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Helping Howard
Helping Howard explores the fraught lifetime marriage of a straight older man, his younger gay wife, and the daughter that survives them.
An anti-romantic romance, this book tells the tale of The Author who awakens Howard into consciousness in order to become her accomplice in figuring out what happens next. Their ongoing dialogue pushes the story forward through quarrelsome, humorous, psychological cliffhangers. Playing with, and exposing, the creative process adds another dimension to the narrative as The Author creates a relationship with her main character, which in turn, reflects on who she is.
Helping Howard is about people struggling with understanding their own barriers to achieving and sustaining intimacy. It's a complex story of human longing and unmet desire.
An anti-romantic romance, this book tells the tale of The Author who awakens Howard into consciousness in order to become her accomplice in figuring out what happens next. Their ongoing dialogue pushes the story forward through quarrelsome, humorous, psychological cliffhangers. Playing with, and exposing, the creative process adds another dimension to the narrative as The Author creates a relationship with her main character, which in turn, reflects on who she is.
Helping Howard is about people struggling with understanding their own barriers to achieving and sustaining intimacy. It's a complex story of human longing and unmet desire.
314 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 16, 2021
When the first page of a book startles me and captures me so completely that I stop everything and read it out loud, I know I've discovered something new. Helping Howard by Sally Schloss IS new. New and inventive. As readers, we are privy to conversations between the author and her character, Howard, a guy who needs help! So does the author, it turns out, and this charming page-turner reveals the inevitable wounds and the hard-earned healing that make up life. Real life. Ultimately, Helping Howard is an unorthodox and thoroughly satisfying love story. I read it twice, that's how much I loved it.
Hard to believe this is Schloss's first novel. Her voice is certain, her touch deft. I want more.
Hard to believe this is Schloss's first novel. Her voice is certain, her touch deft. I want more.
March 16, 2022
Helping Howard is a lovely page turner that is about life, love and everything else that is part of real life. It's the type of book that is easy to read but also powerful and thought provoking and with characters that will stay with you long after the last page. It travels through quite a few years of Howard's life and a few different point of views but it all moves beautifully between each one. I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be reading this again. The writing is absolutely wonderful and to think this is a debut novel!
October 20, 2021
From the opening Author’s Note, when Sally Schloss, the actual author of this clever story states “This is a novel in which the main character, Howard, helps The Author write a book, and The Author in turn helps Howard understand his marriage,” I was hooked. This is creation at its finest, as Schloss moves seamlessly from dialogue between these two into the engaging, moving scenes the fictional Author creates to drive the story forward. Howard is a good man who does not always make wise choices (there goes that pesky Author, again). Inciteful and engaging, this is a book to be savored—one I’ll be reading again and again.
April 15, 2022
Helping Howard is a unique and emotive book - no matter how you look at it
The author allows her main character “Howard” to help write the story. They have “breakthrough” conversations throughout the narrative on how the story is going or how it should go.
Howard wants a good marriage and to be a father; he wants to be loved and appreciated. But he ends up with a very unconventional marriage and a very messy and somewhat lonely life. Howard often asks the author for a plot change or a rewrite. Don’t we all wish we could do that? The author gets a bit cheeky at times with Howard, but as time moves on, the author seems to soften with Howard, at times granting Howard’s requests.
While I felt the overall story had a melancholy feel, I found the format extremely interesting. In the end, I wasn’t sure who was analyzing who, whose perspective was I supposed to look at this from? -Very clever.
Again, this story will have you thinking and feeling no matter how you look at it.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @sally_schloss for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
The author allows her main character “Howard” to help write the story. They have “breakthrough” conversations throughout the narrative on how the story is going or how it should go.
Howard wants a good marriage and to be a father; he wants to be loved and appreciated. But he ends up with a very unconventional marriage and a very messy and somewhat lonely life. Howard often asks the author for a plot change or a rewrite. Don’t we all wish we could do that? The author gets a bit cheeky at times with Howard, but as time moves on, the author seems to soften with Howard, at times granting Howard’s requests.
While I felt the overall story had a melancholy feel, I found the format extremely interesting. In the end, I wasn’t sure who was analyzing who, whose perspective was I supposed to look at this from? -Very clever.
Again, this story will have you thinking and feeling no matter how you look at it.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @sally_schloss for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
March 17, 2022
Sally Schloss, the author of “Helping Howard” has written a unique and creative fictional book. The Author’s note at the beginning of the story says, “This is a novel in which the main character, Howard helps The Author write a book, and The Author, in turn, helps Howard understand his marriage.”
The genre for this novel is fiction. This reminds me of when I interview the author of a novel, I often will ask about the characters, and why and how they were written. Often an author will say that her characters speak to her, and often an author will change the character to soften or harden them. In this story, the Author and Howard have a conversation, which at times sounds like a negotiation. Howard has undefined expectations for his character, and the author is handling Howard like the work of progress in her novel that she is. This is certainly an unusual technique and I found it intriguing and witty.
The author describes her characters in great detail, and they appear to be complex and complicated. Howard questions the author on if he will have a happy ending, and the author is deep in thought processing how it will be.
I would recommend this thought-provoking novel to other readers and writers.
The genre for this novel is fiction. This reminds me of when I interview the author of a novel, I often will ask about the characters, and why and how they were written. Often an author will say that her characters speak to her, and often an author will change the character to soften or harden them. In this story, the Author and Howard have a conversation, which at times sounds like a negotiation. Howard has undefined expectations for his character, and the author is handling Howard like the work of progress in her novel that she is. This is certainly an unusual technique and I found it intriguing and witty.
The author describes her characters in great detail, and they appear to be complex and complicated. Howard questions the author on if he will have a happy ending, and the author is deep in thought processing how it will be.
I would recommend this thought-provoking novel to other readers and writers.
October 18, 2021
Helping Howard by Sally Schloss starts out innocently enough. The opening passages where the author urges her protagonist to get out of bed so she can start her novel has the promise of a light romp through the writer’s process. That’s all the author needed to suck this reader into a compelling and unexpectedly deep dive into our delusions about love, family, sex and, oh yes, writing.
On the surface, the story is about Howard and TJ’s tumultuous marriage. But over the course of their story the author manages to lay bare nearly every lie we tell ourselves about familial happiness and harmony. Parents scar their children for life in ways those same children never recover from but instead go on to inflict the same pain on their offspring. Partners emotionally abuse each other for reasons they do not understand.
In a less competent writer’s hands this story would be too bleak and depressing. But Schloss brings a light touch that allows for the possibility of happy endings. Much of this is accomplished through the author’s “conversations” with her protagonist. These conversations also provide a glimpse into the difficulties every author faces when trying to carve fiction out of real life.
Helping Howard is one of those deceptively easy reads that packs a powerful punch, guaranteed to leave readers questioning their own assumptions and truths. It is a fresh and outstanding work that you will not easily forget.
On the surface, the story is about Howard and TJ’s tumultuous marriage. But over the course of their story the author manages to lay bare nearly every lie we tell ourselves about familial happiness and harmony. Parents scar their children for life in ways those same children never recover from but instead go on to inflict the same pain on their offspring. Partners emotionally abuse each other for reasons they do not understand.
In a less competent writer’s hands this story would be too bleak and depressing. But Schloss brings a light touch that allows for the possibility of happy endings. Much of this is accomplished through the author’s “conversations” with her protagonist. These conversations also provide a glimpse into the difficulties every author faces when trying to carve fiction out of real life.
Helping Howard is one of those deceptively easy reads that packs a powerful punch, guaranteed to leave readers questioning their own assumptions and truths. It is a fresh and outstanding work that you will not easily forget.
April 19, 2022
Helping Howard was unlike anything I’ve read before. The author Sally Schloss writes a story about an author who speaks to her main character in order to write the story. She consults with Howard on what will happen in his life almost as though he’s a real man. So much so that you’ll forget Howard is a fiction character in a fiction book. The dialogue between the author and Howard adds a different element to the story and I found myself hoping the author would listen to Howard’s wants and needs. I feel like an author can relate to their characters feeling real and taking on a life of their own, and also feeling like loosing them when the book is over.
Howard falls in love with TJ and wants a traditional marriage but that’s not who TJ is. She wants an open marriage and to feel free to be with who she wants. Howard begs her to start a family and promises TJ that he will raise the child on his own. For years he cares for Sinclair on his own while TJ works on her art and her newest conquest . As time goes by Howard feels his purpose slipping away and feels empty in his heart. TJ has everything she could want, Sinclair is growing up and will be leaving home soon, and what is Howard left with? Did he waste his prime years on a woman who doesn’t want him? Should he find love of his own but risk hurting his daughter? Why does he feel as though he’s the only one ever making compromises in his family? How will the author write Howard’s story, will she hurt or help him…..
Howard falls in love with TJ and wants a traditional marriage but that’s not who TJ is. She wants an open marriage and to feel free to be with who she wants. Howard begs her to start a family and promises TJ that he will raise the child on his own. For years he cares for Sinclair on his own while TJ works on her art and her newest conquest . As time goes by Howard feels his purpose slipping away and feels empty in his heart. TJ has everything she could want, Sinclair is growing up and will be leaving home soon, and what is Howard left with? Did he waste his prime years on a woman who doesn’t want him? Should he find love of his own but risk hurting his daughter? Why does he feel as though he’s the only one ever making compromises in his family? How will the author write Howard’s story, will she hurt or help him…..
March 15, 2022
This a character driven book about love and life and all the dysfunctionality that is part of them both.
It’s told in a way that almost feels like a choose your own adventure story except instead of adventure it has emotion and action choices as the author has a dialogue about the plot with the main character, Howard.
The author, which I tried to keep guessing who it could be throughout the book, continues a running conversation always in italics with Howard.
There are multiple points of view as we learn about Howard, his wife, TJ, and their daughter, Sinclair.
The book travels from 1999-2018 and does go back to prior years and discuss childhood and young adulthood for Howard, TJ, and Sinclair.
As the author tells Howard, “it’s a story of how you met, fell in love and then what happened and why you stayed.”
It’s complicated is definitely the status that Howard and TJ would tell folks as TJ is gay and ends up having multiple affairs over the years. Howard who stays faithful for the most part just wants to be both mom and dad for Sinclair and have TJ’s full attention.
Reflecting on what I enjoyed most about the book, I think it’s the fact that I realized that people just want to feel seen within their family structure. I also enjoyed the dates beginning in 2006 when Sinclair has become a young adult.
It’s told in a way that almost feels like a choose your own adventure story except instead of adventure it has emotion and action choices as the author has a dialogue about the plot with the main character, Howard.
The author, which I tried to keep guessing who it could be throughout the book, continues a running conversation always in italics with Howard.
There are multiple points of view as we learn about Howard, his wife, TJ, and their daughter, Sinclair.
The book travels from 1999-2018 and does go back to prior years and discuss childhood and young adulthood for Howard, TJ, and Sinclair.
As the author tells Howard, “it’s a story of how you met, fell in love and then what happened and why you stayed.”
It’s complicated is definitely the status that Howard and TJ would tell folks as TJ is gay and ends up having multiple affairs over the years. Howard who stays faithful for the most part just wants to be both mom and dad for Sinclair and have TJ’s full attention.
Reflecting on what I enjoyed most about the book, I think it’s the fact that I realized that people just want to feel seen within their family structure. I also enjoyed the dates beginning in 2006 when Sinclair has become a young adult.
November 27, 2021
Author Sally Schloss reveals her character’s deepest flaws in painfully uncomfortable moments, describing situations with such clarity that you don’t just feel the emotions, you remember them, and you remember why you felt them. It is impossible to read this book without reflecting on your own behaviors. Why do we repeat the same mistakes? Why are we often our own worst enemy? Why can’t we see ourselves as worthy of love?
If only we all had an author in our head helping us understand the underlying causes of our worst and best behaviors. A great book with characters that will stick with you long after you have put it down.
If only we all had an author in our head helping us understand the underlying causes of our worst and best behaviors. A great book with characters that will stick with you long after you have put it down.
March 28, 2022
This book is such a fantastically unique experience. I adored everything about it from the dialogue between the author and her character to the way Howard was written, a flawed yet good man. I especially enjoyed that in writing Howard's life, he helped the author to understand things about herself and her own life. The writing flows conversationally and the story is very engaging. This is a book that I want to reread already and I will keep it on my favorites shelf.
April 20, 2022
𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦!
I love unique stories and complex characters and this story was fantastic. Howard was quirky and funny and the story was written in a very original way.
Helping Howard is an uncoventional and moving story that will make you think.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for having me on this tour.
𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 by Sally Schloss - writer released October 1, 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
I love unique stories and complex characters and this story was fantastic. Howard was quirky and funny and the story was written in a very original way.
Helping Howard is an uncoventional and moving story that will make you think.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for having me on this tour.
𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 by Sally Schloss - writer released October 1, 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
March 29, 2022
This is a book unlike any I’ve ever read. I enjoyed the back and forth between the Author and Howard writing the story and Howard in past tense with other characters. Howard experiences so many emotions all tied into loving others while needing so badly to be loved in return. This was a quick read yet filled with so much depth; it is very well-written.
March 27, 2022
This book touched me deeply. I love a book that tugs at my heartstrings, makes me really stop and think and also has some delightful humor sprinkled in so that it's not too heavy. This book was just the right amount of heavy for me.
It's written in such a unique and interesting style and I really enjoyed the interactions between the author and Howard. I also found Howard’s conversations with Dr. Glick fascinating and insightful. I enjoyed reading the pieces of both Howard's and TJ's childhoods as they were woven in throughout the novel as well.
The family dynamics were interesting (major understatement) but all of the unique dynamics and elements came together beautifully and this was a five star read for me. It's really hard to believe that it's a debut!
It's written in such a unique and interesting style and I really enjoyed the interactions between the author and Howard. I also found Howard’s conversations with Dr. Glick fascinating and insightful. I enjoyed reading the pieces of both Howard's and TJ's childhoods as they were woven in throughout the novel as well.
The family dynamics were interesting (major understatement) but all of the unique dynamics and elements came together beautifully and this was a five star read for me. It's really hard to believe that it's a debut!
February 15, 2022
To read Sally Schloss’s novel, “Helping Howard,” is to discover a beautiful love story—not just between the characters, but between us as readers and the characters. The intimate dialog we are party to between the Author of a book and the book’s protagonist, Howard, is at the heart of the story.
At the beginning of the book, Howard tells the Author of his story that he wants “what anyone would want to have happen; I would like to fall in love, have great sex, have a brilliant life and live happily ever after.”
But the Author demurs, telling him, “Not going to happen, Howard. Boring. Boring to read about. Besides it’s a total fantasy and I don’t write fantasy fiction.”
As the Author, a “’Creator, one who brings about, one who makes of creates’ someone or something… responsible person, teacher, ‘literally’ one who causes to grow,” continues to write Howard’s life, he begins to understand his relationships with his younger, gay wife who has fallen out of love with him, and with his estranged daughter, and most importantly, with himself.
Schloss has created a uniquely brilliant book that illuminates the vicissitudes of the human journey to understanding, self-acceptance, and a state of being “irrationally hopeful; in fact, happy.”
At the beginning of the book, Howard tells the Author of his story that he wants “what anyone would want to have happen; I would like to fall in love, have great sex, have a brilliant life and live happily ever after.”
But the Author demurs, telling him, “Not going to happen, Howard. Boring. Boring to read about. Besides it’s a total fantasy and I don’t write fantasy fiction.”
As the Author, a “’Creator, one who brings about, one who makes of creates’ someone or something… responsible person, teacher, ‘literally’ one who causes to grow,” continues to write Howard’s life, he begins to understand his relationships with his younger, gay wife who has fallen out of love with him, and with his estranged daughter, and most importantly, with himself.
Schloss has created a uniquely brilliant book that illuminates the vicissitudes of the human journey to understanding, self-acceptance, and a state of being “irrationally hopeful; in fact, happy.”
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews