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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Joe-Nathan is 23, lives with his widowed mother and works in a supermarket, which he loves. He has some kind of undiagnosed neurodiverse disorder (maybe autism) - he's intelligent but needs his routine and structure and often struggles with emotions and touch.
His mother is wonderful and tries to make him as independent as possible, teaching him things and writing them down in two notebooks - a blue one for practical things and a yellow one for emotional ones. She teaches him a lot about preconceptions and it's generally very wise stuff.
On the whole he has great colleagues but Charlie and Owen don't seem to like him and bully him mercilessly, calling him Joe Nuthin', until one day Joe finds something out about Charlie that changes everything. I have to say I found Charlie's story almost too harrowing.
When the worst happens and his mother dies of a heart attack, Joe has to gather the strength to live independently and embrace change, which is when he finds that colleagues like Chloe, Pip and his boss Hugo (he calls him Hugo Boss) rally around him in a very heartwarming way.
This is a very touching story about friendship, kindness and acceptance. Joe-Nathan is a huge fan of the American sitcom Friends and uses lessons from it to navigate the world. It was fantastic to see him get his own found family at the end.
As an aside, I found Mum Janet's swirly font terribly hard to read and I would have wished for it just to be italics or something.
His mother is wonderful and tries to make him as independent as possible, teaching him things and writing them down in two notebooks - a blue one for practical things and a yellow one for emotional ones. She teaches him a lot about preconceptions and it's generally very wise stuff.
On the whole he has great colleagues but Charlie and Owen don't seem to like him and bully him mercilessly, calling him Joe Nuthin', until one day Joe finds something out about Charlie that changes everything. I have to say I found Charlie's story almost too harrowing.
When the worst happens and his mother dies of a heart attack, Joe has to gather the strength to live independently and embrace change, which is when he finds that colleagues like Chloe, Pip and his boss Hugo (he calls him Hugo Boss) rally around him in a very heartwarming way.
This is a very touching story about friendship, kindness and acceptance. Joe-Nathan is a huge fan of the American sitcom Friends and uses lessons from it to navigate the world. It was fantastic to see him get his own found family at the end.
As an aside, I found Mum Janet's swirly font terribly hard to read and I would have wished for it just to be italics or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Finished reading: July 24th 2024
“Sometimes the place we belong is just about the people in our lives, not the actual place. Sometimes the place we belong is just the place where the people who love us hang out.”
Sometimes you read a premise of a book and you just KNOW it is going to be a new favorite. I've been having this feeling ever since I first came across Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life, and it has been a long wait for it to be finally published outside the UK. The many many raving reviews only made me even more excited to meet Joe, and I admit my expectations were sky high by the time I finally had a copy. I shouldn't have worried though, because this book ended up everything I hoped it would be and more. Main character Joe-Nathan is truly special and the driving force behind the success of this book. The way he is portrayed is simply sublime, and I loved every single minute I spend with his character. Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life is 100% a character driven story, and it focuses on Joe's simple but unique life. I loved the notebooks and how they help him have an independent life... Especially the yellow notebook and everything that happens while he follows his mother's wisdom on its pages. The side characters are great as well, and the hidden deeper messages without doubt powerful. This book will win over your heart in record speed, and it is no fluke that so many people are raving about it. I honestly can't think of anything to add that hasn't been said already... Other than the fact that you are definitely missing out if you haven't had the chance to meet Joe yet. Say hello to another all time favorite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail