Interesting read. Unusual but interesting. I found myself thinking about the various characters whilst going about my day. The title, Aliens , Drywall, and a Unicycle, definitely caught my eye and made me what to check it out. Some readers may think that there aren't really any people like these characters but I figure there probably are. Everyone has "quirks" or characteristics that make us unique so yes, there are probably brothers (or sisters, etc) that like to blow things up for fun. Anyways, this is a fun read so set aside a couple of hours and be prepared to laugh.

Aliens, Drywall, and a Unicycle isn't what you'd expect - it's better. Can I just say I'd love to spend time in Tom's building getting to know the residents. Life is full of different perspectives, and while Tom came to town for a job, I think he ended up finding much more. With a diverse cast, this book is a wonderful, humorous, slice-of-life that will make you appreciate all the people that make up your life. (And maybe you'll find you have your own quirky cast mates!)

With a quirky title that belies the depth of story peppered within this tale of choices, ALIENS, DRYWALL AND A UNICYCLE by Kevin St. Jarre is a whip-smart tale of choices. Meet imperfect people, unusual people and a man who fell from career success to obscurity only to discover what really feeling alive is.

Is Tom the only normal person in his new apartment building? Are these people for real? Is this what humanity has come to? If so, Tom may discover that these people are the most “real” humans he has ever met.

Moments of humor, moments that will make readers do a double-take, shocking moments, but always moments that seem to breathe with their humanity. Engaging, and surprisingly filled with a heartfelt vibe and a real dose of reality among the masses.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Encircle Publications, LLC! This is my honest and voluntary review.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre,  however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for  opening up my mind to something totally different. Characters were so well developed that I felt as though I knew them. I love when a book draws you into the story and it feels like you are living it with them.

Just finished the debut novel from Kevin St. Jarre entitled “Aliens, Drywall, and a Unicycle”. And about the only real criticism I would have of this delightful book is the title, which I fear will make some think It is some kind of Sci-Fi book (Nothing wrong with that genre, but....) and keep them from picking it up and giving it a chance.
Rather than being about aliens (well, maybe a little), this is a very lovely book about very real and imperfect and instantly engaging people living in a small apartment complex in a small New England town.
They are each quirky and unique and, have created a community that our outsider narrator Tom encounters first as subjects for his articles as a new reporter for the local news weekly. But quickly he is enfolded into their stories and becomes one of them and part of the story himself.
As a reader, I was immediately rooting for almost all of these people. There is the self destructive Brynn who appears damaged beyond salvation. And Marie, who is probably crazy with her talk of aliens but has no self consciousness about her beliefs. Ben is a pot smoking slacker whose schizophrenic friend Miguel was, for me, the heart of the group. Rich and Becky are the abrasive evangelical couple who pop in and out between their RV travels but carry their own secrets. Vegan Winnie, who seems somewhat aloof when we meet her may be the glue that holds the bunch together. And then there are the drywall hanging brothers Mike and Matt's whose secret hobby creates a tragedy for the entire group. And finally the mysterious Hitch who... well, just read the book and find out.
This was really a delightful read. I finished it in just two days. It was that engaging. Your world won’t be changed by it, but it might give you a reason to stop and have a chat with your neighbors. You might just learn something about yourself in doing so.

This is pretty wacky and won't be for everyone. This kind of story and writing is difficult to pull off well, and the author did a pretty decent job overall. This is good for those seeking a light hearted read.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher.

Most of this book was a laugh a minute! It’s a delightful escape from the realities defining 2020. Just enough of an interlude of drama most of the way through, and the lead-in for a happy ending for the protagonist.

This book was mostly the delightful absurdities about the residents in the other 8 units of an apartment building, along with the actions of people at work – in a newspaper office. There is just enough illicit sex, crime, and death to make it a good story, and to put an end to the interlocking stories of these eccentric residents.

Note: I meant to publish this review on Amazon, but they will not allow it before the book is released.

A nice little story about what it means to lose yourself, only to find yourself, and once those two things are accomplished... how in the world you become yourself!

Told through the eyes of a disillusioned reporter/novelist, we meet an eclectic, eccentric, real, and not (in any small measure) quirky set of small town regular folks who just "happen" to share the same small multi-floored apartment building. Each in their own way trying to figure out who they are and if... no, why... they matter in this great, big, old universe. As we watch them interact in seemingly random, inexplicably chaotic ways, it is soon apparent that they (like we??) are ultimately the cogs that fit together to make our own little slice of the world go round!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of "Aliens, Drywall, and Unicycles" in exchange for an honest review. Thanks also to Kevin St. Jarre for this thought-provoking read.

#NetGalley
#AliensDrywallAndUnicycles

I'd give the first half of the book 4 stars, second half 2 stars.
A reporter moves to a small village, and gets wrapped into the lives of his odd neighbors.
While I thought this book was more "fantasy", I was sad there wasn't an actual alien in this book.
The protagonist has so little personal growth and feel like the book needed a different ending.
It was a mellow read, but missed something for me.