I wanted to like this book more. But I didn’t. It was interesting and I did read it through to the end. But then I was kind of mad about the time I’d spent finishing it!
So many of the characters’ voices were similar. Almost like group of them I became one voice but I don’t think that was on purpose.
If you like the philosophical arguments in favor of suicide then this book will please you.

I’ve loved J. Michael Straczynski’s writing ever since I was a 12-year-old sci-fi nerd obsessed with Babylon 5. (If you’ve never seen it, check it out – the 90s styling and visual effects might look a bit dated now, but the storytelling 100% holds up.) When I found out he had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it. And I was even more excited to see it on Netgalley!

I’m going to come out in the very beginning and announce Content Warning: Suicide for this novel. If this is a topic that triggers you, you should probably skip this book.

The premise is a strange but compelling one: depressed writer Mark puts out an ad on the internet, looking for individuals across the United States who are set on ending their lives to come together for one last epic party/road trip, culminating in a pleasant but final act of mass suicide. As the group comes together, we learn what has brought them all to this decision.

The narrative is told in an interesting format – a mix of journal entries, emails, audio transcriptions, text messages and internet postings that come together to tell the story. The book is very thoughtful about its central conceit, exploring the idea of suicide from a lot of different angles. It doesn’t glorify the act, but it also doesn’t shy away from the real and varied reasons why people choose to make that decision. Also, despite its deep and dark subject matter, it really is beautifully written. It's full of little moments of humor, reflections on the beauty of life, and moments of pure human connection. The characters are vivid and the relationships that develop between them are profound.

Again, if you’re triggered by discussion of suicide, this isn’t the book for you. But if you can stomach an exploration of this sensitive subject, give this book a try.

TW: suicide, fatphobia, rape, drug use

This story follows twelve people who are done on this earth and wish to experience a week or two on a bus with others who share the goal of having a lot of fun before they die. The catch for the trip is that each participant must write about why they want to die. I connected deeply with many of these characters through understanding and empathy. I think this book does a great job of communicating that there is so much beauty, love, and hope in life, while also recognizing that human beings all carry so much with them wherever they go. This book won't be for everyone and could be triggering. There is a LOT of talk of suicide and the reasons they believed their choice to be the best one for them. Other potentially triggering topics within this are: book drug abuse & use, self-harm, rape, and assisted suicide. I enjoyed this for the realism and also the character development- especially Lisa & Sunny.

I received an advance reading electronic copy of this book through NetGalley. I read about 25% of the book and stopped for the evening planning to finish it later. When I came back to the book, it had not saved my place, and I had to manually flip through all of the pages to read again. This was not a fluke. This electronic copy did not work well with my device, and I decided I did not want to repeatedly flip through many pages. This is unfortunate because I really was enjoying the novel and wanted to finish it.
I was a huge fan of J. Michael Straczynski's television series, Babylon 5. However, I had never read a book by this author. The format was a unique blend of notes and emails from the participants in the story. The premise of the story was dark but fascinating. In places it was laugh out loud funny. I have no idea how this story ends. When it is published, I will definitely pick up a hard copy and read it. At that time, I will probably add to this book review. By the way, I really like the cute little blue cat on the cover.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

J. Michael Straczynski, or JMS as he is known to his legion of fans, is a giant in the science fiction visual media community. He is best known as the creator of the television series Babylon 5, as well as Jeremiah and Sense8. He's worked on movie screenplays, such as Thor, World War Z, Changeling, and others. He has also worked extensively in the comics field - to this day I still have his complete run of Spiderman comics. He recently wrote a gut wrenching autobiography. But he's not known for writing mainstream novels - until now.

I was curious about the book, not sure if I was really interested in it, or was I just a fan of JMS wanting to read everything he writes. Well, I'm not the latter in the sense that I haven't read everything he's written. But I was curious, given the subject matter of the book.

The high level elevator pitch is that a man named Mark Antonelli, who has not succeeded in his chosen career path - that of being an author - has decided to put together an east coast to west coast road trip like none other. He buys an old and rickety tour bus, and hires an army veteran to drive it. He then puts out an ad, recruiting people for the trip. The people have one thing in common: they've been beaten down and are discouraged with life, and are on the trip to end it all. At the end of the trip in San Francisco, "they will find a cliff with an amazing view of the ocean at sunset, hit the gas, and drive out of this world."

Of course, it really never is that simple. Sure, you put a dozen or so people on a bus with a common goal: commit suicide (I should point out that the bus driver is only along to drive. He's not in it for the ending of things.), but as these things go, people develop relationships, become close - even lovers - and things change. And of course, because there is no story without conflict, events result in the bus being chased by the authorities, and folks start thinking about why it is they are on the trip and whether the end of it all is really what they want.

TOGETHER WE WILL GO has all the hallmarks of a typical Straczynski story: well developed and complex characters, a deeply moving story about those characters, and of course there's always something that the reader (or viewer) isn't expecting - and it doesn't always happen at the end of the narrative (yes, that's a close to a spoiler as I'm going to provide). As with other Straczynski stories, we come to care about some, if not all of the characters, no matter what their backstory really is.

One of the things we are repeatedly told that life is a journey, and the end of that journey isn't always what we expect it to be. TOGETHER WE WILL GO really is the story about the journey of the characters with a common goal - not the end. As it should be.

I couldn't get through this book. Suicide is too sensitive a subject for me to find humor in. I found a couple 9f jokes in bad taste. I hope it helps the author find the answers and inner peace to deal with his own loses to suicide.

A wonderful story of how a group of societal misfits find each other and form a family via a group suicide pact – yet nowhere near as grim as that sounds!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A group of people on a bus heading on a cross country trip with one goal in mind. To end their lives. We learn each character’s motivations through texts and journaling. Some have very real reasons for wanting to end it all. Others, not so much. I found it interesting that J. Michael Straczynski could bring so much hope, compassion and even humor to such a dark subject. Excellent character development with many turns and surprises along the way. You really get to feel for this group and their struggles.

Accurate comparison to Nick Hornsby. Handled very serious issues in a refreshing and honest way; I found it groundbreaking to suggest that suicide could be a correct choice for some, but not all.

An author receives another rejection for novel - the last one.
He sends out invite and release form to join in on a new and final adventure.

A group of 12 start out on trip w/objective on minds...
circumstances change and alter as they learn more of each individual's situation,
and looking closely at others' extreme emotions become powerful.

This is a book that I will think more about during our trying times.

I haven’t been so sad for a long time after finishing a book! It deeply affected me! Those impressive, genuine, dazzling character compositions could break anyone’s heart even the cold, merciless ones’ !

OMG! I loved a few of them a lot! I personally wished to have powers to cure them or do something magical to take away their pain! Karen, Lisa, Dylan (he’s the driver, not the part of suicide pact) , Tyler, Sunny Shanelle, Zeke, Theo were my favorite ones!

Struggling author Marc Antonelli, 29 , suffering from chronic depression which gets out of control as the pile of rejection letters of the publishers are turning into massive junk.

He decides to organize a special cross country road trip via beat up bus and finds another 11 passengers to join him.But tickets of this trip is one way and their destination is unknown! 12 souls in tremendous pain gather to take their own lives by finding a cliff with great view of the ocean at sunset near San Francisco, hitting the gas, jumping off the cliff with their bus. This will be their final destination.

Let me introduce you starting from my favorite ones:

Karen has pain amplification syndrome related to arachnoiditis which means short circuit between her brain/ spinal cord and the rest of her body that creates a feedback loop of constant agony. She already gives up fighting as Tyler suffers from Eisenmenger syndrome which means there’s a big hole in his heart and blood flows at the wrong way, his skin doesn’t get oxygen so his face is color of blue!

Lisa is batshit crazy: one day she can get hyper, wanting to party all night, having random sex with bunch of guys, getting high, extra drunk as the other day she stops communicating, hiding under blanket, cursing like a sailor: yes her bipolar disorder getting out of control and her dysfunctional relationship with her family, especially with her evil stepmother forces her throwing the towel.

Dylan is the young veteran driver keeps his troubled past as secret, signed to drive them to their final destination but as he gets more connected with Karen, this trip will change everything about his life.

And 66 years old Vaughn is mysterious guy carrying a big bag filled in cash, telling them reason behind his want to take his own life was very long story but it might be related at somehow with his wife’s sudden loss.

Those are the main members of the group I just introduced you. Later a couple who are getting away from threatening family of the girl decides to die against obstacles( so much Romeo& Juliet story and from the beginning group members, especially Lisa thinks they’re just tourists, they have no intention to die! ) , Zeke: an addict travels with his cat, Shanelle has been bullied and fat shaming for years is about to give up, Theo is also bullied because of gender orientation choices, Peter: clinic nihilist become part of the group.

Some of them are adamant to finish their last journey as some of them has second thoughts, change of hearts.

Conclusion was not what I expected and it’s questionable, shaking you to the core and forcing you fine-tune your moral compass. After reading the last sentence: I didn’t know what to feel! Only thing I knew the deep sadness ached my heart!

This was emotional, provocative, heart wrenching journey! The author brought out very bold concept: do we have free will to decide how we end our lives as like how we live them?

This book is not for everyone because its main focus is suicide. I have to admit none of the characters are cowards and the situations force them to take their own lives were so real, extremely painful, suffocating.

Even though you know ending the pain might be the best choice for some of them’s undeniable suffer you cannot help to root for them and wish they may change their minds.

I cannot give this book less than five stars. It would be big betrayal to those amazing characters who will stay in my mind for a long time. The author’s emotional writing skills combined with great sense of humor.

The message is clear: when it’s dark enough you can see the stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/ Scout Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This book has an odd and very tragic premise, but I guess that is what drew me to it. It is basically the story of a rudderless, failed writer who is approaching 30 and doesn't want to carry on with his life, despite the fact that most of it would still be in front of him. So he buys a beat-up old bus and finds kindred souls to drive with him in it across the country to San Francisco. They plan a group suicide by driving the bus off the cliff, Thelma & Louise style. It's hard to read because many of those who join him are already dying, whereas Mark himself is not. Maybe dying inside, but he certainly doesn't have, say, a literal hole in his heart that is slowly killing him like one of his companions. Yet, each person is sad and obviously depressed, and you feel for them. But you also wish they would seek out help before doing something so drastic, especially since Mark is not the only young one. It's hard to read but you can't stop, either. You root for them to live and yet would understand why (some) would not or maybe even should not. I want to give this 3.5 stars but since we can't do half stars, I guess this gets 4, since it is definitely better than a 3.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery/Scout, and J. Michael Straczynski for an ARC of this book!!**

You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal. Does that answer your question?

These immortal words close out the iconic John Hughes' film The Breakfast Club. Together We Will Go touts itself as Breakfast Club meets Silver Linings Playbook, and in some ways this is an apt and fitting description. Our characters are led by 'stuck' writer Mark, who puts an ad out to solicit fellow riders who will board a bus and take one final ride---to a planned, collective suicide. A macabre premise? Sure. But as we meet the characters cross country and the route takes shape, we meet characters whose struggles run the gamut: unyielding physical pain, a bipolar condition that cannot be contained, a condition that literally turns the skin blue, hiding a heartbreaking past transgression, dealing with the aftereffects of relentless bullying, the heartbreak of terminal illness, and the pain of racism.

This large and bizarre crew slowly builds as the trip continues, and their wild adventures together are documented through texts and audio recordings throughout the book, part of a bargain struck with Mark to gain admission to the bus. Unsurprisingly, these characters begin to bond, and their shared goal is just the beginning of their connection and much like in The Breakfast Club, unlikely attachments begin to truly solidify. As the trip nears its conclusion and shocking information is revealed, will any of these characters remain to tell the tale...or will the recordings be the only documentation of this unique and consequential journey?

Straczynski comes to the literary world from the movie and comic book writing field, and this is incredibly evident throughout the course of the book. His use of the audio recording device is basically a replacement for a script, since the characters words are listed by narrator for large chunks of the book. There are also text messages exchanges that pop up periodically (much like you might see in the corner of the screen during a movie these days) and while this gave the book the sort of diary feeling the author was going for overall, I do think it hampered the progression of the novel a bit and made it hard to keep track of who was speaking. In terms of characterization itself, after the first initial burst of character introduction and development, the characters sort of lost their individuality. I think having such a large group made this difficult, as I personally struggle with too many narrators if they aren't well defined. I appreciated that they were different in that there's no 'face' of suicide or suicidal thinking, but for a couple of characters in particular, they felt slightly unrealistic in narration and motivation so that was a bit of a pain point for me as a reader.

And then there's the subject matter of suicide in general, the driving force behind this narrative. As well versed as I feel I am after reading very different types of books that have explored this topic, both fiction and non-fiction, I was very unprepared for how this book would make me feel as a reader. The introduction of SO much humor so early on provided a stark contrast to the book's first emotional 'peak', which took me by surprise. After this point, however, I found myself focusing on the destination rather than the journey, and much of the 'this is our last shot escapades' the group takes on sort of fades into the distance as Straczynski hammers home some truths about the reality of suicidal ideation which might sound like a 'que sera, sera' to the reader at times, but gave me LOTS to to think about.

This would be an ideal read for a book group in many respects, as Straczynski brings in everything from historical to philosophical exploration of the topics at hand and essentially leaves the reader to question is there a RIGHT answer and a wrong answer on how to live life, or how long it should be? An interesting and fascinating take for sure, and hours later, I am still working through my tangle of thoughts on this one! Despite some of its technical problems, the one thing I can say about this book is it is incredibly unique and a fresh take on some of the facets of suicide and suicidal ideation that often get dismissed, and Straczynski was incredibly brave to tackle them in this fashion.

Together We Will Go might have a very different sort of conclusion than the Breakfast Club, but some of the themes are ultimately the same: We all have a shared experience on this planet. We cannot ever judge a book by its cover. Most importantly, we can never understand another human's experience or motivation for living or dying: all we can do is encourage each other to embrace any joy we can find, share all of the love that we can, and the hold firm to the positivity to be found in each new breath and each new day, if only we can bring ourselves to truly accept the gift. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This book is the unforgettable story of a group of people who decide to go on a trip together, culminating in driving off a cliff... that is right, all of them are planning on ending their lives.

As I learned more about each character, I felt sympathy and identification with many of the different issues that they were suffering from and had experienced during their lifetimes. The parts told through text messages and journal entries really seemed like a unique mode of storytelling, and also very accessible as that is the legacy most of us are leaving behind these days: our digital footprint.

Obviously this story could be very triggering for readers, so keep that in mind before deciding to read this book. For those who decide they are still interested, this will be the journey of a lifetime!

Well.....this book messed me up.

Book Review
Together We Will Go
J. Michael Straczynski
Out July 6, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is not for everyone. It is honest, painful, heartbreaking, beautiful, and unflinching. It follows a group of strangers that have all decided they are finished with life, and come together to take one last road trip that will complete with them driving over the edge of a cliff...

This book was a lot of different things: shockingly funny at times, incredibly engaging, genuinely unique, and heartbreakingly moving. But, above all else, this book was honest. It didn’t try to really take any specific stance, but simply observed the many reasons, thought-processes, motivations, and experienced that may cause someone to decide that taking their own life is the only option. One think I can say without his that I felt so deeply for many of these characters, and a great part of that was understanding. I think this book does a great job of communicating that there is so much beauty, love, and hope in life, while also recognizing that human beings all carry so much with them wherever they go.

I have thought for days about my actual feelings about this novel. Ultimately, I think it is an important perspective displayed through an extremely well-executed narrative. I recommend this book carefully. There are definitely triggers galore. But, if these seems like a book that won’t be a trigger to you, I encourage you to take a risk on it. I think that there is a lot to be learned from it.

Thank you Netgalley, J. Michael Straczynski, and Simon & Shuster for an early copy of this book.

I have the utmost respect for JMS. I loved Babylon 5 since I was first introduced to it in college. I loved everything about it, and am still amazed by the fact that JMS wrote every episode of seasons 3 and 4, and all but one of 5. I don’t think anyone else has ever surpassed that stunning accomplishment.

I later came to realize that JMS was the reason why I had enjoyed so many of the cartoons of my youth. His work on the Masters of the Universe, the Real Ghostbusters, and Captain Power were all ahead of their times. I read a number of his comics and enjoyed many of them. And when his autobiography came out a while back, I devoured it with delight. (The fact that Peter Jurasik narrated it didn’t hurt.). I read one of his few fiction novels in the past and really enjoyed it, even though I’m not a big horror fan.

So I was thrilled when I found out he was writing a new novel and even more thrilled when I got an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

I wish I hadn’t.

Together We Will Go is a terrible idea executed poorly. The premise of the novel is a bunch of suicidal people get together to ride a bus across country in order to drive off a cliff in the Pacific Ocean. The book seems like it is trying to respectfully deal with all the many different reasons why someone might want to end their life. It fails this miserably. For example, a character with chronic debilitating pain suddenly seems to lose all of the pain once she falls in love. Various characters mental illnesses are treated as either comic relief or just treated poorly. What characters are unlikable, the plot is full of holes, and what could have been an insightful story ends up feeling incredibly facile.

This book is terribly disappointing. I will definitely seek out JMS’s next book or project, but until then, I’m going to go back and rewatch Babylon 5. At least there, the subject of Commander Ivonova’s mother’s suicide was treated with dignity and respect.

This book is very different than my usual type of reading choice. It's about a group pf people that are total strangers, but they have one thing in common.....they all want to commit suicide, all for very different reasons. So they embark on a cross country trip with the plan to end it all together by driving off a cliff in San Francisco. But along the way, they get to know each other and even start to care about each other. The ending wasn't what I expected, but was very satisfying.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

In addition to being the author of this novel, Together We Will Go, J. Michael Straczynski is also a screenwriter for both television and film, a producer and director, in addition to being a comic book writer. I’d list some of the films and television series he’s been involved with, but it would take pages.

A story of a gathering of a disparate assortment of people who only seem to have one thing in common, but over time recognize that the things they have in common are more than just their common goal, and friendships develop over time on their journey.

Their journey begins when Mark Antonelli decides to write a story based on a group of people who have a common goal, discouraged in his ability to sell a publisher on any of his former attempts at writing. He finds a young vet to drive the old, dilapidated bus that he bought, and places an ad online, briefly, for other interested parties to join him on the journey, the right of passage being they will keep a journal of their journey, sharing their thoughts along the way, which he will have the rights to use. It isn’t your ordinary road trip. His passengers enter the story at varying stopping points along the way from Florida along the drive to their destination - San Francisco. All with the goal of travelling to their ‘final destination,’ the end of the road being the end. Period. At least of this life, depending on your beliefs. Each has their own reasons, from unceasingly endless pain with no end in sight, a life limited due to illness, a life of endlessly being bullied, to unbearable sadness.

As more stops are made, and more passengers join the journey, friendships grow between them. They share their stories with one another, and in sharing, they feel an acceptance of their feelings for the first time. But even in a group that is relatively small, everyone is not going to agree - or like - everyone else. Frictions arise. Complications and calamity follow, but this story is sprinkled with humorous moments, and compassionate ones, as well. Regardless of all the things meant to break their bond, the connection they’ve formed along the way is a lasting one, unbreakable, the bond of family created out of understanding rather than blood.

Pub Date: 06 Jul 2021


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Gallery Books / Gallery/Scout Press

If you have any desire to hurt yourself please call 800-273-8255 for help.
When I first read the description of this book, I thought it would be about terminally ill people going for their last ride together, but this is not the case. Yes, there are a couple of people who are in pain and want to end it, but the majority are just people who believe they don't fit in anymore and want to end it. However, with how hard I found this subject, I found the characters endearing and sad at the same time and I loved the way the group dynamics brought these characters closer together and brought love into each others lives and a final sacrifice from one member for the others. ​
This is a very good story and I highly recommend this book, but again it's about suicide and I don't want to romanticize it but it will open your eyes as to what others are suffering and maybe a little understanding about how the way people treat each other no longer looks like the place others want to live in.

I want to thank Galley Books and NetGalley for this great book about a very concerning subject.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
When I first saw the invitation to read this book, I wasn’t quite sure about it. I kept wavering back and forth. Sounds intriguing, but... suicide? Has a lot of favorable reviews...but a whole busload of people who want to commit suicide? I’m glad I read it!

Mark Antonelli wants to be a writer, but is tired of collecting rejection slips. He decides his life and career are going nowhere, so why not just end it? He buys an old bus, hires a driver and places cryptic ads for others to join him on his final journey. Mark’s plan is to take the bus cross-country and pick up passengers along the way. Once the bus arrives in San Francisco, they will find an ocean cliff and drive off it at sunset. The price for a ticket on this final journal is agreeing to write daily journal entries about their reasons for the trip and their feelings along the way.

The passengers end up being an eclectic bunch, to say the least. Among them there is a young woman with a severe and painful sensory disorder, a young man with a hole in his heart that makes his oxygen-deprived blood tint his skin blue, a poet who doesn’t seem to fit into any of society’s pigeonholes, a bipolar woman who ignores boundaries and has a handbag well-stocked with pharmaceuticals, and others who feel life just isn’t working out for them and they are tired of the daily struggle.

What ensues is a quirky cross-country trip with stops along the way where these unlikely strangers form relationships. The stories of each individually, as well as when they are a whole group, are amusing, funny, sad and downright heartbreaking at times. The book is told through each passenger’s voice through journals, text messages and e-mails. Straczynski does a great job of making each character’s voice unique.

It’s very bizarre to say that I enjoyed a book about suicide, and that the stories are funny or amusing. The humor is situational and the book in no way makes light of suicide or its aftermath. I found it moving, but it isn’t for those who are more sensitive to the subject.

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