From the author of Something to Live For, a nostalgic, heart-warming story of two long-lost friends who embark on a 184-mile walk of the Thames Path in order to find their way back to the truth, and to their friendship. How do you move forward...when all you want to do is go back? Joel and Theo haven't spoken since the summer they turned sixteen, but that's about to change. Joel is the picture of success. He's an accomplished TV scriptwriter still in love with his teenage sweetheart. But in reality, his life is falling apart at the seams. Theo is stuck in a seemingly never-ending rut. He's been living in his parent's shed, nursing a broken heart and wounded ego. Then he gets evicted on his 30th birthday, and all seems hopelessly lost. One of them is keeping a secret, and the other is living a lie. But can the promise they once made to walk all 184 miles of the Thames Path help them find their way back to the truth--and to their friendship?
Smart, darkly funny, and life-affirming, How Not to Die Alone is the bighearted debut novel we all need, for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, it's a story about love, loneliness, and the importance of taking a chance when we feel we have the most to lose. "Off-beat and winning...Gives resiliency and the triumph of the human spirit a good name." --The Wall Street Journal All Andrew wants is to be normal. That's why his coworkers believe he has the perfect wife and two children waiting at home for him after a long day. But the truth is, his life isn't exactly as people think . . . and his little white lie is about to catch up with him. Because in all of Andrew's efforts to fit in, he's forgotten one important thing: how to really live. And maybe, it's finally time for him to start. "Roper illuminates Andrew's interior life to reveal not what an odd duck he is, but what odd ducks we all are." --The New York Times Book Review
From the author of Something to Live For, a poignant and funny story about a man whose wife disappeared seven years ago and his journey to find her or find out what happened, interwoven with the story of their relationship, revealing how sometimes the biggest secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves. Twenty years of love. Seven years of absence. One journey to find out what happened. Brian's wife, Lily, disappeared from his life without a trace six years, eleven months, one week, and two days ago, but Brian never lost hope. Since her disappearance their once beloved English pub--and Brian's livelihood--has been crumbling piece by piece. As the anniversary of her absence approaches, Brian desperately needs a sign. One doom-scroll on his business's reviews later, he finds it: an active TripAdvisor account for PinkMoonLily1972 that he knows in his heart is his Lily. Interspliced with Brian's journey to find Lily is the story of their love--how it started, and the twists and turns that brought them to this moment. As Brian jumps from one destination to the next to find Lily, and the truth behind their story comes into focus, Brian comes back to life with the help of Tess, a sarcastic, kind, and surprising traveling companion. But in order to move forward he'll need to decide--stay in the past or take a chance on something unexpected.
Curl up with the page-turning story full of heart that has readers raving, about Andrew, who has forgotten how to live, and Peggy, who helps him remember...****'A magnificent read. Tender, funny, compelling' Lucy Foley, bestselling author of The Guest List'I adored this! It warmed my heart, broke it a little, then put it back together' Beth O'Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare'Funny, moving and thought-provoking - I loved this' Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author of After the End'Funny, fresh and achingly tender. Richard's writing hooked me in from the very first page' Cathy Bramley, bestselling author of A Patchwork Family****MEET ANDREW.Everybody likes Andrew. But they don't really know him. They know what he's told them - that he's happily married with two kids. Living the kind of life that's either so boring it's true, or so perfect it's a lie...ENTER PEGGY.Peggy arrives in Andrew's life in a burst of kindness and possibility. For the first time in ages, Andrew feels alive again. So now that he has everything to lose, can he risk it all and tell Peggy the truth?'If you loved Eleanor Oliphant, try this brilliant new read' Fabulous-------------------------See what everyone is saying about this charming, uplifting bestseller - from your favourite authors to other readers!'A life-affirming novel that simultaneously tweaks your funny-bone and tugs at your heartstrings. Brilliant!' Matt Dunn'Funny, moving and uplifting...I loved it' Libby Page'Heart-breaking. Hilarious. Life-affirming' Holly Bourne'It pulls you in, makes you laugh and breaks your heart' Gill Hornby'A beautiful, heart-warming laugh out loud story' Dinah Jefferies'My favourite read this year *****' 'An emotional rollercoaster of a read *****''I couldn't put this down *****''I haven't laughed so much in a long time *****''The end left me smiling *****'
'Such a warm, uplifting read. It's a celebration of the bond we have with our oldest friends, and it's so funny' Beth O'Leary'A brilliant, funny, insightful exploration of friendship, which properly made me laugh and cry' Laura Marshall---------Theo has been living in his parents' shed, nursing a broken heart and a wounded ego, convinced life can't get any worse. Then he gets evicted on his 30th birthday. Theo thinks he's done with the real world - until it shows up on his doorstep...Joel is a successful TV scriptwriter, still in love with his teenage sweetheart. A proper grown-up - and yet he's falling apart at the seams. He's headed home to reconnect with best friend Theo - except they haven't spoken since the summer they turned 16.One of them is keeping a secret, and the other is living a lie. But can the promise they once made to walk all 184 miles of the Thames Path help them find their way back to the truth - and to their friendship?A tender and funny story about wanting to go back - when you know it's time to move on.---------'An uplifting and redemptive journey' Steven Rowley'A beautifully bittersweet tale about the enduring power of friendship, reminding us how sometimes the best way to face life's biggest challenges is to take them one step at a time with your best friend by your side' Oliver Sands'An absorbing and heartfelt tale of past mistakes and friendship lost but never forgotten. A joyful summer read' Owen Nicholls---------Your favourite authors loved reading Richard Roper's uplifting first novel, Something to Live For:'A magnificent read. Tender, funny, compelling' Lucy Foley'Funny, moving and thought-provoking - I loved this' Clare Mackintosh'I adored this! It warmed my heart, broke it a little, then put it back together' Beth O'Leary'Funny, fresh and achingly tender. Richard's writing hooked me in from the very first page' Cathy Bramley'A life-affirming novel that simultaneously tweaks your funny-bone and tugs at your heartstrings. Brilliant!' Matt Dunn'It pulls you in, makes you laugh and breaks your heart' Gill Hornby
A quirky and tender, funny and moving story about the bittersweet highs and lows of 30-something life - perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Nick Hornby, David Nicholls and Gail Honeyman.
Bitterljuvt och upplyftande om kärlek, ensamhet och att våga ta livets chanser.Andrews nio till fem-jobb är dödstädning. När någon dör ensam är det hans jobb att leta igenom hemmet och försöka hitta kontaktuppgifter till anhöriga eller pengar som täcker begravningen. Det är ett tufft yrke men gudskelov har han en underbar fru och två fantastiska barn. Åtminstone är det vad han säger till folk.En dag sveper den nya kollegan Peggy in som en frisk fläkt och skakar om alla hans rutiner. Kommer han att kunna lämna lögnerna och börja leva på riktigt?
En underhållande och ömsint berättelse om vänskap och att hitta tillbaka till det som verkligen betyder något i livet.Joel och Theo har inte pratat med varandra sedan tonåren då deras vänskap gick i kras. Joel gör succé som manusförfattare och är i en lycklig relation med tonårskärleken Amber. Men han bär på en stor hemlighet som bryter ner honom. Theo ältar sitt ex och känner sig misslyckad över att han slarvat bort sin karriär. När trettioårsdagen knackar på dörren blir han dessutom vräkt – från sina föräldrars trädgårdsskjul.Nu möts de två för första gången på över ett decennium och ger sig i väg på en trettio mil lång vandring längs Themsen. Kan de hitta tillbaka till varandra eller kommer deras hemligheter och lögner förstöra vänskapen ännu en gång?
Previously published as How Not to Die Alone Smart, darkly funny, and life-affirming, for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Something to Live For is the bighearted debut novel we all need, a story about love, loneliness, and the importance of taking a chance when we feel we have the most to lose. "Off-beat and winning...Gives resiliency and the triumph of the human spirit a good name." --The Wall Street Journal All Andrew wants is to be normal. That's why his coworkers believe he has the perfect wife and two children waiting at home for him after a long day. But the truth is, his life isn't exactly as people think . . . and his little white lie is about to catch up with him. Because in all of Andrew's efforts to fit in, he's forgotten one important thing: how to really live. And maybe, it's finally time for him to start. "Roper illuminates Andrew's interior life to reveal not what an odd duck he is, but what odd ducks we all are." --The New York Times Book Review
