The Celebrants

I just adored this book. It was lovely how it drew out each of the characters over time and we got to know them. The end result was both sad and gratifying - the best sort of book! The topic of how to honor our friends before they die rather than waiting till they are gone is an interesting one and it brought out thoughts about death and dying and what makes a life meaningful.

First of all, I love Steven Rowley. He’s hilarious, whip-smart, and writes beautifully. He moves you without ever making you take yourself too seriously.

Rowley has a quality I appreciate sincerely in the people around me and in the art I consume: he can make you laugh in the darkest moment. Gallows humor, but never callous. 

The Celebrants feels deeply lived-in, centered around a group of friends I missed before the book was even over. The characters felt so authentic and connected to each other that I felt a little left out in the beginning—as I would have if I’d… show more.

College friends gathering after the suicide of one of their friends. If it sounds like the ‘80s film The Big Chill, you would be right…and wrong.

At first, I wasn’t sure I liked any of the characters. But Rowley digs deep into the lives of a group of far-flung friends in ways that surprised me. Layers are peeled back throughout the book, proving that the characters, like our friends, really are complicated and annoying and precious.