Coq

by Ali Bryan

From Leacock finalist Ali Bryan, a witty and immensely fun dramedy about a family’s memorial trip to the City of Love, where chaos ensues at every turn.

It’s been ten years since Claudia’s mother died after a tragic collision with a banana boat. Her kids are now teenagers, her brother’s wife has left him, and her ex has had a spiritual awakening that has him hinting at reconciliation — all things she can handle.

But when her septuagenarian father decides to remarry after a brief courtship with a woman who is decidedly different than their mother, the entire family is thrown off course, and plans a long overdue memorial trip to the only place their mother ever dreamed of going: Paris. However, minutes after take-off, the trip takes an unpredictable turn and sets off a chain of events that threatens to derail the closure the family desperately seeks.

Chance meetings, poolside confessions, run-ins with mimes, climate protests, and a man with a death wish force Claudia to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, both the familial and the romantic, the tragic and the sublime. How well do we really know those closest to us? And how well do we really know ourselves?

In this follow-up to her award-winning novel Roost, Ali Bryan explores thorny family dynamics with her trademark offbeat humour and insight. Coq is a darkly comedic contemporary family drama that explores grief, identity, and second chances in the one-and-only City of Love.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Humor

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2023

Reviews

[Laura Frey (Reading in Bed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately this will always be remembered as the book I read in the immediate aftermath of my house burning down, but it feels appropriate somehow

[Anne Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you begin to wonder if I’ve taken a sharp turn in my reading interests, let me assure you this title is a reference to the city the characters travel to: Paris. The use of ‘rooster’ itself isn’t that obvious in Coq by Ali Bryan, instead it’s an invitation to open up this book and laugh. The title grabs your attention, but what’s inside the covers is just as funny and eye-opening. It’s actually the sequel to a book Bryan published back in 2013: Roost. I had read the book back then, loved it, but didn’t realize Coq was a continuation of Claudia’s life from that earlier novel. So obviously you don’t have to have read the earlier book in the series to enjoy this latest installment! I loved Roost 10 years ago, so this is definitely a writer one can rely on for laughs.

Plot Summary

Claudia’s very senior father is remarrying after his wife’s sudden death ten years ago. Still struggling to cope with the loss of her mother, and the fact that her ex-husband is looking to reconcile, Claudia suggests the family go on a memorial trip to Paris to honour her mother: the place she wanted to travel to most but never had the chance. The whole extended family goes, including Claudia’s brother who is still reeling from the separation of his marriage (his wife has moved on with another woman) and her father’s new wife Mona. Technically Mona wasn’t invited, but she buys a ticket anyway and surprises everyone on the plane, and Claudia’s ex Glen surprises her in Paris too, so everyone ends up in the city of love, regardless if Claudia wanted them to be there or not. There are a smattering of kids to keep the trip from being too pleasant; Claudia’s teenage daughter is insistent they all attend a climate protest while there, her teenage son has fallen in love with a young woman from Paris and keeps disappearing, and her one nephew is always busily trading bitcoin on his phone, slowly amassing a fortune no one is actually aware of. When Claudia falls for an oceanographer she meets on the plane ride over, yet another hilarious wrench is thrown into the travel plans of this huge family, but through it all, hilarity ensues.

My Thoughts

My absolute favourite part of this book, and the reason I gave it five stars on goodreads is its writing. IT IS HILARIOUS. I read parts of this book out loud to my husband because it was so funny; the only other writer who is bestowed that honour in our household is David Sedaris. One of my favourite paragraphs, (which I definitely read out loud to my husband) is a conversation between Claudia and her friend who claims she’ll never be alone because she has her geriatric cat to rely on:

“‘Whether I have a man or not, I’ll always have you, my nieces, colleagues, friends. Barney.’

I’m not sure she’ll always have Barney. He’s blind and has been on specialized cat food imported from Germany for nearly a decade. His mews are laments.”

-p. 64 of Coq by Ali Bryan
Like the writing of Sedaris, Claudia’s life occasionally borders on the absurd, but those with children will nod their head in appreciation because life with children does in fact, occasionally borders on the absurd. This is the kind of humour that’s also relatable.

The plot of this book moves quickly. This is entertainment that grounds us, and offers us a different way to view our own chaotic and less-than-perfect lives. Bryan strikes the perfect mix between fun and serious; Claudia and her family are going through some serious stuff so grief is a major theme that each character deals with in their own way. But these big emotions are balanced by the humorous writing and the prickly situations this family gets themselves into. It’s also a love story with romantic storylines for every generation, but again, this love is balanced with an honest portrayal of the work that’s required to be in a long-term relationship. Claudia learns some shocking things about her parents decades of marriage while she considers the new advances of her ex-husband, so I was actually quite surprised at how realistic this novel turned out to be.

The humour in this writing should pique your interest, but the quirkiness and heart-warming plot should keep you reading all the way through. I highly recommend this one!

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[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years after her raucously entertaining debut novel, Roost, Ali Bryan checks in with Claudia and her family to bring readers up to date on their latest adventures. Coq continues in the hectic, tragi-comic vein of the first book. Ten years after the event, Claudia is still grappling with emotional fallout from her mother’s sudden, unexpected death. For Claudia, family is a priority. Her children, Wes and Joan, grown from toddlers into teens, have opinions and expectations they don’t mind voicing, often quite loudly. Claudia’s ex-husband, Glen, still in the picture, his mind annoyingly broadened by the experience of extended foreign travel, has “found himself” and is re-evaluating past life choices. But in the midst of her busy career and the challenge of raising two children in the age of social media and legal cannabis, much of Claudia’s attention and concern is drawn to her aging father, who, as the novel opens, is marrying again after a brief romance with Mona. Luckily for everyone, Mona, despite a few eccentricities, seems to be a rock: dependable, emotionally stable, level-headed. The idea of a family trip to Paris (a place her mother always wanted to visit), occurs to Claudia after the wedding as a way to honour her mother’s memory and provide the family with much needed closure. Needless to say, things do not go strictly as planned. In Coq, Ali Bryan has fashioned a novel packed with dramatic incident and bursting with amusing twists and turns. The story, narrated by Claudia in her trademark irreverent vernacular, moves briskly. In Paris, Claudia finds that confronting her own oft-neglected emotional needs—which she finally does, albeit reluctantly—is key to moving forward. But can she set aside the needs of others—her father, her children, Glen, Felix—long enough to figure out how to take the next step and get on with her life? In this follow-up novel, Ali Bryan once again ushers us into the rapidly evolving world of a strong, smart, independent woman who often feels crushed by the weight of demands coming at her from all directions, but who is also beginning to realize (and maybe accept) that if she doesn’t take care of herself first, her efforts to care for those she loves will come to nothing. Coq—something of an emotional roller-coaster but also wise, touching, funny and deeply felt—is a fitting sequel to its award-winning predecessor. Fans of Roost will not be disappointed.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often wonder why people read books. I'm not a fan. Last year I read zero books. The previous year I read one. It was the owners manual for my new car. This year I decided to have another go. This book has chapters that average 6 pages long. Since I have the attention span of a gnat this suited me down to the ground. It annoyed me that chapter 1 started on page 7. My plan was to read 3 chapters a night in bed. It worked like a charm. I finished all 47 chapters in 16 goes. I felt a sense of accomplishment. I couldn't keep track of all the people in and out of the family, but this didn't seem to be necessary. The author could have added a few extra at any stage without causing undue concern. I think light piffle is just about right for me. I would give it 5 stars. The car manual only got 4.

[Christine Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, easy weekend read, just perfect for a weekend away visiting family. Definitely recommend.

[Ronronia Adramelek · Rating 4 out of 5]

El primer cuarto me ha dejado bastante fría, aunque se leía fácil y me ha hecho sonreír en momentos, pero luego ha ido creciendo y lo he disfrutado más.

[Emily Weedon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali is a blast of compressed fresh air. Coq is a total ride of a read, both manic and tender.

[Chanel Avarello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much that I would have finished it in a day if I hadn’t fallen asleep with it on my face. Hilarious. Heart breaking. Intelligent. All the feels and all the things.

I probably would have bumped up my review because the author is local but I so didn’t have to.

[Glennie Mercer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It did have parts that had me laughing out loud - but I kind of lost interest in the final chapters. Not sure but it seemed to meander or just try to be something it wasn’t quite. Can’t fully explain it. - maybe a 3.5. .

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, poignant…entertaining. The author skillfully brings the cast of characters to life.

[Laurie Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Coq" by @alikbryan is the long awaited follow up to "Roost" from @freehandbooks - I read "Roost" many moons ago when it was the book for One Book Nova Scotia. It took me a minute to jump into Claudia's zany world again, but I got grooving about 50 pages in. Claudia's mother has been dead for 10 years, her marriage has been dead almost as long, her brother is going through a painful separation and her kids are surly teenagers. Oh and her dad just got remarried! This book questions how well do we really know our families? And what is love but pain? It also is set in Paris, which was fun! The writing is punchy and sharp, the story is very real and often funny. An enjoyable read about the messiness of life, how nothing ever goes how you think it will and jumping into chances to live, whenever you get the opportunity, however complicated they may be. "Philosophers are assholes. They make it their life's work to ruin everyone else's life by constantly searing for meaning, questing the status quo, telling the truth. The rest of us already know that. It's why we shop at Winners, pretend to like chickpeas, and share Facebook posts of blind and jittery baby animals or elephants playing soccer."

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to listen to my husband laughing as he read this book and found it hard to wait for him to finish it. Soon I too was laughing (though not quite as loudly). Ali Bryan has written a wonderful comic novel which I believe is the sequel to her first novel 'Roost'. The story centres on a family who go to Paris as a group to honour their mother who has passed away without achieving her goal of seeing Paris. The main character is Claudia who wants to honour her mother in dignified way but the things that happen to the family in Paris seem to prevent this from happening. Claudia is divorced from her husband, Glen, who joins the group with aspirations of getting back together with his former wife. Also in the party is Claudia's father who brings along his new wife, Mona. Claudia's 2 teenage children make up the group and provide much entertainment as they meet up with love interests and get involved with a Climate Change Protest, after which they are briefly incarcerated by the gendarmes. I now want to read "Roost" but my library does not have it so I may have to get it from Amazon!

[Heather Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually had no idea this was a sequel to "Roost", but I don't think you need to have read it to enjoy this book. My gosh, it was so funny I just about dropped my ereader a few times! More than that, it'll break your heart into a billion pieces and put it back together.

The main character has a lot of inner dialogue, and those thoughts are so honest it's like reading about some of your own thoughts that you'd rather not face but there they are! On the page!

OMG Claudia's family would make me absolutely lose my mind how frustrating and incompetent they are. Claudia constantly picks up slack and takes responsibility for everyone else (maybe someone else finds this a familiar scenario?). But they also have such big hearts, you have to love 'em.

Oh yeah, and I read it just after visiting Paris so it was pretty relevant.

Recommended for fans of Bryan's previous novels, hilarious romantic comedies, and families that are absolutely abnormal.

[Linda Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A well-written funny book about realizing that life is to be lived and that all the things we didn’t do makes our life now. Claudia works, has teenagers and a father who has just decided to marry after 10 yrs as a widower. She has so many balls balancing in the air that it was exhausting. Then she decides go to Paris and ends up balancing even more balls. How she fit all that into one week, I’ll never know. And why the title ‘Coq’ ( rooster) other than she had them on her kitchen curtains?

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| COQ ||
#gifted/@freehandbooks
✍🏻

This was a darkly hilarious family drama, I couldn't put it down! The follow up to ROOST, I loved seeing where Claudia's life was at ten years later. With the same gratifying qualities as ROOST, COQ kept me fully engaged as it navigates tough family dynamics with humor and heart.

For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the writing style and humour in this book, I’ll definitely be checking out other titles from this author. That said, it dropped off in the second half for me. I’ll admit I cannot stand stories of women pining over old lovers or [SPOILER] remaining forever alone until their ex decides to come back to them (a full decade later, no less), ew.

[Gisela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read: hilarious, relatable, witty, insightful, heartwarming, poignant, and so much more. The story grabbed my attention right from the start, and the writing style ensured that it never waned. A very worthy winner of the Book Publishers Association of Alberta's Trade Fiction Book of the Year award for 2024. Highly recommended!

[Jane Doucet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali Bryan has taken yet another deep dive into the dynamics of a flawed and fractured yet lovable family finding their way through some of life's darkest moments. She delves into the nitty-gritty of what it means to be human, heartbroken and hopeful, all with her trademark wry humour.

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to get into, but once I did, man did I fall in. I struggled at first to keep the large family members separate. Oh man Felix, the whole situation tugged on my heart strings. I’d love more to everyone’s stories but at the same time the story ended in the perfect spot.

[Nikki Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down. I skipped chores and cooking dinner and had a satisfying cry when it was over. Thank you Ali Bryan for writing this book.

[Cindy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliantly written - such fun to read

[Crystal Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It is meant to be humorous, and it is at times. There are a few good lines, but the characters and story lines were a bit superficial.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, laugh out loud, gut wrenching at times, so fun yet an emotional novel. The characters are good yet flawed.

[Deb Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

So true to life and funny

[Jonna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Solid 4.5 Stars. It’s so funny .. hilarious, but also very heartwarming and touching.. and feels so real. Highly recommend.

[Tim Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny

[NicoleWReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book literally made me LOL. Very enjoyable read about the ever shifting make-up of families and love. My only hesistation is the love at first sight storyline didn't fully work for me.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, laugh out loud, heart felt…

[Dagny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any one who has ever written a fiction knows that humor is very hard to write and Ali is a master of it. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this book.

[Rupali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, it was so good!