When Robin Matheson’s husband is killed in Afghanistan, she finds herself suddenly alone: an outsider in a community grieving for the hometown hero it never really knew. Though the thought of spending the rest of her life without Tavis is exhausting, Robin has no choice but to pull herself together for the sake of their son. She finds some satisfaction in cutting ties with Tav’s obnoxious best … friend, Cyril—a 500-pound hacker who didn’t even bother to come to the funeral.
Unfortunately, her three-year-old decides Cyril is now his best buddy, and Robin can’t bear to take anything else away from her son. A few hot dogs and video games won’t do any permanent damage… right?
Cyril doesn’t magically transform into a good person—or even a decent one—but he does prove to be a better role model than Robin expected. Gradually, she also begins to realize that Cyril may be the one person who truly understands the magnitude of her loss.
He also knows far more about her husband’s death than he’s been letting on.
Ramsey Hootman’s trademark blend of humor and heart shines in this offbeat tale of love, loss, and exasperation—guaranteed to leave you breathless at the end.
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The best ‘feel good’ book I read in 2018. Original concept, funny, sad, romantic.
I enjoyed the book. Definitely a book that kept you guessing. Loved the characters.
I loved this book. So great having a very overweight person portrayed as such a complex, yet very lovable character. He was my favorite character next to the little boy. An original book with a happy ending.
I enjoyed the originality of the story and the character development.
Well written and kept me interested until the end.
Good read. Author takes plot in different way than I thought.
LOVED this book. Loved all the characters. Felt moved so often by events. Not predictable at all.
Made me sad yet i felt connected with Cyril even though a flawed man many ways
The characters were real, the people were someone that could be your neighbors.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Going to read anything I can find by this author.
Good and thought pervoking!
This book was a good read but so unpredictable. I couldnt imagine what the mom let her son do for entertainment…so unusual to let him be friends with the character, Cyril, who was a friend of his Dad.
He was not a good role model
Quite a twist on the usual tragic story of the wife left behind when a serviceman is KIA. The emotional pain and confusion of the main characters is palpable. Can’t say I really loved the book – but I’m glad I read it and believe others may be intrigued by it too.
It was totally different than I expected. It kept my interest. I would definitely read it again and read other books by this author.
Not what you would expect.
Brought to life the struggles with obesity….interesting read. Good characters….would recommend
Psychological study of life, love, death and surviving.
This book touched my heart. I loved the characters. It reminded me so much of the story of Roxanne, the movie with the Daryl Hannah. Regardless, it is about Cyril who is a jerk, but was best friends with Robin’s husband, Tav. Robin cannot stand Cyril. He is six hundred pounds and slovenly. Not only that, he has a huge attitude. Robin finds out a lot of things about herself, Tav, and Cyril. She also welcomes Cyril into her family. The story kept me entangled until I finished. I am a bit miffed at the author because I must KNOW what happens when Cyril gets out of jail. Someone tell Ramsey Hootman to write another book about Cyril!
Great Read
it was hard to put down. at first i thought it was one of those stories about a husband being killed in a war and wife and child at home without clue of what happened. A male friend of deceased spouse wanting to take over. Wrong, wrong and wrong. Good story line didn’t see the end coming.Read for youself