This Is Where I Leave You

Having discovered Jonathan Tropper, I've now gone through his backlist like wildfire! Such a witty, original author. Not all of his characters are likeable (by turns I liked and loathed Judd in 'This is Where I Leave You' - he doesn't always behave well!) but they're so well drawn. The premise of this book is brilliantly original and Tropper hooks you in from the opening pages as Judd's life falls apart. If yo like books about warring, dysfunctional families, put this one at the top of your list.

Every comedy needs a truly memorable comedy scene and once you’ve read this book, you will never look at any birthday cake with candles in quite the same way again.

This plot is based on of my favourite setups – grown up siblings being forced to spend time in their family home together. In this case, they are mourning their recently deceased Dad. The seven-day stay is long enough for all the niceties to wear off and the real sibling rivalries, unresolved arguments, and tensions to surface and here, they are properly aired and almost resolved.

The very funny side… show more.

Haha, it would be a nightmare having to spend seven days with the members of your family of origin, amirite? This book's main character is forced to do just that, as the Jewish ritual of shiva after a death requires it. After his father's death, not only can Judd Altman not get away from his oversharing mother and weird siblings (and everyone's exes, including his own), he's forced to keep secrets about, among other things, his own relationship status. Trust me, if you're about to head into a period at close quarters with your FOO, you can take heart at… show more.

Equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious, this almost farcical book tells the story of Judd Foxman, who isn’t having the best week: his father has died, his wife is having a public affair with his boss and now he’s forced to sit shiva with his entire dysfunctional family. It’s rare that a novel makes you laugh out loud, but also well up. I guess I might feel a personal connection here, being Jewish and having attended many shivas myself. But Tropper has a way of telling the story that makes your laughter like its own therapy.