I got about 10% into this book and realized it’s really not for me, so I don’t think it’s fair to post a review on my bookstagram account or Goodreads when this is a purely personal feeling. Thanks for the opportunity to read.

A couple of exes decide it's a good idea to spend the holidays together at a resort with their daughter and new partners--which of course is a disaster right from the start. This is an interesting premise, but the book seems to try too hard to make everyone misread each other and do the absolute wrong thing. I especially got tired of the ridiculous situations Alex kept getting into. The best part of the book was Scarlett and her imaginary friend.

I was not as impressed with the content as some of the other reviewers. I am a divorced parent that tried to stay "friendly" with my ex, for the children. Sometimes it was easy, sometimes it was difficult. Most times, it was just down right awkward!

The book is written in different POV's that is enjoyable. But, overall, for me, this was just too painful.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this advanced readers copy.

Let me start with I love how this book is written. It toggles between each person and their perspective of the situation. 4 adults, 1 child and a giant invisible bunny. What could possibly go wrong? Oh boy!!! I read the description of this book and was quite pleased to get an advanced copy. I just couldn’t get into it. I did not like any of the adults likable. Not even a little! I really didn't find it funny and I like to think I have a pretty decent sense of humor. I am most certainly in the minority. I really wanted to like this book, but just couldn't find any of the I firmly believe that divorced or separated people need to love their children more than they dislike or even hate each other, but these people are clearly not there yet. They are not mature enough to handle the situation they created. It was clearly too soon for them to all try to be together. Claire knew her relationship was for all intents and purposes over and yet she brought Patrick. Matt brought his girlfriend while still not over his ex who is clearly uncomfortable about the whole trip and very nervous about being with his daughter. Maybe as one without children I am not one to judge, but this was not for me.

The Adults is a light read for a cozy weekend when you co-parent and need to have the “who gets the kids on the holiday “ discussion. While the publisher is touting this as humorous, I, for one, never felt there were situations that deserved “humorous”, or “funny”. The situations all seemed ditzy and not well thought out, but I guess that makes for flawed characters and an interesting story line.

Not much could be more awkward than the parents’ holiday plan. Claire and Matt are divorced, both in new relationships and co-parent Scarlett. They decide that spending the holiday with their new partners and together under one roof for Christmas would be a good idea. Add an imaginary 6 foot rabbit, who is Scarlett’s best friend to the mix and you do have some well recognized scenarios. Silly with some bittersweet moments, this book may be a welcome break from the holiday stress we all feel.

It is an easily read book, just not one that grabbed me immensely. It is well written and will be a easy read for some. I give it 3.5 stars.

Thanks to #NetGalley, the author, and the book publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A hilarious take on blended families. Matt and Claire are divorced. Matt is now with Alex. Claire is with Patrick. And there's seven year old Scarlet, Matt and Claire's daughter. These people all go together for Christmas week to a resort. All together, as in sharing the same cabin. Crazy, right? Well everyone is just having a sensational time. Not!! The drama just goes on and on. Patrick thinks Matt is trying to win his ex-wife, Claire back. Scarlet dislikes Alex. She wants her parents to get back together. Matt lies. Alex feels insecure. And wait, there's more, yes! Posey the giant purple rabbit. He's invisible. He's Scarlet's imaginary friend, and a troublemaker.
I laughed out loud. I totally enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it!!

Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book gives voices to each of the characters all while you try to decide "whodunit" while reading. Claire and Matt are the parents of Scarlett; Claire and Matt both have moved on and have new significant others. The wild and crazy idea of spending Christmas together - yes all 5 of them - at a holiday park is the central theme of this story.

Add in the awkwardness and personal issues, and you have a recipe for disaster!

This book was just ok to me. I wanted to like it more, but I still feel that it is 3 star worthy.

What could possibly go wrong when Scarlett's divorced parents decide to vacation with her and their new partners over the Christmas holidays? This was a fun romp although all the characters are so immature that it became tiresome to follow their bad decisions. The Adults is a quick read but not overwhelming in quality.

Just OK. Through most of it I thought it was a realistic look at the relationship dynamics of an "extended family", but that all changed in the end. Too unrealistic for me.

This was a good book to read in between other more gripping titles on my shelf. It was the one I read when nothing else was available. It was a fun concept, adults not always acting very adult-like, on a train wreck of a holiday trip. I expected it to be funny. I didn't laugh. There was an element of a who-done-it, and I did finish the book so that I could find out. But it wasn't really my cup of tea.

Oh to be so grateful that my child is old enough that I will never need to "co-parent". My hat is off to those that are able to, but I know that I would not be able to hold my snarky tongue to spend time with my ex and his new love. I admit it...I'm petty like that,

Claire and Alex - they are my favorites. Matt is too - gosh I don;'t even know how to describe him but even hearing him speak in my head gives me the willies. He is too lackadaisical, too unstructured, too go with the flow for me, even as a fictional character. If he was my husband he would have been kicked to the curb so long ago. However, he is the perfect foil for scientist Alex and he seems to balance her out.

Patrick... I would have loved more of his back story with Lindsay. There is definitely more to his story.

Overall - The Adults was a smart, charming holiday story and I am very thankful for the eARC from Netgalley.com

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for gifting me with an ARC of The Adults by Caroline Hulse. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This is the perfect light read for a cozy Saturday when the prospect of facing a holiday with your family is stressing you out. Because nothing can be more awkward than this holiday plan. Claire and Matt are divorced, both in new relationships and both are parents to precocious Scarlett. Wanting Scarlett to spend the holiday with both parents the two couples agree a few days at Santa’s Enchanted Village will be the perfect place to unwind and celebrate Christmas as one big happy family. Yeah, right!! Oh, and Scarlett has a 5 foot tall imaginary bunny who is her advisor and best friend. Of course, a dozen things go wrong, including someone being shot with an arrow. Silly and fun with some bittersweet moments, this book will be a welcome break from the holiday burnout.

The Adults by Caroline Hulse is an interesting take on the family dynamic after divorce. The way the mystery unfolds through interviews was well done and well written. I thought it was a good sort of mystery and I'm glad to have read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was expecting a typical Christmas story but it was much more than that! I enjoyed all the characters but particularly Posey. I laughed out loud at him. The story was a great mystery and I loved the way the book was written: the story interspersed with the police interviews.

Claire and Matt are divorced and somehow decide to take a very awkward Christmas vacation with their daughter and each of their new partners (plus the daughter's imaginary rabbit friend). It was an okay book, not good, not bad. I didn't like a lot of the characters. Three stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hilarious tale of a divorced couple and their new partners who rent a holidsy house together for the sake of a daughter. Disaster happens and hilarity ensues.

Scarlett's parents are divorced, but want to create a family atmosphere for the holidays for her. Her mom & boyfriend, her dad & girlfriend all agree to go away for the week of Christmas. What could go wrong, right?

Right from the beginning we know someone has been injured and a call has been frantically made requesting help, but we don't know who has been hurt. Told in alternating chapters by the characters and the police interviews, we and the police wait for the story to come out as to who did it.

Kept my attention, though not a deep read, I'd give it 3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am always amazed at how we discover important information from our significant others when we are in the presence of third parties. First that sheepish grin, then the downcast eyes and then the inimitable words; “I am sure I told you THAT”, except you know for sure that you were never told THAT and had absolutely no clue THAT ever happened.

A lot of THAT goes on in The Adults. Throw in a controlling seven-year-old whose best friend is a large imaginary rabbit wearing silver moon boots and dysfunction reigns supreme. If only the characters were more likable, if only the situations were more believable, if only the relationships were more convincing. If only.

The structure of the chapters was interesting, well done and the interviews were an effective way to move the story along.

Thank you LibraryThing, Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy.

I thought this book had a really interesting premise--especially given today's world of blended families. What would happen if you take two exes and their new significant others and the child of the exes and put them together for a week at a resort at Christmas time? Could be a bit too much togetherness-especially sharing a cabin all together. I really like the way this story started out. The author does a great job of gradually revealing the personality of each character through their interactions with each other. For me, however, the story started to slow a bit in the middle. I kept waiting for something new to happen or a deeper character flaw to be revealed. The ending was a bit predictable and not altogether satisfying as it seemed the story was just finished with no real character development other than the young child's. I had hoped for greater amusing interactions between this unlikely set of cabin-mates.

An enjoyable read about the craziness that can ensue when a divorced couple decide to vacation together with their new partners. Claire and Matt have since divorced, but share custody of their young daughter Scarlett.
When they all agree on a Christmas trip to the Happy Forest holiday park, things definitely don't go as planned. Told through multiple perspectives of the characters, this novel takes us on the worst family holiday ever. It was funny and sarcastic. A well written book with a portrayal of flawed characters. I received a complimentary ebook from the publisher in exchange for a review.