Reviewed by Antonella Townsend
It is said of Genevieve Novak that she writes character-led romantic comedies, perhaps the genre needs expanding, the first category being unlikely fantasy in-a-perfect-world- romcom, or, in the case of Novak’s Crushing, truth-revealing, the-thinking-person’s-romcom. Novak’s writing is insightful and witty, her characters messy, fun, and, finally, brave, as they realise that we don’t always know what we want, or what a happy ending might look like.
Marnie has had enough. Five long term relationships and nothing to show for it. A decade wasted orbiting male lives as a fantasy planet, trying to be the light of: Ian, Thomas, Martin, Guillaume, and Eddie’s lives. Finally, to be told she was, respectively: too opinionated, too boring, had too much baggage, too needy, and now the latest, and most bitter sting of all – Eddie can’t see a future with her, but he keeps the dog! Agony. No wonder she swears off all future relationships.
In the mist of her misery, Marnie is supported by a got-it-all-together-sister Nicola. Nicola, replete with husband, house, and toddler, is a rock of dependability in Marnie’s life. And then, while hunting for somewhere to live after breaking up with Eddie she meets Claudia. Their friendship and conversations are the source of much amusement in this novel. Inconveniently, at Claudia’s office drinks party, Marnie meets perfect Isaac. Isaac has a girlfriend, nevertheless, he and Marnie become the best of friends, texting and talking into the night. Of course, Marnie falls in love with him. But this is not where Crushing meanders into the first category of unlikely happy endings. Rather, amongst the hilarity, there is a storm of self-realisation as Marnie attempts to unpack her past experiences, excavating into to the depths of social, family, and male expectations. Finding the ‘real’ Marnie isn’t easy. I don’t know if what I want is what I want, and I don’t know how to know. Through Marnie, Novak shows readers how social norms are insidiously bearing down, particularly on female lives. Employing a light touch, Novak digs deep into issues concerning identity, from personal psychology, family background, class, to male attitudes. …life was made of mirrors … parts reflecting each other endlessly into the ether. Novak seamlessly segues to Marnie’s background as she thinks about her family:
That was just the kind of women we were. Desperate to love someone; our entire validity hinged on someone loving us. This went deeper than self-esteem; it was genetic.
And there’s the rub, outsmarting our genes isn’t easy. But Novak has Marnie think it through, and we all benefit.
Crushing is an interesting, and amusing read.
by Genevieve Novak
(2023)
Harper Collins
Paperback
ISBN: 978 146076 185 4
$32.99; 368pp