Spoiler: I suggest you read this book before you see the movie as there is an almost completely different plot!
What I loved about this book is the perspective of the world you experience through Pat’s eyes. There is a lot he doesn’t get – and a lot that his own mind has hidden from him. But just when you think he’s hopelessly obtuse, he’ll say or think something that is just so on the money that you have to stop reading for a minute and go, “Wow.” There are rare characters you come across who hold up a mirror to some of the most basic realities of life and boil them down to the simple truth. Manageable. Life as it should be. Pat Peoples is one such character, though ironically his life feels anything but simple to him.

And while I love the movie, there are things the book does that the movie doesn’t – or that the book just does better. The characters are developed in much more depth, giving you a real sense for each of them. The mother, trapped in an unhappy marriage but still hoping that her husband will change. The father, who can’t (or won’t) relate to his family. The best friend and his wife who mean well but sometimes can’t quite take Pat and find him a bit scary. The brother who, in his own gentle way, is trying to make space in his life for the brother he loves. The therapist who also becomes a friend. And finally Tiffany, the girl who has also lost her partner – and a part of her sanity with him. Each of their relationships with Pat unravels a little more of the tangle that is Pat’s mind, and shows another aspect of human interaction.

If you’re a reader who enjoys getting into the mind of an intriguing character and examining the intricacies of human relationships, this is a book you should read. If you’re someone who needs help finding the silver lining (even in situations where it’s very hard to find one), this book will inspire you. This book will make you go, “Awwwwww.” In short, read this book.

The parts of the plot when Pat remembers back into the time of the 'bad' place.

The fact that there were way too many football references.

Watch the movie again.

Matthew Quick

It is not necessarily a 'romance' novel but more of a plot that suggests how to change your life after many tragedies.

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Created Jun 13, 2025 at 1:09pm • Submit your own review...