A quiet novel, Abbot Awaits is reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald in the very realistic, unromantic view of everyday life, but without the grim ending. Weary of life, but not wanting to change any part of it, Abbot spends his summer preparing for a new baby, caring for the toddler he already has, and keeping his relationship from imploding. Both he and his wife are entirely relatable to anyone who has raised a small child. Nothing is really bad, but neither is anything particularly exciting. From playing with his daughter, covered in stickers, to debating how fast he should get the plumbing issue fixed (will his wife really appreciate his fixing it if she didn't even know it was broken?), the book is full of everyday moments as filtered through an anxious and overthinking mind. Abbot is the type of husband who will chose to be right over being happy. He does nice things, but he is not a nice guy. (Neither is he a bad guy.) It was reassuring to read about a character who is somewhere between naive and wise, drowning the blandness of everyday parenting. I imagine the narrator as benevolent with a sarcastic tone of voice. The chapters are short, from a single paragraph to a couple pages which makes it easy to pick up, and equally easy to not put down.

Favorite Quote: "The following propositions are both true: (A) Abbot would not, given the opportunity, change one significant element if his life, but (B) Abbot cannot stand his life." 

Star-Rating: 3.75