While this surely is a ride, it is not a ride I personally enjoyed or would recommend exactly, unless some are ready for highly dark, harder topics, from a life they would not want to imagine for themselves, or for communities around them. While it's hard to imagine communities where lives like this are more usual and normal, it is important to realize that these are realities and trying to accept that these are just vastly different from what you've experienced, for me especially, makes this a harder acceptance to read and review.

Okay, wow, that was a lot to ingest. I was confused for a bit of this book but the parts i did understand were just wow. These are some serious topics that definitely need to be talked about. And I’m glad I read this, it gave me a whole new insight on a some very important topics.

In the heart-wrenching work of Andrew Lafleche's "Ride," we are ushered into a stark and unforgiving reality, where addiction becomes a relentless specter that haunts the afflicted and those who love them. This searing novel, set in the early 2000s in St. Catharines, Ontario, is a raw and unapologetic portrayal of one young man's tumultuous journey through the abyss of addiction.

High school has faded into memory, and Troy Brinkman stands at the precipice of adulthood -- where the choices that are made can define a lifetime. The weight of his past mistakes looms heavily as an ex-girlfriend's pregnancy bears the burden of his own transgressions. It is in this turbulent juncture that we meet Troy, a young man teetering on the edge, desperately grasping for control in a world spiraling out of control.

Moving out of his parent's home becomes a journey into moral entropy, where every pill, every line, and every drink is a fleeting escape from the relentless pull of addiction. Lafleche paints a vivid, at times gut-wrenching, portrait of a generation steeped in self-indulgence, where the quest for the next high becomes an all-consuming pursuit.

Amid the haze of substance abuse, Troy seeks solace in the chaos of parties, strip clubs, and bars. It is a futile attempt to evade the harsh reality of his best friend's suicide attempt, a dark shadow that looms over his life. Yet, in the midst of this binge-fueled existence, there is a fragile thread that ties him to his former self -- the love he holds for his ex-girlfriend, Danielle.

This love is the anchor to Troy's past and the compass to his future, that becomes his salvation and his crucible. The struggle to rekindle his feelings for Danielle becomes a battle for his soul, one that could either lead him to redemption or plunge him further into the abyss.

In "Ride," we find a contemporary echo of the counterculture novels of the 1960s, a visceral and unrelenting odyssey through the lives of those haunted by their own excesses. Lafleche's narrative is an unflinching portrayal of a world saturated with nihilism, loneliness, and the relentless pursuit of self-gratification. As we journey through the darkest recesses of addiction and self-destruction, we are reminded of the echoes of Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, and Jack Kerouac in Lafleche's gritty and unapologetic exploration of a world marked by excess, black comedy, and a quest for meaning.

"Ride" is a haunting narrative that explores the human spirit's resilience and capacity for redemption, even in the face of overwhelming despair. It's a story that will resonate with those who have battled addiction, those who love them, and anyone seeking a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Andrew Lafleche's novel reminds us that even in the depths of addiction, there is the potential for redemption and the possibility of finding one's way back to the light.

"An unflinching portrait of addiction's gripping abyss -- 'Ride' will haunt your thoughts."

"Andrew Lafleche's 'Ride' -- A heart-wrenching odyssey through the shadows of addiction."

"A raw and unapologetic dive into the depths of a troubled soul."

"Troy Brinkman's journey: A poignant exploration of addiction's harsh realities."

"A tale of despair and hope in the face of addiction's clutches."

"An authentic narrative that echoes the dark realities of addiction."

"A gripping chronicle of one young man's battle with inner demons."

"Andrew Lafleche's 'Rise' -- A gritty and unforgettable exploration of self destruction."

"Witness the resilience of the human spirit amidst addiction's darkness."

"A harrowing memoir that leaves a lasting impression."