Thank You, Goodnight

by Andy Abramowitz

Nick Hornby meets Almost Famous in this side-splittingly funny coming-of-middle-age debut novel about the lead singer of a one-hit wonder 90s band who tries for one more swing at the fences.

Teddy Tremble is nearing forty and has settled into a comfortable groove, working at a stuffy law firm and living in a downtown apartment with a woman he thinks he might love. Sure, his days aren't as exciting as the time he spent as the lead singer of Tremble, the rock band known for its mega-hit "It Feels Like a Lie," but that life has long since passed its sell-by date.

But when Teddy gets a cryptic call from an old friend, he's catapulted into contemplating the unthinkable: reuniting Tremble for one last shot at rewriting history. Never mind that the band members haven't spoken in ten years, that they left the music scene in a blazing cloud of indifference, and that the only fans who seem to miss them reside in an obscure little town in Switzerland.

If Teddy manages to snooker his band mates out of their adult lives, can a once immature, self-involved fallen idol find his way back to the top--and possibly back to the one who got away? Thank You, Goodnight is debut novelist Andy Abramowitz's hilarious, honest, and heartwarming story about love, lyrics, and finding one's legacy in the unlikeliest of places.

Genres: Fiction, Music, Humor, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Novels, Book Club

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Andy Abramowitz is the author of three novels, DARLING AT THE CAMPSITE (Lake Union, 2021), A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO FREE FALL (Lake Union, 2019), and THANK YOU, GOODNIGHT (Touchstone / Simon & Schuster 2015). A native of Baltimore, he lives with his wife, two daughters, and their bichon poodle in Philadelphia, where he enjoys classic rock, pitchers’ duels, birthday cake, the sound of a Fender Rhodes piano, and the month of October. Also, he's a lawyer.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every unheard song out there is like the last page of a book; it has the answer. We know that this new album we just shelled out ten bucks for will somehow make us more complete, that it will plant one more post in the architecture of our selves.

Thirty-eight year old Teddy was once the lead singer of Tremble, one of the most popular bands in the world. It all came crashing down with the underwhelming sales of their second album, and the group's decision to go it alone, rather than go on tour with another mega-band. Now Ted's a lawyer . . . a dissatisfied lawyer. One day, an old friend's cryptic message leads to a major embarrassment, which in turn, leads to a voyage of self-discovery. Ted learns that his old band is not quite as forgotten as he thought. Believe it or not, they're still big in Japan a small village in Switzerland.

Maybe every band was awarded some little time-warp town that remained forever loyal, perennially committed to the notion that the group for which it pined would one day rise from the ashes. Perhaps there was a village in Tibet where everyone wore a Men Without Hats shirt and sang "The Safety Dance" all day.

Inspired by this small but rabid fan base, Teddy tries writing songs again. Before long, he's got that let's-get-the-band-together-again feeling. When he proposes this idea to his former fellow bandmates, he receives responses that vary from "Dude, I'm in" to "Leave me out of your midlife crisis." Is Teddy trying to create a new legacy, or just get back at the world for premature neglect?

I really liked this one. Abramowitz is definitely something of an American Nick Hornby. His writing is fresh, frequently humorous, and occasionally quite poignant. I LOVED Jumbo Jett, a trainwreck of a guitar player, who makes Keith Moon look like a Downton Abbey dandy. The other characters? Eh . . . they were not so colorful nor so well-fleshed. Then again, who wants a band comprised of four Moons?

Highly recommended to music fans with a sense of humor.

"If you asked the average schmuck on the street to imagine a world without his wife and then imagine a world without his favorite five songs, which do you think he'd find harder to envision? We both know what he would say out loud, but what would he really feel? . . . Perhaps that says something appalling about humanity and perhaps it says something wonderful about art."

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

When you get to a certain age (and that age differs from person to person), many people find themselves thinking about the path their lives have taken, and wondering what might have been, if things might have gone differently. I'd imagine those thoughts can be more intense for people who once had a taste of fame, as they look back on their time in the spotlight and wish it had ended differently.

Thirty-eight-year-old Teddy Tremble is an attorney, but that hasn't always been his chosen vocation. For a few magical years, he was the lead singer of Tremble, a band that had one fairly well-known hit, won an Oscar, and even had their music appear in movies. Tremble was a fairly talented group of musicians, but their second album wasn't a critical or commercial success and the decision (Teddy's) to headline their own tour instead of opening for a more popular group was more hubris than anything else.

Then their label dropped them, the spotlight faded, his marriage broke up, and his fellow band members got on with their lives. A law career isn't quite how he dreamed his life would unfold, but it passes the time and pays the bills, and his relationship with Sara, an interior designer who has seen more than her share of anguish, is satisfying, although he's never quite sure where they stand with each other. And then one night while heading on a trip to Ireland to take a deposition, a random message from Tremble's former drummer sends Teddy on a journey that hits him both physically and emotionally, and inspires him to start writing songs again.

But once he writes a few songs with some potential, does he really want to try again? Can he convince his old band to get back together for another try, even though they've built totally different lives, and in some cases, there are issues between them? And is the vastly different musical world ready for the return of a one-hit-wonder band? Can a group of musicians pushing 40 still find a place? And does Teddy really want a second chance after all?

Even though we've seen this type of story before, I thoroughly enjoyed Thank You, Goodnight . It was a fun and compelling read, filled with endearing characters who transcend the typical stereotypes of aging musicians. I was really impressed with Andy Abramowitz' storytelling, especially given that this is his first novel, and you could tell he really cared about his characters. This is also a bit of a tribute to the power of music—how it can make us feel, and how it can bring back memories of certain people, places, and times in our lives.

Give this one a shot. You'll have a lot of fun, and you'll probably want to listen to some music afterward.

[Pandora Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

On dirait que ça devrait certainement être un 3,5 et que je valide le 4 plutôt que le 3 parce que je viens juste de le finir et que je l'ai fini avec un petit sourire aux lèvres. C'était plutôt chouette, pas un livre extraordinaire et impérissable, mais agréable, avec des moments touchants, des personnages parfois improbables (le père de Jumbo est assez extraordinaire, Jumbo lui-même étant... particulier xD) et une dose suffisante de nostalgie. Le seul problème c'est qu'à la fin on aimerait bien écouter la musique de Tremble.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A middle aged man was part of a rock band that had a one hit wonder. The band tried to create a sophomore albumb that was met with scorn from critics and fans alike, and the band has broken up. Since then, our narrator decides that he wants to make one more album and goes about trying to reunite the band, who has since moved onto various different life ventures. The characters in this book was very well fleshed out and interesting. I really liked the way the plot moved and the comedic and dark undertones at times were very well done. All in all, this was a good read and a memorable one too.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and poignant. this book should be made into a movie starring Bradley Cooper as Teddy and Jennifer Lawrence as Mack. I can't figure out who should play Sara though.

[Amanda Sorrento · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is INCREDIBLE! I picked it up on a literal whim at my local library and I don't regret my lucky choice for a second. Andy Abramowitz is a genius! Some of the tangents he went on really spoke to me as someone who cares deeply about music and goes through phases that ultimately make me who I am. I related strongly with Teddy, the main character, and I found myself excited and hoping for the same things that he wanted. I wish I could actually listen to the songs that Tremble recorded, but unfortunately they're fictitious! This story really gets you invested in it! It's HILARIOUS, thought-provoking, and heartwarming all at once. I'm going to buy a copy for my own personal library because I'm sure I will enjoy rereading this book in the future. Also, side note: the song 'Summer of '69' by Bryan Adams is very fitting for this story in regards to Teddy's pining for the old days of the band and for Mackenzie. 10/10 book!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, goodnight by Abramowitz_ Andy
Story starts out with Ted Tremble meeting with his father. Ted's music career is at an end and the band have stopped touring.
His father talked him into becoming a lawyer, like him. Ted now travels internationally to take depositions for the firm. He's divorced as is his father.
He gets a text that leads him to the old band members and they might be able to make a revival. He visits the others and tells him his thoughts and some are on board...
His mid life crisis involves the others members of the band and they struggle to get another good song out to the world before it all dries up again...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You, Goodnight is an insightful, exploratory, funny, and honest read. I nodded along with Tremble's musings, and I enjoyed the differences between and the realness of this whole cast of characters. Abramowitz explores both personal and professional relationships in complex and relatable ways. This is a well-done debut!

[Steve Tripp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable, uplifting book centered around the comeback of a fictional "also ran" band from the 90's and it's egotistical (but surprisingly likable) leader. It's well written and has some rather insightful passages on music, the choices people make and the regrets they are left with. This is an excellent first book by the author and I look forward to reading his future books.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Insufferable.

I mean, I know a man wrote this novel, but the male gaze-y perspective can be a lot sometimes. Abramowitz feels the need to bring in female background characters for no other reason than to talk about their looks. Blondes and brunettes who never appear again after mentioning the red tube tops they wear or how tight their yoga pants they have on are. There’s a scene where the MC, a middle aged man, is at a high school visiting an old friend, and he writes of an underage girl wearing “an outfit conducive to stuffing small dollar bills [in].” Bruh cmon stop with the Lolita complex, you goddamn pedophile. Not even full page later the MC blurts out, “I thought women stopped slutting themselves up for Halloween after they had kids.” Bitch what??? This is sprinkled all throughout the book. I’m supposed to feel bad for this judgmental curmudgeon having a midlife crisis?

Who approved Alaina’s character 🤢🤢 just so many wtfs in this book. Being Asian doesn’t automatically means you had to have lived in Asia for a chunk of your life, but Abramowitz made it seem obvious that Asian face = lived in Asia. Duh. And he just HAD to have someone ask Alaina “do you speak English?” Also this delightful line: “I’m not squinting. I’m Asian, asshole.” Abramowitz should go fuck himself.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You, Goodnight is a heartfelt and entertaining novel that strikes a great balance between humor, nostalgia, and self-discovery. Andy Abramowitz gives us a charming protagonist in Teddy Tremble—a once-famous rock star now navigating the not-so-glamorous realities of middle age. The story takes off when the possibility of a band reunion emerges, and with it, a chance at redemption and reconnection.

Abramowitz’s writing is sharp and witty, with plenty of observational humor that makes Teddy’s midlife crisis feel relatable rather than cliché. The music industry backdrop adds a fun, fresh layer, especially for anyone who grew up loving '90s alt-rock. While some plot points feel a bit predictable, the emotional payoff is strong, and the characters are easy to root for.

Overall, this is a satisfying read about second chances, the enduring power of friendship, and the courage it takes to chase old dreams in a new light. Worth picking up if you enjoy character-driven stories with heart and humor.

[Jordan Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was certainly one of my biggest surprises of the (reading-related) year. It was absurd and goofy and silly in many places, but well-written and just so much fun to read.

Normally, books that are self-described as "hilarious," "funny," "a good time," etc etc etc aren't my cup of tea, but I needed a goofy distraction from my currently-chaotic real life and decided to give this is a go after finding it on the Book of the Month archives. I'm so glad I did, as it offered the exact balance of humor and good-naturedness, seriousness, and legitimately good prose that I was looking for.

The ending felt sudden and a bit cliche, but otherwise this was surprisingly excellent.

[Mark Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book about a one hit wonder’s comeback. The characters are so real they feel like friends.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to have to chalk my experience of reading Thank You, Goodnight up to "It's not you, it's me." I'm giving it three stars, but it probably deserves more. I don't know if it's because I wasn't in the mood for this book or that I just couldn't identify with it? I had trouble getting into it. The writing was really good, but I wasn't interested or invested in the story until the fourth chapter. After that, my interest in the story would come and go.

My interest in the story was sporadic because all the characters and their relationships felt like they were on the surface level. None of the deeper aspects of their relationships were truly explored. Thank You, Goodnight focused mostly on Teddy's desire to reunite his band. I enjoyed getting to know his old band mates, but the relationship I was most interested in was Teddy and Sara's. I wanted it to be the main focus of the story instead of what Teddy had to do to get the band back together.

Thank You, Goodnight was a good début novel with lots of great descriptions. I enjoyed the more colorful characters, but needed more of an emotional connection to them. I would recommend Thank You, Goodnight to readers who are looking for a mid-life crisis novel that's on the lighter side.

**I received this book from Touchstone via Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received Thank You, Goodnight as a Good Reads giveaway.

After reading the blurb on the back that the book was a combination of "Nick Hornby and Almost Famous", I was sorely disappointed upon actually reading the novel. I like a witty, brash narrator, but not a narrator that is just a complete and utter bastard. Teddy Tremble, washed up lead singer of the eponymous band, simply wasn't all that likable. I get it, his guitar player is a bit of a goof-ball mess, but the way Teddy talked about this person he was so dependent on for his success and the fulfillment of his midlife crisis dreaming made me sort of sick.

It felt like a lot of the story lines went undeveloped Mack's cancer, Sara's divorce/son's death, Teddy's feelings toward Mack and too much time was spent on Teddy rather than the rest of the band. The ending was... ok. It wasn't my favorite, but it was less of a downer than the rest of the book, so I appreciated that, even if it made much of the story seem pointless.

[Chelka Posladek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel guilty giving this 3 stars, because I think it deserves more than that. But I'm not sure it deserves a full 4. I found it entertaining, and I definitely laughed out loud a few times. For a first novel, especially, it was well done. There were some passages, though, that felt very writers' workshop to me, and I think some of it could have been edited out. A slightly slimmed down version would have been great. Teddy muses about life in general a lot, and while some of it is beautiful, some of it felt redundant. Like it was trying to be too deep sometimes, which wasn't the point of the novel. I mostly read sci-fi/fantasy, magical realism, YA, and kids' books, and I picked this up for a break. I was hoping for a solid summer read in the Adult Fiction genre, and that's what I got. I'd recommend buying it and reading it, but perhaps wait for the paperback.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This easy-reading book had me laughing out loud almost from the get-go.
The story reveals the author's intimate technical familiarity with music, bands and the recording industry, which I found intriguing.

Teddy Tremble, narrator in the story, presents as not a little cynical, but he seasons his sob story with such wit and pith that I wanted more...a bit like watching a Woody Allen or Larry David flick, droll but irresistible.

The author's artful use of flashbacks fills the reader in on the antecedents of Tremble's dour outlook and his relationship with the other players, whom he introduces with varying degrees of wry kindness, but vividly and always with sardonic humor.

The story is about redemption and renewal, and the quest unwinds to an unexpected denouement. A thoroughly enjoyable book!

[serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked forward to getting Thank You, Goodnight in the mail for months. I think it was worth the wait. The story was extremely well written and the characters were intriguing in their own right. From the beginning I mostly saw Teddy as self-centered and vain, but after a while he grew on me more. Overall, the book was a fun read and I’ll definitely have to check out the author’s future books.

*Received a copy in exchange for a review*

[brettlikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

droll yet tender + recapturing former glory

"'I'm going to give you one note today. See how many ways you can play that note--growl it, smear it, flat it, sharp it, do anything you want to it. That's how you express your feelings in this music. It's like talking'...'I get it. Sounds like a jazz solo to me.' 'Sounds like life to me,' he said. 'One note. Do anything you want with it.'"

instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks

[Georgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Fidelity is what it's compared to- can totally see it. Although I think for as many beats of an emotional heart in High Fidelity, Thank You, Goodnight has beats of humor. I mean, there are hilarious moments throughout this book. Teddy Tremble is a great lead character. Review forthcoming. Put it on your TBR list. Release date: June, 2015

[readwithme · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a heartwarming and an enjoyable story— but kept on dragging—too much information that was unnecessary was poked through every conversation and sometimes got confused with the writing style.

Overall I'd recommend this if you're looking for something fresh and heartwarming to read and don't mind if the book goes flat.

[Scott Butki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book - I interviewed the author here
http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2015...

[Stella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love music. I didn't love this book. Sometimes it was just a little too descriptive and whiny.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started strong, petered out. The big fault in this book was the wife with the dead child. Not handled well at all.

[Jj Burch · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there were some good lines and paragraphs this read like a poor-man's Nick Hornby. Spoiled, rich, (mostly) white people who get what they want in the end. Bleah.

[Ken Heard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This by far is one of the better novels I've read this year. Andy Abramowitz captures the concept of continuing the legacy - even if it was crushed by dumb decisions. On the surface, this book is about members of a once-superstar rock band reuniting after 30 years. The members are all older and settled... one is a teacher, another is a sex therapist. Only Jumbo, the goofy, blissfully ignorant one, remains true to his roots. And Tremble, the lead, is somewhat dysfunctional, adding to the mix of characters.

Most of the book is about Tremble reaching out to his former bandmates and convincing them to try one more time. When they finally agree, they cut the record and it's a hit.

On the deeper level, this is about second chances, friendship, bonding and how music plays as the soundtrack to our lives. There's a part in the book where Abramowitz totally gets music and its impact. Tremble is talking about his musical tastes and how they changed through the years; I wish I had the book with me to list examples, but it is priceless. It's how Tremble changes his personality based upon the tunes he listens to. Brilliant.

This is a fun book that I wish didn't end. It's akin to a Jonathan Tropper novel with keen insight and humor and passion and pathos.

I'd love to see a sequel to Thank You, Goodnight in which Abramowitz writes about the group's touring days. I am sure it would be just as excellent a read as this one. As debut novels, this is perfect. As any novel written by a seasoned author, this is amazing. Read it and have fun.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is...a novel.

To be fair, I liked the story. Almost all of the characters seem very dynamic. Teddy Tremble and his band mates all grow at some point, including Jumbo. No character has a simple trajectory either. The characters are presented with the complexities a living Human would have. Hell, even the story is a good one: Teddy Tremble and his band had one massive hit, fizzled out, and all went on their way. Teddy, the singer, finds out that he is a part of an embarrassing art exhibit, sees said exhibit, confronts the artist responsible, and through a pretty funny set of circumstances, rediscover his passion for music. So, he writes a ton of good to great songs and tries to get the band together for another run. Along the way, he discovers a lot of humorous, personal, and shocking things about his band mates, himself, and the people around him.

The problem is that I could not stay engaged with the novel. I started reading it in either late April or early May, and just finished it now in June. It did not hold.my attention. The events happen, the novel ends. I'm not sure what is missing. Perhaps this story is better told as a movie and it needs the visual component to engage someone? Honestly, this would make an excellent comedy slash romantic comedy.

[Lori Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite author

I read Andy Abramowitz’ second book first, which I loved,and it actually led me to this book, his first! I tend to be a deep thinker so I identified a bit with his main character. He’s a selfish, self centered middle aged guy that sees himself as unhappy and in search of “the meaning of life”-his life to be exact. Essentially, he is able to give himself a second chance at being the rock star he once was nearly 15 years before about which he thinks will make him ‘happy’. He eventually finds what he’s looking for, I’m glad to say. I just really like Andy Abramowitz’ characters. I’m not typically a big fan of liberal use of the “f” word, and it is used a lot in his books, but I didn’t find it to be as distracting as I usually do. Mr. Abramowitz’ characters are dry, witty and seemingly intelligent. They’re also bone headed and flawed but trying very hard to remedy their transgressions and mistakes by trying to do better and be better. Not a bad way to be in fiction and in real life! I look very forward to another book!

[talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Teddy Tremble used to be a rock star, but a few bad choices caused his star to fade prematurely, and now he’s a lawyer. He’s not unhappy, per se, but he hasn’t ever been able to move on from his music career or his pseudo-romance with Mack, the band’s bassist. An unflattering photo in a museum exhibit prompts him to journey to Switzerland, where he realizes that maybe it’s not all over...and he decides to get the band back together.

This book is funny. Like, laugh out loud. But it's also riddled with moments of pretentious, extremely self-conscious introspection that make it a total eye-roll machine. In his desperation to convince the reader he's not a hack, the author/narrating character constantly reminds us that he KNOWS it's all a cliché. But does that really help?

I just sort of wish this story could've been told from the point of view of someone other than Teddy Tremble.

[Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like all of Mr. Abramowitz's books are written specifically for me: doused in sarcasm and snark; littered with music, movie, and literary references. I've now read all of his books (within the last 2 or 3 months and in reverse order of publication) and find them to be so incredibly hilarious. When I chortle my family doesn't get it and they look at me like I'm possessed. I will say that the end of this book didn't have me laughing nearly as much as the rest of it, but I'm still giving it 5 stars because I find his writing to constantly put me in a good mood.

A couple of my favorite gems from this book:

Referring to his 70+ year old father working out: "You're only hot when you step out of the condo in Delray that you should be wintering in."

"No. It isn't like that at all. It's like when you say irregardless. That's not a word. It's just regardless.
"Both are accepted."
"But one is wrong."