The Adults: A Novel

A couple (now separated), plus their daughter, plus their new partners, all on an epic Christmas vacation. What could go wrong? This razor-sharp novel puts a darkly comic twist on seasonal favorites like Love Actually and The Holiday.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE

"This debut is the whole package: realistic, flawed characters placed in an increasingly tense situation, resulting in a surprising, suspenseful novel."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Meet The Adults.

Claire and Matt are no longer together but decide that it would be best for their daughter, Scarlett, to have a "normal" family Christmas. They can't agree on whose idea it was to go to the Happy Forest holiday park, or who said they should bring their new partners. But someone did-and it's too late to pull the plug. Claire brings her new boyfriend, Patrick (never Pat), a seemingly sensible, eligible from a distance Ironman in Waiting. Matt brings the new love of his life, Alex, funny, smart, and extremely patient. Scarlett, who is seven, brings her imaginary friend Posey. He's a giant rabbit. Together the five (or six?) of them grit their teeth over Forced Fun Activities, drink a little too much after Scarlett's bedtime, overshare classified secrets about their pasts . . . and before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends where this novel begins-with a tearful, frightened call to the police.

What happened? They said they'd all be adults about this. . . .

Praise for The Adults

"A delectable premise . . . Hulse skewers her characters uproariously, zeroing in on every quirk, and she humanizes them, too."-Entertainment Weekly

"The ending is worth every page turned in this funny, redeeming wade through the rough tide of blended family."-San Francisco Chronicle

"Caroline Hulse's farcical debut is an ode to the big personalities and drama you find in families-unconventional and not."-Real Simple

"If Love, Actually and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation are your two favorite holiday movies, you're going to love The Adults."-Bustle

"This wry holiday novel will make you chuckle and remind you that nobody's family is perfect. If you've ever sat through an awkward family dinner (who hasn't?), you'll relate so hard."-HelloGiggles