What do you think?
Rate this book
Finding Bryan
Forrest Wilcox misses his younger life and the America of an earlier time. Plagued by a fear of change, irrational outbursts, and unrelenting insecurities, he’s a man weary of living a joyless life.
When Forrest’s mother summons him to tell him her cancer has progressed, it throws his already stressful life into chaos. Not only is he losing his mother, he’s now tasked with finding his brother, Bryan, who left suddenly and cut ties with the family sixteen years ago.
Determined to get something right, Forrest defies his wife’s orders and takes their twelve-year-old daughter out west, where he hopes to locate Bryan. But before he can see this mission through, he’s forced to confront his inner demons, battle with his unpredictability, and trust himself and the journey or risk losing everything and everyone he loves.
Follow Forrest’s journey of self-discovery in this timely tale that evokes the American voice akin to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and puts a spotlight on an imperfect man in need of redemption in self and fatherhood, and faith in what the future holds.
When Forrest’s mother summons him to tell him her cancer has progressed, it throws his already stressful life into chaos. Not only is he losing his mother, he’s now tasked with finding his brother, Bryan, who left suddenly and cut ties with the family sixteen years ago.
Determined to get something right, Forrest defies his wife’s orders and takes their twelve-year-old daughter out west, where he hopes to locate Bryan. But before he can see this mission through, he’s forced to confront his inner demons, battle with his unpredictability, and trust himself and the journey or risk losing everything and everyone he loves.
Follow Forrest’s journey of self-discovery in this timely tale that evokes the American voice akin to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and puts a spotlight on an imperfect man in need of redemption in self and fatherhood, and faith in what the future holds.
- GenresContemporary
310 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2021
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Kesselman
3 books10 followersI am from New York City.
After studying Commerce at the University of Virginia, I decided to write novels.
To learn more about me, please subscribe to my YouTube channel (Matthew Kesselman) or visit https://matthewkesselman.com.
Enjoy!
After studying Commerce at the University of Virginia, I decided to write novels.
To learn more about me, please subscribe to my YouTube channel (Matthew Kesselman) or visit https://matthewkesselman.com.
Enjoy!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 5, 2021
I like it... but I wrote it.
March 24, 2021
Gratitude to the Publisher Novel Novels, Author Matthew Kesselman & NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.
I prefer a novel that's communicated in the first-person style; the lead puts the whole narrative from his POV. The book's slang caught me totally by wonder as I had never come over anything like that earlier & I am happy that I did.
All personas in the novel had their own difficulties, which gave the story a more practical design. People can really resonate with the actors rather than merely leaving it up to our imagination. I loved how the writer initiated with the hero simply prattling his sentiments & then the redo gets him to the point where he needs to put the tale well. (It got me knowing that there is somebody similar to me ;))
Overall, I discovered the work to be quite a pleasant read. I couldn't help myself becoming caught in it as it got so long with monotonous babbling. A present-day story that got predictable towards the end, yet the twists have one questioning what's occurring. I liked the writer's scenic drive tour for the readers to experience the journey simultaneously with her work.
I prefer a novel that's communicated in the first-person style; the lead puts the whole narrative from his POV. The book's slang caught me totally by wonder as I had never come over anything like that earlier & I am happy that I did.
All personas in the novel had their own difficulties, which gave the story a more practical design. People can really resonate with the actors rather than merely leaving it up to our imagination. I loved how the writer initiated with the hero simply prattling his sentiments & then the redo gets him to the point where he needs to put the tale well. (It got me knowing that there is somebody similar to me ;))
Overall, I discovered the work to be quite a pleasant read. I couldn't help myself becoming caught in it as it got so long with monotonous babbling. A present-day story that got predictable towards the end, yet the twists have one questioning what's occurring. I liked the writer's scenic drive tour for the readers to experience the journey simultaneously with her work.
March 10, 2021
3.5 stars.
Forrest Willcox is not a likeable character. He is an ignorant, bigoted, hot-headed buffoon who rarely, actually never, thinks before he reacts. His head is caught up in what he thinks his life should be like, he’s stuck in the past always reminiscing about the things he has failed at and the things he has lost, well I shouldn’t say ‘thing’ as it's his brother Bryan who he has lost. Bryan is a year older than Forrest, he’s the big brother who Forrest wishes he still had around, however, Bryan ran away when he was 17 in search of a better life, something which Forrest never thought of doing.
Now in his 30’s, married to his high school sweetheart who he has a daughter, Casey with and working as a mechanic for his father's business, he is plodding along in his mundane life until his father comes over requesting him to speak to his mother. His mother is dying and she has asked Forrest to go and find his brother. After very little consideration, and following the only lead he has which is a letter, Forrest takes off with Casey to drive across the country in search of his long-lost brother and to fulfil his mother's wish.
This is a tricky review to write as I really disliked Forrest from the first sentence. However, the way the story opens is unusual which I liked. It is also written in the first-person past tense and in a Southern US vernacular which I am not used to at all. I did have to look up some of the slang to make sure I had the right definition. By no means is this a negative in the way the story is written as it perfectly set the tone and character of Forrest as he isn’t meant to be likeable, but what kept me reading was the need to find out how the story ends.
The story does have a good pace, although I did skim over some parts as he was irritating me with his judgemental thoughtless tendencies and without his daughter, he would not have gotten very far. I would have liked to have learnt more about his daughter, a bit more character development so I could have at least one character to connect with, but as this is written from Forrest’s point of view, he didn’t have much to say about who she really is as he didn’t really know her well either. This goes for all other characters in this story which is a shame as I didn’t particularly care for any of them, but then, this is just the tone of the book from Forrest’s perspective.
Despite how much I disliked Forrest he does have some form of compassion deep down, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have embarked on this journey for his mum. If you enjoy angsty family saga’s and want to find out whether Forrest’s trip across America was successful then do give this a read. You never know, you may end up warming up to him.
Forrest Willcox is not a likeable character. He is an ignorant, bigoted, hot-headed buffoon who rarely, actually never, thinks before he reacts. His head is caught up in what he thinks his life should be like, he’s stuck in the past always reminiscing about the things he has failed at and the things he has lost, well I shouldn’t say ‘thing’ as it's his brother Bryan who he has lost. Bryan is a year older than Forrest, he’s the big brother who Forrest wishes he still had around, however, Bryan ran away when he was 17 in search of a better life, something which Forrest never thought of doing.
Now in his 30’s, married to his high school sweetheart who he has a daughter, Casey with and working as a mechanic for his father's business, he is plodding along in his mundane life until his father comes over requesting him to speak to his mother. His mother is dying and she has asked Forrest to go and find his brother. After very little consideration, and following the only lead he has which is a letter, Forrest takes off with Casey to drive across the country in search of his long-lost brother and to fulfil his mother's wish.
This is a tricky review to write as I really disliked Forrest from the first sentence. However, the way the story opens is unusual which I liked. It is also written in the first-person past tense and in a Southern US vernacular which I am not used to at all. I did have to look up some of the slang to make sure I had the right definition. By no means is this a negative in the way the story is written as it perfectly set the tone and character of Forrest as he isn’t meant to be likeable, but what kept me reading was the need to find out how the story ends.
The story does have a good pace, although I did skim over some parts as he was irritating me with his judgemental thoughtless tendencies and without his daughter, he would not have gotten very far. I would have liked to have learnt more about his daughter, a bit more character development so I could have at least one character to connect with, but as this is written from Forrest’s point of view, he didn’t have much to say about who she really is as he didn’t really know her well either. This goes for all other characters in this story which is a shame as I didn’t particularly care for any of them, but then, this is just the tone of the book from Forrest’s perspective.
Despite how much I disliked Forrest he does have some form of compassion deep down, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have embarked on this journey for his mum. If you enjoy angsty family saga’s and want to find out whether Forrest’s trip across America was successful then do give this a read. You never know, you may end up warming up to him.
March 16, 2021
“I was only thirty one. I shoulda been jumpin’ around makin’ money, runnin with a son, but instead I was gettin’ fat and getting stuck on old thoughts.
This contemporary novel was a good read. I don’t think I have read something like this before. My fiction choices always had a lot of mystery and probably dead bodies somewhere in between.
Finding Bryan is about the journey of a thirty something old man named Forrest whose life was already a chaos. As his mom asked him to go on a trip to find his brother; who cut his family off many years ago. Forrest is focused on this task to get it right but as things unfold you will clearly see how Forrest messes up his life even more.
You get to see how does it feel like to be someone who’s stuck in the past. Who has one image on his mind and keep living it on a loop; instead of facing reality and taking responsibility on his own. I even got angry at Forrest because he was too messed up. Being an adult man, the father, the husband; and not willing to put the right effort to create a healthy, financially stable family and still risks everything in his life to go after the brother who left them behind. There was a lot of misunderstanding between him and his father, him and his wife, him and his daughter….
The novel took me all the way to the west. I was listening to a playlist (Country instrumentals) I really enjoyed the ambiance. The writer had done a pretty good job regarding the first person writing style. It is usually hard for me to adjust with but with this one I was hooked from page one.
Finding Bryan is about, Family, fatherhood, brotherhood, change, moving on, and being stuck in past memories.
The question is: Will Forrest find his brother ‘Bryan’?
Thank You Netgalley and Novel Novels for the ARC. I enjoyed it.
This contemporary novel was a good read. I don’t think I have read something like this before. My fiction choices always had a lot of mystery and probably dead bodies somewhere in between.
Finding Bryan is about the journey of a thirty something old man named Forrest whose life was already a chaos. As his mom asked him to go on a trip to find his brother; who cut his family off many years ago. Forrest is focused on this task to get it right but as things unfold you will clearly see how Forrest messes up his life even more.
You get to see how does it feel like to be someone who’s stuck in the past. Who has one image on his mind and keep living it on a loop; instead of facing reality and taking responsibility on his own. I even got angry at Forrest because he was too messed up. Being an adult man, the father, the husband; and not willing to put the right effort to create a healthy, financially stable family and still risks everything in his life to go after the brother who left them behind. There was a lot of misunderstanding between him and his father, him and his wife, him and his daughter….
The novel took me all the way to the west. I was listening to a playlist (Country instrumentals) I really enjoyed the ambiance. The writer had done a pretty good job regarding the first person writing style. It is usually hard for me to adjust with but with this one I was hooked from page one.
Finding Bryan is about, Family, fatherhood, brotherhood, change, moving on, and being stuck in past memories.
The question is: Will Forrest find his brother ‘Bryan’?
Thank You Netgalley and Novel Novels for the ARC. I enjoyed it.
March 4, 2021
Thank you Novel Novels for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Personally, I find it hard to be submerged into a book when it is written in First Person Past Tense, but the way Matthew has written it, took me by surprise. Starting from the first chapter, I was engulfed. All the characters seemed flawed with their own shortcomings, I liked that a lot. I am tired of reading books where most of them are perfect. This book was raw, starting with the MC. His ambition could’ve taken him to places, but instead, his anger (due to his personal limitations) helped burn those bridges down. It was a good story, very well written. Even with the First Person Past Tense, I shed a few tears towards the end.
Forrest was a complex character. He seemed broken and terrified because of his personal loss in the past which made him lash out quite a few times. I wanted to wring his neck a few times because of how ignorant he appeared, which I believe was the point the author was trying to make. He didn’t have any malice at heart instead felt trapped in roles that were expected of him or what he was supposed to be doing.
It is a beautifully written story, Matthew surely has a way with words that paints the perfect picture before your eyes. There’s a lot to experience through this journey. Love, loss, friendship, anger, hate, but more importantly self-discovery. I suppose it’s never too late to find yourself and what you love. Life is a journey we must always overcome all the obstacles we face.
This book is definitely recommended to those who enjoy family-oriented drama which eventually tips towards MC’s mental health awareness. There’s no murder. There’s no mystery. Just an angry man with his young daughter in the search for his brother.
Rating: 4.0/5
Personally, I find it hard to be submerged into a book when it is written in First Person Past Tense, but the way Matthew has written it, took me by surprise. Starting from the first chapter, I was engulfed. All the characters seemed flawed with their own shortcomings, I liked that a lot. I am tired of reading books where most of them are perfect. This book was raw, starting with the MC. His ambition could’ve taken him to places, but instead, his anger (due to his personal limitations) helped burn those bridges down. It was a good story, very well written. Even with the First Person Past Tense, I shed a few tears towards the end.
Forrest was a complex character. He seemed broken and terrified because of his personal loss in the past which made him lash out quite a few times. I wanted to wring his neck a few times because of how ignorant he appeared, which I believe was the point the author was trying to make. He didn’t have any malice at heart instead felt trapped in roles that were expected of him or what he was supposed to be doing.
It is a beautifully written story, Matthew surely has a way with words that paints the perfect picture before your eyes. There’s a lot to experience through this journey. Love, loss, friendship, anger, hate, but more importantly self-discovery. I suppose it’s never too late to find yourself and what you love. Life is a journey we must always overcome all the obstacles we face.
This book is definitely recommended to those who enjoy family-oriented drama which eventually tips towards MC’s mental health awareness. There’s no murder. There’s no mystery. Just an angry man with his young daughter in the search for his brother.
Rating: 4.0/5
March 20, 2021
Thank you Novel Novels for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Finding Bryan follows Forrest Wilcox as he sets off on a road trip to find his brother who left sixteen years ago. In the same time, we follow Forrest’s journey with self-discovery.
I absolutely loved this novel! It’s written in a way I’ve never read before! I felt a strong connection with the characters and felt like we got to know everyone’s personality properly. We got to see how different they all are, and what really goes on in a family, the issues they face and the way they overcome them. I loved the father-daughter relationship and how it developed from start to end.
This book was a wild ride and I felt like I was experiencing it while sitting in the car with Forrest. It was quick to read and you could easily finish it in one or two sittings! I took a bit longer though cause I didn’t want it to end! The plot itself was engaging and highly entertaining! There were also many great lessons throughout this and I’m sure this book is going to stick with me for a while.
Overall, a great book written in a fun way. Would definitely recommend!
Finding Bryan follows Forrest Wilcox as he sets off on a road trip to find his brother who left sixteen years ago. In the same time, we follow Forrest’s journey with self-discovery.
I absolutely loved this novel! It’s written in a way I’ve never read before! I felt a strong connection with the characters and felt like we got to know everyone’s personality properly. We got to see how different they all are, and what really goes on in a family, the issues they face and the way they overcome them. I loved the father-daughter relationship and how it developed from start to end.
This book was a wild ride and I felt like I was experiencing it while sitting in the car with Forrest. It was quick to read and you could easily finish it in one or two sittings! I took a bit longer though cause I didn’t want it to end! The plot itself was engaging and highly entertaining! There were also many great lessons throughout this and I’m sure this book is going to stick with me for a while.
Overall, a great book written in a fun way. Would definitely recommend!
dnf
June 1, 2021DNF @ 18%
I think this is a case of this book isn’t for me. The publisher reached out to me and offered me a copy via netgalley, so I thought I would check it out. It wasn’t the kind of book that immediately grabbed my attention, but the synopsis sounded okay and I saw some pretty positive reviews so I thought I’d give it a chance.
I picked this book up about 4 days ago to start it and I haven’t touched it since. I don’t like the main character/narrator, and I wasn’t being pulled in by the plot enough to want to read the book and spend time in the character’s head.
This book just wasn’t for me.
I think this is a case of this book isn’t for me. The publisher reached out to me and offered me a copy via netgalley, so I thought I would check it out. It wasn’t the kind of book that immediately grabbed my attention, but the synopsis sounded okay and I saw some pretty positive reviews so I thought I’d give it a chance.
I picked this book up about 4 days ago to start it and I haven’t touched it since. I don’t like the main character/narrator, and I wasn’t being pulled in by the plot enough to want to read the book and spend time in the character’s head.
This book just wasn’t for me.
July 15, 2021
Forrest Wilcox sets out on an adventure along with his daughter, Casey, to find his brother, Bryan, who left his family years ago. As unwilling as he is to go on, it is his dying mother's last wish. In his journey, he faces many challenges, from confronting his inner demons to fighting his anger issues to complicating his already messed up life. Amidst all the chaos, he does find Bryan but at the cost of his marriage and fatherhood. Was it worth it or does it turn Bryan's life into irreversibly broken?
As interesting as the story was, the protagonist, Forrest Wilcox, set my mood off at every moment. I couldn't help putting down my device after reading a few chapters. However, the storytelling was such that it still kept me going and made me wonder what would happen in the next moment. So I had to patiently understand this character which I soon discovered was not as explosive at heart as he was on the exterior. Forrest Wilcox was a broken soul with terrible anger issues which was a result of his upbringing. Forrest and Bryan, both loved adventure, but it was Bryan who went for it and Forrest always held back. And when Bryan left, Forrest pretended to be the obedient one by following in his father's footsteps and concealing his true dreams. And now after years of keeping his desires private, he has become this judgy, arrogant, short-tempered person, in conflict with his emotions. Although he was good at heart, he was too reckless with his daughter and even risked her life at a point. I loved how genuinely the characters were described, catching them in their raw emotions. It gives a glimpse of life wrecked from all directions, when you are helpless and then from somewhere a tiny ray of hope, miracle sails you through. The concept of having difficulties in accepting changes is described here so well. It has love, friendship, family, adventure, loss - a full emotional ride. It is a journey towards overcoming life's challenges, self redemption and restoring faith. The ending was nice but I wanted more from it. It fell flat in comparison to the story.
Overall, it is a nice read with family drama, travelling and self-discovery. Thank you Netgalley and Novel Novels for this copy.
As interesting as the story was, the protagonist, Forrest Wilcox, set my mood off at every moment. I couldn't help putting down my device after reading a few chapters. However, the storytelling was such that it still kept me going and made me wonder what would happen in the next moment. So I had to patiently understand this character which I soon discovered was not as explosive at heart as he was on the exterior. Forrest Wilcox was a broken soul with terrible anger issues which was a result of his upbringing. Forrest and Bryan, both loved adventure, but it was Bryan who went for it and Forrest always held back. And when Bryan left, Forrest pretended to be the obedient one by following in his father's footsteps and concealing his true dreams. And now after years of keeping his desires private, he has become this judgy, arrogant, short-tempered person, in conflict with his emotions. Although he was good at heart, he was too reckless with his daughter and even risked her life at a point. I loved how genuinely the characters were described, catching them in their raw emotions. It gives a glimpse of life wrecked from all directions, when you are helpless and then from somewhere a tiny ray of hope, miracle sails you through. The concept of having difficulties in accepting changes is described here so well. It has love, friendship, family, adventure, loss - a full emotional ride. It is a journey towards overcoming life's challenges, self redemption and restoring faith. The ending was nice but I wanted more from it. It fell flat in comparison to the story.
Overall, it is a nice read with family drama, travelling and self-discovery. Thank you Netgalley and Novel Novels for this copy.
March 30, 2021
Time never goes backwards. No amount of wishing or dreaming will make that true. You can love your past, but you can't become lost in it because an old life is a dead life. It dies every morning as the sun rises, and all that's left in its place is a newly born day, which we best not waste.
-Chapter 41
First of all, I would like to thank Novels Novels for approaching me with the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. :)
Finding Bryan tells the story of Forrest Wilcox, a 30-something father whose family was slowly falling apart. Make no mistake, he loved his wife and daughter to bits, but it's just. He hated his job, his mother had cancer, he always longed for the past, and he had anger issues. One day, his dad called him into his office and let him know that his mother was dying -- the doctor said she only had less than 2 months to live. Her last wish was to see her boys reunited once more. Boys, because years ago, when he'd been 16 or 17, Forrest's brother named Bryan ran away from home after a heated argument with his father. Thus, Forrest was tasked to find Bryan.
It wasn't as simple as it sounded, though. With his marriage falling apart, Forrest might have to choose between his own family or his mother's dying wish. It all got a bit more complicated when he decided to take his only twelve-year-old daughter, Casey, without her mother's permission.
ANALYSIS
Forrest must have voted for Trump.
I struggled reading this book and it was mostly Forrest to blame. Right from the first line, I knew I wasn't going to like him and that it would take some effort to finish this book.
I remember after the first honk, I thought to myself: What in God's name is that elephant-lookin' bitch doin'?
-Chapter 1
The book is written from Forrest's perspective, using a first-person narrative. See, I won't say I'm not a fan of first-person POV because Lord knows I've done it so many times in my own books. It's a simple and straightforward narration because readers have a front row access to the main characters inner thoughts and decision. However, there's a reason why first-person POV narrations are mostly found in young adult books. I don't think Finding Bryan qualifies as a young adult book. Forrest was thirty years old and it felt weird to be in his head -- not to mention that he was a straight up arse.
I don't have a problem with unlikeable characters as long as they are fleshed out well. If there's anything that GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire series taught me is that humans have both good and bad inside of them, and that's what makes a character tick. Forrest, however, is not just unlikeable, he's detestable. I realised after a couple of chapters that it was just the intention of Matthew Kesselman when writing him. But as readers we still need to root for the main
Forrest, on the other hand, was a self-centered, homophobic, xenophobic, mysoginistic, racist arse. His only redeeming quality is his love to his family, even then he had a weird way of showing it. Other characters are also inconsistent at some points. Take Forrest's father as an example. He was the one tasking him to find Bryan, giving him 2 weeks to do so and a credit card to cover the expenses. After a couple of days of Forrest hitting the road, he called the mission off. Why? Because he suddenly realised that if Bryan wanted to come home, he would've done so in the last 15 years.
Basically, this book is about Forrest making one bad decision after another in a very not-enjoyable way. I couldn't find it in me to root for him and I spent 75% of the book rolling my eyes, hoping he would get his comeuppance. In fact, I sort of ran my way through on the last day because I couldn't bear being in Forrest's head one more day. The story got better near the end, though, and I actually loved the ending. I think those last few pages are where Matthew got everything right into place and the heart of the story comes out.
A couple of plot points I would like to highlight:
- Character inconsistencies. Almost every character has this weird decision making process that just doesn't make sense.
- Do your research. I'm talking about the So no, that scene absolutely doesn't make sense and could never happen in real life.
- Forrest loved telling stories of his youth to his daughter during the roadtrip. There was an incident of him being lost in the woods during winter that he could recall in vivid details. My problem with it? So unless Forrest had a very detailed, photographic memory since he was a child, this scene makes zero sense.
- And no, Forrest was not a smart guy.
I actually think that the story would improve a lot if Matthew changed the narrative to Casey's instead. Or at least have both Forrest and Casey do joint narratives. It would justify the use of first-person POV and would make the story far more interesting because, let's face it, the roadtrip was even sort of bearable because of her. If it's only Forrest, I think I wouldn't even bother to finish.
April 5, 2021
Where should I start?
Finding Bryan by Matthew Kesselman was….not my cup of tea. I was approached by the publishers Novels Novels (a tiny publishing house in Virginia) asking for a honest review in February ahead of the launch date on March 30th - so I was given an ARC copy. I will not tag the author and/or them as I don’t want to look ungrateful or upset anyone but since it took me weeks and all of my will to finish the book, I believe I should at least write a review.
Pros?
The writing was quite fluid and conversational. The book was entirely written in a Virginian slang which should have turned it into a fast read. I can see people struggling in making sense of everything that’s said but luckily I didn’t struggle much (which is a big achievement since I’m an Italian reading in English).
The book is about a road trip through the South-East and South-West American states so we are given some interesting descriptions of the landscape, though not enough to justify the time used to read it.
Cons...Many.
Forrest Wilcox is the protagonist and he embodies every single clichès/generalisation of a South-East American white man. He’s an homophobic/racist/sexist/ignorant selfish prick (pardonez-moi). He’s completely self-absorbed and has a really bad temper. He keeps on messing up every straw of relationship he has because he’s unable to care about others or see beyond his nose. Every 2 seconds I would have to put my kindle down because I would be raging at him. He goes on a trip to find his long-lost brother. He’s asked to do so as his dying mother’s last wish but he only undertakes the trip to get back at his father and spend all his money. Bear in mind we’re talking about a thirty-something man, not a child. He proceeds to take his 12-years-old daughter with him, without telling his wife as a form of revenge because she wanted another kid. He runs over a teenager on a bike due to his bad temper. Luckily the guy is mostly unharmed but Forrest doesn’t refrain from making comments on his race even when he’s completely on the wrong. He is rude to two of his brothers’ friends just because they’re gay, even if they have opened their home to him and many, many more instances in which I would have wanted to throw my kindle out of the window.
Now, to write about such an unpleasant, hateful individual is no easy task. You definitely can’t say that this book hasn’t left a mark on me. My concerns started when I couldn’t make out if the author was giving us a character like that to make us reflect and condemn his behaviours or if Forrest somehow was reflecting his views on life...I decided to go for the former for my peace of mind.
You would hope that at least a redemption comes at the end of a book, that all his mistakes would amount to something positive but I can’t honestly say that it does. Yes, the long-lost brother is found. Yes, Forrest understands that he needs to adjust some of his behaviours and he starts paying for his actions but is he really reformed? I highly doubt this. The whole book was a succession of moments of him feeling sorry for himself because he got his girlfriend pregnant at 18 and was unable to lead the reckless life he wanted to. It was always someone else’s fault. He would make some empty promises every now and then but they would be completely erased once he would lose his temper again. It was like watching a kid crying everytime they wouldn’t be able to get their favourite candy.
The book made me feel uneasy from the start which I believed wanted to be clever with an in media-res opening. However, when the action that is taking place is the character making extremely rude and body-shaming comments it just doesn’t work, it will make the reader put the book down immediately unless you’re as close minded as Forrest. I honestly only carried on and finished the book because I was asked for a review and here it is, folks.
Finding Bryan by Matthew Kesselman was….not my cup of tea. I was approached by the publishers Novels Novels (a tiny publishing house in Virginia) asking for a honest review in February ahead of the launch date on March 30th - so I was given an ARC copy. I will not tag the author and/or them as I don’t want to look ungrateful or upset anyone but since it took me weeks and all of my will to finish the book, I believe I should at least write a review.
Pros?
The writing was quite fluid and conversational. The book was entirely written in a Virginian slang which should have turned it into a fast read. I can see people struggling in making sense of everything that’s said but luckily I didn’t struggle much (which is a big achievement since I’m an Italian reading in English).
The book is about a road trip through the South-East and South-West American states so we are given some interesting descriptions of the landscape, though not enough to justify the time used to read it.
Cons...Many.
Forrest Wilcox is the protagonist and he embodies every single clichès/generalisation of a South-East American white man. He’s an homophobic/racist/sexist/ignorant selfish prick (pardonez-moi). He’s completely self-absorbed and has a really bad temper. He keeps on messing up every straw of relationship he has because he’s unable to care about others or see beyond his nose. Every 2 seconds I would have to put my kindle down because I would be raging at him. He goes on a trip to find his long-lost brother. He’s asked to do so as his dying mother’s last wish but he only undertakes the trip to get back at his father and spend all his money. Bear in mind we’re talking about a thirty-something man, not a child. He proceeds to take his 12-years-old daughter with him, without telling his wife as a form of revenge because she wanted another kid. He runs over a teenager on a bike due to his bad temper. Luckily the guy is mostly unharmed but Forrest doesn’t refrain from making comments on his race even when he’s completely on the wrong. He is rude to two of his brothers’ friends just because they’re gay, even if they have opened their home to him and many, many more instances in which I would have wanted to throw my kindle out of the window.
Now, to write about such an unpleasant, hateful individual is no easy task. You definitely can’t say that this book hasn’t left a mark on me. My concerns started when I couldn’t make out if the author was giving us a character like that to make us reflect and condemn his behaviours or if Forrest somehow was reflecting his views on life...I decided to go for the former for my peace of mind.
You would hope that at least a redemption comes at the end of a book, that all his mistakes would amount to something positive but I can’t honestly say that it does. Yes, the long-lost brother is found. Yes, Forrest understands that he needs to adjust some of his behaviours and he starts paying for his actions but is he really reformed? I highly doubt this. The whole book was a succession of moments of him feeling sorry for himself because he got his girlfriend pregnant at 18 and was unable to lead the reckless life he wanted to. It was always someone else’s fault. He would make some empty promises every now and then but they would be completely erased once he would lose his temper again. It was like watching a kid crying everytime they wouldn’t be able to get their favourite candy.
The book made me feel uneasy from the start which I believed wanted to be clever with an in media-res opening. However, when the action that is taking place is the character making extremely rude and body-shaming comments it just doesn’t work, it will make the reader put the book down immediately unless you’re as close minded as Forrest. I honestly only carried on and finished the book because I was asked for a review and here it is, folks.
March 4, 2021
(English copy from my Instagram @agamundisr_escritor)
Konnichiwa to all readers 🌸
Today I have the great honor of bringing you a review from a collaboration with the American publishing house Novel Novels from Virginia, who proposed to me to work on Matthew Kesselman @matthewkesselman's play "Finding Bryan" that will be released this coming March 30th. With that said, we begin:
🕵️♂️ Finding Bryan is a drama novel that introduces us to Forrest Wilcox, a mechanic disenchanted with life, who along with his daughter Cassey, hit the road to try to find his brother Bryan, thus starting an odyssey through the states American people.
🕵️♂️ This novel presents a very elaborate syntax with many expressions typical of American English and many references that achieve an immersive experience in the story. In my experience as a non-native reader, I have seen how my reading rate has eventually slowed down because of this.
🕵️♂️ Regarding the characters, Mr. Kesselman I consider that he has treated them individually, with care and putting great care in their psychological construction. I believe that he has managed to bring me a little closer to American society and the ethnic groups that live in the United States. Together with the description of the settings, the work gains a lot of strength in this regard.
🌸Conclusion: Finding Bryan has fondly reminded me of The Odyssey due to the situations presented throughout the plot. On a technical level, it seems to me to be a very well written, thought-out and structured work with an interesting plot of drama and adventure. I consider it to be a good read for entertainment and thinking. With that said, I am awarding you a well deserved four cherry blossoms 🌸🌸🌸🌸 and I encourage you to give it a try.
Verdict: 4/5 🌸
Arigato gozaimasu for your time 🌸
Konnichiwa to all readers 🌸
Today I have the great honor of bringing you a review from a collaboration with the American publishing house Novel Novels from Virginia, who proposed to me to work on Matthew Kesselman @matthewkesselman's play "Finding Bryan" that will be released this coming March 30th. With that said, we begin:
🕵️♂️ Finding Bryan is a drama novel that introduces us to Forrest Wilcox, a mechanic disenchanted with life, who along with his daughter Cassey, hit the road to try to find his brother Bryan, thus starting an odyssey through the states American people.
🕵️♂️ This novel presents a very elaborate syntax with many expressions typical of American English and many references that achieve an immersive experience in the story. In my experience as a non-native reader, I have seen how my reading rate has eventually slowed down because of this.
🕵️♂️ Regarding the characters, Mr. Kesselman I consider that he has treated them individually, with care and putting great care in their psychological construction. I believe that he has managed to bring me a little closer to American society and the ethnic groups that live in the United States. Together with the description of the settings, the work gains a lot of strength in this regard.
🌸Conclusion: Finding Bryan has fondly reminded me of The Odyssey due to the situations presented throughout the plot. On a technical level, it seems to me to be a very well written, thought-out and structured work with an interesting plot of drama and adventure. I consider it to be a good read for entertainment and thinking. With that said, I am awarding you a well deserved four cherry blossoms 🌸🌸🌸🌸 and I encourage you to give it a try.
Verdict: 4/5 🌸
Arigato gozaimasu for your time 🌸
March 2, 2021
Thank you for sending me this ARC, so here's my review.
3.5/5 ⭐
I want to start by saying that I wasn't expecting to read this book at all, but I got an email from the publisher providing me with this advanced copy and I said come on!
It is a powerful story. The book tells the story of Forrest, who sets out on a road trip with his daughter to find her brother Bryan, who has been missing for sixteen years, at the behest of her mother, who has cancer.
The way it is written is very different, it is written in first person but in past tense, and it has a different accent to the other books I have read in English, but that was not a problem to read it; the characters are very good, each one with their flaws and internal problems made me get into each one of them, there were certain moments when I could not stand the main character with several of his attitudes and personality, but by the time we read him as Cassey's father, he is very good with her.
I did give it a few points because I didn't love the main character and as I mentioned above, it has a different way of writing words that confused me a bit and I had to go back and read it all again; and, I don't know if it just happened to me, but my kindle marked the pages very weird and I didn't know what was going on haha I thought it was a mega long book, but no, it was badly configured or I don't know.
Overall it's a very good book, I really enjoyed being able to read this book before it goes on sale and I hope Matthew keeps writing because I liked his writing :D
3.5/5 ⭐
I want to start by saying that I wasn't expecting to read this book at all, but I got an email from the publisher providing me with this advanced copy and I said come on!
It is a powerful story. The book tells the story of Forrest, who sets out on a road trip with his daughter to find her brother Bryan, who has been missing for sixteen years, at the behest of her mother, who has cancer.
The way it is written is very different, it is written in first person but in past tense, and it has a different accent to the other books I have read in English, but that was not a problem to read it; the characters are very good, each one with their flaws and internal problems made me get into each one of them, there were certain moments when I could not stand the main character with several of his attitudes and personality, but by the time we read him as Cassey's father, he is very good with her.
I did give it a few points because I didn't love the main character and as I mentioned above, it has a different way of writing words that confused me a bit and I had to go back and read it all again; and, I don't know if it just happened to me, but my kindle marked the pages very weird and I didn't know what was going on haha I thought it was a mega long book, but no, it was badly configured or I don't know.
Overall it's a very good book, I really enjoyed being able to read this book before it goes on sale and I hope Matthew keeps writing because I liked his writing :D
October 8, 2023
"Finding Bryan" by Matthew Kesselman is a poignant exploration of a man's inner turmoil and the quest for redemption and self-discovery. Forrest Wilcox, plagued by insecurities, irrational outbursts, and a fear of change, is a deeply flawed character who is thrust into a journey of self-discovery when he learns of his mother's terminal illness and is tasked with finding his estranged brother, Bryan.
Kesselman's storytelling is introspective and evocative, delving into Forrest's complex psyche as he confronts his inner demons and battles with his unpredictability. The character development is a strength of the book, as Forrest's flaws and vulnerabilities make him a relatable and sympathetic protagonist.
The novel's exploration of family dynamics, forgiveness, and the need for redemption is heartfelt and resonant. The journey Forrest embarks on with his daughter adds a layer of depth to the story, emphasizing the theme of fatherhood and the importance of trusting oneself.
While "Finding Bryan" is a well-written and emotionally charged novel, it falls short of a higher rating due to pacing issues that may leave some readers wanting more momentum in the plot. Additionally, the narrative occasionally becomes overly introspective, slowing down the overall pacing.
In conclusion, "Finding Bryan" is a thought-provoking and emotionally rich tale that examines the complexities of human nature and the power of self-discovery and redemption. It's a book that will resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven narratives and stories that explore the depths of the human psyche.
Kesselman's storytelling is introspective and evocative, delving into Forrest's complex psyche as he confronts his inner demons and battles with his unpredictability. The character development is a strength of the book, as Forrest's flaws and vulnerabilities make him a relatable and sympathetic protagonist.
The novel's exploration of family dynamics, forgiveness, and the need for redemption is heartfelt and resonant. The journey Forrest embarks on with his daughter adds a layer of depth to the story, emphasizing the theme of fatherhood and the importance of trusting oneself.
While "Finding Bryan" is a well-written and emotionally charged novel, it falls short of a higher rating due to pacing issues that may leave some readers wanting more momentum in the plot. Additionally, the narrative occasionally becomes overly introspective, slowing down the overall pacing.
In conclusion, "Finding Bryan" is a thought-provoking and emotionally rich tale that examines the complexities of human nature and the power of self-discovery and redemption. It's a book that will resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven narratives and stories that explore the depths of the human psyche.
February 24, 2021
Finding Bryan was an interesting read. I'm a pretty fast reader and finished it in one sitting, spread over four hours. The book tells the story of Forrest, who goes on a road trip with his daughter to find his brother Bryan, who disappeared sixteen years ago, at the behest of his mother who has cancer. The writing style, especially with Forrest's southern drawl was rather interesting and made me go through the book faster than I had expected. My main (and only) problem with the book was Forrest's personality and some of his dialogue, which felt a little stilted to me. He is completely different from the type of characters I am used to reading; he's more on the 'mean' side which made it harder for me to get into his headspace.
But I love how caring he is as a father, especially towards his daughter Casey. The father-daughter relationship is what made this book enjoyable for me; it was done really well.
Matthew Kesselman has done a fantastic job with this novel and I'm excited to read more of his works.
But I love how caring he is as a father, especially towards his daughter Casey. The father-daughter relationship is what made this book enjoyable for me; it was done really well.
Matthew Kesselman has done a fantastic job with this novel and I'm excited to read more of his works.
March 6, 2021
“Finding Bryan” is as much a family love story as it is a coming-of-age story for a section of America still unwilling to accept the tides of social progress. Forrest, the novel’s narrator, is a representation of a lost generation of hyper conservatives more focused on continuing traditions of bigotry than accepting a changing political and socioeconomic American landscape. In the mind of Forrest racism and homophobia are acceptable, and anyone who doesn’t agree is part of the problem.
Taking place in the birthplace of the nation, Virginia, a thirty something year old mechanic, Forrest, embarks on a journey to find his older brother, Bryan, at behest of his mother, who is dying of cancer. In defiance of his wife, Forrest, leaves for California with his twelve-year-old daughter, Casey, with little more to go on except a sixteen-year-old letter written to him by his brother from Arizona. The search for Bryan becomes one big wild goose chase across the American South-west. Forrest, driven by tradition and family values, stops at virtually nothing to find Bryan and bring him home for one last, wholesome, family reunion. This journey becomes one of maturation and a realization that the author, Matthew Kesselman, demands the reader to acknowledge; either change or hate everything.
Taking place in the birthplace of the nation, Virginia, a thirty something year old mechanic, Forrest, embarks on a journey to find his older brother, Bryan, at behest of his mother, who is dying of cancer. In defiance of his wife, Forrest, leaves for California with his twelve-year-old daughter, Casey, with little more to go on except a sixteen-year-old letter written to him by his brother from Arizona. The search for Bryan becomes one big wild goose chase across the American South-west. Forrest, driven by tradition and family values, stops at virtually nothing to find Bryan and bring him home for one last, wholesome, family reunion. This journey becomes one of maturation and a realization that the author, Matthew Kesselman, demands the reader to acknowledge; either change or hate everything.
March 27, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I didn't realize this book at first glance but I got an email about whether I wanna read it or not and when I read the blurb I thought "It looks like exactly what I'm looking for (a cute father-daughter bonding story) so sure! Why not?" And I admit that it has a flowing style and I like the story. But I value characters even more than the plot and the main character Forrest is at the same level of hate as Dolores Umbridge from HP world. He is racist, homophobic, rude, arrogant and so many equally awful other things. I even hate how he talks with all those double negative sentences all the time! Also, I'm not even sure if his character developed any. In short, he is not written for readers to love or even like. TBH, right now, I'm questioning why this character was even written. To say to the readers that even the terrible human beings love something/someone? Their lives being unsatisfying makes up for their messed-up behaviors? I'm still not sure. In the first couple of chapters, I thought that's Matthew Kesselman's way of thinking, not Forrests. His descriptions of a woman called Macy and some explanations about his own name made me think like that but later, I finally realized he is just not a likable character! This is the major reason why I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I do.
If you don't care if you like the main character or not and say "just a page-turning story is enough for me" then that could be for you!
I didn't realize this book at first glance but I got an email about whether I wanna read it or not and when I read the blurb I thought "It looks like exactly what I'm looking for (a cute father-daughter bonding story) so sure! Why not?" And I admit that it has a flowing style and I like the story. But I value characters even more than the plot and the main character Forrest is at the same level of hate as Dolores Umbridge from HP world. He is racist, homophobic, rude, arrogant and so many equally awful other things. I even hate how he talks with all those double negative sentences all the time! Also, I'm not even sure if his character developed any. In short, he is not written for readers to love or even like. TBH, right now, I'm questioning why this character was even written. To say to the readers that even the terrible human beings love something/someone? Their lives being unsatisfying makes up for their messed-up behaviors? I'm still not sure. In the first couple of chapters, I thought that's Matthew Kesselman's way of thinking, not Forrests. His descriptions of a woman called Macy and some explanations about his own name made me think like that but later, I finally realized he is just not a likable character! This is the major reason why I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I do.
If you don't care if you like the main character or not and say "just a page-turning story is enough for me" then that could be for you!
February 22, 2021
This was definitely an enjoyable read. Although at times predictable, the plot was engaging, had great twists, and kept me wondering how the story would pan out. Loved how the end turned out, though I may have enjoyed a more extensive epilogue. In that regard I’d give it a 4/5.
My main gripe was with the characters. While the characters are sometimes relatable and grounded in real life, they felt slightly unnatural. Some of their interactions and the way they spoke (not necessarily Forrest’s southern drawl) felt manufactured and a bit strange. I also had trouble settling into and liking any one character—especially Forrest, who was basically a prick the entire story (I know this is the point). What I did appreciate was that none of the characters were painted perfectly and were humanistic and their traits. Here I’d give it a 2.5/5.
Overall, I liked it, and can’t wait to read Matt’s next books and see how he matures as a writer. Rooting for ya buddy!
My main gripe was with the characters. While the characters are sometimes relatable and grounded in real life, they felt slightly unnatural. Some of their interactions and the way they spoke (not necessarily Forrest’s southern drawl) felt manufactured and a bit strange. I also had trouble settling into and liking any one character—especially Forrest, who was basically a prick the entire story (I know this is the point). What I did appreciate was that none of the characters were painted perfectly and were humanistic and their traits. Here I’d give it a 2.5/5.
Overall, I liked it, and can’t wait to read Matt’s next books and see how he matures as a writer. Rooting for ya buddy!
March 2, 2021
I enjoyed how this book was written in the first person narration. I felt like I was listening to what was going on in Forrest's mind, including the things he said, and didn't.
Forrest had his own anger management issue, and I sensed a bit of resentment towards his family, on how his life was turning out—a sick mother who was dying of cancer, an over-bearing father, a teenager who wanted a puppy as a birthday present, and a wife who wanted to try for a second baby.
He embarked on a no-plan journey to look for his older brother, whom he hadn't met in 16 years, and in the process, realised what was most important to him.
There are numerous interesting, unexpected plot twists, and that kept me reading and reading and reading :)
Forrest had his own anger management issue, and I sensed a bit of resentment towards his family, on how his life was turning out—a sick mother who was dying of cancer, an over-bearing father, a teenager who wanted a puppy as a birthday present, and a wife who wanted to try for a second baby.
He embarked on a no-plan journey to look for his older brother, whom he hadn't met in 16 years, and in the process, realised what was most important to him.
There are numerous interesting, unexpected plot twists, and that kept me reading and reading and reading :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2021
From the very first chapter I could tell how my review of this book would go so here it is. The main character is an asshole and I'm calling him names because that's how much he disgusted me.
In chapter one the way he decribed a plus sized woman was not at all okay. I felt angry and sad and disgusted at the aweful words he used to describe this lady. I thought well maybe this would only be in the first chapter but no his disrespect continued throughout the book. I am so hurt by this because if the main character wasn't like this the book would have been great. The language was unique and enjoyable. The plot and storyline was good but the unlikable main character ruined everything.
I'm actually crying while writing this review because it really hurt me and so far much people aren't writing reviews that depict this horrid characteristic of the main character.
In chapter one the way he decribed a plus sized woman was not at all okay. I felt angry and sad and disgusted at the aweful words he used to describe this lady. I thought well maybe this would only be in the first chapter but no his disrespect continued throughout the book. I am so hurt by this because if the main character wasn't like this the book would have been great. The language was unique and enjoyable. The plot and storyline was good but the unlikable main character ruined everything.
I'm actually crying while writing this review because it really hurt me and so far much people aren't writing reviews that depict this horrid characteristic of the main character.
March 16, 2021
CAWPILE Rating: 4,14
Characters: 4,5
Ambience: 5
Writing Style: 3,5
Plot: 3,75
Intrigue: 3,5
Logic / Relationships: 4
Enjoyment: 4,75
First of all, thank you so much Novel Novels for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Finding Bryan... I had such high expectations... Perhaps that's where my problem comes from. When I first read the sinopsis I was clapping my hands with anticipation. This book had a lot of the characteristics I love the most and currently crave in my reads: road trips, journeys, adventure... Unfortunately, I feel like this could have been so much more.
To start with, Forrest, the main character, is an odious person. His rage attacks that appear all of a sudden without an apparent reason drove me insane! I think he's built like that on purpose, and thoughout the book I found myself trying to psychoanalise Forrest in order to understand why he reacted so awfully in EVERY situation. I couldn't find his motive. The other characters, all secondary, in my opinion, weren't as chaotic as Forrest, but I perceived them as shallow and underdeveloped or, at least, I think I would have liked to know more from them in general.
I did enjoy the road trip vibe, but it could have been so much more adventurous. The different events in the road trip felt rushed and coming out of nowhere, so it was hard for me to enjoy the experience. I thought the trip would be not only a desperate way of finding Bryan, but it would provide the perfect excuse for Forrest to work and fix his relationship with his daughter and with himself. None of it happened. The ending, although I appreciate the effort to make it eventful, stressing and climactic, was a non-sense for me. I was constantly questioning Forrest's choices and feeling like I'd love to yell at him for acting so weird.
Another thing that I found off-putting was the writing style. Although I understand and totally agree with the writing style so focused on the strong accent, sometimes it just made it harder to read for me, but I understand that's my own personal case. I would have enjoyed it way more in an audiobook format, so if you have the opportunity, give it a go.
All in all, this was a quite forgettable book for me, that originated a 15-days reading slump. Nevertheless, I'd recommend people to listen to the audiobook, if available, if they want a quick summer road trip read, but don't set your expectations too high, or you'll suffer from my same issues.
Characters: 4,5
Ambience: 5
Writing Style: 3,5
Plot: 3,75
Intrigue: 3,5
Logic / Relationships: 4
Enjoyment: 4,75
First of all, thank you so much Novel Novels for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Finding Bryan... I had such high expectations... Perhaps that's where my problem comes from. When I first read the sinopsis I was clapping my hands with anticipation. This book had a lot of the characteristics I love the most and currently crave in my reads: road trips, journeys, adventure... Unfortunately, I feel like this could have been so much more.
To start with, Forrest, the main character, is an odious person. His rage attacks that appear all of a sudden without an apparent reason drove me insane! I think he's built like that on purpose, and thoughout the book I found myself trying to psychoanalise Forrest in order to understand why he reacted so awfully in EVERY situation. I couldn't find his motive. The other characters, all secondary, in my opinion, weren't as chaotic as Forrest, but I perceived them as shallow and underdeveloped or, at least, I think I would have liked to know more from them in general.
I did enjoy the road trip vibe, but it could have been so much more adventurous. The different events in the road trip felt rushed and coming out of nowhere, so it was hard for me to enjoy the experience. I thought the trip would be not only a desperate way of finding Bryan, but it would provide the perfect excuse for Forrest to work and fix his relationship with his daughter and with himself. None of it happened. The ending, although I appreciate the effort to make it eventful, stressing and climactic, was a non-sense for me. I was constantly questioning Forrest's choices and feeling like I'd love to yell at him for acting so weird.
Another thing that I found off-putting was the writing style. Although I understand and totally agree with the writing style so focused on the strong accent, sometimes it just made it harder to read for me, but I understand that's my own personal case. I would have enjoyed it way more in an audiobook format, so if you have the opportunity, give it a go.
All in all, this was a quite forgettable book for me, that originated a 15-days reading slump. Nevertheless, I'd recommend people to listen to the audiobook, if available, if they want a quick summer road trip read, but don't set your expectations too high, or you'll suffer from my same issues.
February 25, 2021
This novel was more about finding self. The narrator, on his journey to find his long separated brother Bryan, finally finds out what was missing in his life. I completely agree with the author here, to know yourself truly, you've got to get out of your home and travel. A charming story in my opinion.
March 3, 2021
Thanks NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Matthew Kesselman for an ARC to review.
So hard to review this book, I loved the writing style and the road trip self discovering, bonding relationship father-daughter concept but I so disliked Forrest. I can somehow understand his bottled up anger's origin but he didn't have to process it in the way he did. He kept stuck up in the past and in the what ifs and didn't try to change his scenario.
An interesting good read.
So hard to review this book, I loved the writing style and the road trip self discovering, bonding relationship father-daughter concept but I so disliked Forrest. I can somehow understand his bottled up anger's origin but he didn't have to process it in the way he did. He kept stuck up in the past and in the what ifs and didn't try to change his scenario.
An interesting good read.
March 10, 2021
I was lucky enough that the publishers sent me an e-copy arc! (Thankyou so very much!) This story is something I'll definitely remember. I loved how the characters were flawed and you could see through their flaws and still enjoy reading about them. This author is very good at immersing you into the story that you instantly get hooked by page 1.
March 10, 2021
I really enjoyed the book. It captivated me enough to finish in two sittings. The writing flowed well and I could visualize the scenes, watching them unfold. Although I found the main character a bit annoying (which I believe was the intent) I found myself rooting for him. A Good Read.
February 25, 2021
The storytelling in this book is a gem. Before reading this book, I was never drawn to the "southern white trash" vernacular, but the main character in this book changed my mind about the stereotype I had. By the end, I unknowingly became fond of the main character and realized this book broke down walls I had.
The story had the right elements of depicting the generational changes seen within America, but the imagery was subtle. However, I think it was a strength of the author to keep the nonlinear flow of the story of this father-daughter road trip (and the objective of "finding Bryan" taken from the title itself) as the focus rather than to highlight the change and continuity between the different generations. Road trips are rarely remembered solely for the destination but more often cherished for the adventures, challenges, plot twists, road blocks, and of course, the many memories and stories retold during the journey.
If you want to read a story about real imperfections, flaws, and mistakes within one family, these characters are a breath of fresh air to follow. The rawness and messy-realness throughout the entire story from the beginning to the middle makes the ending too sweet, too good to be true. Sometimes, you realize that family is something we take for granted, but is worth accepting the grit and the flaws that comes with the growing within the journey.
I would love to see this book be turned into a movie one day. Well deserves the 5 stars!
The story had the right elements of depicting the generational changes seen within America, but the imagery was subtle. However, I think it was a strength of the author to keep the nonlinear flow of the story of this father-daughter road trip (and the objective of "finding Bryan" taken from the title itself) as the focus rather than to highlight the change and continuity between the different generations. Road trips are rarely remembered solely for the destination but more often cherished for the adventures, challenges, plot twists, road blocks, and of course, the many memories and stories retold during the journey.
If you want to read a story about real imperfections, flaws, and mistakes within one family, these characters are a breath of fresh air to follow. The rawness and messy-realness throughout the entire story from the beginning to the middle makes the ending too sweet, too good to be true. Sometimes, you realize that family is something we take for granted, but is worth accepting the grit and the flaws that comes with the growing within the journey.
I would love to see this book be turned into a movie one day. Well deserves the 5 stars!
March 2, 2021
I was very impressed with this book. I was not expecting the ending at all. The author has peaked my interest and can’t wait to read more of his books in the future.
March 11, 2021
I really did enjoy this book! It kept me on my toes and wanting to know more. At one point I didn’t know which way the book was going to turn! Also I enjoyed the authors humor.
February 24, 2023
I chose to DNF this book. The main reason for it is the fact I did not relate to the writing at all. It has great potential, but it did not fit to my likings in general
February 23, 2021
I’m so grateful to the publisher for reaching out to me with a free copy of this book because I really enjoyed it. It was a great change of pace between thrillers!
February 17, 2021
Entertaining, quick to read and predictable from time to time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews