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especiallybooks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was an intense and interesting look at grief and what it does to a person. Very sad, but very heartfelt and moving at the same time.
syren96's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided by Algonquin Books and NetGalley
I didn't expect a book about a young man who has unexpectedly lost his wife to make me laugh as much as this did. While there are definitely moments where you are just aching for his loss, there are humorous encounters and revelations along his grief-driven road trip.
There were definitely some parts of the story left unfinished but for the most part it felt natural to not have everything tied off with a neat little bow.
I didn't expect a book about a young man who has unexpectedly lost his wife to make me laugh as much as this did. While there are definitely moments where you are just aching for his loss, there are humorous encounters and revelations along his grief-driven road trip.
There were definitely some parts of the story left unfinished but for the most part it felt natural to not have everything tied off with a neat little bow.
jilljaracz's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting mix of 2nd and 3rd person. Story tugged at my heart.
justinereinosa's review against another edition
2.0
Was there a real story here? Because I think I missed it.
Hunter wasn't very likeable from the very beginning. He always seemed to find something wrong with everything. And not just after his wife's death. He seemed unhappy with everything even before. Maybe I read him wrong, but he was a constant critique.
The story lay flat through most of the book. There was no climactic event expect for when he finally released his wife's ashes, and even then, the scene that was painted seemed all too generic.
There were several points where I wanted to just stop reading, but I persevered and finished, constantly thinking at some point SOMETHING had to happen. I give it two stars for the last few lines of the book that were slightly moving and the very beginning of the book that drew me in at first. Other than that the book was a dud.
I cry so easily, yet I found it very hard to be sympathetic for this widower.
Hunter wasn't very likeable from the very beginning. He always seemed to find something wrong with everything. And not just after his wife's death. He seemed unhappy with everything even before. Maybe I read him wrong, but he was a constant critique.
The story lay flat through most of the book. There was no climactic event expect for when he finally released his wife's ashes, and even then, the scene that was painted seemed all too generic.
There were several points where I wanted to just stop reading, but I persevered and finished, constantly thinking at some point SOMETHING had to happen. I give it two stars for the last few lines of the book that were slightly moving and the very beginning of the book that drew me in at first. Other than that the book was a dud.
I cry so easily, yet I found it very hard to be sympathetic for this widower.
wathykite's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
maddaboutit's review against another edition
3.0
The Young Widower’s Handbook is sweet, and simple. It’s fast-paced and features stories of finding joy in little memories and regretting how mundane things level out of be. It tell us the story we already know about grief. And it’s honest, and you’re glad that the author doesn’t push some manufactured “new” revaluation of grief onto you.
Also, nothing happens. Hunter spends the first 3 quarters of the book burning bridges, and then makes tiny acts to begin to rebuild them. There will be nothing upsetting, disquieting, or even surprising. We are left with a picture that he will eventually be okay. In short, this book will go exactly how you expect. And you will finish it and say “that was nice.” This book didn’t necessarily need to be more, just that I felt it claimed to be and never followed up somehow?
Also, nothing happens. Hunter spends the first 3 quarters of the book burning bridges, and then makes tiny acts to begin to rebuild them. There will be nothing upsetting, disquieting, or even surprising. We are left with a picture that he will eventually be okay. In short, this book will go exactly how you expect. And you will finish it and say “that was nice.” This book didn’t necessarily need to be more, just that I felt it claimed to be and never followed up somehow?
filipeheath's review against another edition
2.0
"Forgiveness shouldn’t be expected: it has to be earned"
This novel started off really good and I was excited to see what it would bring me but seemed to become uninteresting once Kait. I was going to DNF this book but decided to push trought to see if something exciting would happen but when Kait died, the story died with her.
The main character Hunter is such a boring character to read about and I couldn’t relate to him in any segment of the book. Since we didn’t have Kait and kept along with Hunter’s life, the book just got unbearable.
I was expecting a cute book about lots of travels and making good memories and instead I followed a flat character for about 300 pages. It focuses alot on love and defiantly was not my type of book.
Thank you Netgalley & Algonquin books for giving me a e-ARC in exchange of a honest review.
This novel started off really good and I was excited to see what it would bring me but seemed to become uninteresting once Kait. I was going to DNF this book but decided to push trought to see if something exciting would happen but when Kait died, the story died with her.
The main character Hunter is such a boring character to read about and I couldn’t relate to him in any segment of the book. Since we didn’t have Kait and kept along with Hunter’s life, the book just got unbearable.
I was expecting a cute book about lots of travels and making good memories and instead I followed a flat character for about 300 pages. It focuses alot on love and defiantly was not my type of book.
Thank you Netgalley & Algonquin books for giving me a e-ARC in exchange of a honest review.
bookishvanessa's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free copy of this book to review; thank you to the author and the publisher.
The Young Widower’s Handbook is a quirky little book that follows recently widowed 29-year-old Hunter Cady on a road trip across the U.S. following his wife, Kait’s, death. After his wife dies unexpectedly, Hunter shuts down and shuts everyone out, taking his wife’s ashes and jumping in the car. On his journey west across the country, he meets an interesting cast of characters.
What I Liked: Hunter and Kait’s relationship seemed so real and down-to-earth during all of the scenes when Hunter reminisced. I could really feel his love for her and his pain following her passing.
What I Didn’t Quite Like: The middle of the book dragged on and on a bit too much. I wasn’t interested in the characters Hunter met along his journey, and I kept wanting to shake him at some points because of his decisions, but I understand he was grieving.
Read If: Read if you enjoy contemporary literature and character-driven novels.
The Young Widower’s Handbook is a quirky little book that follows recently widowed 29-year-old Hunter Cady on a road trip across the U.S. following his wife, Kait’s, death. After his wife dies unexpectedly, Hunter shuts down and shuts everyone out, taking his wife’s ashes and jumping in the car. On his journey west across the country, he meets an interesting cast of characters.
What I Liked: Hunter and Kait’s relationship seemed so real and down-to-earth during all of the scenes when Hunter reminisced. I could really feel his love for her and his pain following her passing.
What I Didn’t Quite Like: The middle of the book dragged on and on a bit too much. I wasn’t interested in the characters Hunter met along his journey, and I kept wanting to shake him at some points because of his decisions, but I understand he was grieving.
Read If: Read if you enjoy contemporary literature and character-driven novels.
jenwestpfahl's review against another edition
2.0
There were *just* enough interesting passages and glimmers of hope to keep me reading till the end, but mostly this book was tedious and dimly depressing. I found the main character full as a cardboard box, and I really wish I had skipped all of the cheesy, second-person-POV chapters.