Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated, by James Goodhand: REVIEW

Synopsis

Ray Thorns is a lifelong bachelor who has always lived a quiet life of minding his own business, until his neighbour collapses and dies alone in Ray’s house. Everyone thinks the dead man is Ray, and before Ray realizes the mistake, his estranged family has been notified. Soon Ray begins to find out what he truly means to the people he’s crossed paths with throughout his life.

My Review

I requested this from NetGalley based mostly on the title and the fact that it’s compared to Dead Poets’ Society, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Man Called Ove. What a combination! I was pretty sure I was going to love it. Still, I was pleasantly surprised by how sweet, heartwarming, and gently funny it is! It definitely lives up to the comparisons. But with a lot less, um, life-ending ideation? There are sorrows and tragedies involved, sure, but Ray is a diehard optimist, which is refreshing.

What I loved

You know how sometimes you read a book that you want to love, but every character feels the same? This book is very much not that. Every character, even the ones that only play a one-page role, is fully developed and has quirks and a speaking style all their own. These characters LIVE. Especially Ray. He’s one of the most endearing characters I’ve read in a long time. Sometimes you’ll want to shake him for being too naive or humble or oblivious… but hug him after, please. He’s so sweet!

The plot itself is kind of predictable and almost corny, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In this case, it’s comforting. You can pick Reports of His Death up knowing that you’re probably going to be moved to mushy tears at least once, and that a sweetheart like Ray could never be as unnoticed in life as he believes himself to be. Goodhand writes Ray’s perspective in such a way that the reader can see what’s really going on around him even as Ray convinces himself otherwise, and it’s brilliantly done. The pacing of the story in the present combined with flashbacks to the past is also pretty near perfect. There’s a lot to love about this book.

What I didn’t love

My only complaint is that I wish there hadn’t been swearing in it. I’d love to recommend it to my septuagenarian parents, but I know my mom would throw it out at the second f-bomb. In such a feel-good, wholesome book, there’s really no need for it. I feel like it’ll just limit its circulation, because the people who would love this book the most would avoid it for that reason. That makes me sad, because it’s a lovely story.

Conclusion

This is a gentle, wholesome story for anyone who loves a heartwarming tearjerker. Brilliantly written, but beware of the occasional f-bomb if that’s not your cup of tea.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration.

You can pre-order Reports of His Death… now on Bookshop.org* (Release Date: July 1)
*As an affiliate, I will receive a small commission from any purchase made through this link