This was my first book by Grant Ginder, and I really enjoyed it.

It's the story about a group of six college friends and how life changing for each of them over the course of twenty years. It focuses on their gathering at five different parties.

I enjoyed the writing style as it made me feel like I was watching a likable group of characters on a television series.

Thank you to Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book gutted me in such an unexpected way! From the first few chapters I thought it wasn't going to have depth - but I was clearly wrong. I don't know if it is my stage of life - but these characters really resonated. How life can truly throw friendships into such vastly different ebbs and flows - the book really followed the various stages of life and how we can outgrow even the best of friends. I really loved and (at times) hated some of the characters - and really felt their pain. A little disappointed at the end - but overall - cannot recommend this enough. It is a great read that makes you stop and reflect. A. must read.

6 friends all trying to navigate adult life as they grow up and grow apart as they long for their old selves and who they used to be.

Going in, I knew this would be a story you’d need to sink your teeth into because it is primarily character driven with a larger cast of characters. It took a minute to sort everyone out. With alternating POV, I found myself wanting to stay with certain characters, and then skip over other chapters because they weren’t interesting to me or they were just too insufferable.

There is a lot here that I found relatable but i think ultimately, the writing lacked depth and emotion. It was hard to emotionally connect with anyone. It flowed between past reflections to present day sometimes within the same paragraph so my eyes did a lot a work reading each word to make sure I didn’t skip over anything.

The ending felt rushed and by then, I didn’t feel that emotional pull I know the author was trying to accomplish.

I’m giving this one 3.5 ⭐️ right now but rounding up to 4 because there is a lot here to unpack and I think with the right readers, it’ll be a hit.

So Old, So Young is a tender, beautifully introspective novel that quietly unfolds into something extraordinary. Grant Ginder masterfully captures the nuances of aging, identity, regret, and reinvention with a voice that is both honest and lyrical. This isn’t a loud book—it doesn’t rely on big twists or dramatic reveals—but instead leans into the quiet, intimate moments that make up a life: the long-held silences between family members, the unspoken weight of missed chances, and the complicated comfort of shared history. Ginder’s characters are deeply human—flawed, vulnerable, and achingly real. I found myself thinking about their choices and inner struggles long after closing the book. The prose is elegant and deliberate, full of observations that feel both cutting and compassionate. There’s a warmth beneath the melancholy, and a sense of humor that never tries too hard but often lands perfectly, offering small moments of levity amid the emotional weight. What makes this novel so affecting is its ability to feel deeply personal while also tapping into something universal—how we reckon with who we were, who we are now, and who we still hope to be. It’s about how time changes us, but also how certain truths and longings endure. Reading it felt like having a long, meaningful conversation with someone who sees you clearly. It’s literary fiction at its finest—quietly powerful, emotionally intelligent, and profoundly human. So Old, So Young is the kind of book I’ll return to, not for the plot, but for the feeling it left behind. Absolutely unforgettable.

With a nice slow start this story takes on a beautiful journey between 6 characters each of each are very raw and relatable. As you read these characters make you love, cry, scream, and want to reach in the book and slap them. With multiple POVs you really get to see how each of us interprets the same situation differently. It’s such a beautiful story to unfold and unpack. It also had me self reflecting on things quite often throughout. This book is such a beautiful reminder that life is a beautiful ride, we have to hold on, buckle up, and learn to take each curve at the right pace.

This was my first time reading Grant Ginder, and while So Old, So Young didn’t quite become a favorite, there’s no denying the quality of the writing. The prose is elegant, the characters thoughtfully developed, and the emotional core is subtly moving.

The structure — beginning with a character en route to an unnamed friend's funeral and then unraveling the intricacies of their friend group — was a smart narrative choice. This isn’t a mystery or a thriller by any stretch, but that small undercurrent of tension helped sustain my interest, especially as the pacing lagged in the middle.

I can already hear the critiques: the characters are self-centered, privileged, and consumed by what many would consider menial upper-middle-class dilemmas. And honestly? They are. But it also felt authentically human. It reminded me of those stories we all tell — the ones that seemed huge in the moment, but under the scrutiny of hindsight, dissolve into soft ache and quiet disappointment. There’s beauty in that.

What the book captures best is that particular flavor of grief and nostalgia: not for a person, but for a version of yourself you thought you’d become. The characters ache not just for the past, but for the promise of the past — the “what could have been” that never materialized.

That said, it didn’t have the spark or emotional intensity that pushes a book into unforgettable territory for me. But it’s a solid, thoughtful read, and I’d be curious to see what Ginder does in other works.

This book is a very compelling, character-driven novel that are all very relatable no matter who you are. It is not quite a feel-good novel but it will tug on your heartstrings and be a little thought-provoking.

In this book we are following 5 friends over a 20 year period. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this.. but somewhere along the way, I started to really enjoy it.

Each character is unlikeable in their own ways(maybe except for Adam, he was the most likable to me), but I love that about books.

This is a very character driven book as well, so if you’re looking for something with a little more plot, this may not be for you.

There was a moment that Sasha had when she is having a party for her kid and there are about a million things going on… just a moment with a fish and I started dying laughing, because as a mother myself, I could see myself being in her exact position and how overwhelming it is.

I will say I didn’t love the ending… and not because it’s not this perfect ending with a bow on top-I just wish some of the scenes towards the end were flushed out or explored more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: 🖊️ Literary Fiction
Recommend:✅

I read “So Old, So Young” immediately after returning from a trip with nine of my best friends celebrating our 20-year high school reunion and oh boy, was that perfect time for this book rip me right open. Every single page has a line or two perfectly describing what it is like to grow old with and apart from friends who know you maybe too well.

“So Old, So Young” follows five best friends over twenty years living in and around NYC using five parties as the backdrop of how all their lives change together and apart. It explores the heartbreak of changing relationships, both platonic and romantic but also the joy lifelong friendship can bring.

And also, it is hilarious. I’m 38 and the references and ideas and inner thoughts are so spot on at times I was worried Grant Ginder was somehow in my head.

This one is going to stick with me for a long, long time and it’s going to be one of those novels I recommend to everyone becuase I truly cannot imagine anyone not loving it.

You’ll love this book if you love:
✅Multiple POV
✅Introspection
✅Found Family

Thank you Net Galley and Gallery books. I wasn’t sure about the book at first but once I got going it was a compelling read. How can friendship survive life’s changes? I liked how this was more character driven, I could see or relate to the characters, whether it was from the people around me or personal experiences.

The book is easy to follow and is broken down by each character’s perspective. You are able to see how relationships break down through multiple point of views. It sad to see the misunderstandings, and the realizations of perhaps someone was not the friend they thought they were. Sasha in particular bugged me a bit, while everyone may not have the family life, she shouldn’t diminish the life that others have chosen or may not have chosen but they are making the most of it. I felt that she was harsh with the blow up with Mia.

Overall, once I got going, I did enjoy this one. As our lives changes, our friendship evolve and sometimes they run their course or a comment or one disagreement could cause something irreparable.

This is a character driven novel, filled with deeply relatable characters navigating the complexities of growing older. Told through multiple POVs, it weaves together the perspectives of five people all grappling with identity, aging, and the ache of nostalgia. It’s a coming of mid adulthood story, that dives into that quiet, unsettling realization that their youth passed in a blur, and before they truly figured out who they were, they woke up in a life full of responsibilities. The story explores how they grew apart from people, places, and versions of themselves they once couldn’t imagine living without and how that distance, while freeing, can also feel a little heartbreaking. What I loved most is how the book captures the layered nature of being human. It doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of parenthood, friendship breakups, love lost, grief, and even the mundane rhythms of daily life. It’s a gentle reminder that growing older means remembering, letting go, and holding on often all at once.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of So Old, So Young. This story of a group of friends from college as they age into marriage and children. Enjoyable story.

Grant Ginder’s So Old, So Young is a well-written, interestingly structured, character-driven story about friendships and aging. Just know going in that it’s a bit melancholy, not necessarily a feel-good novel. But it has spots of lightness and humor. And it has one of the best mom rants ever.

One of the aspects of this novel that I really enjoyed is the multiple perspectives from which it is written. The book revolves around a group of friends: Mia, Sasha, Adam, Marco, and Richie (and sometimes Nina), from their first post-college years to their mid-forties. Each of the five parts of the novel takes place at a social event that all or most of the friends attend: a New Year’s Eve party, a wedding, a birthday party, a Halloween party, and a funeral. Each part is broken into chapters that are time-stamped and named for the character whose thoughts are conveyed at that moment. This makes the main characters much more dynamic and nuanced; it allows the reader to see many of the different motives and feelings at play that result in each argument, misunderstanding, and heartbreak. This also helps avoid one-dimensional characters that are strictly villains or saints (with one major saintly exception). However, this also results in some of the side characters, who never get a chance to share their perspective, becoming static and unfortunate stereotypes (I’m looking at you Mitch, Emily, and Theo).

Overall, I enjoyed the writing, the journey, and the realism present in many of the characters’ flaws, but I can’t say I would want to be friends with any of them or that I enjoyed all the time I spent with them. However, I think this novel would make a good book club choice. It would be very interesting to discuss which characters were readers’ most and least favorites, as well as when each had relatable and detestable moments (which most of them have). It’s a book that would be fun to talk about with friends, it’s a quick read, and it did end on a hopeful note for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, though I’ll be honest there was a stretch in the middle that dragged a bit before things picked back up. Still, it was such a realistic portrayal of friendship, grief, & how our relationships evolve over time. I couldn’t imagine being friends with someone for 20 years & not hitting a few rough patches now & then. I really appreciated the humor & sarcasm throughout, & I was especially impressed with how the female characters were written, which is something I don’t always expect from a male author. Each character felt fully human: the kind you love one moment & can’t stand the next & then go back to loving. Overall, I think this book was great & I can’t wait to pick up more of his work!

This was my first time reading a book by Grant Ginder and I did enjoy it, though it was a bit slow to get started. I found that I could relate to the time frame of the setting as I graduated college around the same period. I also loved Mia’s reference to Lansing, MI as that’s where I live.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Grant Ginder’s latest novel is a tender, sharply observed, and emotionally resonant exploration of friendship, aging, and the quiet transformations that shape our lives over time. Told through five unforgettable gatherings across two decades, he captures the beautiful messiness of millennial adulthood with humor, heartbreak, and insight.

The ensemble cast—Marco, Mia, Sasha, Theo, Richie, and Adam—is drawn with warmth and nuance. Their evolving relationships feel real: full of inside jokes, silent resentments, and moments of deep, aching intimacy. Ginder has a gift for capturing how time stretches and contracts within a friendship—how we can drift, collide, and still somehow come back to each other, even when everything else has changed.

The parties that frame the novel—from cramped East Village apartments to sun-drenched backyard barbecues—are more than just settings; they’re emotional landmarks where characters confront past mistakes, unexpected joys, and the bittersweet ache of growing up. Each chapter is both a snapshot in time and a reflection of how we carry our younger selves forward, for better or worse.

By turns hilarious and devastating, Ginder’s writing sparkles with honesty and grace. This is a novel for anyone who has loved their friends like family, mourned the loss of closeness, or tried to make sense of who they’ve become with the people who once knew them best.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For the first few chapters of this book, I was so worried that I wasn't going to like it. It felt a bit shallow, and there didn't really seem to be a plot. I was wrong.

"So Old, So Young" is told over twenty years, through five different parties. The novel does a perfect job of illustrating how time changes everything: people, relationships, interests, and ideas. Each character navigates this in different ways, showing the complexity of human nature.

This story was completely character-driven. While that can be boring, this was done very well. The story follows six characters, and every single one of them is complicated, realistic, and distinctive. Sometimes I liked them, and sometimes I hated them. What I had first mistook for being shallow was actually just complexity, with each character having very real flaws, which could be found in any of us.

The one issue I had with this was the ending. It felt a bit unsatisfactory and rushed over. I wish that there was a more distinct resolution or message at the end.

Overall, I would definitely recommend "So Old, So Young" if you are looking for a more character-driven story that is still interesting!

Maybe I'm too old but I found this book a sad interpretation of the drug era and how it affected a group of college friends. Nobody ends up happy.
Most are still taking drugs and over drinking. Generally not giving there parents or grandparents nachas! (nachas means joy or pleasure in yiddish)
Well written but too long.

Another great novel by Ginder! This focuses on a group of former college students during the years after their graduation. There are couplings, friendships and feuds. All of these characters are well drawn with Mia as the nexus of the relationships.

I really enjoyed the novel. The author unfolds the story without including any spoilers (so neither will I). I loved the characters and the sadly inevitable paths taken in post-graduation years.

There is a maturity that grows as the years pass. Of course, bad decisions are made and allegiances change.

I highly recommend this to reading groups. This novel can be mined for endless rich discussions.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this new Ginder novel.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. This is such a great book for millennials like myself. Very relatable and the plot was so easy to follow. The characters are charming and likeable. And I love the timeline and how everything moves along.