I do not understand why this book has nothing but good(ish) reviews. Reading this book was painful for me; not in a good that-really-affected me sort of way, but in a torturous can-this-just-be-over-already kind of way. Its not badly written, but the whole plot was uninteresting and tedious and made me feel depressed.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance copy via Goodreads. ( )

Intriguing story about a conflicted, unfulfilled man and his interactions with those around him. Better than many of the books I've read, but left a number of unfinished storylines in my opinion. This will likely be the first in a series of books with the same lead characters, which is not an approach that I like (or appreciate properly? - to me it seems as if the author is "mailing it in" by not developing new, fresh characters). ( )

This one just didn't do it for me. The characters were thin, colored mostly by their own vanities and regrets. Michael was particularly irritating in his obsession with his road not taken, becoming an academic. I felt like he didn't take any responsibility for his decisions and just spent his time evaluating the physical appearance of women and feeling sorry for himself. The depiction of his mental illness was sort of interesting but it just didn't hold the story together for me. ( )

This story is a family drama at the core. But you are introduced to a perfect (but not) family.

The husband, Michael, has mental issues, including paranoia and his behavior is going to drive the couple apart.

The background is Rhode Island, but reminds me of a book I just read called Indiscretion (not the plot but the surrounding).

The characters are good but I'm not sure if I was able to relate to one so much that I was "rooting" for him/her. But I did want the family to be "okay" despite the main characters spiraling downward. But that would not seem likely... ( )

Taylor Larsen's debut novel STRANGER, FATHER, BELOVED is an odd story of one man's descent into mental illness, and the chaos that results in his marriage and family. Michael James and his family seemingly have it all, but everything is not as it seems to outsiders in their quiet, wealthy community. There are deep wells of unhappiness and anxiety at the heart of this family's life. Larsen tells her story from the shifting viewpoints of all four of the family members (Michael, his wife, their teenage daughter, and their adolescent son). This is a nice touch, which allows us to see the family from different perspectives. There is some fine writing on display, although the dialogue (such as it is) can be stilted at times.

But ultimately this was a letdown for me. I didn't find the narrative compelling. Maybe it was the cover image . . . or the publisher's description . . . but I thought I'd be reading something dark and unsettling -- a book that would push me toward some very uncomfortable places. But that mood never really seemed present. The story wasn't very disconcerting, and I didn't feel the tension I think Larsen wanted us to feel. Mostly I found that I wasn't overly interested in these characters, and I didn't much care how things would end.

I'm puzzled by the references in the publisher's promotional material to Tom Perrotta and Lorrie Moore, two writers I appreciate. I didn't feel any of the emotional heft, complexity, nuance, warmth, and wit I associate with Perrotta and Moore. Really, nothing about Larsen's novel reminded me of their work.

I liked some things Larsen did here, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next, but I didn't find this novel to be a success. It's a flat, awkward book.

(Thanks to Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster for an advance e-galley. Receiving a free copy did not affect the content of my review.) ( )