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stormeno's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse and Alcoholism
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I knew nothing about this book so had no preconceptions going in, which I always love. It's such a heartwarming, sweet book but completely anchored in how messy and brutal reality can be. I liked being drip-fed snippets of Andrew's background and not really seeing him fully until close to the end; up until then it's not always easy to see his motives, although he never goes as far as becoming unsympathetic.
The writing is so easy to follow, with a light and funny style I was happy to keep coming back to. The humour gets really black at times, which feels inevitable given how so much of the plot deals closely with death. There are some lighter side characters to keep the tone from getting too sombre, although they all have their own issues and aren't all exactly likeable.
I particularly like how the book ends; it's one of my favourite tropes to not have everything tied up neatly with everyone well adjusted and happy. The idea remains that life isn't just fixed thanks to the events of a few pages; it's hopeful but ambiguous, and that I always find that easier to connect with.
The writing is so easy to follow, with a light and funny style I was happy to keep coming back to. The humour gets really black at times, which feels inevitable given how so much of the plot deals closely with death. There are some lighter side characters to keep the tone from getting too sombre, although they all have their own issues and aren't all exactly likeable.
I particularly like how the book ends; it's one of my favourite tropes to not have everything tied up neatly with everyone well adjusted and happy. The idea remains that life isn't just fixed thanks to the events of a few pages; it's hopeful but ambiguous, and that I always find that easier to connect with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment
lbw's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
About midway it went in a direction I had not anticipated, and I felt the main character changed at that point for no reason. And yet, the story had a nice message and resolution so I don’t want to overly disparage it. I was in the mood for something relatively lighthearted, and in the end, this was that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death and Alcoholism
Minor: Child abuse
litliz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, Alcohol, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Vomit and Alcoholism
allyordyna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I’m just… blown away. I love how English this book was; I love this lost middle-aged man; I love this author who exudes Fredrick Backman levels of narrative skill and humor. Absolutely floored me how such a simple story could become so complex, emotional, down-to-earth, and even end with a bit of a twist! Reminds me why I love contemporary novels. Think “A Man Called Ove” + “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine”. As with any novel that explores sensitive themes, be sure to check the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Cursing
Minor: Drug use
It made me sad to see his symptoms of a panic attack, and he just brushes them off like they’re normal. My man needs therapy and healing 😭kiwialexa's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Death
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Don't let the cartoon cover fool you, How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper is a pretty heavy read. To be clear, How Not to Die Alone is the original title in the U.S. However, the title was changed to Something to Live For back in 2020, which was also the original title of the book in the U.K.
Reading this book reminded me a lot of an undergrad course I took as a psychology major called "Death and Dying." Typically, death and dying are subjects we shy away from and don't find particularly comfortable to contemplate. It can be argued though, that doing just that - confronting death and dying - can be a healthy, comforting, and healing thing to do. There's a lot more I could say here about this, but it's the general gist that I think Richard Roper is on in this book. Dark and heavy subject matter doesn't necessarily make it bad or unhealthy.
Some of the other big themes in this book include honesty (both with yourself and others), moving on after the loss of a loved one, coping with anxiety, and asking for and accepting help when you need it. All big topics to tackle in and of themselves! And while this book is very sad in a lot of ways, it's also hopeful. The ending leaves the reader with warm feelings and looking towards a better future, if not the fairy tale happy ending we often see in romance novels. Yes, there is a romantic plotline. And yes, it has funny moments. I laughed out loud a few times. But it's also contemplative, heart wrenching, and quite frustrating sometimes.
I think picking up this book when you're in the right frame of mind or mood and knowing what to expect is important if you're going to really enjoy it. Based on the blurb and the cover, I was expecting a cute romcom with some living life to the fullest vibes. What I got was completely different. And at first I was disappointed and considered not even writing a review. But in retrospect, I think this was just the wrong book at the time for me. Or I wasn't in the right headspace for this book this week. Had I been in the right headspace or had the timing been better, I might have rave reviews. So this is definitely a read with awareness kind of book.
This wasn't one of my personal favorites, but it may be yours. If you loved The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, or Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, I think you'll really enjoy How Not to Die Alone (aka Something to Live For).
Content warnings: death, attempted suicide, hoarding, alcoholism, panic attacks, loss of a loved one, pornography, cancer, stalking, and brief harm to an animal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty
cafereads's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
mgdsmile's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
How Not to Die Alone brings the reader along in contemplating the role of the lonely in society through Andrew's experiences with work, family, and friends. Call it, Dear Evan Hansen meets Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Roper's debut novel is endearing, and the story is unique. The pacing and writing kept me intrigued as I got closer to discovering why exactly Andrew struggled with his particular blunder.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Death
stacy837's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt