This novel has a Fredrik Backman vibe to it, though it's not as emotionally complex. Danny is single dad to 11-year-old Will, who hasn't spoken since he was in the car accident that killed her mother a year ago. Danny is down on his luck in every way possible, so he takes some drastic measures in an attempt to earn money to pay their back rent. I was drawn into the story right away, then by 40% was losing interest. The plot feels too far fetched and everything works out much easier than it should, which feels forced. The writing is pretty simple and repetitive at times. I enjoyed the characters a great deal and wish I'd gotten to know them better.

Every summer, I crave a quirky feel-good novel brimming with heart. I know there are readers that love a good thriller or romance for vacation-mode reading, and I like those, too. But my sweet spot can be found in books like Eleanor Oliphant or The Rosie Project. BEAR NECESSITY satisfied my summertime craving for 2020.

BEAR NECESSITY tells the story of Danny and his son, Will, as they process the recent loss of their wife/mom. Trying to wade through their individual grief and other setbacks, the pair struggle to connect without their family matriarch. This book is brimming with quirky, lovable characters and vivid dialogue and scenes. While the premise can sound heavy, the book has a lot of humor and light that feels natural to the story. BEAR NECESSITY is Gould-Bourn’s debut novel, but his experience as a screenwriter shows. I think this novel would make a charming indie film.

I will note, it took me a few chapters to get into the story. I think the writing felt a little stilted or over-written at first, while setting up the characters and scenes, but once everything was established the flow felt more natural.

My favorite part of this novel was the parent-child relationship. Being a parent is hard and weird and really lovely. Gould-Bourn captured this relationship well.

BEAR NECESSITY is out now. Thank you to @scribner for the chance to read and review!

The author wrote a novel that captures the journey of Will as he grieves his mother and how he ultimately begins to open up to his father in an unexpected manner. I thought this book was well written and accurately captured the struggles of an 11 year old that lost their mother in an accident.

Cute story about a dad who does whatever it takes to make ends meet, even becoming a scruffy panda. That was clever and I love how a random idea turned out to be the best thing. I love seeing the growth and the warmth. The relationship between the characters was heart warming. This was such a sweet read.

This is a gentle, hopeful, entertaining story of a dad and son reconnecting after losing their wife/ mom less than a year ago. There’s a dancing panda and some awesome side characters. For a tough topic (grief and loss) there are a lot of positive themes too, including hope, resilience, and connection. I an totally satisfied with the ending and still have a smile on my face. I’m glad I read it!


Thanks to NetGalley and the Scribner Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, author James Gould-Bourn, and Scribner for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This one was so much fun! It was also sad, heartwarming, hilarious, a little crazy, but in the end very satisfying. The author’s sense of humor comes through loud and clear throughout the whole book. I loved it!

It is about Danny, whose wife died in a car accident one year ago, and about Will, Danny’s eleven-year-old son, who hasn’t spoken for one year, since his mother died.
Danny is getting by the best that he can, being a single father, getting over his own grief, and dealing with Will who won’t speak because of his grief. There are many parts of this story including Will getting bullied at school, and Danny losing his construction job. But the fun begins when Danny, finding no other jobs available, becomes a street performer, a “dancing panda bear”! But the story becomes even more interesting when, Will, not knowing that his father has “changed” jobs, begins speaking for the first time in a year – to the panda bear! – not knowing it is his dad. And then the fun begins!

There are several fun characters that are thrown into the mix: Ivan, Danny’s former Russian construction co-worker; Krystal, the pole dancer, who reluctantly helps Danny learn to dance; Reg, the evil landlord. All of them go a long way in making this a very funny and fun story.

The story culminates in Danny participating in a “Best of the Street Performers” competition, where he hopes to win First Prize so that he can pay his rent. All of the characters work together to help Danny and Will get through their tough times, and it is hilarious. It is also heartwarming to see how Danny and Will get to know each other better and help each other get past their grief while remembering their love for their wife and mother.

This one is a good one – don’t miss it!

Danny lost his wife in a car crash, and since that day, his son Will hasn’t spoken a word. Reeling from that loss, he has been keeping his head scarcely above water from one day to the next. In for a rude awakening when he is fired from his construction job, his landlord threatening literal bodily harm if he can’t make rent, Danny resolves to become a street performer. This start to <i>Bear Necessity</i> sounds like a veritable catastrophe in the making, though it becomes an unlikely boon when Will unknowingly begins to open up to his panda-disguised father.

Somehow, a book about a boy who will not utter a word a year after his mother’s death manages to be energetic and <i>loud</i>. Watching Will open up is less like the delicate blossoming of a tulip and more like a hurtle down the stairs, the story propelling itself with a near unparalleled verve. Of course, this is achieved with the help of a stripper dance teacher, a Russian friend with conspicuous hints at mafia ties, and the dad who is willing to don a smelly panda costume and shake his limbs with zero dance expertise.

Here I was, prepared for something more moderate, a touch introspective, but in this case you need to take “overcoming their grief in surprisingly inventive ways” from the blurb very literally. Inventive, absurd...to-may-to, to-mah-to. James Gould-Bourn doesn’t aim for subtle—did I mention loud earlier? Sometimes I feel like I’m being yelled at, prodded and poked by this joke or that wisecrack. Then again, said humor tickled me in a most delightful way. Ultimately, it’s childish fun, and I found myself increasingly charmed the further <i>Bear Necessity</i> progressed. There are outrageous situations and characters so over the top that I had to question these hyperactive adults with the energy reservoirs of sub-14-year-olds. There are also moments so touching that I didn’t even realize I was touched until I felt a tear in the corner of my eye.

I wish I could strike out some of the earlier narration, unnecessarily detailed. Every action is commented on, a lot of telling that nags and pulls you out of the scene at times. Long sentences of internal musings would wander tangentially, making little headway in character development and obstructing the often hilarious dialogue between characters. Once Gould-Bourn hits his stride though, or maybe when I couldn’t help but end up invested in seeing these zany characters find their resolutions, I felt there was a perfect balance between laughter and poignancy.

I can forgive the imperfect execution and exceedingly contrived scenarios because there is ample heart and hilarity, never emotionally manipulative in the way that books about grief can be. Witnessing Danny get yanked out of his comfort zone while he draws Will into a safe space to flourish made this compilation of gags and heartfelt moments worth it. <i>Bear Necessity</i> sends a message that a journey through grief is a hazy path to discern, paved by the love and support of others. It is how we move forward from tragedy which comes in different but equally important forms to acknowledge. The way Gould-Bourn sells the premise, it wouldn’t be <i>so</i> far-fetched as to say a dancing panda could get involved.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story of how a stinky ol' panda costume brings a man and his son together and helps them move on after the loss of their wife/mother. But it is a lot more than that. This is also a sweet story of friendship and how people aren't quite what they seem. The characters in this story are quite diverse and each one is written with wonderful detail that helps bring them and the story to life. This is a great book for when you need a literary hug.

Another book published by Scribner, and as usual, I just loved it. Scribner is becoming one of my go to publishers. This was such a charming story of a father and son learning to cope without the one woman they had never planned to lose.

Danny is a struggling widow and father to Will. For awhile it feels like nothing is going right. He can’t afford rent, he loses his job. He also is trying to help his son cope with the loss of his mother. Will was involved in the accident that took his mother away and he has chosen to not speak ever since.

What we get is a rich story of Danny who will do anything to save his family, even dress as a panda and dance in the street for money. Gould-Bourn wrote us an endearing cast of characters, from Mo (Will’s Best Friend), to Krystal (the pole-dancer who helps Danny learn to dance), with a culmination to a practically perfect ending.

I adored this book, and will definitely be thinking about this for a long time. Reader beware, you might want a few tissues handy whether they are for sad or happy tears, I will let you decide.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't prepared to have my emotions attacked the way they were. I haven't ever read a story of a dad and son grieving for the loss of someone they loved - a wife and a mother. Danny, the father, and Will, the son, do the best they can but both are stumbling and struggling through daily routines. The lengths Danny went to in order to support his son after losing his job was endearing. To know he would take a job as a dancing mascot was sweet. My heart went out to Danny more, though. The poor kid shut down and stopped talking.

The premise was brilliant, the execution was well done, and the character development was masterful. I am still recommending this to everyone.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner, and James Gould-Bourn for the opportunity to read and review this charming debut novel. 4.5 stars!

Danny and his son, Will, are still reeling from the death of their wife/mother in a car accident a year ago. Will hasn't spoken a word since the accident. Danny had been working construction but was recently fired when new management took over. Adding to their troubles, Danny is behind on the rent and his nasty landlord has threatened bodily harm if he doesn't pay up. When Danny sees street performers in the park making money, he buys an old panda suit and attempts to perform. While in costume, Danny sees kids bullying Will and comes to his rescue while keeping secret his identify. For the first time, Will opens up to the panda. Since Danny has kept his job loss and issues secret from Will, he can't reveal his true identity.

This book had me at that wonderful cover - swoon! You will fall in love with the characters in this book - especially some of the secondary ones like Ivan and Katrina. This is a wonderful story of grief, family, friendship, working together for a cause. You will laugh at the predicaments Danny finds himself in and feel so much emotion for this family as they struggle to form a new normal. The writing is spot on and you'll keep reading to see exactly how all this works out. I can't wait to read more from this author!

An extremely interesting book, not just because of the content itself, but because of the way it is told. James Gould-Bourn, in his descriptions, uses a great and unusual sense of humour, with a kind of sarcasm that makes the ordinary facts hold the reader's attention during the whole novel's development.

I will definetly be reading any future novels by this author. Why? It was hilarious, sad and real. Many of the conversations that take place between the charatcers are funny and ridiculous, but while reading them you can't help but think you yourself had these same conversation with your friends and family and they were just as quirky and odd in retrospect. That is the strength of James Gould-Bourn's book- the insight in our behaviours.

Some of the scenarios were slightly predictable, but that isn't all that bad, because you find yourself turning the pages anyway to see the spin on them. Looking forward to the next one.

At times funny, at times poignant, Bear Necessity is a heartwarming story about a father and son, Danny and Will, who have lost the most important person in their lives to a car accident - their wife and mother. This is a story of how their grief comes between them as each one grieves in his own way: Will stops speaking; Danny loses himself in his work.

While this seems like it might be a depressing novel, it is actually quite uplifting and humorous to see how Danny chances upon a way to earn money as a street performer in the form of a dancing panda bear (despite the fact that he can't dance.). Will starts to open up and speak, both at school and to Danny.

There’s a great cast of characters: Krystal, a pole dancer who grudgingly teaches Danny to dance; Ivan and Ivana, Danny’s stalwart friends; and Reg, Danny’s landlord who threatens him with his goon, Mr. Dean, when Danny falls behind in paying his rent. Will is lucky to have his good friend, Mo, and an understanding teacher at school. However, there is also Mark, who bullies Will at every opportunity.

In the hopes of winning the money he needs to pay his back rent, Danny enters the “Battle of the Street Performers.” The final chapters are hilarious as they tell about the pathetic yet laughable host of the performance, the wide variety of contestants and their so-called talents, and Danny's dance routine in the contest.

Bear Necessity is a buoyant story about resilience in the face of despair. With many laugh-out-loud moments, I found it to be enjoyable and inspirational. Kudos to James Gould-Bourn on this entertaining debut novel.

Danny and Will have had rough go for the last year as Danny's wife and Will's mother passed away about a year ago in a car accident. Since the death of his mother will has decided not to talk to anyone about anything. Things are going to get a little rougher as Danny loses his job and they are behind on the bills and they have a heavy handed landlord who wants his money. With little options left Danny decides to become a street performer dressed up as a Panda bear. In the end it may be a Panda a bear that gets Will to talk again. This is a feel good story that maybe a little predictable at times but overall this is a good read.

**Thank you to Scribner for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is also available on my Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3427443497) and Instagram (@melcanwrite).**

I'll admit: I was a little apprehensive about the premise of this book. Danny and his son Will are navigating the waves of grief after their wife/mother passes away, then Danny loses his job and is behind on paying rent, so he becomes a street performer... dressed as a panda. Really? Yes.

But you know what? It hooked me! This quirky book combined complicated family drama and dynamics with a heartfelt determination. Bear Necessity covers heavy stuff: grief, death, and physical violence, to name but a few. But it was laced with humor and soul.

One of the quirky characters we meet in the book is an adult entertainment provider (ahem, a pole dancer). I'll not give anything away here, but did want to note that one of the aspects I loved most about this book was the respect paid to this character and her profession. She was not diminished, she was not given an overly complicated back story or abusive childhood, she was proud to do the work she did and treated like any other human being. The book seemed to celebrate people, each and every one of us.

I definitely got some Jonathan Tropper vibes in terms of the humor, complicated family relationships, and authentic dialogue, so if you're a fan of Tropper you'll probably like this.

3.75 stars

When the novel opens, Danny and his son, Will, are dealing with the loss of their wife and mother, respectively, and the clearest sign that this isn't going well can be found in this fact: Will's refusal to speak a word since his mother's death.

In addition to their mutual grief, both characters experience simultaneous hardships, and when Danny's becomes financial, he finds himself in a new career: dancing panda in the park. Hi-jinks, and some very sweet moments, ensue from there.

The characters are the best part of this work. It's easy to feel for Danny based on his grief and constant series of disappointments, but it's easiest to root for him as he reconsiders his relationship with his son. Will is charming from the start, and his interactions with his friend, Mo, as well as various other kids at school, his teachers, and others are incredibly endearing. Ivan - Danny's friend - is hysterical as is Krystal, who comes in slightly later. These characters all add so much texture to the work and create a needed balance between the sad and somber and at times true hilarity.

While I did experience a slowing of the narrative in the last quarter of the work, I found the first 3/4s to move so quickly. I was invested in the characters, interested in the outcomes, and hoping for positive growth. Overall, this is an entertaining read with a clear message, a hopeful tone overall, and a wonderful set of characters.

This is such a sweet, heartwarming tale - it is sentimental without being sappy, funny without being corny and touching without being mushy.

It has got kind, likable characters, quirky supporting characters and a happy ever after.
These characters were belevable and moved through this heartwarming story effortlessly. Who doesn’t love an underdog story where a widowed dad has to dress up as a panda to pay backlogged rent and accidently reconnects with his son and works through grief in the process. Easy uplifting read.

This is a fun read! As soon as I looked at it, I had to get started reading it. I
loved the main characters. In the end, I wanted more. There is a very good
story here even with a bit of sadness. The humor more than makes up for
it. I think anyone would like this book. I enjoyed it very much. I will look for more
by this writer!

Thank you so much, James Gould-Bourn, the Publisher, and NetGalley for letting me read and review this wonderful book!

I love the idea and theme behind this story about a young boy who won’t talk because he saw his mother die, and his father who is dressing up as a panda (street entertainer) to make some extra money. Not knowing that the panda is his father the boy begins to speak and share about what happened I just feelings about what happened.

I thought that the scenes between father and son were heartfelt and beautiful. Any times in the book that there was dialogue it read really well, however they were long pages of narration that I found difficult to get through. And it took about 100 pages to get to the point where the son finds the panda in the park. It would make a great movie however , with the right direction!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A year after the death of his wife, Danny and his son, Will are not coping with it well. Will hasn’t said a word since the accident, Danny lost his job and can't pay his rent. Danny then becomes a dancing panda in the park. Will doesn’t know it’s his dad he’s sharing all the secret of soul to while Danny is just happy his son is speaking. Add other delightful characters and you have a great story.