I usually like books that are about the college experience. I did not like this one. It really was not for me. I think only two of the short stories- "Cassiopeia" and "Safe Spaces" -were arguably salvageable. I feel like the book did a disservice to those 90s frat movies that I hold a particular fondness for. Who knows- if you like experimental and 'odd' short stories about college, then maybe this will be your thing. It was a great idea for a novel, but it didn't work. I don't think Nugent knew where to reel in aspects of the book when he should have.

Anyway, don't let my review discourage you if you think it sounds interesting. It just wasn't for me. ( )

I was a little puzzled by this book, which many far better reviewers than I have considered outstanding, judgments seemingly supported by the author's impressive résumé. I thought it capably written, but uninteresting (and I expected to enjoy it). I was surprised that, in the year 2020, Farrar Straus would publish a book that portrays fraternity life so sympathetically, and I didn't agree with any of the advance praise published on the back of the dust jacket. I expect I just missed something more apparent to other readers. ( )

short stories revolving around—you got it—a set of fraternity brothers (and some sorority sisters) at UMass. It wasn't as one-note as that sounds, and there's some good offbeat POVs and more than a few surprises, but people's enjoyment of this one will probably have a lot to do with how much they can tolerate the setting/milieu. I liked it well enough, but it didn't knock me out. ( )