A review by asourceoffiction
Something to Live For by Richard Roper

dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I knew nothing about this book so had no preconceptions going in, which I always love. It's such a heartwarming, sweet book but completely anchored in how messy and brutal reality can be. I liked being drip-fed snippets of Andrew's background and not really seeing him fully until close to the end; up until then it's not always easy to see his motives, although he never goes as far as becoming unsympathetic.

The writing is so easy to follow, with a light and funny style I was happy to keep coming back to. The humour gets really black at times, which feels inevitable given how so much of the plot deals closely with death. There are some lighter side characters to keep the tone from getting too sombre, although they all have their own issues and aren't all exactly likeable.

I particularly like how the book ends; it's one of my favourite tropes to not have everything tied up neatly with everyone well adjusted and happy. The idea remains that life isn't just fixed thanks to the events of a few pages; it's hopeful but ambiguous, and that I always find that easier to connect with.
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