Twenty years of love. Seven years of absence. One journey to find out what happened.
Brian's wife, Lily, disappeared from his life without a trace six years, eleven months, one week, and two days ago, but Brian never lost hope. Since her disappearance their once beloved English pub-and Brian's livelihood-has been crumbling piece by piece. As the anniversary of her absence approaches, Brian desperately needs a sign. One doom-scroll on his business's reviews later, he finds it- an active TripAdvisor account for PinkMoonLily1972 that he knows in his heart is his Lily.
Interspliced with Brian's journey to find Lily is the story of their love-how it started, and the twists and turns that brought them to this moment. As Brian jumps from one destination to the next to find Lily, and the truth behind their story comes into focus, Brian comes back to life with the help of Tess, a sarcastic, kind, and surprising traveling companion. But in order to move forward he'll need to decide-stay in the past or take a chance on something unexpected.
From the author of Something to Live For, a poignant and funny story about a man whose wife disappeared seven years ago and his journey to find her or find out what happened, interwoven with the story of their relationship, revealing how sometimes the biggest secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.
Twenty years of love. Seven years of absence. One journey to find out what happened.
Brian's wife, Lily, disappeared from his life without a trace six years, eleven months, one week, and two days ago, but Brian never lost hope. Since her disappearance their once beloved English pub-and Brian's livelihood-has been crumbling piece by piece. As the anniversary of her absence approaches, Brian desperately needs a sign. One doom-scroll on his business's reviews later, he finds it- an active TripAdvisor account for PinkMoonLily1972 that he knows in his heart is his Lily.
Interspliced with Brian's journey to find Lily is the story of their love-how it started, and the twists and turns that brought them to this moment. As Brian jumps from one destination to the next to find Lily, and the truth behind their story comes into focus, Brian comes back to life with the help of Tess, a sarcastic, kind, and surprising traveling companion. But in order to move forward he'll need to decide-stay in the past or take a chance on something unexpected.
Industry Reviews
"Heartwarming and hilarious." - People
"Richard Roper charms and surprises with This Disaster Loves You....Roper writes fluid, readable prose, as charming as The County Arms..." - Associated Press
"This delightful novel is stuffed full of surprises, not least of which how well it combines humor with a deeply moving account of a love lost and a future found."-Liam Callanan, Paris by the Book and When in Rome
"A charming novel about the memory of a lost wife and her husband's quest to find her. I was drawn in, delighted and surprised by this love story that has both sweetness and depth. I highly recommend escaping to the story of This Disaster Loves You." -Miriam Parker, author of The Shortest Way Home
"There's warmth and wit on every page of This Disaster Loves You. But beyond Richard Roper's usual easy-going charm lies keen insight, an enthralling mystery, and an emotional ending that simply blew me away. I absolutely loved this book."-Matthew Norman, author of Charm City Rocks
"Richard Roper writes with wit, soul, and beautiful prose." -Good Morning America
"Richard Roper writes humour so brilliantly." -Beth O' Leary, author of The Flatshare and The Switch
"Roper has a light touch that keeps the reader laughing even while he gently pulls on the heartstrings..." -Kirkus
"Roper possesses a wry and formidable wit. But his real gift is the ability to infuse that humor with such immense heart that it becomes the path for an uplifting and redemptive journey." -Steven Rowley, author of Lily and the Octopus
"Richard Roper uplifts the human spirit and shows us how to embrace life and hope." -Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
Praise for the Novels of Richard Roper
"[A] winning debut novel. . . . Roper illuminates Andrew's interior life to reveal not what an odd duck he is, but what odd ducks we all are - lonely, confused, misguided, bumbling and, as we learn in the book's powerhouse ending, profoundly bereft. Roper's unbridled compassion for his characters is the book's greatest strength." -New York Times Book Review
"Off-beat and winning . . . How Not to Die Alone gives resiliency and the triumph of the human spirit a good name." -Wall Street Journal
