Such a great book that explores what else is out there and who am I? It shows it’s never to late to start over and find yourself

The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits

Tom drops his youngest daughter Miri off at university and just keeps driving, visiting various people along the way but with no real plan. But he can't run forever, he has to face up to his health issues and his wife, who had an affair 12 years ago and whom he intended to leave once Miri left home.

Loved this! I read it ahead of many others that are being published before it, mainly because my youngest has just left for university too. I absolutely loved it - the perfect mix of funny, poignant and thought-provoking. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

What struck me about this novel was the similarity, of narrative style, with Raymond Carver. I say that as a compliment, of course. And that style carries the reader through this quest type story, of Tom, whose wife, Amy has in the past had a affair, their son has left home, and their daughter is off to college. The question being asked, really, is what do you do when that happens - when you're left to live with the person who's betrayed you? There is another question running through this story, though, and that's Tom's illness, which other characters are concerned about, but he brushes off. As he travels alone, visiting old friends and his brother, and finally his son, there is a sense that he's reliving the past, perhaps even saying goodbye, and this adds to the mystery of his illness. In the end, we find out what's going on with him, and yes, the ending does ask the question, what will we do with the rest of our lives?

I'm tempted to say this is the best novel I've read this year, in fact, I'll say it. It really was the best novel I've read this year. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

"Nobody tells you what an intense experience loneliness is, how it has a lot of variations..."

Let me start by saying I didn't know what to expect from this book. A Jazzy cover, a title implying a romance, few reviews online for me to pre-empt a narrative. None of that mattered when I jumped in to this book.

Following the life of protagonist Tom as he drops his daughter at college and takes himself on a long trip across country meeting friends of old and strangers at basketball courts - this novel plunges straight into male mental health and what it's like getting by when there's nobody there who knows what's happening inside your head.

I freaking loved this book for how matter-of-fact and easy to read it was whilst simultaneously touching on deep topics and the tragedy of your life passing you by.

Highly recommended if you want to read something real and something that will resonate.

What a powerful tale; a really unexpected treasure. This is the story of Tom and his quest to find himself. It’s such a simple premise; he’s reached mid life, there’s a health concern and he’s living with the memory of betrayal by his wife, Amy, some years earlier. He drops his daughter off at university and instead of going home, just keeps driving. It’s part road trip as he seeks out old friends and reflects on his future. It’s observant, poignant and I suspect it’ll strike a chord with many. What happens in the empty nest home? The kids have gone and over a decade or two, relationships change. Will Tom and Amy have a future together? What are the ties that bind and how easy is it to break bonds? This is reflective without being claustrophobic and too introspective. Very well written and totally absorbing. Really enjoyed this.

An everyday story about a family whose youngest child Miriam is now going to college. Tom the father is going to take Miriam on his own to settle her into college life as his wife feels it will be to emotional for her. This gives Tom the perfect opportunity to leave his wife for having an affair 12 years earlier and extend his journey into a road trip visiting an old friend from college, his brother, his son and an old girlfriend. Toms has decided to rekindle an ambition to write a book about playing one on one basketball as he journeys from east to west coast America. However despite Toms protests that he is ok, he certainly isn't and ends up in hospital where he undergoes an emergency medical procedure. Beautifully written, recommended.

‘The Rest of Our Lives’ is a novel about people, family and how events from the past can help form our future. It’s also a great read which I’m sure will sweep you along with Tom, the lead character, as he traverses the country in search of himself.
Thoroughly recommend.

Toms wife had an affair. he vowed to leave her when his daughter finally left home. and so 12 years later when this day comes about, he drops her at university and just keeps driving. where to? why? with no clear plan or destination in mind he does have people to visit along the way. there is also his health issues. is he running? is he running to? is he just avoiding his wife and the decision he is now forced to decide upon having made the pact with himself all those years ago? leaving would be hard. but staying with somone who betrayed you completely?
i felt everything and all the things in this book. i felt too much! i was finding myself emotional just by the writing style. it seemed to flow and infiltrate your waking hours. having you thinking or feeling about it whether the book is in your hands or not.
it was seamless writing for me.
the added layer of not knowing what was wrong with Tom until the end was both good and bad. because i wanted to help him make the decisions based on what level of "ill" he was. and i wondered how this might dictate what he was doing or going to do. because was he saying goodbye? or just avoiding his wife and health issues?
a wonderful book. i could recommend it more.
one you will want in proper copy to sit on your bookshelf forever.