I wanted to like this book. Richard Roper is an interesting writer whose books I've enjoyed. For some reason this book was not for me. The main character Andrew works for the Death Administration. He is socially awkward so this solitary job fits him perfectly. He visits the homes of people who' have died to see if there is information on family or friends who can help to pay for the funeral costs. Being American I'm not sure if there's actually a Death Administration in England. I stayed with the book to the halfway mark. It's possible there could have been something after that point that might have helped spark some understanding on my part.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy from G.P. Putman's Son through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

How Note to Die Alone is beautifully quirky and relatable with its dashes of British humor, extremely lovable characters and unique plot line. Don't be misled though while it has all the makings of a light hearted read, it takes you on your own stirring journey of emotions likely causing you a certain amount of introspection.

Andrew's job at the council is to help track down the kin of individuals who die alone, some who aren't discovered until months after their deaths when enough unpaid bills have piled up to warrant investigation. It is through this line of work that Andrew meets Peggy, his new co-worker, in who Andrew finds he shares a rare connection. As their friendship unfolds, so too does Andrew realization that he must confront and amend some of his past, aka the fictional family of four everyone in the office thinks he is a part of, including Peggy.

Richard Roper does an excellent job creating characters you find both endearing and maddening. He writes with a fast-paced style that keeps your attention and yet manages to avoid too much cheesiness in the process.

I was unsure about this book at first - what was it really about? Why should I care about Andrew? What was really going on? But I stuck with it and I’m so go glad I did. I did NOT see the twist coming with Diane’s death and it was a complete shock and gut punch. I figured something had happened in Andrew’s past but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it until it was revealed of course. At points of course I was so frustrated with Andrew but also so uncomfortable on his behalf - but by the end I was rooting hard for him. What will really stick with me though are the snippets of the people that Andrew and Peggy found. The ones who died alone. Those scenes were heartbreaking and quirky and dark and really just sad when you think about the overall picture. I was happy at the end to see that Andrew wanted to help Peggy further her idea for the charity to ensure people don’t have to die alone anymore and it is something that I will think about for a long time now in real life.

I loved the writing style of this book - hearing Andrew’s inner monologue with his dry humor was a great contrast when dealing with a heavy subject. I thought the length of the book was perfect and I’ll definitely recommend this to others!

As much as I wanted to LOVE this title, I saldy just LIKED it. The whole premise was fun, and dark, Andrew was a character with (IMO) some wit, but also represented the 'loner' that has to pretend in order to keep people at bay and not ask him about his personal life. His job is sad. SAD, and the fact that he voluntarily walks into every funeral and attends is even more sad. Peggy's character was the light of the story. their newfound friendship was somewhat of a breath of fresh air for Andrew, to the point he's actually questioning his actions thanks to her. She's a mom, with two kids and that, I think, has some sort of meaning to Andrew who sees her as somebody special. they both have a lot of realizations throughout the story and that I think is the peak that every author should hope to achieve. Richard Roper did a magnificent job I think, and to be a debut novel, you can easily be fooled he is a veteran cause some of the topics here are a close call for many like me, who is single, childless and has never been married, and are so well crafted thru Andrew and Peggy that you have to stop in some scenes to catch your breath and hold your tears.

Thank you to the publisher for the privilege of granting me this book. Even though I did not fell head over heals for it, I think what caught me off guard was the meaning behind the story and the fact that I myself are a loner in desperate need of that light, to bring me back to life.

Powerful read, with a pinch of sweet.

I picked this up because the comparison to Eleanor Oliphant. And let me tell you...this did not disappoint! I LOVED this book. Just like Eleanor, this book made me laugh and cry. I just loved everything about this story: the characters, the budding friendships, the dialogue, the take on family and relationships and death. It just makes me happy. I can't wait to buy a final copy!

Thus book made me think. It wasn’t the type of book that I usually read. It was so sad and depressing reading about his life. I really thought he was crazy during the whole book. Finally at the end everything cane together.

Darkly comedic, but ultimately heart-warming. I was concerned about this book falling into the Manic Pixie Dream Girl troupe, but the characters were fully fleshed out and relatable. I definitely recommend this book.

Andrew Smith’s day-to-day life sits on the side of life that most would have zero desire to experience. Every day he goes to houses of people who have recently died but have no next of kin, no one to claim their body, no one who will attend their funeral and no one to remember them. It’s Andrew’s job to go through their effects, hoping to find money hidden away so that the cost of their funeral will be covered. Sometimes, he is able to locate a long-lost relative or an old friend but most of the time, there is no one to remember that person.

It’s gruesome, it’s sad and it’s unnerving. Some of Andrew’s cases involve people who have been deceased for long periods of time and no one has noticed. Not only does Andrew go through their home looking for long lost family members but when there are no signs of family, he will go to that person’s funeral to sit beside them as their casket is lowered into the ground. He does this because Andrew understands what it is like to be utterly alone and to worry every day that he, too, will be found months after he’s died with no one to attend his funeral. Although, to Andrew’s coworkers, they have no idea just how alone he is.

His coworkers believe Andrew has an adoring wife and two beautiful children. They think that because that’s what Andrew told them.

It isn’t until the newest hire, Peggy, begins working alongside Andrew that he begins to think that coming clean about his “family” is the best thing to do. What ensues, is a quirky, dark and entertaining book that made me feel all the feels. This is definitely a great pick for anyone who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and the Kiss Quotient.

I loved Richard Roper’s How Not to Die Alone. It was everything that I hoped it would and then some.
Have you ever read a book that hit the nail on the head with something that you’ve always feared? That’s what this book did for me. I knew when I read the synopsis that I would most likely have moments of “I can completely relate to that” and boy, did I ever. As a fellow introvert, I can greatly relate to Andrew; sometimes it’s difficult to get out there and meet new people, especially if you enjoy the sanctuary of your own home. And, because I enjoy being at home, there have been countless times that I have feared what my future holds and whether or not I will die alone and no one will be there to claim all of the things I have collected throughout my life. How Not to Die Alone touched my heart in so many ways.

Andrew’s character can serve as a lesson to others on overcoming setbacks in life. He has experienced an insurmountable amount of loss but yet he continues to do what he does and face his fears head-on. He continues to be there for people before they are buried and does what he can to find their lost family members.

I can’t sing the praises of this book enough. Thank you to Netgalley, GP Putnam’s Sons Publishing and to Richard Roper for the ARC of this book. I anticipate other wonderful stories from Richard Roper in the future.

The book was well written, and the premise of the storyline was good, but there were times the story felt like it was dragging along and taking too much time to get to the point. I got about halfway through and then skimmed multiple pages to reach the end. It was interesting to learn about Andrew and his “family” because at first, I thought they had left him, but you find out what happened at the end. It is evident that once Peggy appeared, she would become a love interest for Andrew.

What kept me reading was the house scenes when Andrew and Peggy would sift through the debris to find clues about the dead people and also the funeral scenes of how sad it would be to die alone with no family to attend the services.

Overall, it was just an okay read.

Andrew Smith is a city worker whose job is to visit the homes of recently deceased people who have no apparent family. He examines their possessions, looking for contacts or assets to pay for their funeral. Oftentimes, there are neither, and the town must foot the bill for the internment. Andrew feels compelled to attend these funerals- to give the deceased the dignity of a mourner. Andrew shares many of these lonely people's characteristics-he is looking for a human contact of his own
This book is quirky, funny, and touching ll at the same time.

I really tried to enjoy this book. It may be that my expectations where high when it was compared to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. However, it fell short for me.

How Not to Die Alone should be on your "To Read" list! Thank you #netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed the story of Andrew, a 42 year old single, lonely man whose job is rather grim: he visits the homes of recently deceased people who died alone, looking for hidden funds to pay their funerals and/or evidence of family to contact. Andrew's story and past slowly unfold throughout the story, and I became invested in his life and possible (?) future happiness. I love character driven novels and British authors and settings so this one worked for me. Bits of humor and some unexpected situations kept it moving.

#HowNotToDieAlone #NetGalley

Andrew is a lonely single man who accidentally makes up a family to his co-workers. He also has an obsession with trains and is haunted by the song "Blue Moon." As sad as that (and the title) sounds, this a very funny, sweet novel.

The MC Andrew's inner monologue is cracking me up! His funny retorts he never verbalizes have me dying. There is a sensitivity to his voice and perspective that is lonely and insightful and not that of a misanthrope. Peggy, his new coworker is a catalyst in waking Andrew up and helping him see he might not be contented with a life of beans on toast and a fantasy family.

It's pretty straight, white, etc. which offers one perspective, but I guess authors "write what they know." I'm not mad about it, but it's just something I notice.

The story of team bonding gone awry, online friends, estranged family, blackmail and the deaths of elderly people come together to make for a lovely, funny book.

This book is so good. Andrew is so endearing that you will find yourself drawn in. The novel is set in Britain so his occupation seems a bit unheard of here in the States. He works for a Council and goes into homes after the Coroner has removed the dead body and they need to find the next of kin. This grim task is of course where the name of the book comes from. Andrew is a bit hapless and accidentally found himself agreeing to something that led to the impression that he was married with children when in actuality he has lived alone for years. This lie isn’t a problem until he finds himself drawn to a new co-worker. This will lead him to realize he needs to change his life. It sounds grim but it’s very sweet for the most part. I did find myself feeling anxious for Andrew and rooting for him to tell the truth and get on with his life. I had never heard of the author but I was very impressed with this novel so I will be looking up his previous novels and excitedly waiting for the next one.

This book interested me because of it's comparison to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but unfortunately I don't think it stood up to it. Definitely well-written, a little depressing at times, but overall a fine read. I wouldn't necessarily recommend to a friend unless I knew their tastes well, whereas I think Eleanor Oliphant was more broadly popular. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review/opinion

I read and liked Eleanor Oliphant, so when I saw the comparison I went ahead and requested it. Not too long into it, I wish I hadn't, I knew from the start that this book wasn't for me. I am so happy I finally finished this book, I felt like it took forever to read. I skimmed a lot of it trying to make it go faster, I couldn't tell what the plot was, and I felt like it was a little bit boring. I didn't connect to any character, at all the best parts of the whole entire book was the house scenes and the dead people, I found those interesting, and the end, with the Diane story, that brought some life to the book, but other than that, bleh.. Some of it was over my head..who would get fired for lying about personal life? I can understand if I lied and said I had a kid and called out sick a lot because my "kid" was sick or something, but really what's the harm, does that mean he was hired only because he had a "family" ? maybe things are different overseas.

I liked the writing, it was well written, grammar and all that, I didn't feel like I was reading a sloppily written self published book, I can see this sitting on a book shelf in the book store, I just wish there was more life in the story itself.

Didn't get to far in the book to know it was not my style the story was not clear. Also needs to be editing.

A perfect combo of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Office (UK). I really enjoyed this one!

Andrew is a 42-year old loner who works for the city council organizing "pauper funerals" for deceased with no family or friends to do so. This thankless job involves searching homes of the deceased for any signs of next of kin, while back at the office he must maintain an elaborate 5-year long lie he'd told his coworkers in a moment of weakness that seems likely to be exposed any day now. I get it, this sounds like a downer and a tough sell for a novel! But Andrew is a lovable character and he quickly snuck into my heart and made How Not to Die Alone one of the sweetest and funniest stories I've read this year. The story takes its time but the characters were right up my alley (anyone who is charmed by slightly dark British humor will agree) and I laughed just enough to make the somber bits touching rather than devastating. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Andrew sneaks into your heart a sad loner a man closed off from emotions,then Peggy shows up.Peggy brings out hope life in Andrew .Andrew Who now has to reveal himself pull down the walls.A lovely read. #netgalley #penguinputnam.

Poor Andrew started his job many years ago with a white lie that has snowballed. During his interview, he led the boss to believe that he had a wife and kids, and since that time he has been unable to backtrack, indeed he has embellished the fabrication beyond all recognition. Andrew's job is to investigate the lives of people who have died alone, in order to track down any relatives or friends who might be able to assist with funeral expenses and other estate issues. The job suits his lonely soul, but when Peggy starts working with him his life becomes more interesting and enjoyable. The author conveys Andrew's dilemma and personality with compassion, humor, and insight, without being heavy-handed.