Rating
Synopsis
Andrew’s day-to-day is a little grim, searching for next of kin for those who die alone. Thankfully, he has a loving family waiting for him to help wash the day’s cares away when he gets home. At least, that’s what his coworkers believe.
Andrew didn’t mean for the misunderstanding to happen, yet he’s become trapped in his white lie. The fantasy of his wife and two kids has become a pleasant escape from his lonely one bedroom with only his Ella Fitzgerald records for company. But when new employee Peggy breezes into his life like a breath of fresh air, Andrew is shaken out of his routine. She doesn’t notice the wall he’s been safely hiding behind, and their friendship promises to break it down.
Andrew must choose: Does he tell the truth and start really living his life but risk losing his friendship with Peggy? Or will he stay safe and alone behind the façade?
Review
How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper is witty, and it’s fun. It’s worth sinking your teeth into.
It plays with our innate fear of dying alone and without anyone noticing while also revealing just how often it does, in fact, happen.
It’s funny, with that classic British humour that draws you into the characters and story. Taking dark topics while keeping them serious makes them that much easier to take in.
It also talks about grief and loss, how we process it and how it is different for everyone but how we all experience it at some point in our lives.
I really, very much enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down once I got started and just wanted to know the characters better and understand them.
I would suggest checking trigger warnings, I don’t want to give anything away, but there is a pretty intense scene at one point that may upset some people.