Start Without Me

Author: Joshua Max Feldman

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Big issues are explored using families and holidays to see how things can be bigger than just one person.

When Adam decides to go home for Thanksgiving after years of avoiding his family for his music and drinking, he knows he shouldn’t expect much. They have all seen him at his worst and he feels that no matter how hard he tries, he won’t be able to get anything right. Marissa is dealing with troubles in her marriage and being a flight attendant always away from home doesn’t make things any easier. After she runs into Adam in an airport restaurant on Thanksgiving morning, the two end up forming an unlikely bond dealing with their past, families, and what will happen as they go forward.

Holidays can be hard dealing with family and all the drama that comes with the stress of seeing those that are supposedly on your side. Joshua Max Feldman shows this with the interesting dynamic between Adam and his family mixed with Marissa and her family. Circumstances beyond their control bring them together. This is not your typical feel good holiday story; there is much more downheartedness to the characters than upbeat and positive. I found both Adam and Marissa very depressing. They were both going through a lot and some of their attitudes and actions made sense; however, some of it though just made me want to smack them and tell them to get a grip and move on with their lives. I will say that the book was a good length and kept to a good pace making it easy for the reader to turn the pages quickly and see what the outcome might be. I would recommend this for a very mature audience as the language can be very mature and the sexual aspect as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.