This is quirky and different but I'm not sure I really got it! Stone of the references were obscure to me and as others have said the ending doesn't make sense in the current format. Not for me, sadly.

Nathan Newman's "How to Leave the House" is a witty and insightful exploration of the everyday anxieties and challenges that come with modern life. Through a blend of humor, practical advice, and relatable anecdotes, Newman addresses the often-overlooked struggles of venturing out into the world, especially for those who find social situations daunting or overwhelming.

The book is both light-hearted and empathetic, offering readers a comforting guide to navigating the complexities of leaving one's comfort zone. Newman's approachable writing style makes it easy to connect with the content, providing reassurance and practical tips for overcoming the barriers that keep us from fully engaging with life outside our homes.

"How to Leave the House" is perfect for anyone who has ever felt apprehensive about social interactions or simply needs a gentle push to embrace the world beyond their front door. It’s a thoughtful and encouraging read that combines humor with genuine support, making it a valuable companion for those seeking to overcome their fears and live more freely.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with a free copy of this books in exchange for an honest review!

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book for the most part. The main character came off as quite pretentious, and the plot felt meandering and pointless to some extent. Whilst I felt the premise of this book was interesting and held some promise, the execution left the story feeling disjointed and inconsistent. The side characters, whilst somewhat interesting, still felt quite flat and the sheer number of them left little room for development across the novel.

The ending was incredibly confusing; there was no suggestion as to what the actual ending to the novel was, which could be a stylistic choice by the author, but it was just incredibly jarring to read and left me feeling unsatisfied with the conclusion. The tone and character left much to be desired, at least for me, but I can absolutely see others having a great time following Natwest. Overall, this book was just not for me.

This is a very funny book that made me laugh out loud. Weird, over the top, often slapstick.
The main character is not always very likeable but you cannot help rooting for him and all the people he involves in his quest
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I can appreciate that this book just wasn't for me, subject wise, character wise...it was very niche. The art and literature references went over my head. I'm simply not going to Google every obscure reference made. This book really felt like a first draft. I'm not sure if it was my ARC copy, but the ending was confusing...is there a double/alternate ending situation happening?? Or was the final ending undecided at the time proof copies were made? I don't know. I kind of see what the author was aiming for with the "24 hours in the life of" premise, I've seen it done before, but personally I think the mark was missed. There just wasn't enough of a storyline and the characters did not have enough presence to pull off this sort of writing. The main character, Natwest, is really the only one you truly get a sense of and his character felt basic and stereotypical. The rest of the characters you meet so briefly by the time they come up again you've forgotten them entirely. The "connections" are no more than people living in the same postal code. The humor fell flat for me and I honestly found it to be crude in a pitiful sort of way, as if the author was trying to shock the reader with raw unfiltered truth, but in reality it's nothing new and because it adds nothing else to the story it just feels like it's trying too hard.

I didn’t really enjoy this at all. I can see other reviews saying calling it a 24-hour read and I don’t know if they are referring to the plot or time it took to read but either way it took me ages to get through.
A lot of skipping and skim reading. Some strange language used and there were a few questionable symbols towards the end which, if I were reading in public would probably get me arrested….
Not my cup of tea, wouldn’t pick up again unfortunately :/

Original, offbeat off-to-Uni story - for a whole town!

I've not read anything quite like this before. Neither the way it's written nor the characters were at all typical. Which for me is a huge bonus. A post-adolescent about to leave for university, Natwest is our protagonist, our first-person storyteller, questing after a missing package that it's vital he finds today before he leaves.

Natwest himself is a tangle of quirks and traits: "he was an intellectual. His mind operated at the highest efficiency. His discernment was unparalleled." Aside from his self-given name, he doesn't make himself easy to like, this young man.

I had a sense of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' reading this, with Natwest's self-importance and the humour pervading.

I loved that we saw snippets of other people around Natwest's small-town home as he progresses about his day, from his mother planning for his departure (and getting in touch with her past) to a grumpy neighbour, an iman, a former teacher, a teenage girl with her own sideplot and issues, and the dentist whose art exhibition the end of Natwest's and everyone else's day is rotating slowly around and towards.

It's an eclectic collection of characters all on the periphery of Natwest's 'main character syndrome' life, each of whom could have their own story.

There are some standout moments, I loved the scene between Natwest and his former teacher debating the merits or otherwise of a particularly garish nail salon sign (which now makes the front cover make sense!), a love scene between an iman and an old black-and-white film and the strange two-parter parallel conclusion.

Unnerving, clever, immersive collage of a story that took me by surprise.

With thank to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

How to leave home is a story about a day in Natwest life which starts over a much accepted package, it’s a story of connection all linked to Natwest life in some manner.

The story is slow paced. The chapters to long….Not quite what I was expecting.

Thanks for this copy in exchange for my honest review

How to Leave the House by Nathan Newman is a thought-provoking novel about the connections made between different people.

Definitely quirky, this felt like an existential crisis of sorts but with way more sex.
I think my problem with it was a “continuity” error in the beginning that I just couldn’t get past.
It was a great concept in general. I’ve often thought about the idea of whether or not we’re each the hero of our own story, and how our behaviours impact others. I wish I’d liked this more but it just wasn’t for me.

the idea of the book seemed good, 24 hours in the life of Northwest. However the sexual content and oddness of the story made it a difficult read for me.

How To Leave The House may take place over one short day, but it’s going to stay with me for much longer. An impressive, impactful trailblazer of a book that takes an absurd slice of life and puts it under the microscope for the reader, with witty observations and tragically funny conversations about the strangeness of being alive. Despite the dark humour and sad moments, it was brimming with hope and had a sense of wonder about life and humanity.

Natwest was a wonderful narrator to follow but we soon learn there isn’t such a thing as a main character in life and as we cycle through the day again and again through different eyes our first impressions change and grow - the story was told with such lyrical language that was creative and fun to follow, painting such clear pictures and taking time for the small details - painting a picture of what should be a mundane daily image but just had that something extra. At times the conversations turn entirely odd, and the sexual scenes get a little much for me (no to the sweaty balls thanks) but it’s oddness gave it such charm.

As the day goes on, more people get added to the mixture and we see a web of interconnected lives passing each other by and sometimes joining together if only for a moment; our cast dealing with different worries and joys from religion and belief, marriage and love, body image and insecurity, sexuality and identity to basically not knowing what to do with your life. Instead of following your average linear structure, it’s a little invitation into these characters days. Each little interaction was fabulous; it really made you stop and think about the different versions of you in people’s minds, the different ways a single relationship can change over time and how a small moment can be everything and nothing depending on where you’re looking.

Weird and wonderful, this is a touching journey into the strangeness of being alive and the power of human connection.

a surprisingly vanilla affair that isn't as funny or real as it tries to be. there was nothing necessarily bad or wrong about it but it was just bland.

Interconnected stories told with a dry caustic wit. NatWest was the hero with whom it was difficult to really sympathise. All in all, not many characters ignited my interest, and I found the book quite the bore.

An impressive twenty-four-hour fiction. Reading this feels like being in a loop of reincarnation, always becoming someone connected to someone, ultimately escaping into an eternity of empathy—and the journey is hilarious, even though aberrational.

Note: A full-length review will be posted on the blog, and updated here, on December 15, 2023.

If this book sounds strange from the synopsis, reading it will leave you in no doubt. Often hilarious, this book might not be for everyone but Natwest's attempts to track down his missing package makes for a really funny story.

Put simply, this book is fantastic. A refreshingly quirky read about a day in the life of ‘our hero’ Natwest.
I loved the writing, the humour, and the darkly uncomfortable-at-times nature of the supporting characters which we meet along the way, especially Miss Pandey.
Some properly laugh out loud moments, Highly recommend!