Stay calm and read on! When I first intended to read this book, I gave up after the first chapter, deciding it was not what I wanted to read at the time, unsure when (or whether) there would come the right time for it. Recently I gave it a second chance, knowing that I would not like the first chapter, but determined to read on and see if things would get better. And fortunately for me they did.
So what about that first chapter? It explains how Ray's grandmother died and how he was mentioned in her last will to inherit the trailer park she owned. But it does so in such a ridiculous, over the top way it gave me goosebumps, just like certain blockbuster comedy films everybody seems to enjoy but me - just not my style of humor.
Gladly, the story gets much better after that, and though it's often dangerously close to leave my comfort zone and drift into absurdity again, I found most of the plot hilarious in a good way.
Of course, there is also a lot of deeper meaning to be found in this book, and it is those quieter scenes, offering dialogues or reflections of thoughts, that make this book special. So did Ray find out the 'Meaning of Life'? Though there is the one meaning Ray is required to be found by his grandmother's last will, there are many more thought-provoking answers that he - and you - will find along the way...

Not only was this a quirky and fun read, its a perfect recommendation to my students when we look into the meaning of life.
The characters and plot are likeable and its an engaging read.

This is a slow-burn book in which early descriptions of Ray's life take a very long time. It is well written, engaging and funny but as a long-time SF/F fan I didn't like that much the lack of great ideas.

As many of the other reviewers have mentioned, this literary novel regards an immature high schooler whose claim to fame at 17 years is his legendary prowess with gaming on the internet. He lives in his grandmother's RV park in his own little unit while his mother, sister, and uncle virtually run the park.

Until Grandma is killed by a grizzly, that is ("If the bear's brown, lay down. If it's black, fight back."), and no one is more surprised than Ray when it is he his grandma proposes to leave her real estate fortune--IF he can provide the explanation for the meaning of life to her attorney. The attorney has an envelope with the answer and Ray is given thirty days to match it.

The story begins with Ray in first person adolescent vocabulary struggling to describe the death of his grandmother, "Here's what killed Grandma:" With that opening, you are quickly sucked in and soon join the quest to discover the meaning of life right along with Ray; clueless, irresponsible, irritating Ray.

As Ray bumbles about trying to discover the meaning of life, the reader is likewise gifted an enlightening number of ah-ha moments, humorous situations, and people struggling with their own lives in all ranges of the spectrum from the lowest mining laborer to the millionaire philosopher author guru, Dalen Anders. Hired by an astute grandma not without her own wealthy means, Dalen's there to help.

There are laugh out loud moments, serious family entanglements, a little girl from a desperate situation, and scary secrets from the past.

As you get deeper into the characters and are fully invested in each, the reader becomes aware that softer, smarter Ray begins to immerge. Ray is totally infatuated with Tina, but Ray has managed more moral strength than one would have thought he possessed given his familial circumstances. Does Ray actually discover the meaning of life in thirty days? You'll just have to read and enjoy for yourself.

I was granted the ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and was thrilled to read and review--absolutely loved this book! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a feel-good book with a broad appeal from young adult to seniors. So many teachable moments, memorable quotes, and sweet messages. This book would make a great gift for your graduate, grandchild, aunt, friend, or holiday gift. I bought it for my associate reviewer who whizzed through it. He loved it as well and we both agreed on 5/5 stars.

See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2018/05/27/ray-vs-the-meaning-of-life-a-bookreview

Ray Vs the Meaning of Life by Michael F. Stewart was a very weird book. I usually like unique books, but I found this one very hard to get into. A lot of people seem to love this book, but unfortunately I am not one of them.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ray vs the Meaning of Life is kooky. There's no other word to really describe this books tone, characters, and overall style of then just...kooky. And you know what? I'm glad. I really appreciated of Stewart took a difficult and almost dark topic and made it humorous. Sometimes you just want to laugh and smile and this is the perfect book to do just that. It follows Ray, a teenager whose grandmother left him a lofty inheritance on the condition he discover "the meaning of life" she's hidden in an envelope somewhere. It's a fun little premise accented just by how much Stewart was willing to go there. This is a madcap adventure from start to finish so full of joy that I just couldn't help but smile at every page. Even when there was a darker sort of mood, there was still a lightheartedness that hung over the cast that made even the most serious moments still fun.

Ray vs the Meaning of Life, by Michael F Stewart, tackles yet another deep subject with the author’s trademark wit and humour. Ray’s grandma passes away unexpectedly, and left him ownership of her campground. Provided, of course, that he can give the executor of her will the 'correct’ meaning of life before the end of a month. With just thirty days, Ray has his work cut out for him. If he doesn’t succeed, then his mother, uncle, and sister divide everything and he gets nothing.

To aid Ray’s eventual quest, his grandmother hires in advance the services of self-help coach Dalen. Ray’s not too sure Dalen isn't a fraud. And with the arrival of warming weather, campers are beginning to arrive, bringing troubles of their own with them. Can Ray learn the meaning of life before time runs out?

I absolutely adored this story! It's light-hearted, but hides a deep punch. Everyone, no matter how rich or poor, old or young, no matter gender-orientation or cultural background, seeks to find purpose and meaning in their life. From the campground's many denizens, Ray gets exposed to myriad interpretations of what makes a meaningful life. Everyone has a different answer. Through his own personal work, Ray learns what it is that makes him happy, and that, in the end, everyone must find their own meaning. This is quite evident with Deneze, who wants to keep doing what he is doing now, which is trash collection. He enjoys helping people, and this job allows him to do that in a way the gives him satisfaction. It's Ray who helps him see that this is a perfectly acceptable choice.

I really like that Ray came to realise that Dalen wasn't a fraud just because he utilised the wisdom of those who came before to emphasise his points. That wisdom resonates through the ages for a reason. I was hoping to see a teasing reference to the number 42, though it very well might've and I missed it.

Read my other Michael F Stewart reviews:
Keep in a Cold Dark Place https://wp.me/p6C2DX-wq
The Boy Who Swallows Flies https://wp.me/p6C2DX-1uP

***Many thanks to XPresso Blog Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was an enjoyable read. The story of a young man who inherits a trailer park with a host of quirky tenants including his domineering mother and hunting sister. He has to turn the park around while searching for the meaning of life in order to keep the park. He is transformed by the people he meets and his experiences as he discovers what he wants from life and what is important.

This book really appealed to me when I saw the cover and read the blurb. I havn't read this author before but I do have another book by him on my TBR. I thought this would be a great one to start with. The book started out on a real good note. Humorous... but as the book continued the humor didn't seem so funny and it kind of went downhill for me.

Ray lives in a vacation trailer park with his family, which owns the campground, his mother, uncle, siblings, and grandma. Well, one day his grandmother dies and she leaves in the will that Ray gets everything if he can answer the meaning of life. He remembers his grandmother talking about this one day and remembers tuning her out. So he doesn't have the answer. His grandmother also paid for a little help from a life coach to help Ray out with his problem. So between Ray trying to find the answer to the meaning of life (according to his grandmother) the guru helping him find his zen, keeping his mother and sister from sabotaging him, and catching the girl of his dreams, Ray's life becomes a jumbled mess.


Okay so, I loved the beginning of this book and thought if the book was like the beginning, it would be a slam dunk. The beginning is just a jumble of mess of the accident that killed his grandmother. The events are hilarious and it was really the funniest part of the entire book... and no I am not twisted. It was written really well and so hilarious. I really enjoyed the first 20 percent of this book. But after that first bit of humor, the humor seemed to die down and it was a story of Ray facing his fears and finding his emotions and grounding himself. The guru was a little funny... but really the humor left. Now this story may have been good with the same story told in a more serious way. The problem I had was the entire time it felt if it was on the verge of being funny but didn't quite reach the destination.

The story was good in itself. I enjoyed the life problems that Ray was facing and figuring out. Really like 90 percent of the teens heading for adulthood out there. Lost and confused. He really didn't want the park or the money. He wanted just enough money to make it out of this hoboken town and a bit of a cushion to live off of until he settled in somewhere. Sounds reasonable. The problem Ray had was his family. They were pretty selfish and greedy. They wanted all or nothing. Yup crazy right.

I also enjoyed some of the characters. Ray's dream girl and her father were lovely characters. I also really liked the crazy guru. I even liked Ray even though he was lost and confused. I think he had the best intentions he just wasn't aware of real life.

The story wasn't bad and the characters werent bad but it didn't have oomph for me. It needed something more. I just felt detached reading it. I wanted a good funny roll of the floor laughing kind of read and didn't get it. Maybe if the beginning hadn't been so funny or if I went expecting something different, or if the book had more of an emtional side. It just felt on the verge of soemthing the entire time. Really hard to explain. Some people may really love this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea.





Great start but didn't last for me.

Ray Vs the Meaning of Life by Michael F. Stewart is a witty, charming tale of self-discovery and the challenges that teenagers face as they grow into the world.

Ray is a seventeen year old kid who lives in his grandmother’s RV park and seems to only care about playing video games and gaining followers. When Ray’s grandmother dies, he is tasked to find the meaning of life in one month in order to inherit his grandmother’s estate including ownership of the park. Stewart develops a great cast of characters and an interesting setting to explore what happens when a directionless teenager actually sets out to find meaning in his life. The novel strikes a nice balance between poking fun at self-help gurus and acknowledging their shortcomings while also showing how they can truly help. Ray Vs the Meaning of Life really shows the small, nuanced ways that people can affect and change the world around them all in an effort to achieve contentment in life. Stewart is making an effort to speak to teenagers, many of whom feel dissatisfied with themselves and their lives, and tell them that their dissatisfaction is understandable, but there are ways to change that. Stewart makes the case in a way that’s realistic and acknowledges the unrealistic expectations that are put on teenagers.

Ray Vs the Meaning of Life is a funny novel with a lot of heart that is honestly trying to help readers figure out how to make their lives better and it might just succeed

It’s been a good while since I’ve given a book 5 stars, but this one absolutely deserves it. I loved this book. It was the kind of coming-of-age story that you look for, with laugh-out-loud hilariousness thrown in. This is the first book in a long time that was a ‘read in one sitting’ book for me. This book will grab you and keep its claws sunk deep into your soul until you read the last page.

What I loved was that this book wasn’t just a light-hearted comedy. There were so many real and raw moments, and the characters experienced so much growth throughout the story. It was very real, and I feel that I personally have learned a lot about life perspective from this book. I absolutely loved every second of this book, and I will be shoving it in the face of every library patron (both teen and adult) that will let me.

This is a work that will strike you in your core, make you rethink the entire genre of "coming of age" books, and will make you want to run out, grab a stranger, and shove this book into their hands while screaming, "READ THIS BOOK" and smiling like a maniac.

Yeah. It's one of those works.

But let me start off with telling you why I originally wanted to read this book: it was filed under humor (it isn't), it had an epic cover reminiscent of Monty Python (and that's where the comparison ends, my friends. Don't expect any "Cheese Shop" sketch here), and the first sentence is "Here's what killed Grandma."

BRILLIANT.

With all that going for it, I strapped myself in for a hilarious romp and prepped myself for some great belly laughs like I had when reading "Delete this at Your Peril."

They. Never. Came.

And I'm so glad I was wrong! What I got instead was one of the most positive, uplifting, and inspiring works that I have had the privilege of reading.

This novel should be *the* coming of age work for the ages. With miles and MILES of heart and a plot line that is never predictable and consistently surprises and delights, this is a book that should get recommended again and again. And to all ages! This novel not only tackles the trials and tribulations of growing up, but also takes on loss, grief, responsibility, living with a family that doesn't like you and only lives to see you fail, cancer, what happiness truly means, love, abuse, and so much more. The narrative is beautifully woven so the reader becomes absolutely immersed in the tale and as Ray matures and overcomes each obstacle, it feels as though we the readers are also transformed. We get the mentoring and coaching that Ray receives and we also discover, right along with Ray, that no one's story is simple. No one's life is "perfect" and what we may think will make us happy, isn't always what it seems.

This is such a beautiful, warm, wonderful book that I think so many people can benefit from. Check this book out: borrow it, buy it, gift it, just read it and share it widely!!

** Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this title!**

When Ray's Grandma gets killed by a bear, she leaves her entire trailer park to him in her will -- IF he can figure out the meaning of life in 30 days. Ray, who wants to be a professional gamer and basically lives on Kraft Dinner, doesn't necessarily need to be the park's owner, but if he doesn't figure this out, his mother and sister will inherit - and then sell off - the whole thing, leaving him, his fireworks-loving uncle, and his friend Tina with nowhere to go. Time to step up and figure it out.

If only his mom and sister weren't gloating over his failures, and there wasn't an iceberg floating in the pool, muddy tracks all over the roads, and him being suddenly in charge of absolutely everything (which leaves zero time for gaming). Who has time to figure out the meaning of life? (Oh, and what happened to Grandma's body, anyway? Ray is sure he left it right there...)

Kat's Notes: This book was surprisingly philosophical, given the absurdity of the characters. I really enjoyed Ray's character development, and the fact that nothing is - or is supposed to be - perfect. It's all about how you get through your own stuff, whether your stuff is flipping burgers, cleaning bathrooms, or enjoying your mac & cheese.

I also really enjoyed Dalen, the self-help guru (who I have pictured in my head as looking like as Cesar Flickerman), and Uncle Jamie, who I really want to give a big hug to.

I received an early copy courtesy of Netgalley.

I read the description and saw the cover and knew I wanted to give this book a try. I’ve been reading the same genre for too long and needed to step outside the box for a bit. Once I started the first chapter I was laughing and knew I was hooked. The author was clever writing the first chapter the way he did because you become hooked. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Characters are the biggest shining star for a story. I felt that these characters were well developed and the journey that they each evolved from was quite breathtaking. My favorite character was Ray of course. He was funny, smart, caring, intriguing and just a Better Ray. As far as secondary characters go I would have to say that Grandma was my favorite. I loved hearing about her antics and seeing how she evolved through stories. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends. Overall you just feel good after reading it.

I just could not get into this one... I was on the fence about it from the beginning, but thought it sounded like a quick and easy read that would make me laugh and think a little. I didn't find it to be either of those things though... I definitely didn't find it to be as funny as other reviewers - or as it could have been. It just felt cliched and caricatured, but not in a funny way - in an "I'll rely on tropes and stereotypes to make my point" way that just never resonated with me...

This is a really good YA read and a teen whose grandma dies suddenly and leaves him the mission to fibd the meaning of life in order to inherit the RV park where the family lives. Through his 30 days of trying, he works with s TV guru to find the meaning. We follow him in trying to fund meaning and how this impacts him and all those around him. A fast read and really enjoyable.

I loved this book! From the very beginning ,where Ray guides us through the curious circumstances of his Grandma's death, to the very last lines, where he describes what his life is life in the aftermath, the whole book is hilarious. The best part is that there's also a lot of deeper meaning intermixed with the most ridiculous things that can only happen in this backwoods, redneck trailer park. The author does an amazing job balancing the hilarity worth deeper moments so you have the moments to reevaluate your own life and meaning while still laughing out loud. It's not overly predictable, because anything really can happen, but had a great flow to it.

For my family-minded readers, this is definitely a young adult book but even younger teens would be able to read it pretty safely. There's a bit of swearing throughout but not a lot. There's a bit of violence, in that there's a bear that attacks humans, but none of it is gory at all. There is also some fist-fighting but it's mentioned that this isn't the way to deal with problems, and, again, there's no gore.  There is one scene that seems like it's leading to sex but it's great for a conversation about consent since one of the parties is under the influence of alcohol. The book mentions layer that they would have regretted it. The alcohol use, in that circumstance, is in a teen though. Another thing to discuss with your teen - why did that person resort to alcohol and what consequences were they facing? Basically though, I think the way the book handles these situations is excellent and leaves room for parents to have some very important talks with teens. In an email to me, the author mentioned some of these, and specifically mentioned that he hopes the situation mentioned above (with alcohol and that was leading towards sex) will actually help trigger discussions about consent.

Overall, I loved this book and I'm excited to read even more from this author! This is definitely not one to pass by, especially if you're looking for something to brighten your day.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.