less. That pleased me.

[Beth T · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pointless. A waste of time.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eight chapters in with no discernible plot. DNF

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that felt so real and so heartfelt that ending it seemed almost wrong?

Tracy Manaster’s book (newly in paperback!), You Could Be Home By Now, was exactly that book for me…which probably explains why I read it all in one day! Yes, it’s that good. To start with, this book is beautifully written. Although this is Manaster’s first novel, it’s by no means her first taste of the literary world as she has written for numerous publications previously – and it shows! Each moment within this story is fine-tuned to leave you either laughing, crying, or wondering why in the world they would choose to do that. And perhaps best of all, there are moments that have you nearly doing all 3 at the same time.

You Could Be Home By Now is set outside of Tucson, Arizona in a luxury retirement community where all residents must be over the age of 55. This is important because when a young boy falls and injures himself within the community and the other members learn he’s being raised there by his grandmother, a great big load of drama is unleashed among neighbors. This story, told from multiple points of view by vastly different characters illustrates how viewing things from someone else’s point of view might change understanding altogether. Ultimately, it comes down to a balance of minding one’s own business and holding yourself together at the same time that will illuminate what needs to be done.

The characters in the novel are what really shines – uncertain, unrestricted, and overwhelmingly flawed, each makes a case for furthering the proceedings within the community. Whether you relate to one, two, all, or none of them yourself, they are each fascinating and endearing in their own right. If you love character-driven stories that will be sure to tug at your heart strings and make you wish you could follow along with the lives of these people for longer, this is a perfect book for you.

Described as Silver Linings Playbook meets Death At A Funeral, this poignant and touching debut will be everything you hoped it would be and then some.

Head over to TipsyWriter.com to read my exclusive interview with author, Tracy Manaster!

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

[Holly Scudero · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending months struggling with the loss of their baby, Seth and Alison Collier leave their teaching jobs and move to a retirement community in Arizona, where they hope to make a fresh start. The couple unknowingly reflects the environment around them, projecting a sense of calmness and togetherness, but with strong tensions lurking just beneath the surface. When it is discovered that one of the residents of the community, The Commons, has secretly had her grandson living with her for months due to a combination of family problems and financial hardship, other community members are torn. The story gets nationwide attention thanks to the well-meaning efforts of some neighbors. No one could have predicted what would happen from there.

With a novel like "You Could Be Home By Now," which delves into such a wide variety of topics, it’s hard to narrow the plot down into such a short summary; this book is so much more than readers could possibly anticipate. It explores the twisted emotions of loss and grief in depth, talks about the way we deceive ourselves in order to keep going, and touches on our innate need to belong somewhere, among other things. Some parts are so straightforward and real that readers will want to cry, while other parts are laced with a wry sense of humor; this novel is a fantastic read, and one that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished the final page.

Review originally written for San Francisco Book Review.

[Rick York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would strongly recommend You Could Be Home By Now.
If you haven’t read any of the earlier reviews, I’d recommend doing so before you read mine. This will allow me to skip a rehash of the plot and principal characters.

Ms. Manaster has written a novel about one of the most tragic things any person might experience, the loss of a child. Interestingly, she tells the story from the fathers’ point of view. There are several contemporary novels on this subject. Probably the best known is Judith Guest’s Ordinary People, which was made into an Oscar winning movie.

This plot line is fraught with the potential for tear jerking sentimentality. Ms. Manaster avoids that trap completely. This is, by no means, a light hearted book. However, Manaster uses a careful touch. We experience each man’s feelings with profound sympathy but also with a certain distance. The ability of their spouses to deal with this loss, places both men in difficult positions.
Manaster’s writing style is straight and limpid. She is strongest in drawing her characters. All of them well drawn as are their relationships.

I thoroughly enjoyed You Could Be Home By Now and urge you to read it.

[Mike Cuthbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it was the cold weather, maybe a slump, but I could not get with this book. Characters by various different names, vague plotting and a lack of a central focus in an attempt to be clever or modern all led me to despair of ever finding my place in this mish-mash of a novel. The two main characters are both teachers and unhappy with each other. Their friends and peripheral acquaintances lack charm or distinction and I grew frustrated with my inability to care for them or about them. Maybe it was style. Manaster’s habit was to interrupt conversations and concepts with non sequiturs and, while it can be charming, it can also be extremely frustrating, Let’s say I certainly did not find it charming. I cannot recommend this experience to anyone, sorry.

[Susan DeFreitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, smart, and heartfelt, this novel, set in an over-50 Arizona masterplanned community, strikes me as a classic of recession fiction (along the lines of Jess Walter's The Financial Lives of the Poets). The book is full of fully realized characters interacting in ways that push each other into deeper waters: a young couple grieving the loss of a child, an older man trying to let go of the daughter he could not save, a sassy teenage lesbian who's smart and some ways and dumb in others, and her gracious grandmother, both soft of heart and tough as nails. My favorite characters might be the last two, whose relationship evolves in such an affecting way over the course of the story. A great novel for fans of character-driven fiction.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.

This was a great read. It had my attention from the beginning to the very end of the book. it also left me wanting to read more. This author did a wonderful job. This was a wonderful world created by the author and have even more amazing characters. A book that was at times sad it was a pleasure to read this book. I can see myself definitely reading more from this story.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story but an even better read. If you love language or delight in a wonderfully turned phrase this is the book for you. This was one of my “slow reads” so I could savor the wonderfully quirky and vibrant descriptions. Witty and intelligent, I found it to be a thoroughly marvelous read.

[Patty Pacelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read an uncorrected advance proof, which had lots of typographical errors. Even without those, it was hard to follow, and seemed to have some things left out. I was interested in the main characters, Alison and Seth, but the others not as much. It had some great elements so a lot of potential, but needs more editing and clarity, especially with Lily's character and her storyline.

[Melinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about fifty pages and could not get into this story at all. The jacket blurb sounded interesting, but I just felt weighted down and dragging through it. Too many appealing books to waste time here.

[Valerie Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-drawn, unique characters that pop off the page. Humorous at times, deeply moving. For fans of character-driven lit fic.

[Nancylahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh.

[Loretta Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing , especially when it was Lilly's story was rather difficult to grasp early on, but once I got the feel for the style, the book became kind of fun in a quirky kind of way!

[Greg Schumaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a great read.

[Judith]

Up to p155 and it just wasn't grabbing me.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story and a quick read. It might be that my own perspective is shifting and changing thanks to all the Buddhist teachings I've been reading of late but this story perfectly illustrated some of those concepts. Like the suffering that results from our persistence in clinging to these stories in our heads about who I am, what kind of person I am, what I will and will not do in a given situation. Sometimes those stories are true and sometimes they are not and it's up to the individual to know which is what. The best thing about this story for me was that these were real people, flaws and all, and while they were not always likable (especially the teenage granddaughter) they were authentic, warts and all. A simple story about real people just living their lives the best they can, sometimes under very trying circumstances.
Why did he get beaten within an inch of his life in Chicago? What was he doing there? I don't think the reasons were ever detailed. Hmm ...

[Liz Whittaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kind of deeply satisfying story where everyone experiences terrible things, then things get worse, then things get better. There are some powerful ideas about healing in this story, that I sincerely loved.

[Susan Wenk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Done Thing, so I was looking forward to You Could Be Home By Now. I kept waiting for the plot to become clear and it never happened. The characters are not likeable, except for the grandmother, though they were well developed. I was hoping for better.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was a clever, creative, and interesting mish-mash of characters. The at-first unseemingly kindred spirits finding common ground. I wish the Tara issue had been resolved, and I struggled with the change in perspective that varied by chapter, but it wasn't a bad story at all.

[Jaylynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plotless ensemble cast with not enough interesting qualities to any of them. Honestly, are the top reviews bots or paid? That's me being cynical. It wasn't my kind of book and I forgot too much to write a half hearted summary anyway.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very interesting writing....

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25