REVIEW:

When you see the title Come As You Are, are you at risk of having the opening guitar riff from Nirvana’s popular tune in your head all day? For me, the answer is a resounding YES DANG IT, but even if you have no idea what I’m talking about you can still enjoy this coming-of-age novel by Jennifer Haupt.

The heart of the story is the relationship of Zane and Skye, two teenage friends stoked in ‘90s-era grunge and ambition who end up knockin’ (Doc Martens) boots one night and make a baby. Ill-equipped to handle parenthood together at such a young age, they go their separate ways. Skye finds love and stability with another man, while Zane turns to drugs and alcohol. They are forever bonded by their daughter though, and circumstances will bring them back together to confront the mistakes of their past.

For the first half of the book, time jumps to and fro between the mid-90s and 2002. We visit Seattle, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Joplin, and Provo, so it takes awhile to connect with the characters and storyline. The latter half follows a linear timeline, which is when the novel really hits its stride.

Despite the age of its characters, Come As You Are is intended as an adult novel rather than YA. I’d probably shelve it as New Adult if I was a librarian, but that shouldn’t deter older readers from picking it up when looking for a story about the complexities of relationships. Especially when hoping for one with a truly satisfying conclusion.

My thanks go to author Jennifer Haupt, who graciously sent me an advance copy to review. Come As You Are is now available and can even be found on the Hoopla library app.

PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:

Set against a backdrop of Seattle in the early '90s, Haupt's second novel is a compelling family drama and love story that explores the question: Can we alter our dreams and stories from the past to create a better future for our children?

Zane and Skye are two misfit teens drawn together by their love of music and their loneliness, both part of Seattle’s grunge scene in the early ‘90s. They dream of moving to L.A. together: Zane’s music career following the trajectory of Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder, and Skye drawing Picasso-esque portraits on the Venice Beach boardwalk. When a tragedy violently catapults them from best friends to lovers, their bond is forever strengthened and their relationship destroyed. Ten years later, they must come together as parents, putting aside abandoned dreams and broken promises. The question is: can they face the truth of who they are, and become the parents their daughter needs them to be?