Review #1
“…a very precious novel…”
A Coward’s Guide To Living by Bruce Meisterman is a very precious novel. Not only can you relate to the characters and feel what they feel, but you could also — with the help of details — see what he saw. I loved the detail in this book and I loved the way it made me feel. When Jacob was caught in a bad situation, you could feel your skin crawl. The author is very good at expressing emotions. It was very believable and struck a chord with me. This story is one I think anyone who has experienced loss will appreciate. The people he meets on his travels are those unlikely souls that come out of the pages and into your life. The encounter with the homeless man Wade was very moving, with both suffering from loss and both dealing with it in completely separate ways. I highly recommend this book to anyone in search of a good story. This story makes you laugh and cry and feel like you’ve never felt before. This book is not to be missed. – Anelynde Smit
Review #2
“A character- driven drama…”
A character-driven drama about a young man’s quest for self-discovery, A Coward’s Guide to Living focuses on the little things that can hold a man back from living his life to the fullest. The narrative is a slow burn, but all the more rewarding for it. Jacob is a man readers will find easy to sympathize with despite his numerous flaws, which he must eliminate one by one to respect his best friend’s last dying wish. Author Bruce Meisterman crafts some grounded characters whose struggles and inner conflicts provide the narrative thrust of the story. The ending is left somewhat ambiguous. Did Jacob ever get back with Hannah? I guess it’s left to the reader’s interpretation. Overall, I very much enjoyed the book and will gladly recommend it. – Pikasho Deka
Bruce Meisterman 