The Spectacular Now

by Tim Tharp

In the last months of high school, charismatic eighteen-year-old Sutter Keely lives in the present, staying drunk or high most of the time, but that could change when starts working to boost the self-confidence of a classmate, Aimee.

• ISBN10: 0375851798
• ISBN13: 9780375851797
• Publish Date: 1 November 2008 (first published 1 January 2008)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Random House Inc
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 294
• Language: English

Reviews

[Bianca]

But I've never loved anyone as much as I love her right now. That's how I know I'll have to give her up.

— I'm broken. Don't talk to me.

[Sam@WLABB]

Sutter is a high school senior with no solid post-high school plans. He is best known as the life of the party and likes to live in the "now". His biggest problem, is that he never considers the consequences of his actions. He is stumbling through his days, until he meets Aimee. She is shy, deep and wounded. He wants to help her, save her.

I actually really enjoyed this book - until the end. I found myself totally invested in Sutter, who you will love and hate simultaneously, but find yourself rooting for. I was captivated by the story (I read it in two sittings on the same Saturday), the writing is great. However, I was disappointed in the ending.

[Kelly]

http://www.divabooknerd.com/2013/09/the-spectacular-now-by-tim-tharp.html
The Spectacular Now isn't a romantic comedy, it's dark, brooding and the story of Sutter, problem drinker, party boy and life changer. He uses alcohol as a crutch to dull the ache of his mother, who only cares about appearances, his sister and husband, the golden couple and his father. But Sutter isn't willing to change, he enjoys the flighty lifestyle, but sadly drags everyone down with him. This is his tale of finding himself and faced with the prospect of wanting to be a better person, verses sinking even further into his depressive state.

Be warned, most readers will feel frustrated by the ending. Another perfect example why I enforce my self imposed John Green hiatus. It also applies to The Spectacular Now.