This is an absolutely exceptional story which really packed a punch, especially as I have children who are neurodiverse so it did hit a nerve.

This story tells us about how Denny Voss got himself arrested and the events leading up to it. It is told through Denny's unique voice so we really get into his head, his thoughts, his views. I felt as though I knew Denny inside and out.

The way the story is told, there are various moments where it makes you doubt Denny or doubt others and wonder 'whodunit??' But not so dramatically that you spend your whole time trying to guess, instead you're swept up in the story.

It's told in a beautiful way. The emotion that builds up is beautiful.

I think this is an exceptional read.

Did I just find a new comfort book??? Why, yes. Yes, I did! And I could not be more thrilled if I tried!!

The story kicks off with Denny Voss, a 29-year-old man sliding down a snow-covered hill with a sled full of guns, wrongfully being chased by the police while trying to do a good deed.

What follows is a heartwarming yet surprisingly hilarious story as Denny, his lawyer, and his therapist slowly unravel the complex web of Denny's past to figure out how he ended up incarcerated (locked up in jail). Again.

I had such a great time reading this book! The plot and characters were top-notch, even though they did tend to annoy me sometimes (looking at you, Angus). They were relatable and realistic in a way that felt like a breath of fresh air, and their development throughout the story had me rooting for them (except you, Lydia—you’re still useless. Maybe not as much, but still useless all the same). But most of all, I adored Denny. His voice was so unique and authentic, his presence so much like a warm hug that I fell in love with this story.

The mystery element of the plot kept me on my toes until the end, and even that was done sooo well. Never once did I feel dumb, and the answer wasn’t super obvious, which is also nice.

Overall, I had a blast reading this book, and I’ll definitely be reading more of Holly’s work in the future.

*A huge thanks to Holly Kennedy and Lake Union Publishing for providing me a digital copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy, in exchange for my honest review.

All the stars!

I absolutely LOVED this book! This story was genuine, heartfelt, and emotional, with just the right amount of humor. Denny was portrayed perfectly, and the secondary characters were very realistic.

I highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading more by Holly Kennedy.

On the surface, Denny Voss’s life in rural Minnesota is a quiet one. At thirty years old, he lives at home with his elderly mother and his beloved blind and deaf Saint Bernard, George. He cleans up roadkill to help pay the bills. Though his prospects are limited by a developmental delay—the result of an accident at birth—Denny has always felt that he has “a good life.”

So how did he wind up being charged with the murder of a mayoral candidate—after crashing a sled full of guns into a tree?

As Denny awaits trial, his court-appointed therapist walks him through the events of the past year. Denny’s had other scuffles with the law, the first for kidnapping a neighbor’s cantankerous goose. And then there was the time he accidentally assisted in a bank robbery. It seems like whenever Denny tries to do the right thing, chaos ensues.

Untangling the events around the murder reveals even more painful truths about his family’s past. He’s always been surrounded by people who love him, but now it’s up to Denny to set his life on a new course.

Loved it. Will recommend to others. Cannot wait to read more from the author.,

Denny finds himself in jail and being questioned for the murder of a local politician after he crashes a sled full of guns in front of the police station. He is awaiting trail and talking with his lawyer and therapist about the events that led him to this point, including kidnapping a goose and accidentally helping rob a bank. Because of Denny's developmental delay, his storytelling takes a lot of unexpected detours and he has a very wide range of insight into his experiences. I loved this book, one of my favorites of the year. Denny is so endearing (although I can certainly imagine he'd be a frustrating guy to deal with as well), and I would have liked this story to continue forever. 5 stars.

Denny is being accused of killing his neighbor. Denny is perfectly normal according to him, but her was born with the umbilical cord around his neck and was lacking oxygen for too long. This gives him an IQ of 72. His lives with his mom and his cousin lives in the double next door. This is the story of how Denny ended up being accused of killing his neighbor. It's a great read, reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant.

This beautiful novel follows Max, a young man with a developmental disability, as he uncovers a painful family secret that forces him to confront his past. Living with his sister Emma, their close bond is both comforting and strained as they each struggle with their own challenges.

The author does an incredible job of capturing Max’s unique perspective, making his emotional journey both compelling and heart-wrenching. As the story unfolds, the connection between Max and Emma deepens, and the plot builds toward a powerful, redemptive conclusion.

With its themes of love, forgiveness, and self-acceptance, this book left me with a full heart and a renewed sense of hope. A truly unforgettable read.

Denny Voss is a man with an unspecified learning disability who has been accused of murder. The book begins with the accusation and then goes back over his life and what has happened to him. It’s an enjoyable read but not as gripping as it perhaps should be.

In "The Sideways Life of Denny Voss," Holly Kennedy weaves a touching yet amusing tale about life's complexities through the lens of an unconventional hero.

Denny, a 30-year-old man with a developmental delay, lives a quiet life in rural Minnesota with his aging mother and beloved Saint Bernard, George. His world goes haywire when he's charged with murdering a mayoral candidate after a peculiar accident involving a sled full of guns. This scenario raises questions about Denny's innocence and jumpstarts his journey of self-discovery.

The plot unravels as Denny navigates the legal system with the help of his court-appointed therapist. Along the way, we learn about his past mishaps—like trying to kidnap a neighbor's goose and unintentionally getting mixed up in a bank robbery. These incidents illuminate Denny's character: a man who aims to do good but often stumbles into chaos.

Kennedy masterfully creates an atmosphere that balances humor and poignant emotional depth. The rural setting feels both cozy and isolating, reflecting Denny's inner battles. The small-town vibe is enriched by quirky characters—from loving relatives to oddball neighbors—who shape Denny's journey. Emotions oscillate between laughter at Denny's exploits and sobering reflections on family and personal limitations.

Kennedy's writing style is accessible and refined, mixing conversational dialogue with introspective prose, inviting us into Denny's mind. She addresses heavy themes like identity, familial love, and societal views on disability without dampening Denny's lighthearted outlook on life.

"The Sideways Life of Denny Voss" offers heartfelt storytelling that resonates deeply, nudging readers to ponder their own lives while cheering for Denny as he redefines his path amidst chaos.

Unfortunately this story wasn't for me. Ibjust found Denny really frustrating. Whilst I understand he has some mental health delays, I found people around Denny also felt frustrated with him getting to the point. Books for me need to be enjoyable and this wasn't enjoyable, it was hard work. I found I honestly didn't care what happened to Denny or how the story ended. The only aspect of the story that I felt a connection with was George, I adore dogs and it felt heart warming reading the connection between Geoege and Denny. I enjoyed reading the backstory of how George came to be Dennys dog. The rest of the story was hardwork and I didn't care for it

Senseless cruelty and simple kindness are spun into a compelling story with charm, told in a unique voice sure to capture hearts. This was my first time reading Holly Kennedy and I was blown away. The poignant plot unfolds with honesty and warmth. I found myself sneaking every spare moment to spend a few more minutes with Denny and his family.

Told from Denny's perspective, as a thirty-year old developmentally challenged man, the narrative is captivating. Denny lives with his mother and has a job with the DOT removing roadkill and replacing damaged road signs. He adores his Saint Bernard, George, who is blind and deaf. Their relationship is heartwarming. Denny lives a routine yet fulfilling life until he's charged with murder.

Watching Denny grapple with the family secrets he uncovered kept me turning pages and broke my heart. The author kept his voice consistent throughout which was quite a feat given all that transpires. I yearned to see Denny and his family resolve their issues and come to terms with the past. The ending was brilliant and left me teary eyed.

All the Stars!

I absolutely fell in love with Denny Voss. He had a sideways life in a lot of ways but the clear, honest, head on facing of situations was a joy to experience with him.

Overview: A man with the IQ of 72 is accused of killing a man.

Really loved this book. It's hard to nail a specific voice, especially if the story is dependent on sounding less intelligent than the average person, but this author nailed it. Holly Kennedy mentioned she based his character on a neighbor she had and it's clear she had a real personality to mirror from. The story had strong narrative and great pacing. I cried at the end. Really looking forward to whatever else this author might write.

This was a fun and entertaining book! It was entertaining, kept me engaged throughout the whole read, and have lots of funny parts to it, which I loved. It was a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I loved this book so much. The story is told from Denny’s point of view. Denny is a 30-year-old developmentally delayed man who has a heart of gold and is honest to a fault. The authentic way Denny’s dialogue and internal thoughts were written blew me away. I felt that Danny wasn’t given his due as to how smart he really is. And even though his number is 72 he knows what’s what. But don’t fret, even though our main character is developmentally different this story takes on some heavy topics… gun violence sexual assault and class issues to name but a few.

The author writes every aspect of Denny, his relationships and the tough topics in a realistic and sensitive manner in a way I’ve never seen before. She has a real understanding of these issues because she has dealt with them with friends and family and it shows.

By the end of the story I was crying and I just wanted to hug Danny and his family so I ended up hugging the book via my tablet instead. I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending, the way the author could have gone the sickly sweet way but she didn’t and it just made me appreciate the story and its characters that much more. It left me feeling hopeful for Denny and his family and I realized just how lucky Denny is. I can’t recommend this one enough, it’s going on my favourites of the year list. All. The. Stars.

This was a fascinating concept for a murder novel, I thought it worked well as a novel. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and what was happening overall. Holly Kennedy wrote this perfectly and can’t wait to read more.

' “Do better!” she said. “Try acting like a decent human being. It's not that hard.” '

With all the misery in the world we're currently dealing with – the whole of the Middle East (as if bombing and starving people in Palestine isn't bad enough), Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine, you name it... people being ill with ME and LC, misogyny, gun violence, on and on it goes... indeed, I needed a book like this!
This review should be about this book, but I feel like proverbially pounding my fist on the table. Just like Nana-Jo did. Because the lack of people trying to deal with all the mentioned subjects is so painful, it makes me cry very, very often. Oh, the anger of the peri-menopausal woman, but hey the motto suggests 'be the change.'

So the story is of the very kind Denny Voss who hardly raises his voice, not even when being treated unkind to put it mildly. He who hugs and talks to a friend he doesn't want to be scared because he thinks there's nothing worse than being scared. Denny, who goes on a wild goose chase and made me laugh all the way through the book. You just wait until you read about him mentioning Pinky, the mouse.
A book that was made up of people with real-life characters, some of them I would describe as 'quite a piece of work.' This made me appreciate the book all the more for it not being sugarcoated.

To emphasize I want to end this review on a well-deserved positive note (Denny would yell 'Hallelujah'): I hope the book will be published in Dutch, the translator is going to have a field day with Angus' shirts :)