Great story! I’m glad I recently heard about this book and was able to get an early arc from Netgalley.

Definitely one of my top books for this year, highly recommend! Don’t want to say too much and spoil the story.

I DNF this book. The pacing was a bit slow for me and not a voice that captured my attention but I do think the writing was good and I can respect what the book was doing, but it just wasn't for me

What starts out as a miscommunication takes a life of it’s own for Andrew and it was a good story that I enjoyed in “How Not To Die Alone”. Maybe because so much of the story deals with death so matter-of-factly the bits celebrating life are more poignant. This book made me think about how valuable relationships are.

I loved How Not to Die Alone right away--the main character, Andrew, is just the right mixture of quirky and charming, and the author does a very good job at showing us all of his neurotic and morbid thoughts. In all fairness, though, part of that morbidity stems from his employment. He works for a government agency that gives funerals to people who die alone without friends or family. Most of the time, these people rot away in their homes for months before anybody realizes they're gone, and it's Andrew's job to then go to these people's houses to search for a will or any artifacts to determine whether the person has any friends or family who want to attend the funeral. Sadly, the answer is often no. The fact that Andrew goes above and beyond what's expected of him by showing up to each and every one of the funerals so the deceased will have at least one mourner tells us a lot about what kind of person he is.

We also learn a lot about his wife, Diane and his two kids, Steph and David. The only problem is that his family doesn't actually exist; he made them up on the spot years ago during his job interview. Andrew keeps the lie going, partly because he can't figure out a way to tell his coworkers the truth and partly because the lie makes him feel better. He actually lives alone, likely destined to end up like the people he investigates: rotting away in his apartment for months with nobody noticing he's missing...unless something changes.

Happily, something does change when he meets Peggy, and the two have instant chemistry. However, it doesn't seem meant to be: she already has a family, and so does he...sort of. Ultimately, their friendship is what shines, and readers can't help but root for Andrew to take a risk, any sort of risk, to make a human connection.

The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was because of some pacing issues that cause the book to drag unnecessarily in places. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone.

This was a great book about human connection, kindness, and how awkwardness might cause a misheard question to be answered untruthfully and spiral out of control. Told with hilarity and sharp insights into the human psyche, I found this book equal parts funny, engaging, and serious. It's hard connecting to the world as adults, and navigating how to interact and find friends when it's just as easy to isolate oneself. This book is about that. I will be looking forward to other books by this author.

"'There's a piece of music,' he said, 'It's one of my favorites. But there's this moment right at the end, that's jarring, and loud, and sort of shocking, even thought I'm expecting it. So when I'm listening to the song, as much as I'm enjoying it, it's always sort of spoiled by the fact I know this horrible ending is coming. But, there's nothing I can do about it, is there? So , in a way, it's like what you were saying earlier, about people who are able to acknowledge they're going to die: if I could just accept the ending's coming, then I could concentrate on enjoying the rest of the song so much more."

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper tells the story of Andrew. Andrew works for a department of his local council, and his day to day job is to search through homes of the recently deceased looking for evidence of a next of kin. Through a slight misunderstanding his coworkers believe he is a happily married man with two children. The fact is however, Andrew lives alone with only is records and model train sets for company. Though this small, white, lie started out harmless, Andrew has let it balloon out of control.
Then he meets Peggy and he begins to rethink everything. Should he continue to keep up his lie and risk losing everything he has built with Peggy, or tell the truth and start living really living his life again?

So, this book was just OK for me. I can see how fans of Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine would really enjoy this book, because it has the same kind of vibe. I enjoyed the last half much more then the first half. I found the plot to be kind of slow paced throughout most of the novel.
The main character Andrew tended to annoy me. He would be sort of dull and depressing, then have these epiphanies of brilliant thoughts and I would think "Oh there's some personality!" Especially when he would come out of his shell, and be himself around Peggy. But Oh his white lie!! He had so many opportunities to tell the truth, and when he didn't I would literally groan out loud. When the back story of his lie comes to light, I was able to sympathize with him much more and enjoy the book. I wish readers would have been made aware of this a little bit of information sooner in the story, rather than later.
Overall , I give this book 3/5 stars.

I really enjoyed this quirky novel. It had a feel like A Man Called Ove- kind of depressing yet heartwarming at the same time. The characters were well developed and made the book more enjoyable. You will care for them and what happens to them especially Andrew and Peggy.

Andrew has an odd job of going to homes where the homeowner has died and no one noticed for some time. His job is to find out if they have family or friends and if the homeowner has money to pay for their own funeral. Andrew is also alone- although he lies about having family to his coworkers. Much like Ove, Andrew is depressed but you will just like him. He’s also funny and charming in his own way. If you like Ove (or I’m also told Eleanor Oliphant), you’ll love Andrew too in this dark humor novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wound up DNFing this book 56% in. I felt the characters were flat and the non-dialogue writing just went on and on.

I also cannot fathom how Andrew could get himself out of the ditch of lies he has created. I wanted to love this book, but the comparisons to Eleanor Oliphant and Ove are a bit much in my opinion.

Gave 2 stars because I think there was promise here, but the drawn out slow moving writing was too much.

I kind of like this book - and how the title relates both to the main character and his job at the department helping to make funeral arrangements for people that died with no relatives. The story is interesting and you can somehow relate to the character and his struggles.

3.5

Nearly every day Andrew is faced with sorting through the personal belongings of people who have died alone hoping to find a next of kin or just someone to remember the person who has passed. Happening more frequently, Andrew is the sole person attending the funerals. His colleagues would be worried except Andrew has a loving wife and two kids (a boy and a girl) at home to balance the happy and the sad.

Except, that's not entirely true. Andrew doesn't have a family, but after telling his boss at his hiring interview all about his family, Andrew has kept up the ruse fearing he's lose his job otherwise, and also not wanting to admit to the fact that he's lonely. Now it's getting so out of control Andrew can barely tell where the lies end and the truth begins.

Then, Andrew meets Peggy - a new hire in the office. As Andrew trains Peggy the two connect almost immediately and start forming a lovely friendship that has the potential to blossom into something more. Now Andrew is faced with coming clean about his made up family. But will Peggy, or anyone, still look at him the same once they learn his secret? The problem with coming clean is that Andrew will finally have to start living his life, that means moving on from a past that he has tried really hard to keep from dealing with.

I have to say that I was surprised with the depth of the exploration of life and death and the ways in which the loss of someone can change your life. I felt like I was prepared for the surface level, but as the story progresses it becomes clear that Andrew is facing something deeper than initially presented. I don't want to talk about it too much because I felt like seeing the pieces fit together is all part of the journey - both Andrew's and the reader's - and I enjoyed going in a little unprepared.

But, while the Richard Roper presents a deft hand at the topic of life and death, I just felt like the story as a whole dragged a bit too much. While I sympathized with Andrew, there were a few times I felt like we were going around and around in a circle in regards to him moving forward. Which is a shame because if you're someone else who feels the same and decided to give up early you'd miss the satisfying ending to Andrew's story. So, all I can say is if we are like me and felt a lull in the drive of the story, don't give up because it's worth it.

Truly, it's the relationship between Peggy and Andrew that really makes the story pop. They have such a great chemistry. While Andrew's personal development (around which the whole story is centered) at times dragged, I enjoyed the slow development of Andrew and Peggy's feelings for one another. As Andrew says throughout <i>it's complicated</i> and Mr. Roper certainly presents all the complications that come with being a responsible adult and then some for Peggy and Andrew. But seeing them, together and individually, work through their complications only makes their connection with one another brighter.

I feel like Richard Roper took a subject that could have easily been too morose and gave us hope and light, and a bit of laughter.

I laughed out loud--was obnoxious about reading select passages and lines such as the one about four suits of men entering a pub. In the interest of not giving too much away about this quick-reading, wonderful story, I summarize the core plot as follows: Andrew lives alone, reserving his passion for his model trains and fellow model train fans. Working for the local council, Andrew hunts for the documents and proof that those who died alone had relations or connections who need to know that the person died and to pay for the funeral, deal with what's left behind when you die forgotten. When there is no such evidence to be found, Andrew attends the funeral, often the only person in attendance, as a final honoring a life. In this charming, engaging story, Andrew and a new coworker connect and for the first time in twenty years, Andrew lives the possibility that he will not die alone -- nor does he want to live alone and safe any longer. As he opens up to the world and begins to live, the reader cheers him on and cherishes their own life and connections.

I really, really enjoyed How Not to Die Alone. I loved everything about it, actually, and I know my library patrons will, too. I've ordered several copies for the library.

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Andrew is lonely. He works in a job where he is searching for the next of kin for people who have died, and seem to not have any family. He attends the funerals so the people don't "die alone".

He wants to fit in at work so he concocts a story about having a family, when in truth, he lives alone and has for some time. You get the feeling there is a story around that, which there is, and it comes in twist that you don't really see coming.

Peggy is a new employee, fun loving but brings along a husband who doesn't treat her very well, and 2 kids.

She makes Andrew feel like he is breathing new air, but with her "baggage", can he really truly enjoy life?

This was an entertaining story (albeit sad at times), and I enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to more works from this author!

How Not to Die Alone is an endearing and quirky read. Andrew is living a lie. A miscommunication that has taken on a life of its own and now Andrew feels trapped. When Peggy enters the work place, Andrew finds himself drawn to her. While they sort through the lives of those that have died alone, Andrew somehow puts things to rights, and learns how to live again. Funny, poignant and beautifully told, this was a delightful story!

To me, this book was very similar to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. And seeing as how I really enjoyed that book, I also adored this book.

Andrew has his own quirky habits and a simple way of going through life. His job is unique; he is tasked with the job of going to people's houses when they pass away and tries to sort through their belongings to try to track down the deceased's next of kin. He muddles through life until he meets his new coworker, Peggy. Peggy helps Andrew reach inside himself and face his past so he can fully live in the present.

This book was a little slow at times, but I still really enjoyed it!

How Not To Die Alone made me think about some things that I would rather not, and often made me laugh out loud while doing so. It has the unique combination of wrenchingly sad and humorous, one of those stories that will stay with me long after having read it. Andrew is a quirky, sensitive character that works for the government locating next of kin for people who have died alone. This must be an awful job, but he approachs each case with respect, even going to the funerals of those that have no one. Andrew is also a lonely person, awkward and as it is revealed, grief stricken, but a genuinely nice guy. I was hoping throughout the book that he would find a way to not die alone. I both laughed and cried.

Andrew works for the council who tries to find the next of kin for recently deceased people. He visits the apartments of the recently deceased to search for clues for the next of kin or friends who may want to attend the funeral. Often, he finds himself alone attending the funeral of these people so that there will be at least one person to say “goodbye”. No one should die alone. However, Andrew lives alone with his Ella Fitzgerald records, trains, and online train chat group. It is a charming story of a man who, we eventually learn, is dealing with hardship and loss the only way he can, by living a lie that has gone on so long it has taken on a life of its own. A new employee, Peggy, and her problems help him to finally come to terms with his issues. He takes Peggy under his wing on visits to the deceased apartments and they start to form a friendship which then forces Andrew to confront his issues and move forward with his life.

Human Vulnerability at one of its lowest points, with a dash of redemption and hope as well as a reminder that sometimes things need to fall apart to fall together.
Read this if your feeling hopeless and insecure about what you see as failures past and present.

⭐️ Review ⭐️
Andrew is a quirky, lonely, forty-two year old single guy who spends his days at work searching for next-of-kin for people who have died alone. At home, he spends his evenings in solitude, chatting with other model train aficionados online. Unfortunately, everyone at work thinks he’s happily married with two kids, a fiction he created after a misunderstanding at work, and since then he’s continued this fantasy. But when new employee Peggy joins his workplace, he begins to consider that he may need to rethink this fictional life he’s leading.

I surprised myself by truly enjoying this book! Andrew is a lovely, quirky, relatable character. The humor is wry and at times a little dark, which I love. As we slowly get to know Andrew—and the past he’s trying to forget—it’s impossible not to root for him. I kept thinking of all the lonely people out in the world, and how we all need connection with other people—even those of us who are introverts. Without basic human connection, we start to wither away. Sweet, funny, touching, and ultimately uplifting, this has been compared to Eleanor Oliphaunt but reminded me more of Nick Hornsby stories. Recommended! If you chose this for your #bookofthemonth choice this month, I think you’ll enjoy your choice!

Releases May 28. Thanks to Netgalley and @penguinbooks for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

As soon as I saw this being advertised as a book similar to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I was immediately interested. I loved that story and I was eager to dive back into something in that same lane. And I was pleasantly surprised that this book did live up to the hype IMO.

Andrew was such a likable character, even though I got so frustrated with him a couple times. But I never stopped rooting for him and hoping that he would make the right decisions. I loved following his journey and hearing about his everyday life.

Another thing I loved was the side characters in this book. I pictured them and the office dynamic so easily in my mind.

I also enjoyed the sarcastic, sometimes biting humor. I laughed out loud a few times at Andrew's self-deprecating humor.

The writing in this book was so smooth and the sentences flowed so well. I am absolutely astounded that this came from a debut author. I wouldn't think twice about reading another piece of fiction from Richard Roper.