It is a delightful witty debut novel!
I’ve been posting some quotes in my stories while reading just because it is so good and funny. Usually I don’t bookmark my books, there are not too many quotes to be that memorable but here it was every couple pages - some smart remark or hilarious dialogue which you want to screenshot and share with your besties.
The story is told through the lens of three absolutely different female characters and all of them have their very distinct voices and a story. They are not perfect (Georgina was very annoying at many points) and you can empathise with most mistakes they make (again, Georgina behaviour was not something I can relate or excuse but so there are people in real life like that, Sasha was my favourite).
Small details were outstanding - you can taste food (and google some unfamiliar names), see their cluttered luxurious interiors and fancy clothes.And you really want to walk Pineapple Street and see it through a lens of these characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson in exchange for an honest review. This book centres around the Stockton family, headed by parents Chip and Tilda. An old money family who made their fortune in New York real estate, they still live in Brooklyn Heights and more specifically on Pineapple Street. This book is about money, class, and privilege and the ways in which these impact relationships both in and outside of the family. Darley left a successful job to raise her children. Marrying for love, she gives up her inheritance refusing to have a prenuptial agreement. Cord marries Sasha, who his sisters call “the gold digger” behind her back due to her middle-class upbringing and erroneously believing she refused to sign a prenup. Georgiana, falls in love with her co-worker who shouldn’t have been available to her and finds purpose when things don’t go as planned. Darley, Sasha, and Georgiana all take turns narrating this story. When Cord and Sasha inherit the Pineapple Street home, the ties that bind this family together are so tightly wound that Sasha struggles to feel like she truly belongs and these people are “not my family”, even if only said in jest. Since we only learn about Cord from his wife and sisters’ perspectives, we see how hard it is to break barriers of family traditions, class, and struggle to fit-in to this world while still being yourself. All three women somehow find their way past the expectations of the traditional upper-class family and find happiness on their own terms. At times funny, at times frustrating, and at times full of heart, this book is perfect for those who enjoy reading about family drama and women not being defined by their upbringing.

This was definitely what I’d call an escapist read. I was always excited to pick it up and disappear into another world (granted, that world was located 30 miles from my house!). I know that the lesson of the book is that money doesn’t yield happiness, but man did this book make me yearn for a couple of mill. But def an easy read and a great palette cleanser!

I loved this book! I can totally see this as a popular streaming series. The characters are not particularly likeable, and not a lot happens in the book, but I could not tear myself away from it. It reminded me of Sally Rooney’s books but set in NYC. I have a feeling this book will be extremely popular, and possibly polarizing, but definitely a conversation starter. I definitely recommend this!

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read the AC of this novel by Jenny Jackson.
I give it 4 stars and a big thumbs up. Great Read. It caught me by surprise , not my usual genre but I found it very addictive . She tells the story of old Family money, from the different perspective of each generation. If you marry in to it, or are born in to it. The younger generation start to question this "old" money and what it means to them and world at large. Read it , you wont be disappointed

Sadly I wasn’t a fan…

The entire time reading, I kept thinking to myself: “What is the actual point of this story? Where’s the author going with this?”

And in the end, the story was a snooze with zero climax and I finished the book realizing that I won’t remember it next week.

Too bad it seems that the hype around this novel was driven because the author was a supposed mega person in the writing/editing world (which I know not much about).

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Please excuse my tardiness in posting my review.

My TBR list is continuously growing and I keep finding so many amazing books being requested + added to my pile!
So much gratitude for this copy shared with me, always xo

I quite enjoyed this family saga of the one percent. I don't know exactly WHY I liked it so much, considering how awful, bratty and unlikable the majority of characters are and honestly who gives a F about rich people and their champagne problems—but there was something about the lot on Pineapple Street that made me chug along devouring this book quickly and end it fully satisfied. Jenny Jackson did an excellent job of setting the three main female protagonists up with their own POVs, juxtaposing them with each other, to get a full picture of all the miscommunications, misunderstandings and family biases that play against each other in a dysfunctional and WASPish family.

Pineapple Street features The Stocktons: Darley, Georgiana and recently inducted middle-class sister-in-law Sasha. When Sasha and her husband Cord move into the recently vacated Stockton family home on Pineapple Street (and are barred from changing a single thing, DEAR) Sasha realizes she'll never feel at home in a family that secretly refers to her as the gold digger. Meanwhile younger sister Georgiana is flirting with the romantic tragedy of her life and growing a conscience about the insane amount of money she's sitting on in her trust. Older sister Darley, now a stay at home mom, wrestles with the life she's chosen and then her own financial decisions when her husband loses his job. And above it all the matriarch Tilda Stockton swans around making everyone feel hilariously subpar. She was amazing I want to see her played by Meryl Streep in a movie.

I really liked Jackson's writing style, it was tight, comedic and somehow hit the perfect note of judgmental empathy. We're not meant to feel sorry for these assholes, but the character growth is there and so is the humour. Also, the marriages in this book are real romance goals. I loved them. I couldn't help rooting for each woman when it was her turn to lead the story, even though, objectively, they were all kind of the worst.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this family saga. I really enjoyed seeing the relationships between family members from each sides especially Georgiana, Darley and Sasha. I did find the character of Georgiana extremely spoiled and selfish but I am aware that was probably the point the author was going for and she did redeem herself in the end. I do thinkmy favorite character was Cord and I was really rooting for him and Sasha. I was glad they had their happily ever after. I read another review that wrote about how they disliked that nothing really happened in this book but I think that was one of the things I enjoyed the most. It was just a good story about the relationships between family members and especially how those relationships work between a wealthy family. I really liked this book.

Pineapple Street. is a book that is very aptly named. Pineapple in the dictionary has many meanings other than a delicious fruit that is a challenge to determine its ripeness. In this book, the other definitions of pineapple meaning welcoming and hospitable is almost antithetical to what goes on in a family of wealthy social class. Yet another definition indicates imperialism or capitalism. All the meanings are appropriate for this book which is very well written. Parents who are both from means and who have bequeathed trust funds for all three of their children. Three adult children: one who is finding herself and decides that she does not belong and needs to do something that is of greater good; a second who is oblivious to class differences such that he marries 'beneath' him and whose wife is accused of being a 'GD' -- gold digger; and another daughter who had passed over her substantial trust into her children's hands before her whole world that she knew and grew up in faded away. The writing is excellent; the pace is fast moving. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it gave me plenty to think about afterwards.

Because of events in my own life, it took me a little bit of time to get into this book. But once I did I was hooked. It’s been a long time since a book has enticed me to stay up past when I should be going to bed and it was a welcome feeling. That was how I spent my childhood until I graduated high school and real life got in the way of escaping to books. What a nice change of pace to fall completely into a book.

Pineapple Street is the story of a family and how they each cope with personal challenges. There’s a wife who never felt accepted by her husband’s family, a daughter too embarrassed to tell her parents her husband lost his job, a younger sister struggling with loss, and a brother caught in the middle. The book is told from three different perspectives which I loved. Each chapter is told from a different person’s perspective, the two sisters and the sister-in-law. I’m naturally a curious person and always wondering why someone did or said something, fictional or not, so it was a relief when something happened and I knew in the upcoming chapters I’d find out what everyone thought about it. I thought the pacing was spot on and didn’t feel the story lagged in any spot.

I’ve been working in nonprofits for most of my adult years and was thrilled to see an accurate portrayal of one. It’s not too often grant writers or members of marketing get to be a named character. Yes there were the important program staff who are the legs of the operation, but the admin staff were also shown centre stage without being shamed for how much they get paid. When the chapters followed Georgia, I couldn’t help but compare her office to mine. The things she and her colleagues discussed or worried about, being trained to watch every dollar spent, going to conferences, and throwing elegant galas/benefits (without spending too much money). This portrayal really struck me while reading the book - the author or someone they know has obviously spent time working in a nonprofit office.

10/10 would recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction and family drama. You’ll feel a whole range of emotions towards the characters but in the end feel satisfied where they end up (or at least I did).

Sadly I was unable to finish this book. It felt like it was lacking a plot and I just kept waiting for something to happen.

The synopsis sounded so great and I had high expectations but sadly I had to DNF this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook

The Stocktons are an affluent family in New York, the kids Georginia, Cord and Darley and have always enjoyed the finer things in life. Each of them have grown up and lived vary different lives in that Cord has married Sasha and have three kids, Darley is also married to Malcom and they have kids and Georginia is single and still looking for love. The book tells the story of their lives and their relationships with each other. Each chapter switches from the POV of Georginia and Darley and they experience.

This book was outside my typical genre but there was so much hype around it I was excited to read it. I would say the beginning started off a bit slow for me but as I kept reading it hooked me more and more. I got more invested in the characters as the story went on and wanted to see what would happen. Overall, there isn’t much to this book and not a lot really happens. I enjoyed Georginia’s storyline the best and found her relationship with Brady fascinating. This one was average for me but I do think many readers would enjoy it and should give it a try.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were things I liked and things I didn’t like. It’s very character driven, and for the most part I didn’t care much about the characters and what would happen to them. There were parts of the story that were funny, and kept me engaged however, I didn’t relate to most of the characters (other than Sasha). Most likely because they’re all centred around an incredibly wealthy family in New York, which is not remotely close to my life! Overall it was somewhat enjoyable, I just think this book was not meant for me! The ending was also lack lustre and a bit forgettable.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Jenny Jackson pins down what it means to live the life of old money and what that buys you in social standing and subsequent classism. Her book offers a fascinating glimpse into the Stockton family’s drama. The inside relational discords, the petty grievances, and the importance of a good tablescape. Read this for a spring break or summer escape and then let the layers peel away as you look beneath the shiny surface to what lurks underneath. Half satire, half truth- enjoy the reading experience of this book and take away what you want from it.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

“Rife with the indulgent pleasures of life among New York’s one-percenters, Pineapple Street is a smart escapist novel that sparkles with wit. It’s about the peculiar unknowability of someone else’s family, the miles between the haves and have-nots and everything in between, and the insanity of first love.”

This book very much reminded me of an Elizabeth Strout book.

It’s all character and very little plot.

That sounds like a criticism (and it might be, if you prefer face-paced nail-biters) but it really wasn’t.

This book did a great job of peeling back each layer of this family-sized bag of onions.

I generally don’t love Misunderstanding as a trope, but it was really interesting to see each of the three main characters’ takes on the same set of circumstances.

While I generally want to tell the characters in a Miscommunication Plot to JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER ALREADY and DOES NO ONE READ BRENE BROWN?! in this story, the misunderstandings highlighted the differences in the characters’ backgrounds and thought processes.

It was so well done.

7.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this poignant ARC.

After reading part way through the book determined this book was not for me. Turns out I'm not really interested in the struggles of privileged people so have dropped the book. And since I didn't finish the book I can't provide a proper review or rating so I suppose I'll give it neutral rating of 2.5 stars.

While reading this book, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. The author has a great sense of humor and each character is described in a unique and captivating way.

Set in Brooklyn, New York, the novel revolves around the wealthy Stockton family. Chip and Tilda have three children who are very close to them. Darley, the eldest, is married to Malcolm, a middle-class man. Cord is married to Sasha, who struggles to connect with her husband's family. Meanwhile, Georgiana, the youngest, falls deeply in love but faces the consequences of her actions.

Throughout the novel, I came to understand each character's personality and how it shapes their realities. The author does a great job of creating a rich and complex family dynamic that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Trust me, you won't regret reading this book - it's a must-read that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this read. Money, money and more money. This was an entertaining family drama. These people make more issues for themselves then they have. It was a fun read.

Jenny Jackson writes an intriguing novel peaking into the lives of the Stockton Family - a family of old money in New York City. The matriarch and patriarch, Chip and Tilda, actually serve as side characters in this story, but set up the family with their rich and classy lifestyle, originating from generations of wealth in New York Real Estate. When I think of “old money” and “classy New York”, Chip and Tilda fit the bill. This family makes me think of debutante balls, golf/tennis club memberships, parties and events with catering and tablescapes that go above and beyond. The appearance of prim, proper, and polite - -but unfortunately also prejudiced.

Jackson gives us a very character-driven novel focusing primarily on the young women of the Stockton Family - Darley (the oldest), Georgiana (the youngest), and Sasha (a middle-class “outsider” who married into the family through the family’s middle-child, Cord). Darley, Georgiana and Sacha each face their own struggles in life, and have to navigate through their own biases and challenges while making growth in themselves and their relationships (the book description gives a good snapshot at these, so I won’t dive deep into the details of each). I really enjoyed Jackson’s writing style in this novel, and the way it gave us a glimpse into the world of the modern day rich family. And I thoroughly enjoyed how she brought the 2020s Millennial-adult experience into the book!… Just because it’s old money, doesn’t mean that modern day adults have the same experience living with it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the way it made me feel like I was a fly on the wall of a wealthy NYC family. Everyone has their issues - rich or not - and sometimes it’s the money that actually causes those issues! The character development was rich (pun intended, lol), but I wish there was just *more* in action. Maybe I’m just more of a plot girlie, but I will give Jackson credit for keeping me interested in the drama! It’s not especially fast paced, but it’s an easy read and a good one to put life into perspective! It was insightful, funny (I love Darley’s children, and how even rich kids aren’t immune to picking up dead pigeons and playing with slimey sticks), and full of heart.

I admit that the novel fell short for me in terms of plot… We read approximately 6 months worth of life events, and I found myself wondering where the point was getting to? Like I mentioned, the novel is very character-driven, and we see a lot of reflection and evolution in our main 3 gals from the beginning to end of the story. But that said, I feel like there wasn’t much story to be had; Just 3 ladies dealing with the life problems they were experiencing during this specific timeframe. The resolution of each ladies’ issues at the end of the novel was decently done - I found there was fairly good closure overall, but also felt like we were only given a smidgen of what could’ve been. I felt that Darley & Malcolm’s life was nicely settled, but that Sasha and Cord still have some deep relationship/family-dynamic issues to unpack. There was progress being made, but it only began in the last 10% of the novel, and frankly, I just don’t like Cord very much due to the other 90% of the story (seems like a fun, great guy - but a junk boyfriend/fiance/husband). I feel like Darley gave more of an effort than Cord did, so I was yearning for more from him in the resolution.

The story brought up good points about “the 1%” and economic/social disparities between classes, but then I felt as though the Stockton family went through that whole book, only for Georgiana to be the only one who gave a crap about doing anything about it… and even then, I’m still not convinced she really “gets” it. She treated her sister-in-law like crap for the whole book, and then on one page in the final 8% of the book we see she goes to therapy and admits that she has some inherent biases to work out. I love that for her, but the realisation and her way of atoning for everything afterwards felt forced/rushed to me. Too much of the novel was her being aloof and sweeping ick things under the carpet - I wanted more from her character (esp. Regarding Sasha). (Props to her for doing more than anyone in her family, and for calling them out on their shit though!).

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel! It was an easy and quick read with an interesting and important take on the class divide and wealth in general. "Pineapple Street" follows the happenings and journey of the Stockton family primarily through the points of view of the two adult daughters, Georgiana and Darley, and the daughter-in-law, Sasha. The book’s title refers to one of the famous fruit streets in Brooklyn Heights where the Stockton family lives and has lived for generations. The driving force of this novel is each of the narrators' exploration of wealth (generational, and in general) and its impact on their lives - personally and professionally - and on society as a whole.

It is also a story about family and love. The alternating perspectives between Darley, Sasha, and Georgiana allow us to get to know each of them intimately including their fears and insecurities. They are flawed humans but people whose motivations you still understand. It was very interesting to follow Georgiana's story and her facing the extreme privilege with which she grew up (although it didn't particularly seem to impact her treatment of her sister-in-law, Sasha, who grew up middle-class, but Rome wasn't built in a day!).