''A perfect contemporary take on the American road-trip novel.'' LUCY CALDWELL ''Pitch perfect in its faithful depiction of the small failings and misfortunes of a life.'' JANE FEAVER A hugely emotive and quietly exhilarating novel about family, marriage and those moments which can define our lives. What''s left when your kids grow up and leave home? When Tom Layward''s wife had an affair he resolved to leave her as soon as his youngest daughter turned eighteen. Twelve years later, while driving her to Pittsburgh to start university, he remembers his pact. He is also on the run from his own health issues, and the fact that he''s been put on leave at work after students complained about the politics of his law class - something he hasn''t yet told his wife. So, after dropping Miriam off, he keeps driving, with the vague plan of visiting various people from his past - an old college friend, his ex-girlfriend, his brother, his son - on route, maybe, to his father''s grave in California.

Autorentext
Ben Markovits grew up in Texas, London and Berlin. He is the author of many novels, including Either Side of Winter, You Don't Have To Live Like This and The Rest of Our Lives, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2025. He has published essays, stories, poetry and reviews on subjects ranging from the Romantics to American sports in the Guardian, Granta, The Paris Review and The New York Times, among others. In 2013 Granta selected him as one of their Best of Young British Novelists, in 2015 he won the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. He lives in London and teaches creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Klappentext

'Moving, smart and life-affirming' OBSERVER
'Why aren't all novels like this?' THE CRITIC
'A triumphant twist on the great American road novel' GUARDIAN
'So funny, wise and knowing' CLARE CHAMBERS

What's left when your kids grow up and leave home?

When Tom Layward's wife had an affair he resolved to leave her as soon as his youngest daughter turned eighteen. Twelve years later, while taking her to Pittsburgh to start university, he remembers his pact, and keeps driving West.

An unforgettable road trip novel, The Rest of Our Lives beautifully explores the nuance and complications of a long term marriage.

An Observer 'Novel to look out for in 2025' and an FT 'Best Summer Read'

What readers are saying about The Rest of Our Lives:
'What a powerful tale; a really unexpected treasure.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Highly recommended if you want to read something real and something that will resonate.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The best novel I've read this year. Highly recommended.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I absolutely loved it - the perfect mix of funny, poignant and thought-provoking.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Zusammenfassung
What's left when your kids grow up and leave home? An unforgettable road trip of a novel about getting older, and the challenges and rewards of long-term marriage.