This was a fun and entertaining book! It was entertaining, kept me engaged throughout the whole read, and have lots of funny parts to it, which I loved. It was a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I loved this book so much. The story is told from Denny’s point of view. Denny is a 30-year-old developmentally delayed man who has a heart of gold and is honest to a fault. The authentic way Denny’s dialogue and internal thoughts were written blew me away. I felt that Danny wasn’t given his due as to how smart he really is. And even though his number is 72 he knows what’s what. But don’t fret, even though our main character is developmentally different this story takes on some heavy topics… gun violence sexual assault and class issues to name but a few.

The author writes every aspect of Denny, his relationships and the tough topics in a realistic and sensitive manner in a way I’ve never seen before. She has a real understanding of these issues because she has dealt with them with friends and family and it shows.

By the end of the story I was crying and I just wanted to hug Danny and his family so I ended up hugging the book via my tablet instead. I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending, the way the author could have gone the sickly sweet way but she didn’t and it just made me appreciate the story and its characters that much more. It left me feeling hopeful for Denny and his family and I realized just how lucky Denny is. I can’t recommend this one enough, it’s going on my favourites of the year list. All. The. Stars.

This was a fascinating concept for a murder novel, I thought it worked well as a novel. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and what was happening overall. Holly Kennedy wrote this perfectly and can’t wait to read more.

' “Do better!” she said. “Try acting like a decent human being. It's not that hard.” '

With all the misery in the world we're currently dealing with – the whole of the Middle East (as if bombing and starving people in Palestine isn't bad enough), Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine, you name it... people being ill with ME and LC, misogyny, gun violence, on and on it goes... indeed, I needed a book like this!
This review should be about this book, but I feel like proverbially pounding my fist on the table. Just like Nana-Jo did. Because the lack of people trying to deal with all the mentioned subjects is so painful, it makes me cry very, very often. Oh, the anger of the peri-menopausal woman, but hey the motto suggests 'be the change.'

So the story is of the very kind Denny Voss who hardly raises his voice, not even when being treated unkind to put it mildly. He who hugs and talks to a friend he doesn't want to be scared because he thinks there's nothing worse than being scared. Denny, who goes on a wild goose chase and made me laugh all the way through the book. You just wait until you read about him mentioning Pinky, the mouse.
A book that was made up of people with real-life characters, some of them I would describe as 'quite a piece of work.' This made me appreciate the book all the more for it not being sugarcoated.

To emphasize I want to end this review on a well-deserved positive note (Denny would yell 'Hallelujah'): I hope the book will be published in Dutch, the translator is going to have a field day with Angus' shirts :)

**Review of *The Sideways Life of Denny Voss* by Holly Kennedy**

*The Sideways Life of Denny Voss* is a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The story follows Denny, a middle-aged man grappling with the aftermath of a devastating loss and the challenges of starting anew. Kennedy’s writing captures the intricacies of Denny’s emotional landscape as he navigates life’s unexpected turns and the quest for personal redemption.

Through rich character development and poignant themes, this novel resonates with readers seeking a reflective journey about resilience and self-discovery