I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. I really enjoyed this novel and connected to both the characters and the story.

I received a free arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an odd story about a man who is unhappy and unsatisfied in his job and his relationships. The turmoil around him is reminiscent of our current sociopolitical climate. His inner turmoil is reminiscent of an Ayn Rand novel.

Everything, from the setting description to the weird monologues about the meaning of life, was overwritten. If the purpose of this book is to leave you feeling unsettled, then it accomplished its purpose beautifully.

The satire is STRONG in this one and I love it. That alone earned 2 stars. Unfortunately, that's all I really enjoyed about Why Liv? I adore a good character-driven story, but for it to work you have to have a character worth following. Liv seemed super cliche to me and I just couldn't find a connection. I think for some people this will be a great read. It just wasn't for me.

This book is based upon a 20 something man that is working in New York in a job he hates. One day he decides to make a change and to stop just being a willing participant in a work life that makes him miserable. He makes the decision to move to a different country without the political dynamics present in the US. Through the process, he is able to land on a different footing and better find out what he wants. I think a lot of people will identify with his story, however for me it ended up feeling a little superficial overall. I did not really pick up on the emotional component of the book and it just made the book seem forced. The political tangents were really satirical and relatable at the same time, but just seemed to come out of thin air. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.

Oh wow, this book!

First of all, I must say this: pay attention to the description. If you feel like the political talk in this book will offend you, stay away then, please. This book is much too well written to get a low rating because of personal beliefs.
I am not American nor America connected. I therefore am lucky enough to have as an objective view as possible.

Now. Talking about the main theme of this book: is it all worth it? What's the point behind it all? How and do you go on with the job that brings you no happiness, in a political context that goes against your principles?

I found myself in Liv's story. I live in a country from Easter Europe where corruption and lack of education make my work seem pointless. As an architect, I had high, high expectations of transforming the built environment, I expected my craft to do something good, to have an impact. Only I woke up in a place that has no respect for the job, where " no one tells me what to do with my money" is the norm and where people don't care about the depth of things, about the underlying matters of society. Quite the shock.

I did relate so to Liv. I pondered in my life doing precisely what he decided to do and it was great to see what that could have led to by reading his story.

Apart from the story ( which I obviously liked), the writing is amazing. I finally had the chance to read contemporary literature which stood away from colloquial language without seeming pretentious. Loved that.

The plot. Well, there's not that much of a plot, this is a character focused book. While I am someone who can appreciate a good plot, I did not miss it in this book. The representation, the diversity not only in skin color but in convictions too, made this book a page turner and motivated me to go on.

All in all, I highly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will buy a physical copy too.

This was a good book however just not really my style. I would however definitely recommend it to family and friends who enjoyed this genre more than me.