{{short description|2007 novel by Charlotte Mendelson}} {{Infobox book | name = When We Were Bad | author = Charlotte Mendelson | language = English | country = United Kingdom | genre = Literary fiction | publisher = Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | isbn = 978-0-618-88343-1 | image = File:When_We_Were_Bad_(novel_cover).jpg | release_date = 13 August, 2007 | pages = 366 | dewey = | congress = | oclc = }} '''''When We Were Bad''''' is a novel by British author Charlotte Mendelson, published in 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Mendelson's third novel, it was shortlisted for the 2008 Women's Prize for Fiction.
==Summary== The story follows a Jewish family led by a female rabbi. Although the family appears perfect to outsiders, each family member hides a secret.
==Reception== ''When We Were Bad'' received mostly positive reviews from critics. Writing in ''The Guardian,'' Viv Groskop said the book was "as intelligent as it is funny" and praised the plot structure and characters.<ref>{{cite web |last=Groskop |first=Viv |date=May 13, 2007 |title=Don't get me to the church on time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/may/13/fiction.features3 |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=The Guardian |quote= |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426192411/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/may/13/fiction.features3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
''Kirkus Reviews'' praised the novel's "astute, affectionately mocking prose" and "wicked but merciful intelligence".<ref>{{cite web |date=June 15, 2007 |title=The Outcast, by Sadie Jones |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/charlotte-mendelson/when-we-were-bad/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=Kirkus Reviews |quote= |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426192423/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/charlotte-mendelson/when-we-were-bad/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The ''Jewish Book Council'' called the book "a good read" but said it was sometimes overwritten.<ref>{{cite web |last=Metsch |first=Penny |date=November 14, 2011 |title=When We Were Bad |url=https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/when-we-were-bad |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=Jewish Book Council |quote= |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426192412/https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/when-we-were-bad |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Awards== In 2008, ''When We Were Bad'' was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charlotte Mendelson |url=https://www.womensprize.com/book-author/charlotte-mendelson/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=Women's Prize for Fiction |quote= |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426192412/https://www.womensprize.com/book-author/charlotte-mendelson/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
* ''[https://www.charlottemendelson.com/when-we-were-bad When We Were Bad]'' at the author's website
Category:Houghton Mifflin books Category:2007 British novels