Reading Corner - Okay Days, Jenny Mustard

5-star-rating-on-goodreads

Okay Days has to be one of the most enjoyable books I have read recently. When I was reading the initial few chapters, I thought “This is what my book would’ve sounded like if I had gone ahead with writing all those stories I wanted to, when I was in my mid-twenties”

This was a book that was right up my alley, sounding similar to the stuff I wanted to write when I was in my mid-twenties. I wanted to write from experience - a summer romance culminating into something serious as autumn/fall approached. Whenever I felt remotely good about someone I had swiped right on, I would bring out my journal- a protagonist ready for my upcoming chic-lit, listing all the character traits, and quirks, keen on allowing my art to imitate (my) life.

I liked it because it intersperses the reality of living in a walkable city ( Hello hello London) with the cost that comes with it - the lows of living in this economy (anywhere in the world) with a competitive job market ( honestly though, when are we gonna catch a break!) and emotionally leaning into someone you love.

Sam hates her life in Stockholm, its gray skies, and finds it boring even though she is Swedish. Lucas on the other hand, is in despair due to the unemployment condition despite having a double-masters degree in engineering and being an English man. They meet one summer and spend every minute of their time in London together during the season. Sam has to return to Sweden after a 10-week work week. The contrast between Sam and Luc is more than their immigration status— Sam likes to be out and about, spending night after night outside, while Lucas enjoys the routines of working out, preparing meals, and staying in.

Sam and Luc sound like people I know. I have been Sam for some parts of my life ( only without a Luc!) with a never-ending love to live a city life in the summer. I have romanticized the shit of living in a city during the summer months when everything is fun, and you feel forever young.

Online reviews have said they found it underwhelming and boring. But I wasn’t.

And a quote that stuck was —

"But even if we are fairly miserable now," he says, "to be honest I'd rather have two more miserable days with you than two okay days without.”