literatetexan's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a sucker for Jonathan Tropper's novels. I haven't read one yet that I didn't love. I think this is the fourth novel of his that I've read, and so far I've found something to laugh out loud and something to cry about in every one of them. If you like sentimental fiction, then you'll probably enjoy The Book of Joe. It's about a writer who grew up in a small town during the 1980s, wrote a novel about the townspeople, then stayed away for fifteen years. When his father has a stroke, Joe returns to his hometown, and just about everyone in town hates him because of his novel. (It wasn't a flattering portrait.) How Joe winds up dealing with his past determines his future, of course, but it also makes for an entertaining story. If you were a teenager growing up in a small town during the 1980s, you'll probably find a lot to relate to in this novel, too.
spahade's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was done really well, especially from a male point of view.
lindseysbooked's review against another edition
5.0
The Book of Joe
By Jonathan Tropper
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
Full disclosure…. This is not the first time I’ve read The Book of Joe. I read it about 10 years ago, pre-bookstagram and loves it so much. I was excited to re-read this book and see if the passing of time changed my opinion… it didn’t.
Joe Goffman, a non-athletic teenager from a small Connecticut town, moves away after high school and doesn’t look. Now on his own, Joe writes a book about that small town, Bush Falls (also the name of his book), and let’s the world in on their dirty laundry, with some extra liberties that paint some of the townspeople in less than an ideal light.
Now hated by most of the town, Joe has not returned to Bush Falls, even to see family, until he receives a call that his father has had a medical emergency and he should come right away. Dropping everything, Joe makes the drive back to Bush Falls where he will have to confront his family, his high school friends, and the people in town he was less than kind to in his book.
There are some tough subjects in this book, suicide, the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community in the 1980’s, cheating and more. That said, Joe is a self-described assh*le that is sometimes hilariously put in his place. There are cringeworthy moments, moments of utter devastation, and some that are laugh out loud funny. This book has me feeling all of the feels.
amyma's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, my first by Jonathan Tropper. The book was funny, but also touching...have a tissue handy!
sneakyawe's review against another edition
5.0
I genuinely enjoy every book I read by Johnathon Tropper. Equal parts hilarious and heart breaking, he manages to make me laugh and tear up at the same time. This book is about growing up and trying to do better even when it’s hard to change who you are used to being, and I think everyone can appreciate that.
andimontgomery's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first Jonathan Tropper book, and he's been one of my favorite authors since.
The Book of Joe was a poignant, hilarious, and heartwarming story of a man who goes home to see his ailing father. The problem is, he wrote a best-selling novel which had characters who were loosely based on the townspeople and depicted them in very unflattering ways. It seems like the whole town is out to get him. But when Joe reconnects with two old friends, the story takes a different turn and becomes much, much more.
I absolutely loved this story, and have re-read it several times. Highly recommended!
NOTE: The audio version is particularly good, since it's read by Tom Cavanaugh.
The Book of Joe was a poignant, hilarious, and heartwarming story of a man who goes home to see his ailing father. The problem is, he wrote a best-selling novel which had characters who were loosely based on the townspeople and depicted them in very unflattering ways. It seems like the whole town is out to get him. But when Joe reconnects with two old friends, the story takes a different turn and becomes much, much more.
I absolutely loved this story, and have re-read it several times. Highly recommended!
NOTE: The audio version is particularly good, since it's read by Tom Cavanaugh.
robinks's review against another edition
I was completely uninterested in the whiny, white male protagonist.