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A review by ada_elisabeth
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did.
I took it from my grandmother's shelf when I was at her house a few days ago because I was bored with the book I was actually read, All's Well by Mona Awad. (I promise I'll finish it at some point!) I thought I would skim the first few pages of This is Where I Leave You and then forget about it, but my interest was piqued by the plot and Jonathan Tropper's writing style, so I decided to take it with me.
There was something oddly comforting about this book. The characters had messy existences: cheating spouses and dead relatives and tangled love lives. But it just felt so honest and real, two things that I feel like a lot of books lack. The main character, Judd, was funny and candid, but also very genuine. The relationships in this book, while imperfect, were so well-written and felt real.
My one complaint (and the reason I'm not giving this book five stars) is the fact that it didn't really lean into the emotional side of things as much as it could have. I understand that it's a comedic novel, and therefore features a lot of humor and comedic relief. However, the main plot (a bunch of unhappy relatives mourning their lost husband/father) is sad, and while readers do get to see moments of that sadness, it's not a central part of the novel. I think some of the more tender moments (especially gentle conversations between Judd and his mother, or Judd and Phillip) could have been more prominent. Then again, I probably would've cried if this book was any sadder.
I really did enjoy this book. It was messy and real and funny and tragic all at once, and I really, really loved the last one hundred pages or so. You live and you learn, and this book really embodies that. 4.25/5 stars.
I took it from my grandmother's shelf when I was at her house a few days ago because I was bored with the book I was actually read, All's Well by Mona Awad. (I promise I'll finish it at some point!) I thought I would skim the first few pages of This is Where I Leave You and then forget about it, but my interest was piqued by the plot and Jonathan Tropper's writing style, so I decided to take it with me.
There was something oddly comforting about this book. The characters had messy existences: cheating spouses and dead relatives and tangled love lives. But it just felt so honest and real, two things that I feel like a lot of books lack. The main character, Judd, was funny and candid, but also very genuine. The relationships in this book, while imperfect, were so well-written and felt real.
My one complaint (and the reason I'm not giving this book five stars) is the fact that it didn't really lean into the emotional side of things as much as it could have. I understand that it's a comedic novel, and therefore features a lot of humor and comedic relief. However, the main plot (a bunch of unhappy relatives mourning their lost husband/father) is sad, and while readers do get to see moments of that sadness, it's not a central part of the novel. I think some of the more tender moments (especially gentle conversations between Judd and his mother, or Judd and Phillip) could have been more prominent. Then again, I probably would've cried if this book was any sadder.
I really did enjoy this book. It was messy and real and funny and tragic all at once, and I really, really loved the last one hundred pages or so. You live and you learn, and this book really embodies that. 4.25/5 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death