My May Book of the Month pick was probably my favorite line of novel. I love an oddball character, and I knew this one would deliver because it was compared to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which I loved. I quickly picked this book from the five available books, and dove in as soon as I finished my next book. (Plus, this book pushed me over the edge to BFF status with BOTM. How? I’m not certain, but now I’ll get free books and such so I will take it!)
Book 19:
How Not to Die Alone
by Richard Roper
Genre:
Contemporary, Fiction
Published:
May 2019
Synopsis According to Mandi:
Without spoilers, How Not to Die Alone is about Andrew, a man who spends his working hours searching for the next of kin of those who die alone. While securing his career, Andrew slipped a little white lie into his interview, claiming he had a wife and children. Years later, his lie still in tact, things escalate when he befriends his new co-worker, Peggy. For the first time, Andrew lets someone in and needs to decide what to do. Should he tell Peggy the truth, cutting down the web of lies he’s built and risking his reputation and job? Or should he keep up his lie, living alone, but secure in said web?
Favorite Quote(s):
None – which is weird for me. There were entire scenes I wish I could put in here, but no actual quotes I wanted to keep record of.
Awards (based upon my brief research):
None yet.
Pages:
321
My Overall Rating:
4 – For a debut novel, this was top notch. I laughed, I cried, I snuck pages in here and there to keep learning what happened. As previously mentioned, I love oddball characters, and I especially loved Andrew. Though I can’t say I related to him myself, he seemed so relatable. I could feel the awkwardness in his conversations. I could see the loneliness in his apartment. I could basically read his thoughts before he spoke them. His character was on point, and the plot, while nothing super crazy, still kept me on edge the whole way through.
This was such a fun read, and I’m glad I picked it. Had it tugged a little harder at my emotions, I might have given it a 5.
