Literary fiction often lacks a strong representation of male authors, making this book a refreshing and welcome addition to the genre. Initially, I struggled to connect with the protagonist, but as the story unfolded, I found myself deeply captivated.

The narrative follows Tom as he embarks on a heartfelt journey, starting with dropping off his daughter at college and continuing through America to visit his son. Along the way, he reconnects with old friends and lovers, weaving a story that is both reflective and emotionally resonant.

What I loved most was getting to know Tom on a deeper level—his insecurities, doubts, misgivings, and regrets brought a profound and poignant dimension to the book. This beautifully crafted novel leaves a lasting impression with its exploration of human vulnerability and connection.

I really struggled with this book. I do not think it transfers well to the UK market. It was very American, tedious to read and I did not find it engaging at all. Sorry but this is one of the very rare books that I could not finish. I appreciate being given the opportunity to read it, but it was not for me.

An everyday story about a family whose youngest child Miriam is now going to college. Tom the father is going to take Miriam on his own to settle her into college life as his wife feels it will be to emotional for her. This gives Tom the perfect opportunity to leave his wife for having an affair 12 years earlier and extend his journey into a road trip visiting an old friend from college, his brother, his son and an old girlfriend. Toms has decided to rekindle an ambition to write a book about playing one on one basketball as he journeys from east to west coast America. However despite Toms protests that he is ok, he certainly isn't and ends up in hospital where he undergoes an emergency medical procedure. Beautifully written, recommended.

This sounded an interesting premise of a book, maybe a Harold Fry type journey with a man looking to understand his life and relationships by travelling physically away from them whilst going on an inner journey.
Having read the author's biography at the beginning of the book, I was surprised to find the story so American and, not being interested in basketball, I found parts of it hard to follow.
I also struggled with the lack of chapters and almost stream of consciousness writing,so much so that I'm sorry to say I didn't finish the book
Thank you to netgalley and Faber and Faber for an advance copy of this book.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Perhaps because I’m about to reach the point of the empty nest myself and have been quietly asking myself the same questions as the narrator. What’s next? What am I going to do with the rest of my life?

But there, any similarities between me and Tom Layward end. The feeling that there is a cutting of ties when his daughter Miri leaves for college is as much him cutting ties with his past as her cutting the apron strings and entering adult life. And arguably, it could be said that Tom is also looking to enter adult life in some ways.

Tom, for all that he is married and has two adult children, had led a sheltered life in academia. He is also very self-contained and apparently unemotional, frustratingly so to his wife, it seems. But there is a persistent air of disappointment and ennui that pervades the book. Even as he sets off on his road trip away from his past with Amy towards a future filled with… who knows what else, he seems only partly engaged in the process. Passive, even as he chooses his waypoints.

The animation and humour that drew me in at the beginning of the book flatten across its length. For all that it comes to feel like a farewell tour, it’s not Tom saying his adieus to his old life or the people he meets along the way. At the end of the book, the conclusion can only be that Tom, in trying to set a course to the future, is forced to accept that he cannot escape himself.

It’s perhaps not as satisfying an ending as I would have expected or hoped, and Tom’s passivity rankles. As last hurrahs go, this is more whimper than bang. Perhaps that’s why this works: while not quite an antihero, you wouldn’t think of Tom as being the main character, either.

And perhaps that realism, and celebration of a resolutely ordinary man, is revolutionary in its own way in a world where American exceptionalism and the raging egos of Trump and Musk fill our newsfeeds, and all the more welcome for it.

A thought-provoking and poignant exploration of life, relationships, and the passage of time. The author’s prose is reflective, capturing the complexities of human emotions with subtlety and depth. The author excels in portraying the nuances of everyday life, making the characters' experiences feel both universal and deeply personal. It reflects on the choices we make in life over time.

A thought provoking read. Maybe the the true American story? A life of disappointment, striving for more, the desire to find oneself?

When Tom’s wife cheats on him, he resolves to leave her once his youngest child leaves home. After he discovers that she has had an affair, they agree to stay together for the children and until their daughter Miriam turns eighteen years of age. That time has now arrived as he drives his daughter Miri across America to university, then continues driving and decides to look up friends and family from his past.

It is an impulse, snap decision and a really engaging moment in the book - he just keeps on driving. We sense that Tom , the main character, feels like he is on the cusp of change in several ways, after issues with his job he is now on leave, there is a mysterious and persistent health issue which evryone tells him he should get checked out. This spontaneous trip provides a turning point for what he really wants from the rest of his life.

The book is split into three parts with no chapters and reads like a stream of consciousness. the pacing starts quite slow, sometimes it can feel "rambling" as it is a stream of consciousness which includes lots of menial details - which mauybe makes the character's plight feel more authentic. It's a moving read, definitely thought proviking an incites you to think about your own life's curveballs, and how you would handle the same scenario.

I hadn’t heard of Benjamin Markovits before but I was intrigued by the blurb, so I applied to read it. This book won’t turn your world upside down but it is a lovely story, with very believable characters, and plausible situations – although if someone had Tom, our narrator’s symptoms, one would hope they would go to a hospital sooner.

Tom is married to Amy. They have 2 beautiful children – first Michael, then Miriam (Miri). When Michael is young and Miri is tiny, Amy has an affair. They carry on, so as to keep the home together for the children, but Tom decides that when Miri leaves home, he will leave. Amy suspects and is just waiting for something to happen, so the marriage is not a comfortable one. However, they muddle along. When Miri goes to University Tom drives her. When he drops her off, he just decides to carry on driving – to see various old friends, and ultimately to stay with their son Michael. Unfortunately, the trip doesn’t quite go as planned, and Tom and Amy are forced to evaluate what is really important.

I really enjoyed the book, but I felt the ending was a bit rushed and not very satisfying. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7347221313
https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-rest-of-our-lives-by-benjamin.html

Thank you NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for this eCopy to review

Benjamin Markovits' The Rest of Our Lives is a quietly powerful novel that resonated with me long after I turned the last page. Cantered on the life of Tom Layward, the story begins with a significant milestone: dropping his daughter off at university. This bittersweet moment serves as the springboard for a journey—both literal and metaphorical—that takes Tom across America and into the depths of his memories.

As Tom navigates the open roads, we are introduced to fragments of his past: old friends, former flames, and pivotal moments that shaped the man he is today. Alongside these encounters, Tom confronts pressing issues in the present, including his health, aging, and the complexities of his marriage. The road trip becomes a canvas for reflection, as he grapples with choices he made and the life he has built.

What struck me most was the novel’s pacing—it mirrors the rhythm of life itself, with moments of quiet contemplation interrupted by bursts of emotional intensity. Markovits does an exceptional job of capturing the nuances of middle age, balancing humour with poignancy. Tom’s internal dialogue feels authentic, making it easy to empathize with his journey of self-discovery.

While the novel's introspective tone might not suit everyone, I found it deeply rewarding. The interplay between past and present is skilfully woven, and the landscapes described evoke a sense of wanderlust that complements Tom’s personal exploration.

The Rest of Our Lives is a thought-provoking and beautifully written meditation on family, identity, and the roads we take—both figuratively and literally.

‘The Rest of Our Lives’ is a novel about people, family and how events from the past can help form our future. It’s also a great read which I’m sure will sweep you along with Tom, the lead character, as he traverses the country in search of himself.
Thoroughly recommend.

Toms wife had an affair. he vowed to leave her when his daughter finally left home. and so 12 years later when this day comes about, he drops her at university and just keeps driving. where to? why? with no clear plan or destination in mind he does have people to visit along the way. there is also his health issues. is he running? is he running to? is he just avoiding his wife and the decision he is now forced to decide upon having made the pact with himself all those years ago? leaving would be hard. but staying with somone who betrayed you completely?
i felt everything and all the things in this book. i felt too much! i was finding myself emotional just by the writing style. it seemed to flow and infiltrate your waking hours. having you thinking or feeling about it whether the book is in your hands or not.
it was seamless writing for me.
the added layer of not knowing what was wrong with Tom until the end was both good and bad. because i wanted to help him make the decisions based on what level of "ill" he was. and i wondered how this might dictate what he was doing or going to do. because was he saying goodbye? or just avoiding his wife and health issues?
a wonderful book. i could recommend it more.
one you will want in proper copy to sit on your bookshelf forever.

I failed to finish this book I’m afraid. Although I was invested in the characters to an extent, they, the slow development of the story and the grammar/typo errors throughout were becoming increasingly annoying. In the end I felt I was wasting my time reading something I was not enjoying, sorry!

The Rest of Our Lives illustrates the stark reality of the romantic notion of “till death do us part”. Empty houses, dissatisfaction, infidelity and chronic illness are all tackled in this book that isn’t really about any one thing in particular.

The book is split into three parts with no chapters and reads like a stream of consciousness. An easy read that was interestingly written.

Thank you NetGalley and Faber and Faber for providing an advanced copy for review.

This was a mediocre read for me but I’m glad to have read it as it had a few interesting moments.

This is a quiet, introspective story that delves into midlife crises, marriage, and the weight of past decisions told from the perspective of a middle-aged man.

The story explores themes of regret, identity, and the search for meaning in the later stages of life.

The writing style is subtle and immersive, and the events happening are emotionally nuanced.

The protagonist is not always a likeable character, but he is deeply human, making him a relatable person.

The narrative is rich in introspection but it’s slow-paced and meandering making it feel aimless at times.

This is a thoughtful, character-driven exploration of aging and self-reflection. While its quiet nature may not suit everyone, readers who appreciate deeply personal, literary fiction will find much to admire but those looking for a more plot-driven novel may find it difficult to stay engaged.

When Tom Layward's wife had an affair he resolved to leave her as soon as his youngest daughter turned eighteen. Twelve years later, while driving her to Pittsburgh to start university, he remembers his pact. He is also on the run from his own health issues, and the fact that he's been put on leave at work after students complained about the politics of his law class - something he hasn't yet told his wife.

I did not gel well with this book at all. I struggled to see any direction and plot?? I was very confused for quite a lot of it because I just felt no connection to the characters at all because we just jumped straight into the world of these people, without much context. I felt like it dragged on longer than necessary.

I rated this 2 stars.

We find ourselves thrown into a moving snapshot of family man Tom’s life, at pivotal moment of change. The
motion never stops, by way of an unexpectedly length car journey, running, swimming and fluid relationships. And the motion will go on long after we leave Tom, at yet another pivotal moment of change in his life.

A very American book, not entirely to my taste, I have to admit to failing to understand parts of this book.
The parts that I understood were good, but didn't seem to me to fit togetehr all of that well.
If the reader likes reading about American life and understands what we Brits would call 'Americanisms' they may well love this book.
I don't watch. like or understand Basketball which appears to take up a lot of the book.
The ending is kept open, again not something to my taste.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Middle aged couple face their daughter’s starting college as a turning point in their lives. He has waited twelve years to make the decision to leave after his wife’s short affair, and which she knows will leave her with the prospect of an empty house. After dropping his daughter at college, Tom keeps on driving perhaps on a journey of discovery or to put off the decision. His life has come to a crossroads with work on hold and a question mark hanging over his health, as he makes visits to people from his past. He seems incapable of making any proper decision, and we are along for the ride. I found some of the references too specific to American life, and many sporting details uninteresting to me, but I was rooting for him when the inevitable crash happens.

The premise of the story is a hook to pull you in- a midlife crisis played out on a road trip as Tom seems to struggle with both empty nest syndrome and his wife's infidelity. However for me this book crawled along and dwelled in all the wrong places. There are glimmers of exquisite story telling but those moments for me were lost in the quagmire of rambling disjointed thoughts from Tom.
Sadly not for me on this occasion.

I requested this book on NetGalley because it sounded really interesting but unfortunately, I had to DNF this book.
Perhaps I'm not the target audience. The story starts off really slowly - too slowly - and then Tom, the main character, tells us how his wife has an affair with a man in their community, but he decides not to leave her until his youngest leaves for college.

We then go through the build up of Tom's daughter, Miri, getting ready for college. The family arguments, saying goodbye to friends, attending parties and so on. Unfortunately, none of this feels relevant and it is quite hard to follow because it feels like Tom is rambling about his thoughts on his life, rather than trying to share a story.

IF you don't mind rambling characters, monologues or other similar styles of writing, I'm sure this could be appreciated. However, it simply isn't for me and I felt I couldn't read further than 40 pages.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review and wish the author every success with this book!