Set for Life ended up being a classic example of the WMFUN. White Male Fuck Up Novels can sometimes still be enjoyable books, as long as the story is funny, moving, and complex, as this one was described. It didn't quite get there for me, unfortunately.

To start with the positive, the writing was strong on a sentence level, and the pacing kept me engaged in the story. The problem was mainly with the main character and how difficult it was to care about and invest in his journey. It's rare that I enjoy rooting against a "protagonist" (who feels more like an antagonist in this story), but I guess that was also a positive here. It was fun to watch the moment of revenge and finally see some consequences for the main character. But it was also fairly frustrating to sit with so many pages filled with his privilege and lack of remorse for harming and taking advantage of the women in his life. I needed to either see him experience bigger consequences for his terrible decisions or grow and atone for how awful he was. There was a glimmer of growth at the end, but not enough to redeem the full story.

I enjoyed this book but it was not the literary experience I was promised. It was also very predictable at times.

But I would read this author again if the story looks appealing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I was reading this book and then saw an article in New York Magazine about this author and his now ex-wife -both authors who wrote about the infidelity (by him) with one of their friends. His ex-wife also has her own book which I enjoyed not realizing these narratives were reflective of real life in some way. The writing in this book is really good. I can't say I root for the protagonist here but that's okay -- it is well written, he is a burned out professor who loses his job, house, and wife. There are only glimmers of self-awareness by him and a lot of self-delusion. I found it an interesting read == I liked the description of the characters and his inner thoughts. The fact that I read an article that mirrored this story made it even more juicy and yet tragic. A worthwhile read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

I found this story incredibly disturbing. The characters were wired wrong. They trod the planet as if they had no control over their behaviors or destiny. I know this approach to story-building must be a symptom of our society as it is today, but putting my attention into this book seemed like not a good use of my reading time. It is well written, I just could not invest into the energy sucking drain of their lives. My thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity review this work.

An interesting story that delves into marriage, art, and the stories we conjure to become the person we want to be. The pacing dragged for me in some areas and I felt that the professors transformation could have had more depth. Overall, I found the novel to be thought provoking.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

There are lot of helpful reviews for this already so I'll just recommend it.

I really appreciate the free copy for review!!

i understand that the point of this is to be depressing and to hate the main character, but it was depressing and i hated the main character

I love books about writers and writing so I was excited for this, but unfortunately it didn't do much for me. The writing is fine but the main character is a selfish jerk and truthfully his wife and girlfriend aren't really prizes either. However, the books the characters wrote sounded really good. I wish I could read their books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.
It was not what I expected unfortunately. But still it’s a good read.

DNF at 15%. While I think the author has talent and can write, this story just did not draw me in. I could not root for or support any character, especially the protagonist. The summary of this book enticed me, but unfortunately this one is not for me.

The promise of a wry and moving novel pushed me through this read, but my expectations were simply not met. I didn't think any of it was funny – a story about a privileged white male acting out because life didn't turn out the way he feels that he deserves, to the point that his risky behavior blows up his life and he can finally take advantage of his own story to write a book. It was obnoxious, I didn't care about any of the characters (least of all the main character), and the laissez-faire attitude made any attempt to convince me to weep for the main character even amongst all his privilege dead on arrival. I won't be posting my review to social or Goodreads, but I do appreciate the opportunity from NetGalley and the publisher to read this ARC.

How weird is it that I didn't even notice that the name of the protagonist was never mentioned, until I read another review? Told in first person, from the point of view of the unnamed college professor, who returns from a summer writing retreat in Bordeaux by way of Brooklyn where he meets grad schools friends John and Sophie. Both John and Sophie have abandoned fiction writing for more lucrative careers. The professor and Sophie end up sleeping together before he returns to the small upstate NY town where he lives with his wife, Debra, a rising star in the English department with a successful writing career. Meanwhile, the professor is dodging the department chair, who wants updates on the novel he's ostensibly writing, while sneaking off to Manhattan whenever possible to rendezvous with Sophie.

Unsurprisingly, professor's career collapses along with his marriage when he leaves Debra for Sophie. Drinking way too much, he manages to threaten his relationship with Sophie as well.

This novel was often difficult to read, mainly because I at first actively disliked the protagonist, then felt sorry for him, and finally started to like him near the end. But for some reason, the book is sticking with me more than most of what I read and immediately forget. #SetforLife #NetGalley

Set for Life is a scandalous, titillating novel that discusses careers, marriage, infidelity and the life of a writer. This book felt like something that could be a Hulu limited series. I was heavily invested in this story (as if the parties involved were my friends or colleagues) that started out with a lot of twists, turns and unexpected/irrational decisions on the part of the main character. However, the ending left me looking for more; I had questions about what happens to the characters, what did they learn, and what was the point? Overall, a provocative book that kept my attention.

I enjoyed this story about a failed writer, turned uninspired writing professor, who blows up his disappointing but comfortable life with a series of stupid choices. He’s not very likable, nor are several other characters, but the pacing was good, the plot points were entertaining, and it was just the right length.
Thanks to #netgalley and #simonandschuster for this #arc of #setforlife in exchange for an honest review.

Well, I don’t know what I just put myself thru. The writing was good, but this book is like being in constant alcoholic fog. There are no likeable characters. There’s just nothing to really grab or keep your attention. This took me a bit to read. And I’m a little upset that I wasn’t so much time on it. For this author’s first debut book it was a “out of left field” read. So I hope you have better luck with enjoying this then I did.

And as always Happy Reading!

I liked reading this novel, but feel that it lacked emotion and originality. The premise of watching a narcissist destroy his life and that of his friends was interesting, but many of the significant parts of the novel were told very dryly. This writing style is fine, but it made it difficult to get invested in the characters.

While this was well written, the MC was pretty unlikeable. You don’t really feel bad for him, he’s got a negative attitude, makes bad choices, and doesn’t really feel like there should be consequences for his actions. And then he’s all alone and he’s like how could this happen to me? I mean, sir, really? And he’s always acting like he’s better than everyone else.

None of the other characters were that great either, so again, while the novel is written well, it wasn’t that enjoyable to read. It’s like one of those indie films where they play sad music and everyone is sad.

Thankfully it was short, a very quick read once I got myself to sit down and finish.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

SPOILER ALERT/also the toxicity is maddening. With purpose for story…

Review: To preface, the talk of the town is a co-worker, judged by the community for his affair with an established writer who rose to fame for writing about said affair. Her “star” is a mix of controversy and accepted writing material of substance and experience. And now we move on to our lead guy…

After setting up the story with the community buzz, reading this book was definitely taking a plunge … getting pulled into the dizzying whirl of a college professor in pursuit of engaging an affair with his wife’s best friend… who’s married to his friend. Crossing paths frequently during double dates… Setting up “work trips” to spend time away together, etc… At less than 300 pages, normally a quick read for me, I couldn’t bring myself to power through this one as I unwillingly maintained a personal mindset of what pain his wife would experience should she find out. I sympathize with his excitement in experiencing life with someone new and exploring… the butterflies, looking forward to spending time with one who makes you feel alive, makes your world feel new, makes you smile… Even through shocking events concerning his wife’s health, he maintains said affair with her best friend. What drives him from his wife is the intimidation of her rising star: she both released a novel and became an established, esteemed author before he could release his own book first. Feeling unintelligent, insignificant, and inferior, he becomes bored in his support of her speaking events, loathes her increasing confidence and loses motivation in his own desire of famed author.

In hindsight, he only ever expressed the curiosity of writing a novel but lacked the motivation and a story to tell - even with constant support and nagging from his wife, colleagues, and friends.

His wife releases another book, a familiar tale completely mirroring the details of his affair with her best friend, thus breaking up two marriages. He moves in with his girlfriend, and somehow manages to remain close with her now ex-husband who remains supportive during his depression. Alcoholism takes over. Discovering journals of his girlfriend’s painful past, he submits one of her notebooks to the publisher who had been reaching out for his book. Angry at his attempt to sell her personal story behind her back, she leaves him too. A year later he happens across an advertisement that she will be fielding Q & A at a book-reading event in support of her newly released novel. As she leaves, after selfies and autographs, she notices him hanging back afraid to approach her.

…And this is how the story ends. So much irony. I don’t recall even learning the main characters name…

Those who love voyeuring the drama of affairs might find this book hard to put down. To the opposites who only give time and care to loyal couples and faithful relationships, this could be a hard read for you. As an aspiring writer, I was pulled into the aspect of his world attending public speaking events and seminars, motivating and educating students, aspiring to write. Personally I had to push myself to finish this book as I was unable to feel anything for this selfish, entitled, spineless, impulsive, risk-taking, reckless “man”.

I think the best place to begin reviewing this novel is by saying that maybe I wasn't the intended audience for a book like this. The writing style came across as very pretentious. I consider myself to be an intelligent person who loves to learn, but I most certainly do not want to have to look up every other word while reading. It takes away from the story. There also wasn't a single character I wanted to even begin to try and relate to. There were no redeeming qualities about anyone in this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.