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A Rough Way to Go
In this all-consuming, suspenseful story, a stay-at-home father with something to prove finds a wealthy Wall Street investor's body washed up on the shore—and decides to take the investigation into his own "smart, clever, and has something to say" (Michael Connelly).
Peter Greene spends his days taking care of his toddler, Luke; staying on the right side of The Moms in his local beach town; and hanging out with his surf buddy, Frank. Isolated from his former life in finance, and frustrated by his current “out of work” existence, he worries that if he sits around the house for much longer, his workaholic wife might start to lose patience with him. He has few escapes aside from surfing and the love he has for his son.
But when the body of wealthy Wall Street investor Robert Townsend washes up on shore one morning, nothing about the incident makes sense to Pete, and he’s completely bewildered when the death is ruled an accidental drowning. But when he takes his concerns to the police, they ignore him—so he decides to investigate on his own. Sustained only by the unquestioning devotion of his three-year-old sidekick, Pete starts looking into Townsend’s eccentric relatives and employer, the ruthless and secretive private equity firm GDR. But has Pete deluded himself with this misguided quest for redemption? Or has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life, and even his family?
A Rough Way to Go is a raw, irreverent story that plumbs the depths of masculinity, unemployment, fatherhood, marriage, and modern capitalism—and the struggle to live a purpose driven life.
Peter Greene spends his days taking care of his toddler, Luke; staying on the right side of The Moms in his local beach town; and hanging out with his surf buddy, Frank. Isolated from his former life in finance, and frustrated by his current “out of work” existence, he worries that if he sits around the house for much longer, his workaholic wife might start to lose patience with him. He has few escapes aside from surfing and the love he has for his son.
But when the body of wealthy Wall Street investor Robert Townsend washes up on shore one morning, nothing about the incident makes sense to Pete, and he’s completely bewildered when the death is ruled an accidental drowning. But when he takes his concerns to the police, they ignore him—so he decides to investigate on his own. Sustained only by the unquestioning devotion of his three-year-old sidekick, Pete starts looking into Townsend’s eccentric relatives and employer, the ruthless and secretive private equity firm GDR. But has Pete deluded himself with this misguided quest for redemption? Or has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life, and even his family?
A Rough Way to Go is a raw, irreverent story that plumbs the depths of masculinity, unemployment, fatherhood, marriage, and modern capitalism—and the struggle to live a purpose driven life.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 18, 2024
Peter Greene spends his days taking care of his toddler, Luke; staying on the right side of The Moms in his local beach town; and hanging out with his surf buddy, Frank. Isolated from his former life in finance, and frustrated by his current “out of work” existence, he worries that if he sits around the house for much longer, his workaholic wife might start to lose patience with him. He has few escapes aside from surfing and the love he has for his son.
But when the body of wealthy Wall Street investor Robert Townsend washes up on shore one morning, nothing about the incident makes sense to Pete, and he’s completely bewildered when the death is ruled an accidental drowning. But when he takes his concerns to the police, they ignore him—so he decides to investigate on his own. Sustained only by the unquestioning devotion of his three-year-old sidekick, Pete starts looking into Townsend’s eccentric relatives and employer, the ruthless and secretive private equity firm GDR. But has Pete deluded himself with this misguided quest for redemption? Or has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life, and even his family?
I wanted to love A Rough Way to Go. I really did. Unfortunately for me, though, with eighty percent of the book feeling like nothing but filler, this book was tough to get through for most of the 350+ pages. I mean, I’m not kidding when I say that this was some serious stream of consciousness writing. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the endearing relationship between Peter and Luke and Garonzik’s ability to keep me utterly in the dark. Ultimately, though, I did skim much of the first two-thirds of the book.
That’s not to say that there wasn’t anything redeemable within these pages. Thanks to a captivating conclusion and true-to-life final twist, I got won over in the end. Well, for the most part, that is. In the beginning, I absolutely loved Peter’s first-person narration. Cocky, chock-full of sarcasm, and startlingly genuine, I wondered to myself more times than I care to admit whether this is how men really think. By the end, however, his droning monologue became a bit much. Still, out of all of the characters (excluding Luke, of course), he definitely was my favorite.
I was also blown away by the insight Garonzik had about being a stay-at-home dad after being laid off. The probable sense of feeling less then while also soaking up every enviable moment with a young child read as wholly authentic. Yet the minute details of Peter’s mostly boring life came off as—well—boring. For the plot of a mystery/thriller, I was simply expecting a bit more all said and done.
But the time I flipped the last page, though, I could feel the mixed emotions as they leaked from the pages. Not exactly wrapped up with a neat, little bow, I could nevertheless understand the conundrum that Peter found himself in. Sadly, however, it also felt somewhat anticlimactic. Especially after the buildup of the last 300 pages. Just the same, with short chapters, easy to read prose, an unexpected twist, and quite the revelation on society’s norms, I did enjoy it in the end and will definitely try whatever Garonzik writes next. Rating of 3 stars.
Thank you to Sam Garonzik and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 21, 2024
Trigger warning: drinking and driving, infidelity, gaslighting
But when the body of wealthy Wall Street investor Robert Townsend washes up on shore one morning, nothing about the incident makes sense to Pete, and he’s completely bewildered when the death is ruled an accidental drowning. But when he takes his concerns to the police, they ignore him—so he decides to investigate on his own. Sustained only by the unquestioning devotion of his three-year-old sidekick, Pete starts looking into Townsend’s eccentric relatives and employer, the ruthless and secretive private equity firm GDR. But has Pete deluded himself with this misguided quest for redemption? Or has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life, and even his family?
I wanted to love A Rough Way to Go. I really did. Unfortunately for me, though, with eighty percent of the book feeling like nothing but filler, this book was tough to get through for most of the 350+ pages. I mean, I’m not kidding when I say that this was some serious stream of consciousness writing. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the endearing relationship between Peter and Luke and Garonzik’s ability to keep me utterly in the dark. Ultimately, though, I did skim much of the first two-thirds of the book.
That’s not to say that there wasn’t anything redeemable within these pages. Thanks to a captivating conclusion and true-to-life final twist, I got won over in the end. Well, for the most part, that is. In the beginning, I absolutely loved Peter’s first-person narration. Cocky, chock-full of sarcasm, and startlingly genuine, I wondered to myself more times than I care to admit whether this is how men really think. By the end, however, his droning monologue became a bit much. Still, out of all of the characters (excluding Luke, of course), he definitely was my favorite.
I was also blown away by the insight Garonzik had about being a stay-at-home dad after being laid off. The probable sense of feeling less then while also soaking up every enviable moment with a young child read as wholly authentic. Yet the minute details of Peter’s mostly boring life came off as—well—boring. For the plot of a mystery/thriller, I was simply expecting a bit more all said and done.
But the time I flipped the last page, though, I could feel the mixed emotions as they leaked from the pages. Not exactly wrapped up with a neat, little bow, I could nevertheless understand the conundrum that Peter found himself in. Sadly, however, it also felt somewhat anticlimactic. Especially after the buildup of the last 300 pages. Just the same, with short chapters, easy to read prose, an unexpected twist, and quite the revelation on society’s norms, I did enjoy it in the end and will definitely try whatever Garonzik writes next. Rating of 3 stars.
Thank you to Sam Garonzik and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 21, 2024
Trigger warning: drinking and driving, infidelity, gaslighting
April 26, 2024
Thank you to @netgalley for the advance ecopy, as well as the publisher for an advance physical copy.
This one started strong for me. I really really enjoyed the narrator's voice and humor. The chapters are short and were flying by.
Unfortunately, by halfway I started losing interest in the story and getting sick of the same "voice" of the narrator.
I did skip to the end to see the big reveal and I liked it.... I just wish it came faster (that's not what she said. 👀)
This one started strong for me. I really really enjoyed the narrator's voice and humor. The chapters are short and were flying by.
Unfortunately, by halfway I started losing interest in the story and getting sick of the same "voice" of the narrator.
I did skip to the end to see the big reveal and I liked it.... I just wish it came faster (that's not what she said. 👀)
May 9, 2024
Novel Concept: 5/5
Execution of Novel Concept: 1/5
Title: 4/5
Characterization: 2/5
Dialogue: 1/5
Plot: 1/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Theme: 1/5
Prose: 4/5
Does this pass the Bechdel Test: No
Title
The Title references how the way Townson dies is a rough way to go because drowning is a fairly miserable death. It could also thematically connect to the down-esque misery of Peter Greene and his own family.
Characterization
Peter is a wonderfully developed character as well as Frank. They are, undoubtedly, the most interesting. Everyone else is passable but due to the strange dialogue choices and the insanity that is this plot, not a lot of characters stand out as fully realized people with interesting traits and flaws.
Luke is not a character. He's the toddler in this story and is more of a prop than an asset or hindrance to the story. I wanted to see more of the baby.
Also, every character is aggressive toward Pete for no reason. The moment Pete brings up this drowning case, it's like he's Ezio Auditore with the Auditore cloak and everyone around him is immediately agitated and after him. And while some characters make sense, it does not make sense that every single character ends up like this. We're now stuck in a cycle that we can see repeat, and my laundry cycle's are more entertaining.
Dialogue
This is the worst dialogue I've ever read in a book. The conversations read like a high school improv class- the way they speak is unnatural. An incredible amount of space is wasted with all of this needless back and forth. Concision is what this book needs, and a scissors is not a big enough set of sheers to cut every needless detail out. I recommend a chainsaw.
Plot
For a three hundred or so page novel, not a lot of important details happen in this book. Something so frustrating was the way the author would add in characterization interludes in the middle of what little tension they managed to drum up, effectively obliterating that tension in the process. This book feels 10% plot, 90% filler.
This plot does make sense at a fundamental level. I can see all of the pieces moving in the right direction. But the author is too coy with information which makes the read frustrating. I appreciate that details are well planted in the novel but planting information is more than sticking a seed in the dirt and calling it a day. There's a little cultivation that is required. I believe more could have been done with Lauren--I think it would have been more interesting for there to be more genuine hints towards her infidelity, more odd behavior that links her to this case. But we don't get that.
Frank's monologue is easily the worst part of the book. Where is the suspense? The thrill? It would be more fun for Peter to discover stuff rather than have it monologued to him.
And I'm not just a hater! One of my favorite games is Contradiction, which much like this novel, tries to make you think the crime is on a bigger scale than it is, when in reality it's just about infidelity. I LOVE that shit. I just wish in terms of plot we spent more time on the plot than we do characterizing Peter and Luke.
Atmosphere
This book does a fantastic job as representing a small coastal town. The knowledge environments felt well rounded--the business aspects of the novel felt well researched. The surfing aspects came off real enough that I believed it. The devil is in the details and while I am not an expert, the details here feel right enough. The general stress of being a stay at home dad with insecurity issues also felt particularly spot on. I really felt for Pete--even if he was frustrating it was a good frustrating.
Theme
I don't know what this book wanted to say. The ending is the last page of the book--and that's kind of it. There's noting finite it just feels like it ended with another needless anecdote. There's also no catharsis in the ending--all of this struggle. The uphill trudge of trying to get through this plot--and there's absolutely no pay-off. I finished the book and asked myself what was the point of reading it. Nothing really felt like it changed--not really.
Prose
At a sentence level, the prose is astoundingly good. Peter's voice is very clear and I liked the way he talked in his interior monologue (see my dialogue section for when he actually opens his mouth). I would say the voice is the selling point of this novel and is by far the best part about it. Aside from the dialogue, the prose is easy to read and understand. I never felt stupid or lost just trying to understand the thing.
Final Thoughts
You need a character in a Role of Privileged Knowledge. The hardest part about this novel is that no one is really giving Peter an in or a window to investigate and that's what's holding the story back the most. The abject hostility most characters have towards Peter disqualify them from this role. I would think that his cop friend could be the window, but she is also against him investigating. With someone allowing him to investigate by giving him access to things he might not have had previously, it would streamline some of the rockier parts of the plot.
Execution of Novel Concept: 1/5
Title: 4/5
Characterization: 2/5
Dialogue: 1/5
Plot: 1/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Theme: 1/5
Prose: 4/5
Does this pass the Bechdel Test: No
Title
The Title references how the way Townson dies is a rough way to go because drowning is a fairly miserable death. It could also thematically connect to the down-esque misery of Peter Greene and his own family.
Characterization
Peter is a wonderfully developed character as well as Frank. They are, undoubtedly, the most interesting. Everyone else is passable but due to the strange dialogue choices and the insanity that is this plot, not a lot of characters stand out as fully realized people with interesting traits and flaws.
Luke is not a character. He's the toddler in this story and is more of a prop than an asset or hindrance to the story. I wanted to see more of the baby.
Also, every character is aggressive toward Pete for no reason. The moment Pete brings up this drowning case, it's like he's Ezio Auditore with the Auditore cloak and everyone around him is immediately agitated and after him. And while some characters make sense, it does not make sense that every single character ends up like this. We're now stuck in a cycle that we can see repeat, and my laundry cycle's are more entertaining.
Dialogue
This is the worst dialogue I've ever read in a book. The conversations read like a high school improv class- the way they speak is unnatural. An incredible amount of space is wasted with all of this needless back and forth. Concision is what this book needs, and a scissors is not a big enough set of sheers to cut every needless detail out. I recommend a chainsaw.
Plot
For a three hundred or so page novel, not a lot of important details happen in this book. Something so frustrating was the way the author would add in characterization interludes in the middle of what little tension they managed to drum up, effectively obliterating that tension in the process. This book feels 10% plot, 90% filler.
This plot does make sense at a fundamental level. I can see all of the pieces moving in the right direction. But the author is too coy with information which makes the read frustrating. I appreciate that details are well planted in the novel but planting information is more than sticking a seed in the dirt and calling it a day. There's a little cultivation that is required. I believe more could have been done with Lauren--I think it would have been more interesting for there to be more genuine hints towards her infidelity, more odd behavior that links her to this case. But we don't get that.
Frank's monologue is easily the worst part of the book. Where is the suspense? The thrill? It would be more fun for Peter to discover stuff rather than have it monologued to him.
And I'm not just a hater! One of my favorite games is Contradiction, which much like this novel, tries to make you think the crime is on a bigger scale than it is, when in reality it's just about infidelity. I LOVE that shit. I just wish in terms of plot we spent more time on the plot than we do characterizing Peter and Luke.
Atmosphere
This book does a fantastic job as representing a small coastal town. The knowledge environments felt well rounded--the business aspects of the novel felt well researched. The surfing aspects came off real enough that I believed it. The devil is in the details and while I am not an expert, the details here feel right enough. The general stress of being a stay at home dad with insecurity issues also felt particularly spot on. I really felt for Pete--even if he was frustrating it was a good frustrating.
Theme
I don't know what this book wanted to say. The ending is the last page of the book--and that's kind of it. There's noting finite it just feels like it ended with another needless anecdote. There's also no catharsis in the ending--all of this struggle. The uphill trudge of trying to get through this plot--and there's absolutely no pay-off. I finished the book and asked myself what was the point of reading it. Nothing really felt like it changed--not really.
Prose
At a sentence level, the prose is astoundingly good. Peter's voice is very clear and I liked the way he talked in his interior monologue (see my dialogue section for when he actually opens his mouth). I would say the voice is the selling point of this novel and is by far the best part about it. Aside from the dialogue, the prose is easy to read and understand. I never felt stupid or lost just trying to understand the thing.
Final Thoughts
You need a character in a Role of Privileged Knowledge. The hardest part about this novel is that no one is really giving Peter an in or a window to investigate and that's what's holding the story back the most. The abject hostility most characters have towards Peter disqualify them from this role. I would think that his cop friend could be the window, but she is also against him investigating. With someone allowing him to investigate by giving him access to things he might not have had previously, it would streamline some of the rockier parts of the plot.
February 15, 2024
Thank you for the opportunity to preview A Rough Way to Go. This book is written in first person. The narrator is an out of work dad His wife has a high stress job and makes a lot of money. He spends his days with his son and it’s not a bad life.
Soon they move to a small beach town outside of New York and the dad, Pete is trying to get used to the new environment.
But Pete is bored and soon he takes to the water. Surfing. He makes a friend. frank and things are good. Until one day a body washes up and Pete knows the guy. Police say it’s an accident. But… Pete just doesn’t think so. So he starts his own investigation.
Soon things change and it seems like no one wants to see if there is foul play.
And Pete thinks people are following him and watching where he goes and what he does.
His wife doesn’t seem to care. And Pete’s quest to get to the truth is getting him in trouble. A lot of trouble. And the truth may be something that may kill him.
This is different and I did find it hard to put down. 3.5 stars
Soon they move to a small beach town outside of New York and the dad, Pete is trying to get used to the new environment.
But Pete is bored and soon he takes to the water. Surfing. He makes a friend. frank and things are good. Until one day a body washes up and Pete knows the guy. Police say it’s an accident. But… Pete just doesn’t think so. So he starts his own investigation.
Soon things change and it seems like no one wants to see if there is foul play.
And Pete thinks people are following him and watching where he goes and what he does.
His wife doesn’t seem to care. And Pete’s quest to get to the truth is getting him in trouble. A lot of trouble. And the truth may be something that may kill him.
This is different and I did find it hard to put down. 3.5 stars
February 3, 2025
Good twist but I fear this author HATES women.
May 29, 2024
I love a good book that takes place in the Hamptons. This is twisty and suspenseful, funny and heartbreaking.
Highly recommend this debut!
Highly recommend this debut!
September 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. It's different in that it's told from the voice of a stay at home Dad caring for his three year old son. It explores themes of masculinity, self worth, parenting, relationships and deceit. It's well written with short chapters that kept me turning the pages. Pete is a very well fleshed out character with a sense of humor and strong voice. The author does a good job of building the mystery while slowly revealing the plot. The ending was a surprise both in the story and its conclusion. All in all, this is a very finely crafted debut and I look forward to what the author writes next.
Thank you to the author, Grand Central Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
Thank you to the author, Grand Central Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
March 7, 2025
Robert Townsend, a prominent finance guy, washed up to shore dead. Every report says he drowned.
Peter Greene, a stay-at-home-dad, saw him the day he reportedly went missing. Along with the surf-conditions and time of day, he doesn’t believe it’s that simple. So he starts his own investigation.
His investigation was all wrong. Sent him down a rabbit-hole that got him beat up, threatened, and made to look silly.
Peter becomes friends with a guy named Frank. He met him at his son’s school months after moving out of the city. Frank liked to surf and so did Pete.
What Peter didn’t know, was that Frank had a scratchy past and was in financial ruin. He used to work for Robert Townsend. The deceased finacial guy.
Frank, asked Robert for some money. Townsend refused. So Frank tried to blackmail him with exposing his secret to his wife; Robert was cheating on her. Robert still refused.
He gets a call later on, it’s from Lauren, Pete’s wife. She is frantic and needs his help. She offered to take care of Frank’s financial problems.
After Frank threatened Robert. Townsend broke it off with Lauren. Lauren was having an affair with Robert. She didn’t take the break-up well so she ended up hitting him over the head knocking him over the rail, killing him.
She needed Frank to help dispose of the body; which he did. He made it look like an accident. Like Robert had drowned.
All the signs that she was cheating were clear as day. Pete just ignored them. Lauren wasn’t a good wife or mother. Often distant, cruel, and selfish. When Frank came clean to Pete, after Pete set a plan with into motion, he had trouble accepting the truth.
Is Luke, Pete’s! Now Lauren is pregnant again. Is that one his or Robert’s. Pete doesn’t leave her. He stays. For his son. Sometimes, marriages are messy and sometimes they can be complicated, but it’s never easy. The end result is that even though things remain the same, the more it changes.
My thoughts on the book:
“Why are you looking at me like that.” - This line was used ad nauseam. It was like scratching an itch that didn’t need to be scratched.
Overall, nice surprise at the end. I assumed that Lauren was cheating, but cheating with Robert Townsend was a complete shock. It made sense though. Frank being involved made sense too. I think Sam Garonzik did a good job pulling everything back in. The GDR firm was a nice way of leading us one way only for it to be all wrong. Nice plot twist.
There were also a lot of slow repetitive spots in the book. It was the same cycle of people over-and-over. I get why, but it caused for some slow page-turning.
Solid book. Especially it being his first one. The ending definitely saved it for me.
Peter Greene, a stay-at-home-dad, saw him the day he reportedly went missing. Along with the surf-conditions and time of day, he doesn’t believe it’s that simple. So he starts his own investigation.
His investigation was all wrong. Sent him down a rabbit-hole that got him beat up, threatened, and made to look silly.
Peter becomes friends with a guy named Frank. He met him at his son’s school months after moving out of the city. Frank liked to surf and so did Pete.
What Peter didn’t know, was that Frank had a scratchy past and was in financial ruin. He used to work for Robert Townsend. The deceased finacial guy.
Frank, asked Robert for some money. Townsend refused. So Frank tried to blackmail him with exposing his secret to his wife; Robert was cheating on her. Robert still refused.
He gets a call later on, it’s from Lauren, Pete’s wife. She is frantic and needs his help. She offered to take care of Frank’s financial problems.
After Frank threatened Robert. Townsend broke it off with Lauren. Lauren was having an affair with Robert. She didn’t take the break-up well so she ended up hitting him over the head knocking him over the rail, killing him.
She needed Frank to help dispose of the body; which he did. He made it look like an accident. Like Robert had drowned.
All the signs that she was cheating were clear as day. Pete just ignored them. Lauren wasn’t a good wife or mother. Often distant, cruel, and selfish. When Frank came clean to Pete, after Pete set a plan with into motion, he had trouble accepting the truth.
Is Luke, Pete’s! Now Lauren is pregnant again. Is that one his or Robert’s. Pete doesn’t leave her. He stays. For his son. Sometimes, marriages are messy and sometimes they can be complicated, but it’s never easy. The end result is that even though things remain the same, the more it changes.
My thoughts on the book:
“Why are you looking at me like that.” - This line was used ad nauseam. It was like scratching an itch that didn’t need to be scratched.
Overall, nice surprise at the end. I assumed that Lauren was cheating, but cheating with Robert Townsend was a complete shock. It made sense though. Frank being involved made sense too. I think Sam Garonzik did a good job pulling everything back in. The GDR firm was a nice way of leading us one way only for it to be all wrong. Nice plot twist.
There were also a lot of slow repetitive spots in the book. It was the same cycle of people over-and-over. I get why, but it caused for some slow page-turning.
Solid book. Especially it being his first one. The ending definitely saved it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
Book kept my interest
Never saw the end coming. The text got bogged down a couple of times with financial material. Sometimes it was difficult to determine what was being spoken vs what the main character was thinking.
Never saw the end coming. The text got bogged down a couple of times with financial material. Sometimes it was difficult to determine what was being spoken vs what the main character was thinking.
June 6, 2024
Boring. Repetitive. Anticlimactic.
Thank you for the gifted copy, Grand Central Pub.
Thank you for the gifted copy, Grand Central Pub.
January 31, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
I enjoyed A Rough Way to Go, a book about a stay at home father that stumbles across a murder.
However, I did find Pete, the main character a bit unlikeable on his dislike of his life - which he chose. Je could have gotten another lucrative job, however he would rather focus on how emasculated he is in his role as a house-husband. He starts surfing with a friend, but that leads to him breaking the law by driving far too fast while drunk with his infant in his car.
Although the book was well-written and engaging enough, it is hard to feel engaged when you neither empathize or even like the primary players.
I would certainly give the writer another try and read another book by him, this one it almost seemed as of he used it as a personal pulpit where he could voice his personal beliefs. I found that um... Disquieting. So much about this guy was him taking offense about what he thought others felt about him, when on reality people are past entirely consumed with their own issues.
I enjoyed A Rough Way to Go, a book about a stay at home father that stumbles across a murder.
However, I did find Pete, the main character a bit unlikeable on his dislike of his life - which he chose. Je could have gotten another lucrative job, however he would rather focus on how emasculated he is in his role as a house-husband. He starts surfing with a friend, but that leads to him breaking the law by driving far too fast while drunk with his infant in his car.
Although the book was well-written and engaging enough, it is hard to feel engaged when you neither empathize or even like the primary players.
I would certainly give the writer another try and read another book by him, this one it almost seemed as of he used it as a personal pulpit where he could voice his personal beliefs. I found that um... Disquieting. So much about this guy was him taking offense about what he thought others felt about him, when on reality people are past entirely consumed with their own issues.
October 12, 2024
found the incessant whining of the central character grating. While I acknowledge the reversal of traditional roles, the standard being stay-at-home-mom, is more acceptable than it used to be instead of accepting his new job of being a stay at home dad he perpetually whines about it. He dreads meeting people because they inevitably ask what he does for a living. Once he announces that he’s a stay at home dad he’s no longer seen as a valuable entity. His choice screams loser.
His wife is the primary breadwinner although she is a constant micro-manager on the home front. The author’s portrayal of the wife is spot on. She is a malcontent who funds fault with everything her husband does while always being too busy to fully engage in domestic issues when she is not at work.
I give it a low rating because it took to long to get to the point.
His wife is the primary breadwinner although she is a constant micro-manager on the home front. The author’s portrayal of the wife is spot on. She is a malcontent who funds fault with everything her husband does while always being too busy to fully engage in domestic issues when she is not at work.
I give it a low rating because it took to long to get to the point.
March 6, 2024
I was given this book by goodreads for an honest review-
Pete is a stay at home father taking care of his son Luke while his wife works long hours. He loves surfing and when Robert’s body is washed up on the beach- he can’t believe it was an accidentally drowning. he becomes obsessed with the case believing it was murder- but why? As he investigates and he starts to uncover the truth things become very dangerous and certainly not what he expected!
Pete is a stay at home father taking care of his son Luke while his wife works long hours. He loves surfing and when Robert’s body is washed up on the beach- he can’t believe it was an accidentally drowning. he becomes obsessed with the case believing it was murder- but why? As he investigates and he starts to uncover the truth things become very dangerous and certainly not what he expected!
October 19, 2024
A Rough Way to Go was exactly that, rough. While the title had to do more with the death of the victim, it could aptly refer to the story line itself as it was sometimes rough reading and the dialogue made me wince quite a few times. Peter and his character development however, was one of the the stronger elements of this book, in particular his inner monologue.
So, Peter is a stay at home dad looking after his toddler son, Luke. His character was quite interesting and I was intrigued enough by him to want to know how they ended up in this small town, what happened to his career, and why he and his wife were having some difficulties. He is naturally inquisitive and when one of his buddies is discovered by the beach, he is not satisfied with the answers he gets from people as the time lines and what he knows don’t line up. And now we have the problems with the other characters in this book. For whatever reason, most of them were antagonistic towards Peter and his investigation, even when he had some good information to relay. This led to some unfortunate dialogue between characters that almost put me to sleep or made me roll my eyes. Peter’s inner monologue was quite interesting, and sometimes comical, but as soon as they opened their mouths, things went awry and I found myself rushing through those parts. Why? I don’t know. It just didn’t work, make sense, or fit the character, or something felt off.
The plot moves along at a snail’s pace, which doesn’t always bother me if the content is full of tension and makes sense, neither of which happened here. At a basic level, I could see where it was going, the author trying to make it seem so much bigger than it was, something that often happens in real life if all the conspiracy theories on social media are to be believed, so I liked what was happening, how it was made to seem more political and bigger as the story progressed, but then got turned on its head. I just didn’t necessarily like the way it was done. I also think more could have been done with some of the characters, including Pete’s wife Lauren. I’m all about reading between the lines, but sometimes I want something concrete as well. And don’t get me wrong, I love stories where the story is a lot simpler than it looks as so many books are political. I love it when an author sends you in that direction, but then it ends up being something completely different. But when it is tedious getting there, you can also lose a reader which almost happened to me.
A Rough Way to Go actually had a lot going for it, with an interesting concept, and there were definitely flashes of good writing. Pete was a great written character and I wish the other characters had been written the same way rather than being used as tools to prevent Peter from investigating. If conflict was needed in this book, I’m sure what was happening with his wife would have been enough as she was particularly annoying and I was looking for something to happen between them. While this one was a little rough for me, I will definitely take a look at another book by this author as there was a lot of potential in his writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
So, Peter is a stay at home dad looking after his toddler son, Luke. His character was quite interesting and I was intrigued enough by him to want to know how they ended up in this small town, what happened to his career, and why he and his wife were having some difficulties. He is naturally inquisitive and when one of his buddies is discovered by the beach, he is not satisfied with the answers he gets from people as the time lines and what he knows don’t line up. And now we have the problems with the other characters in this book. For whatever reason, most of them were antagonistic towards Peter and his investigation, even when he had some good information to relay. This led to some unfortunate dialogue between characters that almost put me to sleep or made me roll my eyes. Peter’s inner monologue was quite interesting, and sometimes comical, but as soon as they opened their mouths, things went awry and I found myself rushing through those parts. Why? I don’t know. It just didn’t work, make sense, or fit the character, or something felt off.
The plot moves along at a snail’s pace, which doesn’t always bother me if the content is full of tension and makes sense, neither of which happened here. At a basic level, I could see where it was going, the author trying to make it seem so much bigger than it was, something that often happens in real life if all the conspiracy theories on social media are to be believed, so I liked what was happening, how it was made to seem more political and bigger as the story progressed, but then got turned on its head. I just didn’t necessarily like the way it was done. I also think more could have been done with some of the characters, including Pete’s wife Lauren. I’m all about reading between the lines, but sometimes I want something concrete as well. And don’t get me wrong, I love stories where the story is a lot simpler than it looks as so many books are political. I love it when an author sends you in that direction, but then it ends up being something completely different. But when it is tedious getting there, you can also lose a reader which almost happened to me.
A Rough Way to Go actually had a lot going for it, with an interesting concept, and there were definitely flashes of good writing. Pete was a great written character and I wish the other characters had been written the same way rather than being used as tools to prevent Peter from investigating. If conflict was needed in this book, I’m sure what was happening with his wife would have been enough as she was particularly annoying and I was looking for something to happen between them. While this one was a little rough for me, I will definitely take a look at another book by this author as there was a lot of potential in his writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
May 23, 2024
Sam Garonzik's intriguing debut, A ROUGH WAY TO GO explores a former financial analyst husband, now a stay-at-home father and surfer whose life turns upside down when he begins investigating a mysterious drowning when dark secrets are unraveled, which may change the trajectory of his life and family.
About...
Peter (Pete) Greene, his wife Lauren, and their three-year-old son Luke moved to a sleepy beach town outside New York. Peter feels at a loss taking care of his loveable toddler and enjoys his time with his fellow surfer buddy Frank and others, who take turns caring for the children when the others surf. There is no hope of a job here.
Then, one day, the body of a man, Robert Townsend, who had worked for a Manhattan private equity group, GDR, is found washed ashore in a wet suit on the beach where Peter and Frank surfed.
Peter is intrigued by this mysterious death. How could this have occurred? He becomes obsessed with solving this mystery and even goes to the police with his son in hand to mention he had seen him on the beach. He cannot stop thinking about the guy they say was an accidental drowning, but could it be murder? He thinks there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye. HE IS NOT WRONG.
For some reason, no one else is as bothered by this guy's mysterious drowning (or was it murder), and he even attended the funeral.
Lauren and Peter have a distant, cold relationship. Their marriage is deteriorating. Something is missing in his life. She is the breadwinner, and Pete feels his wife only sees him as a babysitter. He does not feel like he is contributing and is resentful, even though he is a great father, loves his son, and wants the best for him.
However, the further he digs into the mystery, the more he puts his family in danger. He has no clue about the web of deceit and lies he is about to unravel or how far others, even those closest to him, may go to keep this secret buried. Knowing what happened could affect himself, his son, and his family.
Has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life and even his family?
My thoughts...
A ROUGH WAY TO GO is a darkly comic tale from a man's point of view blended with gripping domestic suspense, sleuthing, and psychological crime thriller. You have no idea where the author is taking you, the reader; however, by the time you reach the ending, your head is spinning at the jaw-dropping conclusion. It is a wild ride.
While I thought Peter's character was well-developed, all the other conversations, dialogue, and characters seemed robotic and flat. I would have liked to have seen more character development. Lauren is a horrible dull character, and she and Pete's relationship is strange and distant. I did enjoy the storyline, and when you reach the ending, you will almost root for Peter's thoughts and the outcome as he weighs his choices in this dilemma.
The novel is moody and a little unsettling, dark, sad, insightful, melancholy, yet at times darkly comic with a Gone Girl vibe. Written from a male perspective, which is a nice change from the norm of a stay-at-home mom (role reversal), it gives you mixed emotions about a man who turns out to be an unlikely hero. You are turning the pages to see how it will turn out, and then BAM—you are blindsided when the ball is dropped.
You are anxious to see how Peter will react to this information and what he will do. Then it kind of leaves the reader to decide. You will think more kindly of the dad once the last page is turned and his reaction. I could almost see a sequel (may be fun) with revenge and payback.
Recs...
Fans of Teddy Wayne, Lou Berney, Dan Chaon, and Ken Jaworowski may want to give this one a try. It is for readers who enjoy satires and contemporary topics such as masculinity, unemployment, fatherhood, life struggles, money, marriage, and more.
I look forward to reading more from this author. However, there is barely anything about the author online or a photo - mysterious?
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for review purposes.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded to 4)
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
May 2024 Must-Read Books
May Newsletter
About...
Peter (Pete) Greene, his wife Lauren, and their three-year-old son Luke moved to a sleepy beach town outside New York. Peter feels at a loss taking care of his loveable toddler and enjoys his time with his fellow surfer buddy Frank and others, who take turns caring for the children when the others surf. There is no hope of a job here.
Then, one day, the body of a man, Robert Townsend, who had worked for a Manhattan private equity group, GDR, is found washed ashore in a wet suit on the beach where Peter and Frank surfed.
Peter is intrigued by this mysterious death. How could this have occurred? He becomes obsessed with solving this mystery and even goes to the police with his son in hand to mention he had seen him on the beach. He cannot stop thinking about the guy they say was an accidental drowning, but could it be murder? He thinks there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye. HE IS NOT WRONG.
For some reason, no one else is as bothered by this guy's mysterious drowning (or was it murder), and he even attended the funeral.
Lauren and Peter have a distant, cold relationship. Their marriage is deteriorating. Something is missing in his life. She is the breadwinner, and Pete feels his wife only sees him as a babysitter. He does not feel like he is contributing and is resentful, even though he is a great father, loves his son, and wants the best for him.
However, the further he digs into the mystery, the more he puts his family in danger. He has no clue about the web of deceit and lies he is about to unravel or how far others, even those closest to him, may go to keep this secret buried. Knowing what happened could affect himself, his son, and his family.
Has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life and even his family?
My thoughts...
A ROUGH WAY TO GO is a darkly comic tale from a man's point of view blended with gripping domestic suspense, sleuthing, and psychological crime thriller. You have no idea where the author is taking you, the reader; however, by the time you reach the ending, your head is spinning at the jaw-dropping conclusion. It is a wild ride.
While I thought Peter's character was well-developed, all the other conversations, dialogue, and characters seemed robotic and flat. I would have liked to have seen more character development. Lauren is a horrible dull character, and she and Pete's relationship is strange and distant. I did enjoy the storyline, and when you reach the ending, you will almost root for Peter's thoughts and the outcome as he weighs his choices in this dilemma.
The novel is moody and a little unsettling, dark, sad, insightful, melancholy, yet at times darkly comic with a Gone Girl vibe. Written from a male perspective, which is a nice change from the norm of a stay-at-home mom (role reversal), it gives you mixed emotions about a man who turns out to be an unlikely hero. You are turning the pages to see how it will turn out, and then BAM—you are blindsided when the ball is dropped.
You are anxious to see how Peter will react to this information and what he will do. Then it kind of leaves the reader to decide. You will think more kindly of the dad once the last page is turned and his reaction. I could almost see a sequel (may be fun) with revenge and payback.
Recs...
Fans of Teddy Wayne, Lou Berney, Dan Chaon, and Ken Jaworowski may want to give this one a try. It is for readers who enjoy satires and contemporary topics such as masculinity, unemployment, fatherhood, life struggles, money, marriage, and more.
I look forward to reading more from this author. However, there is barely anything about the author online or a photo - mysterious?
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for review purposes.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded to 4)
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
May 2024 Must-Read Books
May Newsletter
December 10, 2024
I took a long time to finish this book—mostly because the URN (Unreliable Narrator) and the unsettling Tone he creates with his doggedly, stubborn pursuit of answers when a fellow-surfer is found dead and it is categorized an accident--was difficult to read at night. Peter is believable but as the narrative unfolds, my opinion of him wildly changes because of his rasher decisions and what I assume was almost an inability for any kind of impulse control—while at the same time admiring his parenting, and understanding that he is dealing with judgment from his wife to everyone else because he is a stay-at-home dad rather than the high finance bro that he used to be in the world that his wife is working in currently after her maternity leave ended. Surfing is well woven into the Plot, but also takes on metaphorical meaning as Peter tries to find his “footing” in life and in his investigation, he falls a lot emotionally, mentally, and physically in this book, and he is viewed suspiciously by law enforcement and a plethora of other CHs. His friend Frank is problematic from the beginning, his wife Lauren annoying and controlling, and Luke, his son, well-developed and realistic as a toddler. The only viewpoint is Peter’s so CHs need to be paid attention to, as well as his recounting of incidents, etc. The final twist I did not see coming (but made complete sense), and the ending is not totally satisfying even though the “mystery” may very well be. However, all-in-all a compelling and intriguing read with a great CA ocean-side setting, investigation, surfing, and childcare details, and the ups-and-down of the Tone as it crashes to the shore with anger, frustration, and fear and ebbs in emotional confusion at the end. RED FLAGS: Child Jeopardy; Violence; Vulgar Language; Alcoholism; Gambling. Readalikes may be William Landay, Hannah Morrisey, and Edwin Hill because of the URN, Setting and Tone.
June 2, 2024
@novelsuspects granted me A ROUGH WAY TO GO by Sam Garonzik through @netgalley which was published on May 7th.
This is a suspense that felt very unique as it is all from Peter's perspective, a reluctant stay-at-home dad to his toddler, Luke. He and his little buddy meet and forge if not a friendship, a mutually beneficial companionship with Frank, who also has a young son. The men enjoy surfing and switch turns watching the boys and catching the waves. Peter's existence is full of angst, not feeling like he measures up and searching for something meaningful while loving his time with his son and less so with his wife. When a body is found washed ashore, and he knows who it is, Peter is compelled to search for answers. He opens a Pandora's box that threatens to drag him under as well.
I found this story really fascinating. The roles were interesting to me to see in Peter's marriage. The suspicions and compulsion he had to pursue this one seemingly random event felt extreme yet plausible. It worked for me. Every time I opened my Kindle, I was so curious to see what was next. Then it ended and, well, I don't know. I often love unusual or surprising endings, but this one didn't quite do it for me. I wanted a different resolution apparently.
Still, the story held my interest, and I enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I would recommend it, especially for those who are willing to try something fresh!
This is a suspense that felt very unique as it is all from Peter's perspective, a reluctant stay-at-home dad to his toddler, Luke. He and his little buddy meet and forge if not a friendship, a mutually beneficial companionship with Frank, who also has a young son. The men enjoy surfing and switch turns watching the boys and catching the waves. Peter's existence is full of angst, not feeling like he measures up and searching for something meaningful while loving his time with his son and less so with his wife. When a body is found washed ashore, and he knows who it is, Peter is compelled to search for answers. He opens a Pandora's box that threatens to drag him under as well.
I found this story really fascinating. The roles were interesting to me to see in Peter's marriage. The suspicions and compulsion he had to pursue this one seemingly random event felt extreme yet plausible. It worked for me. Every time I opened my Kindle, I was so curious to see what was next. Then it ended and, well, I don't know. I often love unusual or surprising endings, but this one didn't quite do it for me. I wanted a different resolution apparently.
Still, the story held my interest, and I enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I would recommend it, especially for those who are willing to try something fresh!
October 22, 2024
I listened to this as an audio book, and it was NOT a gifted copy.
This was a fast-paced tale that did a good book of keeping my interest even if there were some things I found irritating about it.
The main character is a likable bored house husband who's completely devoted to his young son while the wife is the busy business executive whos out with the girls in her spare time with no time for the the family. It's the cliché with role reversals.
It was just a bunch of little things that bothered me... like the child being so present and other times wondering where he was, and we he could talk to well.
It was just little details that were off or missing, and I couldn't help but wonder if they they were purposely ignored in hopes in would help the story flow or actually overlooked.
Toward the end, I thought maybe the husband was suffering from some mental illness for a while that had broke down his marriage, but then wondered if perhaps the author was trying to show that his wife had been abusing him all along... I'm still not sure. Maybe it's easier to follow that if you read it, although it did not feel as though it was difficult to follow at all.
It wasn't a bad story, and it did keep me engaged. The narration was good and fit the story. The twist was surprising enough. I would not turn anyone away from this listen and would likely try another book by this author.
This was a fast-paced tale that did a good book of keeping my interest even if there were some things I found irritating about it.
The main character is a likable bored house husband who's completely devoted to his young son while the wife is the busy business executive whos out with the girls in her spare time with no time for the the family. It's the cliché with role reversals.
It was just a bunch of little things that bothered me... like the child being so present and other times wondering where he was, and we he could talk to well.
It was just little details that were off or missing, and I couldn't help but wonder if they they were purposely ignored in hopes in would help the story flow or actually overlooked.
Toward the end, I thought maybe the husband was suffering from some mental illness for a while that had broke down his marriage, but then wondered if perhaps the author was trying to show that his wife had been abusing him all along... I'm still not sure. Maybe it's easier to follow that if you read it, although it did not feel as though it was difficult to follow at all.
It wasn't a bad story, and it did keep me engaged. The narration was good and fit the story. The twist was surprising enough. I would not turn anyone away from this listen and would likely try another book by this author.
May 19, 2024
Thank you Netgalley & Grand Central Publishing for an eARC ♥️
As a stay-at-home parent myself, I connected deeply with Peter Greene's struggles to find purpose and identity outside of his role as a caregiver. The author's raw and honest portrayal of the challenges of modern fatherhood resonated with me on a profound level. I loved how the book explored the complexities of masculinity and the pressure to provide, even when the traditional breadwinner role is turned on its head.
But what really drew me in was the thriller aspect of the story. I was on the edge of my seat as Pete dug deeper into the mysterious death and uncovered a web of secrets and lies. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end! I loved how the author wove together the threads of the mystery, keeping me guessing and suspecting everyone.
What I loved most about this book was its unflinching examination of masculinity, marriage, and the struggles of adulthood. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who's ever felt lost or uncertain about their place in the world. The writing is gritty and real, with a dash of humor that had me laughing out loud.
Peter's relationship with his son Luke was particularly poignant, and I loved how Sam Garonzik showed the beauty and chaos of parenting ♥️
As a stay-at-home parent myself, I connected deeply with Peter Greene's struggles to find purpose and identity outside of his role as a caregiver. The author's raw and honest portrayal of the challenges of modern fatherhood resonated with me on a profound level. I loved how the book explored the complexities of masculinity and the pressure to provide, even when the traditional breadwinner role is turned on its head.
But what really drew me in was the thriller aspect of the story. I was on the edge of my seat as Pete dug deeper into the mysterious death and uncovered a web of secrets and lies. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end! I loved how the author wove together the threads of the mystery, keeping me guessing and suspecting everyone.
What I loved most about this book was its unflinching examination of masculinity, marriage, and the struggles of adulthood. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who's ever felt lost or uncertain about their place in the world. The writing is gritty and real, with a dash of humor that had me laughing out loud.
Peter's relationship with his son Luke was particularly poignant, and I loved how Sam Garonzik showed the beauty and chaos of parenting ♥️
September 5, 2024
Sam Garonzik puts some interesting spins on the classic domestic thriller in A ROUGH WAY TO GO.
The trouble starts when the body of a wealthy investor washes up on the beach. Maybe it’s because Peter, a stay-at-home dad, was bored or because the police said it was a surfing accident, but sensing something was off, he sticks his nose into things. What Peter uncovers is a string of lies, deceit, and murder that hit way too close to home.
The writing is a mix of dark noir and streams of consciousness. Some of the conversations were frustrating as no one really said anything; they didn’t want to give Peter any real information. Then Peter’s thoughts would take over. You have to be patient with this one and enjoy the ride.
Having his little son be his sidekick as Peter sleuths around was cute but probably not healthy, but at least Peter loved his son. His wife was a real piece of work.
Hearing things from a man’s perspective was refreshing and somewhat hilarious. Yet, as the story progressed, I wondered more about whether Peter was completely naive and irresponsible or if he was the hero. Regardless, this one shakes things up.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @garonzik24
for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
June 4, 2024
A Rough Way to Go is a gripping, illuminating novel, featuring a pitch-perfect voice for its unassuming protagonist, Pete, as well as an array of unforgettable characters from all walks of life. He’s a loving dad schooled in the world of financial high rollers who can’t quite reconcile his recent stay-at-home existence and struggles to measure up to his professional wife’s exacting standards. Hilarious workouts at the gym and private musings about the moms of his toddler’s playmates who blithely welcome him to their parenting circle are an added dividend. But the seductive, tranquil beach setting turns chilling when a gritty crime unfolds and the police aren’t interested. Pete’s affable humor and inquisitive mind collide with human brutality. Accompanying this charming, ingenious sleuth is a pleasure from beginning to end, but as he doggedly pursues the truth, the stakes become crushing. Inventive, funny, touching, and shocking at the same time, this fantastic book is hard to put down.
February 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
2.5 stars rounded up
The first person narrative is all over the place and I found myself thinking, get to the point. One big plot line went nowhere and seems, in retrospect, a waste of reading. The "mystery" is revealed very close to the end of the book and that was his best writing. The ending itself was disappointing - not where I thought it was going. Pete is a very unsympathetic character, entirely self-absorbed, so I found it hard to keep my interest in the story because of him, especially when he put his 3 year old in danger. His relationship with his wife was toxic right from the start. In fact, now that I think about it, I didn't particularly like any of the characters.
I applaud anyone who can get a novel published, especially a debut author. He had a great idea for the mystery and I think with some editing it could have been really good.
2.5 stars rounded up
The first person narrative is all over the place and I found myself thinking, get to the point. One big plot line went nowhere and seems, in retrospect, a waste of reading. The "mystery" is revealed very close to the end of the book and that was his best writing. The ending itself was disappointing - not where I thought it was going. Pete is a very unsympathetic character, entirely self-absorbed, so I found it hard to keep my interest in the story because of him, especially when he put his 3 year old in danger. His relationship with his wife was toxic right from the start. In fact, now that I think about it, I didn't particularly like any of the characters.
I applaud anyone who can get a novel published, especially a debut author. He had a great idea for the mystery and I think with some editing it could have been really good.
July 20, 2024
It was refreshing to have a stay-at-home dad for a main character. Pete cares for his toddler son, Luke, and his wife, Lauren, tends to be a workaholic. Previous to staying home, Pete had a job in finance, and his interest is piqued when a Wall Street investor is found murdered. When it’s ruled an accident, Pete cannot let it go, and with his son in tow, he begins an investigation of his own, which eventually becomes dangerous.
I absolutely loved the short chapters, my favorite for suspense-building. The writing is highly readable and keeps the story flowing forward. The Hamptons setting was great, and overall, I had fun with how this one wrapped up.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I absolutely loved the short chapters, my favorite for suspense-building. The writing is highly readable and keeps the story flowing forward. The Hamptons setting was great, and overall, I had fun with how this one wrapped up.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 30, 2024
A Rough Way to Go
Sam Garonzik
This one is a flip on the usual stay at home parent. Pete is a stay at home dad, taking care of his son Luke. Lauren is Pete’s wife,
(I didn’t enjoy her character at all) they do not have a good relationship. A big part of there are estranged relationship is because Pete doesn’t feel like he is a provider or contributing to the marriage anymore.
Pete loves to surf and ends up finding a man washedup on shore… A man that he knows. Pete honestly becomes obsessed with figuring out what happened.
Peter’s character was developed wonderfully. I can see why he did what he did for the case, but, dang! He opened a whole other can of worms in the process.
I could not wait to see how this one played out. It was quite the unexpected twist. I look forward to Sam Garonzik’s next book.
Sam Garonzik
This one is a flip on the usual stay at home parent. Pete is a stay at home dad, taking care of his son Luke. Lauren is Pete’s wife,
(I didn’t enjoy her character at all) they do not have a good relationship. A big part of there are estranged relationship is because Pete doesn’t feel like he is a provider or contributing to the marriage anymore.
Pete loves to surf and ends up finding a man washedup on shore… A man that he knows. Pete honestly becomes obsessed with figuring out what happened.
Peter’s character was developed wonderfully. I can see why he did what he did for the case, but, dang! He opened a whole other can of worms in the process.
I could not wait to see how this one played out. It was quite the unexpected twist. I look forward to Sam Garonzik’s next book.
February 22, 2024
Peter Greene has lost his job and is staying home to take care of his son-Luke. His wife Lauren is the bread winner of the family and he is resentful of his role in the family. Peter makes a friend and they start hanging out at the beach and surfing. It got old listening to Peter whine about his life as he could have gotten a job and changed.
A dead body washes up on the beach and instead of letting the police handle it Peter decides to investigate on his own.
The story wraps up with who the murder is and an ending that I wished could have been different. I didn't like that Peter was suppose to be taking care of Luke and putting the child in jeopardy especially with drinking and driving.
A dead body washes up on the beach and instead of letting the police handle it Peter decides to investigate on his own.
The story wraps up with who the murder is and an ending that I wished could have been different. I didn't like that Peter was suppose to be taking care of Luke and putting the child in jeopardy especially with drinking and driving.
June 4, 2024
A Rough Way to Go is another summer beach read that called my name and this one has a twist from the beginning. It centers around a stay at home dad out to solve a local murder.
What I enjoyed- The character of Pete . He’s well rounded and it was interesting to see the contentious dynamics at work in this marriage of reversed gender roles. This is basically a domestic suspense novel but with the twist of the switched marriage dynamics and I found that intriguing. This book also has a lot of humor which was unexpected and added a little levity to its dark and melancholy mood. Not entirely sure of my final opinion but I’m still thinking about this unusual one. Thank you to @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for this arc.
What I enjoyed- The character of Pete . He’s well rounded and it was interesting to see the contentious dynamics at work in this marriage of reversed gender roles. This is basically a domestic suspense novel but with the twist of the switched marriage dynamics and I found that intriguing. This book also has a lot of humor which was unexpected and added a little levity to its dark and melancholy mood. Not entirely sure of my final opinion but I’m still thinking about this unusual one. Thank you to @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for this arc.
July 30, 2024
Peter worked in finance on Wall Street, and though he was successful, he became victim of a reduction in force. For a short time he pretended he was on jury duty so he would not have to confess to his wife that he was out of a job. When his wife decided they should move to the beach since it would be a better place to raise their baby, he happily agreed. There he became a stay at home doting father to his small son. When he decided there was something suspicious about the body he found in the surf, his life became more complicated. I did not like any of the characters in this story and felt no sympathy for any of them. There was a twist at the end of the story I did not expect. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.
June 19, 2024
Have you ever read a book, come to like the main character and then get frustrated by them? Want the book to end before they do something stupid? Then everything breaks open, and when you are finished, you have great respect for them? That was my experience with this book. Peter Green is a stay-at-home dad, and he’s good at it. He loves his little boy with an all-consuming love. When the body of someone he knows washes up on the shore and the police call it an accident, he’s sceptical and starts asking questions. And more questions. Many people tell him to stop, but he keeps asking. Then, one day, he gets his answers.
June 24, 2024
"A Rough Way to Go" is a very unique piece of noir fiction that absolutely captivated me from the first chapter. I love this genre and sometimes figure there are few novels out there that will surprise me, but this one sure did. The voice and character of the narrator are vividly drawn, as is the alluring Long Island beach town setting. The class tension beneath the surface is palpable and adds a bubbling cauldron just beneath the twisty plot. Filled with taut combative character relationships is a plot that time and again surprised me and even delivered some belly laughs. A chilling, immensely entertaining read.
July 26, 2024
I devoured this book. The majority of books that I read seem to be from a female perspective and it was interesting to read this book from the perspective of a male main character. Pete was such a loving and devoted dad and I was touched by how he cared for his son. I was nervous that he continued to pursue the truth related to Townsend’s death despite warnings from so many people and I did not expect what actually happened to Townsend AT ALL. The ending surprised me as well and although it might not be what I had hoped for it was understandable. This was a great read and I definitely recommend it!
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