A review by yesdnil
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting is a light-hearted read that seamlessly intertwines the lives of 6 commuters through alternating perspectives. I normally do not enjoy books that cycle through narrators (i.e. it can be hard to constantly shift between voices/perspectives as a reader), but the author does a good job of developing distinctive voices among the characters. The book covers a lot of relatable topics including ageism, sexism, toxic relationships, mental health, job loss, work stress, bullying, and illness, but still manages to maintain a hopeful tone.

One could also say the book borders on saccharine or after-school-special-y, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself the entire time and was invested in the characters' outcomes. Sometimes you just need a reminder that the people around us are wonderfully complex, life can turn out in surprising ways, and maybe optimism isn't a "nice to have" personality trait, but necessary for survival. 

Lastly, Iona was a wonderfully eccentric main character to have the narrative develop from. I'd love to read a prequel about her and Bea's relationship.
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