The Jetsetters is a pretty fun beach read. You get to live vicariously through the tumultuous and tattered lives of one family as they travel through various cities in Europe via cruise ship. Having been on a cruise myself in the past, I can at least relate to that aspect, but the rest of their messy lives I cannot.
It is very clear the Perkins family had a traumatic childhood, specifically at the hands of their alcoholic father. He’s shaped them each in different ways. Although, so did their mother, Charlotte. Never one to show affection, since that is how she grew up herself, Charlotte never connected with her three children on a deeper level. This is why eldest daughter, Lee, who found her father hanged in her bathroom, is a failing actress with no real successes professionally or personally. Middle child, Cord, has lived a distanced life from his family as a closeted gay man who works on Wall Street. And youngest, Reagan, seems to have her life all together with an idyllic family of her own, but she yearns to live for herself away from her abusive husband.
When Charlotte enters a romantic essay contest, she wins and convinces her children to join her. They all agree somewhat begrudgingly, and it’s clear every single relationship is strained. The entire trip you think that some moment will be the catalyst that brings them all together to reveal all the truths they’ve been hiding from each other, but it ultimately never really happens even when it does. And that’s perfectly fine! You can’t expect every story to end with a tidy bow on top. They’ve made improvements, yes, but there will always be a struggle to connect for the Perkins, but they are trying.
Despite me saying this is a “beach read,” there is still a ton of heavy material and topics covered throughout. It’s made somewhat more palatable by the backdrop of beautiful European cities like Paris and Rome. Perhaps that’s the juxtaposition that Ward was shooting for. That despite being in paradise, they all still can’t enjoy it because of their own misery. As someone with a great family life, it was frustrating to watch this family clam up around each other, but I suppose that is normal for a good deal of people. When they did finally start to let their walls down, it was clear to see the love that still existed between them all. It was an entertaining read, so if you’re up for it, give it a go.