This book is about connection and family and the ways that we find our way to people. As this story opens, protagonist Danny’s life is falling apart. He has no job and his son has not spoken since his mother’s death. Will was with his mother when she died in an accident. Things are looking bleak.

In an interesting plot twist, Danny buys a panda costume, hoping to get money on the street. He happens to see his son being bullied. Danny’s son talks to this panda man not knowing who he is. Read the book to find out what happens to this father and son as they cope with their grief. PW describes the story as a bit “lightweight.” See what you think if you pick this one up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for this title. All opinions are my own.

Reading a book about lost and grief during a pandemic was a bad idea. Besides that if you have suffer a great lost or just want to cry I recommend you to grab this book.
2.5 stars
Thank you so much to Netgalley for thai arc
in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't read the blurb before downloading this and if I knew it was about grief, I probably wouldn't have downloaded it. That being said, it was a really good book that looked at loss and grief and getting through life.

I was disappointed by this book and felt that even as a discussion of grief, it remained shallow. Just wasn't for me.

I am so glad that I finally got around to James Gould-Bourn's "Bear Necessity". Rarely do you find a book that addresses loss with such sincere emotion. Using eclectic characters, storyline and hilarious dialogue, I couldn't help but enjoy. My husband was chuckling hearing me laugh out loud. Between Danny, Krystal and Ivan, the humor and sarcasm filled this jam-packed novel. It read like a movie in my head with such clarity and color (hint, hint all of you tied to the film industry).

The premise is Danny's 11 year old son Will was in a fatal car crash with his mother, leaving them alone to cope with the aftermath. Will has not spoken since, and Danny has lost his decade long construction job with little options and lots of bills to pay. Upon seeing street performers rake in the dough, Danny decides to give it a go as a dancing panda with little success. Here enters the hilarious Krystal, a wonderfully talented pole dancer who pulls all the punches. Her directness spoke to me and grounded the novel in what could have spiraled into a sad oblivion but instead pushed it through with laughter and hope.

I think I put this novel off because it sounded like too much from the description but Gould-Bourn made it flow beautifully. In to help with the audiobook was narrator Rupert Holliday-Evans (who could be my new favorite). His accents, inflections and rhythm were phenomenal, and I'm tough on narrators. I think he made me enjoy the experience even more. Go purchase this audiobook and if you can't check it out from your local library. If they don't have it, please put in a request as you won't be disappointed. Too often we shy away from hard topics like the death of a spouse or mother but this father/son narrative was the perfect way to highlight that which so many of us have gone through. I seriously can't recommend this audiobook enough and wish it could be nominated for a top performance. Put 8 hours aside for this book that will take you by surprise and leave you thinking about it over and over again.

Thank you to Netgalley, James Gould-Bourne and Scribner for providing me an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. It was seriously my pleasure.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. While this title is no longer within the realm of my current reading interests I appreciate the opportunity in receiving an ARC.

A sensitive, yet very humorous story about a father and son dealing with grief. Danny is a labor or who had lost his wife and his job. His son Will has not spoken a word in over a year. They are family, but distant to each other. Will is bullied at school while Danny becomes a street performer to make money. The landlord threatens to evict them unless they pay the back rent that is due. Danny enters a contest in hopes of winning first prize and paying off his debts. I cared about the characters and found their relationship genuine. A heartwarming and uplifting story.

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

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so interesting and diverse. I loved how the story developed and how the father and son were able to overcome something so difficult. I laughed out loud several times while reading.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

The cover of this book is eye-catching. I like the contrast of the colors between the title and cover art.
The characters are well-developed and easy to relate to and/or like.
The storyline was easy to follow and pretty unique. I personally have never read something like it.
I honestly couldn't put the book down! It was emotional but so so sweet.


I'd definitely purchase a copy and check out other books by the author.

This one was a quirky and interesting book, although it took a while to get into. I liked the variety of characters, and the premise of the book. This is definitely one you have to suspend reality for as the situation is not at all realistic. I would recommend this one to someone in need of a lighter filler type, as it hit that mark well. I could see this one making for a decent movie given the plot.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In this light comedy, a young widower is forced to become a street performer after he loses his construction job. He dresses up in a panda costume, but since he has no talent he doesn’t earn much until he is taught to dance by a pole dancer. His 11 year old son has been mute since the death of his mother, but he manages to talk to the panda.

I thought this book was trying too hard to be both funny and heartwarming. There are a lot of quirky characters and ridiculous situations. It might make a cute movie since it already incorporates parts of You’ve Got Mail and, especially, The Full Monty. The author mentions the panda watched a bunch of movies to improve his dance moves. Oddly, The Full Monty is not one of the movies he cites. The cover and title, which is really pointless, illustrate just how twee this book intends to be. I thought the book was just ok. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

What a great book! This was super cute and quirky. It wasn't what I was expecting, but in a great way. It was much more lighthearted, and laugh out loud. Danny and Will are basically suffering in silence, after Liz (wife and mother) dies in a car accident. Since then, a year, Will hasn't spoken a word to anyone, not even Gus father, Danny.
Danny ends up losing his job, and as a last resort becomes a street performer, a dancing panda to be exact.
Lots of things go astray, some legal, some not, and everything and everyone stirs fear, love, sadness, friendship, and family. I really enjoyed this one.

Eleven year old Will Malooley is not coping well after the death of his mother a year earlier in a car crash.
He hasn't spoken since she died, and doesn't feel connected to his dad.
Danny Malooley is struggling since he lost his wife Liz. On top of worrying about Will, he has lost his construction job and is behind on the rent. His landlord is a dangerous character, threatening to break Danny's legs if he doesn't pay up by his deadline.
After spending time at the park and noticing how much money the street performers make, Danny buys a cheap panda costume and becomes a dancing bear. Never mind that he doesn't know how to dance!
When Will is chased through the park by bullies, the costumed Danny intervenes and Will gratefully begins to talk to him about his problems. Danny is so happy to hear him speak again, he keeps his identity a secret.
What's going to happen once Will finds out he's been opeing up to his father? Can Danny make enough money to keep himself from harm?
This contemporary fiction novel was unique, zany, humorous and quite charming. The cast of characters are distinctive and original. Such a heartwarming story of coping with grief and loss. A delightful debut by the author, looking forward to reading more from him.
Thank you Scribner for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

This was original, heartwarming, and just altogether delightful.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Bear Necessity is about a single father, Danny, who is struggling to connect with his son, Will, who hasn’t spoken since his mother died in a car wreck. Danny is struggling to make ends meet when he loses his job and decides to become a street performer with an old panda costume he was able to afford. While working in the park he saves Will from a group of boys who are tormenting him and Will opens up about everything to the panda-not Danny. They begin this relationship that Danny is conflicted about because on one hand he finally gets Will to open up but on the other, he knows this is a bad idea to take advantage of Will’s trust.

This story was a very short read but even though it was small in pages it was BIG and fulfilling within those pages. The heartbreak of not knowing how to reach your child is one that many parents, single or not know and struggle with.

I will say that there were a lot of parts that were too long or overly explained that didn’t need to be. I wish they would have left these details out and have more substance to the characters themselves. It was an interesting look into how everyone needs to move on from grief but not everyone takes the same path to do so-everyone heals differently.

This is a great read filled with a lot of humor and then also a lot of sadness that almost brought a few tears to my eyes. There was a great balance where I enjoyed reading it but still got to experience some emotions without being completely drug down by sadness.

I really enjoyed this book about a father trying to find a way to reconnect with his son. Danny's wife (and Will's mom) is killed in a car accident, and a year later, Will still isn't speaking. On top of that, Danny is struggling to pay his bills and then loses his job. He's in a really bad situation and so desperate for income that he decides to dress up as a panda and perform in the park. From there, we meet a fun, interesting cast of characters that keep the book lighthearted and entertaining.
When I first read the synopsis, I didn't know if this book would be for me. I expected it to be somewhat heavy and depressing. While there were certainly some serious topics in the book, overall it was inspiring and had a lot of heart. And it was FUNNY! I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book (which is not typical for me).
While certain aspects of the plot were predictiable, others took me by surprise. I think this book would make a great movie!

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn. What a wonderful debut novel!! This book is about a father and son who are struggling after their wife/mom passed away from a car wreck. Danny is struggling to help his son who has not spoken since the accident, struggling keeping his landlord off his back so he can work and pay the rent, and then Danny loses his job. What happens next will make you laugh out loud, cry, tug at your heart strings and cheer for them both! Each character plays an integral part of the story and best of all this story has redemption. It may not be the redemption you think, but it is definitely worth the read! I adored this book!!

Thank you Netgalley, Scribner Books and James Gould-Bourn for the eARC and hard copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Danny has become a single father after the death of her wife a year ago. Their eleven-year-old son Will has survived the accident but hasn’t spoken since. To make matters worse, Danny has just lost his job and his landlord is threatening him for not paying his rent on time. In need of money, Danny decides to become a street performer. A dancing panda to be exact. The problem is he can’t dance and his son can’t know about his new job. But something unexpected has happened. Will starts talking and opening up to the panda without knowing that the man inside the costume is Danny.

I really enjoyed reading this book! The characters were incredible especially the secondary ones. They brought so much impact to the story. We have Danny’s huge Ukrainian friend and co-worker Ivan who bakes, Krystal is a pole dancer who helps Danny how to dance, and Will’s new teacher. Liz isn’t physically present in the story but we still get to know her a lot because of Danny and Will.

The writing was engaging and simple which really worked out very well for me. I liked the sense of humor and sarcasm. There were a lot of hilarious conversations between the characters. Some are ridiculous but still enjoyable. This book made me laugh and cry. It broke and warmed my heart. It’s definitely a delightful and touching read about family, friendship, grief, and second chances.

Trigger warning: bullying, death of parent, car accident
Huge thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for my free e/arc. This did not affect my overall opinion of the book.

It took me a bit to get invested into the story but once I did I found this world cute. I loved the quirky side characters! I expected this to be a darker story since it takes place after a wife dies and leaving her husband and child in disarray. However it was surprising funny and upbeat.