Usually, I’m not a fan of books written in first person POV and avoid them as much as possible.

However, I received access to this book as an ARC through NetGalley, and I’m so glad I did, because it was well worth breaking my cardinal rule of no first person POV.

All Kidding Aside is a sharp, staccato tale about the lives of a small family in Quebec, Canada: two adult sons, and their ailing father. Sprinkled amidst the pulse-beat rhythm of complex family dynamics is a startling amount of humour. I started reading this book on a ferry ride to Vancouver, where certain scenes and the occasional turn of phrase had me laughing under my breath. It’s no surprise that I couldn’t put it down, and finished it that same evening.

I won’t get too deep into the plot, as I don’t want to spoil anything before the book has even had a chance to reach the shelves. What I will say, though, is I highly recommend this book to all folks upon its release, and I eagerly look forward to reading more by the author.