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Temporary Palaces: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26328 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
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About the author
Jeff Miller
186 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
Jeff Miller's debut reminded me of how transient dreams can be, but only if we believe it to be so. For a moment, memories that we feel will forever be etched can be so easily replaced or removed because there's the crippling doubt of its finality. 🥀 it also speaks of how fleeting our existence can be in the form of existing in a place, as a whole. For how he incorporated Ben and Alex's passions against Rob's own fervent activism in the form of the safeguarding of houses ruthlessly being reclaimed.
“Life was intolerable when everything was out of your control.”
The story alternates between Ben and Alex's perspective from 2002 to 2011, as their lives continue to intertwine from Ottawa to Montreal in Rob's presence and in his absence. It's a heady rush of heartbreak and heartache to fulfill our desires. 🥺 Old rock and roll, wrapped in reverb. Untrained teen voices caught in the heat of doomed love. Rob was a force that compels them to behave differently than their own norm. It was his own lack of inhibitions and his own way of thinking that served as the crux of their problems and their eventual fallout.
Despite the spark that lingered always between the two, Alex's dream was her photography and Ben's passion lay in his band, Blank Tunes and his music. To see them both lose and then regain their calling in the wake of the events of their twenties was one of the few good things that came from reuniting after those troubled years - one that even nurtured their own ambitions and motivations. 📷🎤 The writing navigated the course of their relationship in a balanced light, one that eventually helped them heal and process their own forgotten truths.
“For art you need space. To make it, to store it, to show it.”
I suppose, what I'm getting at is that this was an interesting portrayal of how our youthful ideals can sometimes blind us to the wrong path that has us compromising a sense of righteousness. Chasing our dreams that foregoes a weight of responsibility to another. But, there always remains a hint of yearning for times stolen, for places reclaimed. And how the author compared those emotions to highlighting the effects of squatters and housing disasters was an interesting touch - one that I caught onto nicely. 🏠⛔
I felt, though, that the ending was a bit callous towards Rob. Rob was no saint, I agree. But, I don't know if I can forgive Ben for his rather impractical decision at that critical moment, let alone the author's own inclusion of a hint of suggestiveness, followed up by the brush-off that followed. 😕 It felt unfortunate, like, there really was no one who truly cared for him. Not that his actions proved otherwise, but I don't know, he deserved better.
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“Things don’t have to last forever to be important.”
Jeff Miller's debut reminded me of how transient dreams can be, but only if we believe it to be so. For a moment, memories that we feel will forever be etched can be so easily replaced or removed because there's the crippling doubt of its finality. 🥀 it also speaks of how fleeting our existence can be in the form of existing in a place, as a whole. For how he incorporated Ben and Alex's passions against Rob's own fervent activism in the form of the safeguarding of houses ruthlessly being reclaimed.
“Life was intolerable when everything was out of your control.”
The story alternates between Ben and Alex's perspective from 2002 to 2011, as their lives continue to intertwine from Ottawa to Montreal in Rob's presence and in his absence. It's a heady rush of heartbreak and heartache to fulfill our desires. 🥺 Old rock and roll, wrapped in reverb. Untrained teen voices caught in the heat of doomed love. Rob was a force that compels them to behave differently than their own norm. It was his own lack of inhibitions and his own way of thinking that served as the crux of their problems and their eventual fallout.
Despite the spark that lingered always between the two, Alex's dream was her photography and Ben's passion lay in his band, Blank Tunes and his music. To see them both lose and then regain their calling in the wake of the events of their twenties was one of the few good things that came from reuniting after those troubled years - one that even nurtured their own ambitions and motivations. 📷🎤 The writing navigated the course of their relationship in a balanced light, one that eventually helped them heal and process their own forgotten truths.
“For art you need space. To make it, to store it, to show it.”
I suppose, what I'm getting at is that this was an interesting portrayal of how our youthful ideals can sometimes blind us to the wrong path that has us compromising a sense of righteousness. Chasing our dreams that foregoes a weight of responsibility to another. But, there always remains a hint of yearning for times stolen, for places reclaimed. And how the author compared those emotions to highlighting the effects of squatters and housing disasters was an interesting touch - one that I caught onto nicely. 🏠⛔
I felt, though, that the ending was a bit callous towards Rob. Rob was no saint, I agree. But, I don't know if I can forgive Ben for his rather impractical decision at that critical moment, let alone the author's own inclusion of a hint of suggestiveness, followed up by the brush-off that followed. 😕 It felt unfortunate, like, there really was no one who truly cared for him. Not that his actions proved otherwise, but I don't know, he deserved better.
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2025
So much nostalgia from the music and arts of the 2000s in this book that it made if really enjoyable. Loved the relationship between the characters and how well they were each developed. This book has it all - friends, lovers, social activism, political chaos, and careers. There are so many relatable aspects in the book that are relevant now. I was very emotional at times as I read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews