This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper Will Leave You Laughing.....A Lot

We all have family drama and I am sure each have a unique spin to just how quirky our families are.  No family is the same and at the end of the day,  we would do anything for our families.  This novel is all about family and the secrets, life changes, distance, death, and humor that go into it. 

Judd is at an all time low in his life.  He recently walked in on his wife having sex with his boss, quit his job (for obvious reasons), and lost his father.  He is processing all of this and receives a call from his sister saying that his father's last request was that Judd and his siblings sit Shiva.  This is a Jewish practice in which you mourn the loss of a loved one in their home for 7 days while everyone comes to visit and brings ridiculous amounts of food.   It is time spent as a family to reflect and remember.  For Judd, this is prison for 7 days as he and his siblings aren't exactly warm and fuzzy with one another.  Another unsettling thought is that Judd's father isn't a  religious man. Yes, they grew up Jewish, but mom was who dragged them all to temple.  His sister is persistent and his other siblings have agreed as well which leaves Judd without a choice.  He will sit Shiva with his dysfunctional family.  Things should get interesting.

Judd's Shiva experience turns out to be more than he expected.   In addition to his family dynamics that will definitely have you cracking up,  he also is still grabbing with his current life predicament of being cuckolded by his boss.  Then he runs into an old flame who slightly restores his faith in finding love again.  But not so fast, for his wife announces she is pregnant and guess who the daddy is?!  Not to mention the secret affairs of his family.   Let's just say someone comes out of the closet, someone had sex with someone's wife, and a whole list of shenanigans transpires on this seven day adventure. 

I think what I loved most about this was Judd's whole demeanor.  His sarcasm was easy to relate to and I often found myself laughing out loud......even at the bookstore.......sitting by myself.   It was a great read that left me open to my own predictions for how the character's lives turned out.  This is a great read for men and women from twenty something and on.