i want you to be happy by jem calder - a review
I Want You To Be Happy is a literary fiction with a romance-esque plot following Chuck and Joey. Chuck is a 35 year old copywriter who has recently ended his decade long relationship. He once dreamed of being a writer, but now is living in a luxury appartment that he can barely afford by himself, drinking too much, and putting in the bare minimum effort required at work. Joey is a 23 year old barista, who feels like she’s lagging behind all of her friends with ‘real jobs,’ lives in a cramped city flatshare, and writes poetry that not even she thinks is any good.
One night, Joey and Chuck drunkenly meet at a club, and after spending the night at Chuck’s place, embark on a messy, undefined ‘relationship’ (I really don’t think you could even call it that) that is a good distraction at first, but progressively becomes a perplexing situation that neither of them really know how to navigate.
This book was really up my street. I really enjoy reading character-driven stories that, while definitely not traditional contemporary romance, still include depictions of dating and intimacy in contemporary life - I Want You To Be Happy does a truly great job at this. The chapters alternate between Joey and Chuck’s perspective, written in a style that is fast paced enough to become properly immersed in their world’s, but introspective enough to fully absorb the story. The obvious age gap aside, these protagonists use the relationship that they are building with each other, and the differences in their lifestyles, to subconsciously reflect on their own lives.
For Chuck, this is a difficult process; it becomes pretty clear that he is struggling mentally, which is reflected through his performance at work, his increasing dependency of alcohol, and his lack of consideration for Joey’s feelings. While his behaviour can be frustrating to read about at times, I found Jem Calder’s portrayal of this to be often painful but consistently comedic.
Joey, on the other hand, provides an accurate insight into being a woman in your early 20s who is worried about the future, her finances, and finding the correct time to text a man back. I think it’s fair to say that although sometimes Joey’s narrative can feel like a call-and-response to Chuck’s, there are moments where her inner monologue is a perfect reflection of the modern world.She struggles with comparing herself to her peers, not knowing what she wants to do with her life, and believing in her own artistic abilities. There are times where you want to shake her and ask her why she is spending so much of her time worrying about a man over twice her age who is evidently still hung up on his ex-fiancé, and in no fit place to consider a serious relationship with anyone.
Like I said, I wouldn’t classify this book as a romance in the traditional sense - I actually think ‘romance’ denotes a mutual feeling of excitement and love, and that’s definitely not the case in this novel. Joey and Chuck share something closer to conveniently timed adoration than romance. However, I do think this story shows how people who are searching for meaning can find it in those around them. Overall, I Want You To Be Happy was a solid four star read for me. I think it’s an unflinchingly honest account of trying to build new connections during a time that feels pretty isolating. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who lives in the Sally Rooney sphere.