Love and Chaos
This Disaster Loves You by Richard Roper is a feel-good book filled with self-deprecating humor and tons of warmth. Down in the dumps? Dr. Bookthrasher prescribes this funny and comforting dose of British writing.
Brian is a good fellow with a broken heart: the love of his life, his wife Lily, disappeared seven years ago, and he can’t let go. She sent one postcard, writing that she needed some time, but as the months and years pass and she doesn’t return, Brian’s despair deepens. When they met, he worked in insurance, all bashful and formal. Lily was different, outgoing and impulsive. Opposites attract, and they ended up opening their dream pub together.
Brian’s befuddled by love and life and filled with doubts. His unpretentious nature is refreshing. Sure, I like novels like The Terminal List, with the strong and assertive James Reece, but Brian isn’t “smooth and confident and charismatic” and it’s just fine.
The novel takes the reader back and forth in time, detailing how they met and fell in love, their marriage, their pub years, and Brian’s subsequent search for Lily through the UK.
Lily’s an enigma. Sweet and opinionated, she struggles with her seemingly content life, especially with the idea of children. At first she doesn’t want any, to Brian’s disappointment, but then changes her mind, which brings more issues.
There’s a hilarious scene where the couple is looking after a godchild who suddenly has to go, with no bathroom in sight. They fumble around but manage the situation, and Lily says, of parenting –
It’s all just love and chaos, isn’t it?
Brian spots some Tripadvisor reviews he thinks are written by Lily and sets off to find her, traveling to locations where she’s posted, hoping to catch her. Along the way, he meets Tess, a soon-to-be divorced New Zealander, also on something of an existential journey. She’s kind and sarcastic, just the combination Brian needs to keep him grounded (more or less).
The search for Lily involves madcap adventures, chance encounters, and mini breakdowns. Brian can be a hot mess, but he’s so genuine that you root for him and his happiness.
At one point, Brian is thinking that he wants to ask an awkward question, and Tess smiles and says,
“I think I can actually see your thought bubbles appearing like a cartoon.’ She reaches over and pops the imaginary bubbles around my head.
Roper is an excellent author and checks all my boxes – I love his style, which features great conversations and inner thoughts. His plotting keeps the reader interested, laughing, and guessing what might come next.
This Disaster Loves You isn’t without some sad moments, but overall, it’s an uplifting reminder to take chances on love and friendship because the payoff can be everything you ever wanted.
P.S. I read one of his other books, originally called How Not To Die Alone, in 2020, but it’s now called Something To Live For. I really liked it (and thought it was amusing when I saw they gave it a more hopeful spin with the re-naming.)
bookthrasher 