The Rest of Our Lives
About the book
Author: Ben Markovits
Publisher: Summit Books
More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.
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My review
The Rest of Our Lives is my latest read from the 2025 Booker Prize longlist. I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, because I feel like it got really great critical reviews (at least in the US), but many people were upset that it had been shortlisted. I ended up coming out pretty neutral on this book. It's a tried and true concept executed very well, but I don't know if it will stick with me much long term.
When his wife had an affair, the main character of this book decided that he would leave her after their younger child went away to college. When he drops that child off at college, he just keeps driving across the country, not even sure himself what his goal is. He stops along the way to visit with (what we come to realize are) all the important people from his past, a physical manifestation of looking back at his life. This becomes more poignant the more we (and he) realize that something is wrong with him, health-wise.
The author has said that he had similar symptoms while he was on a cross-country road trip with his family, and so he gave this character the same set and ultimately the same diagnosis. I think that makes this book a lot more poignant and takes what would have potentially been a simpler look at a middle-aged man feeling disenchanted with his life to something deeper and more emotionally resonant. But still, it's ultimately a book about a rich man with regular problems. I was never quite bored, but I also just wasn't blown away.
This is a relatively short book that is well executed, and I can see why people love it. If you feel drawn in by the premise, you should definitely give it a shot. I just don't know that it was a great fit for my own interests.
Content and trigger warnings
Infidelity
Cancer
Medical content
Racism
