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Book Summary and Reviews of All Together Now by Matthew Norman

All Together Now by Matthew Norman

All Together Now

A Novel

by Matthew Norman

  • Published:
  • Jun 2021, 288 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

A dying man brings his oldest friends together for one last beach blowout in this witty, heartfelt novel from the author of Last Couple Standing.

At just thirty-five, reclusive billionaire Robbie Malcolm is a renowned financial prognosticator, a celebrated philanthropist, and a mathematical genius. Also, he's dying, which is a fact he's carefully concealing from the world.

As he takes stock, Robbie realizes that his wealth means nothing if he can't help the people who matter most. So he invites his oldest friends—Blair, Cat, and Wade—to their beloved Fenwick Island on the coast of Delaware to share his secret and to reveal plans for each of them that he believes will change their lives forever.

However, Robbie isn't the only one with secrets. The bonds the friends formed as teenagers still exist, but adulthood has brought a whole new set of complications, like unrequited loves, marriages on the brink, and so much unfulfilled potential. Robbie's plans may look good on paper, but are they any match for the utter disaster that is real life?

As everything comes to light over a wild weekend full of surprises, Robbie learns there are still some things money can't buy, and a group of friends who thought their best years were behind them realize just how much they have to look forward to.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. The setting of Fenwick Island is intrinsic to this book. Discuss the ways in which the setting functions as a character in the novel and how each of the other characters relates to it.
  2. What specifi c themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he is trying to get across to the reader?
  3. How do the characters change, grow, or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
  4. What do you think the author's purpose was in writing this book? Are there core ideas that stand out?
  5. What did you think about the ending? Were you satisfied or disappointed, or a mix of the two?
  6. How did this book change you? Do you have a new perspective as a result of reading ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Norman's latest novel is a natural complement to Emma Straub's Modern Lovers, Glen David Gold's Sunnyside, and Lauren Groff's Fates and Furies, packed with Norman's signature suburban pathos. The novel's central foursome is delightfully complex, with individual insecurities, quirks, and passions gradually revealed. All Together Now is a witty and charming exploration of what can happen when adult lives are put on pause and teenage impulses meet a billionaire's resources." —Booklist (starred review)

"All Together Now is an absolute delight—an ode to true, everlasting friendship, endless love, and life itself. Like the characters from The Breakfast Club twenty years later, the Baltimore Prep Rejects are a flawed, funny, dysfunctional bunch who fit together perfectly." —Owen Nicholls, author of Love, Unscripted

"With warmth, wit, and compassion, All Together Now weaves an enchanting tale of friendship and love that will keep readers hooked until the last page. The novel is a master class in storytelling, with a powerful premise and palpable affection for its characters ... A glorious summer read." —Bruce Holsinger, national bestselling author ofThe Gifted School

This information about All Together Now was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Matthew Norman

Matthew Norman lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife and two children and holds an MFA from George Mason University. His previous novels include Last Couple Standing, We're All Damaged, and Domestic Violets.

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