For me, it is always exciting to see the announcement for a new book by Rainbow Rowell. Cherry Baby is about a woman whose life is in transition, as she waits for her husband to return from Los Angeles so he can pack up the rest of his things. Life and relationships are already complicated, and are made even more so when Cherry reconnects with a friend from before she was married.
The Situation: Cherry did not ask to be made into a character. She had no intention of ever being recognized by strangers who read her husband Tom's web comic, or who had seen one of the trailers for the upcoming movie adaptation. But that is what is happening, as people are recognizing that the character of Baby, from the Thursday comic, is undoubtedly Cherry, in all of her overweight glory. Maybe it would not be so bad if Tom were there with her. But instead, he is in Los Angeles, and Cherry is in Omaha taking care of the massive dog that he wanted. And while it may not yet be public that Cherry and Tom are getting a divorce, Cherry cannot imagine what it will be like to be recognized in public once that news breaks.
The Problem: For just one night, Cherry decides to leave the dog at home and see one of her favorite bands, not knowing that she is about to run into an old friend. A friend from before she met Tom. A man that used to date her best friend (a best friend who is now happily married with kids). Russ knew Cherry before the Thursday comic became what it is, and thankfully, he knows nothing about it. Now Cherry is getting a glimpse at what life could be like without Tom, even though he inevitably must return to Omaha to pack up his stuff as he and Cherry divide up their life. And then there are Cherry's four incredibly nosy and involved sisters to contend with. For Cherry, things are about to get more complicated before they have a chance to settle down.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set in and around Omaha, Nebraska, where Cherry works and lives. Through a third-person narrator, Cherry remains the primary focus as she navigates the possibility of divorce; reconnecting with an old friend; working full-time at a job she loves; a large family where she is the middle of five sisters; and her daily reality of being overweight. Cherry has always been fat, just like her sisters and her mom, and while it is not something she is ashamed of, it is always at the forefront of her mind. And the fact that the Baby character in her husband's comic looks just like her further complicates everything.
My Verdict: Ultimately, this is a novel about relationships and just how complicated they can be, whether it be marriage, family, dating, or even relationships with coworkers, and that is the part of the book that I like, or at least the part I found the most interesting. The actual plot of the novel was not my favorite, and many of the characters are hard to like. In fact, Cherry may be my least favorite of everyone that can be found on the page. She is someone that makes everything about her, including other people's decisions that they make for their own life. She is also wish-washy, and by the end I had a hard time caring about what she decided to do.
Favorite Moment: I enjoyed the look at both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with Cherry's large family.
Favorite Character: Cherry's boss, Meg Jones, seems like someone I would not mind working for. She even likes Cherry's somewhat outrageous and maybe not always completely professional, but really cute, clothing choices.
Recommended Reading: My favorite of Rowell's books is still Fangirl, but Scattered Showers was a neat concept.
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