How Not to Die Alone

He dusted himself down, suddenly aware that people had seen him fall and were enjoying their dose of schadenfreude. He avoided eye contact and carried on, head down, hands thrust into his pockets. Gradually his embarrassment gave way to something else. It was in the aftermath of mishaps like this where he would feel it stir at his core and start to spread out, thick and cold, making it feel like he was walking through quicksand. There was nobody for him to share the story with. No one to help him laugh his way through it. Loneliness, however, was ever vigilant, always there to slow-clap his every stumble.

About a lonely middle-aged man pretending to his co-workers that he has a wife and kids in order to keep up with the impulsive lie he told years ago. It had some sentimental moments, but I found this book mostly dull and I wasn't really drawn into the characters.‬

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up–emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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The concept for this novel feels like something that'd happen to George Costanza, but what makes this novel work is that Roper makes Andrew a believable, sympathetic human being—not the dumpster fire of a person that George was. It's utterly preposterous, really. But you can't help but believe it happening (and can likely see yourself doing something similar).

I've seen repeated—almost ubiquitous—comparisons to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. And I get that, and can kind of agree with it. I found the character and story in this novel better than Ms. Oliphant or her life. Although that book seems much more plausible. (and I quickly decided not to care).

Andrew's friendship with Peggy is wonderful, I wish we had more time with them working/hanging out. Peggy's a great character on her own—and if Roper were to write one of those ridiculous “same story just from someone else's POV” sequels, I'd have to cast aside my prejudice against those so I could spend more time with her.

Vance gives one of those audiobook narrations that convinces you there's no other way for the book to sound—if you read the text version, the voice in your head would have to be Vance. And if you'd never heard of him before, that's okay, because your subconscious would invent a voice just like his.

Moving, amusing, hopeful. Great job.