--- product_id: 18471462 title: "Back When We Were Grownups: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)" price: "VT4202" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/18471462-back-when-we-were-grownups-a-novel-ballantine-readers-circle store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Back When We Were Grownups: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) **Price:** VT4202 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Back When We Were Grownups: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) - **How much does it cost?** VT4202 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/18471462-back-when-we-were-grownups-a-novel-ballantine-readers-circle) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: Back When We Were Grownups: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle): 9780345446862: Tyler, Anne: Books Review: Slow start, strong finish - I probably wouldn't have selected this book on my own. It was the selection of my book discussion group. Yet, I am so very glad I read it. Anne Tyler is such a gifted, thoughtful writer I knew it wouldn't be a bad read, but as a book based on characterization, not action, it got off to a slow start. I would read a little, put it down, do other things, find a quiet moment and pick it up again. It isn't a page turner that will suck you in; which you can't put down because you need to see what happens next. Slowly you get to know Rebecca Davitch and her extended family. There are no perfect people here. They are real people with all their flaws, faults, senseless squabbles, doubts, hopes and over it all their love for each other. It is a story of an imperfect family and the middle-aged, overweight woman who is their loving heart. It is a story of mid-life crisis, of redicovery and of hope. Back When We Were Grownups is a thought provoking book full of wonderful insights. I started this book full of doubts about whether I would enjoy it. I put it down sorry to see it end. That's what I love about our discussion group. I read books I would never have picked on my own, often to my delight. If you are looking for a book full of action and adventure, full of beautiful people who always make the right choices, well save this book for a time when you desire something a bit more thoughful and thought provoking. This is a book as satisfying and filling as a homecooked meal, unpretentious, but at its core more gratifying than the most elaborate gourmet fare. A book you will find yourself thinking back on, long after you close the cover. Review: Exquisitely written, but a bit disappointing - I've long loved Anne Tyler's books, enjoy the Baltimore setting and her finely tuned characterizations. So when I read the first chapter excerpt, I just had to read the whole book. Here I am, 54, rethinking my life, trying to figure out how to proceed, how to change some things to make the next few years more rewarding, needing some gentle, impartial adult guidance, absent of cliches. This could be my story, or at least I could get a couple of pointers on how to behave if I return to school or take some other course of action. Don't get this book for this reason, unless you want confirmation that you've already done the best you could, that you just need an attitude change. As for pulling the reader into a well told life, it's exquisite, very well written, with very interesting characters. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #89,202 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #649 in Family Saga Fiction #700 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #3,018 in Literary Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (3,047) | | Dimensions | 5.2 x 0.65 x 8 inches | | Edition | Reissue | | ISBN-10 | 0345446860 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0345446862 | | Item Weight | 2.31 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 273 pages | | Publication date | April 9, 2002 | | Publisher | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group | ## Images ![Back When We Were Grownups: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91Qrycfs7nL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Slow start, strong finish *by D***H on August 2, 2004* I probably wouldn't have selected this book on my own. It was the selection of my book discussion group. Yet, I am so very glad I read it. Anne Tyler is such a gifted, thoughtful writer I knew it wouldn't be a bad read, but as a book based on characterization, not action, it got off to a slow start. I would read a little, put it down, do other things, find a quiet moment and pick it up again. It isn't a page turner that will suck you in; which you can't put down because you need to see what happens next. Slowly you get to know Rebecca Davitch and her extended family. There are no perfect people here. They are real people with all their flaws, faults, senseless squabbles, doubts, hopes and over it all their love for each other. It is a story of an imperfect family and the middle-aged, overweight woman who is their loving heart. It is a story of mid-life crisis, of redicovery and of hope. Back When We Were Grownups is a thought provoking book full of wonderful insights. I started this book full of doubts about whether I would enjoy it. I put it down sorry to see it end. That's what I love about our discussion group. I read books I would never have picked on my own, often to my delight. If you are looking for a book full of action and adventure, full of beautiful people who always make the right choices, well save this book for a time when you desire something a bit more thoughful and thought provoking. This is a book as satisfying and filling as a homecooked meal, unpretentious, but at its core more gratifying than the most elaborate gourmet fare. A book you will find yourself thinking back on, long after you close the cover. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exquisitely written, but a bit disappointing *by P***R on July 27, 2001* I've long loved Anne Tyler's books, enjoy the Baltimore setting and her finely tuned characterizations. So when I read the first chapter excerpt, I just had to read the whole book. Here I am, 54, rethinking my life, trying to figure out how to proceed, how to change some things to make the next few years more rewarding, needing some gentle, impartial adult guidance, absent of cliches. This could be my story, or at least I could get a couple of pointers on how to behave if I return to school or take some other course of action. Don't get this book for this reason, unless you want confirmation that you've already done the best you could, that you just need an attitude change. As for pulling the reader into a well told life, it's exquisite, very well written, with very interesting characters. ### ⭐⭐⭐ A Nice Little Break From A Page-Turner *by L***D on January 24, 2013* As the rating indicates, this book is okay. It's a sweet little story, however, I wouldn't classify it as a "must read" or even one I would recommend to friends. I would read it if it were given to me but would certainly not buy it again. A nice little break from a page-turner that one cannot put down, because this one can definitely be put down and gone back to at one's leisure. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/18471462-back-when-we-were-grownups-a-novel-ballantine-readers-circle](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/18471462-back-when-we-were-grownups-a-novel-ballantine-readers-circle) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-06*