The House of the Rising Son

by Jonathan Gershfield

Alex Feinstein’s life is in free-fall. His career has tanked. His wife has left him. And he’s at war with his 15-year-old son. To cap it all, he’s just had a frightening diagnosis. At the end of his tether - literally - he's about to hang himself from the living-room ceiling when his distraught ex calls to say their son’s been kidnapped at Glasto. The gang is demanding a hefty ransom, and if the cops get involved, Fred’s toast. But who are these people - and why have they targeted Fred? With renewed sense of purpose and nothing to lose, Alex wriggles out of his makeshift noose and embarks on a frantic mission to rescue the boy - and who knows? - perhaps even himself.

The House of the Rising Son is a dark comic odyssey through the converging traumas of mid-life and adolescence, with a fresh look at family dynamics through the post#MeToo male prism.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2025

Reviews

[CarolinaBookBliss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House Of The Rising Son by Jonathan Gershfield is an entertaining read.
The characters were well developed. The book had a good balance of dark comedy and emotional moments.
The writing is easy to follow, and the story flows nicely. What resonates is the emotional reflection on the hardships of life, making it a relatable and impactful read.
Overall, it's a solid book that I would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing LTD for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Sally Cowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

House of the Rising son centres around Alex, a middle-aged dad, and his teenage son Fred.

Alex is struggling with a flagging career and health problems, and his relationship with his wife is strained. We meet him at a turning point when he feels that he can't go on any longer, but a phone call suggesting his son has been kidnapped at the Glastonbury festival makes him think again...

The book is humurous, but it is also quite dark in places. It covers lots of topics that will resonate with parents and adults approaching middle age. The tone of the narrator was not really for me, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped, but it was still a good read.

[gracias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to laugh this hard about something that hits so close to home. Gershfield absolutely nails the absurdity of male midlife despair while keeping the emotional truth front and center. Alex’s meltdown felt uncomfortably familiar, yet handled with such humanity that I couldn’t look away. It’s part dark comedy, part heart-punch, and entirely brilliant. By the end, I wanted to call my son and maybe my therapist too.

[Emmanuel Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing so hard I startled my cat, then two pages later I was swallowing a lump in my throat. Gershfield writes about despair with such tenderness that it becomes oddly hopeful. Alex’s attempts to hold his family together feel both tragic and noble. The humor never feels cheap it grows out of truth. The pacing is cinematic yet intimate. I finished it wishing I could spend another 300 pages with these people.

[Olivia Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read dozens of “mid-life crisis” stories, but none this alive. Gershfield doesn’t just describe breakdown he lets you inhabit it. Every argument, every silence between Alex and Ally felt like a mirror. The writing has a rhythm that pulls you along even when scenes get uncomfortable. You end up rooting for everyone, even when they’re awful. It’s messy, human, hilarious, and strangely healing.

[Zoey Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy the razor humor of Fleabag or After Life, this belongs on your shelf. Gershfield skewers suburban life with pinpoint accuracy. His characters fumble through emotional landmines with jokes that land perfectly. The “Glastonbury” section is pure comic chaos yet filled with warmth. What amazed me is how grounded the emotion stays beneath all the absurdity. A brilliant blend of satire and sincerity.

[Danny Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant read. Darkly comic, moving and poignant in equal measure, it provides a lens into what parenthood can be like with a troublesome teenage boy. I think everyone can identify with parts of Freddy and Alex, and seeing as this was based on Gershfield’s own experiences, the characters and anecdotes feel very authentic. But above all, despite family dysfunction and conflict, it’s a tale of how blood runs thicker than water.

[Angelena Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a recommendation and ended up underlining entire paragraphs. Gershfield writes with a compassion that sneaks up on you. His dialogue sing it’s sharp but never cruel. The father-son moments are especially moving; you can feel the love through the frustration. I adore how he makes flawed people lovable again. It’s rare to find a book this funny that still restores your faith in family.

[Klock Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud, then feel bad for laughing. It’s acerbic, tender, and beautifully written. Think Fleabag meets About a Boy with more middle-aged chaos and fewer filters. Gershfield turns ordinary suburban misery into something profound and often hysterical. I’m still quoting lines days later.

[lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our book club devoured this one in a weekend. It’s smart, sharp, self-aware, and ridiculously funny in that very British “laugh-then-ache” way. Every character feels so alive Ally’s complexity, Freddie’s angst, Alex’s tragic bravado. Gershfield writes dialogue that crackles like good wine conversation gone wrong. We laughed, we cried, and we argued about who was the bigger mess.

[Alexander Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can tell a filmmaker wrote this every scene plays like a shot-list. The pacing, the tonal pivots, the way despair and hilarity coexist masterful. I read it in one sitting, grinning through the pain. Gershfield shows that comedy and tragedy aren’t opposites; they’re dance partners. The ending caught me completely off guard and somehow felt inevitable.

[Juanita Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me straight in the psychology. Gershfield gets the messy truth of parent-teen relationships love, resentment, guilt, the push and pull of independence. Alex and Fred’s dynamic is painfully authentic. I alternated between laughing, wincing, and tearing up. It’s rare to find a story that understands both sides of the emotional battlefield so compassionately.

[Alexandra Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started this thinking it’d be a quirky dad-son comedy ended up on a full emotional rollercoaster. The writing’s so crisp you can taste the sarcasm, and yet it never loses heart. Gershfield makes disaster feel oddly hopeful. By the last page, I wanted to both hug Alex and shake him. Easily one of the best debuts I’ve read in ages.

[Mercedez · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first darkly funny paragraph, I was completely hooked. Gershfield has that gift where every line propels you forward. The stakes keep climbing, not just plot-wise but emotionally. I laughed, I cringed, I felt seen. The book makes you confront your own fears of failure and aging, but with so much humor you never feel heavy. Easily one of the most entertaining novels I’ve read this year.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a first novel feel this confident? Gershfield’s command of tone is masterful equal parts bitter comedy and aching heart. The characters feel like they’ve lived long before page 1. The writing has that clean precision you usually see in veteran authors. Every emotional beat lands with purpose. By the end, I felt like I’d read something timeless, something that will outlast the trends.

[Nalin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of The House of the Rising Son really caught my attention, it had the setup of a gripping, introspective thriller. While the first chapter started strong, I found the pacing dragged through the middle, only picking up again toward the end.

The book explores themes around masculinity and fatherhood with a dark comic tone, though some of the commentary might not resonate with every reader. The humor was a highlight, but the plot didn’t fully land for me, particularly the kidnapping storyline, which lacked the emotional or narrative weight to justify the flashback build up it received.

Might work better for readers who enjoy male-driven thrillers with a darker edge. Just not the right fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cameron Publishing for the eARC.

[Laura Spira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not the crime thriller I had expected. It is certainly amusing, the characters are lively and the plot is fast paced. This story of a father dealing with a difficult teenage son has some dark comedy moments and a positive ending. A quick holiday read.

[Catherine Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the most accurate portrait I’ve ever read of what happens when your teenage kid stops liking you. The book captures that helpless ache and turns it into dark comedy gold. I laughed, I winced, I texted my son to say hi. Five stars.

[Ethan Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once the “we have your son” text drops, the pace becomes relentless. Gershfield weaves midlife crisis, family dysfunction, and thriller tension like a pro. I genuinely stayed up till 2 a.m. to finish. The last chapters had me holding my breath and grinning through it. A wild ride.

[Mark Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, warm, tragic, and unflinchingly British. Gershfield nails the tone that made me fall in love with writers like Hornby and Mike Gayle, but adds a sharper satirical edge. The marriage scenes ouch. Too real. Five stars without hesitation.

[Kiarra Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t your typical “midlife man in crisis” novel. It’s more self-aware, more human, and much funnier than it has any right to be. The blend of suicidal planning and parental panic sounds like it shouldn’t work but it absolutely does. Gershfield is one to watch.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutally honest and darkly funny take on the midlife crisis clashing with teenage turmoil. Alex's voice is raw and relatable, and the twists at Glastonbury keep you hooked. Highly recommend for anyone who loves character-driven family dramas.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, heartfelt, and deliciously dark! Highly recommend — especially if you’ve had teenage boys!